After a long flight from London, it’s best to keep your arrival day light and enjoyable. Here’s a plan for your afternoon arrival and the next two full days in Nashville:

Arrival Afternoon – Relax & Soak in the Vibe. Check in and freshen up at your hotel.

Early evening walk down Broadway: Head to Lower Broadway to get a feel for the city—live music spills out from nearly every honky-tonk.

Casual dinner: Try Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint or Puckett’s Grocery for authentic Southern food.

If you have energy, catch a show at the Ryman Auditorium (check listings in advance).

• 3 nights double room at The Hayes Street Hotel OR similar, Nashville-

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame – even if you're not a country fan, the museum is engaging and well-curated.

Walk to Music Row to see historic recording studios.

Lunch: Grab hot chicken at Hattie B’s (prepare for a bit of a line).

Afternoon:

Explore The Johnny Cash Museum or The National Museum of African American Music.

Optionally, take a guided tour of RCA Studio B.

Evening:

Dinner in The Gulch or East Nashville (great restaurants and trendy vibes).

End your night with live music at The Bluebird Café or The Listening Room Café for a more intimate setting.

Brunch at Biscuit Love or Pinewood Social.

Walk around 12South neighborhood – stylish shops, murals (great photo ops), and relaxed coffee spots.

Afternoon:

Visit Centennial Park and see the full-scale replica of the Parthenon.

If you're a fan of whiskey, take a short drive to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery for a tour and tasting.

Evening:

Dinner at Etch, Henrietta Red, or Urban Grub.

Consider a riverfront stroll or a sunset view from a rooftop bar (like L.A. Jackson).

Arriving in New Orleans in the afternoon gives you just enough time to get into the city's rhythm without overdoing it. Here’s a relaxed but rich suggested itinerary for your arrival evening and the next three full days:

Check in and unwind, especially if you've had a full travel day.

Early evening stroll through the French Quarter: walk along Royal Street and Jackson Square. Catch live street music and admire the historic architecture.

Dinner: Try Coop’s Place for casual Creole food or Café Amelie for a charming courtyard meal.

If you want to ease into the music scene, check out Fritzel’s Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street or something more local like Preservation Hall (no drinks, just pure traditional jazz).

• 4 nights Traditional king room at Le Pavillon Hotel French Quarter OR similar, New Orleans

Beignets & coffee at Café du Monde.

Explore the French Market, then visit St. Louis Cathedral and The Cabildo for a bit of history.

Lunch: Grab a po’ boy from Verti Marte or Napoleon House.

Afternoon:

Ride the St. Charles streetcar to the Garden District.

Walk through Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (if open) and admire the antebellum homes.

Evening:

Dinner at Commander's Palace (reservations & dress code) or Atchafalaya.

After dinner, explore music on Frenchmen Street—clubs like The Spotted Cat or d.b.a. are lively and authentic.

Visit the WWII Museum – one of the top-rated museums in the U.S.

Lunch: Try Peche or Herbsaint for modern Creole cuisine.

Afternoon:

Walk along the Riverfront or hop on the Algiers Ferry for great views of the skyline.

If you're into voodoo or the macabre, visit the Museum of Death or Voodoo Museum.

Evening:

Book a ghost or haunted history walking tour through the French Quarter.

Finish with drinks and dessert at Bar Marilou or Bacchanal Wine (if you're up for a more local vibe with live music in a backyard setting).

Take a swamp or bayou tour – airboat or flatboat depending on your style.

Lunch: Enjoy something casual like Dat Dog (funky gourmet hot dogs) or Willie Mae’s Scotch House (famous fried chicken).

Afternoon:

Visit City Park – check out the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

Or unwind with a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River (like the Steamboat Natchez).

Evening:

For a memorable last dinner, go upscale at Coquette, GW Fins, or Brigtsen’s.

End the trip with one more set of live music or a chilled-out cocktail in the Bywater district.

Direct overnight flight New Orleans - London Heathrow, British Airways.