24 HOURS IN LONDON FOR A FIRST-TIME VISITOR

Travelling around a new city in a short amount of time can be stressful, but with a 1-day guide to help you see the best London has, we at london.com will make sure you can tick everything off your list and still have some time to spare.

 


 

Breakfast and stroll around: in Covent Garden

A busy day in the city can get off to an early start, but it’s important to remember the most important meal of the day. A full English breakfast is somewhat renowned in British culture, with eggs, bacon, sausages and a whole lot more, it can keep your energy levels high while you’re exploring the city. If you head towards Covent Garden, which is in the West End of Central London, you’ll find an outdoor and indoor area with independent and chain restaurants and cafés to indulge yourself.

Some good breakfast spots in the area are Tuttons Brasserieand Le Pain Quotidien. You can spend a pleasant morning sipping coffee and people watching, perhaps catching a street performer or two. Along the street, there are shops and boutiques to wander around and help you walk off your breakfast. The indoor section of Covent Garden is protected by a glass roof which helps the market selling handmade goods such as jewellery and artwork, stay safe from the unpredictable elements of London.

 


 

Lunch and a tour of the Thames

The Thames is one of the most iconic rivers in the world, with many famous landmarks such as Big Ben and the London Eye surrounding it. One of the greatest things about such an internationally known city is the many different cultures and nationalities that reside there. The cities internationalism is shown by the number of cuisines on offer, from Italian to Middle Eastern, whatever you’re craving you can sit along the Thames and taste the world.

After lunch, take a boat ride down the river, on one of the many trips that are on offer such as the Hop on Hop off tour by City Cruises, which gives you a live commentary of the important sites on each side of the river. The Cruise has different piers, all which you can get off at, but if you continue until the end, you’ll disembark at Tower Bridge, which is just a short walk away from the Tower of London. You can spend the rest of the afternoon browsing around at the historic royal artefacts including the famous Crown Jewels.

 


 

Dinner and a performance: In Piccadilly Circus

As the sun begins to set, and the neon signs light up the streets, you’ll want to head to Piccadilly Circus, where you’ll find the roads to London’s main shopping and dining districts. Indulge yourself in the finest of dining in steakhouses and champagne bars! Since this is the heart of the city, the atmosphere remains lively and busy until well into the night, so you don’t have to rush.

After dinner, you can enjoy a very traditional British pastime: going to the theatre. London’s West End is famous for its many theatres and performances some of which have won numerous awards such as The Lion King, Mama Mia! And Thriller. You can buy tickets to all these shows on the day, but it is best to book in advance to guarantee you the show and seats you want. Be sure to enjoy a pre-theatre dinner in restaurants nearby such as booking for the Express Menu at Hawksmoor Seven Dials, or pick from the early dinner Menu at Cinnamon Kitchen, for the perfect complement to your theatre night out.