Classic Day Out in London Itinerary for a First Timer
Looking for a great itinerary for a day out in London? If you want to take in all the top London sights in a day, in order, here’s a great one day itinerary for you to follow. Welcome to my day out in London itinerary for first timers…
London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, filled with history, architectural wonders and many places where you can go sightseeing, eat and shop. As the capital of England, there’s a LOT to do here.
With just one day out in London you can have a great day, but you’re going to have to prepare for it! With so much to see and do, you need a plan.
London is best known for the Royal Family, the iconic views on the South Bank, and the legendary London Underground. Don’t worry, with this day out in London itinerary, you’ll get to experience them all. Pack an umbrella, and your sunnies!
So, let’s get started on your day in London itinerary, shall we?
How to Have the Best Day Out in London
I lived in London for 7 years. There’s a fine line between hitting up the tourist spots and living like a local – here’s what I’d recommend you do on a whistlestop tour of London in a day. Hope you’ve got some comfy walking shoes – running trainers could be best!
Hyde Park
One of the best spots to start your day tour would be Hyde Park, in the centre of the city.
Hyde Park is the most popular of London’s 9 Royal Parks. Enjoy a peaceful walk with outstanding views from the gardens and the Serpentine Lake. It doesn’t matter which season it is; nature will reveal majestic colours all year long.
Pick up a coffee from one of London’s many coffee shops to enjoy on the walk. If you haven’t got one before, then head for the Serpentine in the park for ease.
Buckingham Palace
Walking through Hyde Park you’ll get to Buckingham Palace, the first must-see on your day in London. This Palace, as you might now, is home to the Royal Family. What’s most notorious here (asides from the breathtaking building) is the Guard Change, which happens on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:45am.
You can admire from the outside or from around £20 you can go in and see different exhibits, depending on the time of year.
St. James Park
Head over to St. James Park right after the Guard changing ceremony ends. You’ll get a glimpse of more green wonders and you’ll have a great view of both the Buckingham Palace on one side and the London Eye on the other one. The gardens are beautiful here.
Westminster Abbey
Map yourself to Westminster Abbey, only a few minutes walk away. As one of the most iconic buildings in England, Westminster Abbey is a remarkable landmark to see on any day in London. This has been the Coronation Church since 1066, and is one of England’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s also where Prince Wills and Kate got married all those years ago.
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
A little further past Westminster Abbey you’ll find the Houses of Parliament, an impressive Gothic building that holds the seat of the British Government. You don’t actually need to go over, you can admire from afar as you have lots to do today. Look up to see Big Ben!
London Eye
Cross over Westminster Bridge and enjoy the views. You’re aiming for the London Eye. If you have the time and inclination, go up!
I went during the first year it opened, and haven’t forgotten it. Mainly because my mum was so terrified she sat on the bench in the middle and wouldn’t stop holding on for the entire journey. It really isn’t that scary though, I promise.
Lunch time in London!
You must be ravenous right now, wander along the South Bank and you’ll find some great options for lunch. They’re mostly chain restaurants, but if you look behind the Royal Festival Hall, you might find a street food market – depending on the time of year.
If chain restaurants are fine, I’d recommend the happy hour at Las Iguanas, or Wagamama is always a winner. Cote Brasserie in the Royal Festival Hall is lush too.
Ok, afternoon, let’s go for a(nother) walk.
It’s a 30-minute walk, or a 15-minute bus ride, to Borough Market. Go for the walking option and you can explore the South Bank. You’ll see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Gabriel’s Walk shopping area, the Tate Modern and the Golden Hinde ship as you pass.
Borough Market
At Borough Market you can get stuck into all the foodie offerings they’ve so carefully laid out for you. I can strongly recommend the chocolate brownies and salt beef bagels – you’re just going to have to look for the longest queues to identify the best places to buy from. If you’ve only got one day in London you’re going to have to double up on lunch to try as much as possible.
There are some great places round here to sit and drink, depending on the day and year. Weekends in summer are busy!
Get the bus to Brick Lane
From here I’d recommend going to look at Brick Lane and Shoreditch. There are some great markets here, and the vibe is just so London. You can chill out in the beer gardens, or pick up some vintage finds in the shops.
Walk to Liverpool Street Station – popping into the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town bar at The Breakfast Club on the way. From Liverpool Street you can ride the Central Line on the London Underground all the way back to Oxford Circus. The tube closes at around 11pm, depending on the day. So don’t get too stuck into those beer gardens!
If you do manage to make it back to Central London in good time on your day out in London itinerary, then I’d recommend mooching on Oxford Street. The shops are open until 9pm most nights and so you can go on a bar crawl interspersed with checking out the shops.
Nightlife in London
For the best nightlife in Central London, head to Soho. Here you’ll find late night bars and nightclubs to keep you entertained all night long. You can enjoy some drinks and dancing at 68 and Boston or The Pink Chihuahua at El Camion.
Day out in London itinerary
And that’s it, your guide to having an awesome day out in London. Of course there’s SO much more to explore – but this should keep you busy enough. I’d recommend doing the above out of school holidays, and on a weekday, to avoid the crowds that will gather at these top tourist hot spots.
You do need to come back though! There’s still Brixton Village, Shepherd’s Bush and Camden to explore. A picnic on Primrose Hill is a London must do – next time!