A day in Central London with ChiChi
A day in Central London with ChiChi
ChiChi
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What would I do if I only had one day to explore Central London? 👀
London is one of those cities that you will never really know because there is always something new, there are always too many restaurants or experiences or museums or things, in general, to try out. But if I only had 1 day to explore central London, then this is what I would do.
PS: if you want an itinerary tailored to your tastes and likes, check my services and let's create one for you!
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Let's go!
Start your day in the London Bridge area, getting a coffee or a full breakfast in one of the below cafes - or just one you find attractive to at the moment!
Cafes Spots
Grind
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The Breakfast Club London Bridge
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Audrey's
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The Ivy Tower Bridge
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After the first stop, get to the Tower Bridge and chill around that area enjoying the view, taking pictures and videos, or sitting in the green area if the weather is nice.
Tower Bridge
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Most people confuse London Bridge with Tower Bridge, me included when I came in here at first.
London Bridge is nothing special, while Tower Bridge is the pretty one!
Additionally, on one side there is a very nice walkable space where people just stroll and sometimes you can find markets and activities, which is very nice!
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When you feel ready to go, either get to Westminster, either via Uber Boat, Tube or Bus. Check the City Mapper App if you'd like to know the timings and where to go to catch it.
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers - Tower Pier
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What I love about Westminster is that even after living in London for 6 years, seeing Big Ben and the London Eye always feels so magical. Take your time enjoying this moment, realising how cool is that so many people are dreaming about being where you are right now.
Westminster
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I find Westmister fascinating during the evening, as I'm more of a night owl. The lights on, watching Big Ben from one side and the London Eye from another, while taking a stroll next to the Thames, just feels amazing.
During the day it is very busy as it's one of the main attractions, but still very cool.
If you are coming from the Sea Life attraction entrance, you will see a walk path tunnel, which leads to a very popular spot (before TikTok it was more of a hidden gem), where you get a beautiful view of Westminster.
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Big Ben
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London Eye
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There is a small park just on its feet where you can chill while enjoying the view of the London Eye.
I've never paid to go in, as I personally find it very expensive for what you get, but I love watching it from different angles, either from the park or from the other side of the river.
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From the London Eye walk through the Golden Jubilee Bridges and get to Trafalgar Square. I wouldn't usually go to the National Gallery just randomly, but I love the view from the terrace facing the square, so even if you are not a big fan of art, the entrance is free.
Trafalgar Square
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Just in front of the National Gallery, this is a perfect spot to take a break. If the weather allows it, you can just sit on the big stairs or near the fountain. In summer this square is full of young people, just chilling and having a good time.
There is also a community of skaters who meet there to spend time and street performers, from drawing to singing to dancing, all sorts of things.
I love to come here during sunset time as it shows a big portion of the sky and you can even see the Big Ben far away in the background.
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The National Gallery
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It's a must museum to go, especially as it's in Trafalgar Square and getting out on that terrace and seeing big Ben from there is such a core memory to make.
The only thing I would say is that if you are not into old painting, then don't expect much because this is the main focus here, at the end of the day is a gallery!
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Lunch Spots Nearby
Marugame Udon / 丸亀製麺 Strand
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Found this chain after my trip to Japan and I must say, it is quite good and unexpected!
Depending on what you order the price could be more 'expensive', but I've also paid under £10 with a main and tap water. It will depend on your taste and stomach basically.
The quality of the food is good, you can choose your udon positions and flavours. They also have fried chicken and vegetables.
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Flat Iron Covent Garden
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This is a steakhouse chain but it is so good for the price you get.
They don't have starters or desserts but will give you free popcorn to start and free ice cream at the end.
The flat iron steak is the cheapest you can get, I would usually try their specials or more fatty meat. I guess is all about your taste 😋
The side portions are pretty small for their price, but they are tasteful. Their fries are too fatty (they cook them in beef fat), but I love their mash and mac & cheese!
Cocktail, wine or beer - get what you like as everything goes well with a steak.
One thing I like about this chain is that every restaurant has a different vibe, and some of them are full of plants - it's so nice to discover new vibes.
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Sartori - Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
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Eating Italian in London is always expensive, but I must say, this is my go-to restaurant when I want to have a nice Italian meal without feeling guilty about the price.
The quality is good, they do a full Italian selection of pizzas, pasta and mains, which is so convenient when we are a group of friends with all different preferences.
What will count more on your bill will be the wine, so if you need to keep it low you could go for water or a single drink instead of bottles.
I always go for different mains and starters, but for dessert, I love their pear and chocolate cake, I would go there just for that to be fair. It's that good.
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Nando's Covent Garden
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Nandos' is a must-try in the UK. I worked in this Nando's for years and even now working in an office job, I can tell how British people LOVE Nando's. Most of them would eat it at least once a month, but some even weekly.
They are a chicken food place, and they are famous for their sauces, which you can choose when ordering. If you'd like to try all of them I would go for the wing roulette. Also if you like sweet BBQ, ask for Peri-Tamer sauce.
Having worked there I can reassure you that the quality of food is usually good, but the restaurant itself sits in between a proper restaurant and a fast food. They try to make you feel at home, so they are half-served. Cutlery, refill of drinks, sauces and similar? You will need to stand up and get it yourself.
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After lunch, what's better than walking to digest? Check out the shops at Covent Garden Square and then grab a boba in Chinatown, where you will feel you've left London.
Covent Garden
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A more posh area with more premium brands. Covent Garden is so pretty, and the street performers just add that touch on top of it.
There is also a small food market, where you feel to be in the Mediterranean Europe side for a moment. Prices are higher and the quality is okay-ish. Londoners usually don't go out here because it is VERY touristy.
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Chinatown
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One of my favourite places in London! I worked nearby for years, and I still find myself wandering off there just for fun.
Restaurants are very busy usually, so it is normal to get to queue, especially if the place is very popular on socials.
Some places may say they accept only cash, which is very unusual for London, so I would push back that you only have the card - it usually works!
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From Chinatown walk to Piccadilly Circus and feel amazed by watching the big screens and the Cupido's Statue, which are the icons on this square. Also if you are lucky, you will see some street performers. After that, walk to Carnaby Street.
Piccadilly Circus
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One of the most iconic places in London! I love to come here, especially in the evening when the screen really stands out!
I also love how the street performers are always there, and you can always get to see them dancing, singing or even joining them sometimes!
As it is very popular with tourists, it is full of tourist traps! I would recommend avoiding shopping in this area, or at least staying away from the main street shops.
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Carnaby Street
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This area is so cute and there are usually some cool installations. Here you will find more premium brands than Oxford Street.
I find it relaxing sitting down on one of their benches (when you find one free) and just observing the people around.
If you come here, you must go to the Liberty shop which is very popular and most Londoners go to buy special occasion gifts, as it is also very expensive.
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Liberty London
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After all this walking, get a break in a restaurant and ejoy a nice dinner.
Dinner Spots
Dishoom Carnaby
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This is a fine-dining Indian restaurant, they have many locations but they all give me the same vibe: dim lights, Bombay years 30s, expensive - I love it!
It is always so busy that I have to wait in a queue even on a Tuesday! They usually are so nice to bring over a chai while you are waiting outside and then move you to the bar for half of your waiting time left, so that you can start warming up or cooling down, get a drink and start chilling.
With alcohol, the bill can easily get higher than £35pp, but I've been there having just one drink and it was cheaper than that, and even had to bring food home as we were so full!
Quality is so good, I always try different things and keep discovering dishes I love! Like, would you ever order lentils in a restaurant? I would never, before I tried the ones in there, and then BOOM - loved them!
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Heddon Street Kitchen
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My partner is a big fan of Gordon Ramsay so we always try the different ones around London.
I find this one is a nice compromise between the fine dining and the street food ones. The bill can get quite high, especially if you add on bottles of wine, but the prices of the mains are not too crazy.
Quality food, like usual, is top! Along with the service and the ambient. If you go in summer, it's very nice to sit on the terrace as it is not on the main street and not too crowded.
Like in every Gordon Ramsey Restaurant, I would highly recommend having his beef Wellington which is his signature dish, on top of being traditional British cuisine.
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Bone Daddies Soho
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This place surprised me so much!!
My friend and I managed to get one for their free ramen during their Soho opening - yes, we lined up for more than an hour to get it, but it was so worth it!
The staff was so friendly and for the first time, they were actually encouraging us about making content, instead of being annoyed by it.
The quality was top! I still remember how orange and creamy the egg from the ramen was - just unbelievable!
They give you wipes with Korean wings, you get one of those disposable bibs to protect your clothes from stains, hair ties, pieces of garlic and garlic crusher, all those small details that bring it to another level.
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End your day with a drink around Soho and a cool free experience at Outernet, where you will find one of those immersive experiences with the big screens. You can find the timings on their website, so if there is one I really like I usually check first and plan accordingly.
Soho
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The Soho area is popular among the LGBTQIA+ community, but also students and people who want to have fun. Basically, Soho is one of those neighbourhoods where you can find all sorts of people.
During the day time, you can find many little restaurants and cafes, at night it's full of pubs, clubs and happy people hanging out on the street.
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Outernet London
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I love this!! I have been so many times as they always have new presentations. The Butterfly Trail is their most famous work and you can find it often on screens.
If you want to see something specifically, I would recommend checking the timings on their website.
When you are there, be aware of pickpocketers!
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I hope you enjoy this day in the city centre, but if you need something a bit more tailored to your needs, check out my services and let's find what's perfect for you! ✨
Also if you have any feedback or questions, you can DM me on my socials (@yourfriend_chichi) and I would be happy to help. 🩷
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ChiChi
Available for hire
Ciao! I'm ChiChi, an Italian who moved to London in 2018 so that she could travel the world. And guess what? I've been travelling since then. 🤩
I'm the kind of person who enjoys having a cheap meal in a local restaurant and a free walk around the city one day, and the next day pays for a very expensive meal and experience. It's all about balance, isn't it? 👀
So what can you expect in my travel shop?
🗺️ Itineraries, recommendations and essentials about London or trips I went to myself, such as the one to Japan or Valencia.
🌸 1:1 calls where you can ask me anything about London, my trips or tips on how to plan one; itineraries tailored to your needs or more loose recommendations so you can have the list of spots all in one place.
If this is what you are looking for, check out my services and guides.✨
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