When English is your second language, the one you’ve been learning since the age of 9, a trip to London is no ordinary trip. It’s a whole experience, a revelation, a journey down memory lane even though you’ve never stepped foot in England. I spent not one day in London, but five. And this guide is the quintessence of my explorations.
The sentence “London is the capital of Great Britain” is etched into my brain. It was on the first page of my English textbook in the 5th grade, along with a text about London’s main attractions. The words Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace described sights so far away from me — both literally and figuratively — that seeing them one day felt no more possible than flying to the moon.
It took me almost 30 years to fulfill the dream of that little girl from a small town in Russia and visit the capital of Great Britain. To say it felt surreal is an understatement. I have traveled the world quite a bit in the past few decades: stayed at a palazzo in Venice, ate rice and curry in a Sri Lankan village, and admired the view from the top of Empire State Building in New York.
Still, finally visiting London at the age of 37 was extra special. To see the sights I once read about at the age of 9, to hear English spoken properly, with an accent I will never be able to master (and I am ok with that) was a life-long dream come true.
On my very first trip, the goal was to cover every tourist attraction imaginable and have lots and lots of good food. In this guide, I have compiled most of the important sights in London and incredible restaurants along the way, so you can see (and taste) the best London has to offer.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
Start your one day in London with a breakfast at this casual deli by Ottolenghi. Given that I own quite a few of his books, having a meal here was on my bucket list.
The deli opens as early as 8 am and serves such breakfast favorites as shakshuka and scrambled eggs. There’s an array of breakfast pastries too. Go for a traditional croissant or pain au chocolate or go all in with halva and chocolate danish.
I only had dinner at Ottolenghi (which is why the pictures above are of salads, not eggs), but I am sure their breakfast dishes are just as delicious.
Ottolenghi Marylebone — 63-65 Marylebone Lane
Alternative: if a coffee and a pastry sounds like your kind of breakfast, Arôme Bakery is a great choice to start your day. The location on Duke Street is perfect for the purpose of this itinerary.
Arôme Bakery — 27 Duke Street
The walk through the West End is 1.4 miles and should take about 30 min (not accounting for the time to stop and take pictures)
Here’s what your walk can look like. From Ottolenghi make your way to Oxford Street, one of London’s busiest shopping streets. Next, walk all the way to Oxford Circus, a major crossroads where Oxford Street meets Regent Street (this is also where you can take an iconic photo of the curved buildings).
From Oxford Circus walk on the Regent Street lined with elegant buildings and stores of popular brands. Regent Street connects Oxford Circus to Piccadilly Circus, a lively square famous for its many neon ads. From Piccadilly Circus walk on Piccadilly Street, a historic street and home to major hotels and stores. One of which, Fortnum & Mason, is the next stop on this itinerary.
Fortnum & Mason is located on Piccadilly Street, no additional time needed to get here.
Fortnum & Mason’s flagship store on Piccadilly Street is arguably the best place to get (edible) souvenirs from London. It’s an iconic department store with rich history and ties to the royal family.
Founded in 1707, it has supplied goods to the British royal family for centuries. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist spots, both to buy gourmet foods and to have afternoon tea at The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, formally opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2012.
You can easily spend an hour walking around the store. On the ground floor you’ll find an enormous assortment of tea, cookies packed in pretty tins, and advent calendars ( I happened to visit before Christmas).
First floor is where you find exceptional homeware, kitchen ware, and the section dedicated to all things Christmas. Second floor is all about beauty, while third floor is where you’ll find hampers and cook books. The fourth floor is where you can have afternoon tea, but with one day in London that might prove to be a tight schedule.
The prices, as you might imagine, are not for the faint of heart. The cheapest pack of cookies I managed to find was 8£ (check for those near cashiers). Otherwise, the prices for a tin of cookies start at around 10£ and go up up up. Still, even if you are not planning to buy anything, a stop at this icon is a must.
Tip: just steps away from Fortnum & Mason is Maison Assouline, described on their own website as a concept store for culture. Think of it as a luxurious book store. There’s a bar inside where you can have a coffee or a drink. I would make a quick stop here to admire the interior and browse through books.
A 15-minute walk from Fortnum & Mason
From Fortnum & Mason take a walk through the Green Park, one of London’s 8 royal parks, right next to Buckingham Palace. Possibly the most famous landmark in London, it is the official residence of the British monarch.
There are multiple ways to see Buckingham Palace. First of which is simply looking at it from the outside, through a fence. That’s probably what you should do, given that we only got one day in London.
In summer months, you could take a tour of the Palace. There’s a self-guided tour of the State Rooms. You can visit the Royal Mews, a working stable and home to royal carriages. Finally, at the King’s Gallery you can see works of art and visit one of the ever-changing temporary exhibitions. For all of the above, book your tickets on the official website of Royal Collection Trust.
Lastly, you can witness the changing of the guard in front of Buckingham Palace several times a week. No tickets needed, it’s free of charge, but the space in front of the palace gets really crowded. Check the official schedule here.
Tip: If changing of the guard ceremony happens on the day when you are in London, you could technically fit it into this itinerary. You’d have to skip Fortnum & Mason and try to be in front of the palace no later than 10.45 (the ceremony usually starts at 11.00).
A 15-minute walk from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey
From Buckingham Palace walk along St. James Park towards Westminster Abbey. Some of the most famous tourist attractions are located within a short walk from each other, which is why you can accomplish quite a lot even with just one day in London.
Important: we’ll only be seeing these spots from the outside. If taking a tour is a priority for you, you might have to skip something else later.
Westminster Abbey is a beautiful Gothic church where British monarchs are crowned and where royal weddings take place. Most recently, King Charles III was crowned here in 2023. Prince William and Catherine Middleton, as well as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were married at the Westminster Abbey. If taking a tour of the Abbey is a priority for you, get your tickets here.
Palace of Westminster is the seat of the UK parliament. It is also commonly referred to as the Houses of Parliament, a nod to the fact that the House of Commons and the House of Lords are located here. If you want to take a tour, book your tickets here.
Big Ben is part of the Palace of Westminster located on the north end of the building. You can take a tour and see the clock tower from the inside. Book your tickets here.
From the Palace of Westminster cross the Westminster bridge across Thames River. You can get great pictures of Big Ben from the bridge, as well as of London Eye, a giant observation wheel. Once you cross the bridge you will find yourself on the South bank of the river. From here, you get a wonderful view of the Palace of Westminster.
Continue walking on the South bank of Thames towards the London Eye. I haven’t done the ride because the line was too long, but if it’s something you’d love to do, you can get skip-the-line tickets here.
As you walk on the South bank, the next stop will be Millennium Bridge. From here, you get a nice view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Don’t cross the bridge, continue walking on the South bank. The final stop on this walk is Borough Market.
Tip: the whole walk is about 2.2 miles and takes 50 minutes from Westminster Abbey to Borough Market. If you’d rather take public transport, you could do the following: instead of crossing the Westminster Bridge head to the Westminster metro station and take the Jubilee line to London Bridge station. From there, it’s only a 3 minute walk to Borough Market.
A 50-minute walk from Westminster Abbey (or a 12 minute train ride)
If you only have 24 hours in London, Borough Market is an absolute must. Located by London Bridge, the market boasts 1000 years of history! But it’s not only its status as a historic landmark, it’s the beautiful architecture, the vibe, and the myriad of incredible foods from all over the world that make a visit here a full experience.
The market’s architecture is a blend of intricate ironwork, green steel, and lots of glass. It resembles an old-school train station and gives the feeling of somehow being both inside and outside (it’s probably all the light streaming through the glass rooftop).
The best way to experience Borough Market is to try lots of bites from different places. Here’s what I had at the market and would wholeheartedly recommend you to try!
Monmouth coffee is one of London’s best third wave coffee shops. They don’t care much for latte art, but the taste is incredible.
The Ginger Pig makes the most famous sausage roll in London. When one says sausage, I imagine hot dog. Which is why I was caught off guard when I was handed a huge chunk of meat wrapped in the flakiest dough. Surprised as I was, the sauce roll did not disappoint!
Tacos Padre makes delicious authentic tacos (I haven’t been to Mexico yet, but I think living in Texas makes me somewhat of an authority).
Your walk starts right at Borough market, no additional time needed
As you exit Borough Market notice the Shard, a skyscraper resembling a shard of glass and the tallest building in London. There’s a viewing platform in the Shard, but we won’t have time to visit it today.
The next stop on our walk is Tower Bridge (a 15-minute walk from Borough Market), another iconic landmark of London with two beautiful Gothic towers on either end. Fun fact I learned form a friend who lives in London: no new bridges can be built east of Tower Bridge because it is considered a symbolic gateway to to the city.
Cross Tower Bridge and walk past the Tower of London (a 5-minute walk across the bridge), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that once served as a royal palace and a prison, but now is best known as the home of the Crown Jewels, the most famous of which is the Imperial State Crown. It was most recently worn by King Charles III at his coronation.
When not in use, the Crown Jewels are safely kept at the Tower of London where you can see them (perhaps, when you have more than one day in London, since a visit can take up to 3 hours).
Next stop on our walk is Leadenhall Market (a 14-minute walk from the Tower of London), a gorgeous covered market in the City, the financial heart of London. The market dates back to the 14th century, but the striking wrought iron and glass structure you see today was designed by Sir Horace Jones in the 19th century.
Today, you will find many boutique shops and restaurants inside. Leadenhall Market is probably most famous as the filming location of the first Harry Potter movie. The scenes where Hagrid and Harry walk through Diagon Alley and enter the Leaky Cauldron were shot here. You can find the blue door of the Leaky Cauldron at 42 Bull’s Head Passage.
Tip: if you need an afternoon pick-me-up in the shape of a good cup of coffee, Blank Street Coffee right near Leadenhall Market is a great choice.
St. Paul’s Cathedral (a 15-minute walk from Leadenhall Market) is the last touristy stop on our itinerary, I promise! An iconic landmark and simply an architectural masterpiece, it was the sight of many royal events, including weddings (Princess Diana was married here), funerals, and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The cathedral is incredibly beautiful inside, but the last entry is usually at 16.00. If you follow this itinerary for one day in London, you’ll arrive here around 16.30-17.00. If it’s a priority you can skip something earlier in the day and try to make it by 4 pm. Do book your tickets in advance here.
Tip: the whole walk from Borough market to St. Paul’s Cathedral is about 2.3 miles and will take 50 minutes. If you’d rather take public transport, you can take a bus or metro right after crossing Tower Bridge and seeing the Tower of London straight to St. Paul’s Cathedral (you will miss Leadenhall Market, though).
A 16-minute walk from St. Paul’s Cathedral (or a 13-minute bus ride)
Your one day in London comes to an end, and I think you deserve an incredible meal to finish it off. Located in the City, The Jugged Hare is a gastropub that offers the best of British seasonal produce with a strong focus on game meat.
The food is nothing less than exceptional, but the setting is casual — just what you need after a long day of exploring the city. There’s a bar counter right at the entrance and stuffed animals on the walls. You get the vibe of a traditional English pub, with its community feeling and relaxed atmosphere. But the tiled dining room with an open kitchen add a feeling of a special occasion.
I dined at The Jugged Hare on recommendation of my friend Keshi and opted for Sunday Roast, my very first one in England. For Sunday Roast, they offer Longhorn beef, Roast Tamworth pork belly, a leg of lamb, or Suffolk free range chicken. All of the above are accompanied by a Yorkshire pudding (also my very first! Why is it called a pudding when it really tastes like a pastry?), duck fat roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy.
If your one day in London doesn’t happen to be on a Sunday, do not worry. There’s an à la carte menu that changes daily and is just as exciting.
The Jugged Hare — 49 Chiswell Street
Alternative: Bao is an award winning Taiwanese restaurant most famous for, you guessed it, bao buns. I haven’t had a chance to to try it yet, but it’s very high on my list! There are multiple in London, the closest to St. Paul’s Cathedral is Bao City (a 7-minute walk).
Bao City — 2-8 Bloomberg Arcade
Important: make a reservation for dinner ahead of time!
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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Yulia, Which was your favorite activity from this London Trip?
Thank you for such detailed information!
Oksana,
I am glad my blog was helpful! Enjoy London! :*