An itinerary to live London in a few days
Capital of England and city of unique multiculturalism: London. A City that must be visited for its historical monuments and attractions, but that must be lived and discovered for its nuances and particularities.
London is gigantic and requires a lot of time, energy and worn out soles of shoes to be visited. That’s why we want to show you an itinerary that we think makes you appreciate art, culture, entertainment and good food of the world. That’s the beauty of London: parts of the world, all in one City!
What to see in London
London tubes
There’s a lot of walking, but Tube travel is key. Buy a season ticket or pay for each entry with a contactless card. It’s much cheaper and faster.
British Museum
The first point of the itinerary is already one of the most surprising. The British Museum collects works from all over the world and it is well worth than a few hours to be visited.
The most important piece of the collection is the famous Rosetta Stone that provided the key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphics. It should be mentioned that all the main museums in London are totally free.
Soho and Piccadilly Circus
Leaving the Museum, you can visit the brilliant Carnaby Street and Soho district with the nearby Piccadilly Circus. These are very dynamic areas, with a lively nightlife with classic pubs and multicultural crowds.
Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
Walking in the direction of Trafalgar Square, you will find Covent Garden, a shopping area, and the Royal Courts of Justice. The building at the far end of the square is the National Gallery, which contains artistic works of the highest level and very famous as some paintings by Van Gogh and Canaletto.
Big Ben and Westminster
From here we move further towards the center of London and we meet St. James’ Park, the Churchill War Rooms, to get to two of the symbols of the city: Big Ben and Westminster.
Crossing the Thames, there is the famous ferris wheel, the London Eye, and nearby under Waterloo Station there is a graffiti gallery, the Leake Street Arches.
Westminster Abbey and Cathedral
Moving further west, also using the Tube, there are three must-see historical monuments in the city of London: Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.
Westminster Abbey is where sovereigns have been crowned for centuries and where prominent figures of the United Kingdom are buried and remembered. The interior architecture is unique and a guide is available to understand all the historical events that are intertwined with the history of this building.
Westminster Cathedral has a distinctive exterior architecture and very rich interior, with beautifully decorated chapels. The mass is sung in Latin and the lights that permeate from the windows create an evocative atmosphere. Buckingham Palace is the place of residence of the monarchs and is also famous for the ritual of the changing of the guard and the square is always very crowded.
St. Paul Cathedral and the skyscrapers
Turning now to the east side of the Thames, you can notice the majestic St. Paul’s Cathedral, also visible from nearby skyscrapers such as the Shard or Sky Garden, where we recommend having a drink with a view of the City at sunset. Also in this area there is The Gherkin, the skyscraper in the shape of a missile.
Street Food at Borough Market
Crossing the Millennium Bridge, from which you have a beautiful view of the bridges of London, you can follow a pleasant walk along the bank of the Thames and meet Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. A little further on, you come to Borough Market, a street food market where you can taste everything from Asian cuisine to the famous English pies and cider.
Tower Bridge and London Tower
And now the two most visited monuments in London: Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Crossing one of the most famous and photographed bridges in the world, we arrive at the Castle of London that requires some time to be visited.
There are interesting guided tours that explain the historical events that occurred in London over the centuries, intertwining with the history of other buildings as well, such as Westminster Abbey. In the London Tower there is also the Queen’s crown.
Hyde Park and Natural History Museum
In the westernmost part of the city is London’s largest park, Hyde Park. In this area there are also the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum that will surprise you with its fossil exhibits, such as those of the mammoth and the whale at the entrance.
Not far away there is a huge shopping mall, Harrods, full of stores of the most important brands in the world and a really incredible floor dedicated to the food from all over the world, as well as typical English flavors.
Camden Market and Regent’s Park
During your visit to London, take some time to visit Camden, the most alternative area of the City. Although it has become a bit commercial, you can find many curious and artistic items, as well as great street food. The area is also home to some of Banksy’s London graffiti.
Not far away, walking along the canal, is Regent’s Park and not far away is the British Library. It’s a lively area where public events and festivals are often held.
Outside London – Stonehenge and Greenwich
If you still have time and energy, worth a visit the site of Stonehenge, two hours’ drive west of London, and Greenwich, about 1 hour by public transport, where you can also visit the Cutty Sark.
Eating and drinking in London
For the evening in London there is the lively Soho and the noisy Piccadilly Circus, with the classic English pubs where you can enjoy fantastic beer and the classic pies and fish & chips. Or the more upscale area around Tower Bridge with several places to sit and relax. To try different tastes from all over the world, visit Chinatown, near Piccadilly Circus, and Borough Market and Camden Market.
London and the multiculturalism
London is a fantastic City, huge, vibrant and fast-paced. It is characterized by multiculturalism and a constant mass of people that hurry. It’s great to discover its architectural riches, but also to experience the City life, tasting its flavors and joining the masses.