Itinerary for One Day in London

With the convenience offered by Eurostar - the high-speed train that connects Paris to London - the center of the English capital is only 2 hours and 15 minutes from Gare du Nord. It's a comfortable and enjoyable trip, and if bought in advance, the price is quite reasonable, starting at $39 each way.

However, those who decide to take a day out of their stay in Paris to visit London may be filled with doubts about what to do in just a few hours in a city that offers so many wonderful options. That's why the paris-story.com team asked for our help to propose a basic itinerary of what to do in London in just one day.

We are pleased to share this little itinerary with paris-story.com readers, which has been tested and approved by many of our readers. Shall we begin?

The map with the points can be viewed here.

St Pancras station, the Eurostar's final stop in London, is located in central London and from there, you can walk to the tourist sites indicated in this itinerary. However, for those wanting to save their legs for this stretch, our suggestion is to venture into the sensational London Underground, which is a tourist attraction in itself.

We suggest you take the Piccadilly line (dark blue on the map) and head to Covent Garden station; it's just a 5-minute ride. In Covent Garden Piazza, you'll find the old market building, now filled with shops, restaurants, tea houses, and many charming boutiques. There are always street performers appearing in the bustling and cheerful square.

Leaving Covent Garden, we walk to Leicester Square, a famous square where the grand movie premieres in London occur. If you're interested, you can stop by MM's World, which is very close by.

From Leicester Square to Piccadilly Circus is just a hop away, where you can photograph the famous statue of Eros and the super high-tech screens installed there. The imposing Regent Street begins at this point, but we will take another route via Piccadilly Avenue, a prestigious address in the city, which houses the traditional Fortnum & Mason store (worth a visit!), the Royal Academy of Arts, and The Ritz hotel. For a trip back in time, check out the covered gallery, Burlington Arcade, right next to the Royal Academy.

Our next destination is St James's Palace, built by Henry VIII in the 16th century. It is the oldest royal palace in London and currently serves as the residence for some members of the royal family. The palace is also a venue for receptions and events related to institutions supported by royalty.

London is known for its wonderful parks and we couldn't leave the city without visiting one. Green Park is our destination, from where we will walk to Buckingham Palace. The famous Changing of the Guard does not happen every day of the year. In 2018, it occurred on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, depending on the official schedule of the British army. So, if the ceremony is scheduled for the date of your visit, you should be ready before 11:00 AM.

We continue along The Mall, created to be a ceremonial route between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square, a square that is the heart of the city, where large demonstrations and celebrations also take place. Trafalgar Square is home to the spectacular National Gallery and Nelson's Column, built to commemorate Admiral Nelson's victory over the French fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar.

Exiting Trafalgar Square, we proceed down Whitehall Avenue, which houses various British government offices. One of its side streets, Downing Street, is home to the official residence of the British Prime Minister.

Whitehall Avenue ends at Parliament Square where Westminster Abbey is located. Besides royal weddings, the Abbey has hosted the coronation ceremony of the British monarch since 1066, and there are also the tombs of statesmen, poets, scientists, national heroes, and kings. Recently, the ashes of Stephen Hawking were laid to rest here.

The Palace of Westminster is the seat of the British Parliament and the famous clock tower - known as Big Ben - could be admired if it weren't for the scaffolding and fencing currently covering the site. Unfortunately, the historic building was in urgent need of repair and maintenance so that future generations can continue to marvel at this gem of British Gothic architecture. The renovations, which began in 2017, will extend until 2020, and by then you will leave London without this wonderful photo. ☹

Thus, we turn our attention to the south bank of the Thames. To get there, we cross Westminster Bridge. A stroll on this side of the river should (and must) include a ride on the giant observation wheel, the London Eye, which offers spectacular views of the city.

When hunger strikes, there are several restaurants, bars, pubs, and snack shops near the London Eye where you can try local cuisine. We suggest trying the traditional "fish and chips," battered fish with fries.

The day is coming to an end, and you might be wondering: what about Tower Bridge, the city's postcard bridge? We won't have time to walk there, but we have planned a boat ride departing from the London Eye pier that makes a circular route past the famous tower. In about 40 minutes, you will enjoy other tourist attractions located on the eastern side of the city, including the Tower of London, the modern city hall, the HMS Belfast warship, and The Shard, the tallest building in the city.

It's time to return to St Pancras station to catch the train back to Paris. To get there via the Underground, you can cross the bridge again and catch the subway at Westminster station or walk along the south bank to Waterloo station.

To use public transportation throughout the day, you will pay $12.70 for a pass called Travelcard. Children up to 11 years old do not pay to use transportation in London.

Tickets for attractions included in the itinerary cost in 2018:

Westminster Abbey: $20 (ages 16 and older)

London Eye and Thames Cruise ("Combo" ticket): $31 (ages 16 and older).

For a lunch in a mid-range restaurant, you will spend between $15 and $25 per person per meal.

We at London for Beginners have a team of Brazilian guides with extensive experience accompanying Brazilian tourists. So if you prefer to have professional support during your visit to London, write to [email protected]. We will be very pleased to show you a bit of this wonderful city!

Click here to read the paris-story.com articles about London.

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