The Best of London in 24 Hours
I recently visited London for work and had a limited amount of extra time to sightsee. Despite the constraints, I managed to make the most of my 24 hours in the city. Here’s my itinerary on how I maximized a day in London, ensuring I saw many iconic sights and enjoyed some fantastic food.
Self-Guided Walking Tour
You only need a few hours to walk around and see many of London's major sights. While I haven't personally tried a guided tour, I'm sure there are some excellent options available. My most recent self-guided walking tour took about four hours, and I've shared the itinerary below. Feel free to adjust the starting point based on your location and your desired endpoint.
Walk from Shoreditch to Borough Market for breakfast
Stop by Tower of London and cross either Tower or London Bridge
Borough Market (the market fully opens at 11, but I got there at 10 and places were still open)
Coffee at Monmouth - you will want to sit and drink there to not buy a cup
Chocolate covered strawberries - worth the hype
Donut at Bread Ahead Bakery
Sandwich from The Black Pig - opens at 11 and great to carry around to later if you are full
Take the Metro to Westminster
See The London Eye
See Big Ben
See Westminster Abbey and worth touring if have time
Walk up to St. James Park
Stroll through the park to Buckingham Palace
Walk through The Green Park to Old Bond Street for the shops
End up in Carnaby St
Have a drink, shop or sit down at eat at Dishoom
St. James Park
Restaurants
Dishoom worth the hype and has a great breakfast if you can’t get in for dinner
Lahpet Burmese cuisine in Shoreditch. So many unique and flavorful dishes
The Ivy Great place for brunch
M&S for snacks - Percy pigs, Collin the Caterpillar, chocolate bars (London has the best chocolate)
Restaurants to Skip They aren’t bad, but there are so many better options
Pizza Express
Nando’s
Chocolate covered strawberries
Even with just a day to spare, London offers a wealth of experiences that can fit into a tight schedule. From iconic landmarks to delicious food spots, the city has something for everyone. Whether you follow my itinerary or customize your own, you'll be able to savor the essence of London in just 24 hours. Enjoy your adventure!
