London was the first stop on our 4-month European Adventure. We only spent one full day here, as a stopover on our way from Canada to Switzerland.
We stayed at the Hub by Premier Inn – Westminster Abbey. This location was great, as it was easy to walk to everywhere we visited in our single day. As such, our one-day itinerary is based on using this location as a starting point.
This was our first time in London, so we wanted to make sure we hit the main attractions. Luckily, we have friends from England who gave us some tips on what to see, and what route to take through the city and what not to miss.
We didn’t pay to enter anything, as we were focused on seeing as much as possible. However, we will note if you are able to pay for entry to any of the sites and what the approximate cost is.
We really fit a lot in our solitary day but didn’t quite hit everything. We will include a list at the end of this post of extra things to do that we didn’t get a chance to see/do, as well as great markets to visit if you’re in London for more than a single day. There is a map at the end of everything on the itinerary, as well as the extras we’ve listed.
DETAILS:
DAY 0:
Arrival day! We took the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow Airport into the city. We did need to switch lines once to make it to the Westminster neighbourhood where our accommodation was. If you have time after checking into your accommodation, explore your area and get your bearings. Find some awesome dinner and prepare for a long day tomorrow!
DAY 1:
Since we stayed in Westminster, our first stop was Westminster Abbey. This is the royal church in London, and you can take tours for about 30 GBP per adult. Once you’re satisfied here, you can walk a little bit further down the street and see Big Ben and the attached Palace of Westminster (the parliament building). Again, you can pay to get in to see these (the Palace is 26 GBP per adult, while Big Ben is 30 GBP). Big Ben tours book up super early, so if this is something you want to do, make sure you look into it well in advance.
Once you’re done at Big Ben, you’ll be making your way to Borough Market, which is about a half hour walk. You’ll get to pass the London Eye on the way, as well as walking through some super cute streets. At Borough Market, you’re sure to find something to eat (it is a food market, after all!). From the market, make your way to Tower Bridge, which you will cross to the other side of the river. The bridge is free to cross, but you can pay to go up the towers as well, for 14 GBP per adult. After you’ve crossed the river, you’ll pass by the Tower of London. This is a bit of a misleading name, as the Tower of London is a castle which houses some of the crown jewels! It is 35 GBP to enter.
Now that you’re on the opposite side of the river, you can explore this side. You can make sure to pass St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will take about 25 minutes to walk to, on your way to Covent Garden. You can go into the cathedral for 25 GBP. Covent Garden is free to enter, as it is a shopping area with fashion stores, craft stalls, and restaurants. If you’re ready for a bite to eat, Covent Garden is a great place to look for somewhere to stop.
Once you’re done at Covent Garden, head towards Piccadilly Circus. You’ll pass through Leicester Square to get there. Both are bustling areas of the city, known for their entertainment. Once you’ve explored these hubs, you can make your way through Trafalgar Square as you head towards the eastern end of The Mall. The Mall is a ceremonial road which leads to Buckingham Palace. When you reach the palace, you can work your way back towards Westminster (if that’s where you’re staying) by passing through St. James’s Park.
If you somehow still have energy, instead of returning to Westminster, you can continue onwards to something like Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, or Harrod’s department store.
Departure Day:
Departure day! For us, this meant making our way to the Victoria tube station where we were able to catch the 30-minute Gatwick Express train to the Gatwick airport.
MAP of Things to Do in London
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.
Markets
One of the largest food markets in London. You’ll find meats, cheeses, produce, baked goods, food to go – you name it. Open 10am until 5pm daily, except on Sundays only until 4pm.
A trendier market, you’ll find more fashion and thrifting here. Lots of street food! Considered one of the more cultural markets in the city. Open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Here you’ll find food, souvenirs, clothing, and cafes. The market itself is only open on weekends, but there are coffee shops and boutiques on the surrounding streets that are open throughout the week. Open Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
Originally known for being a produce market, Spitalfields now is known for having trinkets, souvenirs, flowers, and antiques as well. This is a covered market. Open at 8am on weekdays and 9am on weekends, and open until 11pm nightly.
One of the most famous markets in the world, it is an open-air market. Known for its vintage shopping, street food, and souvenirs. Open 8am to 7pm daily, except only until 5pm on Sundays.
Other Things to Do (that we didn’t get to)
- London Eye (the big Ferris wheel)
- London River Cruise
- Kensington Palace
- Hyde Park
- Harrod’s department store
- The British Museum (free!)
- The National Gallery
- National History Museum
- King’s Cross train station (to see Platform 9¾)
- Sky Garden
