Best of London in 24 Hours: What to See with 24 Hours in London

Thousands of kilometres and almost 8 million people, it’s hard to know where to start exploring a metropolis like London. If we look at it as a whole, the city seems noisy, loud and unfathomable. But when we break it down borough to borough, the real character shines through. So how do you see all the incredible landmarks that London has to offer, and get a taste of the culture of the cities burrows, and experience uniquely London things all in 24 hours? My first suggestion is to extend your stay and make your stay in London longer than just a day. Barring that change, here is a sample itinerary that will give you a good start on seeing the magic London has to offer in 24 hours.

Where to Stay in London:

Assuming you are arriving at Heathrow I'd try somewhere in South Kensington or Bloomsbury as both are on the direct Tube line from Heathrow. If you are arriving at Gatwick then somewhere in Victoria or the London Bridge area would be suitable. I personally prefer South Kensington because of its connectivity.

GOOD MORNING:

BREAKFAST: Here, you can choose from 2 options. Either start your day with the famed traditional English breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms, baked beans and coffee or do just as well grabbing pre-packaged fruit from a convenience store in a tube station or at a local grocery store and eating it on the way to your first site.

Source: musement

There’s nothing better than exploring London on foot. But since we are short on time, why not take the Original London Sightseeing Tour for a whistle-stop visit to all of London’s most famous landmarks? See double the sights in half the time. You can hop on and off wherever you like, at destinations including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Royal Albert Hall, Piccadilly Circus and the British Museum. The double-decker buses feature live tour guides and multi-language audio commentary while tickets also include a free 24 hour cruise on the River Thames and three complimentary guided walking tours.

8 am:

LONDON EYE/ BIG BEN/ WESTMINSTER ABBEY:

The South Bank is my favourite walk in London. This route along the Thames river will take you past some of the city’s best sights: the Houses of Parliament, the afore-mentioned London Eye, the South Bank Centre, the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Shard to mention but a few. It is best to start early as it gets very crowded later. The route will take somewhere between one to two hours. Unless you stop by The London Eye which is the most popular tourist attraction in London and with good reason if you’re only in London for a day, make sure you stop by. Please note one round takes approx 30 minutes.

Source: nirvanamcd

10.30 am:

It’s just a half-mile walk from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of British royalty. Admire Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens and Vermeer paintings as you wander through the state room. Or, pretend you’ve been invited to one of the queen’s famous garden parties out on the luxurious grounds. Stick around until 11:15 to watch the Changing of the Guard.

 Source: Flickr maurice

LUNCH:

Take a 15 to 20 minute stroll from the palace through the St. James Park to Trafalgar Square. Here you can grab a sandwich at any number of cafes located on the roads shining out from Nelson’s Column or tucked into nearby alleys and bring it back to the square for a good round of people watching. Or, duck into the cafeteria at the National Gallery and observe the impressive and stately architecture while you dine. If you have time, you can also duck inside for a quick view of the paintings.

Source: redditt

1:30 pm

SHOPPING IN LONDON:

London is one of the best places in the world to shop. Head over to the heart of London shopping, bustling Oxford Street, which has more than 300 shops, designer outlets and landmark stores. Home to the legendary Selfridges, it also boasts a range of famous department stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams scattered among every well-known high street chain imaginable. Else, explore Covent Garden if you want hip fashion, unique gifts, rare sweets or one-off handmade jewellery. You can stock up on the latest urban street wear, funky cosmetics and shoes.

4:00 pm

Catch the Underground to South Kensington. Yes, this is firmly on the well-trodden tourist path, but these attractions deserve all of the admire they get. Apart from being one of London’s prettiest neighbourhoods, South Kensington is also home to some of London’s and the world’s, in my opinion very best museums. Depending on where your interests lie, pick from the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum. All three are located on Exhibition Road, and all three are absolutely free to enter. Note these places shut at 6:00 pm except Albert museum which is open till 10:00pm.

Also, stop by your hotel room to freshen up and get ready for a night to remember!

 Source: ratedapartments

7:00 pm

It’s best to head straight up to the top of Exhibition Road to one of London’s most famous green spaces Hyde Park. The park was originally used as a space to house the Great Exhibition of 1851; the structure was later moved to Crystal Palace Park in South London. The modern-day park is full of flowers and fountains, with the Serpentine Lake right in the middle of the action. Grab something to drink from one of the park kiosks, and take a seat on the grass to do a bit of people-watching. They have an amazing restaurant in the middle of the park make sure you grab a drink; they have ciders to die for.

DINNER: Chances are you have already marked a number of striking dining spots along the adventures so far. If not, head back to the tube and take the Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus or the Northern Line to Covent Garden, where you’ll find a diversity of restaurants to fit every budget. Note that the restaurants here are little pricey while if you skip to the smaller streets you’ll find less expensive and more authentic fare from just about every region of the world. Also, if Indian food is what you are looking for, look no further than Bricklane.

9:00 pm:

 

Leicester Square and Covent Garden are both a haven for partiers, but if you want something more of authentic British culture head to Shoreditch area. There’s a wide variety of clubs and bars in the area, so take your pick. Else hang around the theatres to catch actors heading to the real pubs after the shows. The nearby Soho neighbourhood is also lively both during after the pub rush, with afterhours eateries and dance clubs tucked away behind buildings with stylish facades. Pubs are generally open till 11 pm.

CLUBBING: Gulp down an energy drink!

London's vibrant club scene puts the city on the map as the capital of cool. Super clubs like Ministry of Sound, Fabric and Heaven are among the biggest and best known places to party. Finding the right club for your big night out is not very hard as long as you know what you’re looking for, whether it is drum-n-bass, techno, hip hop, house, or jazz. Every neighbourhood has a slightly different vibe but this should help get you started. Clubs in London range from the very VIP to the jeans-and-sweatshirt kinds of places. While some clubs are strictly all about one kind of music, at others you’ll find that every night of the week will be devoted to a different theme, so again, check with the local bible, Time Out, before hitting the clubs.

If celeb spotting is your main goal, then get dressed in your best and try to get into Project or Cirque Du Soir in Soho or, one of London’s most exclusive clubs. Soho is also where you will find many of London’s top gay clubs. If you are looking for a venue where you with a choice of a cocktail bar and lounge as well as an exclusive night club Amika located on South Molton Street Mayfair is very much recommended. You never know you might spot Justin Bieber, Rihanna, JLo, Rita Ora, Naomi Campbell, Prince Harry etc, so many who have come to this venue.

GETTING BACK IN NIGHT:

• When travelling back to your hotel in London at night remember to check that your minicab is licensed - they should have a sticker on their back window with their PCO number.
• Never get into a cab if you are not sure if it is licensed. only black cabs can be 'called' in the street. Black cabs can be hard to come by late at night but the night buses run mainly from Trafalgar square for the same price as during the day. They run all night usually at half hour intervals but some are more frequent.
• Check with Transport for London before you travel for details of night buses.

Source - http://www.triphobo.com/blog/london-in-24-hours

10 Things About London You’ll Kick Yourself for Not Knowing

‘Go where we may, rest where we will, Eternal London haunts us still’. That’s the effect that this city of dreams has on the unassuming and the uninitiated. London leaves you feeling many emotions at the same time: wonderstruck, spirited, overwhelmed yet strangely…welcome.

It’s almost as if there is an epic event attached to every corner of London. The ghosts of The Beatles on Abbey road, Shakespeare in the Globe, Sherlock Holmes on Baker Street and innumerable others definitely add to the celebrity of London.

So whether it’s your first visit to this magnanimous metropolis or your hundredth, there will always be one part of you that will stay back in this city. London makes you fall in love; it warms the cockles of your heart and gives you a big wet kiss like you’re one of its own. It’s very difficult not to fall head over heels with this crazy behemoth. Come to think of it, whether we know it or not, there’s a bit of London in all of us. What makes this city so special, you ask? Duh!

1. The Adopted city to millions:
London is the adopted home for millions of people that live in a harmonious coterie in this dazzling city. A city with a big appetite for different races and languages, London opens its arms and heart for all kinds of people. When it comes to tourists as of 2012, close to 17 million people chose to vacation in this British wonderland. Move over Elvis, we have a new rockstar!

2. Home of the Pub!
London is pretty much where the Pub culture began. The after-work living room for thousands of Brits, land up in a pub on any given day and you’ll find yourself drinking a Guiness with anyone right from a banker to an actor, talking animatedly about football or politics or even the best tandoori chicken in town. We love em’ ol’boozers! Head over to The Dog and the Duck or The Lamb and Flag (so much original names, eh?) to rub shoulders with Britain’s most prolific drunkards!

3. The only place in the world where tea is fancy
Don’t you just love how the British make even something as humble as the tea fancy? A practice started by the Ducchess of Bedford and taken over by wannabe-bastions-of-royalty hotels, you will have to bring out your fanciest clothes to have your afternoon tea at the tea rooms of The Ritz or the Brown’s hotel or even Claridge’s. Do remember though, Royal-tea does not come cheap!

4. You are never too far from sausages, bacon and hash browns!
After a crazy night at the club or even a mid-week pub crawl, English breakfast is all you need to cure that Machiavellian hangover. Only in Britain can you get away with eating a dish made of dried pig’s blood and suet a.k.a the black pudding, and actually relish it (did I hear you gag?) Try the Camden Bar & Kitchen or Terry’s cafe for the best ever English breakfast. Or take it to the next level and head for the breakfast at Hawksmoor Guildhall that throws surprises like grilled bone marrow, smoked bacon chop and even a rib bubble!

5. Long Live the Queen!
Long live the Queen and London’s obsession with her. Londoners love their royal gossip and devour every bit of information like a juicy piece of steak. So expect it to be breaking news even if the Queen so much as burps and experience the whole of London come out in support when she decides to throw herself a party. I won’t lie to you; the royal fever is quite contagious! To see it yourself, head over to the Buckingham Palace on a summer day to see scores of tourists trying to figure out what the big deal about Britain’s royal fixation is.

6. London knows how to let her hair down!
The undisputed party capital of Europe, there’s always something crazy happening in London. From concerts to music festivals and themed dance clubs, expect to be blown away with London’s parties. So you might be able to find a cool club under the railway arches (Cargo) or you can head to Fabric for some hardcore clubbing. A place like Madame Jo Jo’s has a burlesque, shabby-chic feel to it. There’s something for everybody ; even if you prefer your nights in the bed, head for a day party at the Oval space or Shoreditch that is as packed in action as any night club.

7. Sway to the Musicals!
Call me a grown-up child but I have watched the Lion King atleast 5 times. London is host to some top-notch theatre and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a London Musical will leave an indelible mark on your heart forever. Don’t forget to catch Thriller, a tribute to Michael Jackson or even Gregory Maguire’s Wicked to get transported to a world beyond the realms of imagination. My vote goes to the musicals as one of the most incredible things to do in London.

8. The Artsy side
I love how artsy London is! (Without being snobbish about it) If you look closely, there’s a little bit of art in almost every place you visit. You’ll find an art installation staring at you in the middle of Victoria station or a statue artist posing as Pinocchio in Covent Garden. To get some serious dose of art, head to galleries like Tate Modern or the National Portrait Gallery that host some inspiring pieces by celebrated artistes. Catch hold of a London travel guide and you will see that it is full of artsy places and things to do.

9. Mind the Gap!
The London Metro deserves a special mention and is part of why London is so accessible to so many people. The Tube is literally the lifeline of close to 3.25 million commuters who travel to different parts of this Great City for work and pleasure. Even though you will find most Londoners grumbling about the Metro, the truth is that it holds a marvellous chunk of London’s history and is quite a remarkable network that connects the myriad corners of this metropolis. The metro stations are some of the best places to visit in London for people watching. It also gave us ‘Mind the Gap’; probably the three most popular words in London that have given birth to innumerable jokes and double-meaning connotations.

10. Cabbies are rockstars!
London Cabs and cabbies have got their fair share of attention and if you ask me, they deserve most of it. Sitting in a London cab is almost like sitting in a celebrity royal carriage and you will almost feel privileged shelling out £20 for a ride down the street. The London cabbies are well-read, well-informed and unbelievingly know almost every corner of this expansive city.

It’s impossible not to fall in love with the British accent, the small doses of culture hidden in the crevices of this modern megapolis, the unpredictable rains and the quaint familiarity that sinks in the minute you land in this city. London has a place in almost everybody’s hearts…whether you’ve already been here or not.

source: http://medium.com/london-travel-guide/10-things-about-london-youll-kick-yourself-for-not-knowing-e82951a05693

What To Do In London For 5 Days

London- the royal city, the dream destination of every avid traveler! They say that a bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else and hence, however hard you try to plan the perfect London Trip, you can never get enough of this majestic capital.
Here are few tips on what to do in London for 5 days:

1. Visit the historical monuments:
London has outstandingly beautiful and well-maintained monuments that go way back in the history. Be it the legendary Big Ben or the stunning Westminster Abbey, the monuments of London never fail to awe the visitors. Kensington palace,   Buckingham palace, St. James Palace are some of the monuments worth being to. Also, the London eye, Tower of London and the tower bridge are unmissable!

Buckingham Palace

Westminster Abbey

2. Go shopping:
London is a shopper’s paradise and one of the finest places in the world to shop for the latest fashion labels that rock the international fashion scene. Go on a shopping spree on the oxford street which has over 300 shops, designer outlets and landmark stores or the Regent street and Jermyn street if you are a budget shopper- London has treats for everyone!

The Oxford Street

3. Get a taste of adventure:
London may appear as a classy, prim city and people with an adrenaline rush may be under the impression that there’s nothing in store for them. London righteously proves them wrong with its Rollerblading in Battersea Park or Kayaking in West Reservoir center. Also, the Richmond Park offers great set of activities right from horse-riding to fishing- so don’t forget to pack your sports shoes on your London trip!

4. Treat yourself with the gastronomic delights:
The English man loves his tea and he’ll make you love it too! The backstreet cafes serve a Rack of English breakfast loaded with bacons, egg and sausages as cheap as 5 euros under 5 euros all day long, the tons of Chinese restaurants serve buffets at modest prices and if you are looking for a romantic dinner at a fancy place, London spoils you with choices.

5. Click pictures, take selfies and flaunt your vacation:
Piccadilly Circus with the huge statue of Eros standing proudly in its center is one of the most photographed places in the world and you shouldn’t be missing the opportunity to click a picture here on your London vacation. Click selfies with the landmarks, record your experience of the ‘Change of Guards’ and take home a pocket-full-of photographs!

Statue Of Eros

6. Plan a picnic at the Parks:
London has some lovely parks where you can pack your picnic basket, throw in some Frisbees and board games, grab your favorite book and go for a pleasant day-out with family. Be it Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Holland Park or the St. James Park, you are all set to have a gala time!

Hyde Park

St. James Park

Plan your 5 day London itinerary with this tips and you will surely say ‘ London is always a good idea!’