Walk the city, explore the old cathedral’s, visit the Buckingham Palace, enjoy an English breakfast, ride on a double decker bus, or walk the beautiful parks.. these are some of the things that you can enjoy when you’re visiting London.
London is an old and beautiful city filled with old world architecture, cathedrals, museums, the Buckingham Palace, and delicious restaurants. In this Itinerary you will see how to spend time enjoying what the city has to offer.
About this London Itinerary
When we explored London, we were passing through on a 17ish day trip through Europe. The flight to from Boston, MA to London was inexpensive ($197.50 to be exact) and we figured while we were here, why not stay an extra day and explore?
Please note that this is based off of what we did and the prices we paid. It is important to check the websites, which are provided, ahead of time to ensure dates, times, and prices as some of them change often. Most of the tours we did were purchased ahead of time and then we filled in the rest of our time with the other attractions we wanted to see, but were not sure if we would have time. In this Itinerary, I’ll walk you through how to maximize your time in London.
Best things things to do in London
- Double Decker Bus Tour
- Thames River Cruise
- Ride the London Eye
- Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Walk St. James Park
- Visit Buckingham Palace
- Walk the city
- Enjoy a full English Breakfast
London Itinerary Day 1
Double decker bus tour, Thames River cruise, London Eye, and good food
Welcome to London, I hope you enjoy your stay!
On our first day in London we got into the London Gatwick Airport around 10:00am. We had purchased tickets for the double decker bus tour, the Thames River cruise, and the London Eye ahead of time so we knew we were on a schedule for these. We bought tickets and boarded the Gatwick Express from the airport and rode it for a little over 30 minutes to the London Victoria station. From here, we got our tickets for the double decker bus tour and started our day.
- 10:00am: Flight lands in London
- 11:00am: Get tickets/board the Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour
- 11:45am: Thames River Cruise
- 1:00pm: Lunch
- 2:00pm: London Eye
- 3:00pm: Check into hotel and settle in
- 5:00pm: Explore and get food
- 8:00pm: Settle into the hotel
11:00am: Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour
After finding the pick up location near Victoria station for the Golden Tours, we boarded the double decker bus and started our day of exploring. The ticket we purchased was good for 24 hours, so we were able to use it for transportation whenever we needed/wanted to. We rode from the London Victoria station to the bus stop at the end of the Westminster Bridge Rd, across from the Queens Walk leading to the London Eye. Along the ride, from the top of the bus, we were able to enjoy the day and see tons of old buildings and churches.
How to get tickets for the Golden Tours London Hop-On Hop-Off Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour
Hours: There are no specific hours on when you can hop onto the bus. Once you have purchased your ticket online you can hop onto any bus at any station. Once you hop on, your 24 hour window starts. You can then get onto any of these specific buses and use it to get to any location making this a cheaper option than Uber or taxis (but also get that London taxi experience at least once, it’s worth it).
Cost: $58.50 for the 24 hour ticket. Make sure to check pricing ahead of time as it can change.
Website: You can purchase your ticket here through Viator.
Getting Here: You can hop onto any of these specific buses at any of their stops. When you first enter you are given a map of all of the bus stop locations where they pick up and drop off at. You can also download the app CityMapper which shows all transportation options available.
11:45am: Thames River Cruise
The Thames River cruise, hosted by The lastminute.com London Eye, was more than we could have imagined. The boat arrived at the time given and lasted just as long as they said. We cruised down the river and passed along the Elizabeth Tower (also known as Big Ben – which is actually the name of the bell inside the Elizabeth tower), turned around, and cruised down the other side of the river where we passed under the multiple bridges such as the Millennium, London and Tower bridge. I cannot remember our tour guides name, but she was amazing and taught us so many facts about the sights we were seeing. For example, most people confuse the London and Tower bridge. The Tower bridge, seen below, is the most famous bridge in London, but most think it is called the London Bridge.
The further down we went on the river the more sights we were able to see. It was kind of interesting to see the old buildings mixed with the new on this side of the river. I actually didn’t know that were were so many newly constructed buildings in London so it was kind of a shock to see, but also cool at the same time. When we got past the Tower bridge we turned around and made our way back to the pier. On this ride back, it was easier to look at other sights that you either quickly glanced at or completely missed, especially since the tour guide focused on one side on the way down and the other side on the way back.
The boat ride itself was amazing, there were bathrooms and a bar on the boat, and there was a nice breeze on the warm summer day. There was no shade on the top of the boat so when you were directly in the sun, it was hot. If you burn easy, I highly recommend having sunscreen with you. And water!
How to get tickets for the Thames River Cruise
Hours: There are multiple options for time slots throughout the day on the TripAdvisor site. We wanted to do this as early as possible (after we got off the plane) to try and beat the crowds in the late afternoon and 11:45am was the earliest. You have to pick a time slot for the river cruise, but there is no set time to ride the London Eye.
Cost: $52.12 for a 40 minute river cruise on the Thames River and a ride on the London Eye.
Website: You can purchase your ticket here through TripAdvisor.
Getting Here: Both the river cruise and the London Eye are located right next to each other at the London Eye Waterloo Pier, London 1SW1A 1AE, UK.
1:00pm: Beer from The Hop Locker and lunch from Truffle Burger
After the Thames River cruise ended we were going to head straight to the London Eye, but the line was long and we were hungry. We decided to walk down The Queen’s Walk to see if we could find any food. There were multiple places to grab food and drinks along the river and under the Hungerford and Golden Jubilee Bridges. We decided on grabbing beer from The Hop Locker and burgers from Truffle Burger.
The Hop Locker had a big selection of both drafts and cans as well as mixed drinks. We both got a pint of the Lost + Grounded Brewers beer the Keller Pils Lager for £6.50 each, £13.00 total. The bartenders here were super friendly and offered suggestions as we were not from the area. I also enjoyed the vibes from the decor and the hanging lights. Even though we were under a bridge, it felt light and bright.
Once we got our beers and found a table, we grabbed food from Truffle Burger. I went with the Veggie Truffle Burger for £11.50 and my partner went with The Truffle Burger for £10.85, for a total of £22.35. We also added an order of the truffle fries with parmesan for £4.20. We sat and ate our burgers, drank our beer, and took in the area for another half hour or so before heading back to ride the London Eye.
The Hop Locker
Hours: Friday: 12 noon – 9pm. Saturday: 11am – 9pm. Sunday: 12 noon – 6pm (or 11am – 9pm when a Bank holiday Monday follows).
Cost: Beer: Half pours were £3.25 and full pours were £6.50 to £7.50, depending on the ABV%. Drinks ranged from £6.00 to £9.00.
Website: You can look at their menu here or their Instagram here.
Getting Here: Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, London, United Kingdom.
Truffle Burger
Hours: Open from May until October. Sunday through Thursday 12pm-10pm. Friday and Saturday 12pm-11pm.
Cost: The burgers range from £10.50 – £11.85. Sides range from £4.20 to £7.50.
Website: You can look at their menu here or their Instagram here.
Getting Here: Under Hungerford Bridge, 30 The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 8XX, United Kingdom.
2:00pm: London Eye
I feel like if you visit London and you have time to ride the London Eye, you should. Yes, it’s a tourist attraction, but it’s a cool experience. Not only is it a cool experience, but each capsule comes with air conditioning for those hot summer days.
When we made our way back to the London Eye the line was much smaller so getting on was quick and easy. We shared our capsule with two other groups of two and they were respectful of everyone splitting the time to take photos. This attraction provides you with a 360 view of the city which is something you wouldn’t be able to see otherwise.
There are other ticket options to just get the London Eye and not the Thames River cruise, but I highly recommend getting the combo because both are worth it.
How to get tickets for the London Eye
Hours: When buying the tickets from TripAdvisor, you pick a time for the river cruise, but not for the London Eye. You are able to jump onto the London Eye whenever you want, after your tickets have been scanned from the river cruise. During the week the London Eye closes at 6pm and on the weekends 8:30pm so make sure to hop on before closing time.
Cost: $52.12 for a 40 minute river cruise on the Thames River and a ride on the London Eye.
Website: You can purchase your ticket here through TripAdvisor.
Getting Here: Both the river cruise and the London Eye are located right next to each other at the London Eye Waterloo Pier, London 1SW1A 1AE, UK.
3:00pm: Check into St. Athans Hotel and explore
So this was my first experience with a hotel that had more of a hostel feel. The rooms were smaller and there was only 1 bathroom per floor, which included both the toilet and shower, and they were shared. At first I wasn’t a fan of this set up, but after settling it, it really was a good place to stay for the night. It was in a good location and it was decently priced compared to others in the area. The staff was nice and they even provided us with a fan (as there was no air conditioning) when we requested one. The location was only a quick walk from local shops and restaurants.
The three of us shared a room with one double bed, one single bed, a sink, and an armoire. It was tight quarters, but after a long flight to London, spending the day exploring and sweating, and having a similar experience the following day, it was a great stay for £179.00 (split three ways for £59).
St. Athans Hotel
Hours: This hotel has a 24/7 front desk, so you are able to check in/get assistance at any time.
Cost: £179.00 for one night. We split this three ways so we each paid around £59.
Website: We booked through Expedia here but you can also use their website here.
Getting Here: 20 Tavistock Pl, London WC1N 1JP, United Kingdom.
5:00pm: Dinner and drinks at the Museum Tavern
After we checked into the hotel and got settled in we went out exploring this side of the city. After walking around for a bit we got hungry and ended up stumbling upon the Museum Tavern and we were so happy we did. This place was small, but comfortable and cozy. They had a lot of beer options as well as mixed drinks and an entire food menu. We got the cask bitter (which was phenomenal) for £9.00, a Pink Spritz for £9.00, an appetizer of shrimp and sausage on bread (seen below, but not on the menu any longer), the Sirloin Steak for £18.45, and a side of seasoned fries (which were also phenomenal) for £3.25.
We stayed here for a few hours hanging out and chatting with an older gentleman from the area. We shared stories on our daily lives and how things have changed in the world. It was refreshing to be able to sit and chat with a local and learn more about the daily lives of those in London.
Museum Tavern
Hours: Sunday 11:00am – 10:30pm. Monday through Thursday 11:00am – 11:00pm. Friday and Saturday 11:00am – 12:00am.
Cost: Food is £10–20. Drinks and spritz, as seen above, are around £9.00.
Website: You can check out their website here.
Getting Here: 49 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3BA, United Kingdom.
London Itinerary Day 2
Full English Breakfast, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, lunch, Airport
After having a great first day, getting lots of rest, and waking up early, we were ready for another long and fun filled day. We didn’t purchase any tours for the second day so we just decided to wing it. We checked out of the hotel around 9:00am and went on a search for coffee and breakfast.
- 9:00am: Check out of Hotel and explore
- 10:00am: English Breakfast at Water Rats
- 12:00pm: St. Paul’s Cathedral
- 1:00pm: St. James Park
- 2:00pm: Buckingham Palace
- 3:00pm: Lunch at The Phoenix
- 5:00pm: Catch the Piccadilly to the airport
- 6:00pm: Dinner and waiting at the airport to head to Paris, France
10:00am: English Breakfast at the Water Rats
After walking around we found The Water Rats where we enjoyed a full English breakfast with English tea. The full English breakfast was £12.50 with a side of tea for an extra £6.00. This seems so small, but getting a full English breakfast was high on my list of things to do while visiting London. The atmosphere and staff here were welcoming and the food was delicious.
We were not aware when we were there that this restaurant has some history to it. The Water Rats is also a live music and theatre venue and has hosted some popular artists throughout the years, being Bob Dylan’s first UK gig in 1962.
The Water Rats
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 8am – 12am. Friday and Saturday 8am – 1am.
Cost: Breakfast prices range from £7.75 to £12.50.
Website: You can check out their website here.
Getting Here: 328 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8BZ, United Kingdom.
12:00pm: St. Paul’s Cathedral
This is a must when visiting London, especially if you like old churches and cathedrals. I was amazed by the architecture when walking up to the cathedral, but further amazed when I walked in. The ceilings, the walls, the windows, the arches, the artwork, and the attention to detail.. just incredible. Being able to walk through and see it all in person was truly magical and is something that I will remember. A pass for £25.00 was totally worth it to see everything that was inside.
How to get tickets for St. Paul’s Cathedral
Hours: The Cathedral is open Monday to Saturday for sightseeing. The doors open at 8.30am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 10am on Wednesdays with the last entry being at 4pm. Check the daily calendar to ensure that times have not changed for that specific day.
Cost: Single day ticket, which is what we got, was £25.00.
Website: You can check out their website here. You can purchase tickets online or at the ticket booth in person.
Getting Here: 3St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom.
1:00pm: St. James Park
We walked through St. James Park on our way to Buckingham Palace and it was beautiful. There were swans and ducks sun bathing in the ponds, tons of artists set up taking in the beauty with each stroke of their brushes, people relaxing and reading under the trees, and friends walking and laughing together. It was quiet and peaceful, but loud from the excitement everyone had while enjoying their day. If you like nature and want a more peaceful and laid back activity, walk the park and enjoy the sunshine.
St. James Park
Hours: The park is open 5am – 12am.
Cost: Free!
Website: You can check out their website here.
Getting Here: London SW1A 2BJ, United Kingdom.
2:00pm: Buckingham Palace
Since we didn’t plan ahead for touring the inside of the Buckingham Palace, we had to enjoy it from outside the gates. The palace gardens were still in full bloom, the sun was shining, we got to see the guards from the movies and the palace up close, so it was worth it. There were big crowds, but once people got their pictures they cleared out pretty quickly.
If we visit again with more time, we would do a tour of the inside and maybe even have some tea.
Buckingham Palace
Hours: We did not do a tour of the palace as we had limited time, so we just walked around the grounds.
Cost: Free!
Website: You can check out their website here.
Getting Here: London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom.
3:00pm: Lunch at The Phoenix
As we had done before, we explored until we got hungry and found a place to eat. We saw a sign that said rooftop bar and we were sold. We sat on the enclosed rooftop bar first, but because the city was having a heat wave, it was too hot. We ended up moving and sitting at the bar area in the upstairs and we were the only ones up there for the longest time.
The bartender upstairs was friendly and super helpful. The atmosphere here was bright and fancy-ish. We ordered beer and an Aperol spritz (something I found that I really liked and order most places in Europe) for around £19. For lunch we ordered Young’s fish & chips and a special raw salmon dish (not on the menu any longer) for around £29. Even for this being one of the more expensive places we went to in London, it is still fairly inexpensive.
You can book reservations online, but we were able to walk in and get sat with no issues during the afternoon.
The Phoenix
Hours: Sunday 11am – 10:30pm. Monday through Wednesday 11am – 11pm. Thursday 11am – 11:30pm. Friday and Saturday 11am – 12pm.
Cost: Starters range from £4.00 to £13.50. Entrees range from £18.00 to £38.00. Drinks range from £9.75 to £12.50.
Website: You can check out their website here.
Getting Here: 14 Palace St, London SW1E 5JA, United Kingdom
5:00pm: Catch the Piccadilly to Heathrow Airport to wait for flight to Paris, France
After finishing lunch we made our way back to the London Victoria Station where we took the Piccadilly line to Heathrow Airport for £6.70. At the airport we grabbed food and drinks while we waited for our flight to Paris, France.
Piccadilly to the airport and flight to Paris, France
Hours: The Piccadilly tube line operates everyday. Regular schedule hours: 00:05 – 23:44. Check their website or the CityMapper app to see when the next runs are.
Cost: The ticket from the Piccadilly line at Victoria Station to Heathrow Airport was around £6.70. The flight from London to Paris was $78.42.
Website: We purchased our tickets from the ticket booth at the Victoria Station. They do have a site here.
Getting Here: Victoria St, London SW1E 5ND, United Kingdom.
How to get around London
A lot of the popular attractions in London are located around each other, however, there are some that you may not be able to walk to as quickly.
There are multiple ways to get around such as taxis, Ubers, trains, or buses. When we landed at the London Gatwick Airport we took the Gatwick Express to London Victoria. The train ride was a little over 30 minutes and cost £20. Once we were in London and exploring we used the double decker bus the first day and part of the second day, an uber and a taxi. I must say, if you are able to wave down a taxi, do it just for the experience. Buying the double decker tour bus 24 hour ticket was well worth it since we could use it for both days and we didn’t have to pay for each ride to each location. The taxi and Uber ride were both a little more expensive.
Best time to visit London
From what we read ahead of time, most places said the best time to visit was from March – May and June – August. We visited in beginning of September and it was really enjoyable. The sites were not too packed, tourist season was coming to an end, and they actually had a heat wave roll through so both days were in the high 80s to low 90s.
Spring: This is a great time for sightseeing as the average temperature during the spring is 11°C to 15°C, but rain is possible so be prepared. The gardens all over London are blooming and it is before tourist season.
Summer: The average temperature during the summer is 21°C – 23°C. This is high tourist season and the weather can be hot and sticky so be prepared with light and loose clothing.
Fall: The average temperate during the fall is 12°C – 16°C with regular rainfall. There are more festivals and night life during this time.
Winter: The average temperate during the winter is 2°C-6°C. There won’t be a lot of tourists visiting during this time due to the cold but there are Christmas festivals.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do you need in London?
With the 20ish hours we spent in London, we definitely saw a lot of attractions. There are still a few more that we would have liked to do, but we picked the most important to us given our time constraints. I would think that 2 to 3 days would be ideal to see a lot of the main attractions in and around the city.
What shouldn’t you miss in London?
The attractions that we saw, we really enjoyed. I would say if you have time, you should definitely make time for the items below.
- Double Decker Bus Tour
- Thames River Cruise
- London Eye
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- St. James Park
- Buckingham Palace
- Eat an English breakfast
Have you been to London?
Have you been to London? Did we miss any places that we should add to our “next time” list? Let me know by contacting me via my social media links below or by email at hellopeaceofmindy@gmail.com.
