What is the best thing for me to do in london if i only have a day?

Show all answers

jeepdrivr

www.bigbus.co.uk

My wife and I did this on our first day in London last September. It was great. Take the bus to the Tower of London and get off there (you'll see many sights along the way). You can then take the tour, see the crown jewels, etc. Then, you can get on a boat and go back up to Westminster Pier (this is included w/ your Big Bus ticket). Here you can see Big Ben, Parliament and take a very short walk over to Westminster Abbey.

If time allows after that, check out one of London's many parks. They are beautiful.

In the evening, try to see a show. I am not a "theater person", but we saw Mary Poppins and it was fantastic. There are tons of shows to see in London.

Have fun.

apleyden

There is a lot you can do and see in one day. A couple of suggestions:

1) avoid anything that you have to wait in line to go see, like a museum, or a castle.

2) Be prepared to walk!

3) Plan your day as a day, and then a night (i.e. after dark).

4) Get a one day travel card so you can jump on and off buses and tubes.

Things to do in the day:

See Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St. Pauls, Westminster Cathedral, Horse Guards Parade, 10 Downing Street, Buckingham palace, maybe the changing of the guards. Visit Harrods, walk through Hyde Park. Shop at Portabello Road in Notting Hill (if the weekend)

Things to do at night.

Head to Picadilly, maybe catch a show. Walk over the bridge at Charring Cross station and down the Thames toward Big Ben/the Eye (beautiful at night).

Catch a late bite to eat and back to the hotel.

jlsfl

Apleyden's answer was great, but you need to do some homework from that list. Wear your best walking shoes. Pick up a day pass for bus or tube (available at tube stations). I liked the tube because it's so easy to figure out. I always found I wasted time trying to figure out which bus went where & where the bus stop was on a roadway. In a hurry, the tube is quick to decipher.
But you see nothing of London from the tube and you do from a bus. There are very few of the old style London doubledeckers left - you might want to look for one before they're all retired.
You get a great flavor of London life from the tube.... benefits to each. Cabs are very expensive, but quick. You probably want to take a black cab just for the experience.
I might start walking at the north side of Kensington Gardens south to the Round Pond, visit Kensington Palace for a bit, wrap around to Albert Memorial & Albert Hall. Grab a black cab over to Harrod's - take the Egyptian escalator up to the food halls and the toy floor, stopping in a Harrod's shop on the way out. Tear yourself away to a cab, tube or bus to Horse Guards, where you can walk on to Buckingham Palace. Walk around it to the north side at Hyde park & continue on to the Mall.
Grab a ride to Westminster Abbey, then walk on to Big Ben. Go up to 10 Downing (maybe the War Rooms too) then across the river to the London Eye. Then grab a ride to Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Come back through the City to St Paul's. On to Covent Garden and Trafalgar Sq. then Picadilly. Then all you'd be missing would be shopping streets near the Ritz, and the West End.
All of this would be done under a stop-and-see type of viewing - nothing in depth. But you'd have an idea if you wanted to come back. If not, you'd feel like you'd seen it for your one and only time in London.
There is at least one, two if I remember right, bus companies that do tours. They offer on and off tours with guides. You can get off at any stop and back on any other bus. Sit up above or below, and you get a great explanation of everything you pass with lots of facts. It's like the above description with less hassle & more information.

tattyhead65

I would recommend the London Eye to begin with. You'd get a birds-eye view of many of the London sights and could then make you're mind up on which ones to visit.

Epistomolus

I had only one day in London. I went to the Tower of London, which was fantastic for me, because I really enjoy museums and antiquities (and, of course, you get to see the crown jewels, which are stunning, even to a guy like me who could pretty much care less about jewelry). And there are those guards who aren't supposed to smile. The Tower of London covers much of the standard London tourist experience and you can see the whole thing in a couple of hours.

The other thing I did in London was go to the Museum of the Moving Image, on the advice of a friend. That was a terrific, interactive museum of t.v., film, and particularly some of the early forms of moving pictures such as the fantasmagore. I was completely enthralled.

But, as you may have already guessed, I love museums. ;-)

Michael da Man

Take one of the bus tours that include a river cruise down the Thames.

Chris C

I am uncertain where you are (airport or central London?); but, lets assume that you are in central London. I have stayed many, many times in London and many lay-overs to fly into other parts of the continent - sometimes with a few hours in London which I could explore on a limited basis.

I think if its your first time and you are limited, then the best thing to do is just to get out and WALK! (If you are in LHR or Gatwick, then you need to hire a car to get out to central LON). The best is walking about Trafalgar Sqr and soaking up the city, itself. I find there is no need to have a set agenda of things to do and see because there is so much to soak in just by walking around London - that its best if you avoid the pressure of having to dash about on a set itinerary.

Explore the city - also you can quickly learn the way of "the Tube"/underground and use that if your hotel is away from central London. Just by exploring on foot, you should find many unique shops, districts and sights/sounds which will be so memorable that its best to keep without a set agenda. Having no agenda lets you be open to all types of experiences while visiting on foot to see as much as possible in this great walking city. (I recommend the book "London Walks")

Have fun!!
Chris "Is that Big Ben or are you just happy to see me" C

straightnochaser

Well, after visiting London a few times myself, I'd have to say my favorite and most memorable place to visity was Portobello Road. It was the place where I felt I met REAL Londoners. nice little restaurants, nice little shops that sell everything from clothes to bricabrac, and of course bars, from late night clubs to casual pubs that play a variety of music (when I was there, drum and bass was big). I visited the usual sights, but whenever i travel I like to see what the regular inhabitants do, not just the ones who work where the tourists go. Picadilly Circus was nice, the New Tate museum was fantastic, and seeing to Tower Bridge and Big Ben, etc, was cool, but I felt so relaxed hanging on out Portobello. Met some cool people, shopped for albums at a little outdoor flea market (they have one every weekend I believe, but I think it's a little cold there right now). I even hung out with an 80 year old Irish guy who drank with me and told me that whenever I was in Ireland, I could stay with him and his MOTHER (man, how old must she be?!) But I went back there almost every night I was in London, every time. But that's just me.

redJimbo

once a cab driver in Arran advised me- 'don't listen to other people, just go to any place that you feel like going and enjoy every moment of it'. So my advise is... go to the underground station, check out the map and go. Be prepared to do lots of WALKING in between the stations. good luck!

I Care, So I Share....

by all means pop over and see the Queen!!

toddk57@sbcglobal.net

hi :You can visit the famous " London Bridge or Tower those
two historical sites because they'd has been built "
refer http://www.london.bridgehistoricalsite.com

Sean P

PALACE CHANGING OF THE GUARD, BIG BEN, TOWER BRIDGE TOUR, English Pub at night.

Ralph

Westminster Cathedral.You will love it.

the London Eye

S K

To know the people, to know the locals. And to do so, you have to go in local streets and markets by walk. Though I am yet to get London to experiance that ;).

Arpit M

the london bridge, the most pretty scene of sunset at bridge n even the lightings at night.

M B

a pint in a pub

Alice K

The London eye is always a great day out, although it doesnt really fill up much time. You could go to an art gallery maybe somewhre like the Tate Modern and the Tate Boat goes directly from the tate modern to the london eye. You could learn about british history and go to The Imperial War Museam, or The Natural History although if you were to go sightseeing you'll get more of 'London'. Or you could go shopping! The Pancake House in Holburn is my best place where they have big panackes.

chefgrille

Wow, it's been 14 years since I did a one day/night stay in London. We bought a pass for the Tube only up to the third tier. My friend was Scottish so she knew the sights. We took the doubledeckers around the city, saw Big Ben, Westminster, Tate Gallery, Hyde Park, the Hard Rock, fed pigeons in Trafalgar Square, saw Piccadilly Square, Buckingham Palace, the place where the Prime Minister lives, went shopping at Harrod's and on Baker Street, and drinking at a small pub near King's Cross?

Wow you brought back memories. We were only 19 years old and were on a tight budget. It was a lot of sight-seeing and a lot of walking. But incredibly fun. I can't wait to take my husband there and spend some more time!

grk_tigris

I did this 2 years ago on my way home from the canary islands to atlanta. I had a 36 hour layover in london. The best way to see as much as possible in a short period that I found was to purchase a ticket for The Original tour or BIg Bus tour. These are what you call hop on hop off tours. You can get off at any location along the tour walk around and then hop back on the next bus passing by. The tickets are good for 24 hours. A lot of things have long lines but this is a good way to get a taste. It helped me decide on a list of places I want to see next time I have more time in London.

Hope this helps

United_Peace

I can only guess that you're a young and energetic couple. My suggestions really depends whether you've visited London before.

If no, I'd suggest taking the Big Bus tour of London to give you the range of London highlights:
http://www.rockgarden.co.uk/bigbus.asp

If yes, I'd suggest
1. Get a printout of a copy of the London Tube to mark the tube stations to the places of interests and print out of the area.

http://cache.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/colourmap.pdf

2. For some quaint, unusual, and unforgettable experiences:

a; A half day walking around the Canden Town region where London's Punk World exists - it's filled with shops selling leather goods and just about anyjing out of this world
http://www.e-margaux.com/en/story/camden/index.htm
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-89784.html

b. A half day walking around the Notting Hill Gate region where Hugh Grant's Notting Hill was filmed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notting_Hill

c. Spend the evening walking the streets of Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. You might not want to miss visiting London's most famous "Fortnum's" (Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 10:00AM - 7:30PM. Sunday 12:00PM - 6:30PM)!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Circus
http://www.coventgarden.uk.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square
http://www.ukstuff.com/fortnum.html

If you plan to be in London during a weekend, try dropping in at one of the weekend markets - I've always regard these to be a fun way to meet the London locals!
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/home_feat_where_markets_weekend.asp
Good luck and Bon Voyage...

manhattanmaryanne

lucky you!!! check into a posh hotel.....claridge..connaught.....ritz.....
go to an elegant restaurant..
walk along the thames....

little_jo_uk

The London Eye. Book your ticket in advance so you can jump the queue.

rainbowtabby

Tower of London, and the theatre district.Lot of walking, you get to walk across London Bridge and view the Thames. A great taste of British history, romance and culture in 24 hours.

tasrshorting

get a bus pass then see Westminster Abby, eye Hyde park Harrods tower of London, Piccadilly circus. can do in 1 day with bus pass

Adam J

One recommendation if its a weekday-- go to the Tower of London immediately before it opens. When I went (and granted this was a decade ago so the crowd might have gotten worse) we were able to walk right in, go directly to the crown jewels and look around without waiting in line. By noon the line was two hours long.

I also highly recommend the British Museum--which should be free, so no standing in line for tickets.

bekarash

STRONGLY RECO: Buy a 24hr ticket on hop on hop off bus. It will take you around to top stops. Like any other hop-on it is a bit expensive but I think worth the money. Very good commentary and a nice open roof buses. Go to Leicester Square in the night. Best Wishes.

James_Bond

Enjoy making love with your hubby in the world's busiest city, try to kiss him on the street, say him that you love him on the bus....u know what to do

uoptiger_79

Day - London Eye, bus tour of London, get a one day travel pass,
lunch on the Thames, Piccadilly, walking tour, check news paper for what's happening in London, go to Harrods, British National Museum, changing of the guard
Evening- go out to dinner, see a play, go to a club

kay1-4skies

You should visit places like london eye, Queen's palace and many other places around there cos I being tere in one day before.

EmmaBee

I went to London a few years ago for five days, and it was such a hurried, packed trip that I regretfully do not remember much of it. The parts I do remember are the ones that interested me the most. Unless it's been a longtime dream of yours, don't spend alot of time in the museums- it's full of stuff you can see pictures of and it's rarely, if ever, a point of coversation (one of the reasons I went was because I thought I should go). I can tell you my favorite parts were:
1. Visiting Windsor Castle
2. Browsing Blackwell's Bookshop, which is the largest bookstore in the Oxford (their top floor is used books, and their basement has over 160,000 books on more than three miles of shelves; it's in the Guinness Book of Records for having the largest display of books for sale in one room anywhere in the world)
3. Going to Shakespeare's Globe Theater (there is a wonderful gift shop with incredible Shakespeare-themed things)
4. Strolling through Regent's Park (the most beautiful garden/park I have, without a doubt, ever seen; this was my absolute favorite part about London)
And of course, it's wonderful to sightsee Tower Bridge, Westminister Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, etc. If there is any advice I can give, it's that no matter where you go and what you do, write about it. Even if it's just a few sentences about a place or feeling, this journaling will be priceless for later memories. I carried around a tiny memo notebook and jotted down the pictures I took (which helped me identify the photos later) and my favorite parts of the day. Have a wonderful time!

What is the best thing for me to do in london if i only have a day? pic 1
What is the best thing for me to do in london if i only have a day? pic 2
What is the best thing for me to do in london if i only have a day? pic 3
What is the best thing for me to do in london if i only have a day? pic 4

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: