How to Spend a Day in London: A Detailed Guide

London has something to offer for everyone, whether you’re a tourist or a local.  It’s a fast-paced, bustling metropolis that is packed full of entertainment, history and culture. The best way to make the most of your day out in London is to be prepared and plan ahead. There’s so much to do and see that it’s hard to fit it all into one day but with our plan, you can make the most of your time and get the most from your experience.

Start Your Day at The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of London’s oldest and most iconic landmarks. It was first built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and has seen a huge amount of history over its 1000 years. A visit to the Tower of London will bring you into the path of famous kings and queens, stories of both tragedy and triumph, as well as ancient and modern monuments. It’s also home to the Crown Jewels, one of the world’s largest collections of precious gems, so don’t miss out on the chance to see them!

Tours of the Tower

When you arrive at the Tower, you can purchase tickets for an audio tour – this will tell you about all of the important sights and tell you what happened at each point in history. You can also explore as part of a guided tour group which will offer more detail and insight into the Tower’s history. If you prefer to go at your own pace, then you can purchase a brochure which outlines the route around the Tower and highlights all the points of interest.

Visit the Crown Jewels

The highlight of a trip to the Tower of London is, without doubt, visiting the Crown Jewels. Housing some of the world’s oldest pieces, it’s extremely important that these items are kept secure. As such, you will have to pass through a number of security checks before entering the building where they are stored. Once inside however, you will be able to get extremely close to some of the world’s most historic objects – if you are lucky enough to see them on display some of them will be over 1000 years old!

Walk Around Buckingham Palace

After the Tower of London, make your way to Buckingham Palace for what is sure to be an important part of your day out in London. Built in 1703, this Grade II listed building is notable for its iconic entrance gates and its extraordinary grandeur. During term time, it is possible to watch the Changing of the Guard – this sees members of the Grenadier Guards march through in a procession wearing full-on regalia (hrp.org.uk)

Exploring around the palace, it is possible to explore other parts of the grounds such as the gardens, which feature a variety of flowers, plants and sculptures. There is also an amazing collection of fine art that is housed in an underground exhibition space. This includes paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt as well as numerous other renowned artists from around Europe.

Tours of Buckingham Palace

For a more in-depth look at Buckingham Palace, there are guided group tours available in English for visitors. These tour around much more than just the exterior facade and explore many different parts of the interior. From exploring the magnificent State Rooms to learning about Queen Victoria’s personal apartments, this tour provides some interesting insights into the grandiose interior from someone who is knowledgeable on all its different aspects.

Visit The British Museum

For those who want to get one last cultural fix before the day is out, then a visit to The British Museum is essential in London. It has something for everyone – whether it’s ancient artefacts that span centuries or interactive displays and events that bring history to life. It has been described as “the world’s greatest museum’, due to its extensive collection and variety of displays. With over eight million objects in everywhere from Egypt to North America, no two visits have ever been quite alike – so make sure to check out their online guide (britishmuseum.org) beforehand so you know exactly what you want to see when you arrive there!

The British Museum may seem overwhelming at first glance but with enough preparation, it becomes much more manageable. You can buy tickets for adult and family tickets as well as student tickets – if you can manage it all within one day then there’s plenty here to keep everyone entertained for hours!

End The Day with a Night Out

At this late stage in the day, it’s time to relax and enjoy some down time – but what better way than with a night out? London has some amazing venues offering live shows and entertainment until late in the night so why not make the most of it? For those looking for a low-key evening, there are plenty of pubs and bars around with great atmosphere and music playing until late in the night.

For those wanting something a bit more energetic, there are lots of night clubs offering dance music until early in the morning as well as comedy shows in many other venues across central London. Don’t forget that you don’t have to stay in one place! London night life is incredibly diverse so it’s worth heading out exploring different areas and different types of entertainment throughout your night out!

Go on a Pub Crawl

If you can’t decide on one place to go or want to cover lots of ground then a pub crawl might be for you (Viator). Exploring Central London’s lively West End district – including Soho – a pub crawl ticks all the boxes for a great night out. These organised experienced take you from one pub or bar to another as you learn about landmarks, stories and some of the capital’s famous nightlife hot spots – guaranteeing unique experience that’s so much more than just drinking!

Conclusion

London has so much to offer its visitors that fitting it all into one day can be difficult – but with this guide, you can make sure that you get the most out of your day out in London! From exploring historical sites like The Tower of London or Buckingham Palace – or taking a look at fine art at The British Museum – there really is something for everyone in London. And don’t forget that when you need to relax after all that exploring – head out on one of London’s many pub crawls like Viator’s West End Pub Crawl. With food, drinks and some amazing sights this is sure to be an amazing way to end your day in London!