London in One Day
by Chiara C
Last Update: 17 July 2023
There’s no place like London,
and it’s impossible to see everything that the big smoke has to offer in one day alone. But! If you are planning on visiting London in one day then you will certainly want to make the most of your time and not miss any of London’s most important attractions and sights, especially if it’s your first time in London.
London has a long list of iconic places and attractions that anybody who’s anybody wants to see and visit, but if you only have one day to spend in London you really need to plan your day properly to see as much as possible. The team at Keetoo have prepared two different options for you to consider, two different itineraries for you to have two amazing day’s out and make the most of your one-day trip to London.
So, you’re spending one day in London and you want to see as much as possible! We would highly recommend that you go on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, enjoy a Thames River Cruise and then head to the London Eye.
The open top bus tour takes you to all the must see important places, such as Big Ben, London Eye, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford Street and Regent Street, plus you can stay on the bus or get off at any stop and then get back on the bus whenever you want to. It’s an easy way to explore London and not have to worry or fuss about public transport.
The free river cruise is fantastic, and in our opinion one of the best things to do in London if you have just one day. From the river you will be able to see the houses of parliament, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, famous bridges such as London Bridge, millennium bridge and the most famous of all: Tower Bridge. You will also get some amazing views as well as perfect photos of Tower Bridge and The Tower of London from the river cruise.
If you are arriving at King’s Cross St Pancras Station to spend one day in London, then the open top bus tour would be ideal, as there is a bus stop to hop on the bus as you exit the station.
We would recommend that you get fast-track tickets for the London Eye online beforehand using the Keetoo app, so you avoid the long queues and go directly to the prepaid tickets queue, this way you will make sure you make the most of your day in London.
London in One Day: Option 2 – Walking Route + London Eye
For the ramblers and strollers amongst you we have designed a walking route which will enable you to discover London in one day if you’d rather walk and avoid public transport to see the sights of London. With our walking route you will see some of London’s most important landmarks and you’ll probably have time to see the Changing of the Guard, visit Westminster Abbey and go on the London Eye.
Walking route to see London in One Day step-by-step:
Our walking route starts at Green Park Underground Station. From here you can walk towards Buckingham Palace, where the famous changing of the guard ceremony takes place at 11.00 am on certain days. Make sure you check the exact dates to avoid disappointment.
After seeing Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, you can walk across St James’s Park and along Whitehall, heading towards Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye.
After a short walk along London’s beautiful South Bank, you can cross the Thames again and walk until you get to the famous Trafalgar Square. This is where the National Gallery (free entry) is. From Trafalgar Square, you can easily walk towards Piccadilly Circus.
From Piccadilly Circus you can walk along Regent Street to get to Carnaby Street. After a small walk-through London’s Soho, you will reach Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
London in one day: Map
If you are going to spend just the one day in London it may be tempting to buy single fares if you are going to use London’s public transport, such as the underground or the bus, but we would encourage you to either buy an oyster card for the day or use contactless payment if you can. You will pay a lot less for each journey this way than buying single fares or even a day travelcard, as the oyster card’s daily capping makes it cheaper to use than using a day travelcard.
Welcome to our Blog!
Hello! I’m Chiara, an Italian who’s called London home for 8 wonderful years. As a travel enthusiast and the founder of Hidden Gem, I’m on a mission to uncover the city’s best-kept secrets and share them with you. Join me on this exciting journey to explore the hidden treasures of London and beyond!
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