What To Do in London For A Day
If you only have one day in London, you’ll want to make the most of it. There are so many iconic sights and experiences to take in, that it can be hard to know where to start. The thing is, if you do try to do London in a day, know that you are going to be tired!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Teach Travel Discover is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program as well as other affiliate programs. These are designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no extra cost to you. Please see our Privacy Policy for more details.
Can you do it? Yes. A good place to begin is by getting a bird’s eye view of the city from the top of the London Eye. Then, head to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. For some culture, visit Tate Modern or the British Museum.
If you’re feeling adventurous, take a ride on the Tube to Camden Town for some markets and street art. And no trip to London would be complete without seeing Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. With so much to see and do, you’re sure to have a memorable day in this historic city.
Should you do it? In my opinion, no. London is a historically and culturally such a rich city that one day might just not be enough. Whether you’re interested in art, architecture, history, or just want to take in the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most vibrant cities, a week in London isn’t enough.
Plus, since you’d be in the area, combine it with a trip to Ireland. There are plenty of unique places to visit there too.
But, if you only have one day in London, there are a few must-see destinations that you won’t want to miss. Here’s how to make the most of your time.
Getting to England
London is served by five international airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City. Heathrow is by far the busiest airport, handling over 80 million passengers per year. Gatwick is a distant second with just over 50 million passengers annually. If you’re coming from outside the UK, chances are you’ll be flying into one of these two airports.
Getting Around the City
The best way to get into central London from either Heathrow or Gatwick is by train. The Heathrow Express trains depart every 15 minutes and will get you into Paddington Station in under 15 minutes. From Gatwick, the Gatwick Express trains depart every 30 minutes and take just 30 minutes to reach Victoria Station. Tickets for both can be purchased online in advance or at the station on the day of travel.
If you’re on a budget, though, taking the bus is a perfectly viable option as well. The National Express coaches operate between all of London’s major airports and will drop you off at various locations around the city center. Tickets can be purchased online or at the airport kiosks. Coaches departing from Heathrow typically take about an hour to reach central London while those departing from Gatwick usually take around an hour and a half.
If you are only going to be in the city for a day, you must get the city bus/river hop on hop off ticket. That way you can maneuver around the city quickly and conveniently. I recommend these below.
Alternatively, if you don’t mind walking (or taking the occasional cab), then getting around on foot is definitely doable as well—especially since many of London’s best attractions are located within close proximity to each other.
First Stop
Start your day early! In the A.M. head on over to the Parliament Building and Big Ben. Unless you are going to watch a debate or committe meeting (which I highly recommend because its widely entertaining), your aren’t actually going to spend too much time here.
Grab your gram pic in front of Big Ben (like me and my students did) and take a very short walk over to Westminster Abbey! The architecture is stunning, and if you want to grab a ticket and take a tour inside, you’ll see the resting grounds for famous folk like Charles Dickens and Mary Stewart.
But, remember the Abbey is a church, its not that big. So if you are only in London for one day, then I say skip this tour, take your pics and then move onto the next site. But don’t forget to get a pic, it’s stunning.
Buckingham Palace
Normally I would say to skip Buckingham Palace for a few reasons. Its always packed with tourists, and the changing of the guard is fun, but not that excited. But yet, there I was waiting in the crowds with all of the other tourists taking pictures of the changing of the guards like everyone else. So who am I to tell you not to go!
Besides, when in London right? What I do recommend however, after you’ve seen the changing of the guard is to take a stroll through St. James’s Park. There grab some lunch, and keep the train moving, remember you only have one day.
Next Up
Hop on the bus and head over to the Tower of London. I know you are going to go by several popular destinations, but remember you are only in London for one day. You’ll probably want to stop at Picadilly Circus, don’t! You’ll get stuck there! I know I did! There are so many cute shops and cafe’s that your entire afternoon will be gone in a flash.
I also recommend skipping Trafalgar Square. This history teacher in me is screaming, because I’m telling you not to admire the grandiose architecture of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the National Gallery. But the truth is, its way too crowded. Unless you plan on spending the rest of the day there, just skip it and head over to the main attraction, the Tower of London.
The Tower of London
If you only have one day to spend in London, the Tower of London should be at the top of your list. This historic site has been a fortress, a palace, and a prison over the course of its more than 900-year history. Today, it houses the Crown Jewels and is one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations.
Unfortunately, be prepared to spend a lot of time here. One tip, don’t eat here! The lines are too long, and the food is so-so. Instead, hang on just a bit and enjoy the museums instead, plus you get to get the best shots of Tower Bridge! That’s the bridge everyone thinks is London Bridge, but its actually Tower Bridge (the one with the turrets on it).
Time to Eat
Now is when you hop onto the bus and cross the real London Bridge. I apologize, there really isn’t must to take pics of on this one. But it will take you to your next place! My recommendation is to attend one of the fresh food markets.
Borough Market is my favorite, but my husband is a chef, so we can’t resist open markets like that one. Covent Garden Market, however, is what most tourist think of when listing things to do in London for a day. This one was is in the heart of the theater district so it does get a bit more crowded. But, you can’t resist the pubs, bars and restaurants that it has to offer.
Insider secret! The super cute Cecil Court is right around the corner from Covent Garden and locals say that it is where “Diagon Alley” was based off of from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
Last Stop-The London Eye
I like to leave this one till the end for two reasons. One, if you time it right, you get around to seeing the city while the sun is still out, and then you see it lit up in the night sky. Whether you see the city from the magic of daylight or twinkling at night, in my opinion, when you only have one day in London, this is the way to go out with a bang.
Bonus
Go shopping at Harrods! Because, why not! All the celebrities do, and you HAVE to have a cup of hot chocolate. You pay a ridiculous amount of money for it, but shoot, you’re only in London for one day, make it count!
Conclusion
There’s so much to see and do in London, even if you’re only there for a day! By following this list, you’re sure to have an amazing time and create lasting memories of your trip to one of England’s most iconic cities!
So there you have it—a few tips on how best to spend your time if you find yourself with just 24 hours in one of Europe’s most exciting cities. With its multitude of things to see and do, there’s really no excuse not to add London to your travel itinerary. Bon, voyage!
If you’d like help in planning your trip to London or other wonderful locations, just click below to schedule a time to speak with me!
