Here are the top 10 things to do in London, United Kingdom for anyone who wants to see the best sights and sounds of London in a limited period of time.
Decadent Diaries Travel Tips
The Subway System or as it's fondly known the Tube is your friend, it will help you make the most of your stay in London to get from place to place fast and efficiently. Get an Oyster card from any nearby underground station and top up as you go, it can be used on all forms of public transport in London. Do not forget to tap in and tap out the card after every journey!
Download the TFL Go app on your phone, this is to help you chart out the best routes from point A to B using the public transport in London - Tube, Bus etc.
Carry a Credit or Debit Card with you, as many restaurants have gone cashless since Covid.
Chose a hotel nearby a Tube station to make traveling around London easier.
Carry an umbrella, London is rainy!
Wear a comfortable backpack, keep it a bit empty to accommodate any shopping you may do, a bottle of water and your umbrella.
Wear comfortable walking shoes!
1. BOROUGH MARKET
Perhaps one of the most famous food markets in London, Borough Market has something to satisfy even the pickiest eater. Do not miss out the stuffed donuts at Bread Ahead bakery and the newest viral sensation Humble Crumble. Borough Market is a daytime market that closes by 5 pm, so it is best to head there during lunchtime to be able to see the market at its most vibrant.
2. TOWER BRIDGE/SKY GARDEN
Close to the Borough Market is the Famous Tower Bridge, where almost everyone likes to get the ideal Instagram-able picture! However, an even better way to not only see Tower Bridge but all the bridges on river Thames, the Shard, the London Eye and glimpses of many other famous sights of London with stunning views is the Sky Garden. Head to the nearest station Monument by Tube and do not forget to take a prior reservation on the Sky Garden website well in advance before your trip, the reservations till 5 pm are free.
3.LEADENHALL MARKET
Are you a big Harry Potter fan like me? Then this market is a must-visit, it is close by to Sky Garden, it has some stunning architectural beauty and lots of boutiques, shops, bars and restaurants. And one of the most interesting things about it is the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron (42 bull head's passage) as shown in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. It is no longer coloured blue, but however it is still an iconic memory for me and I really loved looking at it in real life!
4.COVENT GARDEN
Head over to the famous Covent Garden Area, which is filled with the top brands to shop and endless options for you to choose from for dinner. This is the hub of excellent restaurants so do not miss out! Do a simple google map search of nearby restaurants which are top-rated and suit the cuisine you wish to try out. If you are looking to try a specific highly rated restaurant, please do not forget to take prior reservation days or weeks in advance to get the time of your choice as this area is really popular with locals and tourists alike, simply click on reserve from google maps on the restaurant's google listing.
My recommendations: Wahaca for Mexican, Din Tai Fung for Asian, Cote for French, Bancone for Italian, Clos Maggiore for European and Fatt Pundit For Indian Fusion.
5. PICCADILLY CIRCUS
Take a 10-minute walk from Covent Garden to Piccadilly Circus, while crossing Leicester Square as well on your route (covering another famous point). Piccadilly Circus is London's equivalent of New York's Time Square. At night you will get the best shots with the entire place lit up ending your day here with some wonderful memories. There is also a great Falafel stand over there called Falafel +, the best Falafel wrap that I have ever had in my life!
6.NEAL'S YARD AND SEVEN DIALS MARKET
Located nearby Covent Garden is Seven Dials Market, where you can eat food, food and more food! Try the Instagram sensation creme brûlée crepes at Boolay Crepes, try out Belgian waffles, dumplings, buns, Indian street snacks, chai, truffle delights, pizza, Mexican, gourmet cheese and more! Seven Dials in itself is a location where 7 streets meet at one intersection, which makes for an interesting video. You can also visit Udderlicious which always has a line and has some of the creamiest ice creams I have ever had.
Neal's Yard is also close by and makes for a perfect Instagram picture. It is a colourful courtyard that is so vibrant it really must not be missed. One of the most beautiful spots in all of London.
7.BIG BEN, WESTMINSTER AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Head by Tube to Westminster Station and from there you can explore the Iconic Westminster Abbey. Head to Westminster Bridge and get some cool views of the Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the UK Government. Stand and gaze from the bridge at the flowing river Thames, with the pleasant breeze that comes along with it and just gaze around at the beautiful city that is London. After that take a walk through the scenic St. James Park to reach the magnificent Buckingham Palace. You can also take the tube from Westminster to St James Park station if you do not wish to walk.
8.BOND STREET, REGENT STREET & OXFORD STREET
Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street are 3 of the main shopping streets of London, you can find all sorts of global brands, eateries, coffee shops and more. The famous department store Selfridges is also on Oxford Street. Bond Street is where all the high-end brands are. Also, look out for Carnaby Street when you visit Regent Street, it is very beautifully decorated throughout the year. Some people may find these areas touristy, but let's face it the touristy areas are where you find a lot of shopping and deals and some or the other activity or sale going on. I personally like the hustle and bustle of city life and it makes me happy to see all the stuff going on. Do visit the Royal Arcade on Bond Street, an elegant enclosed shopping street since 1879.
9.CANARY WHARF
Canary Wharf is London's business district. It is fascinating because you get to see these tall glass buildings against the Dock area with its calming waters. It has some amazing eateries depending upon your taste you can find what suits you on google maps. There are loads of lovely shopping malls as well like Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, Cabot Place, and Jubilee Place. There is also the Canary Wharf Roof Garden which one can visit. Again another location that is easily connected by Tube, so do use the Tube to travel seamlessly and save time.
10.MARKETS - BOXPARK SHOREDITCH/ CAMDEN MARKET/SPITALFIELDS MARKET
If you have the time, do visit one of the markets mentioned, Camden Market is extremely famous, but we chose to visit Shoreditch as my husband wanted to check out some vintage stores at Bethnal Green close by. I also wanted to go here as one of the viral Instagram hot chocolate spots Dark Sugars had a store here, so I got to have some decadent hot chocolate topped with shavings of dark, milk and white chocolate. There were amazing vintage stores from where we purchased a vintage army jacket for my husband and got a good deal as well. Shoreditch also has Box Park which is a trendy shipping container-based mall for a variety of food and shopping options. We visited on a Saturday and the place was packed with people, but yes it was a unique concept that we hadn't seen yet so it was worth it.
AND IF YOU HAVE SOME MORE TIME DO VISIT
11.HARRODS
Harrods is Iconic with a capital I, one does get intimidated by the sheer opulence of this stunning establishment, but contrary to what you may be feeling, the helpful staff here guide you and put you at ease. We visited here especially for the food section as they have so many wonderful options to try out, one can pick up some delicious takeaway as well. Do visit this place, if not to buy anything just to admire the general beauty and charm of this world-famous Department Store.
Thank you for reading this post, do check out my other posts as well ❤️
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