quick tour london

This Is (Possibly) The Most Efficient Sightseeing Tour Of London

Pressed for time and want to see all the attractions , very quickly? This London sightseeing map is for you!

Have you ever wanted to go for a walk and hit up almost all of London’s sights in one fell swoop? Well, Redditor magulagie has the answer for you. They’ve created the ultimate London sightseeing map for tourists in a hurry. Just over five miles long on the map, it takes in a ton of London’s most iconic features, and if you avoid going inside any of the places you pass, it’ll only take about two hours to fly by them all! Who needs to be filled in on all the historic interiors, anyway?

It’s the perfect way to tick a lot of London tourist map boxes, fill up that Instagram story, or get your bearings for your first experience of London sightseeing . It’s like the Match of the Day of finding your way around London for the first time – and this one will hit like an injury-time winner.

Naturally, we had to give the sightseeing route a try for ourselves. And it definitely gets our seal of approval!

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You’ll start off at Trafalgar Square…

There’s no London walking tour map without Trafalgar Square , so we might as well kick things off with this roaring-statue-filled paradise of pigeons…and a slice of London’s history, of course. A mighty first spot, and one that Nelson would very much approve of being tucked into first place. Where else would we begin? Now get ready for a day of walking!

Take a stroll along the Mall…

When we say stroll, we mean a speedy one—we’ve got a time limit to adhere to, people! A route in honour of Queen Victoria has to be added to a London map of attractions, right? Well, not necessarily, but when it looks this grandiose, you’ll want to be making it your next stop on your sightseeing tour. On we march; our love of London building more and more with each stride…

Until you arrive at Buckingham Palace…

Can’t really miss this one, can you? The home of the Royal Family gazes out over the plush fields of Green Park and attracts millions of visitors each year. If you see King Charles , be sure to quiz him on whether he’s ticked off all these boxes on his London sightseeing tour. Will he be a mere poser on London attractions or a go-to knowledge box?

Then head along Birdcage Walk…

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After you’ve taken a selfie with the Royal Family, it’s a no-brainer to make Birdcage Walk the next pin on your walking map of London attractions . Famous diary scribe Samuel Pepys mentioned this walk in his writings way back in the 1600s, and the name of the walk dates back to the reign of King James I . Not a bad smattering of history to saunter through on the way to your next destination. Tweet tweet.

Until you get to Westminster Abbey…

Even if you’ve been before, or don’t plan to look inside, making time for the resplendent piece of gothic architecture that is Westminster Abbey on your walking tour of London is a necessity. It’s been the location of 39 coronations since 1066 , and you simply can’t miss this London crown jewel of attractions.

The Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben, are right next door…

Talking of jewels in London’s crown, it’s always nice to check out the big bonging boombox that is the Elizabeth Tower , better known as Big Ben . You can also kill two birds with one stone by adding the Houses Of Parliament to your London sightseeing day which, if nothing else, is good to tick off to say you’ve seen the place where Members of Parliament shout at the Members of Parliament sitting opposite them. And the place Guy Fawkes wanted to destroy…

Then head over Westminster Bridge…

The second path over the river in central London history, after London Bridge, has been here since 1750. Although it’s only been green since 1970 – and it’s the perfect spot for a moment of reflection on your walking tour of London… if you don’t get bumped out of the way by commuters hurrying across Westminster Bridge in the morning. Hey, it happens. Unless you’re the one who does the bumping. Then you’re the one to watch out for, you treacherous little fiend. We see you.

And you’ll get to the South Bank. Along here you’ll see the London Eye.

Though the queue might seem daunting, there’s no denying that the dome built for the millennium is something that just needs to be seen. The London Eye was even named London’s most loved landmark in a study, so at the very least you’ll need to head over there on your walking tour to see whether you agree. Plus, the London Eye’s place in London’s list of attractions was recently cemented for posterity – it’s set to become a permanent fixture in the capital ! But since we’re blazing our way through a quickfire walking tour, there’s no time to jump on board. Those pods go around slooooowwwwllllllyyy.

Now for the Southbank Centre

There’s always something going on at the Southbank Centre . It’s a great place to hang out in the summer to catch some rays or for a cold day’s activity of viewing some art . And you’ll likely see us banging on about it all year round !

And book stalls under Waterloo Bridge.

“I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.” Robert Louis Stevenson was a maverick with the pen, so maybe we should start adopting this practice too. If you’re looking for the former, then this is just the spot to stop on your London sightseeing walking tour. Maybe the man who gave us Treasure Island and Kidnapped also once carried a London sightseeing map in his pocket…

Head past that scrap of sand we call the foreshore and the OXO Tower.

While we can’t get away with calling it a beach , we’ll just play pretend for this London sightseeing tour , okay?! There’s no time for a cocktail on these shores though; there’s a tour to be getting on with! Dawdlers, be gone.

Before too long you’ll arrive at the Tate Modern .

The Tate Modern is London’s most popular art gallery, don’tcha know? Are you going to go in? NO. THERE IS NO TIME. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE REST OF YOUR LONDON SIGHTSEEING MAP.

Carry on along the river a little bit and you’ll see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

And this is embarrassing but (for the only time on this walk) you’ll have to double back on yourself very slightly. I know, we said it was straightforward and this is the ultimate betrayal. But it’s still not quite as tragic as the tragedies that have walked across this iconic theatre’s floors. Poor Hamlet…

Then it’s over Millennium Bridge:

2000 gave us Kid A by Radiohead, but it also gave us the opening of the incredibly useful Millennium Bridge. You can decide which you prefer for yourself; though you can, of course, enjoy them simultaneously along your London sightseeing map walk through the power of headphones. What a world.

Until you reach St. Paul’s Cathedral !

I hear it’s beautiful inside, but you’re not allowed to take photos anyway so, quite frankly, who’s got the time? Regardless, St Paul’s Cathedral is Christopher Wren’s masterpiece and you’ll definitely want to check it off your London sightseeing tour list.

Then it’s time to walk along Cannon Street…

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This bit’s a little boring, to be honest. (It’s certainly nowhere near as pretty as its namesake in Birmingham .) But there is a stunning little townhouse, now home to The Walbrook Club, hidden away down a side street along the way. Don’t spend too long searching for it, though, as there are places to go and sights to see!

…until you get to The Monument!

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Don’t ask which monument – it’s The Monument and you’ll find it near Monument station. Keep your eyes peeled! Even though it towers overhead – it’s surprisingly easy to miss! The grand monument to the Great Fire Of London in 1666 is a tall order for your London tour, but I’m sure you’ll make it worthwhile.

Now just roll down Lower Thames Street and you’ll soon get to the Tower of London!

You could go in, meet the ravens, chat with a Beefeater, and even check out the Crown Jewels. Or you could say ‘nahhhhhhhhhhh y’alright’ and carry on. There’s plenty more of your sightseeing tour to tick off. Anyway, it’s a classy fortress and it might look easy on the eye, but it was also used to lock people up in the Tudor period. Don’t get on the wrong side of them…

Tower Bridge is, like, right next door. Get a load of that.

Few more to go on your London sightseeing map . Getting tired yet? Good. You’ve nearly earned your end-of-tour pint. Hey! Stop thinking about alcohol and feast your eyes on Tower Bridge . And then get ready to sternly lecture the next person who gets Tower Bridge and London Bridge mixed up.

Just a couple of minutes away you’ll reach the pretty marina at St. Katherine’s Docks:

Frankly, we need a pint by now… But St. Katherine’s Docks is pretty, and pretty much wraps up our London tourist map. I can practically hear the sound or beer filling our waiting glasses.

Until – hurrah! – you finally arrive at a flower-festooned pub.

And what a charming, floral spot to finish it all up! Well played, my tourist friend: the cheeriest of cheers to you. Now it’s definitely time for a pint !

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THE 10 BEST London Tours & Excursions

London tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Up to 1 hour
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• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London

2. Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour and River Cruise

3. Guided Tour of London Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham

4. Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour

5. The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

6. Westminster 3 Hour Walking Tour & Visit Churchill War Rooms

7. Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock

8. London Family Adventure: Explore the City’s Charm on Foot

9. Small-Group Cotswolds Tour (From London)

10. Westminster Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey Entry

11. Cotswolds Small Group Tour from London

12. Guided Luxury Paris Day Trip with Optional Lunch at the Eiffel Tower

13. London Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

14. Tower of London: Entry Ticket, Crown Jewels and Beefeater Tour

15. Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London

16. Windsor Castle Half Day Trip from London

17. Best of London Tour inc Tower of London and Changing of the Guard

18. City Sightseeing London Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

19. Stonehenge and Windsor from London

20. See Over 30 Top London Sights! Fun Local Guide!!

21. Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour

22. Churchills Wartime London Walking Tour

23. Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

24. VIP Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour with Private Beefeater Meet & Greet

25. Vintage London Bus Tour Including Cruise with London Eye option

26. Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Walking Tour with Boat Ride

27. Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London

28. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford Day Trip from London

29. Buckingham Palace State Rooms Entry ticket

30. Oxford and Traditional Cotswolds Villages Small-Group Day Tour from London

What travelers are saying.

• Rob W 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour to get a taste of three great sites! Mike did a great job telling us about the sites leading up to each stop, providing both interesting and educational information. It was great to experience all 3 of these sites in one day! Really glad we got to see what Bath was like. While some might feel that the stops at Bath and Windsor Castle were too quick, we found them to be long enough to appreciate what these sites have to offer. Read more Review of: Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London Written May 21, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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London On A Layover: Top Guide For What To Do On A Short Trip

Looking for all the things you can do in London on a layover ? Look no further, you came to the right spot.

London is a wonderful place filled with history, fashion, and stunning architecture worth exploring in detail. I assembled this much-needed post for those who just have a few hours between flights and want to make every minute count.

Here you can find the ultimate list of things to do in London while on a layover, divided into different sections based on how much time you have: 6, 10, 12, or 24 hours in the city. 

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our  disclosure here.

London On A Layover

Let’s dive in and begin with all the things you can do in London on a layover. 

6-Hour Layover In London

You might think that more than six hours in London will be needed to explore some of the city, but I assure you you can get quite a few things done with only a few hours to spare. Here’s my ultimate guide for touring London in 6 hours or less.

Buckingham Palace

No matter how much or little time you have in your London itinerary, you must visit Buckingham Palace. Pay attention to the details in the facade and be prepared to take pictures of the iconic Palace Guards. If you’re lucky, you might even watch the Changing of the Guard, but you can also be ready and check their schedule online.

Westminster Abbey

The famous Westminster Abbey is another spot you should visit during your London Layover. Stroll down and admire the beautiful architecture that is filled with years and years of history, including the weddings, coronations, and the wake of many kings and queens.

Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament

Any London day trip (or hourly visit) should include a visit to the Big Ben, and while you’re taking some great selfies, admire the Houses of Parliament too. Bonus points if Big Ben decides to chime on cue!

While visiting Big Ben you will see the London Eye is steps away. So be sure to take the short walk and visit this beautiful Ferris wheel. 

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10-Hour Layover In London

Four additional hours can make your brief London itinerary even more fun. Here are some things you can do and places to explore apart from the ones mentioned before.

The British Museum

The British Museum is truly one of the top places on my London bouquet list. From Egyptian mummies to the Rosetta stone, every exhibition will take you back centuries.

Thames River Cruise

If you’re looking for a nice yet multi-tasking activity, jumping on a Thames River cruise is the perfect choice. You’ll get a quick tour of London’s iconic landmarks from the water, including the Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and the London Eye.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is the main theater and entertainment area, filled with amazing shops, and handcrafted souvenirs, and home to the Royal Opera House. This place is perfect for exploring the local culture as well as doing some well-deserved shopping.

The Shard, also known as the Shard of Glass, is a breathtaking 73-floor skyscraper that holds some of the most important offices, restaurants, and hotel rooms in all of London. Here you can enjoy some panoramic views of the city skyline, and I highly recommend you stay for the sunset; these views are extra magical!

Camden Market

If you love shopping for unique handcrafted pieces then Camden Market is a must on your one-day in London itinerary. In this market, you can find plenty of vintage clothes to browse for, antiques, and traditional English street food.

West End Show

To wrap up your brief London tour, head over to West End to enjoy one of the fantastic theatrical masterpieces that are currently presented. You can check out their website to book tickets in advance and to see their current schedule.

Related post: Layover in Brussels

12-Hour Layover In London

With twelve hours you have a ton of time to tour the city, relax, and make your way back to the airport. Here are some places you can continue to add to your current London timetable.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located in the highest part of the city, St. Paul’s Cathedral stands as a stunning architectural and religious masterpiece. At the top, you can find breathtaking views of the city.

The Tower Of London

The Tower of London should be a mandatory stop in your London layover. This place holds hundreds of years of history, and played many roles throughout them, such as an armory, treasury, menagerie, Royal Mint, public records, and home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Sky Garden, known as the Walkie Talkie Building, is a fantastic skyscraper with a unique restaurant at the top, where you can have a nice meal with stunning views of London. It is an urban oasis thanks to the huge amount of plants located everywhere.

Afternoon Tea

I don’t know about you but if I’m visiting London at least for a few hours, I’ll make sure to make some room for afternoon tea. You can have an incredible afternoon tea in a fancy hotel, cozy cafe, or in your hotel room; whatever you choose you’ll have a fantastic time savoring delicate sandwiches and scones.

24-Hour Layover In London

A whole day in London? Now we’re talking. I want you to enjoy your day as much as possible, which is why I added a few more spots to your itinerary that will make your stay one for the books.

Start your day with a visit to Greenwich, where you’ll explore the Royal Observatory, and stand on the Prime Meridian. If you just want to tour at your own pace, stroll through Greenwich Park for postcard-worthy views. 

British Library

The British Library is the National Library of the United Kingdom, home of many literature treasures such as the Magna Carta, ancient manuscripts, and hand-written lyrics of The Beatles. The architecture of the library is truly a masterpiece!

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Final Words For A London Day Trip

That’s a wrap on your London layover itinerary. I hope you find this post useful and that you can easily structure your tour based on your time availability. If you ask me, the right amount of time you need to properly explore the city will be 12-16 hours, but if you have less you can still make your brief stay memorable. 

Interested in European destinations? You may enjoy these other posts:

• Iceland: One Day In Reykjavik
• Greenland: Things To Do In Nanortalik, Greenland
• Portugal: 2 Days In Porto Itinerary
• Germany: One Day In Munich

Like this for visiting London on a layover? Share it with others or pin it for later!

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The 10 Best London Tours To Take in 2024 and Why

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: May 14, 2024

London is one of Europe’s oldest cities, which means there is a lot to explore in and near the city. It can be difficult to decide just which tours you want to book. From Stonehenge day trips and Harry Potter tours to walking tours of London’s top attractions, here are the best London tours to take and why we think you’ll love them.

• Check out our London guide —it’s packed with everything you need.
• Experience London like never before by joining one of our top-rated tours !
• If you’re short on time, we’ve got you covered with tips on how to see the best of London in just a day !
• Bookmark this post for quick access during your trip!

Are Guided Tours in London Worth it?

Short answer: Yes, it’s one of the best places to take advantage of a passionate, knowledgeable guide who knows England’s complex yet lively history!

London has a storied past filled with Romans, crusades, and powerful monarchs who oversaw one of the world’s largest empires. While the city you see today is a fantastic blend of modern alongside ancient—meshed surprisingly well—it can be overwhelming to get to all the places you want to see, from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace .

And famous sites like Stonehenge aren’t even in the city at all. So, if you’re coming from a country where you drive on the right side of the road (ahem), you might not feel comfortable driving on those lovely countryside roads. These are just a few reasons why booking a tour in London is worth i t. And our clients agree!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if London tours are worth it .

TOP 10 Tours in and Around London

If London has been calling your name, then make sure you’ve planned in advance what you really want to see. Why? Because London is really, really big with some of the most incredible attractions a day’s trip away too.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to look for ideal tours in London that make your day hassle-free, filled with memories, and unforgettable. Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Bath, Stonehenge—explore all of these and more on one of the best London tours!

1. London in a Day Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London 2. Early Entry Tower of London Tour with the Beefeaters 3. London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard 4. The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour 5. Legends and Lore Tours of the Tower of London 6. Windsor Castle , Stonehenge, and Bath Day Trip from London 7. Exclusive Meet & Greet Tour with the Tower of London Beefeaters 8. Stonehenge at Wiltshire’s villages Tour from London 9. Harry Potter Studios with Exclusive Champagne Reception 10. The Ultimate London Speedboat Adventure

1. London in a Day Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London

Westminster Abbey

Your full-day tour of London starts at Westminster Abbey with skip-the-line tickets and a guided tour of this ancient church. It’s the site of famous churches, funerals, and every British coronation ceremony since 1066 AD! There’s a lot to discover so you’ll appreciate having a guide who knows exactly where to spend your valuable time here.

Pro tip: If you head towards your meeting point early, you’ll have time to snap pictures of the imposing Big Ben clocktower at the Houses of Parliament!

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

After your visit to Westminster, it’s time to quickly head over to the Mall to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony (certain days) or the Changing of the Horse Guard. You’ll get more than just a moment’s view of this famous event since your guide will lead you through the entire process at Buckingham Palace. Did you know only one set of guards wears the traditional black and red uniforms? Learn all about it, thanks to your guide!

River Thames Boat Ride

Now that you’ve walked through London’s central attractions, it’s time to head afield with the help of some transportation. A ride down the River Thames is the perfect way to see London from a new angle. Watch for Shakespeare’s Globe Theater re-creation, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge. You’ll travel to your next stop: the Tower of London.

Tower of London

Here your guide will unveil the deep history of Britain’s oldest fortress, which has Roman origins! Get to know the history of Thomas Moore, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII, Walter Raleigh, and more. Plus, step into the museum where the ostentatious crown jewels are kept. This London tour makes all of this easy to do and incredibly rewarding too.

Highlights:

• See the best of London’s top attractions in a single day
• Skip-the-line entry at Westminster Abbey
• Changing of the Guard ceremony (certain days)
• Pictures of Buckingham Palace
• Free time for lunch
• Transportation to the Tower of London included
• Quicker entry and guided tour at the Tower of London
• Entry to see Crown Jewels
• Free time to walk across Tower Bridge at the end of your tour

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  London Guide for more resources.

2. Early Entry Tower of London Tour with the Beefeaters

Open the Gates

For certain days in the spring and summer, you can enjoy a limited experience of watching the Beefeaters open the gates at the Tower of London. They’re an entertaining, though important, part of this historical tradition, you’re sure to laugh as they complete their duties with a few jokes. Plus, you get an early entrance before the crowds!

Your local guide can’t wait to show you the rest of the Tower of London. It’s both haunted and historic, so listen to their tales at the Beefeater’s Quarters and the Bloody Tower. They’ll help you navigate this massive estate easily.

And, of course, you’ll get to go inside the Jewel House to see the 140 pieces of the royal collection of valuables and jewels. From the White Tower to Tower Green, your tour of the Tower of London will be unforgettable.

• Early entry to the Tower of London
• Exclusive opening ceremony with Beefeater guards
• Guided tour of the walls, grounds, and many buildings
• Entry to the Jewel House for the crown jewels
• Free time to explore the grounds or nearby Tower Bridge

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a tour in London is worth it .

3. London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard

Clients love our skip-the-line access to the famous Westminster Abbey where they can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with their guide in the nave of the abbey before the public enters. This is the oldest part of the entire church, and your guide will share its unique history as you stand in near-quiet solitude here.

The abbey is also full of the tombs and effigies of many famous Brits dating back several centuries. The famous Poet’s Corner will intrigue you as you see whose names are buried there—some you’ll recognize and might even surprise you! Explore the tombs of kings and queens, then see the coronation chair in the Quire as you learn who gets to sit in those tiny seats.

Finally, you’ll also get a chance to see the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony. This happens every day in June and July, but only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays the rest of the year. Your guide knows just how to help you see the most of this auspicious event and will explain exactly what’s happening too.

• Skip-the-line entry to Westminster Abbey
• Guided visit to Britain’s most famous church

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  best Westminster Abbey tours to take and why .

4. British Museum Guided Tour in London

The British Museum is undoubtedly one of the world’s most significant collections. When I find myself in London, I always try to stay nearby so I can head in for an hour or so each morning, taking my time to explore each section in detail.

But not everyone has that luxury or that interest. If time is limited, or you want to ensure you don’t miss anything key without doing hours of research, then why not sign up for this expert-led two-hour guided tour?

You will be led through the expansive museum’s most impressive highlights, detailing the fascinating history behind each collection. Marvel at the amazing ceiling of the Great Court, learn about the famous Rosetta Stone, admire the Parthenon Sculptures, and explore the Ancient Egyptian galleries.

After your tour, you can continue exploring the rest of the museum’s many treasures on your own!

• Learn about the history and significance of each collection
• Expert, licensed guide
• Informative walking tour of the British Museum
• Admire the glass roof of the Great Court
• See the famous “Rosetta Stone”
• Witness the Parthenon Sculptures
• Visit stunning Ancient Egypt galleries and collection of Egyptian mummies
• See the Winged Bulls from Khorsabad

4. The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour

St. James Park and the Mall

Start with a guided stroll like a proper Londoner through a tranquil garden that has quite a past. Your guide has stories about its history as a deer park before it became a usable area for the public. Then learn how the important avenue leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square came to be. The Mall has been used as a processional and ceremonial road for centuries, and you just might feel like a royal as you walk it with your guide.

Buckingham Palace

This tour includes your ticket to Buckingham Palace, and it will be a meaningful experience since your guide has prepared you with stories and things to watch for as you explore inside. Only audio-guided tours are allowed in the summer, but you’ll have a leg up on the other travelers who didn’t have a morning guide with them. Envision life like a royal in the State Rooms and Throne Room.

• Guided tour of St. James Park and the Mall
• Entry to Buckingham Palace
• Audio guide for Buckingham Palace

Not ready to book a tour? Check out how to visit Buckingham Palace .

5. Legends and Lore Tour of the Tower of London

Cruise the River Thames

With a start in the famous Trafalgar Square, you’ll follow your guide to the River Thames to board a Thames Clipper boat. See London’s modern skyline with the beloved St. Paul’s Cathedral rising proudly between the skyscrapers as your guide explains each building. Get familiar with London’s other sites like the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, the Oxo Tower, Tower Bridge, and more.

The oldest fortress in London stands as a citadel on the River Thames near Tower Bridge. This unique structure has been built upon over the centuries since it’s first building, the White Tower, constructed by William the Conqueror in 1066 A.D.

Watch for the ravens and learn about the legend behind them and the British monarchy. Then try to distract a Beefeater guard before heading in to see the crown jewels. There are centuries of history, executions, and tragedy to learn about here, which is why your guide will be essential to enjoying one of the best London tours.

• Entry to the Tower of London
• Guided tour of the grounds and buildings
• Entry to see the British crown jewels
• Free time to explore the White Tower and Tower Bridge

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  best Tower of London tours to take and why .

6. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath Day Trip from London

Round-trip Transportation from London

Make your day trip to Stonehenge easier by leaving the driving, transportation, and ticketing to a trusted guide. It’s a 2.5-hour drive out to Stonehenge, and if you’re not familiar with driving on the left side of the road, it can make for a stressful experience. Instead, when you book with us, you’ll feel comfortable as you sit back and let your driver do the work.

First, you’ll head over to Stonehenge, which is possibly Britain’s most famous ancient ruins. This 4,000-year-old structure is likely of Druid origin and fascinates visitors who marvel at its construction. You’ll have plenty of time to walk up to these mysterious stones and take pictures. Depending on the time of year, you might even have a chance to purchase some local strawberries to enjoy while you’re here!

Head to Bath, which is another city with deep roots from the Roman Empire. In fact, those Roman baths here are what gave this town its name, despite their original use by the Celts too. You’ll need to arrange your own tickets here, but if you’re not as interested in Roman baths, you might be tempted by the Jane Austen Museum.

Windsor Castle

Your final stop is Windsor Castle, the former Queen’s favorite residence. Located just an hour outside of London, this castle and its grounds are a popular place to visit. If you’re a fan of the royals, it’s easily one of the best London tours to take.

While no guides are allowed inside the castle, you’ll be prepared with a narrative from your driver-guide ahead of time and your skip-the-line tickets. There are 13,000 acres here, and you’ll be free to explore the Grand Apartments, Queen Mary’s Doll House, and more.

• London’s iconic sites outside of the city
• Skip-the-line tickets to Windsor Castle
• Time to explore Stonehenge
• Lunch in Bath (on your own)
• Options to visit the Roman Baths or Jane Austen Museum
• Round-trip transportation from London

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Windsor Castle tour is worth it .

7. Exclusive Meet & Greet Tour with the Tower of London Beefeaters

Private Meeting with a Beefeater

It doesn’t get more exclusive than a private 15 minutes with a Yeoman Warder (also known as a Beefeater). While these guards have a serious 20+ years of military career behind them, there’s nothing they love more than entertaining visitors with stories at the Tower in between their official duties. You can’t beat that!

Then you get to have your own guided tour of the rest of the Tower. From the Bloody Tower to St. Thomas’ Tower, Traitors Gate, and the White Tower, there’s more to explore than you can imagine. That’s why your guide is here to help you navigate and understand it all.

You’ll also get entry to the crown jewels that have wowed millions of visitors with their lavish decadence. Make sure to keep an eye out for the piece your guide tells you is the oldest in the entire collection—dating back to the early 1600s!

• Private meet & greet with a Beefeater

8. Stonehenge at Wiltshire’s villages Tour from London

Departing from London

Your journey begins in the bustling heart of London, where you’ll join this small group tour at Earls Court, easily accessible by public transport. As you board the comfortable coach, you’ll meet your guide and a small group of fellow explorers and set off to the serene countryside of Wiltshire. On the way, your driver will share captivating insights, preparing you for the mystical experiences at Stonehenge, Avebury, and other Neolithic wonders you’ll encounter.

West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill

Your first stop on your journey into Britain’s Neolithic past is West Kennet Long Barrow, one of the largest burial tombs in the country. Upon arrival, you’ll join your guide for a walk through its ancient chambers, dating back to 3650 BCE, and ponder the spiritual life of early civilizations. Nearby, you’ll catch a view of Silbury Hill, the largest prehistoric human-made mound in Europe that continues to intrigue archaeologists and visitors alike with its mysterious origins and purpose.

The Ancient Stone Circles of Avebury

Next, your adventure continues to the quaint village of Avebury, encircled by the world’s largest stone circle. Your guide will lead a walking tour around the massive stones, sharing insights into their possible meanings and uses.

After the tour, enjoy free time to explore the village and embrace the quietness accompanying this lesser-visited wonder. Oh, and don’t miss the chance to visit the Red Lion Pub, a perfect spot for a quintessentially British lunch, as well as the town’s charming, if not eccentric, healing stone shop.

The Iconic Stonehenge

Now comes the highlight you’ve been anticipating—visiting the legendary Stonehenge. With your included ticket and audio guide, you’re free to explore this ancient site at your leisure. Stand amidst these towering stones, immersing yourself in their mysterious origins and enigmatic purpose. You’ll have around two hours to delve into the site’s hidden wonders and captivating history.

Then, around 5:00 pm, you’ll regroup back at the coach for your return journey to London. Reflect on the day’s discoveries and enjoy the scenic drive through the English countryside. Upon arriving at the original starting point in Earls Court, your guide will be available to offer any needed public transport advice, rounding off a day rich in history, mystery, and memorable exploration.

• Small group experience at Stonehenge
• Free time to enjoy lunch at your leisure

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  best Stonehenge tours to take and why .

9 . Harry Potter Studios with Exclusive Champagne Reception

London Harry Potter Walking Tour

You could wander through the streets of London trying to follow a random blog article’s recommendation to find Harry Potter’s filming sites. Or you could book a guided tour with a local Potterhead who knows just where to go and how to get there easily. From Lambeth Bridge to Southwark, see where Diagon Alley was filmed and the location for the Ministry of Magic (and much more).

Warner Brothers Studio

This is where booking a guide really comes in handy for a Harry Potter day tour. You can hop in a vehicle and let your guide easily take you to the famous Warner Brothers Studio outside of the city. Make your Harry Potter tour in London easy by leaving the details to us so you can just enjoy a few hours exploring the Harry Potter sets and gift shop here.

Then head back to London to depart at Platform 9 3/4! For Harry Potter lovers, the best London tours to take just don’t get any better!

• Guided walking tour of top Harry Potter sites
• See Diagon Alley, Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 3/4 and more
• Free time at Warner Brothers Studio to see Harry Potter sets and shop
• Round-trip transportation

1 0 . The Ultimate London Speedboat Adventure

Looking for a thrill? You might not envision an adventure activity in the heart of London, but here it is! Hop aboard one of London’s speedboats on the River Thames. You’ll zoom from one iconic monument to the next on an 800-horsepower speedboat. Best of all, your skipper is quite entertaining, so you’re sure to love the stories you hear as you take in the Shard, the Globe, London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and more.

• 800-horsepower speedboat with a skipper
• Guided tour of River Thames sites
• See Big Ben, London Eye, Tower Bridge, and more

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in London

Deciding where to stay at a great hotel in London can take some effort since it’s a massive city. Make your decision easier with our list of the best neighborhoods and hotels in London.

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About Brie Greenhalgh

Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.

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Easy London Itinerary: Best Things to Do w/ 4 days in London

By: Author Rob Taylor

Posted on Published: April 8, 2021  - Last updated: February 6, 2024

“London, Baby!” Yes, years later and you can still have a London itinerary Joey Tribiani style. London solo travel is all about fun, history, famous sights and visiting with locals. This London plan is easy to adapt to your interests and is good in any weather, and believe me, you’ll no doubt have lots of interesting weather.

Enjoy this easy London itinerary and let us know if you have any questions about our suggestions. This itinerary is so easy because it puts our best things to do in London into an easy plan for four days. It’s a fun city to explore, and there are familiar sights around every corner it seems.

First Moments in London, Sightseeing on Foot

Head straight for the River Thames. Most of the iconic buildings and movie scenes you’ll recognize in London take place along the Thames. This also will give you the chance to get a physical understanding of everything’s location and sort update your plans accordingly.

Take time when you first arrive in London to walk the riverbank and get a feel for the city. You’ll be glad you did, both for the practical understanding and to begin your easy London itinerary on the right foot.

Easy Things to Do in London (and cheap!)

The great thing about our easy London itinerary is that it’s full of inexpensive, and actually mostly free, activities around the city. A trip to London can be expensive , so be wise about your spending. Instead of sticking to the main historic core that focuses on the Monarchy and Royal tourism, our London sightseeing plan visits cool and interesting cultural spots too, spots that you’ll recognize from movie scenes or famous events, and gets into neighborhoods.

And we’ve got some wonderful musuems to explore too, because you can’t get to know a city without spending time in the unique parts of town.

Check out our top pick for an easy London itinerary on this map!

Should I get the London Pass?

Should you get the London Pass for sightseeing around town? That’s a great question and ultimately it depends on what you want to put on your London itinerary. If you want to do every museum and special tour, the nearly $100 USD cost will save you money. You’ll have access to the Tower of London, hop-on-hop-off tours, a boat tour and much more. Already with that, you’re at the cost of the London Pass.

If you’re goal is to do sightseeing in London on a budget but big ticket tours and sights AREN’T on your plan, then it’s not a good choice. There are plenty of free things to do, including famous museums, so if you would rather explore on foot and visit the public places (including the British Museum and libraries) then just do that. You’ll find free things in many cities as you explore beyond the UK, and if you’re doing E urope with kids , plan on hitting as many of them as possible.

I feel that the London Pass provides a great value if you are spending three days or more in town. You’ll recover the cost within a day or two of using the London Pass.

Pre-purchase your London Pass here!

The Royal, Historic Core: Museums and Famous Sights

The historic core of London is remarkable. Whether you’re a monarchist or not, visiting the historic sites and seeing Buckingham Palace is really something. You’ll also love the free museums in the area.

National Portrait Gallery

Have you ever visited a place and been like “Um, I’ve seen all of this before…” but it’s not deja vu? Yeah, that was me walking into the National Portrait Gallery in London. It’s full of the portraits that you’ve seen in history books or on television when they’re talking about historical figures from before photography.

The two best exhibits, IMHO, were the Tudors Gallery and the room where the famous portrait of George III is placed… right by the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington (the one on the $1 bill). I chuckled as I walked through the gallery.

Trafalgar Square and Whitehall

Since I’m a walker, I kept walking my way across London. When you travel without kids getting sidetracked and wandering is much easier. From Chinatown and wove my way through the streets until I was in Piccadilly Circus. Said to be the busiest place in all of London, it wasn’t what I expected. I was thinking it would be like Times Square in NYC , but it was very mellow without tons of street performers and hustlers. Actually, it was kind of a cool place to watch London go by.

From there though, it was onto Trafalgar Square. I didn’t necessarily want to hit all of the famous tourist sites at once, but I learned something: they all get grouped together as what you do because they’re all right next to each other and it’s just so easy and efficient. Trafalgar Square was similar to Piccadilly but nicer. This is where the National Gallery , Lord Nelson’s Column, the Church of St Martin in the Fields… they’re all here.  Oh yeah!!

Choral or Chamber Music at St Martins in the Fields

I’d heard of the Church of St Martin in the Fields before even researching London because one of my favorite radio programs often plays pieces recorded there. I popped into the church and they just happened to be practicing chamber music for a Bach concert later that night. It was perfect. I got to sit in this beautiful, old church and listen to some of my favorite classical pieces. This is actually what completely sold me on London.

Whether it’s stopping into St Martins in the Fields or another church, little moments like this are quick to add to your easy London itinerary.

Evensong at Westminster Abbey

Just like with St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey also does Evensong ! All of the same info applies to Westminster Abbey regarding cost to get it (25 pounds), no photography, and participating or observing a religious service. It’s worth it, and since there’s an epic organ in Westminster, you get a totally different musical experience. Add this to your plans, especially if you’re visiting London with kids .

Note : whichever cathedral you’re looking to visit for Evensong, be sure you’re clear when you arrive that you are there FOR SERVICE . If you say that you just want to go in, they won’t let you, but if you’re clear that you’re there for church you’re good to go.

Horse Guards and Horse Parade

Wow, what unique thing to do or observe! The Horse Guards and the Horse Parade are a very unusual changing of the guard ceremony. Watch from across Whitehall as the guards change out, or move over to the parade grounds to see the complete ceremony. It’s a piece of living history.

Strolling Through St James Park

Something wonderful about London is how many lavish parks there are. St James Park leads from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and is the perfect place to stroll and observe the swans and take photos. It’s picturesque and is the perfect break from walking the city streets.

Visiting St James Park is the perfect way to get from the main drag of Whitehall and Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.

Visiting Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is truly iconic, and you can always stop by and see it. While Buckingham Palace isn’t open to the public all the time, in the summer you can actually tour a good number of the state rooms and grounds. You need to reserve your spot to tour the palace and space is very limited, but if it’s important to you and you’re visiting London from July through October, you may just get to go inside!

Book a Buckingham Palace Tour and Afternoon Tea here!

How/When to see the Queen or Royal Family

Since it’s unlikely that you’ll get to see the Her Majesty, the Queen when you visit Buckingham Palace, if that’s something you’re hoping for, you need to research in advance if there are any events happening while you’re in London. Openings, public investitures, commemorations or holidays may present opportunities to see a member of the Royal Family.

I was able to see Her Majesty, the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince Harry and Meghan, and Prince William and Kate all at once! I was across from Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day and was able to see the whole Royal Family (minus Prince Philip) as they arrived and departed for the day’s events. You’ll be glad you did your research if you can cross a royal sighting off your London bucket list!

• Churchill War Rooms

While visiting the Churchill War Rooms isn’t something for everybody, if you’re into WWII history it’s a must-do. Both a fascinating museum and a well preserved slice of time, the Churchill War Rooms are a very unique sight in comparison with most of the things to do in London.

You do need to reserve your tickets in advance as it’s unlikely you’ll be able to walk up and gain entry. It’s a pretty penny (L28) so be sure it’s something you are really into before adding it to your London itinerary.

Get Churchill War Rooms and Walking Tour tickets here!

North London and Historic Culture

Before visiting London, I had such high hopes of getting to relive all my Harry Potter dreams, and some of them you can make come true. North London is such an unassuming part of the city, with both historic sites and iconic places. Spending time here is a must, and is an important part of our easy London itinerary.

• The British Museum

Studying history and art and art history I’d always seen all kinds of artifacts and ancient art that noted being part of the British Museum collection. Well, we went and saw all of it. Wow. Truthfully, the British Museum is a little overwhelming, but it’s really cool. Our primary goal was to check out the Egyptian collection, but we ended up getting to learn about Vikings, ancient Chinese art, Greek culture and artifacts and more.

Tip :  since the British Museum is free, if you’re going to have a few days in London, visit twice for short amounts of time. There’s just so much and museum fatigue sets it really quickly.

British Library

The British Library isn’t a tenth as comprehensive at the British Museum, but it does have some cool history to check out. Referred to as “treasures” there’s a special room on the second floor of the British Library (what the Brits call the first floor) that is loaded with history. From Leonardo Da Vinci’s notes and drawings to the Beatles’ lyric scribbles, illuminated manuscripts from Lindisfarne (think bejeweled books) to the Magna Carta.

While you don’t need to plan out a whole day for the British Library, an hour+ is a great idea. It’s close to Kings Cross / St Pancras anyways, so you might as well visit and see some nifty history.

Kings Cross Station aka Platform 9 ¾

I wish I had an awesome picture of me pushing my luggage through the wall at Kings Cross Station in London, but no. We found Platform 9 ¾, which is where students heading to Hogwarts (Harry Potter) would be able to enter the magical train platform to board the Hogwarts Express… but everybody else in London also found it.   The wait to get a picture was crazy so it didn’t happen.

Tip : get there as early in morning as you can so you don’t have to wait. And don’t forget your house scarf and your wand.

Note : there is a Harry Potter store directly adjacent to the platform and a photographer there to take your picture if you’d like to purchase.

Soho Square and the Chinatown area

I’ve got a friend who works in the Soho Square neighborhood, so it seemed like a good idea to go say hey before playing tourist got too crazy. Really cool place, and it just happens to be the gayborhood. In addition to there being what looked like some fun night spots (didn’t get to go out in Soho at all), there were loads of street food stalls and farm stands.   The Street Food Union happens in Soho and you can find nearly anything you want for lunch.

My favorite street food from the stalls:  the Yorkshire Pudding Burrito . It’s a Yorkshire pudding (bready type thing) loaded up with meat, potatoes, spinach and sauce, and then tightly wrapped in paper and grilled through the paper. OMG. Clearly, not the healthiest lunch option but it was delicious.

The Chinatown area of London is really cool. Nearly as large as Chinatown in S an Francisco , London’s is very different. Think proper British shops for herbs and meats and such… but Chinese.  Also, there was no shortage of restaurant or food option in Chinatown.

See a Broadway Show in London’s Covent Garden or West End

London is known the world over for having amazing Broadway shows, both originals and stage shows originating in America. Near Soho you’ll find the West End theaters among countless restaurants and botiques. In the Covent Garden area, very near the Embankment, Leicester Square and the Thames, there are even more theaters and performance halls.

I attended a production of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and loved the historic setting. I also appreciated that theater tickets in London are less expensive than in New York City .

East London Things to Do

Since the Thames is a wiggly river like a snake, you may or may not need to cross it several times in a day. With things to do on both sides of the river in different areas, you’ll get to experience lots of cool bridges and views. Starting at the Millennium Bridge, recognizable from the opening of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince when the death eaters crash the bridge into the river, and then moving north and east you’ll find plenty of things to do. And pubs.

Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral

On the tip of my buddy Backpack With Brock , I made sure to visit St Paul’s Cathedral before 5pm so I could catch the Evensong service. I’m not religious, but I really wanted to have this experience. Because churches know that tourists are there to see them and oogle them, they can charge for entry just a museum would, but visiting for Evensong they cannot charge for, as it’s a religious service.

Tip :  not only is Evensong a great way to hear some beautiful music in a beautiful place, but being a free way to get to go inside some of the historic churches, and knowing that St Paul’s is about 18 pounds per person to actually tour, so this is a really great way for families to visit.

Everyday, St Paul’s and others do an Evensong service that is open to the public. It’s usually short (less than an hour) and you’re welcome to be a part of it, even if you don’t want to pray or anything. This is NOT an opportunity to take pictures because photography isn’t allowed inside, but you get to take in the whole experience instead.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre is famous, historically and for being featured in films (think Shakespeare in Love ). While the original is no longer in existence, the reconstructed Globe Theater in the Southwark neighborhood (said “suh-therk”) is a great place to catch a Shakespeare play or other performance in a cool theater atmosphere.

London’s Tower Bridge

To me Tower Bridge is the most iconic sight in all of London. It’s beautiful, it’s interesting, it’s historic, it’s the setting for the climax of Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr… Actually, it is amazing. Located directly next to the Tower of London, you can’t miss Tower Bridge. Plan your visit by starting on the Southwark side of the Thames, then walk across Tower Bridge on your way to visit the Tower of London.

Visiting the Tower of London

The Tower of London grounds and museum are really cool, but can be quite busy. Yes, this is where you can see the famous Crown Jewels and other incredible British history artifacts and sites, but if the crowds aren’t your thing, there’s plenty to see outside.

Note : the Tower of London is NOT Big Ben and the tower at Parliament. The Tower of London is a small castle on the north bank of the Thames. It’s famous for being the place to send royals before execution and has a place in countless pieces of literature.

• Columbia Road Flower Market

What a cool community event. On Columbia Road in East London there is a picturesque London street lined with small shops and cafes, and on Sundays a flower market shows up for the length of the street. Think of an American style farmers market, but it’s British and it’s all flowers, bot potted and cut. The Columbia Road Flower Market is both beautiful and fun! It’s a must on your easy London itinerary.

Everybody and their mother was there. With kids it would’ve been difficult to manage because it was so tight, but doing it alone I was able to navigate and explore.

Tip : if you’re thinking about doing the Columbia Road flower market, plan on brunch too. Yes, everybody else will be doing brunch at the same time, but it’s a perfect pairing. I went to The Birdcage and enjoyed the pub atmosphere for breakfast. And good Benedicts.

Street Art and Brick Lane, Shoreditch

Shoreditch has become quite famous in recent years for its street art and fun, funky feel. Probably the most eclectic neighborhood I encountered in London, I made sure to spend lots of time there. It’s an important part of our easy London itinerary because it’s such a different side of the city in comparison to Buckingham Palace and Notting Hill.

Brick Lane, the main thoroughfare from Aldgate, it full of restaurants, many of which are Bengali, Turkish and Indian. As you explore, you’ll find street art and murals in the alleyways and side streets. Spitalfields Market, the bowling alley, and several neighborhood shop complexes make Shoreditch a fun place to hang out instead of playing tourist all day.

Book a guided Shoredtich Street Art and Neighborhood Tour here!

Dinner and Drinks in Shoreditch

It’s nice to have friends in the city you’re visiting. Several of us met up in Shoreditch, since that’s where we all were staying or live. We had dinner and drinks at Dirty Bones , which was pretty tasty. You can never go wrong with Brussels sprouts being prepared in a new way. Or roasted lamb on you fries.

Moving down the street a bit we happened into the Cocktail Trading Company which was both fascinating and over the top. Each drink is served in a unique way with some of the strangest recipes. Mine was some sort of watermelon tequila something rater that came in a lotus flower martini glass, while another in out group had something from a take-out box, and yet another had a tin can and an airmail envelope with ingredients in it. Very strange but totally fun.

London Pubs and Breweries

Of course there were pubs but there was a brewery in the mix too.  Here’s the lowdown on my thoughts/experiences with pubs and beer in London:

• Remember that as a standard British beer is served at room temperature. This often highlights the flaws of a beer. Run with that.
• The atmosphere of a pub is really friendly and anybody might talk to you, so be ready for it. Anybody in London that just read that statement is probably like “What is he talking about?” Remember, I’m American and just walk around smiling at everyone but I don’t want to talk to anyone.
• Lastly, everything is more expensive in London. You might think that a pint for 5 is a good deal… but remember that 5 is actually pounds, not dollars.

The spots I enjoyed the most were:

• Brew by the Numbers – under the Overground train line in the Bermondsey neighborhood
• The Lord Raglan – right by St Paul’s Cathedral and so very British
• The Rose Public House – near the London Bridge tube station (and they had good food too)

Night on the town: Thirsty Thursdays

Thirsty Thursdays is a thing. Apparently everybody grabs beverages on Thursday evenings after work and they all chill. We popped into several pubs and they were all pretty stacked. We did manage to find a few quieter places for our relaxing evening. The Ten Bells across from Spitalfields Market was great with lots of indoor space and actual COLD BEER. Yes, the UK likes their beer tepid… and um, no.

We rounded out our evening of exploring Shorditch with admiring lots of cool street art, spying in on a Jack the Ripper tour (next visit…), and then having wine and truffle fries at All Star Lanes (not like the one in Bremerton, WA at all). It was a great first day and night in London.

Jack the Ripper Museum and Tours

This may not be for everybody, but a very popular East London thing to do is a Jack the Ripper tour or to visit the museum. Famous for killing several women in London in 1888, there’s so much mystery behind Jack the Ripper that tours run day and night, taking you through some of the creepy, dark back alleys while you hear stories of murder and mutilation.

This is NOT my type of London activity but you can’t talk about Shoreditch and East London without mentioning Jack the Ripper.

Find a Jack the Ripper Tour here!

Northwest London: English Culture and Markets

You don’t just end up in the northwest portion of London, but you need to plan to head there. If you’re playing tourist for your easy London itinerary, you’ll no doubt put things to do on your plan like having tea and visiting Abbey Road or Notting Hill. This is the area for all of that! Also, there are some unique sights and things to do in northwest London that you’ll really love and probably haven’t heard of.

Camden Locks and Market

I love this part of London. Exit the tube station at Camden Town and immediately find yourself in a vintage clothing and artist market dream. Booths from locals make this street market a fun, unique thing to do on an easy London itinerary. Not far from the street market you’ll find the Locks, connecting this part of the city to the main river, the Thames.

Wander through the shops and cafes around the old locks and be sure to do a gin tasting along the way, because gin distilling and London go hand in hand.

Tip: if Half Hitch Micro Distillery is open, do a gin tasting and enjoy some of the best gin I’ve ever had.

Stroll through Primrose Hill and Regents Park

You’ll find that the neighborhoods near the River Thames are very industrial and urban, but as you leave the downtown core of London you’ll discover another side of the city. Moving away from the Camden Locks area, you’ll come to Primrose Hill and Regents Park. Primrose Hill is full of gorgeous, colorful row houses and Queen Anne style London homes.

Be respectful of those who live in Primrose Hill, but be sure to snap some very Instagram-worth pics as you make your way to Regents Park and up over the hill. It’s a beautiful area to explore on foot and a great way to see a different side of London.

Iconic Abbey Road Crossing

My dear friend Sarah ( Girls that Scuba , Coffee With a Slice of Life ) surprised me with adding Abbey Road crossing to our easy London itinerary. She didn’t tell me where we were going until I realize, “Wait! I know that crosswalk!” A bit out of the way, the Abbey Road Crossing is a must-visit for music and pop culture lovers.

If you want to cross at Abbey Road (like every other tourist) you’ll have to wait in line and wait for there to be no cars, but you can do it. Be patient and your photo op will come.

Have Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea really is one of the most British things you can do. We have had tea many times in Victoria, British Columbia because that’s the thing to do when in Victoria who boasts being “more British than Britain.” So, being in England having afternoon tea really is required. You’ll find many places for tea all around the city, typically in hotels or tea rooms, but the closer you are to the iconic historic sites, the more costly tea service will be.

While you’re out in the neighborhoods of London, particularly in northwest London, such as Primrose or Notting Hills, you’ll find lots of great afternoon tea options. Try to make a reservation if you can so that you don’t miss it on your easy London itinerary.

Tea Recommendation: the Colonnade Hotel London

Located between Regents Park and Notting Hill, the Colonnade Hotel London does a wonderful afternoon tea service. It’s nice but not over the top fancy. Really, a tea service like this is perfect to have on your London itinerary. Comprises of finger sandwiches, scones and crème, and small desserts afternoon tea can be either a complete meal or a filling snack. It’s a must and you’ll love it.

Little Venice and Rembrandt Gardens

Not an enormous place to explore, but nice to peek at Little Venice and the Rembrandt Gardens are beautiful. Willows, flowers, park benches and bridges make this part of the Regents and Grand Union Canals picture perfect. Very different from actual Venice, Italy you’ll find houseboats and walkways along the water ideal for an afternoon visit.

Portobello Road Market from Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Another fun market, the Portobello Road Market has become quite touristy and not as vintage as movies have made it out to be. It’s NOT like Diagon Alley from Harry Potter even though it’s sometimes portrayed that way. Still, it’s a fun stop and there are some cool buildings and historic spots in the area.

Notting Hill (but without Hugh Grant)

Notting Hill has always been one of my favorite movies, so getting to visit was important for my easy London itinerary. A quick walk from Portobello Road or a longer walk from Regents Park, this colorful neighborhood is just what you want it to be: quietly bustling, cute shops, parks… but no, there is not a Travel Book Shop like in the movie Notting Hill . That’s okay though, the Notting Hill market and the cafes make visiting still worthwhile.

The Easy London Itinerary

Each trip to London will be different, particularly based on the season and what outdoor activities are available, but these are the basic themes for an easy London itinerary:

• Prime British history sites – ideally the Tower of London , Tower Bridge, Parliament…
• Looking to view the original Declaration of Independence sent to England in 1776? Good luck, because it’s not in the British Library as previously though. What’s believed to be THE Declaration of Independence sent to King George III is actually in Chichester (an hour and a half train ride southwest of London) at the West Sussex County Council. And no, it’s not on public display.
• Iconic London sights kids will know – this includes St Paul’s, King’s Cross station, the royal guards and mews at Buckingham Palace, river cruise on the Thames, a tea experience…
• London on Stage – Broadway style, a visit to the Globe, music at Royal Albert…
• Just beyond London – Hampton Court, Canterbury, Dover, Brighton…

As you pick and choose the best London activities for your own easy itinerary, remember that you can enjoy different sites and museums in an abridged way, meaning as a short visit or without doing a lengthy tour. Enjoy as much as you can, but don’t feel the need to conquer all of London on your first trip.

Day 1 – London History and Iconic Sights

It’s so difficult to make a travel plan that crosses off so much of a rather epic bucket list, but we’ve done it.. Your first day of exploring the city is immersing you history and the beautiful side of the Monarchy. Our easy London itinerary begins with visiting the most iconic sights in London.

Start at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery off Trafalgar Square. It seems like all of London will go by as you walk and pop into the Church of St Martin in the Fields (hopefully you’ll get a concert!).

As you continue down Whitehall you can watch the changing of the guards and the Horse Parade. It’s so wonderfully British and such a unique thing to do in London. Visit the Churchill War Rooms (reservations recommended or required). Beyond, you’ll come to Parliament Square and Big Ben, and then Westminster Abbey.

At Westminster Abbey, either do the ticketed tour or visit for Evensong (amazing!), and be sure to checkout the additional chapels and yards. Move onto St James Park for a beautiful stroll full of swans and flowers before you get to Buckingham Palace. An amazing sight to say the least.

• The National Gallery
• St Martin-in-the-Fields
• Trafalgar Square
• Horse Guards
• Horse Guards Parade
• Parliament Square Garden
• Westminster Abbey
• St James’s Park The Park Bridge
• Buckingham Palace

Day 2 – Culture, People Watching and Art

One of my favorite things to do on any trip, which is why it’s a part of our easy London itinerary, is to people watch and enjoy legit spectacles. That’s what this day of the London travel plan is all about. Yes, we’re visiting some of the best sightseeing spots in London, but it’s also just fun.

Starting the day at King’s Cross Station, see where the crossroads of England intersect… and watch countless people try to push their luggage trolley through the wall at Platform 9 3/4. Grab a coffee then head to the nearby British Library. While it is very much a library it’s also EPIC in terms of its museum collection. And then the British Museum is amazing too, despite its history (ie: pillaging every other country).

Pop through Soho Square and grab some street food before making your way to St Paul’s Cathedral for the Evensong. After the service and enjoying the spectacular St Pauls, head to Covent Garden or Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for a show. Perfect end to an easy London day.

• King’s Cross St. Pancras
• The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4
• The British Library
• Soho Square
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Shakespeare’s Globe
• Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• Covent Garden

Day 3 – East London and Shoreditch

This afternoon stroll includes sights of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, the Shard, countless churches, loads of pubs (I tried to visit every single one), and lots of street food and wonderful Indian and Bengali food options. Allow yourself three hours to get wander this loop on foot.

From the River Thames, head towards Brick Lane and the Shoreditch neighborhood for really cool street art, unique shops and public market spaces, and eventually the Columbia Road Flower Market (wow!)

Finish your day with a Jack the Ripper tour, learning about London’s notorious serial killer and the ghosts left behind. I know, this is totally touristy, but also totally fun and fascinating.

• Tower Bridge
• Tower of London
• Spitalfields Market
• Jack The Ripper Museum & Tour

Day 4 – Quiet London, Cool Culture

Start your day with a train ride in the Tube to Camden Town. Here you’ll find pop artists, vintage clothes booths, and so much more. Have tea within the Camden Locks markets and shops before making your way through the Primrose Hill neighborhood and Regents Park.

You’ll pass by Abbey Road, and while you may have to wait with the other fans, you too can cross the street like the Iconic Beatles album cover. Enjoy afternoon tea at one of the hotels (I loved the Colonnade Hotel for tea!) and then visit the Little Venice area with gardens and canals.

Finish out the day at Portobello Road and Notting Hill. I know, how very Hollywood can you get? But there’s a reason sites like this are iconic. Enjoy the neighborhoods and people!

• Camden Lock Market
• Primrose Hill
• Abbey Road crossing
• Afternoon Tea – Colonnade Hotel London
• Little Venice Island Gardens
• Portobello Road Market
• Notting Hill Farmers’ Market

London Travel Journal : experience of GETTING there

Flying out of Seattle I was on Norwegian air. They’re new to SeaTac and pretty great. Norwegian Air is considered a budget airline, but I was on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and it was delightful. The service was great and my ticket did come with baggage and meal service so I was good to go.

We got into London Gatwick more than 30 minutes early, so customs was pretty fast. The agent totally grilled me though about my plans and questioned if I’d booked a ticket home yet. He chatted me up for about four minutes and then started asking about home… and then finally gave me my stamp and let me go. I think customs agents enjoy stressing people out sometimes.

Since I stayed in the Shorditch area of London, my friend sent me several options for the easiest way to get there from Gatwick. I opted to take the Thameslink to Blackfriars and then walk the rest of the way. It was only about 40 minutes walk and it was a beautiful morning, so why not!

Getting my bearings in London

The best way to get comfortable in a new city and to start off on the right foot is to go for a walk. So what if I still had my huge backpack, London waits for no man!

Soon after picking a walking route I came to one the most iconic buildings of my childhood: St Paul’s Cathedral. Why is this place special for me? Um, hello. This is where the lonely old bird woman fed the birds in Mary Poppins. I will say that it’s not exactly as I’d hoped to find it. It wasn’t sooty and pigeon laden, which I guess is good, but it was still beautiful.

Once I’d snapped enough pictures and did the obligatory red phone booth selfie, I made my way to the Shorditch neighborhood. I wound through all kinds of cool side streets and narrow alleys. I went through the Bengali neighborhood and the the fabric district. It was wonderfully cool and totally different from wandering the streets of Paris.

To make it even better, when I got to my friend’s flat, her amazing dog, Winston, was excited to see me and required that we go walking as well. London through a dog’s eyes is much faster and crazy. He took me to see his favorite park, his favorite lamp posts and then back home. Good times. Thanks for the tour, Winston.

And then I laid down on my bed for five minutes of rest. Actually, it ended up being five hours. But it’s all good because that gave me the energy I needed to explore just a bit more on my own.

Learning the Tube – London Underground

I didn’t use the London Underground at all on my first day because I really wanted to get a feel for the city and start to understand how it’s laid out. Mission: quasi accomplished. I mean, London is a maze just like Paris or Venice, but it is much easier to figure out once you know a few landmarks.  So then the tube…

Firstly, I found that using an Oyster Card (like Seattle’s Orca Card) was the easiest and probably most cost effective way to use the Underground. My home base in Shoreditch fell between three different stations, so nearly any line was easy to get to and I used the tube a lot… but not so much that the daily pass would’ve been the right cost choice for me.

Here are the top tips for success tube travel on the London Underground:

• Always stay to the right on the escalators unless you’re in a hurry and actually moving yourself
• Double check the NAME and ENDING DESTINATION of the train you’re supposed to catch to ensure you’re traveling the correct way
• Be cool with people pressed up against you and pushing past you. It’s crowded.
• Take note of the directional signs within the tube stations for the easiest access to sites above ground.

If you have any questions about this easy London itinerary, let me know. I’m always happy to help plan great trips for others!

Anna Maria Moughan

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

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London Daytripper

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01 May 2024 - 31 May 2024

Canterbury Cathedral

Discover 1,400 years of history in the grand cathedral — including an original copy of the Magna Carta.

Oxford University

Take a walking tour of the world's most revered university, nearly 1,000 years old and boasting alumni like Jonathan Swift, JRR Tolkien, Stephen Hawking, and Margaret Thatcher.

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Learn all about the life and work of the Bard — and tour his birthplace at Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Try to uncover the mystery of these massive stone arrangements that date back thousands of years.

Tower of London

Explore the grand fortress that has served as a royal residence, a prison, an executioner's grounds — and even as a zoo, in its time.

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Visit the Queen's magnificent home, the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe.

Day 1 London Tour | Tower of London

Day 2 stonehenge | windsor castle, day 3 greenwich sightseeing | cruise, day 4 oxford | stratford-upon-avon, day 5 canterbury cathedral | leeds castle, day 6 tour ends in london, where you’ll stay.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - West End London, England

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Cie tours customer, well planned excursions.

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London daytripper is a keeper with one addition.

I liked everything. As stated before, the hotel, guide, driver and places of interest were all fine. This is a redundant question, The one thing I did not like was the travel agent, April Abbott. I do not know how she got involved. When I asked for information on the Day tripper London tour online, she took over. She was not helpful and the itinerary had an error. The omission of Westminter Abbey was a big flaw in this trip.

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Fun and interesting trip.

We missed our transfer from the airport to the hotel. Had to take the tube to London. On our way home our flight was cancelled from terminal 5. We were told we were rebooked for the next day. After telling them that was not acceptable they changed our flight to United airlines. That flight was 3 hours later and going to Newark instead of Philadelphia. The terminal was then out of terminal 2.. We did make it Bangor Maine by 11 pm. The only other minor issues was they changed first 2 days trips. They reversed them but we didn't know until we were on the at 2 pm. It shortened the Windsor trip. I probably should have realized that the trip was over the Easter weekend. Bad timeing on my part.

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BEST of London in One Day: Detailed Itinerary (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 15, 2024

Visiting London, UK, for one day and wondering what to see and how to plan your itinerary for such a short visit? In this guide, we share a detailed London 1-day itinerary that allows you to see many of the top sights in the most efficient way.

London is a huge city that is filled with landmarks, world-class museums, entertainment venues, and tourist attractions. So trying to see the best of London in a day is not an easy task, especially if you want to make the most out of your time, but also keep it enjoyable and fun.

Yes, there are many amazing places to visit, great rooftop bars, and hidden gems in London that would make any visit more memorable… But unless you have much more than one day, you will probably not want to waste your time traveling to the other side of the city in search of a tiny museum or a cute local restaurant that someone recommended…

With just a day in London, you will probably want to see the major landmarks and at least a few of the top sights that London is famous for.

So this is our no-nonsense guide to the VERY BEST things to see and do in London in one day . At the bottom of this article, you can find a short overview of our recommended 1-day London itinerary as well as a map indicating all the places that we mention in this guide. We also include some practical tips for your trip. Take a look!

Top 4 Experiences in London:

• London Eye .
• Tower of London & Crown Jewels .
• Thames Cruise .
• Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio .

As you can imagine, there are millions of ways how you could spend a day in London. This is just one suggestion based on our personal experience. It includes some of the most important sights and must-see places that we think are worth your time the most if this is your first time in the city and you have less than 24 hours in London.

Good to know: Our recommended London 1-day itinerary takes into account the locations and the opening times of the main attractions so that you can actually visit some of them if you want to. Although, keep in mind that with just a day in London, you will have to be very selective about the places you decide to visit inside. As you can imagine, this takes much more time and planning compared to just seeing the landmarks from the outside.

TIP: As an absolute minimum, we recommend that you do a Thames Cruise , plus take a ride on the iconic London Eye and/or visit the viewing decks at The Shard . The views are amazing from both! And because you can get timed-entry tickets (or fast-track tickets at London Eye) it’s well worth it, even if your time in the city is limited. You will find more information about these and other landmarks further below.

READ ALSO: London Travel Tips

Here’s what you could do in London in one day:

1. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom since 1837 and is one of the must-sees in London.

Since you probably won’t be visiting the Palace inside (it’s only possible at the end of the summer/early fall – see here if interested), you can start your day in London here as early as you like.

The best place to be is Victoria Memorial , which is located right in front of the main gate of Buckingham Palace. From here, you can take a few obligatory pictures of the palace.

2. The Mall & St. James Park

Located right in front of Buckingham Palace, The Mall is probably the most famous street in London. If you have seen TV broadcasts of any of the official royal celebrations in London, this is the street where they start/end their trips with golden carriages and Royal Guard parades.

In fact, you could see the Changing of the Guards ceremony here, but it only takes place on certain dates and starts at around 11 am. So it’s not something I would recommend if you only have a day in London.

Instead, simply walk down the Mall and/or take a detour via the adjacent St. James Park . The next destination on this itinerary – Horse Guards Parade – is about 15-20 minutes walk from Buckingham Palace.

3. Horse Guards Parade

The Horse Guards Parade is a big parade ground at the end of the far east end of St. Jame’s Park. This is also where The Household Cavalry Museum is located.

This is one of the best places to see the famous Horse Guards in London. They are always around, so you can take a picture of them if you like.

In addition, there is also a daily Changing of the Guard ceremony here at 11 am (at 10 am on Sundays). If your timing coincides with this, it’s nice to see, but I wouldn’t adjust the entire day’s schedule just for this. There are better things to do with just a day in London!

TIP: If interested, you could take a quick detour to the famous 10 Downing Street , the official residence of the UK’s Prime Minister. It’s located just nearby here. However, it’s now closed with high gates at the entrance of the street so you can only catch a glimpse of it in a distance.

4. Trafalgar Square

Next, head to Trafalgar Square which is less than 10 minutes walk from the Horse Guards Parade. This is another must-see in London that you will probably recognize from many movies and travel guides.

In the center of the square, surrounded by fountains and waterfalls, stands a huge Nelson’s Column which is guarded by four bronze lions. There are usually lots of pigeons here too, plus tourists, street performers, etc. The square is also a busy traffic center with red double-decker buses and traditional black cabs zooming in all directions.

It’s a very lively place, but if you come here early in the morning, it can be very quiet. Either way, don’t miss it as it’s always worth a quick visit. It’s a great place to simply sit back, do some people-watching, and soak in the typical London atmosphere.

Good to know: Trafalgar Square is also home to the National Gallery . It’s free to visit and is usually open daily from 10 am. If you feel like visiting a museum during your short trip to London, check it out.

5. Leicester Square and/or Covent Garden (optional)

Depending on your interests and how early you start your day, you may want to take a quick detour and visit either Leicester Square and/or Covent Garden. Both of these areas are located just a short walk from Trafalgar Square.

Leicester Square is a vibrant hub with lots of big-name stores such as M&M’s London or the LEGO Store. There is also a small green space in the middle where you can see all kinds of statues and sculptures, including the statue of Harry Potter flying on a broomstick. If you are visiting London with kids you won’t want to miss this place! But this vibrant area is worth a quick look either way.

TIP: It’s also in this part of the city that you will find some of the most famous London theaters . If you are interested in seeing a show or a musical, you could easily adjust this itinerary a bit and come back here in the evening. In that case, check what shows are available and book your tickets well in advance !

Covent Garden is a cool bustling area just nearby. Here, you can visit the famous Covent Garden Market , with its 19th-century glass roof and wonderful architecture. There are lots of restaurants and cafes here, so this could also be a good place for brunch or early lunch.

6. London Eye

Next, cross the river at Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges and head to the South Bank of London. On the way, you can enjoy great views from the bridge and the riverside.

There is a lot to see and do in this part of the city. The most famous attraction is, of course, the iconic London Eye . The highest observation wheel in Europe, a ride here is a great opportunity to see some of the best views in London . From the top, you can see the entire central London. It also gives you a good overview of the city and many of its famous landmarks.

PRO TIP: The London Eye is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London, so be sure to get timed-entry tickets online in advance . We highly recommend choosing fast-track tickets as this can save you several (!) hours. Otherwise, just admire the structure and the views from the ground, and enjoy the views from The Shard at the end of the day (more info further below).

Sundays in March, April, and May 2024: If you happen to visit London this spring and on a Sunday, you can save 40% on the London Eye tickets. Click here to activate the code and book tickets on the official website (if still available, reserve asap – this is the first time I’ve seen them giving such a big discount). They say it’s not available on Easter Sunday, but I tried booking and it showed me a discounted price for that weekend as well. Anyway, this will only work if you are visiting London on a Sunday.

Additional suggestion: If you would like to get a glimpse of some cool places in London, beyond the main landmarks, make a short detour to the colorful graffiti tunnel, aka The Vaults. This is one of the hidden gems of London that is located so close to the popular sights but is overlooked by most tourists. I indicated it on our map below. Keep in mind that you’ll need at least half an hour extra for a quick detour here (it’s about 10-15 walk from the London Eye).

7. Westminster Bridge, Big Ben & Westminster Palace

Next, walk to the iconic Westminster Bridge just nearby. From here, you also have a good view of the famous Big Ben Tower (officially known as the Elizabeth Tower) and the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament).

The view of the bridge with the beautiful gothic buildings of Westminster Palace is among the most recognizable images from London. This is the heart of the city that you really shouldn’t miss, no matter how long or short your visit is.

It’s not possible to visit the Big Ben Tower. There are tours of the Parliament, but – with just a day or even a few in London – it’s probably not the best use of your time. So this is mostly a photo stop, to see some of the most iconic landmarks in the city.

8. Westminster Abbey

If you cross the bridge and walk just a bit further past Big Ben, you will soon see the famous Westminster Abbey .

Westminster Abbey is the site of many of Britain’s most important events. Every British monarch has been crowned here since the 11th century, many royal weddings and funerals take place here, etc. The Abbey is also the burial site of countless famous British historical figures, such as Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton, just to name a few…

This Gothic building is remarkably beautiful and you can visit it inside. If you decide to do this, be sure to book the timed-entry tickets in advance! Keep in mind that you will need at least an hour to quickly visit the Abbey. More realistically, you should count at least 1.5-2 hours for a visit.

9. Thames Cruise

Next, take a river cruise on the Thames from Westminster Pier to the Tower Bridge.

This is a great way to see more of London, rest your legs a bit, and at the same time cover the big distance between the two main areas of the city that we recommend visiting if you have just 1 day in London.

Good to know: There are several piers and so many different Thames River cruise options that it can get overwhelming. This is the best ticket for this particular journey . The boat departs from Westminster Pier (we indicated the location on the map further below) and takes you to Tower Bridge. The journey takes about 30 minutes.

10. Tower of London

It will probably be late afternoon by the time you get to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London . These are among the most important landmarks in the city, so you absolutely have to see them.

Whether it’s actually worth visiting any of them inside if you only have a day in London, I’ll let you decide based on your interests and how you choose to fill the rest of this itinerary.

Don’t take me wrong – they are both absolutely worth a visit. It’s just that everything usually takes a lot more time than you anticipate. And your itinerary for a day in London will be packed…

If you visit just one attraction inside, the Tower of London is definitely among the top choices. Built in the 11th century, the building served as a fortress, a prison, but also as a palace over its centuries-long history.

This is where the Crown Jewels of the British Monarchy are kept (and can be seen inside, if you are prepared for an inevitable queue). The only way to avoid the queue is to come here first thing in the morning and run straight to the Jewels when the site opens.

Good to know: Be sure to get (timed-entry) tickets if you want to visit. Plan to spend at least 1.5 hours inside (and it will be rushed).

11. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is an iconic structure that you can simply admire from the outside (be sure to walk over the bridge too!).

It’s also possible to visit inside, where you can see Victorian engine rooms or walk over the glass walkway and admire nice views of the river and the city.

Also here, if you decide to actually visit the Tower Bridge, be sure to get a timed-entry ticket in advance .

12. The Shard

After crossing the Tower Bridge, walk to The Shard following the river. It’s a nice walk of about 15-20 minutes.

The Shard is an iconic London skyscraper, one of the tallest buildings in Europe, and in the top 100 among the tallest buildings in the world. A visit to its open-air viewing platform Skydeck on the 72nd floor gives you easy access to some of the best 360° views of London. In addition, there are indoor viewing platforms on the 68th and 69th floors.

From the top, you can see the River Thames with Tower Bridge and the Tower of London nearby, plus countless other landmarks in the distance and the entire city at your feet.

Good to know: The Shard is open late in the evening, so it’s very easy to include a visit here at the end of the day. The views are great at sunset, but it’s just as nice to visit during the day or after dark. It never disappoints.

And yes, also here, you really have to book timed-entry tickets if you want to be sure to be able to visit. While walk-ins are possible, they are not guaranteed. So if it’s busy (and it usually is), the only way to visit is by booking in advance.

There are a couple of restaurants in the Shard Tower itself, but they are all quite high-end and definitely have to be reserved.

For dinner, you may want to look for a restaurant in the area around Borough Market . The market itself is closed in the evenings, but there are many eateries nearby. Also here, if you want to dine at a specific place, be sure to reserve a table.

READ ALSO: British Food: best dishes to try in the UK

Theater (optional)

Just like Broadway in New York, London is known for its world-class musicals, amazing shows, and concerts.

While this 1-day London itinerary is quite packed as it is, many people travel to the city just to see a specific show or a musical. So yes, it’s possible to add this experience to this itinerary as well.

In that case, be sure to first check what is available , at which theater, and at what time. Then adjust this itinerary to be sure that you can get there on time, and based on your interests.

London 1-Day Itinerary Overview

Below is an overview of what your day in London could look like.

Important: Keep in mind that you’ll need timed tickets for most of these sites – if you actually want to visit them inside. There is no way you can visit all of these in a day. But you can definitely see them all and visit a few (max 2-3, depending on the place). So you’ll have to plan well and adjust this itinerary based on your interests.

Here’s our recommended 1-day itinerary for London:

• Buckingham Palace.
• St James Park.
• Trafalgar Square.
• Leicester Square and/or Covent Garden (optional).
• London Eye ( book (fast track) tickets if you want to go up!).
• Westminster Bridge, Big Ben & Westminster Palace.
• Westminster Abbey ( book tickets if you want to visit inside!).
• Thames River Cruise ( this is the best ticket for this itinerary ).
• Tower Bridge & Tower of London (book tickets – Tower of London and/or Tower Bridge – and be sure to choose timed-entry (!) if you want to visit any of these inside).
• The Shard ( book tickets if you want to go up!).
• Theater (optional – check what’s available for the day of your visit and adjust the itinerary accordingly if you decide to see a show).

My personal recommendation would be to visit Westminster Abbey and/or the Tower of London and do the Thames River Cruise. I would also probably opt for The Shard rather than London Eye, simply because it’s easier to plan it at the end of the day. The Shard is also open much later in the evening than anything else.

But everything is possible, so pick the sights that look most interesting to you , and plan your own perfect day in London!

Also, start your day very early! The sights that we recommend visiting first can be seen long before any of the landmarks even open.

London is huge but as you can see on the map, many of the major landmarks are located not too far from each other. So you can see and do quite a lot in one day.

To help you with the planning, we created this map indicating all the top places that we recommend visiting in London in a day. You can also see an approximate walking route suggestion. This should give you a better idea of where all these places are located and help you plan a perfect itinerary for your day trip to London.

If you decide to skip some sights or visit them in a different order, it’s perfectly possible too. This is just one of the possibilities, taking into account the opening times of some of the places that we think are worth visiting the most.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Practical Info & Tips

• If you follow this 1-day London itinerary exactly as it is suggested here, you will be walking a lot, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes . This itinerary focuses on the main landmarks, many of which are located too close to each other to take a metro every time, but far enough to give you a good exercise. You’ll only take a boat to get from Westminster to Tower Bridge.
• Use a metro to get to the starting point of this itinerary and back to your hotel at the end of the day. It’s the fastest way to cover big distances in London.
• Be sure to pre-book timed-entry tickets (choose fast-track tickets where available) for any of the attractions that you want to visit. Otherwise, forget it and just enjoy the sights from the outside. With just one day in London, you really don’t want to waste time queuing at one or the other attraction for an hour or two before you can even get inside. Plus, in some places, walk-ins are not guaranteed at all.
• With just a day in London, it doesn’t matter that much where you decide to stay. Of course, it helps if you choose a hotel in a somewhat central location, also because you can explore a bit more of the days of the arrival/departure as well. A lot also depends on how you travel to/from the city. For example, Megaro Hotel is a good option next to King’s Cross and St Pancras International Stations where the Eurostar train arrives from Paris , Brussels , or Amsterdam .

MORE INFORMATION: Where to Stay in London

So, this is our suggested itinerary for one day in London. As you can see, there are many possibilities and options, so use this as an inspiration to plan your own perfect day trip to London!

If this guide inspires you to stay longer, check out this guide with our recommended 2-day London itinerary .

Have a great trip!

More travel inspiration for London:

• Good to know: Tips for Visiting London
• What to see: Top London Sights & Attractions & Hidden Gems of London
• What to eat: Traditional British Food to Try in the UK
• Best views: Best Views in London
• Camden: Camden Town & Camden Lock Market
• Greenwich: Things to Do in Greenwich & Painted Hall & Queen’s House
• For families: London with Kids
• Outside the city: Best Day Trips from London & Best Cities to Visit in the UK & Day Trip to Liverpool from London

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

Images: personal collection and Depositphotos.com. Additional credits: ewelinas85/Depositphotos.com// cowardlion/Depositphotos.com// dvrcan/Depositphotos.com.

More 1-day itineraries for some of the nicest European cities:

• 1 Day in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
• 1 Day in Barcelona (Spain)
• 1 Day in Edinburgh (UK)
• 1 Day in Florence (Italy)
• 1 Day in Glasgow (UK)
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Saturday 27th of April 2024

Amazing! It's a definite must. My first trip to London with my 2 boys so I will be using as a guide for our upcoming trip in June 2024 :) We're also there to see NY Mets Play. Any suggestions for places to do Afternoon Tea?

Sunday 28th of April 2024

Hi Rebecca, we went for Afternoon Tea at St. Ermin's Hotel. At that time, they had a very nice family-friendly offer. You can read about it here. I think they still have something similar. Most luxury hotels in London offer afternoon tea, also some museums, and even boat cruises. Nowadays, there are plenty of 'more accessible' options for all budgets - see some examples here. With kids, you may also want to check out this Harry Potter walking tour that includes afternoon tea, or this Paddington Bear afternoon tea on a double-decker bus. Have a great trip!

Nichole Walz

Monday 19th of February 2024

Thank you for this amazing itinerary! It's incredible helpful for our upcoming trip in May! XOXO

Tuesday 2nd of April 2024

@Jurga, I am also going in May and this is a great help thank you we will be starting in Barcelona then and 11 night cruise ending in Southampton and staying a couple days in Soho

Glad to help, Nichole. Have a great time in London!

Thursday 4th of January 2024

Literally hitting all the places I want to see! THANK YOU for this.. it's almost too perfect! Curious what the ideal to start this in order to hit all these sites.

Monday 8th of January 2024

Hi Ali, it depends a bit on the season when you travel, but mostly on your interests (that is, which places if any you decide to visit). If you start around 9-10, you could probably watch the Changing of the Guard at the Horse Guards Parade (10-11 am depending on the day), but that's really up to you. That way, you could also be at Leicester Square/Covent Garden at around lunchtime. On the other hand, if you want to go up the London Eye and also visit either Westminster Abbey or The Tower of London, then I would start earlier. So first decide which attractions you absolutely want to visit, read our tips for how much time you need, and that will help you figure out when to start your day. You'll also need to prebook timed entry tickets. Hope this helps. Enjoy London!

Monday 7th of August 2023

Hello, thank you so much. I used this post for a day in London and it was so wonderful! Thanks again

Tuesday 8th of August 2023

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your short visit to London, Susan. Happy travels!

Snehalata Tawade

Saturday 5th of August 2023

Thank you for your wonderful blog. I missed my flight connection and was in London just for a day and could enjoy the day perfectly visiting all the places you mentioned. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. Keep it up. All the best wishes for your future endeavors.

Sunday 6th of August 2023

Glad to help, Snehalata. It's great that you could turn a travel mishap into a fun day in London!

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What to Do on a Quick Trip to London

By Christine Ajudua and Elizabeth Winding

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

With a quick trip to London , a city we visit time and again, comes a dilemma: How do we hit those emerging neighborhoods and have a long, boozy lunch at a restaurant like Gymkhana , whose duck dosa has been all over Instagram, while not forgetting about the museums and hotel bars that made us fall for the city in the first place? We definitely want to check out the gallery scene of South London, and to spend a Saturday or Sunday shopping out east while hitting the new Design Museum just west of Hyde Park. But we’re not over Central London’s storybook charms—a scotch at the newly renovated Blue Bar at The Berkeley, London in The Berkeley hotel, a stroll down Savile Row , an afternoon in Marylebone. In short, we want a way to do it all, or at least do as much as we can in the time we’re in town. To that end, we canvassed a network of our most-in-the-know natives and frequent visitors—chefs, editors, mixologists, and gallerists—to help us come up with a game plan that balances the classic and the emerging, the afternoon tea and the of-the-moment cocktail. And all without spending the whole day on the Tube or in a black cab.

A QUICKFIRE GUIDE TO CENTRAL LONDON

First, get a room.

We say stay in Central London—the hotels here are the most convenient if heading both west and east, and the most iconic, like The Savoy , The Connaught , and Claridge's , the 1856 stalwart with several suites by Diane von Fur­stenberg (think marble fireplaces and bold patterns) and elaborate afternoon teas, where you can sip a slightly sweet Ma­lawi Antler brew (one of just two places on earth that serve it). This year, the center of gravity may shift east with the opening of The Ned and the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square near Tower Bridge, but for now we love the traditional-style suites at An­dré Balazs’s Chiltern Firehouse , with its velvet-covered armchairs and beveled mirrors. (Same goes for chef Nuno Mendes’s chipotle corn bread at the hotel restaurant.) Just off Hyde Park, the Art Deco–style The Beaumont has 73 rooms that channel the early twentieth century. Over in Soho, Firmdale’s Ham Yard Hotel feels like a village with its 13 specialty shops and 190-seat fuchsia-curtained cinema.

Where to Eat Near Your Hotel

From the brilliant team behind Portland (awarded a rare five stars by the late, great A.A. Gill in 2015), the more casual Clipstone opened last summer in still-no-signs-of-stopping Fitzrovia, with house-made charcuterie and nose-to-tail classics like calf’s brain meunière. Meanwhile, the appetite for counter dining continues: Kiln , on Soho’s Brewer Street, has smoky Thai dishes cooked on an open flame or over charcoal in ceramic tao pots, paired with standout French and German natural wines. In Covent Garden, The Barbary is a rowdy counter-only spot inspired by the bold, bracing flavors of North Africa’s Barbary Coast.

The Central Essentials

The Pub Soho’s Coach & Horses pub for a London Glory ale.

The Neighborhood Marylebone, for lunch at Carousel , shopping on Chiltern Street, and drinks at the The Zetter Townhouse Marylebone .

The Drink The aptly named Spritz Termini at Bar Termini , Soho.

Central London Shopping List

Aram , Covent Garden For Eames lounge chairs and U.K.-made furnishings.

Browns , Mayfair For the top selection of ready-to-wear labels like Simone Rocha and Stella McCartney.

Kilgour , Mayfair For bespoke two-piece wool suits right on Savile Row.

Mouki Mou , Marylebone For raw Japanese denim, Dosa dresses, and gifts like Welsh paperweights.

Trunk Clothiers , Marylebone For Felisi briefcases and Mackintosh trenches right across from Chiltern Firehouse .

The courtyard at Chiltern Firehouse.

MUSEUMS ARE BIGGER AND BETTER

There’s a strip in Kensington south of Hyde Park, along Exhibition Road, that almost trumps N.Y.C.’s Museum Mile for its concentration of major museums. Try to arrive by 10 a.m. so you have some alone time (for at least an hour or so) at the always-impressive Victoria and Albert Museum . 

If going this summer, you’re in luck: The new subterranean gallery—with exhibitions on everything from design to opera—and an entrance off Exhibition Road opened in July. The Design Museum , which had its first show at its new location in November, is a 30-minute walk west on Cromwell Road (stop at the Natural History Museum en route; it’s free, and you can see the colossal T. rex). The exhibits are great—the 2012 Olympic Torch, Louboutin heels, and a futuristic Tube train—but John Pawson’s reworking of the interior of this post-war building that had been empty for a decade can’t be missed.

Have Lunch in Hyde Park

The Magazine restaurant inside the Serpentine Sackler Gallery was designed by Zaha Hadid (you’d probably guess as much once you saw those undulating glass walls), and it’s where well-dressed Chelsea socialites gossip between bites of roasted halibut.

No Place Does a Hotel Bar Quite Like This

When it’s cocktail hour and you’re not sure where to go, head for the grandest hotel bar. Some of the best are near Hyde Park, like the Connaught Bar . Grab a seat at a table instead of standing at the bar, so a white-gloved mixologist can roll his martini trolley on over and stir up a perfect pre-dinner drink using rare Gancia dry vermouth. Three blocks north, opt for a glass of Ruinart Champagne at the Art Deco Claridge’s Bar . Or go to Knights­bridge, where The Berkeley’s Blue Bar has been expanded, restoring its “Lutyens Blue” wood-paneled walls. Order a Smoke & Mirrors—a blend including rye, Benedictine, and Sacred Rosehip Cup that also makes for a perfect nightcap.

The New Classics

By Abbe Baker

By Kaitlin Menza

By Matt Ortile

By Kelsey Glennon

“Chef Karam Sethi’s clever use of Brit ingredients (venison naan, wild boar vindaloo) makes this my choice for London’s best Indian restaurant in a city full of great ones.” –Peter Jon Lindberg, contributing editor Shikumen

“Slightly farther west, in Shepherd’s Bush, this dim sum spot has been hot among London foodies since opening a few years back.” –Fiona Golfar, editor at large, British Vogue

The Wolseley

“I love this European restaurant like an old friend. Order the native oysters, steak tartare, and veal Holstein.” –Tom Parker Bowles, food editor, British Esquire

WHERE TO “WEEKEND”

Here’s the deal with Londoners. If they haven’t escaped to, say, the Cotswolds after work on Friday, they’ll often spend Sunday decompressing in the East End. It’s where the seriously cool all-British boutiques are, and the food and flea markets have everything from gastropubs to Asian-street-style joints (the Ethiopian wraps and Thai curries on Brick Lane alone are worth the trek here). To get things started out east, head to the 148-year-old Columbia Road Flower Market , which is ten minutes on the Central line and a bus hop from the city center (the market officially opens at 8 a.m., but aim for a 9 a.m. arrival, as stalls tend to set up late, especially in the cooler months).

Even if you’re not in the market for blooms, come to witness the Notting Hill vibe: deep rows of yellow, purple, and orange fresh-cut hydrangeas, peonies, and banana plants, all foghorned by vendors with chirpy eastern Essex lilts (“Two for a fiv-ER!”). We recommend starting south and working your way up the street so that you arrive at the Marksman pub around 10 a.m. This will guarantee that you’re the first in line for the Sunday-only special: a pillowy Tamworth bacon–stuffed steamed bun, served with a dollop of tangy homemade ketchup.

Shop the Design Boutiques on Redchurch Street

Aimé This French fashion concept store is credited with introducing Isabel Marant to London.

Klaus Haapaniemi & Co. Head here for bold, whimsical patterns on rugs, textiles, and tableware by the Helsinki-born Haapaniemi.

Labour and Wait For souvenirs, we’ll load up on tea cozies from west Wales and blue-enamel Japanese kettles at this home- ware shop (they’ll even ship your purchases back to the States for you).

Modern Society This café cum street-fashion shop has a rotating roster of brands from all over the world, including Desmond & Dempsey and L.A.-based Anine Bing.

Monologue Alistair P floor lamps and Origami marble desks are two of the standouts at this modern furniture concept spot.

New Yorkers Do Brunch, Brits Do Sunday Lunch

Out east, it’s still all about Fergus Henderson’s 20-year-old snout-to-tail institution,

St. John Bread & Wine

in Spitalfields. The unequivocally tender ox cheek is the dish to get.

Chef James Lowe, Off the Clock

The chef and co-owner of Shoreditch’s popular modern British spot, Lyle’s , on his day in East London.

Morito , Hackney Road “I love to get huevos rotos for breakfast here and sit at the bar, which gives you a good view of the open kitchen.”

Regent’s Canal “I’ll stroll the canal path toward Mile End, and walk through Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, which is covered in wildflowers. It’s like escaping the city.”

P. Franco “This wine shop also has a small menu. On my last visit, I had a bottle of Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo with a sea urchin toast that was absolutely brilliant.”

A Moment of Zen

Londoners love their gardens (47 percent of the city is green space), but for a real oasis out east, skip London Fields and head to the Barbican Conserva­tory , open to the public only on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. It’s an enormous greenhouse with over 2,000 species of tropical plants. It takes just half an hour to see it all, but stay for afternoon tea for smoked salmon with dill grown on-site (reservations are essential).

SOUTH IS A MUST FOR ART LOVERS

If Kensington is the epicenter of institutional culture, South London is becoming the equivalent for indie fine-art and multi-disciplinary galleries, which are cropping up in hip neighborhoods like Peckham and Clapham (the large-scale exception: South Bank, where the Tate Modern has just added its new Herzog & de Meuron–designed Switch House ). It’s worth coming to Vauxhall for an afternoon—the grounds of the seventeenth-century Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens just became home to the contemporary five-story Cabinet gallery with exteriors by artists like L.A.-based John Knight. Later on, hit Damien Hirst’s RIBA Stirling Prize–­winning Newport Street Gallery , displaying his personal collection, which includes works by Gavin Turk and Jeff Koons. Stay for dinner at Pharmacy 2 , where superchef Mark Hix’s spiced pheasant curry and phenomenal soft-shell-crab burger are served in a space with bizarro clinical lighting and site-specific “Medicine Cabinets,” a nod to Hirst’s famed “Pharmacy” exhibition from the ’90s.

Where to Eat Before You Do Your Gallery Crawl

South London has two outstanding food markets: tourist-packedm Borough Market (it’s worth braving the crowds) and local favorite Maltby , in hip Bermondsey. Both are five minutes from the London Bridge Tube station.

Borough Market Where: It’s been in London Bridge for over 1,000 years and has more than 100 vendors (it’s closed Sundays). We Love: Bread Ahead’s sourdough loaves; chicken pies from Pieminister; plump beef empanadas at Porteña . And a Tipple: Go for an ale at the Globe Tavern , better known as the home of Bridget Jones. But if You Want a Sit-Down Meal: Padella has pappardelle with slow-cooked beef-shin ragù, counter seating, and lines out the door.

Maltby Street Market Where: In an alley between railway arches, it’s one of the few London street markets open Saturdays and Sundays. We Love: Stacked-high Reubens from Monty’s Deli ; toasted sandwiches at the Cheese Truck . And a Tipple: Grab a pink-grapefruity Little Bird Gin cocktail at the snug Little Bird Gin Arch. But if You Want a Sit-Down Meal: At 40 Maltby Street , look for oft-changing dishes like smoked Yorkshire ham with English mustard.

Insider’s Rec

“To see artists before they make it big, pop by Studio Voltaire in Clapham. I saw Phyllida Barlow’s work there—before she went on to show at Tate Britain and the Venice Biennale .” –Victoria Siddall, director, Frieze Fairs

The After-Dinner Drink

If you find yourself in South London at night, treat yourself to a cocktail at Dandelyan , in the Sea Containers London on South Bank. We always get the Heir­loom, with Auchentoshan Three Wood Scotch and raspberry cordial.

Recommended

The Peninsula, London

Chelsea Townhouse

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22 of the best day trips from London

By Condé Nast Traveller and Anna Prendergast

London ’s hustle and bustle can become overwhelming, even for the most dedicated locals – but its handy location means that day trips from London are easy for anyone who needs a quick escape, whether it be for a country walk , a seaside jaunt or a cultural getaway. Most of our selection of the best day trips from London can be reached by train , within less than two hours – and many couldn’t be further from the busy streets and crammed schedules of the capital. Whether you’re looking for fresh air, delicious eateries or a new selection of shops, these easy-to-plan day trips should slot nicely into your schedule.

Below are 21 of our favourite day trips from London, in no particular order. For more seasonal specific inspiration, see our recommendations for winter day trips from London .

1. Canterbury, Kent

The best day trip from London for: a colourful, food-fuelled history lesson in the garden of England How to get there from London: The direct train from London St Pancras to Canterbury West can take as little as 53 minutes

Prehistoric settlements have been uncovered in this corner of Kent, and it was a popular haunt of the Romans, who surrounded the early city by constructing an earth bank and fortified walls around 130 acres of land. The story of Canterbury that schoolchildren learn, however, comes from the medieval period, courtesy of Chaucer.

The city is home to one of the UK’s most spectacular cathedrals. Pilgrims have navigated the route to this ethereal site for many centuries, and it’s here that Thomas Becket was infamously slaughtered at the order of Henry II – although this series of events has been contested by countless historians. From the cathedral, scan the selection of novels through the crooked door of the Catching Lives Charity Bookshop, before soaking up the sun in one of the city’s hidden pub gardens – The Dolphin and The Parrot are some of our favourites.

Stroll along the remnant of the ancient wall that is still accessible, or settle in for a lazy afternoon on the colourful banks of the River Stour after collecting treats from The Goods Shed. Historic river tours of the river are touristy but not overly expensive, so well worth booking ahead of a visit to uncover the secrets of these romantic, cobblestone streets. Connor Sturges

If you decide to stay over: Parts of The Falstaff Hotel date to the 13th century, and original features such as fireplaces and oak beams are a nod to the city’s medieval history. The city’s main attractions are within walking distance, and comfortable beds, craft cocktails, and a signature afternoon tea await once you are back in the cosy setting.

2. Elmley Nature Reserve

The best day trip from London for:  getting fully immersed in nature How to get there from London:  The train from London St Pancras International to Swale takes 1 hour 50 minutes and then it’s a short taxi ride to Elmley Nature Reserve

Think of day trips to  Kent  and you’ll probably skip straight over the  Isle of Sheppey . Just off the northern coast of Kent next to the Thames Estuary, Sheppey is an unglamorous largely industrial island that initially lacks the tourist appeal of some of its Kentish neighbours. But there’s a secret gem here right off the mainland – the bucolic Elmley Nature Reserve, 3,300 acres of wetlands and wilderness. This family-run estate is a true wildlife conservation haven and is the perfect trip for birdwatchers and nature lovers. With over forty varieties of birds raising their young at Elmley each year, there are some beautiful  walking trails  to spot them all, plus the other resident hares, frogs, dragonflies, cows, voles, bees and more. As soon as your taxi turns onto the long entry drive, it’s easy to see elegant birds such as egrets, lapwings and redshank happily frolicking on the flat marshlands and that’s before you’ve even started exploring. Open Wednesday to Sunday, the entry fee is £6 and that gets you access to the beautiful open landscape for a self-guided wander (although you have to stay on the paths!); they also arrange organised tours at dusk and dawn for £29.50 if you want an expert to help you spot marsh harriers, long-eared owls, sparrowhawk and peregrine falcons. It might be only 40 miles from London but it feels like another world. As well as an incredible place for a day out in nature, there’s also a lovely barn restaurant to get cosy in for toasties at lunch and more hearty evening meals, plus an impressive range of smart places to stay dotted across the reserve if you want to extend your visit.  Sonya Barber

If you decide to stay over:  From decked-out shepherd’s huts with outside baths to four poster beds in the grand 18th-century main house, there’s a wide range of places to stay – all with stunning views over the nature reserve.

3. Stratford-upon-Avon

The best day trip from London for: a Shakespearean adventure How to get there from London: a little over 2 hours by train from London mainline stations; changes are often required

There are few places more charming than the medieval market town of Stratford-upon-Avon. It’s the birthplace and resting place of Shakespeare, and it’s easy to fall in love with the West Midlands spot during a jam-packed day trip from London.

Day trips here, understandably, centre around the Bard. Start where the wordsmith’s journey began with an educational mooch around Shakespeare’s Birthplace, now a museum highlighting how his work continues to shape our lives today. From here, onto Anne Hathaway’s cottage. The family home of Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife, is full of fascinating stories and historical finds, and passionate guides are on hand to delve into tales of the famous family that resided here for 13 generations. For the full experience, visit William’s resting place in Holy Trinity Church via Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall.

Literary associations aside, entertain young minds at the Mechanical Art and Design Museum, get tropical at the stunning Stratford Butterfly Farm, and sample a craft beer before the return journey home at The Garrick Pub Restaurant, which is purportedly the oldest boozer in the town.

In a town dating back almost 1,000 years, you’d expect to stumble across a spectral resident or two in the historical buildings. Check into one of the charming hotels during spooky season and embark on a ghost tour to hear about tales from a haunted tearoom and what some unlucky guests have experienced in one of the town centre’s four-star hotels.

If you decide to stay over: For a fittingly period stay, check into The White Swan . The property’s use as an inn dates back to the sixteenth century, and the walls hold all the charm of a Tudor property with trimmings suited to twenty-first-century travellers. Cosy by the fire after a hearty meal, and sink into four-poster beds before another day exploring Warwickshire’s attractions and natural beauty.

4. Great Garden Escape, The Newt in Somerset

The best day trip from London for: a VIP experience How to get there: The train from London Paddington takes about 1 hour 25 minutes

If you’re not the planning type, The Newt in Somerset’s Great Garden Escape is a fun-filled pre-organised day trip that shows off the best of the British countryside and its charming traditions. With a jam-packed schedule starting at Paddington station, day trippers travel First Class with breakfast served on-board. On arrival, they’ll be given a tour of the gardens at The Newt, which have been landscaped over hundreds of years and are now home to wildlife including deer and newts – of course. There's even an opportunity to explore the grounds with experts, along with a dive into the history and traditions of Somerset. Plus, a stopover at the incredible Roman Villa Experience.

Lunch leads into a cyder tasting, made on-site using apples grown in local orchards, where you’ll undoubtedly be swayed into picking up a bottle or two to take home. When you’ve breathed in just enough country air, the train journey home serves up afternoon tea, depositing you back in the city just in time for sundowners. The whirlwind tour is the ideal tonic for shaking off burnout and reminding yourself of the beauty on your doorstep. Abigail Malbon

If you decide to stay over : Should you choose to forego the train ride home in favour of waking up somewhere new, The Newt is a Jane Austen dream, whether you choose a room in the Georgian house or the converted outbuildings, barns and stables. Bedrooms are simple and beautiful, with a focus on relaxation, but those with a view are truly exceptional. In the morning, wake up early and treat yourself to a swim in the spa pool as the sun comes up – you’ll return to London feeling like a new person.

5. Clifton, Bristol

The best day trip from London for : packing a lot in How to get there from London: The train from London Paddington takes about 1 hour 35 minutes.

After hopping off the train at Bristol Temple Meads, take a stroll to Clifton – the city’s most beautiful leafy suburb. Quiet residential streets are lined with pretty Georgian townhouses , spots of greenery to wander through off the cobbled streets and an eclectic mix of independent cafés, restaurants and shops.

Start with a gander around Clifton Arcade in the heart of Clifton Village, where the 17 boutiques are filled with knick-knacks and intriguing antiques. It’s not a true shopping experience without a pit stop for coffee and cake – try one of Bristol’s top coffee spots, Spicer + Cole, or – for a 100-per-cent plant-based menu – refuel with a slice of rose and vanilla loaf and a superfood latte at East Village Café.

Pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables from the local greengrocers and head to Clifton bridge for fabulous views across the River Avon. It's one of the oldest surviving iron suspension bridges in the world. Learn about its history at the Visitor Centre, stopping off for a pint of traditional Somerset cider at the White Lion by its side. Continue the historical tour by walking up to Clifton Observatory, which has a museum featuring a Victorian-era Camera Obscura and a mythical Giant’s Cave, alongside its own rooftop café serving up breathtaking views. And don’t miss out on a walk down Royal York Crescent – one of the most expensive streets in Bristol, which was also once reputed to be the longest terrace in Europe .

Next, spend time at Bristol Lido, a restored Victorian swimming bath from the 1800s surrounded by a spa and poolside bar for the ultimate in pampering. Round off the day with a cosy pub meal at The Albion, an Indian fine-dining experience at Nutmeg or a hearty pizza at Bosco around the corner on Whiteladies Road. Cordelia Aspinall

If you decide to stay over: Book a room at the recently refurbished Number 38 boutique hotel for a peaceful stay overlooking the Clifton Downs, perfect for your morning stroll.

6. Bath, Somerset

The best day trip from London for: soaking up history How to get there from London: The train from London Victoria takes 1 hour 20 minutes.

Bath is known for its history, but among the buttery-hued Georgian architecture and ancient thermal springs there’s a fresh independent spirit. When the weather is good, there are a couple of brilliant walking routes to try: the six-mile Bath Skyline , for example, is a short stroll from the city centre and tramps through woodland, meadows and orchards with views of the buildings below.

The Somerset city’s literary heritage is well documented – Jane Austen is probably the most famous one-time resident – and there’s still a thriving network of bookshops and literature festivals here, including at bookworm magnet Topping and Company, which stocks more than 55,000 titles. Restaurants are driven by excellent local produce and seasonal ingredients. Grab a traditional lunch at The Circus (we recommend the Wiltshire lamb two ways) or order bun cha at Vietnamese spot Noya’s Kitchen. After a bite, shop at clever concept stores such as Nām, which sells antique furniture and homeware curated by owner Sharan Kaur, and Found, where you can buy clothes from niche global brands, or spend an afternoon at wine bar Corkage, where about 70 bottles are available to sample by the glass. Sarah James

If you decide to stay over: Small hotel Eight lives up to its name; there are just eight rooms, and the ground-floor restaurant always has eight dishes on the menu.

7. The New Forest, Hampshire

The best day trip from London for : woodland walks and long pub lunches How to get there from London: The train from London Waterloo usually takes about 1 hour 45 minutes

With its purple carpets of heather, ancient woodland and England-of-yore villages, the New Forest has long been a release valve for Londoners eager to clear the cobwebs and the cortisol. The apex of its beauty has to be autumn, when its rich hues cut through morning mists and dazzle in the afternoon sun. It's best enjoyed during a long ramble, where you’re likely to meet free-roaming New Forest ponies, cattle and even pigs, followed by a hearty pub lunch with local ale and a warming log fire.

Take the train from Waterloo to Beaulieu Road station and fuel your hike with a pint of real ale at the Drift Inn. If independent shops, cafés and beaches are on the agenda, it’s best to head to Lymington instead, as this one-and-a-half-hour loop around the pub on the edge of the New Forest is blissfully rugged and remote. Having traipsed through a mixed mosaic of woodland and absorbed the silence and sweeping views across the heathland, hunker down at the Drift Inn for a Hampshire beef burger, ale-battered haddock or the pie of the day (invariably something along the lines of mud pie with mash and gravy). Rosalyn Wikeley

If you decide to stay over : Those seeking the quintessential heather-and-wild-ponies New Forest should bed down at The Pig hotel in Brockenhurst or Limewood near Lyndhurst (about five minutes from the Drift Inn). However, the trusted favourite among New Forest devotees, Chewton Glen continues to lure weary urbanites with its coveted position – wedged between woodland and the coast – and commitment to the good, old-fashioned service and comforts of a country club. You’ll find few zeitgeisty design details or next-gen touches here. Instead, antiques, thick carpets and mahogany furniture keep this 18th-century manor house sure of its identity – save a few fun treehouse bedrooms, should privacy or the 21st century fall into your criteria. Don’t miss the fresh salads and fish lunches once you’ve been pummelled in the spa or worked up an appetite in the Grecian-style pool. The gardens are also glorious for afternoon tea after visiting Highcliffe beach.

Olivia Morelli

Charlotte Davey

Charlie Hobbs

Sarah James

8. Hertford, Hertfordshire

The best day trip from London for : pub-crawling and country walks How to get there from London: The train from Finsbury Park takes 35 minutes

With its higgledy-piggledy, pastel-coloured buildings and cobbled streets, this county town serves up a slice of English antiquity that’s postcard-pretty enough to satisfy both shiny-eyed visitors from further afield and weary Londoners searching for fresher air, shorter queues and somewhere different to look at for the day. With trains running every half hour, it’s possible to find yourself marching around its 15th-century castle grounds (check ahead for cinema screenings, talks and events), net fishing from a sandy cove in Hartham Common or wandering about its dinky museum within the hour. Alternatively, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can cycle from London along the River Lea towpath.

On arrival, dip into its handful of local shops – The Women's Society Boutique has an imposing exterior but is a real treasure trove – before stopping at one of the many independent cafés and restaurants. Popular deli-bar Giambrone’s serves authentic Italian plates, while Hertford Coffee Lab makes for a cool pit-stop, and Georgian townhouse and B&B Number One Port Hill hosts occasional pop-up suppers. Plus, the artsy Dog and Whistle, once a pop-up café, has blossomed into a hipster foodie pub and music venue with rooms. Indeed, Hertford – quiet market town by day and more bustling nightspot come evening – specialises in pubs, particularly old-world ones. There's The Salisbury Arms Hotel, said to have been the place where Oliver Cromwell stayed during the Civil War and home to a number of ghosts; the 16th-century White Horse; the 17th-century Blackbirds; and the riverside Old Barge (exact age unknown, but 'old' is part of the name…). If you have time, go on the three-mile walk to Ware alongside the River Lea towpath – the neighbouring town also has a plethora of pubs – and catch the train back to London from there. Becky Lucas

If you decide to stay over: Hertford House Hotel took over the former local newspaper’s offices in pretty Parliament Square in 2006 and hasn’t stopped evolving since, with its latest restaurant and bar renovation completed in autumn 2020. Don’t miss out on brunch in the secret garden, a locally sourced roast in the restaurant and a pint in smart sister pub The Quiet Man.

9. Deal, Kent

The best day trip from London for: an under-the-radar getaway How to get there from London: The fast train from St Pancras International takes 1 hour 22 minutes

This hillside scribble of Georgian streets tucked behind the Kent coast really hit our radar in 2018. Nicknamed ‘Margate’s little sister’, it’s a much cosier, countryside version of its arty neighbour. And that’s exactly its appeal. Deal is less shouty than Margate , but there’s still an exciting slew of shops, cafés and galleries that have arrived over the past few years. The Saturday Market stalls are worth a rummage, but it’s the food that brings the locals back each weekend. For more of a sit-down lunch we love Frog and Scot where the chef, previously of The Sportsman in Seasalter, cooks up a daily changing menu based on hyper-local produce. Founder of Smugglers Records Will Greenham (ex singer and guitarist of the band Cocos Lovers, who’ve supported Mumford & Sons on tour) is at the heart of the town’s music scene, and in terms of art, Linden Hall Studio is a contemporary gallery in a converted chapel that wouldn’t look out of place in Mayfair. Tabitha Joyce

If you decide to stay over: The Rose was revamped in 2018 and now there are eight cute bedrooms splashed in bold colours and filled with vintage finds. The restaurant is looked after by Rachel O’Sullivan (previously of East London’s Towpath Café) who dishes up Scandi-inspired breakfast plates of smoked salmon, avocado, soft-boiled egg, dill and whipped cream cheese.

Read more about Deal, Kent

10. Whitstable, Kent

The best day trip from London for: oysters on the beach How to get there from London : The train from from St Pancras takes 1hr 13 minutes

This little town on the north Kent coast isn’t quite the sort-of-secret it was back in the 1990s, when DFLs (local jargon for Londoners) rediscovered it, arriving at weekends for seafood at Wheelers on the high street and pints of Kentish ale at the beach-side Old Neptune pub. But it’s still an atmospheric place to head for a hit of vitamin B12 – via a dozen or so oysters – then a scrunch along the shingle shore, spotting Second World War sea forts across the waves and seals in the harbour. There are plenty of places to eat: avoid the overpriced Royal Native Oyster Stores and head instead to JoJo’s, just down the road in Tankerton, for mackerel fillets and Med-inspired small plates. Or Samphire, a Whitstable bistro with cuttlefish risotto and Romney Marsh lamb on the menu. There’s also a thriving micropub scene here, with The Handsome Sam, The Black Dog, and the larger Twelve Taps for hoppy experimentation. But our favourite pastime is picking up a pot of cockles and whelks from the quayside, or fish and chips and oysters from The Forge shack, and devouring them in the shade of a wooden groyne on the beach, preferably with a bottle of English fizz to hand. Rick Jordan

If you decide to stay over: The Victorian fisherman’s huts on the beach are the best place in which to hole up, the sound of waves and boat masts jangling in the wind outside, and can be booked via Hotel Continental. Along the coast in Seasalter is the Driftwood Beach House B&B .

11. Rye, East Sussex

The best day trip from London for : a bracingly fresh seaside getaway How to get there from London: The train from St Pancras International takes about 1 hour 10 minutes with a change at Ashford International.

Rye is home to what might just be Britain ’s prettiest (and most prettily named) street, and a wave of newcomers have moved in alongside the quaint old-timers in Mermaid Street and beyond, opening smart interiors stores and artisan bakeries next to unironically vintage tea rooms and souvenir shops. After breakfast at Whitehouse Rye – order the halloumi hash – pick up a new read at The Tiny Book Store (the clue’s in the name) and window shop for that fantasy mansion at striking antiques shop Strand House Interiors. The blustery dunes and invigorating waters of Camber Sands, one of the best beach near London , are a 15 minute ride away on the local bus, but head back in time for a rustic supper at Tuscan Rye, where fresh pasta (ricotta ravioli with brown-butter sauce, potato and thyme tortellini in a rich ragu) draws loyal locals. Sarah James

If you decide to stay over: Book a room at the lively George in Rye , which welcomes A-list guests (George Clooney and Helena Bonham Carter have both checked in for sleepovers) and smart locals in the same breath.

These are our favourite things to do in Rye

12. Margate, Kent

The best day trip from London for : a cultural day out How to get there from London: the fast train from London St Pancras takes 1 hour 25 minutes.

It’s no secret that this Victorian seaside town has had quite the hipster renaissance in recent years, sparked mostly by the arrival of the Turner Contemporary gallery in 2011 and spurred on by a slew of new openings and a wave of Londoners upping sticks and moving down to the Kent coast. For a cultural outing, the waterside Turner Contemporary is still a must. Entry is free so it’s worth popping in even if you’ve never heard of the artists on show, and the shop has some nice local products. For more contemporary art head to Crate, an artist-led project space in an old printworks. If you’d prefer something older – much older – wander over to the most ancient building in town, the Tudor House, a Grade II-listed 16th-century timber-framed house on King Street. It’s on your route from the seafront to the mysterious Shell Grotto, a spooky set of underground tunnels covered in more than four million shells.

A trip to Margate isn’t complete without a few hours in Dreamland, whether it’s for some spins on the rides or to see one of the amusement park’s impressive line-up of gigs in the evenings. Do take a stroll around town to hit up the vintage shops selling retro clothes, furniture and homewares, where you can still find some decent bargains. And don’t forget to head over to Cliff Terrace to visit the flagship store of cult natural skincare brand Haeckels, which makes divine-smelling beauty products using seaweed gathered on the beach nearby. Speaking of the beach, if you want to go swimming walk along the coast to Walpole Bay Tidal Pool, a man-made sea lagoon where you can find calm waters and steps for easier access. If you arrive early (or stay the night), tuck into cracking breakfast at Storeroom coffee shop or at Cliffs, where there’s also a record shop, a hair salon and a yoga studio. In fact, the whole up-and-coming area of Cliftonville is worth exploring. After all that roaming, great seafood can be found for dinner at either Angela’s or Hantverk & Found – reserve a table in advance though, as both get booked up. Sonya Barber

If you decide to stay over: The best beds in town are at The Reading Rooms , a boutique b&b in a restored Georgian townhouse a few minutes’ walk from the seafront. Be sure you don’t have to rush off in the morning as they’ll bring breakfast to your room so you can eat it overlooking the leafy square.

Read more about Margate's best things to do

13. Eastbourne, East Sussex

The best day trip from London for : fair-weather walkers How to get there from London : The train from London Victoria takes 1 hour 30 minutes.

Eastbourne is an old-timey British seaside town with a Victorian pier, a pebble beach, and a much-loved bandstand where tribute acts reign: ‘Queen’, ‘ABBA’, ‘Frank Sinatra’ and ‘Lady Gaga’ have all played. You could spend the day taking in the town’s thriving art galleries, with plenty of opportunities for refuelling stops along the way (our favourite is the stripped-back-trendy Nelson Coffee Co opposite the station) but the real draw here is enjoying the great outdoors at Beachy Head, where you’ll find the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. A hike with seriously impressive views out to sea runs across the top. Wander all the way along to neighbouring Seaford or make one of the secret beaches tucked away at the foot of the cliffs your way point. It’s a steep climb down, but Falling Sands Beach is quiet and sandy and well worth the adventure. Eastbourne often makes the list of the sunniest places in the UK, so don’t forget your sunglasses. Olivia Holborow

If you decide to stay over: Book into the Beachy Head holiday cottages – there’s a choice of 8, all set around a rambling walled garden with fruit and vegetables you can help yourself to.

An insider guide to the South Downs

14. Brighton, East Sussex

The best day trip from London for : blasting the cobwebs away by the sea How to get there from London : The train from London Victoria takes 1 hour 34 minutes.

Brighton is a brilliant mish-mash of retro, seaside fun and progressive culture. Book in advance and you can get return tickets from London for as little as £10. A maze of bunting-lined streets, The Lanes bursts at the seams with vintage shops – don’t miss Beyond Retro and Dirty Harry, and our two favourite independent boutiques, Our Daily Edit and Peggs & Son, as well as retro memorabilia (navigate the turnstile at Snoopers Paradise for collectors’ items, vinyl, and furniture). Time your day trip to include breakfast at Kensingtons – grab a table on the balcony for giant plates piled high with eggs, toast and beans. It’s not the easiest spot to find, so look out for a shop called Artemis on Kensington Gardens, which overflows with sheepskin rugs and pelts – the café is on the left; follow the smell of bacon up the stairs. Later, reserve a table at Food for Friends, a superb veggie restaurant with award-winning flavours and presentation. A short walk away is the huge 8km pebbly beach – the section near the Palace Pier is dotted with stripy deckchairs and usually buzzing from spring to autumn (and often absolutely crammed in summer). There’s something terribly British about layering up and enjoying a windswept walk in the winter months, too. Reward yourself with a bag of hot, sugary donuts from the pier.

If you decide to stay over : Walk along the seafront to The Ginger Pig, a restaurant-with-rooms with pre-mixed cocktails in the minibars and Cowshed bottles by the standalone bathtubs.

The best restaurants in Brighton

15. Lewes, Sussex

The best day trip from London for : history buffs and vintage hunters How to get there from London : The train from London Victoria takes just over 1 hour.

Lewes: the market town in the South Downs that sits against a backdrop of chalk hills and green peaks. Cobblestoned 'twittens' (narrow streets), handpainted shop signs and crumbling tiles from the 1960s make it feel like a town time forgot, and its slower rhythm makes for a reinvigorating gear-change. The Needlemakers on West Street is home to a range of small, independent shops that sell local craftsmanship, from jewellery to books – Alexis Dove is a favourite for delicate silverware and Susie Petrou has an eye for vintage blouses and Romanian embroidery. There’s an incongruous well at the bottom by the vintage shops – throw in a penny for good luck before you start hunting through piles of clothes and bags. Lewes Flea Market is an alluring source for antique furniture and quirky homeware, and is open daily (not to be confused with the outdoor Sunday market, which is also worth a visit). At the other end of town, at the bottom of Cliffe High Street, you can find Bill Collison’s very first Bill’s restaurant, a European deli-turned-eatery, where you can get hearty dishes such as pumpkin, fig and chestnut roast, or a beef, bacon and camembert burger. After lunch, ponder the paperbacks at the Fifteenth Century Bookshop, which has been carefully restored in recent years but remains as much of a landmark as Lewes Castle. Finish the day with a pint; Harvey’s Brewery is the only independent brewery in Sussex and provides the John Harvey Tavern over the road with local cask ales (download the self-titled app to find out where you can get it in London).

If you decide to stay over : Head to Firle for a night at The Ram Inn , and enjoy crisp linen and generous breakfasts served by an open fire.

16. Folkestone, Kent

The best day trip from London for: a coastal up-and-comer How to get there from London : The fast train from London St Pancras to Ashford takes 40 minutes, where you can change for Folkestone Central.

The seaside town of Folkestone is mid-makeover, which is the ideal time to visit – before everything gets priced up and the place’s quirks glossed over. The appeal of Sunny Sands beach is self-explanatory – this tiny, windswept slip of sand is one of the best beaches in Kent and the ideal spot to kick off your day (unsurprisingly, it fills up with families wielding buckets and spades, sticky with sunscreen, too). A trio of swashbuckling pubs and restaurants – The Ship Inn, The Mariner and The Captain’s Table – lines the seafront, but the real treasure can be found in the Creative Quarter. At the bottom of The Old High Street is Bounce Vintage, an open space with rails full of retro sportswear, French chore jackets and Aloha shirts. If you exchange smiles and pleasantries with the rosy-cheeked owners, they might just offer you an espresso on the house. Failing that, further up the road, Steep Street sells specialty coffee, homemade cake and books . Floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall shelves of hardbacks tower over fat leather armchairs and blackboard tables that you can doodle on in chalk. There are endless places to eat and drink around town: Rocksalt for a smart menu and sea views; Papas for old-fashioned fish’n’chips ; Beano’s for veggies; La Casa Del Bello Gelato for ice cream Follies for pizza and The Pullman for pints. The Harbour Arm, though, is where Folkestone’s own folk go – the Champagne bar hidden in the lighthouse at the end is rustic, romantic, and completely charming.

If you decide to stay over : Book a room at the Linen Shed , a dove-grey, weatherboarded house on the old Roman road to Canterbury.

The best restaurants in Kent

17. Oxford, Oxfordshire

The best day trip from London for : a traditional slice of British culture How to get there from London : The Oxford Tube coach service takes 1 hour 30 minutes and runs until 3am; trains also run from Paddington and Marylebone stations and take 1 hour.

In one of the most quintessentially English cities in the UK (and the most expensive to live in outside London), cream tea is not just a rite of passage – it’s a requirement. And there’s only one place to take it – The Vaults & Garden Café, signposted by the presence of an antique bicycle with a flowerbed in its basket, is a gorgeous 14th-century building surrounded by colleges (Oriel, Brasenose, Murton, All Souls), where scones come loaded with clotted cream and seasonal homemade jam (the café has serious sustainability credentials, too). Architecture is a major draw in Oxford ; the libraries, bridges and even cinemas feature Palladian domes, Norman design, ziggurat influences and listed buildings which make this a city to see on foot (Radcliffe Square is a must, and it’s worth paying £4 to climb the tower at the Church of St Mary The Virgin for the best view of Oxford). If you’re taking kids, the Pitt Rivers Museum is packed with bizarre artefacts and stories they’ll tell their friends about, and The Story Museum welcomes you through a wardrobe into Narnia and other fictional worlds of wonder. If you booked a babysitter, however, grab a drink at the brilliant Freud bar in Jericho – a stained-glass church-turned-cool-cocktail-bar that is grown-up enough to feel sophisticated but studenty enough to have plenty of atmosphere and frivolity in the air (or perhaps it’s something in the drinks).

If you decide to stay over : There are plenty of lovely hotels in the Cotswolds , such as The Wild Rabbit – the latest outpost from eco-queen Carole Bamford of Daylesford Organic fame.

18. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The best day trip from London for : people-watching and scenery How to get there from London : The train from London King’s Cross takes 45 minutes.

Like cycling in Amsterdam or taking trams in San Francisco , punting really is the most sophisticated way to see the city of Cambridge and the university grounds. Scudamore’s is the oldest ‘chauffeur’ company and offers a more traditional tour, but board a boat from the Garret Hostel Bridge for a younger, more humorous experience (ask your punter why the GHB is also known as Orgasm Bridge). For lunch, foodPark is a top hawker convoy of Sri Lankan curries, wood-fired pizza and open-wide burgers that sets up from 12pm until 2pm in varying locations around Cambridge from Wednesday to Friday. For something more upscale, book one of Galleria’s terrace tables on the south side of the Magdalene Bridge, with British fusion food and views of the River Cam (your gluten- and dairy-free friends will thank you, as there are two separate menus specifically catering to their diets). In the autumn, the leaf-covered colleges are particularly picturesque as they turn red and rust, and in spring, Parker’s Piece is a scenic stretch of greenery from which to navigate (spot the lamppost that supposedly inspired the post in CS Lewis’ Narnia). From here, find eccentric English shop Bowes & Co, Fitzbillies for iced buns, Aromi for Italian nibbles, Kettle’s Yard art gallery and G David for antique books. Finish your day with the choral evensong at King’s College Chapel around 5.30pm: goosebumps guaranteed. For more ideas, see our guide to the best things to do in Cambridge .

If you decide to stay over : It doesn’t get much better than the iconic University Arms hotel , reopened in 2018 after a serious reboot.

19. Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

The best day trip from London for: welly-wielding outdoorsy types How to get there from London : The train from London Victoria takes 1 hour to East Grinstead (a 15-minute drive from Forest Row).

AA Milne famously wrote the stories of Winnie the Pooh while living just north of Ashdown Forest. Known as 100 Acre Wood in Pooh’s world, the forest is home to the spellbinding stories and is an enchanting place to stretch your legs for a day, easily accessible via East Grinstead station. Stretches of open heathland give way to leafy walkways and carpets of bluebells in spring, where the woods teem with wildlife (spot fallow deer, badgers and the odd friendly pheasant – no honey-eating bears, though), and the only noise is birdsong. You can even visit Pooh Bridge (for a game of Poohsticks, naturally), but be warned, it’s a prominent tourist spot. Pooh was a big fan of having ‘a little smackerel of something’, and nearby village Forest Row has plenty of places for elevenses. Taffels deli is a family-run café and much-loved lunch spot (there is nothing skinny about the skinny chips; they are double-fried and divine) and caters to all dietary requirements, while Java & Jazz serves huge hot chocolates cakes and crispy-crusted pizza. For proper pub food, the cosy Hatch Inn (one of our favourite country pubs near London ) is known for roasts with all the trimmings and offers plenty of dog-patting opportunities. If you’re not in a hurry to get home, head to Linton’s car park – locally known as ‘the viewpoint’ – for sunset.

If you decide to stay over : Gravetye Manor is a very English Elizabethan country-house classic and one of our favourite weekend breaks in the UK .

20. Dungeness, Kent

The best day trip from London for : nature enthusiasts How to get there from London : The drive to Romney Marsh via the A20 and M20 takes 2 hours.

Arriving in Dungeness from London feels a little like stepping out of a Tardis into a different time zone, where a recent apocalypse has left the landscape barren, the wildlife overrun, the buildings flattened, and the population dramatically compromised (in fact, the Dungeness Power Station appeared in Doctor Who in 1971). Unofficially known as ‘Britain’s only desert’, Dungeness has a unique environment – single-storey buildings appear to have been swallowed by the shingle and plants let loose with little regard for human-imposed order. The beach resembles a mass shipwreck; abandoned fishing boats, crumbling shacks, winches and forgotten tractors coated in decades of rust sit, untouched, unmoved and as mysterious as a Russell T Davies plot. There’s not a whole lot to do here – but there’s so much to see, and so much to pique your curiosity that you’ll spend the journey back Googling the area. Kids will love the sheer strangeness of it all, and it’s impossible to resist the childlike urge to climb and run and play. Few places so close to London feel like such an adventure; the journey can take less than two hours and, if you time it right, you can order the catch of the day for lunch from roadside hut the Snack Shack, which does the freshest fish, lobster rolls and ice-cold cans of San Pellegrino.

If you decide to stay over : You’ll have to venture out of Dungeness – try The Rose in Deal , a grown-up bolthole splashed with bold colours and covetable vintage finds.

The best day trip from London for : switching off How to get there from London: The train from London Waterloo to Dorking takes 50 minutes.

Surrey’s proximity to London makes the journey a breeze – and it’s an especially astute pick if you’re likely to be coming with a car full of little ones. At Henry VIII’s home Hampton Court Palace, there are family-friendly events such as beast quests and ghost tours, as well as the famous giant hedge maze, where adventurous kids can lead the troops. In winter, an ice rink is set against the historic backdrop of the palace, a building whose grandiose architecture is shaped by both the Tudor and Baroque periods. If you’re escaping the city (and the kids), however, check in at Grayshott Health Spa, a traditional country home with cutting-edge treatments. Surrounded by 47 acres of flowering gardens, it’s a peaceful place to step back and take stock. Connect with nature at Kew, too, where the Royal Botanic Gardens are open to the public all year round. The winter light show is particularly mesmerising, when the sun starts to sink earlier and earlier. Be sure to take cash for mince pies and mulled wine as you wander through the grounds. Having been awarded a Michelin star , Steve Drake’s restaurant Sorrel in Dorking (a market town with chocolate-box charm) is currently the county’s hottest restaurant with the most exciting ‘discovery menu’.

If you decide to stay over : Surrey is home to some of the best spas near London , such as Grayshott, where the Manor House rooms offer faded charm.

22. Hastings and St Leonards

The best day trip from London for:  old-school seaside charm How to get there from London:  The fast train from London St Pancras International takes 1 hour 32 minutes with a change at Ashford International

There’s almost too much to fit into a one-day visit to Hastings, especially if you want to pop over to the neighbouring town of St Leonards. Over the last few years, these two  East Sussex  enclaves have become a popular bolthole for burnt-out Londoners looking for a bohemian seaside escape. To see what all the fuss is about, head straight to explore Hasting’s quaint Old Town, a picturesque maze of streets sandwiched between two dramatic cliffs. Pedestrianised scenic George Street is where most of the action happens, with a thrum of cafés, shops and pubs, but it’s worth wandering the surrounding streets too. Seek out AG Hendy & Co on the High Street for well-curated vintage homewares and stop into  The Crown  for cosy pub grub made with excellent local produce. If you’re up for a wander, get the funicular up and walk along to the cliff to Fairlight Glen, a beautiful secluded beach where clothing is optional. Or if that sounds a bit much, stay in the Old Town and explore the dramatic black fisherman’s huts on Rock-A-Nore beach where there’s Hastings Contemporary art gallery, a tiny shipwreck museum, fresh seafood stalls and a very cute miniature railway. Next up, take the 40-minute amble along the beach past the pier to St Leonards and stop off for food at the fabulous seafront café, Goat Ledge. It’s worth the trip for their crispy panko fish baps and katsu curry sauce chips alone. Nearby, there are great independent shops selling everything from candles to kimonos on Norman Road and King’s Road where you can easily spend a few hours happily browsing and café hopping before settling into dinner at Michelin-recommended pub The Royal.  Sonya Barber

If you decide to stay over:  Book into  The Old Rectory , a bijou  b&b  in Hasting’s Old Town with treatment rooms and a walled garden.

• Tours from Heathrow Airport >

Heathrow Layover Tours

Our Heathrow layover tours are the perfect way to make the most of your airport transit time. Our most popular tour is a 5-6 hour highlights tour of London. Travel in an iconic London Black Taxi or executive vehicle which seats up to 6 passengers accompanied by a driver/guide. You can book this directly on our booking page. We can also arrange layover tours for larger groups or visits to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.

All our layover tours are designed to give you the best experience possible during your short time in London. We offer pick times throughout the morning and can pick up from all Heathrow airport terminals, as well as Heathrow hotels.

Heathrow layover tourS 5-6 Hours

Highlights of London

Our 5-6 hour tours from Heathrow are perfect if you have a layover and would like to use this time to see London.

5-6 Hour London Highlights Tour:

• Pick-up from your terminal at Heathrow Airport
• Travel to London in a London Black Taxi or executive vehicle which seats up to 6 people
• Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour of London.
• See many of the main sights in London including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the River Thames and more!
• Your friendly driver/guide will provide knowledgeable insight into the city

You can book this layover tour of London directly on our booking page.

5-6 Hour Layover Tours – Alternative Destinations

• Another way to make the most of your Heathrow Airport layover is by visiting Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace or Stonehenge
• Windsor Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in the world! It is one of the official residences of the British Royal Family. Windsor Castle is located just a 20-minute drive from Heathrow Airport.
• Stonehenge is around a 90-minute to 2-hour drive from Heathrow Airport. See the UNESCO World Heritage site with the most famous stone circles in the world! Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago, although nobody is sure why it was constructed and what purpose it serves.
• Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace located approximately 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport. Highlights include seeing its beautiful gardens, Henry VIII’s apartments, Cumberland Art Gallery and more.

If you would like to book one of our alternative 5-6 hour layover tours from Heathrow, please get in touch..

• Our Heathrow layover tours pick up from all terminals at Heathrow Airport as well as nearby hotels
• At the end of the tour we will drop you back at your Heathrow Airport terminal or nearby hotel
• Our Heathrow Layover tours are also suitable if you are continuing your journey from a different airport or seaport. We can drop off at all major London airports including Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport or London City Airport. We can also drop off at Southampton Cruise Terminal, Dover Port or Harwich Port.
• Our layover tours are also a great option for travellers who are arriving at Heathrow early in the morning and are looking for a tour before checking into their London hotel.
• All layover tours can be arranged with an early morning pickup or a late evening dropoff
• Tours are planned according to the amount of time you have available between your flights.
• We use an iconic London Black Taxi or executive vehicle for groups of up to 6 people.  We can also offer for larger groups a range of different vehicles according to your size and luggage requirements. This includes sedan vehicles, MPVs, 16-seater minibuses and coaches.
• It takes approximately 1 hour to get through Heathrow Airport after landing
• We aim to return you to the airport 2 hours before your flight departure

Tour Booking

Heathrow layover tours – full-day tours.

Our full day-day tours are perfect for longer layovers at Heathrow Airport. With 9-10 hours you can spend a full day exploring London or visit some beautiful spots located near Heathrow Airport in the English countryside. All full-day Heathrow layover tour includes comfortable transportation and can be arranged with or without a guide.

Full-day Heathrow Layover Tours

• Spend a full-day day sightseeing in London. We’ll meet you at your Heathrow terminal and drive into the capital. There are many ways to enjoy a private guided tour of London, and highlights could include watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, visiting the Tower of London and seeing Big Ben.
• Another popular Heathrow layover tour includes visiting Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and the city of Bath. We can also arrange private versions of most of our group Stonehenge tours .
• Alternatively, head to Oxford on a full-day layover tour from Heathrow. The city is home to one of the most famous universities in the world. Highlights include going inside some of the ancient university colleges, seeing Bodleian Library and enjoying the extraordinary architecture. From here, we can also drive into the English countryside to a region known as the Cotswolds. Stop in charming English villages and admire the green rolling landscapes.
• Finally, we can arrange a themed-tour from Heathrow Airport. Visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on a day out from Heathrow. Alternatively, discover the magic of Downton Abbey with a visit to Highclere Castle and the nearby locations used in the filming of the TV series.

Please get in touch if you would like to book one of these full day tours

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Day Trips From London

15 Terrific Day Trips From London

These UK  day trips  are quick, fun alternatives to a day in the city. Castles, famous movie sets, great discount shopping, historic homes, and gardens are all less than two hours from London . And transportation links from the British capital to the suburbs, the countryside and even other nearby cities are easy, fast and reasonably priced.

If you are looking for an alternative to London's hustle and bustle, and a chance to see England from a different perspective, a quick "away day" may be just the ticket. They're all reachable by public transportation too.

UK travel tip : To keep transportation costs down, try to book your train or coach tickets well in advance to take advantage of the lowest fares.

Windsor Castle

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

Windsor Castle is everyone's idea of a fairytale castle. And there's plenty to see at the Queen's weekend home (which, we hear, is her favorite). The building alone covers 13 acres and is the biggest inhabited castle in the world. William the Conqueror picked the site, west of London overlooking the Thames and it has been a Royal residence and fortress ever since - almost 950 years.

How to Get There

• Take the train - Trains leave regularly from London's Paddington Station to Windsor & Eton Central. The castle, a short walk from the station, dominates the town and is impossible to miss. The trip takes between 25 and 40 minutes depending upon the train you choose.
• By car: Windsor Castle is 24 miles from Central London. Take the A4 and M4 to Junction 6 then follow signs for Windsor town center and parking.
• By bus: Green Line buses (701 and 702) leave hourly from Victoria station, stopping at Windsor Castle and  Legoland Windsor.

Warner Brothers Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter

If you've ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of your favorite film characters or look behind the scenes at how all the special effects are accomplished, Warner Brothers' Harry Potter attraction at its Leavesden studios, 20 miles northwest of London is a must see. And if you or members of your family are Harry Potter fans, this is a definite "don't miss".

The makers of the film have pulled together some of the most iconic sets, loads of the actual props used in the films and created a walking tour in two soundstages where the Harry Potter films were made. Even for those of us who have not been dyed-in-the-wool Harry Potter fans, it's endlessly fascinating and entertaining. We spent about five hours there, making the apparently high ticket prices surprisingly good value for money.

Top tip: Don't forget to book your tickets in advance. No tickets are offered for sale at the site.

• By train: Trains from London's Euston Station leave for Watford Junction roughly every ten minutes throughout the day. The trip takes between 15 and 20 minutes. Once at the station, a colorful bus takes you directly to the attraction, while you watch a film to get you in the mood. The bus meets passengers in front of Watford Junction Station. When weighing up travel costs and choosing between car and train, keep those costs in mind. A family of four could spend more than £50 just traveling to the attraction by train. Frequent trains from Birmingham New Street also stop at Watford Junction.
• By car: The attraction is just a few miles from the M1 and M5 motorways and once you leave the motorways, brown signs lead you in. There are detailed directions for travel by road on the attraction website as well as SatNav coordinates.
• By coach: Transfers from London with a preferred transportation partner are regularly scheduled and can be purchased without studio admission.

Brighton - London's Beach

In 2016, Brighton added a spanking new attraction: The BA i360 rises more than 500 feet above the seafront and on a clear day it really does seem like you can see forever. It's only one of the attractions of the funky seaside resort known as London's beach. The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, the splendid summer house built by George IV when he was Prince Regent, is an Arabian Nights fantasy slap bang in the middle of town. In the early 19th century, his architect, John Nash, slapped a cast iron framework around an older, simpler farmhouse and, well, just went to town, really.

• By train:  Trains leave about every 15 minutes from either London Bridge or Victoria Station and take about an hour.
• By car: Brighton is 54 miles due south of London. It takes about 1h30 to drive. South of the M25 ring road, the M23 leads into Brighton.
• By bus: Buses from London to Brighton take between an hour and forty minutes to more than three hours. Each journey has a small amount of lowest fare tickets available. These sell out quickly so it is a good idea to buy your tickets well in advance. Buses travel hourly between Victoria Coach Station in London and Brighton Pier Coach Station.

A Weekend Is Great Too

There's more than enough to do in Brighton to spend a short break. Visitors love to stroll among the antique shops and boutiques of "The Lanes", walk the shingle beach or take some fish and chips out to the end of  Brighton's Victorian pier . In winter there's the spectacle of Brighton Burning the Clocks and in May Brighton stages England's biggest multi-arts festival. Why not plan a Brighton getaway ?

Oxford England

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre 

Oxford University, England, is the oldest university in the English speaking world, dating back to the 11th century. Graduates have made notable contributions in every form of human endeavor.

Walk these streets and you will be following in the footsteps of Nobel prize winners, kings, presidents, and prime ministers. The university has produced saints, scientists, explorers, artists, authors, and actors.

And where you find students and the UK's gilded youth you'll also find wonderful pubs and great shopping.

Another Oxford treat is the recently reopened Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology . Founded in 1683 as Britain's first public museum, its dusty and dark old galleries were reborn with a major, multi-million-pound refurbishment program. The museum reopened in 2009 with 39 new galleries and a 100% increase in exhibition space.

Among the treasures you might see at the Ashmolean are drawings by Michaelangelo, Raphael, and Rembrandt; a Stradivarius Violin; ancient Chinese and Middle Eastern porcelain and glass; the coins with the heads of Nero and Henry VIII, and lots more. The museum is part of Oxford University and it's free.

Altogether Oxford is a terrific, and easy, day out of London.

How to Get There 

• By train: Express trains to Oxford from Paddington Station are frequent and take about an hour and round-trip fare. If you don't catch the express train, a conventional journey takes about an hour and 45 minutes.
• By car: Oxford is 62 miles northwest of London via the M4, M25, M40 and A roads. It takes about an hour and a half to drive. Parking is difficult but the city is surrounded by Park and Ride parking lots with cheap bus services into the center.
• By bus: The Oxford Tube is a very popular way to get to Oxford by bus. The company runs buses every ten minutes, 24 hours a day, with pickups from multiple stops in London and in Oxford.

Blenheim Palace - Magnificent Home of the First Churchills

Blenheim Palace is more than another one of England's stately homes. This magnificent palace, home of the Dukes of Marlborough and an easy day trip from London, is:

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site
• A stunning example of 18th century English Baroque style
• A memorial to one great British hero, the first Duke of Marlborough, and the birthplace of another, Sir Winston Churchill.
• One of the finest examples of the work of 18th-century landscape architect Launcelot "Capability" Brown.
• A wonderful backdrop for family activities, virtually year round.

It's in Woodstock - the gateway to the Cotswolds - and less than two hours away from London.

• By train: Express trains to Oxford from Paddington Station are frequent and cost under £25; then 10 minutes on the local S3 bus from the station.
• By car: Blenheim is about 62 miles from London via the M4, M25 and M40 motorways and the A40 and A44 roads. The main entrance is at the bottom of Woodstock High Street.

Bicester Village - Discount Designer Outlets

Shopping! If you thought London was the be-all and end-all of fashionable shopping, a short train journey to Bicester Village will open your eyes. More than 100 chic boutiques are all discount designer outlets. All the big European and international designer brand names are there with prices much lower than Bond Street or Fifth Avenue. And there are a few restaurants and coffee shops where you can rest your tired feet (or park your "bag man").

• By train:  Trains to Bicester North Station leave up to four times an hour, daily, from London Marylebone. The journey takes just under an hour. There is an inexpensive shuttle bus from Bicester North direct to the Village.
• By car: The shopping center is about 64 miles from Central London on the A41. The drive takes between an hour and a half and two hours. Take the A4 to the M4 Motorway, then the M25 north to the M40 west. Exit at Junction 9 and follow the A41 to Bicester Village. It looks a bit like a small town...with a huge parking lot.
• By bus: Morning and afternoon luxury coach trips to Bicester Village operate daily with pick ups from several London hotels and other Central London points.

Ightham in Kent - A Village With Secrets and a Great Day Trip to Walk or Drive

Ightham is as charming a Kentish village as you can imagine - but it's the sort of place with so many dark happenings in its history that Agatha Christie would have rubbed her hands together with glee.

Besides having picturesque 14th and 15th-century houses and pubs, Ightham is just up the road from Ightham Mote, a fortified medieval manor, and just down the hill from Oldbury Wood, a protected ancient woodland and Iron Age earthwork. There's plenty to see, a good lunch to be had at the George & Dragon and some fine but easy walking.

• By train : Trains to nearby Borough Green & Wrotham Station from Victoria Station are frequent and take less than an hour.
• By car: Ightham (pronounced "item" by the way, is about 55 miles from Central London via the A3, the M25, and the M26.

Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral

Nothing can really prepare you for your first sight of Stonehenge . No matter how many pictures you've seen of this iconic landmark, watching it rise up from Salisbury Plain is heart-stopping.

After that, in the past, a visit to the site could be disappointing. But in 2013 the monument was reborn. A new visitor center with a reconstructed Stone Age village and a restoration of the ancient landscape around the stones themselves, plus the opening of an excellent museum and interpretive center shows off ​Stonehenge in a completely new light.

The road that once passed close enough to rattle the stones was dug up and grassed over as was the old parking area. Now, from the visitor center, you can either walk a mile to the stones or travel in a silent electric buggy to within a few hundred yards. 

And a Visit to Salisbury Cathedral

You can book various coach tours to get to Stonehenge but they're typically overpriced and try to cram in too many different places. Instead, especially if you are an independent sort of traveler, go by train via Salisbury to visit the city's nearly 800-year-old cathedral. Among its highlights are the best preserved of the four remaining copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, the world's oldest working mechanical clock, and - at 404 feet - the tallest spire in Britain.

• By train: Trains from London Waterloo to Salisbury leave 20 minutes and 50 minutes after the hour throughout the day. The trip takes about an hour and 20 minutes. Salisbury Reds run regular bus services from the train station to the Stonehenge Visitor Center.
• By car: Stonehenge is about 85 miles from Central London via the M3 and the A303.

Leeds Castle

A neighboring lord once described  Leeds Castle , near Maidstone in Kent, as "the loveliest castle in the world." It's hard to argue once you see this gorgeous, 900-year-old moated castle, surrounded by gardens and parklands.

Unusually, from its beginnings, this castle has been inherited by women. It was the dower house of six Plantagenet Queens, the so-called she-wolves of England. Later, Henry VIII had it updated and made luxurious for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

What makes Leeds Castle a particularly fine day out is that there is plenty to please everyone in the family. Besides its glorious interiors and wine cellars, it has a devilish maze with an exit through a scary grotto, two playgrounds for pretending to be knights and ladies, a dog collar museum with more than 100 unusual and historic examples, several restaurants, a covered pavilion for temporary exhibits and a full schedule of family-friendly events.  

• By train: Southeastern Trails run regular services, 22 and 52 minutes after the hour throughout the day from London Victoria to Bearsted Station. The trip takes about an hour. A shuttle bus operates from the station to the castle during the summer months. Do be careful, by the way, not to accidentally book a train to Leeds in Yorkshire or you could end up 230 miles away.
• By car: The castle is about 44 miles from Central London via the A20 and the M20. From junction 8 off the M20 motorway, follow the brown and white tourist signs.
• By bus: Several tour companies operate sightseeing tours from London that include Leeds Castle. As these change from time to time, it's best to check the castle website for the latest information.

Hever Castle - Home of Anne Boleyn

Hever Castle , Anne Boleyn's childhood home is a fascinating place. Steeped in the history of Tudor court intrigue, the house was begun in the 13th century and made into a comfortable Tudor home by the Bullen (or Boleyn) family. It later became part of Henry VIII's divorce settlement with Anne of Cleves, his 4th wife. The house has a very good collection of Tudor portraits, lots of family activities, two mazes to wander around in, jousting, romantic gardens, and several restaurants and snack bars.

Strolling through the castle's magnificent gardens before stopping for lunch or a cup of tea makes a really fine UK day out. And there's plenty more to do for every member of the family:

• An adventure Playground
• Yew and water mazes
• Hever Lake walk
• A gruesome exhibition of armor, instruments of execution, and torture

Throughout the summer months, Hever Castle also hosts a variety of events including jousting tournaments, demonstrations of longbow warfare and a summer performing arts festival in its open-air theatre, with matinee and evening performances.

• By train : Trains to nearby Edenbridge Town Station leave frequently from London Bridge Station. Book a taxi on +44 (0)1732 863 800 (Relyon) or +44(0)1732 864009 (Edenbridge Cars) for the three-mile onward journey. It's a good idea to book your ride before you arrive in the town.
• By car: Hever Castle is 44 miles from Central London via the A3 and the M25.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham

For 400 years, the Historic Dockyard at Chatham in Kent built the ships that built the British Empire. From the mid-1500s to its closure in 1980s, it created, launched and maintained some of the most historic ships of the British Navy. HMS Victory, Admiral Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, was built here. 

When it closed, time stood still. And while various interests tried to decide what to do with, it was saved for posterity. And it is an amazing place to visit. The 80-acre site has 100 listed buildings and 47 scheduled ancient monuments. There's

• A Victorian Ropery - still in action, with a "rope walk" that's a quarter of a mile long
• Covered slips where ships hulls were constructed
• A multi-media exhibition in the Mast and Mould Loft (where you can still see the outlines of HMS Trafalgar scribed on the wooden floor)
• Three 19th century drydocks, one of which holds a diesel submarine retired in the 1960s that you can board

This barely scratches the surface. This is one of the best historic sites you can visit. And if you're lucky, you might get to see some of your favorite film and TV stars at work. The historic buildings of the dockyards are popular backdrops for filmmakers.

• By train: Chatham is within the London commuter belt and trains leave from several different London stations throughout the day. The fastest trains are from St Pancras International for a 38 minute trip to Chatham. The Chatham Maritime bus (route 190) makes the 8 minute trip from the station to the Dockyard gates or you can walk - it's just under a mile.
• By car:  This is a journey that involves either going through Central London (about 38 miles on the A2) or all around London (68 miles via the M25 to the A2). Not surprisingly, given London traffic, both journeys take about the same amount of time. Best advice - take the train.

Beaulieu and the National Motor Museum

Beaulieu, a country house in the New Forest, is a great day trip, not far from London, that is jam-packed with things to see and do. Besides offering a look at Victorian upstairs-downstairs life in a manor house, it has beautiful gardens, an abbey ruin, a monorail, vintage double-decker bus, a restaurant, and Go Karts. 

But all of that pales before Beaulieu's amazing National Motor Museum. Car enthusiasts from all over the world come to admire more than 100 years of automobiles, plus star cars, movie cars, and James Bond cars. It's a knockout!

• By train :  Trains to Brockenhurst Station leave every 15 minutes from Waterloo. The journey takes 1.5 hours. Take a taxi from the station. If you arrive all or in part by public transportation, present your travel tickets at reception for a 20% discount on admission.
• By car: Beaulieu (pronounced "Bewley" by the way) is 87 miles from Central London. Take the M3 to the M27 exit 2 and follow the brown and white signs. There is free parking.

William Morris's Red House - English Home of the Arts and Crafts Movement

Red House was the only building ever commissioned by 19th-century artist and designer William Morris. Now owned by the National Trust and open to the public, the house, in Bexley Heath, just south of London, was designed as Morris's first marital home by his friend and design partner Philip Webb.

Artists and writers of the period were frequent visitors, including Dante and Christina Rosetti, Augustus and Gwen John. Some added their own personal touches, which can still be seen. Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burn-Jones, a frequent visitor, designed some of the stained glass and, inside an upstairs closet, there's a primitive painting attributed to Gwen John.

Morris believed a garden should "clothe" a house and the gardens at The Red House have been landscaped according to drawings and pictures of Morris's original designs.

Bexley Heath is the nearest train station. Trains from London Victoria or Charing Cross Stations take about half an hour. Plan on visiting in good weather as The Red House is a 3/4 mile walk from the train station.

Battlesbridge Antiques Center

If your idea of heaven is spending hours poking around an enormous antique center with dozens of dealers trading in everything from junk to treasure, then you will love the Battlesbridge Antiques Center .

It's a collection of buildings, including a former granary and a range of barns, sheds, and cottages, open every day from about 10 am to 5 pm. At any one time, at least 80 antique dealers buy and sell a very wide range of items including stamps, jewelry, ephemera, furniture, vintage clothing, lamps, music boxes and musical instruments and, yes, plain old-fashioned dusty junk. Paradise.

This isn't the sort of place where posh interior decorators find elegant 18th-century Italian furniture. It's a real grab bag of antiques, reproductions, and fakes. But there are real treasures to be found.

By the way, in case you are wondering what battle took place here, the answer is none. The village takes its name from a family named Bataille who once looked after the bridge over the River Crouch beside the Granary.

• By train: Regular trains leave London Liverpool Street Station throughout the day. Change at Wickford to the Southminster. Battlesbridge is the first stop on that line. The center is about a third of a mile from the station.
• By car: Battlebridge in Essex is about 40 miles from London, midway between Chelmsford and Southend beside the A130. 

RHS Wisley Garden

The Royal Horticultural Society's Wisley Garden is where keen English gardeners go to be inspired. Its world famous collection of plants has been developing for more than 100 years and there is always something new to see, any time of year. Spread out over 240 acres in Woking, Surrey, about an hour's drive from Central London, Wisley is a lovely, peaceful place for a stroll as well as a demonstration garden full of practical garden design ideas and cultivation techniques.

In June 2007, a huge new glasshouse, 40 feet high and covering an area equal to ten tennis courts, was opened to the public. The glasshouse at RHS Wisley covers three different climatic zones - tropical, moist temperate and dry temperate habitats. A winding path, past rocky outcrops, waterfalls, pools, and slopes, leads visitors through the glasshouse to see some of Wisley's most important plant collections. The RHS's tender plant collection is housed there. So are rare and endangered species and hundreds of varieties of orchids.

A new lake, intended to bring environmental benefits to the whole of Wisley and colonized by mollusks, damselflies, dragonflies, and amphibians, surrounds The Glasshouse.

• By train:  Trains from London Waterloo Station leave regularly for nearby West Byfleet or Woking. Take a taxi for the short ride from the station. On weekdays during the summer months, a special bus service operates from Woking Station to Wisley.
• By car: Wisley is about 22 miles west-southwest of Central London on the A3.

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