London is the place to go if you want to visit beautiful sites and create a memorable day! Below, find the ultimate guide to a day trip in London.
If you are looking for a fun trip during your time off, then the great city of London has everything you might want! Understandably, you’d like to pack as much sightseeing into your trip as humanly possible. London is a beautiful place to visit because it has so many attractions.
London is so great that you may enjoy the city for an entire day without breaking the bank. Even if you are only there for one day, it’s still possible to visit all the famous sights the city offers!
If you are looking to plan out a short yet perfect trip to London, then don’t worry; we’ve got you covered!
In this article, you’ll find the ultimate guide to a day trip in London that ensures you don’t miss out on the best parts.
When Should You Plan the Trip
People all around the globe wish to visit London and admire all its glorious monuments. However, due to tight schedules, some people struggle even to consider planning the trip, as they believe that it might simply be a waste of time if you don’t have a couple of days to look around and indulge yourself in what this beautiful English city offers.
That being said, although some may not prefer to make a rushed plan, you should take advantage of a short layover in London and explore the city for a memorable experience.
Lucky for you, London’s transportation systems have made it possible to visit several locations in under a day!
Now, let’s start with the first dilemma, which is how you should plan your journey around London.
When it rains or shines, London is still London, which means there are always exciting events to attend. We recommend May through August as this period represents the best time to visit London when the weather is warm, and the crowds are thin.
That being said, although temperatures in London during the winter are typically only a few degrees above freezing, there is still something quite appealing about visiting London during the last quarter of the year. In Particular, the Christmas season in London is breathtakingly beautiful.
London is beautiful regardless of the season, thanks to the city’s greenery and stunning architecture. When you should go there, the seasons will offer a variety of thrilling activities and gorgeous sights to take in. It is ultimately up to your preference and when you have idle time to spare.
Starting the Journey in London
London is a large city, and popular tourist spots are all over the map. When planning for the day, it mainly depends on where you are staying as you are going to start your journey from there. There are various transportation methods available to you; the tubes, tourist buses, or even renting a car can get you where you want to be!
One good way to start your day is by using the Emirates Cable Car. This form of transportation goes over the River Thames at North Greenwich and offers a fairly decent view. Not only is traveling this way cheap, but if you have kids around three and four, you’re in luck as they require no fees whatsoever.
The tubes, make it very easy for you to go from one destination to another without wasting much time, making it possible for you to visit several tourist attractions within a matter of hours. The best part of it is that whether you’re using the tubes, or busses, touring London is cheap, which helps keep your vacation budget-friendly!
The Best Spots in London
Now that we have talked a bit about when you should plan such a trip and where to start touring, it’s time we take a look at some of the best sites London offers. So let’s get right to it!
- Big Ben in Westminister
Any ultimate guide to a day trip in London is incomplete if we don’t recommend one of the most popular sites in England, Big Ben (Aka, the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminister). This place is so popular that large crowds tend to show up as early as 11 in the morning! So, the best course of action would be to go there as early as possible before you get caught up in a large crowd.
Big Ben is an absolute eye-candy as it is, but it also offers another close location to visit after you are done looking around the London Eye. This is another mesmerizing site to see in Westminister.
Furthermore, if these two locations weren’t enough, there’s also the Westminister Abbey, where royal weddings and funerals have taken place many times. You can take a look inside by paying a small fee, or you can also admire the beauty of the houses of parliaments from outside.
- Buckingham Palace
Up next in this list of spectacular sites to visit in London we have one of the most famous palaces on all of Earth, Buckingham Palace. Even if you miss out on other great locations in this ultimate guide to a day trip in London, visiting Buckingham Palace is a must!
Location of the current monarch’s residence and frequent balcony appearances for royal wave-bys, the 39-acre Buckingham Palace grounds are home to Europe’s largest private garden. Sad to say, the best viewpoint for the majority of us common folk is really outside the palace’s front gates.
Still, it’s one of the most exciting things to do in London, as the royal guards march around and patrol the area. After all, it’s a site we’ve only seen in movies and pictures before.
- Leicester Square
Leicester Square in London’s West End is home to more than simply the city’s film premieres on the red carpet. The public area features shops, restaurants, and bars during the day and theaters, clubs, and other entertainment options at night.
London’s Chinatown and Trafalgar Square are also nearby, making the region great for tourists and locals. Popular restaurants, excellent theatres, and historical landmarks attract travelers worldwide to come and enjoy the delights that Leicester Square offers.
As mentioned earlier, going to Leicester Square puts you at a great advantage as other focal points of London are just around the corner! Trafalgar Square is one of the most important squares in London as it was built in 1830 to commemorate the great victory of the British over the French and the Spanish forces in the battle of Trafalgar.
Not only is the area an absolute eye candy, but there is also the Nelsons column, which serves as the perfect cherry on top for this stop in your journey. Usually, Trafalgar Square is an excellent area for going on a walk and taking in the sites, but when it’s time for celebration and festivities, the square is packed with entertainment and stalls! If you go to London around the time of the festivals (Christmas, for example), then we strongly recommend making the time to go here.
- ST Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge & Tate Modern
One of the people’s favorite places to visit in London is the ST Paul’s Cathedral, a magnificent building with gardens surrounding the great structure. Approximately 1.7 million people visit St. Paul’s Cathedral in London yearly because of its famed architecture.
Furthermore, Up to 3500 people can be accommodated in the cathedral without feeling cramped. The building’s impressive design and the breathtaking sights from its dome make it a must-see for any visitor to London.
Afterward, you should consider crossing the Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian-only bridge that offers an enjoyable stroll across to another great tourist site, Tate Modern. It is situated on the Southwark, across the river Thames, and is commonly known for frequently hosting first-rate shows and thought-provoking pop-ups.
If it’s hot outside, come here to cool off, and if it’s raining, come here to get dry! Furthermore, Tate Modern’s gift shop is always a great stop when looking for a chic souvenir. There are also no additional fees to enter the exhibition either.
- London Bridge & The Tower of London
Lastly, you can complete your tour by visiting London bridge and the tower of London. Both are popular tourist locations to visit when you are in the city, according to our ultimate guide to a day trip in London. While on your way to the tower, you’ll be going under the London bridge, which presents an incredible view to enjoy.
Afterward, your ride will stop at the London tower, which is just as impressive! As you are running on a tight schedule, you may not be able to go inside the building, but it is still worth visiting the area around the Tower of London.
Even if you don’t plan on going inside the stronghold, you can get some wonderful shots with your camera of both the tower and the bridge with your camera.
There is also the Traitor’s gate, where prisoners used to be brought to be hung in the past, and visiting the place makes for quite a memorable tale!
In Conclusion
More than 27 million tourists visit London annually to take in the sites and indulge themselves in the culture.
With its incomparable beauty, London has become one of the most visited cities in all of Europe, and not seeing what the great city has to offer at least once in your life, regardless of how short the trip ends up being, Never visiting is a regret you do not want!
We hope that this article served well as the ultimate guide to a day trip in London, and we wish you good luck in your future adventures.
