How to see London in a day
If you’ve only got 24 hours in London, I would highly recommend this day, dubbed the “amazing race day”. You’ll tick off Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Thames, London Bridge, Borough Markets, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, Seven Dials, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben.
Tower of London
Start your morning at the Tower of London, exploring the iconic castle and seeing the Crown Jules. It costs £29.90 per adult and then join a free guided tour to learn about the history of the tower. Book your tickets here. Tower of London is also a great place to see Tower Bridge.
St Dunsten East Church
From Tower of London, walk down the Thames and stop at St Dunstan East Church. The church was built in 1100 and was bombed in 1941. The ruins are now overgrown with greenery and tress, a truely unique and beautiful place that’s worth a stop in.
Borough Markets
From the church head over London Bridge to Borough Markets for some lunch. Borough Markets is an amazing hub of food stalls, bars and markets, offering plenty of options for lunch. We opted for chorizo bowls and of course a jug of Pimms.
Shakespeare’s Globe
After you’ve refuelled, head down the Thames, now on the other side, and stop in at Shakespeare’s Globe. Shakespeare's Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays, in the London Borough of Southwark. For Shakespeare enthusiasts, you can do tours or watch a show but we just had a look from the outside which was interesting in itself.
Tate Modern
Next to Shakespeare’s Globe is the Tate Modern which we used for its panoramic view of London. Walk up to the 10th floor and gaze over London from their 360 degree balcony…for free.
St Paul’s Cathedral
From the Tate Museum, you’ll head back over the Thames on the Millennium Bridge (AKA the Brockdale Bridge in Harry Potter that the Death Eaters destroy). Following a straight line from the Tate Museum, you’ll arrive at the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. Again, you can book tickets to go inside but we enjoyed the stunning building from the outside.
Seven Dials, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square
From St Paul’s Cathedral, you’ll head left down Flinders Street which looks like a scene from a princess movie with castles lining the streets. You’ll come to the Seven Dials which is a where seven streets connect and then you’ll arrive at Trafalgar Square. Walking through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, is amazing for people watching and it’s a great place to soak in the atmosphere.
Be mindful of pickpocketing around this area. There are a lot of street performers who are used as a distraction and while you’re watching them someone will pickpocket from you. We just held our bags tightly in front of us and didn’t stop for too long.
Big Ben
As you continue walking past Trafalgar Square you’ll start seeing Big Ben and some terrific photo opportunities. After a long day, find a bar long the Thames and fish the day with a drink!
Enjoying a well-deserved Pimms at Tattersall Castle after an amazing day.
