24 Hour Itinerary in London

Whether you’ve just landed from the red eye or waking up fresh, you’re ready for a day of exploring! Figure out the nearest Tube station and make your way there! Stopping at a Cafe Nero or Pret for a morning coffee and croissant (I know we have these in the US but you will soon realize, every chain is better in Europe).

At the Tube? Good, take it to the Westminster stop (Circle/District/Jubilee).

Get to these big sights early to beat the crowds, let them take your breath away, walk through Westminster, check out 10 Downing where you can see a Changing of the Guards and (unsuccessfully) attempt to make them laugh, before heading into Westminster Abbey with your in-person or audio guide, it’s definitely a wow moment.

Late Spring/Summer/Early Fall: Walk down to the Wharf and hop on a boat! Seeing London from the Thames is a truly unique experience and you’re able to get an unobstructed view of all the amazing sites!

Too cold or raining? No problem! Hop back on the tube and head to Monument (Circle/District) if you want a walk or London Bridge if you want to get where you’re going (Jubilee).

I still have dreams of Borough Market, it’s the most amazing market I’ve ever been to and I can’t imagine a better place to grab lunch. Walk through the stalls, taste the free samples, grab lunch and sit on one of the benches and just take it all in! Leaving so soon? Not so fast, make a pit stop for the best hot nuts you can imagine and hold onto ‘em for later!

From there, take a walk along the Thames and across Millennium Bridge, don’t worry it’s been repaired since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s followers destroyed it in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (oh right that wasn’t real) and end up at your next stop.

It is truly a sight to behold, sit in the square and enjoy some of your nuts (even if it’s raining) before heading up the steps to take it all in. Buy a ticket in person or online and explore the Cathedral floor, crypts, and Galleries, learn about the structure and take in a one-of-a-kind view of London from the top of the Dome.

Alright, back to the Tube! Get off at St James Park and walk through, St James is my favorite park because of all the beautiful gardens and ponds and because you turn a corner and BAM you’re at your next stop!

It’s literally a palace in the middle of the city, the first time I saw it close up I LITERALLY stumbled into it. My situational awareness has gotten a lot better. You can’t go in unless you’re visiting in August and get tickets ahead of time but you can see the changing of the guards, take pictures, and wave to the Queen before heading off to your next stop.

You’ve earned a drink! And some time off the tube! So walk through Hyde Park and Mayfair, walking down Regents Street, maybe through Fortnum and Mason or just window shopping for about 20 minutes until you reach your next destination.

Treat yourself to a classic Afternoon Tea or their signature tea with bubbles (You deserve it!). Sketch is made up of multiple rooms and is said to be the most beautiful restaurant in London, I haven’t been yet (when I go you know I’ll review it) but I loved doing tea while I lived in London. It’s a right of passage, you gotta do it.

Refreshed? Good. Take a quick stroll down Carnaby Street, poking into the cute little shops and make your way back to the tube. Hop on a quick ride down to Knightsbridge and get out at your next stop...a place unlike any other.

The first time I went to Harrods I described it as “The most insane shopping experience of my life” and I didn’t even buy anything. I take that back, I bought a piggy bank souvenir. It’s truly a sensory overload, between the food halls, the different floors, the odd restaurant or bar tucked away somewhere it really is overwhelming, and very easy to get lost. If you do find your way stop by one of the bars and just sip some champs and people watch.

Ahh, what a nice break. You’ve navigated walking and tube-riding all day so instead, grab a black cab or an Uber and head to dinner, and what’s more perfect after a long day than a quintessential English pub?

Before the Churchill Arms became insta-famous for its insane flower arrangements on the outside windows, it was my favorite spot in Notting Hill. I can’t promise you’ll run into Hugh or Julia but I can promise classic, delicious English pub fare and ice cold beer!

Try a pear cider and a plate of fish and chips. Can’t go wrong! I know some people might be offended that I’m suggesting fish and chips in a pub instead of at a fish and chip shop and I understand there’s a difference between the two, but keep in mind this is one day, you can’t hit em all!

Quite the day you’ve had! But I think you deserve a nightcap, head back towards Mayfair via tube or Uber to the last stop of the day!

Where better to stop off for a night cap than Dukes, the spot where they INVENTED James Bond’s signature martini? Just make sure it’s shaken, not stirred.

There you have it! A perfect London day. There are, of course, things that had to be omitted (*cough* Platform 9 ¾ *cough*) but there are other days to check those off your list, for now, head back to your hotel and get some rest, you did it!

Quick Tips and Tricks

Fill up your oyster card at the beginning of your trip. TRUST. There is no quicker or easier way around London than the tube. Also, if you don’t want to look like a tourist then do not talk on the tube, that is a dead giveaway, trains are legit silent. Buy as many tickets as possible in advance, it will help with beating the other tourists and avoiding lines at the top spots. COMFORTABLE SHOES. I mean. Duh.