1 Day London Itinerary: What to Skip With Limited Time!

My first visit to London was a disappointment.

When I first visited London, I booked a hotel for 5 nights—five! I had so many plans, so many dreams.

In reality, I was ready to leave after day 1.

Where was the charm? the historical architecture? the beauty?

All I got were CROWDS, basic modern cityscapes, and the constant threat of someone stealing my phone.

If you’ve been itching to see London, definitely go! Get it out of your system. See it for yourself.

But don’t spend too much time there.

One day is just enough time to see all of London’s highlights and be on your way to the UK’s better cities — Bath, York, or, my personal favorite, Edinburgh.

A woman with long brown hair wearing sunglasses and a black dress with yellow floral patterns stands smiling on a sidewalk in front of a white building with columns and black railings. — Belgravia, London

White hydrangea flowers in the foreground with green leaves, set against the backdrop of a white building and leafy trees on a sunny day. — London

Table of Contents Show

First, What NOT to Do in London (and Why)

If you only have one day in London, let’s start by talking about the things you can safely scratch off your itinerary.

London is a huge city, with lots of things to do, but do you really need to do all of them?

Definitely not.

As mentioned I spent five days in London, and then returned to explore for six hours during a long layover.

These were the activities I wish I hadn’t spent time or money on and why:

Kensington Palace — I was intrigued to visit the palace where Prince William and Kate reside while in London, but, in reality, you can’t see their quarters. And the part of the palace you can see — Queen Victoria’s childhood rooms — aren’t very impressive. I was left feeling pretty letdown.
Tower of London — There’s a lot of history at the Tower of London, but also a LOT of crowds. Queues for everything, to see every room. Perhaps it was too hot of a day to wait around this much, but we left early to move on to other things in London.
St-Dunstan-in-the-East — These church ruins in the middle of the city are an Instagram hotspot, and a free one at that. After about 5 minutes here, getting in the way of everyone’s Insta pics, I was left pretty underwhelmed.
Borough Market — This is a bustling market with various food and drink stalls, and it could be fun for people who have the time and patience to deal with all the crowds and queues, but the noise level was too loud for me.

These were the popular activities I decided not to bother with and why:

London Eye — I know the London Eye is a famous landmark in London, but… it’s just a ferris wheel. What is with the exorbitant cost? Perhaps there are some nice views up there, but I really couldn’t bother with the long queues to see it.
The Shard — Again, I’m sure there’s some nice views at the top, but I didn’t want to spend a fortune to see them. Seeing London from the ground was good enough for me.
Westminster Abbey — Perhaps I should go in to see Westminster Abbey someday, but I had seen enough cathedrals in the UK (like the amazing York Minster) to feel like it wasn’t worth the hassle.

The image shows the Tower of London, a historic stone fortress with large walls and turrets, surrounded by a grassy area filled with yellow wildflowers and bordered by an iron fence. Trees and people are visible in the foreground. — Tower of London

A woman in a black dress with yellow flowers and sunglasses stands smiling outdoors in front of a large, historic brick building on a sunny day. Several people walk in the background. — Kensington Palace

A person with a tote bag climbs an ornate staircase, looking up at a large, detailed mural of historical figures on the wall in an elegant, classical building. — My mom inside Kensington Palace

A woman in a white shirt stands smiling in a busy covered market with string lights overhead. People walk around, some masked, and a large clock and fish grill sign are visible in the background. — My mom at Borough Market

So, What IS Worth Your Time?

Negativity aside, there are actually some great things to do in London.

And some of the most famous, most popular places do live up to the hype (looking at you, Big Ben).

So, what are they?

Let’s get into my list of my absolute favorite things I did in London, and why they’re worth your time!

A large old stone wall with a Private door stands in front of red brick buildings with gabled roofs; a tall leafless tree and a historic Gothic-style tower rise in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Modern glass skyscrapers and a historic stone building stand close together under a bright blue sky, reflecting sunlight in an urban cityscape.

Best Things to Do in London (Overview)

Tip: To easily see all of the places below, book a hop-on-hop off bus tour to get around.

Leadenhall Market (Walk around and Have English Breakfast!)
Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
Changing-of-the-Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace (at 11 a.m.)
Big Ben (Get Your Essential Picture)
Afternoon Tea (Can Skip Lunch, It’s Filling!)
River Cruise from Big Ben to Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Shakespeare’s Globe (Last Tour at 4:30 p.m.)
Sky Garden (For Dinner!)

1 Day London Itinerary

Book a Bus Tour

The Big Bus hop-on, hop-off tour conveniently has a stop right at Paddington Station. So you can alight from your Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Airport to Paddington, and hop right onto the bus, wasting no time at all.

Stop 43 on the Blue Route: Paddington Station, London Street (by corner with Conduit Place)

First Stop: 08:27
Last Stop: 18:32

Once you activate your Big Bus 24-hour ticket, you can board at any stop.

In retrospect, I wish we’d have done this. It would have been so much easier to navigate London and see everything we wanted to see without having to go down into the Tube.

Talk about simple!

Walk Around Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market is a gorgeous covered market that first opened in the 14th century. We noticed a lot of walking tour groups stop here; it’s definitely a tourist attraction.

You can spend anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour at Leadenhall Market, depending if you decide to shop or have a meal.

Note: I know Leadenhall Market is really far from Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, but I just really enjoyed my breakfast here, so I put it first. If you’d rather not criss-cross the city, consider stopping here last, before/after Sky Garden, as it’s very close!

Have English Breakfast in a Pub

We found The Lamb Tavern in Leadenhall Market, and surprisingly we were the only ones dining there.

Our English breakfast at The Lamb Tavern ended up being the highlight of the day.

The food was delicious, and the tea was served in the cutest teacups.

Plus the view out the window of Leadenhall Market was stunning. A great start to our day.

A woman with long brown hair and a black coat stands in a covered market with arched glass ceilings, looking toward people walking and shops lining both sides of the walkway. Warm lights hang from above. — Leadenhall Market

A woman with long brown hair sits at a wooden table by a window, smiling while holding a teacup. The table is set with a teapot, cups, glasses, and a jar of dried flowers. — Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall Market

Stroll Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park

While Kensington Palace may not be worth the money, its gardens sure are worth your time.

Kensington Gardens connects to the famous Hyde Park, and this whole area is beautiful, green, and lush.

If you have some time after breakfast, take a little stroll around these gardens.

An arched trellis covered in green vines frames a wrought iron gate, beyond which stands a statue in a landscaped garden with flowers and a large historic building in the background under a blue sky. — Diana Memorial Garden, Kensington Gardens

A person walks under a tunnel formed by green leafy branches arching over a paved path, with dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Another person stands further ahead near the edge of the tunnel. — My mom in Kensington Gardens

See the Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace

If you want to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, it happens about 4 days a week, at 11 a.m. (see times and dates here).

It’s free to watch the procession which spans three locations — Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks.

To tour Buckingham Palace, you’ll need to get advance tickets. But it’s only open for visitors from July to September.

You can also just go to see the outside and pose near the royal gates (like I did).

If you have more time, you can visit the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, which are open about eight months of the year.

A woman in a black dress with yellow flowers stands in front of the ornate black and gold gates of Buckingham Palace on a sunny day. — Gates of Buckingham Palace

See/Tour Big Ben (Get Your Essential Picture)

You should definitely say hi to Big Ben, which is perhaps what London is most famous for.

The quickest option is to simply take your essential picture with Big Ben and admire the Elizabeth Tower from the outside.

Need help finding the best photo spots of Big Ben? See my post about where to take the best photos of Big Ben!

Big Ben is gorgeous and definitely worth all the hype and trouble to visit. I mean, can you even say you’ve visited London without seeing Big Ben?

If you want to spend more time here, consider:

Take a 90-minute tour inside of Big Ben. These tours require advanced tickets, and tickets are released on the second Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.
Take a 90-minute tour of the Palace of Westminster, which includes the House of Lords Chamber. (The Palace of Westminster is the elaborate building connected to Big Ben.) Tours are self-guided, and advanced tickets required.

A woman in a black dress with yellow patterns stands next to a classic red telephone booth in London. Behind her are Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster on a sunny day. — Big Ben near the famous red phone booth

A person with long dark hair faces away from the camera, looking toward the River Thames and the Palace of Westminster with Big Ben under a clear blue sky in London. — Big Ben from below Westminster Bridge

Have Afternoon Tea (Can Skip Lunch, It’s Filling!)

Did you know you can have afternoon tea while looking out at views of Big Ben? Yes, and it’s quite the experience!

If you want to continue admiring Big Ben after your photo shoot, reserve a spot of afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall. It is conveniently located near the Westminster Bridge.

Big Ben views: Out the window, you’ll have gorgeous views of Big Ben, all while seated around beautiful, old books.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience having afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall, which is inside a five-star Marriott hotel.

Big Ben-themed food: I loved that the desserts continued the theme — you’ll get a chocolate cake in the shape of the Elizabeth Clock Tower (Big Ben)!

See my full review of the bookish afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall.

author having afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall surrounded by books — Afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall

a close-up of the Big Ben shaped cakes — Afternoon tea at The Library at County Hall

River Cruise from Big Ben to Tower Bridge

The easiest (and funnest) way to get from Westminster to Tower Bridge is to take a 30-minute cruise down the Thames River.

Enjoy the sights of London from the water with live commentary — all while getting to your next stop.

Time-saving tip: If you feel you don’t have time for the 1.5-hour afternoon tea at the Library at County Hall, consider combining afternoon tea with a river cruise. Note that the route for this afternoon tea cruise goes in the opposite direction (from Tower Bridge to Westminster), so you’ll need to rearrange your itinerary.

The Tower Bridge in London spans the River Thames under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. The stone towers and blue suspension elements are prominent, with buildings visible in the background. — Tower Bridge

Walk Across Tower Bridge

Walking across Tower Bridge is such a tourist thing to do, but it’s an essential London experience.

It doesn’t cost anything to simply walk across the bridge, but there is an entrance fee to Tower Bridge if you’d like to go inside the bridge or walk across the upper section.

We opted not to get these tickets as they were timed, and we didn’t want to restrict ourselves.

Tower Bridge also ended up being extremely busy on the day we visited, the Good Friday bank holiday. Hordes of people were out. We were good with just walking across, for free.

It’s a lovely bridge with beautiful views of the Thames River.

Visit the Thames River Beach

You can go down the Horselydown Old Stairs to a little Thames River beach. From there, you can see the Tower Bridge from a new angle.

Look for the “Shad Thames” sign and then the “Horselydown Old Stairs” sign. There’s a staircase that leads down to a small rocky beach.

Not many people were here, so it must not be as well known.

You can also find this location on Apple Maps or Google Maps if you need help locating it (it’s a bit hidden).

A woman with long dark hair, wearing sunglasses and a black coat, stands smiling in front of the Tower Bridge in London. The iconic stone tower and blue accents of the bridge are visible, with people walking in the background. — Tower Bridge

View of Tower Bridge in London with a Shad Thames street sign on a brick building in the foreground; people walk near the bridge under a blue sky with some clouds. — Tower Bridge

Tour Shakespeare’s Globe

I loved our tour of Shakespeare’s Globe! It was one of my favorite things I did in London.

The Shakespeare’s Globe is an authentically reconstructed 16th century playhouse, a replica of the one used to perform Shakespeare’s plays back in the day.

During the one-hour tour, the guide will tell you about the history of what London was like in Shakespeare’s day as well as his influence on the city.

It’s a truly fascinating, can’t-miss tour for history and literature nerds like me.

A white, half-timbered building with black wooden beams and small windows, photographed from below against a clear blue sky. — Shakespeare’s Globe

An empty wooden theater with balconies and an open roof, resembling the historic Globe Theatre, with seating areas, wooden beams, and a stage to the right. Sunlight illuminates the interior. — Shakespeare’s Globe

Sky Garden (For Dinner!)

The Sky Garden is an inside garden on the top level of a skyscraper. I’ve been wanting to visit it for ages, but alas, tickets are very hard to come by.

Entry is free, but you need a ticket. They do let some people in the day-of, if they have room, but most of the time, they don’t.

Another option is to book a table at one of the restaurants on the top floor, near the Sky Garden.

This gives you access without needing a ticket.

Where to Stay in London

If you are planning to visit London for only one day and/or do a lot of day trips from London, like we did, I’d recommend staying near a major train station.

We stayed near the Paddington Station, at The Caesar Hotel in London (by Hyde Park and Bayswater).

It was convenient to alight from our Heathrow Express train from Heathrow Airport at Paddington Station, and walk right over to our lodgings.

Recommended Hotels in London near Paddington Station:

The Caesar Hotel (where I stayed)
Hilton London Paddington

Recommended Hotels in London near Waterloo Station:

London Marriott Hotel County Hall (with views of Big Ben and London Eye)
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (with views of Big Ben and London Eye)
The Wellington Hotel Waterloo

A white, ornate townhouse with large windows and balconies is partially obscured by leafy trees and a lush garden, surrounded by a black metal fence. Sunlight filters through the green foliage. — The Caesar Hotel in London (where I stayed)

A bright bedroom with a large window and beige curtains, showing a view of a patio, trees, and a neighboring building outside. Sunlight filters through the greenery, creating a peaceful atmosphere. — The Caesar Hotel in London (where I stayed)

Map of 1 Day London Activities

Had Enough of London?

If you’re looking for charm and historical architecture, the best city to visit in the UK is not London.

Instead, head over to Bath, York, or, my personal favorite, Edinburgh.

These 3 cities will not disappoint you, I promise.

What to Pack for Your Trip to England

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.