One Day in London: A Self-Guided, Car-Free, Budget Itinerary
One Day in London: A Self-Guided, Car-Free, Budget Itinerary
Sarah J.
Passing through London on your way to another city and don't want to break the bank? Or maybe this city is the highlight of your trip? Either way, this is the guide for you! Conveniently discover the highlights of London in one day, all without a car. Even if you have more than a day in London, I'd recommend this guide to distinguish the top sights and get a feel for their costs.
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PLEASE NOTE: I have not yet had time to add descriptions to each place, but am hoping to do so in the near future :) If there's any you'd like me to prioritize, please message me on TikTok or Instagram!
If you have more than two or three days in London, I highly recommend taking a day trip by train to Bath. There’s a lot of history in the city, and you’ll get more of the quintessential British experience that you won’t find in London.
I traveled to London by train, which I recommend due to the main stations' convenient locations.
As always, I highly recommend dropping off your bags at your accommodation before doing the majority of sightseeing to avoid overexertion. If you aren't spending the night in London, there are luggage lockers at many of the train stations. Alternatively, you can use an online luggage storage service, like Bounce, to stow your items for the day.
Now you have dropped off your luggage, it's time to begin exploring!
Using a combination of public transport and walking, you'll be able to see:
The British Museum
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Make sure you make a FREE reservation ahead of time to avoid the lines! Here are the top things to see in the museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/14-things-not-miss-british-museum
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The National Gallery
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Make sure you make a FREE reservation ahead of time to avoid the lines. Here are their most famous pieces: https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/14-things-not-miss-british-museum
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Trafalgar Square
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Buckingham Palace
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The palace is usually only open for visitors in July, but it’s still worth visiting!
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St James's Park
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A nice park next to Buckingham Palace. If you’re there at the right time of year, you may be able to see some pelicans too!!
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Westminster Abbey
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Big Ben
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Note: Technically this could all be done in one day, but if you have multiple days in London, I recommend splitting these activities into a second day.
Thames River Sightseeing
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I always get the Westminster to Greenwich ride and love the commentary! And you get to see a lot of the major London sights on the route, works great! Please note that this is usually taken as a one-way journey, so it works great for spending a day in Greenwich!
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Cutty Sark
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Painted Hall
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National Maritime Museum
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Royal Observatory Greenwich
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You can stand on the Prime Meridian at this observatory! The river cruise will drop you off at Greenwich.
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If I had more time in London...
Natural History Museum
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Make sure to make your FREE reservation ahead of time to avoid waiting in line.
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Imperial War Museum
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Make sure to make your FREE reservations ahead of time to avoid the lines.
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The Courtauld Gallery
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Tate Modern
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Highgate Cemetery
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A bit of a journey near the outskirts of London, but interesting to see if you have the time!
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Where to go next?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah J.
I am a solo female traveler who likes to explore on a moderate budget; I think it's important to recognize that some opportunities when travelling will never arise again, and it's worth shelling out for them! I prefer to travel very fast-paced, and my guides will reflect that. In order to accomplish this, I have done lots of research about every place I have visited to ensure I use my time wisely. I have only travelled around Europe so far, but I am hoping to expand my horizons in the coming years :)
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