London in 1 day: Your Ultimate Itinerary

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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. 

Check London hotel availability HERE

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. Some of the sites are quite pricey, and if you’re planning on entering multiple paid sites, the cost can really add up (we’ve included approximate costs where possible). It may be worth comparing individual tickets with a city pass. We break down the options below.

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. We also have a full city guide and gluten free guide!

Save Money on London Attractions

If you plan to visit multiple major sights like Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye, individual tickets can add up quickly.

Here are your main options:

• Go City London Pass – Bundles multiple attractions into one pass and can be cost-effective if you’re planning to see several major sights. Can often include bus passes and tours, too. (use coupon code CAPTURENCRAVE5 for a 5% discount)
• GetYourGuide – Great for booking individual timed-entry tickets, skip-the-line passes, or guided tours in advance.
• Official websites – Always check pricing directly to compare.

We recommend booking key attractions ahead of time, particularly in peak season, as tickets do sell out (as we experienced).

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, tickets are about 30GBP per adult and you can take tours for about 100GBP+ 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

1. Borough Market

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.

2. Camden Market

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.

3.  Broadway Market

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.

4. Spitalfields Market

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.

5. Portobello Road Market

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
• Natural History Museum
• King’s Cross train station (to see Platform 9¾)
• Sky Garden

Helpful Planning Tips

I rely on these tools when planning my trips:

• Get Your Guide – book tickets for the Tower of London, London Eye, or West End shows
• Go City Pass – multiple paid attractions can be bundled for savings
• Airalo eSIM – get UK mobile data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
• Stay22 – explore hotels across London neighbourhoods, like Covent Garden, Westminster, or Shoreditch
• Wanderlog – keep track of your trip details, map your itinerary, and plan your London days efficiently

For even MORE museums, galleries, tours, and experience, explore below: