Globetrotters – 72 hours in London
DAY 1 – ICONS
Morning | Getting oriented |
Afternoon | Well known icons |
Evening | Piccadilly, Soho & Chinatown |
To give you the best orientation head to one of London’s best viewpoints. Of course the obvious choice is the London Eye, but be prepared for very long lines! Alternatively a new viewpoint is from the top of The Shard near London Bridge, Europe’s tallest tower which dominates London’s skyline. Of course, neither of these are worthwhile if the weather is ‘typically English’, in which case it’s probably better leaving this for the late evening when all the city lights are on.
After this, in one afternoon you can tick of all the iconic London landmarks. Start at the Houses of Parliament & Ben Ben, directly next to which is Westminster Abbey, with the most recent claim to fame as being the location where Kate & William were married in 2011. Walk through St. James park to reach Buckingham Palace, and if you make it here before 11.30am you can catch the changing of the guard. Next, walk back down The Mall or Pall Mall to reach Trafalgar Sq, the city’s largest & most impressive square, off which is The National Gallery (free entry) & Portrait Gallery.
From here it’s a short walk or one tube stop to Piccadilly Circus, one of the most recognisable squares in London thanks to the bright neon signs. Why not venture over to Leicester Sq and check out the half price ticket booth to catch a show this evening or on following nights? (note, there is only one ‘official’ one: TKTS) By this time you’re ready to hit the bars or restaurants of nearby Soho and Chinatown, a popular nightspot with dozens of great places to spend the evening.
DAY 2 – THE SOUTH
Morning | Tower of London & the Bridges |
Afternoon | St Paul’s & Tate Modern |
Evening | South bank |
One of the most popular tourist attractions in London aside from the London Eye, is undoubtedly the Tower of London so it’s worth getting there nice and early to minimise waiting in long lines. It is most well known for housing the Crown Jewels and the ‘Line of Kings’ exhibition in The White Tower. You could easily spend the majority of your morning here. After a visit here walk across Tower Bridge (often confused as ‘London Bridge’, but in fact that’s the next bridge over to the East). The most notable buildings you’ll spot from the bridge are The Shard, ‘The Gherkin’ & city hall. It’s also possible to head up to the top level of the bridge.
Walking alongside the south end of the Thames, head towards London Bridge, opposite which is the Borough Market which is a fantastic market for foodies selling all kinds of gourmet delicacies. From here it’s not a far walk to Tate Modern, if you’re interested in modern ‘art’ that will most likely challenge your understanding of what can be considered as ‘art’. Right near Shakespeare’s Globe (which you can see only via a tour or to see a show), cross the river via the pedestrianised Millennium Bridge to the massive St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s definitely not your average European cathedral and there’s fantastic views over the city from the top of the cupola.
Not worn out yet? In the early evening, you may want to consider a brief boat ride along the Thames back over towards Westminster, or walk back over the Millennium Bridge in the direction of South bank where there are a number of nice bars and places to eat.
DAY 3 – LONDON CULTURE
Morning | Camden Market |
Afternoon | Knightsbridge |
Evening | Shoreditch |
It’s time to venture a little out of the inner city this morning. If you’re into alternative culture & people watching then you’ll love Camden Market. Here’s the best place to get your London souvenirs from. There are a number of different markets but the one’s not to miss is the Stables Market, where all the many food stalls are.
From subculture to high culture – what a change you will experience when getting out at Knightsbridge in the afternoon. You can’t go to London without a visit to Harrods. It’s an experience just to see the price tags on their items, to see the fantastic food hall, magnificent Egyptian foyer & have some fun on the toy level.
In the evening make your way towards Shoreditch which is another one of London’s most popular & trendy nightspots. You’ll have to get there early if you want any chance of getting a table at any of the areas packed restaurants & bars. On that note, this is not recommended for claustrophobic’s! Or if you’re a fan of Indian food you’ll be spoiled for selection in nearby Brick Lane.
Vacationers
Follow the Globetrotters itinerary for days 1-3.
DAY 4 – GREENWICH
After two pretty full-on days, heading out to Greenwich would be a nice winding down & day away from the city crowds. Greenwich feels a world away from London and enjoys a completely different, more relaxed atmosphere. Take your pick of Greenwich’s many sights, but the one not-to-miss attraction would have to be the Royal Observatory. Stand on the Prime Meridian and learn about the history of this significant location. For lunch check out the Greenwich Markets. In the afternoon, step on board Cutty Sark, the old massive clipper ship. Head to the Maritime Museum, or relax & take your time exploring the lush parks directly opposite.
DAY 5
Morning | Markets |
Afternoon | Park life / Oxford St |
Evening | Leicester Sq |
If the weather is co-operating it’s worth taking a stroll through one of London’s parks, either Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park. Each offer a number of different attractions depending on what your interests are (eg. London Zoo & Ripley’s is near Regent’s Park, Kensington Palace is in Kensington Gardens). Alternatively if the weather is typically English, now might be a good time to hit the shops on Oxford St.Everyone has heard of Notting Hill. Today it’s time to put a place to the name by heading to Portobello Road. This is best saved for a Saturday when the antique market & food stalls fill the street but can still be enjoyed on other days. Or if it’s a Sunday, head East to the Brick Lane Sunday Up Market and nearby Spitalfields market.
Leicester Square is always buzzing at night. There’s cinema’s, theatre’s, restaurants & shops open until late including the very popular M&M’s world.
DAY 6?
How much do you like shopping?? That is the question. If you don’t want to leave London empty handed then perhaps dedicate an extra day just to shopping, and an entire day can EASILY be spent just walking around looking at shops mixed in with a few interesting sights along the way. Top of any shoppers priority list in London would be:
- Oxford St (anything and everything, international brands)
- Covent Garden (Jubilee markets, souvenirs, arty stores and stalls)
- Westfield London or Westfield Stratford (anything and everything)
- Regent St (high end fashion)
- Soho (funky/boutique brands and music)
Culture buffs
Follow the vacationers itinerary for days 1-6, however keen history buffs might want to consider dedicating more time, if not an entire day to the Tower of London (there are a ton of exhibitions).
London has a seemingly ever-ending supply of museums & historical interests for culture buffs. And even if you’re not a culture buff it might be worth pretending you are for at least one day as London’s museums & cultural attractions are, after all, known for being some of the best in the world. Take some time explore the following depending on your interests:
Art
Portrait gallery
National gallery
Tate Britain
Tate Modern
Whitechapel gallery
History
The monument
British Museum
Museum of London
Victoria & Albert museum
Shakespeare’s Globe
Bank region
Music
Abbey Road
Royal Albert music hall
Wembley Area & Stadium
(Check Time out for gig guides)
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