As you can probably tell from other similar posts, I’m a rather quick traveler. I studied abroad in Spain for 6 months and only had the short weekends to explore surrounding Europe, so I had limited amounts of time to see each new city. I kind of had the mindset that I needed to see as much as I could in the limited amount of time that I had, and if I fall in love with certain places, I can always return later on in the future. I attempted to do London in one day, and after a ton of walking, I feel like I got a good introductory feel for the city! Here’s what I recommend if you only have a short amount of time in London, or perhaps if you have a long layover there and want to do some sight seeing!
First things first, London is expensive. If you’re only there for a short stay, it will obviously be a very pricey few days (or single day in my case) because you’re going to be moving around more and seeing more attractions in a shorter amount of time. I think I spent somewhere around £75 (roughly $100 USD) and I even missed out on some things because they were too expensive for my budget.
Definitely buy a tube pass for the day so you can get from place to place more efficiently – it cost me around £20 (if I remember correctly) to buy a one-day unlimited pass, which is only a bit more expensive than standard one-day passes in other major European cities. I calculated the fares and the £20 pass saved me a lot money since I rode the metro many times that day.
Now to the good stuff. Theres several well-known major tourist attractions that are must-sees in London such as the Big Ben + the Palace of Westminister, Hyde Park, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and perhaps the Picadilly Circus area. There’s obviously tons more, but given the short amount of time, these were my priorities, and should be yours too if you’re here for a quick visit as well.
There’s a nice route that I devised in order to see all of these sights in the most efficient manner:
-Start in Hyde Park (tube station is called Green Park) and walk through the park in the direction of Buckingham Palace. There are several signs in the park to lead the way. The park itself is gorgeous, so enjoy the atmosphere as you make your way to Buckingham!
-I just wanted to view the Buckingham from the outside, but you can also book tickets (well in-advance) to see some facilities on the inside. Also, viewing the changing of the guard is very popular and entertaining for visitors and locals alike, so check the schedule here to find out when to see it yourself!
-After you’re done marveling at the Buckingham’s beauty, walk down the large avenue called Birdcage Walk for about 15 minutes (straight the entire way) to get to Trafalgar Square, arguably London’s most famous public square. The walk takes you through James Park, which is yet another of London’s beautiful parks. Once you get to Trafalgar, marvel at the amazing architecture and perhaps grab a bite to eat at the many cafes, restaurants, or bars if you’re hungry.
-From Trafalgar Square, you can probably see Big Ben and the Palace of Westminister. During your walk towards it, you will pass two military guards on the right hand side of the street who are quite accustomed to taking photos with tourists, though they don’t pose or smile of course. Keep walking for about 10 minutes and you will reach London’s most famous landmarks!
-Take some time to explore Big Ben and the Palace of Westminister from all viewpoints, you can walk along the bridge to the other side of the Thames River for some beautiful photo opportunities. Tours inside Big Ben are very difficult to arrange, but the Palace of Westminister is a bit easier to visit if you’d like to. I passed on this since it was £28 pounds… No thanks.
-Once you cross the river to see the nice viewpoint of Big Ben and the Westminister, you will be able to see the London Eye close by. It offers iconic views of London from the top, and the structure itself is also an iconic landmark of the city. One adult ticket costs £26, so I opted to just appreciate the Eye from the ground, though I do kinda wish I had splurged and taken a ride. It all depends on your preferences here!
-After you’ve had your fun at the London Eye, take the tube (either from Waterloo Station or Westminister Station) to Tower Hill, where you can see the Tower Bridge. You can visit the inside/top of the Bridge after a £9.80 entrance fee, but I passed and instead opted for one of the several nearby restaurants nearby with spectacular views of the Tower, though they were expensive too.
-Next, take the tube at Tower Hill station to Piccadilly Circus station, which is located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself. London’s answer to New York’s Times Square, this is a very popular and lively shopping area and a tourist attraction in its own right. You can see street performers, grab a beer and people watch, or shop ’till you drop.
This jam-packed day will give you a fantastic introduction to the city and allows you to see all of the main tourist destinations. My recommendation is to get an early start so you’re not rushing too much, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring an umbrella because London is characteristically rainy! London in one day is definitely do-able with this structured guide.
