Seven days between Bloomsbury, South Bank, Camden and a Cambridge day trip — with Oyster Card, pub lunch, West End musicals and the truth about Heathrow Express.
Seven days between Bloomsbury, South Bank, Camden and a Cambridge day trip — with Oyster Card, pub lunch, West End musicals and the truth about Heathrow Express.
Flights JFK-LHR on Norse, JetBlue, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic range from $480 to $1,100 round-trip — Norse is the cheapest reliable carrier in 2026; book with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Platinum for trip protection.
Heathrow Express costs £25 and takes 15 min to Paddington. The Piccadilly Line costs £6.30 and takes 50 min. In 99% of cases, Piccadilly wins — only grab the Express if you land at 11 pm with a crying child and bursting luggage.
Oyster Card and contactless (any Visa/Mastercard, including US-issued, works flawlessly) cap at £8.10/day zones 1-2 and £40.70/week. American cards on Apple Pay or Google Pay tap straight through the gate.
Seven world-class museums are free: British Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, V&A, Science Museum, Tate Britain. Suggested £5 donation is optional.
A serious pub lunch runs £12-18, a mid-range restaurant £25-40, a Sainsbury's/Tesco sandwich with a drink £6. Pret coffee £4.
Seven days between Bloomsbury, South Bank, Camden and a Cambridge day trip — with Oyster Card, pub lunch, West End musicals and the truth about Heathrow Express.
