Things to do in London in 1 day

The British capital is a huge city with lots to see. But if you plan to visit London in one day during a getaway, you'll have to explore the most important sites, as it's very difficult to see everything. Especially if it's your first time there.

To help you see some of London's most important tourist attractions in one day, I've put together this short itinerary to serve as your guide. All the sites are relatively close to each other, so you can see them all on a long walk. Put on some comfortable shoes because we're starting!

We start the day at Tower Bridge, which you can reach by subway, getting off at Tower Hill station, or by taking the London tourist bus 362 to Tower Hill, both very close to the Tower of London.

Walk across Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most iconic landmarks and a real eye-catcher. It is a 19th-century drawbridge built in a beautiful Victorian style, and a photo of it is a must for your souvenir album.

Book your ticket for Tower Bridge to learn how it was built and how its lifting system worked.

On this side of the river, before continuing your tour of central London, I recommend taking a break and recharging your batteries. In the post on where to eat near the Tower of London, you'll find several suggestions and restaurants to visit.

Learn about the history of the Tower of London

The next stop on the route: the Tower of London. You'll be surprised to see such a well-preserved place, an ancient fortress that has been standing for almost a millennium and has witnessed many important chapters in the history of England over time. There is an aura of mystery and horror surrounding the Tower of London due to several sinister events that took place within its walls.

Perhaps that is why it is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, although there are other reasons to explore the monument, such as the Crown Jewels collection, the "Line of Kings" exhibition, and the Medieval Palace, to name a few. Due to the large number of visitors, I recommend that you book your ticket to the Tower of London in advance.

In the post "What to see at the Tower of London," you can read a summary of the most notable sites to see inside.

Enter St. Paul's Cathedral

Continue this one-day tour of London by visiting St. Paul's Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the second largest after St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Did you know that there have always been religious buildings on this site? There is evidence that a dolmen and a Greek temple were built here, and by the 6th century AD there was already a church on this site.

Before the current St. Paul's Cathedral, there was another one made of wood that was destroyed by fire during the Great Fire of London in 1666. A few years later, architect Christopher Wren was commissioned to rebuild it, and the work was completed in 1710. Fortunately, nothing else happened to it, and it survived the bombings of World War II.

The decoration is wonderful, especially the beautiful ceilings adorned with fresco paintings.

Ride the London Eye

Cross Westminster Bridge to the other side of the river and reach the London Eye, the spectacular Ferris wheel on the banks of the River Thames that changed the city's skyline until the arrival of the imposing skyscraper The Shard.

From this side of the river, you'll have completely new and beautiful views of the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben, and the Thames itself, but the best way to enjoy them is by riding the London Eye to take in the beautiful cityscape from a bird's eye view. There are several ticket options for the ride:

• Tickets for the London Eye, from $40
• Fast-track tickets for the London Eye, from $60
• Specialoffer: tickets for the London Eye, pass for the Big Bus tourist bus, and cruise on the Thames, from $81
• Tickets for the London Eye and Westminster tour, from $157
• Tickets for the London Eye and a tour of London, from $221

This is one of the essential experiences you must have during your stay in the British capital. Take a look at the London Eye opening hours and ticket prices to plan your visit, and as soon as you have some free time, challenge your fear of heights and climb to the top.

After a break for lunch, the early afternoon is a good time to take a guided walking tour of London around Westminster and Buckingham Palace. It's a great way to learn all the secrets of central London from a guide, with interesting anecdotes that will add value to your trip.

Be dazzled by Big Ben and Westminster Palace

The next stop on this one-day tour of London is Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. Also known as the Houses of Parliament, this fabulous Victorian Gothic building has always been a symbol of political power, both when it served as the royal residence and today, when it houses the two chambers that make up the British Parliament.

The rooms of the Palace of Westminster are decorated in an exquisite classic English style. I recommend taking a guided tour to enjoy the building's magnificent architecture and strolling around the grounds to take some photos. Some areas are open to the public, such as the beautiful gardens, from where you can see the Houses of Parliament up close. Don't forget to take the obligatory photo with Big Ben in the background, the legendary clock of the Palace of Westminster, which is an icon of the city itself.

Here are some suggestions for visiting both places and their surroundings:

• Tour about the women of Westminster, from $53
• Tickets to Westminster Abbey in London, from $42
• Guided tour of Westminster Abbey and Parliament, from $146
• Tour of Westminster with a visit to Churchill's War Rooms, from $127
• Tour of Westminster with tickets to Westminster Abbey, from $117
• Tour of historic London with visit to Westminster and admission to Churchill's War Rooms, from $59
• Tour of Westminster with tickets to Churchill's War Rooms, from $60

Marvel at Westminster Abbey

After visiting Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, keep walking and you will reach Westminster Abbey, the oldest Christian church in England and one of its most important monuments. So much so that it is considered a living piece of the country's history. That's why you shouldn't miss it on your one-day tour of London.

The exterior is beautiful, but you'll enjoy this Gothic gem even more by taking a guided tour inside Westminster Abbey, as it houses a wealth of wonderful works of art and amazing sites such as the Royal Pantheon, Poets' Corner, and the Chapter House, among many others. Did you know that this is the church where royal coronations are held?

If you're curious, I recommend reading the post on what to see in Westminster Abbey, where you can discover everything this national sanctuary has to offer.

Don't miss Buckingham Palace

The next stop on this one-day tour of London is the famous Buckingham Palace, the residence of the British royal family since the time of Queen Victoria and where Queen Elizabeth II of England currently lives. And this is precisely where its charm lies: it is one of the few active palaces in the world. Many visitors come here to see the spectacular changing of the guard ceremony in London.

If you have a little time and your visit coincides with the day this event is scheduled (check their Twitter profile to find out when it takes place), I recommend you stay because it is a very interesting spectacle to watch and you can take lots of souvenir photos.

To enjoy the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, I recommend standing in the area around the Victoria Memorial in the center of the roundabout in front of the palace gate, as this is where you will have the best views. I'll tell you more about the experience of watching the changing of the guard and Buckingham Palace.

Stroll to St. James's Park

You can walk from the gates of Buckingham Palace to St. James's Park, the oldest of the city's Royal Parks. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII acquired the land to turn it into his private hunting ground, but it wasn't until the 17th century that the park as we know it today was built.

Although it's not one of the city's most famous parks, St. James's Park is located very close to Buckingham Palace, so its plants and flowers are very well cared for. It is the perfect setting for a beautiful photo shoot on a sunny morning with the palace in the background.

I recommend visiting its artificial lake surrounded by trees. From there, you can enjoy beautiful views of the park and a sense of tranquility interrupted only by the singing of birds. You won't feel like you're in the heart of bustling London!

After taking a break in St. James's Park and taking some photos of the sunset, it's a good time to continue this one-day tour of London and complete the final leg.

Walk through Trafalgar Square

Leaving St. James's Park, take The Mall and you will arrive at Trafalgar Square, another of London's liveliest and most famous squares. This square was built in the 19th century to commemorate the British victory in the "Battle of Trafalgar" and today it is home to several tourist attractions that you will surely want to take pictures of.

On one side is Nelson's Column, erected in honor of the English admiral Horatio Nelson, who died during the battle. It is surrounded by several lions made from the molten bronze of French cannons. On the other side is the National Gallery, the city's most important art museum, which I recommend visiting inside when you have time. Several guided tours are available on the Hellotickets website:

• Guided tour of the National Gallery in London, from $29
• Private guided tour of the National Gallery, from $114
• Private guided tour of the National Gallery in London for children, from $241

In Trafalgar Square, you can also see a statue of US President George Washington, donated by the State of Virginia. This monument has an interesting feature: it was placed on soil imported from America because the figure swore never to set foot on British soil again. Interesting, isn't it?

Arrive at Piccadilly Circus

Take Regent Street to reach Piccadilly Circus, the last stop on this one-day tour of London! You'll recognize this central square by its large illuminated advertising signs and the Eros fountain in the center, one of the emblems of the British capital.

Located in the West End, Piccadilly Circus is always crowded with people at any time of day because there are lots of restaurants, shops, theaters, and cinemas in the surrounding area.

You'll find it to be a lively place where both Londoners and tourists converge to have a good time. This is especially true at night, when the neon lights of the signs above the buildings in the square shine brightly, giving it a cool, magical, futuristic look. In fact, it's one of the stops if you book the London night sightseeing bus.

End the tour with the best musical

To round off a fabulous day exploring the streets of London, why not take advantage of the fact that it ends at Piccadilly Circus to relax and watch one of the West End musicals?

The shows are wonderful and rival those of the world-famous Broadway in New York. London's musicals are sure to leave you amazed! However, I recommend buying your tickets for London musicals in advance.