If you clicked on this post, chances are you’re looking for the perfect 24 hours in London itinerary! And you’ve come to the right place. After living here for 4 years, a lot of my friends from home tend to ask me the same thing – ‘I’m going to London for 24 hours, what should I do there?’.
I’ve put together the perfect 24 hours in London Itinerary, which is jam-packed with sight-seeing and activities to make sure you get as much out of the city as possible in that 24 hour window. This is a great way to see London over a weekend or as part of a layover or stopover on the way to other adventures!
If you like this post, don’t forget to check out my Instagram @emmakatehall, where I post lots of London and travel photos and tips!
Top Tips for Seeing London in 24 Hours
- If you’re not staying overnight in the city, make sure to consider luggage storage. That way you won’t have to lug your bags across the city and instead can full enjoy your time there! Most airports provide luggage storage. Alternatively, there’s a luggage storage shop opposite King’s Cross Station!
- Dress comfortably and make sure you have a day backpack to carry everything you need with you, including your valuables.
- To make the most out of this short trip, opt for quick modes of transport. Instead of walking or taking the bus, consider opting for the tube or a taxi.
- Factor in how much time it’ll take you to get from the airport to the city. Picking up your baggage and catching public transport into the centre of the city may take a lot longer than you expect, as none of the London airports are extremely central.
- Don’t stay in an airbnb! I’m a big fan of airbnbs normally, however they can be difficult in terms of checkout times and luggage. If you are planning on staying overnight, I’d recommend using a hotel, which will happily store your luggage for free!
What to Expect from this 24 Hour London Itinerary
- Location: I’ve kept this 24 hour itinerary very central as that’s where a number of the most iconic spots in London are. The main areas you’ll be seeing are: Fitzrovia, Covent Garden, Soho and Westminster
- Food: I’ve included the best spots to grab delicious food across the city, including the best brunch place, a guide to China Town and Seven Dials Market, and the perfect afternoon tea! All of these spots should have vegetarian and vegan options available!
- Sightseeing: Peppered throughout the days activities are some of the most iconic buildings in London
- Activities: the must-do activities in London if you’re only visiting for 24 hours
Looking for More London Itinerary Ideas?
- 70 Epic and Completely Free Things to Do in London
- 10 HUGE Mistakes Tourists Make in London (+ How to Avoid Them!)
- Is London Safe? How to Stay Safe When Traveling in London
- 8 of the Best London Street Markets
- When is the Best Time to Visit London?
- 30 Things to Do in London: Ultimate London Bucket List
How to Get to London from the Airport
- Stansted: the Stansted Express train leaves every 15 minutes and takes 47 minutes to get to London
- London Gatwick: the Gatwick Express runs to London Victoria train station and takes 30 minutes
- London Heathrow: Trains run every 15 minutes to Paddington, or your can get a tube into Central London
Where to Stay in London
If you do need to stay the night in London, I’d recommend trying to stay fairly centrally. Normally, I’d advise checking out multiple different areas of the city. However, since this is only a quick trip, you’ll want to be as close to the action as possible. Here are a few hotels that I’d recommend:
- Park Plaza County Hall – this hotel is right on Southbank so has an amazing location right next to the River Thames
- Premier Inn London County Hall – also on Southbank is this Premier Inn location, which makes for a great budget-friendly option in Central London.
- St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel – if you’re looking for a little luxury during your stay, then this is the place to be. The Renaissance Hotel has without a doubt become one of the most iconic hotels in London
- The Hoxton Holborn – there are a number of great Hoxton hotels across the city. The best location for this particular itinerary would be their Holborn hotel.
- Airbnb – if you would prefer to stay in an airbnb for some reason, don’t forget to use my discount code on your first stay to get £50 off!
How To Spend 24 Hours in London
1. Breakfast at Half Cup
First things first, you’ll need to fill up for a day of exploring this amazing city so head to Half Cup in Bloomsbury and order yourself some plum French toast. This was one of my favourite spots when I was studying in London as it was super close to Uni. The interiors are lovely and the food is delicious. Other great brunch spots around King’s Cross include Caravan, Granger & Co, Dishoom, and Granary Square Brasserie.
Address: 100-102 Judd St, Saint Pancras, London WC1H 9NT
Nearest Tube Station: King’s Cross St Pancras or Russell Squre
Average Cost: £10
2. The British Museum
Next up take the short walk through pretty Fitzrovia to the British Museum. On your way, look out for Senate House Library – the inspiration for George Orwell’s Ministry of Truth. Once you arrive at the museum, take some time to have a look at the amazing exhibits on show. You could honestly spend all day here, there’s so much to see.
If you’re looking for something a little more alternative, try the Foundling Museum, which tells the story of Britain’s first home for abandoned children, or the Wellcome Collection, a weird and wonderful museum connecting science, medicine, life and art.
Address: The British Museum, Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG
Nearest Tube Station: Russell Square or Tottenham Court Road
Average Cost: Free
3. Covent Garden
Next walk towards Covent Garden and hit the shops. Covent Garden is a beautiful old market square with great restaurants, luxury shops, and a strong history. They decorate it depending on the season, meaning in the winter you’ll find giant mistletoe adorning the ceilings, whilst in the summer you’ll find floral displays to take photos with. You’ll also almost always find a street performer of some kind doing something completely crazy.
Address: Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD
Nearest Tube Station: Covent Garden
Average Cost: Free
4. Seven Dials & Neal’s Yard
If you want cute (highly instagramable) shops and colourful facades, this is your area. Seven Dials is an area filled with the most beautiful shops, including Cubitts, Astrid & Miyu, Miller Harris, and Skinny Dip.
Once you’ve finished shopping (or just taking photos of the pretty shop fronts), it’s time to grab some food. I would highly recommend Home Slice in Neal’s Yard, where you can get pizza by the slice or share a 20″ with a friend for £20. Alternatively, go to Seven Dials Market and choose from an array of amazing foods including vegan tacos, bao buns, crab, and traditional Jewish food. It opened recently and the interiors are seriously beautiful!
Address: Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP
Nearest Tube Station: Covent Garden
Average Cost: £10
5. Trafalgar Square
Once you’re full, head towards Trafalgar Square. Here you’ll find Nelson’s Column, which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain. The fountains are absolutely beautiful, as are the gorgeous lion statues. However, be warned – there are a lot of pigeons!
You can also use this opportunity to head into the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery – both of which are free to enter.
Address: Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN
Nearest Tube Station: Charing Cross or Leicester Square
Average Cost: Free
6. Big Ben & Westminster Abbey
As you’re only in London for 24 hours, it’s time to tick off two of London’s most famous landmarks – Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Big Ben is the nickname we give for the clock tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster (the meeting place for the government).
Westminster Abbey is the beautiful royal church where William and Kate got married. You’re welcome to go inside the Abbey. Adult tickets are £23 at the door or £21 if you purchase them online beforehand. The Abbey is open from 9:30-15:30 Monday-Saturday. Tickets can be purchased from the Westminster Abbey Website.
Address: Westminster Abbey, 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA
Nearest Tube Station: St. James’ Park
Average Cost: £21
7. St. James’ Park & Buckingham Palace
Now it’s time to see a bit of nature in the city. Take a beautiful sunny stroll through St. James’ park around the lake before stopping at Buckingham Palace. Give the Queen a wave before moving on to your next destination.
The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors for 10 weeks each summer and on selected dates during winter and spring. The summer opening of 2021 will take place from July – September. You can find out more information by visiting the Royal Collection Trust Website.
Address: Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA
Nearest Tube Station: Green Park or St. James’ Park
Average Cost: Free
8. Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
Would any visit to London be complete without an afternoon tea? Fortnum and Mason is one of my absolute favourites. You’re treated like royalty and get unlimited refills – the finger sandwiches are amazing! The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is on the 4th floor of the department store and was opened by her majesty The Queen. You can book online at the Fortnum and Mason Website.
Address: 4th Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1A 1ER
Nearest Tube Station: Piccadilly Circus
Average Cost: £60
9. Regent’s Street & Liberty’s
Whilst in the area, check out the red buses and black cabs as they hurtle down Regent’s Street or have a wander around Liberty’s, the most beautiful department store in the world. The store was founded in 1875 and it’s black and white exterior and beautiful wares will have you swooning. It’s particularly beautiful around Christmas time but is definitely worth a visit any time of year for a glimpse of the beautiful Tudor architecture.
Address: Liberty London, Regent St, Soho, London W1B 5AH
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Average Cost: Free
10. China Town
See the amazing lanterns and gates of London’s China Town. Here you can get some pre-theatre food, or if you’re still feeling way too full from your afternoon tea, why not just get some refreshing bubble tea? There are so many different restaurants to choose from but some of the most popular are:
Address: Gerrard St, London W1D 5PT
Nearest Tube Station: Leicester Square
Average Cost: £7
11. Watch a West End Show
You can’t leave London without seeing a show! There are so many amazing ones that you can’t really go too far wrong. My personal favourite is Matilda: the Musical. In fact, I’ve seen it 6 times now and I’m still not bored of it! Other popular options include The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, School of Rock, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Wicked – just to name a few! Bear in mind that Wicked is at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, next to Victoria Station, making it a little further away from the other West End shows.
You can purchase tickets for most London shows from the official London theatre website.
Address: Cambridge Theatre, Earlham St, London WC2H 9HU
Nearest Tube Station: Covent Garden
Average Cost: From £25
12. Dinner on Southbank
If you didn’t have dinner earlier, head across the Thames to Southbank to grab some food. There are a number of different restaurants along the river front.
One of my personal favourites is a place called Ping Pong. This Chinese Dim Sum Restaurant is absolutely delicious! After you’re finished, you can take a walk along the Southbank and watch the bright lights of London with a cocktail or hot chocolate. There’s always plenty going on on Southbank, including markets and festivals.
Address: Ping Pong, Southbank Centre, Festival Terrace, London SE1 8XX
Nearest Tube Station: Waterloo
Average Cost: £18
