From wartime codebreaking to modern machine learning, Europe has long shaped how we create, analyze, and trust information. This 7-day itinerary pairs London and Paris—two global hubs for newsrooms, universities, and tech labs—with hands-on museums, bookish haunts, and cafés where ideas are debated over perfect espresso.

Along the way, you’ll explore the lineage of AI and misinformation: the British Library’s manuscripts, Bletchley Park’s codebreaking huts, Paris’s museums of science and industry, and neighborhoods that incubate data journalism and design. You’ll also eat magnificently—Lamb chops at Blacklock, hand-rolled pasta at Padella, oysters at Clamato, flaky pastries at Du Pain et des Idées.

Practical notes: London loves contactless payments (Oyster or tap-in/out with cards) and Paris runs on Navigo/Metro passes. Book popular restaurants, BBC tours, and Eurostar seats in advance. Keep an eye on personal belongings in crowded areas and consider downloading local news apps to compare headlines—part of the fun on a media-literacy themed trip.

London

London is a living archive of information history—libraries, printing streets, and global newsrooms—alongside cutting-edge AI research. From King’s Cross to Bloomsbury, you’ll find the British Library, The Alan Turing Institute (public foyer and talks), and cultural giants like the Science Museum.

Top highlights include the British Library’s Treasures Gallery, the Science Museum’s Information Age and Mathematics galleries, and a day trip to Bletchley Park. For journalism buffs, the Frontline Club often hosts talks; Chancery Lane and Fleet Street hint at the city’s newspaper past.

• Stay: Search central stays near Covent Garden, Bloomsbury, or South Bank on Hotels.com London or browse apartments on VRBO London.
• Getting there: Compare flights to London on Omio (flights to/from Europe). Heathrow and Gatwick have express/rail links; City and Stansted serve many European routes.
• Eat & drink: Borough Market snacks (Kappacasein toasties, Bread Ahead doughnuts), pasta at Padella, grills at Blacklock, tapas at Barrafina, coffee at Monmouth or Prufrock.
• Fun fact: The term “algorithm” gained modern resonance through Turing-era computation—trace its story from Bletchley to today’s AI labs.

Day 1: Arrival and South Bank Orientation

Afternoon: Arrive in London and check in. Stretch your legs along the South Bank from the London Eye to Tate Modern—street performers, bookstalls, and skyline views help reset your clock.

Evening: Early dinner around Borough Market: try Padella (hand-rolled pici cacio e pepe; go early to avoid the queue) or El Pastor (corn tortillas pressed in-house). For a nightcap, wander to The Blackfriar, an art-nouveau pub with mosaics, or sip a short, serious coffee at Monmouth if you’re warding off jet lag.

Day 2: British Library, Turing Threads, and Science Museum

Morning: Coffee at Redemption Roasters inside the British Library (espresso roasted by a social-impact team), then explore the free Treasures Gallery—from Magna Carta to scientific manuscripts. Pop into the public foyer of The Alan Turing Institute for exhibits or talk listings if available.

Afternoon: Head to South Kensington’s Science Museum. Work through Information Age (telegraph to internet, great for misinformation timelines) and the sinuous Mathematics Gallery by Zaha Hadid. Lunch nearby at Khan’s of Kensington (classic curry) or Muriel’s Kitchen (seasonal comfort).

Evening: Dinner in Soho: Barrafina (Galician octopus, tortilla) or Koya (udon, dashi-rich small plates). If available, consider a BBC Broadcasting House Tour (book ahead; typically ~£25) to peek at studios and discuss editorial standards—perfect context for fake news detection.

Day 3: Bletchley Park Day Trip—Codebreaking to AI

Morning: From London Euston, take a train to Bletchley (40–50 min; off-peak return ~£18–£30; check schedules). At Bletchley Park, explore Hut 8 and the Bombe rebuild—where pattern recognition and cryptanalysis laid conceptual foundations for today’s machine learning.

Afternoon: Continue through exhibitions on secrecy, signals, and ethics. Lunch at the on-site café or bring a picnic for the lakeside lawns.

Evening: Back in London, tuck into Blacklock (chops and roast potatoes) or St. JOHN Bread and Wine in Spitalfields (nose-to-tail; Welsh rarebit, madeleines). Night owls can browse Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street for media history and AI titles.

Paris

Paris marries grand archives with playful tech culture—iconic libraries, design-forward museums, and vibrant cafés that spark debate. You’ll weave through the Marais, Saint-Germain, Canal Saint-Martin, and park-lined stretches of the Seine.

Expect hands-on science at Cité des Sciences, mechanical marvels at Arts et Métiers, and neighborhoods packed with indie cinemas and media labs. The city’s food scene swings from timeless bouillons to sleek wine bars pouring natural gems.

• Stay: Look in the 2nd–4th, 5th–6th, or 10th–11th arrondissements via Hotels.com Paris or VRBO Paris.
• Getting there from London: Take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Gare du Nord (2h15–2h25; fares often $70–$220 one-way). Compare departures and fares on Omio (trains in Europe).
• Eat & drink: Bouillon Pigalle (retro classics), Frenchie Bar à Vins (seasonal small plates), Breizh Café (Brittany crêpes), Clamato (seafood), coffee at Ten Belles or Coutume, pastries at Du Pain et des Idées.
• Fun fact: The Parisian press once clustered around the Grands Boulevards; today, French wire service AFP is a global fact-checking leader.

Day 4: Eurostar to Paris, Montmartre Evening

Morning: Depart London on the Eurostar. Aim for a morning train (arrive 45–60 minutes early for security and passport control). Book via Omio trains.

Afternoon: Check in, then take a gentle walk around Montmartre: the steps of Sacré-Cœur, artists’ square at Place du Tertre, and cobbled lanes. Coffee at KB Coffee Roasters (light roasts; airy corner café).

Evening: Dinner at Bouillon Pigalle (steak-frites, œufs mayo, profiteroles; no-fuss, great value). Nightcap at Le Syndicat (French-spirits cocktail den) or wander to Le Sans Souci for a lively local bar vibe.

Day 5: Cité des Sciences and Canal St-Martin

Morning: Head to Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie. Explore interactive galleries on robotics, networks, and scientific method—useful context for algorithmic bias and misinformation detection. Families can pop into the Cité des Enfants; everyone should catch the planetarium if time permits.

Afternoon: Stroll or bike along Canal Saint-Martin. Lunch at Holybelly (all-day plates; pancakes and hash in a sleek room) or Hôtel du Nord (classic bistro on the canal). Coffee at Ten Belles—tiny, superb.

Evening: Book Clamato (no-reservations; arrive early) for shellfish platters and maple-syrup tart, or Le Servan for French-with-Asian-notes. If curious about media art, swing by night openings at galleries near Oberkampf.

Day 6: Arts et Métiers, Marais Media Walk, and Natural Wine

Morning: Visit Musée des Arts et Métiers—home to early computing devices, the original Foucault pendulum, and ingenious machines that paved the way for modern tech. Coffee beforehand at Coutume (Left Bank) or Café Oberkampf if you’re nearby.

Afternoon: Explore the Marais: the Shoah Memorial (powerful archives on propaganda), Place des Vosges arcades, and narrow streets full of indie boutiques. Lunch at L’As du Fallafel (pita overflowing with crispy falafel) or sit-down at Parcelles (seasonal bistro, thoughtful wine list).

Evening: Try for Frenchie Bar à Vins (walk-in friendly; smoked eel, Paris-brest) or Septime if you snag a reservation. Cap with a glass at Le Mary Celeste (oysters + cocktails) or a mellow pour at La Buvette (tiny, natural wine darling).

Day 7: Pastries, Books, and Departure

Morning: Pastry crawl near Canal Saint-Martin: Du Pain et des Idées (the “escargot” pistachio-chocolate spiral is a must) and coffee at Ten Belles or Fragments. Book-browse at Librairie Yvon Lambert (art/photography) or Shakespeare and Company across the river for English-language picks on media and AI.

Afternoon: Depart Paris. If you’re flying within or from Europe, compare options on Omio flights. If continuing by rail, check Omio trains.

Evening: If you have a late departure, enjoy a last simple bistro supper at Le Relais de l’Entrecôte (single-menu steak-frites) or crêpes at Breizh Café (try the buckwheat galette with Bordier butter).

Optional add-ons and practicals

• Talks and meetups: In London, check event calendars for The Alan Turing Institute, LSE, and Newspeak House; in Paris, look for public lectures at Sciences Po’s médialab and design schools. Many announce schedules 1–3 weeks ahead.
• Tickets and timing: Reserve Eurostar seats early for better fares. Big museums are often free/cheap but special exhibitions can sell out.
• Transit: London Underground and Paris Metro run late; tap-in/out in London with contactless cards. In Paris, a Navigo Easy card streamlines single rides.

Getting Between Cities and Booking Essentials

• Flights to the first city (London): Compare fares to LHR/LGW/LCY on Omio (flights to/from Europe).
• London → Paris by train: Eurostar in ~2h20; search timetables and prices on Omio trains.
• Intra-city transport: Underground/Metro, buses, and walking. For regional trains beyond this plan, use Omio trains.

Where to stay shortcuts:

• Hotels.com London | VRBO London
• Hotels.com Paris | VRBO Paris

Summary: In a week, you’ve traced a compelling arc—from codebreakers and early computers to today’s debates on algorithmic truth—while savoring two culinary capitals. With museums, cafes, and conversations as your classroom, this itinerary makes AI and fake news detection not just understandable, but memorable.