In a city the size of London, there is no rest for the curious mind. The city is full of many places to see and things to do. There are ample theaters and restaurants. You can go for afternoon tea or take a chocolate class. Visit the London Zoo. Visit the Palace at Westminster, which houses the Parliament. See Westminster Abbey and the coronation church, St Margaret’s Church. Feed the Pelicans in St. James Park. Not everything has to have a large price tag during your trip. London offers many exquisite opportunities for visitors, but they also offer many free and low-cost ways to enjoy the city as well.
These are but a few of the many things to do in London, whatever your budget is. Whether you are looking for a getaway for yourself, as a couple, or as a family, London is the place. There is something for everyone and in that, the city will not disappoint.
Scattered throughout London you will even find smaller curiosities like Victorian style water fountains, antique police boxes, and along the Thames, there are street bollards made from the canons of 18th-century warships.
Here is a suggested London Itinerary I prepared and collated. This is good for a 5-day, 7-day, 10-day and 15-day Itineraries.
Things to do in London England:
Day 1 and 2.
1 Houses of Parliament
Address: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA,
Transport: Parliament Square in Victoria Street
Underground: Westminster Station.
Use Circle, Jubilee or District LinesTrain:
Charring Cross and Waterloo Stations are 20 minutes away.
You can tour the Parliament building on Saturday and during the Summer. You can also watch debates and committee hearings when Parliament is in session.
2. Big Ben London
Address: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA,
Food Cafe Nero St Stephen's Tavern PubSwitchroom Cafeteria The Red Lion
3. Westminster Abbey
Address: 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA,
Transport: Use the Underground: Saint James Park Tube Station,
or Use District or Circle Lines.
4. St James Park, The Guards Museum and Buckingham Palace
Address: The Official Residences of The Queen, London SW1A 1AA
Transport: London Victoria
Underground: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
You can also take Bus Numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.
5. Green Park
It covers a 19-hectares attraction between Hyde Park and St. James Park, Green Park is part of the open stretch that goes from Whitehall to Notting Hill.
6. Trafalgar Square and National Gallery
Address: Westminster, London, Greater London WC1N 5DS,
Transport: Charring Cross Station
7. Piccadilly Circus
Address: 19 Regent St, London SW1Y 4LR,
Transport: Underground: Piccadilly Circus Tube Station
(You can use the Piccadilly line or Bakerloo Line).
8. The London Eye
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
Transport: Train: Waterloo and Charring Cross Stations
Bus: Belvedere Rd, Waterloo Bridge and Stamfords Street
Day 3.
1. Kensington Palace
Kensington Gardens, London, Greater London W8 4PX,
Transport: Underground: District and Circle Lines To Kensington High Street. Bus: 9, 10, 49, 52, 70, and 452 to Kensington High Street.
2. Apsley House, Wellington Arch and Marble Arch
149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, London W1J 7NT
Bus: Near Hyde Park
Train: Victoria
Underground: Hyde Park Corner
3. Covent Garden
Address: Covent Garden,City of Westminster.
Transport: Covent Garden Station is the closest tube station.
Many buses can take you to Covent Garden.
4. After You can go to Notting Hill, Portobello and Harrod’s.
Day 4.
1. Baker Street
Address: Baker Street,City of Westminster, NW1,
Dining Place: Sherlock Holmes
Transport: Baker Street Tube Station
2. British Museum
Address: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
Transport: Tottenham Court Road is the closest tube station.
Bus Numbers 1, 7, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242 stop on New Oxford Street.
3. Cleopatra’s Needle
Address: Cleopatra's Needle, Victoria Embankment,
Transport: Golden Jubilee Bridges Stop
4. Oxford Street
Address: Oxford Street, City of Westminster
Transport: Marble Arch, Central Line.
Bus: Routes 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 23, 25, 53, 73, 88, 94, 98, 113, 137, 139.
5. There is no admission fee for the British Museum, British Library, or National Gallery.
Day 5.
1. Tower of London
Address: London EC3N 4AB
Transport: Fenchurch Bridge Station
2. Tower Bridge
River Thames, London
Transport: Tube Stations: Tower Hill Station and London Bridge
Bus to Tower Bridge: 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1.
3. St. Pauls Cathedral
Address: St Pauls Churchyard London EC4M 8AD
Transport: Bus Routes: 4, 11, 15, 23, 25, 26, 100, 242.
The nearest underground station is St Paul's on the Central Line.Train Stations: London Bridge, Canon Street, Blackfriars.
4. Millenium Bridge, Globe Theatre and TATE Modern
The Tate Modern is the most visited museum in the world London's top museum of modern art houses works of art representing a range of modern art movements including fauvism, surrealism, abstract, impressionism
NOTE: Visit the Tower first. Then you can take the #15 bus from the Tower to St Paul's. Then walk across the millennium bridge to the globe, and finally walk down river to HMS Belfast.
You can experience a choral mass at St. Paul at 5pm. Then take a bus going back to the bridge and tower and see the beautiful display of lights at night.
Day 6.
Watch a show in West End. You can get your tickets at the ticket booth in London Theatreland. In a day, you can watch 3 plays, let say, Miss Saigon at 2pm, Les Miserables at 7pm. Other nice plays that are high recommended are The Lion King, Mamma Mia, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and Gypsy.
Take the Bus No.15 towards Trafalgar Square for a West End show.
Day 7.
1. Greenwich Park
London SE10 8QY
Transport: Greenwich car park south
2. Royal Observatory
Blackheath Ave, Greenwich, Greater London SE10
Transport: Greenwich park
3. Queen’s House
Romney Rd, London, Greater London SE10 9NF
Transport: Trafalgar Estate station
4. Canary Wharf – This where they hold the World Travel Market,
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London E14
5. Mansion House
Walbrook, London EC4N 8BH,
Transport: Queen street place
6. The Monument
Fish Street Hill, LondonEC3R 6DB
Train: London Bridge, Fenchurch Street or Tower Gateway DLR stations.
Transport: Bus: 17, 521, 21, 43, 133, 141, 48, 149
Day 8.
Full day excursion to Bath and Stonehenge and Windsor. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to just book a tour. These are very far places and it will be a hassle to do it alone. I’m suggesting you book a tour with http://www.premiumtours.co.uk - They’ll take care of everything. It will cost you less than 100 pounds.
Stonehenge is Europe's most famous prehistoric site while Bath is an Ancient city rich in Georgian charm. Windsor Castle on the other hand is a 900-year old historical attraction. Successive monarchs have lived here and left their mark on what is now the largest continuously occupied castle in the world.
Day 9.
Harry Potter Tour
This is another attraction that I suggest you book with a tour company. The Harry Potter tour provides a magical opportunity to discover the magic of the Harry Potter Films. You’ll have the chance to step inside the great hall, diagon alley. you can also visit Dumbledore’s office and other memoribilias from the film.
Day 10.
Wales is the friendly, green, hilly bit on the western side of Britain. So if you want to experience the nature and more royal side of England, then spend a day or 2 in Wales. Wales is where you’ll see a lot of mountains, valleys, castles, ruins and even beaches.
Wales is also where the famous TV Series Dr. Who shoots their episodes. It is also known to be the home of Sir Anthony Hopkins, Richard Burton, Catherine Zeta Jones and Tom Jones.
Day 10 and 11.
Make a Side trip to Edinburgh Scotland
The train journey from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh can take as little as 4 hours 20 minutes and cost as low as £40 one way if you book in advance. You have the option to take a low cost airline, but I’m not recommending it. The view from London to Edinburgh is breathtaking and one that you should not missed.
What to do and visit in Edinburgh other than riding a Tram.
1. Arthur’s Seat - Eat at Hemma.
2. Calton Hill
3. Museum of Scotland
4. Royal Botanic Garden
5. St Giles Cathedral
6. Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Oldtown, Edinburgh Castle
7. The Scotch Whisky Experience
8. The Edinburgh Castle
Day 12.
From Edinburgh, go to Glasglow Scotland
Take the bus from Edinburgh to Glasglow. The travel time is around 1 hour.
Glasglow is known for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture. Today tourists go there to check out national cultural hub. It is also a home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland and some great universities.
Things to do in Glasglow Scotland
1. Glengoyne Distillery
2. University of Glasgow
3. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
4. Glasgow Cathedral
5. Glasgow West End
6. Glasgow School of Art
7. The Burrell Collection
Day 13-14.
Take a low cost airline from Glasglow to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Budget airline EasyJet has regular/daily flights from Glasgow Airport to Belfast Northern Ireland.
To fulfill your Irish Dreams, make a Side trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital and the birthplace of the RMS Titanic. It is also a centre for the Irish linen industry (earning the nickname "Linenopolis"), tobacco processing, rope-making and shipbuilding. Belfast remains a centre of arts and higher education like the Queens University.
Things to do or visit in Belfast Northern Ireland.
1. Titanic Belfast
2. Belfast City Hall
3. Grand Opera House
4. Giant Causeway and Causeway Coastal
5. Dark Hedges – Game of Thrones Location
6. Stormont Estate and Parliament Building
7. Queens University
