London - March 2019


Once again, coming from a trusted source, a 7-Day London Itinerary. Enjoy!


Tip: for the TUBE, buy an Oyster card for the zone that you need. You can buy this directly at the airport. You will need to tap in and out of the subway. If you don't want to get the Oyster card, you can now use the i-Phone or a credit card and tap in and out like you would with a pass. You will have to check the prices, but the Oyster card may still end up being cheaper. There is a 7-day travel card if you need to travel between zones. The bus system is different from the TUBE.

Tip: Get the London Pass for amazing access to many attractions.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend a place to stay, but if you are close to the TUBE, you should be set.

Day 1

  • Start with one of the most famous experiences - high tea. There are many hotels that offer high tea experience.
  • Explore St. Paul's Cathedral. Listen to the organ recitals on Sundays. You can take over 500 stairs to the top for the impressive view.
  • Millennium Bridge - make sure to check it out at sunset.
  • London has a vibrant night life. Spend the evening bar hopping!

Day 2

  • Take a free walking tour. The tour ends at Westminster Abbey and lasts for 3 hours. The tour covers the following spots (without entry): Buckingham and St James' Palaces, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben (get the phone booth photo in front of Big Ben), Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, Churchill War Room and Others.
  • Check out the Garden at 120. It's open on weekdays from 10am-6pm. There is a 15th floor panoramic lookout.
  • Go up the Walkie Talkie building. There is a magnificent view from the top of the three-floor sky garden. It is free, but you need to reserve tickets online. 
  • See the Museum of London. 
  • Have drinks at Vertigo 42.

Day 3

  • Tower of London - allocate 2 hours. 
  • Tower Bridge - make sure to see the views through the Glass Floor.
  • The Monument - climb the steps to enjoy more views.
  • For lunch, stop at the Borough Market, browse the stalls and go sample tasting.
  • You can also check out the view from the Shard.
  • Explore the HMS Belfast - allocate 90 minutes.
  • For dinner, go to Bali Bali. This restaurant is close to the theatre district. 
  • See a musical! London, just like New York City, has an amazing theatre scene.

Day 4

  • If you didn't get a chance to explore the Museum of London on day Day 2, today could be a great day, as well as the British Museum.
  • Do the Thames River Cruise with City Cruises. It is 3 hours in length.
  • Windsor Castle - allow 3 hours for the visit. There are free self guided tours included. If you have the London Pass (highly recommended), travel (from Paddington station after 10:30 am. only to Slough and change at Slough to Windsor & Eton Central) is free of charge with the pass. Do not use your Oyster Travel-card. You must take the same journey back (from Windsor to Paddinton Station via Slough) to get the free ride.

Day 5

  • Westminster Abbey - book a guided tour directly on location. The audio tour is well done and takes about 2 hours.
  • Churchill War Rooms - allocate 1.5 hours.
  • Churchill Museum
  • Check out the Sherlock Holmes Pub (perhaps just for pictures. It seems like a normal pub inside) and do the Hop-on/Hop-off Bus.
  • See Leadenhall Market, where the inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley came from.
  • Go back to the Trafalgar Square. You can see the smallest police station located there.
  • You can do a Bicycle Tour. The routes are designed to keep you away from the traffic and give you access to areas you wouldn't be able to see by car. Reserve in advance.
  • For dinner, go to Poppie's Soho for fish and chips. Once again it is walking distance from the theatre district.

Day 6

Day 7

  • Catch your flight!

Other

  • If you are a soccer fan, you can take a stadium tour: Chelsea FC Stadium Tour, Wembley Stadium Tour, Arsenal Stadium Tour.
  • Maltby Street, Picadilly, Camedon, Greenwich and Jubilee Markets.
  • Covent Garden has many performers and bars/restaurants. Cellar Door has good cocktails.
  • For shopping, go to Oxford and Bond Streets.
  • See bars and restaurants along St Christopher's Place.
  • For more affordable lunches, buy snacks at supermarkets such as Sainbury's. For dinner, you can head to Brick Lane for Indian food or to Kingsland Road for Vietnamese. There are many food options available for lunch at Pret a Manger (hot soups and sandwiches), which are very affordable. There are 450 locations all over.
  • Pieminster is a good place for English pie.
  • Leicester Square.
  • Check out this site for more ideas.
  • Coffee Shops.
  • Take a ride on the London Eye.
  • Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.