RSSOne Day To Spend In London
Mar 11
London attractions, City, Cosmopolitan, holiday, Hotel, London, sights, tourism, tourist, Weekend break No Comments
One of the world’s largest capitals, London has a lot to offer and touring it in one day might seem absurd but with an early start and a bit of stamina it can be done. As you would expect you won’t be able to see everything London has to offer in 24 hours but you couldn’t do it in 365 days either.
First on you list should be Westminster Abbey, if you can get there for 9.30 you will beat the rush and be able to walk round in peace. The Abbey is a shrine of the nation and most of the countries Kings and Queens have been crowned there and many buried there as well.
Home to the country’s government since the 11th century, The Houses of Parliament are a truly astonishing landmark and has been the focal point of some of the political highs and lows of the last millennia. The houses are guarded over by ‘Big Ben’, the world’s most prominent timepiece; you could even set your watch to it.
Following the political theme you can head to Downing Street, in the past you could walk right up to the door of number 10 but now due to security issues you will be fortunate to see someone important getting past the masses of policemen and security officials. Other than that it’s not exactly palatial but worth seeing nevertheless.
If you continue north you will reach the hub of London, Trafalgar Square. Home to Nelson’s tower it is the scene to many a demonstration. Once plagued by pigeons, each year thousands of party goers descend on this square to ring in the New Year’s Eve.
On the boarder of the square you can enter the National Gallery, home of the masterpieces of Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt among many. Huge galleries run across 8 centuries of some of the world’s most celebrated art and you need to devote at least an hour to this.
Just north of Trafalgar square is Covent Garden. England’s most historic market it was designed by Inigo Jones in 1633 and home to a variety of stalls and talented street performers.
By now you may be getting a bit peckish so why not step into Covent Garden’s very own ‘Porters English Restaurant’ where you can enjoy real traditional English pub food. Owned and run by the Earl of Bradford it’s an ideal stop off for your busy day.
A quick ride on the tube, which is a must in its self, will get you to Charing Cross Station; from here you can take a short stroll to Buckingham Palace. This place doesn’t really need any explanation and depending on the time of year you may be able to go inside but beware that this will involve queuing and will take a lot of time out of your day. If you get the timing right you may be able to catch the changing of the guards but don’t plan your day around it as there is plenty more to see.
Another short journey on the tube will bring you to the Tower of London, for over 900 years it has been a palace, a royal mint and most famously, a prison. Hundreds of well known English traitors have been beheaded there and it’s the capital of British blood and gore. It is well worth taking one of the hour long guided tours by one of the classic Beefeaters and this will bring the tower to life.
As your legs begin to weaken, head over to ‘The Salisbury’, a popular Art Nouveau Pub in the heart of the theatre district. You can enjoy a wide range of drinks and some distinctly home cooked pies without breaking the bank.
An enjoyable way to spend the evening is to go along to one of the many shows on offer, whether it’s a big West-End musical or a classic Shakespeare production at the Globe you wont be disappointed and it would be a great way to relax and take the weight of your feet.
If you are looking for a central London hotel, then stop by Astor Court for affordable luxury single, double, triple and twinhotel rooms in the centre of the capital.
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