The best and quickest way to see all the major attractions is to take one of the many touristic bus tours, you will be packed on a bus filled with tourists followed by a city tour which covers over 60 attractions.
Even though you might feel like an über tourist, this is the best way to see the city within a very short time. You can hop on and off at every stop and you can get on every Citysightseeing tour bus within two days for just over € 25,-.
If you have more time and you do not want to get on the touristic busses, I would recommend you to walk from attraction to attraction, as this is the best way to find hidden treasures such as small pubs and stores.
The 10 Main Attractions in London are:
- The Tower Bridge ( Tower and Soutwark Route)
- The Tower of London (Tower and Soutwark Route)
- The Big Ben & Houses of Parliament (Westminster and Trafalgar Route)
- The London Eye (Westminster and Trafalgar Route)
- Buckingham Palace
- Piccadilly Circus
- Westminster Abbey (Westminster and Trafalgar Route)
- St Pauls Cathedral
- British Museum
- Harrods
I would say that majority
of the attractions on this list are worthwhile visiting, you might
skip the British museum regarding your interest, as you will need a full day to
explore the full museum.
Then the other attractions can be grouped
according to location, so I will describe what you can visit and what not to
miss in specific areas. I have made a maps of the routes which I have walked a
multiple times with friends and family whilst living in London.
I will start of the first route which covers the Tower, Tower Bridge, Docks and the Southwark.
1. Tower & Southwark Route
The Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are located next to each other, and are definitely worthwhile a visit. Once you are in the tower area you might also like to visit the St. Katherine docks and the Southwark.
I will start of the first route which covers the Tower, Tower Bridge, Docks and the Southwark.
1. Tower & Southwark Route
The Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are located next to each other, and are definitely worthwhile a visit. Once you are in the tower area you might also like to visit the St. Katherine docks and the Southwark.
1. This tour starts at the Tower
Hill Tube station, once you exit the tube station you can find the Trinity
Square Gardens on you left which will give you the first glimpse of the Tower
of London. However you need to turn right to cross underneath Byward Street,
once crossed you will see the old fundaments of the Tower complex.
2. Then go right and walk towards the Thames River with the Tower on you right hand side. Here you will find the ticketboxes and entrance to the Tower of London. (Entrance is quite expensive (over € 25,- for an adult ticket, however I found it worth it) It shows the history of the city and the tower, and it houses the crown jewels which you can see with your own eyes.
For more info visit their website
2. Then go right and walk towards the Thames River with the Tower on you right hand side. Here you will find the ticketboxes and entrance to the Tower of London. (Entrance is quite expensive (over € 25,- for an adult ticket, however I found it worth it) It shows the history of the city and the tower, and it houses the crown jewels which you can see with your own eyes.
For more info visit their website
3. Regardless if you have
visited the tower or not, you will turn left on the Thames side of the Tower,
this is where you will have a very nice view of the Tower Bridge and this point
is a very nice spot to shoot a nice picture of the bridge.
Then follow the path towards the Bridge and cross underneath the bridge towards the Tower Bridge Hotel, turn left and on your right hand you will turn into St. Katherine’s Way, on your left hand you will see a Sign which says “St. KATHERINE Docks”
4. Once you have passed the
sign you will enter the St. Katherine Docks, which is a very nice place to
relax and have a coffee whilst the boats slowly pass by.
Make a walk around the harbor and return towards the point where you passed the
tower bridge earlier, however instead of passing through the tunnel, take the
stairs up the bridge.
5. Your now on the Tower Bridge, you are able to enter the bridge to have a look inside however I did not find this worthwhile, but there is the possibility.
Pass the bridge towards the south bank.
5. Your now on the Tower Bridge, you are able to enter the bridge to have a look inside however I did not find this worthwhile, but there is the possibility.
Pass the bridge towards the south bank.
6.“Shad Thames” this area used to
be part of the docklands and was a no go area, however nowadays the warehouses
are transformed into apartments.
It’s a safe and lively area with lots of nice cafés and restaurants. Whilst strolling through these streets you can see the typical Dockland warehouses.
Walk back towards the Tower Bridge and pass underneath the bridge towards the west side.
It’s a safe and lively area with lots of nice cafés and restaurants. Whilst strolling through these streets you can see the typical Dockland warehouses.
Walk back towards the Tower Bridge and pass underneath the bridge towards the west side.
7. On you left hand side you will see Potters Fields Park and in front of you is the City Hall. Keep following the path which walk next to the Thames and follow that path
Follow the path towards the west along the Thames and you will find some nice coffee places and stores on your left-hand side located “Hays Gallaria”.
The walk towards the London Bridge gives you a nice view of the city’s skyline.
9. Turn right onto the London Bridge, which makes a very nice spot for a Tower bridge photo on the middle of the bridge.
This is the end of the tour, you can either chose to walk back south towards London Bridge tube station. Or you can walk north towards Monument tube station. Which is close to “Monument” which is a monument for all the victims of the Great fire of London in 1666.
I hope you will enjoy this route, as I certainly did.
Cheers!
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