City guide: London

Friday, 1.30pm Take the train from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station. What, no hanging about, queueing or frantically raking about for a clear plastic bag to stow your lip balm? Not the airport, then.

6pm Arrive at Threadneedles (Threadneedles, 5 Threadneedles Street, 0207 657 8080, www.theetoncollection.co.uk), in the City of London.

9pm Head to Brick Lane for a curry. We challenged our tastebuds at Prithi (124-126 Brick Lane, 0207 377 5252).

Saturday, 9am Enjoy a decadent weekend breakfast at Threadneedles. Eggs benedict and smoked salmon with scrambled egg set us up for the day.

Noon Check out the Covent Garden Christmas decorations (www.coventgardenlondonuk.com).

7.45pm Take in a West End show. Peter Capaldi has just opened in classic Ealing comedy The Ladykillers scripted by Father Ted’s Graham Linehan (Gielgud Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, from £12.50, www.theladykillers.co.uk).

Sunday 10am Scoot round the Tate Modern for a taste of culture (Sumner Street, Bankside, 0207 887 8752, www.tate.org.uk/modern).

1pm Steak and frites (£9.95) at Cote, a nice French chain a bit like All Bar One (The Riverside, Hays Galleria, Tooley Street, 0207 234 0800, [email protected]).

4pm Hop on the train back north at Kings Cross. Forget to find Platform 9¾ for a photo opportunity. Next time.

ALISON GRAY

THE FACTS Contact Threadneedles for details of the Christmas Sparkle Package, from £245 per room, per night.

Advance return rail fares booked online from Edinburgh to London with East Coast Trains start from £33 Standard Class or £95 First Class: book via www.eastcoast.co.uk, tel: [phone] or visit any staffed station.

A three day London Theatre Rail Break starts from £209.95pp, see www.thescotsman.theatre.travel