London is one of the world’s most visited cities. Arguably you couldn’t see everything if you spent several weeks there, although coming up with your own London holiday planner can help you to get the most out of your time.
If you have just one or two days in London, plan to get an overview of the city by taking one of the ‘hop on, hop off’ bus tours available. Different options are offered, although the price of the ticket allows you to see as much as possible in one day, using a network of stops around the city. You can spend the morning at the Tower of London, take the bus to the British Museum for an hour or two, and hop back on the bus to go to your hotel. Some passes include a river cruise and commentary from a tour guide.
If you have several days in Britain’s capital, determine what your priorities are in terms of sightseeing. Most first time visitors to London focus on the city’s must see and iconic sights, including Westminster Abbey, the Tower, Buckingham Palace and the bright lights of the West End. London has dozens of world class museums, although the British Museum, Tate Modern and Victoria and Albert are probably the highlights for any first time tourist.
Some of the other sights can be included in your London holiday planner if you have four or five days, and London has no shortage of offbeat and unique attractions. The reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe theatre has become one of the capital’s most popular live theatre venues, and more unusual museums include those devoted to Sherlock Homes, London’s canals and primitive medicine. You should also include enough time to take in a show at one of about 40 west End theatres, as well as perhaps afternoon tea at one of the top hotels.
If you are lucky enough to have a week or longer in London, you may want to factor in to your plans some time for at least one day trip. Within London, suburbs worth exploring are Hampstead, Greenwich and Richmond. Within about an hour’s train journey from London are some of England’s most historic towns and cities, and it’s easy and affordable to take the train to Canterbury, Oxford or Cambridge for the day. Several bus companies also offer escorted tours to many nearby places and will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
