With tight schedules and heavy traffic, seeing the landmarks of London in just one day may sound overwhelming. That said, there are heaps of activities up for grabs despite the limited time at hand. This action-packed itinerary will showcase the best activities of London which can be covered in twenty four hours.
Top tips for Exploring London in a Day –
Enjoy your only day in London, luggage and hassle free. An independent luggage storage London lets you store luggage in certain restaurants and hotels that have spare space. It is £1 per item per hour and never more than £5 for 24 hours and bags are insured for up to £2200.The nice thing about such spaces is that bookings are flexible, so if you don’t show up, you won’t be charged. There are options to Store luggage in NYC and pretty much all major hubs in the world using reputed storage companies.
Distances between stations on the London underground can be confusing. You are actually better off if you walk from Covent Garden to Leicester Square, which takes five minutes, instead of taking the tube. Moreover, you will be missing out on many architectural delights if you spend most of the time travelling underground.
Begin at Covent Garden
(Two hours)
This former vegetable and fruit market has plenty of shopping venues. Check out on the street shows of some really good performers which attract a large number of people. Take a stroll around the cobbled streets and alleys towards Moomin Store, a unique boutique which is filled with everything quirky. Walking around is especially fun in the crisp UK winters.
Head to Leicester Square
(One hour)
Leicester Square is just a ten minutes walk from Covent Garden, said to be the center of London. The place is crammed with souvenir shops like the mega M&M mall, where you can buy anything you want if you have money to spare.
Walk to Piccadilly Circus
(Ninety minutes)
Another five minutes stroll will bring you to the iconic Piccadilly Circus and further to the main shopping areas of Regent Street and Oxford Circus. Piccadilly Circus features on many tourist brochures and picture postcards as it is a popular tourist attraction. The world’s largest toy store of Hamlets is located at Regent Street, and is a must visit even if you don’t intend to buy anything.
Have lunch at Chinatown
(One hour)
On the way back from Piccadilly Circus, you should make a slight detour to Chinatown, which lies a few streets before Leicester Square. This place has a cool atmosphere, unlike anywhere else in the UK and is a great place to enjoy some cheap and delicious Chinese food. There are many authentic outlets here which serve tasty buffet deals during lunchtime. This is an especially great option for those seeking to explore London on a budget.
Watch street shows at Trafalgar Square
(Two hours)
On the way back from Chinatown, walk by Leicester Square once again, towards another key landmark of London, Trafalgar Square. The infamous Nelson’s Column stands at this historic 1830 center. This tourist hotspot is always full of visitors, since at any time of the day you will find talented street artists performing. As many as thirty performers, mostly Yodas, fight with each other for the most lucrative spots in Trafalgar Square. The free to enter National Gallery lies at the top of Trafalgar Square and is a mecca for art lovers as it houses many priceless works of notable artists. For a quick view of Van Gogh’s masterpieces, head straight to room number 43 from the left.
Enjoy a West End Show
(Three hours)
We know you are short of time and may not have even heard of Phantom of the Opera or even Les Miserables, but there is no denying that you cannot leave London without watching one of the classic West End shows. The performances come at a hefty tag, but if you are lucky you can get a 50% discount on unsold tickets at the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
Finish at Blues Kitchen Shoreditch
After a hectic day it is time to relax and unwind before you leave this wonderful city. This blues kitchen and bar at Shoreditch serves some of the strongest cocktails and crispy chicken wings, with an all night live band playing swing blues in the background. The splendid mix of soul food and with a crop of over 100 bourbons, a high-octane late night evening is guaranteed.
We would recommend at least a week in London or more, there’s just too much to see in this fantastic bustling city.