36 Hours in London

Earlier this year, images from the South Bank of the River Thames were beamed across the world as mourners waited in a dizzyingly long line — known simply as “The Queue” in Britain — to see the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. Stroll down the Queen’s Walk, where the mourners lined up for hours. Take the riverside route that stretches from Tower Bridge to the Golden Jubilee Bridges. The walk is touristy, yes, but it is also pleasant and iconic. Most of all, it’s an exercise in efficiency: Highlights of the hour-long walk, in addition to views of the Thames, include HMS Belfast, London Bridge, the Clink Prison Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe, the National Theatre and the British Film Institute.

Cross over to Victoria Embankment to find Gordon’s, which is thought to be London’s oldest wine bar. Established in 1890, this bar may be lovingly called “London’s worst-kept secret,” but an early drink here is a great scene-setter for the night, and it improves your chances of getting in before the crowds. Sit inside the cozy wine cellar where the lights are dim and the décor is suitably old-timey. You can also grab a seat outside, where tables are right next to Victoria Embankment Gardens; Britons love an alfresco drink, whatever the season. A glass of wine is unlikely to cost more than £15.

The full English breakfast elicits a strength of feeling among most Britons. (Its price is often used as a litmus test for the nation’s economic health.) Plus it has an almost medicinal quality. A busy day ahead? Nursing a hangover? There’s no salve like it. Go to E Pellicci, a 122-year-old cafe (caff) in London’s East End with an intense sense of community and an old-school feel. The cafe itself is heritage-listed with wooden Art Deco paneling from the 1940s. The “Classic Set” (£10.40) has all the makings of a perfect fry-up: toast, sausage, egg, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and beans, while the “Have the Lot” (£13.80) adds black pudding and hash browns. (There’s also a vegetarian option.) Hit the A.T.M. beforehand, it’s cash only.

Bloomsbury is the heart of literary London — it was once home to Oscar Wilde and Charles Dickens, whose former home on Doughty Street is open to visitors — and there is no better place in the city to go book shopping. Visit Gay’s The Word, a small but mighty bookshop founded in 1979 by the Gay Icebreakers, a socialist group. There are badges for sale and a display of protest pins belonging to the gay activist and former store manager Paud Hegerty. Other highlights in the area are the secondhand bookshops Skoob Books and Judd Books. A 15-minute walk away is the bookshop for the London Review of Books. It has a beloved cafe where you can pore over your spoils with coffee and cake.

Three stops on the tube will take you to a neighborhood that is not often included in guides, but that encapsulates what makes the city hum: its immigrant communities. Brixton is one of the beating hearts of Black London, with an integral Caribbean community that’s thriving despite gentrification pressures. (Learn more history here at the Black Cultural Archives, which is open until 6 p.m. on Saturdays.) Pull up a bench at Fish, Wings & Tings, a popular stop for jerk chicken with rice and peas and coleslaw (£14), along with a blaring soundtrack outside Brixton Village market. Or, head up the road to Negril, a small and understated Caribbean restaurant on Brixton Hill, where a side dish of saltfish fritters with lime mayo and hot sauce is a must.

Brick Lane has one of the largest Bangladeshi communities in London, the best curry houses in the city and plenty of street art. Start at Rajmahal Sweets for a snack of sweet jalebi or savory samosas before heading to Brick Lane Vintage Market, a thrifters paradise in a sprawling basement with hundreds of stalls to explore. Trips are often overwhelming yet productive. Atika is a vintage department store with an amazing selection of art prints, ceramics, jewelry and books. And around the corner, Black-owned Jen’s Plants and Florist sells beautiful dried flowers that can be packed away in your holdall. Also check out nearby Spitalfields Market, where you can find eclectic vintage curios that will make perfect gifts for those back home.

The Sunday roast, much like the fry-up, is a national institution. The Old Queens Head pub in Islington, with its club nights and live music, feels like the preserve of the young and hip during the week, but Sundays are a change of pace. Settle upstairs for a choice of roasted meats including chicken and leg of lamb, as well as a vegan option in the chestnut and mushroom wellington — all come with the trimmings (£13.50-£15.95). For something more upmarket, try the Quality Chop House in Farringdon for a three-course roast (£39). If it’s available, order the Capezzana olive-oil ice cream for dessert. This option is for the preplanner: Sunday reservations are often snapped up weeks in advance.

Walk off your roast along Regent’s Canal, whose entire waterway stretches almost nine miles. Tackle a portion by starting at Canalside Square, a seven-minute walk from The Old Queen’s Head pub, and stroll in the direction of Haggerston. The walk is beautiful and leisurely, with kitschy canal boats often lining the waterway. For a walk of around 30 to 40 minutes, exit the canal walkway at the East London neighborhood of London Fields, which boasts the excellent Broadway Market and a gorgeous park. Grab pastries from the market and sit in the park for a scenic and peaceful end to a lively weekend.