24 Hours In London: Map, Things To Do, Tours + Tips

24 Hours In London: What to do when you arrive

Since you have 24 hours, you’ll want to store your luggage first so you don’t have to lug it around! Even with just a backpack, I got really tired of carrying it around all day.

You can bring your luggage to your hotel or store it at various places throughout the city. Radical Storage offers luggage storage at various locations like Paddington Station, King’s Cross and more.

24 Hours In London: Places to Stay On Any Budget

The second most important thing to decide is lodging. You definitely don’t want to have to scramble for this upon arrival – it’s much easier to find things to do last minute than to figure out where to stay!

Here are the best, top-rated hotels for any budget:

✅ Best Budget Option: The Tower Hotel

The Tower Hotel has an amazing location right next to The Tower Bridge. They even a cafe where you can enjoy your coffee while gazing at the bridge, and a bar & fitness center among other amenities.

🌟 Check out this 5-star review from Amy:
“Great location, not far from train station with lots of amenities. Breakfast is phenomenal. Staff is friendly, efficient and helpful.”

🇬🇧 Check Prices at The Tower Hotel Here

👉 If you’re looking for even cheaper, I use HostelWorld to find the best hostels and deals!

✅ Best Mid-Tier Option: Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

The Hyatt Regency London Churchill is a 5-star hotel that’s conveniently located near Hyde Park & Oxford Street. The real draw, of course, is all the Churchill decor and nods you’ll find here!

Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, spa, tennis court, lounges, award-winning terrace cocktail bar, restaurants, babysitting & amazing location!

🌟 Check out this 5-star review by Michael:
“The hotel was luxurious and welcoming. After a week it was like coming home at the end of the day. The staff was superb. They were exceedingly friendly and helpful. You cannot beat the location.”

🇬🇧 Check Prices at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill Here

✅ Best Luxury Option: Hotel Cafe Royal

The luxury Hotel Cafe Royal is in London’s West End, and aside from its ideal location, it’s a London icon and landmark!

Amenities include the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Center, Hotel Café Royal with restaurants & bars to choose from (including Cakes and Bubbles by Albert Adria), 2 swimming pools, free airport shuttle, fitness center, babysitting & more!

🌟 Check out this 5-star review by Schneider:
“Great location, super friendly staff, luxury and clean rooms with comfortable beds. Fresh flowers in the room was a nice surprise in addition to the chocolate Easter egg which looked like a piece of art. The restaurant was elegant with excellent service and tasty food. The bar has a cozy atmosphere with nicely made drinks. We had an afternoon tea which was very special given the intricate decor of this historic place and famous people who visited is though the years.”

🇬🇧 Check Prices at Hotel Cafe Royal Here

👉 VRBO is another option where you can find vacation rental houses for yourself or a whole group to have the entire place all to yourself!

24 Hours In London: Best Full-Day Tour Options

Short on time and have morning through evening to see all you can fit into one day? Here are two top-rated options – one is a walking tour, one in a car – for when you don’t want to plan at all:

👉 Here’s a guided walking tour that is super affordable and highly rated, where you’ll get to explore over 30 sites in London & Westminster!

🌟 Check out this 5-star review from Clare_K:
“Do not hesitate to book this tour. Fantastic value and so enjoyable. Mike was a fountain of knowledge in all areas of the tour and was very engaging. Well done 👏 and thank you 🙏”

🇬🇧 Learn More About This Ultimate London Sightseeing Walking Tour Here

👉 Here’s an all-day guided car tour with a private driver & guide, transport by private vehicle with hotel pickup & drop-off from Central London, and all taxes, fees & handling charges included.

🌟 Check out this 5-star review from Kern_B:
“We had a wonder driver and guide, Craig. Lots to see and experience, we were able to walk to some places and some we viewed from the cab. We walked in to several off the beaten path shops, that unless you were on his tour, you would never experience! Our group of 4 loved this tour and through he was the best guide ever! Interesting, humorous and a great tour!!”

🇬🇧 Learn More About This Full Day London Private Classic Tour Here

24 Hours In London: Breakfast (30 min-1 hr)

Depending on what time of day you’re arriving and departing, you may have one or more breakfasts (although one may be at your hotel)! Here are a couple of options:

Option 1: London Grain House in Kings Cross is a great place for any meal of the day! It’s filled with British cuisine and more international cuisine, and offers amazing vegetarian & vegan options. They have indoor and outdoor areas for seating, plus a lounge & bar.

Besides all that, there’s a DJ and brunch is served until 4pm! You’ll be close to many sites so you won’t have to travel far to places like St Pancras Station (where Platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter fame can be found) & more!

Option 2: Regency Cafe is one of the best places to go for breakfast in London! It first opened in 1946 and has been featured in TV shows and movies, which is another draw apart from the amazing British breakfast! They also have vegetarian options and great prices!

24 Hours In London: St. James’s Park, Changing of the Guard, Horse Guards Parade & Buckingham Palace

The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace takes place around 10:45 in the morning and lasts around 45 minutes – and you’ll want to arrive early to get the best views!

Locations include the Buckingham Palace Forecourt on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays, and Windsor Castle on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Always double-check the website for the most up-to-date information!

You can go on your own, or get this tour to see:

• Tour of St. James’s Park
• Changing of the Guard Ceremony
• Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
• Audio Tour of Buckingham Palace

🌟 Check out this 5-star review by ElisabethL_K:
“Our guide Margaret was personable and knowledgeable. She did an excellent job of guiding us to the horse guards to see the inspection of the Blues and Royals, then so took us to see the band escorting the old guard to the palace. It was wonderful. She got us over to the Buckingham Palace tour entrance in time to be the first group in the door. Thanks to Margaret we had a great morning.”

🇬🇧 Learn More About This Tour of Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guards Ceremony Here

24 Hours In London: River Thames Sites

You can easily use the river as your guide to see a lot of amazing sites! Places to check out along the river include many of London’s must-see spots, including:

• The London Eye
• Big Ben
• Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
• Tate Modern
• Tate Britain
• National Theatre
• Tower Bridge
• Millennium Bridge
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Hungerford Bridge views
• Albert Bridge

You can wander around on your own, or choose one or more of these options:

River Thames Option 1: Hop-On, Hop-Off Cruise

Hop on & off this river cruise throughout the day is a fun way to get from point A to point B! This is something you get on & off and if it’s not on your schedule, choose another option:

🌟 Check out this 5-star review from Ariel_D:
“Such a fun experience. The tour guide was amazing and hilarious. Such great service. Loved that they provided drinks and snacks. Such a beautiful ride.”

🇬🇧 Get Tickets for This Thames 24 Hour Hop-On Hop-Off River Cruise Here

River Thames Option 2: St. Paul’s Cathedral Choose Your Own Tour

This Skip-the-Line St Paul’s Cathedral Private Tour in London is another option for when you’re planning just one day and want to schedule everything you want to see, and cut out the things you don’t!

If you’re looking to see inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, this our lets you choose to add on London Bridge, Tower or London and more – or less – while skipping the lines. If you opt for a longer tour, transportation is also included.

🇬🇧 Learn More About This Flexible Skip-the-Line St Paul’s Cathedral Private Tour in London Here

River Thames Option 3: London Eye Flight (30 mins)

If you want an amazing birds-eye view of London on the London Eye, you can bypass the line with this fast-track ticket and not waste time waiting! This option is best if the weather is clear to get the best views.

River Thames Option 4: Houses of Parliament & Westminster Abbey

You can easily see these London icons just from the outside, but if getting a tour is on your list, you can get skip-the-line tickets to speed up the process, which is necessary when you only have one day in London!

👉 Note: This tour starts at 9 am, so it’s ideal if you don’t care about the Changing of the Guard ceremony (you can stop by Buckingham Palace later in the day instead, as an option)!

River Thames Option 5: Original Harry Potter Locations (2.5 hrs)

This 2.5-hour Harry Potter mixed walking & boat tour starts at the River Thames at Southwark View Point, not far from London Bridge Station. You’ll get to see many of London’s must-see landmarks on an engaging tour for Harry Potter fans – the guide offers quizzes, spells & more along the way!

The tour ends at Kings Cross, where you can head off to your next location easily!

🌟 Check out this 5-star review by Wanderer22529711716:
“This walking tour was great!! We were able to walk around the city and see many different areas/landmarks used in the Harry Potter movies. Our tour guide Natalie was very engaging and shared information about London historical sites not in the movie, which was really cool! The ferry ride on the Thames was a nice break in the middle. The tour was interactive and being sorted into houses for a house cup was a nice touch! Of course the best house won #Slytherin. Would definitely recommend!”

🇬🇧 Learn More About This Original Harry Potter Locations By Boat – London Here

24 Hours In London: Lunch (30 min-1 hr)

You may have one or more lunches in your 24 hours, so here are a few options:

Option 1: Borough Market is a food hall in a historic location, so it blends sightseeing with lunch! It’s near the London Bridge, so you can follow up the River Thames sites here before taking a car, bus or the tube to the Museum District next!

Option 2: The Churchill Arms Pub is a must-visit place while in London, in Kensington near the Museum District. It has history (it first opened in 1750) and charm (it’s really Instagrammable, as well)! You’ll find the eccentricity you’re craving with the flower-covered facade and interior filled with Winston Churchill artifacts. They serve authentic Thai cuisine.

Option 3: If you want fish and chips closer to the Museum District, head to The Hollywood Arms! They have vegetarian and gluten-free options as well, plus amazing decor and craft cocktails!

24 Hours In London: Museum District (Kensington)

After lunch, visiting the Museum District is a chill way to digest and reset! I suggest walking around and choosing one museum to enter if you have time (I visited the Victoria & Albert Museum, which was fun). If you’re taking the tube, get out at the South Kensington Station (there’s a nearby Starbucks if you need a pick-me-up or to use the WiFi)!

Museums & more sites in this area include:

• Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)
• Science Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Royal Albert Hall & Memorial

24 Hours In London: Hyde Park

Hyde Park is right by the Museum District, and you can choose a route to walk by some really interesting sites in the park! I recommend either just walking and seeing what you find, or, if you have definite items you’d like to see then find the route on Google Maps first!

Sites to find & Things to do in the park include:

• Peter Pan Statue
• Serpentine Lake, including boating & swimming areas
• Picnicking
• Marble Arch & Speakers’ Corner
• Apsley House & Gate
• Wellington Arch

• Queen Elizabeth Gate
• Serpentine Gallery (free entry)
• Rose Garden
• Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
• Statue of Achilles
• Reformers Tree
• Animals In War Memorial
• Kensington Gardens & Kensington Palace

24 Hours In London: Afternoon Tea (1.5 hrs)

In London, afternoon tea takes place around 4pm, and why not make sure you get the best experience – after all, you’re only in town for 24 hours! Here are 3 options so you can choose, with my top pick as number one:

☕ Option 1 (My Top Pick): This Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames is an amazing way to sightsee while enjoying traditional afternoon tea or coffee with sandwiches and cakes! There is also a bar where you can purchase champagne and more.

Sites you’ll see and commentary on from the boat include:

• Houses of Parliament
• Shakespeare’s Globe
• Tower Bridge
• Tate Modern
• The Shard
• London Eye

🇬🇧 Get Tickets for Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames Here

☕ Option 2: This Tea Bus Tour will let you enjoy afternoon tea (with sandwiches and cakes) on a double-decker bus while seeing iconic sites including Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminter Abbey, St James’s Park, Hyde Park and more!

☕ Option 3: Another quintessential London option for afternoon tea is to pre-book a time slot at the historic Harrods Tea Rooms!

24 Hours In London: Oxford St > Piccadilly > Trafalgar Square

After sitting and enjoying high tea & snacks, you can walk it off by checking out the route from Oxford Street to the historic Trafalgar Square (or Trafalgar to Oxford)!

Oxford Street is a famous London street for shopping, eateries, rooftop bars and more! It’s the most visited shopping street in Europe, located in the West End. It also has archaeological history as a Roman thoroughfare called Via Tinobantina.

Regent Street: From Oxford Street, walk to nearby Regent Street which is another famous shopping street! Make sure to get a photo at Piccadilly Circus, an iconic open street intersection reminiscent of Times Square.

Trafalgar Square: From Piccadilly Circus walk over to Trafalgar Square, another iconic public square that used to be known as Charing Cross. Famous things to see and photograph here include:

• Nelson’s Column
• Trafalgar Square lion statues
• Trafalgar Square fountains
• The four plinths in each corner, which are statues of General Sir Charles James Napier, Major General Sir Henry Havelock, King George IV & a contemporary artwork as the fourth
• Police Box
• National Gallery

If you have extra time here, check out St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, which as a cafe in an underground crypt! You can also find more cafes and restaurants here, as well as pubs and bars. Check out The Rooftop at Trafalgar St James for 360-degree views and drinks!

24 Hours In London: Take in the Views for Dinner (1-3 hrs)

Remembering you’re making the most of your 24 hours in London, here are some options for a dinner you’ll remember!

Option 1: Head to Sky Garden early to visit the garden as well as the restaurants and bars! You’ll definitely want to plan a bit of time to take in the views and get some photos here. The one thing to know is that even though this spot is free, you’ll need to book a free ticket and make reservations at one of the restaurants as well!

Option 2: If you haven’t done a boat cruise yet, this River Thames Dinner Cruise (3 hrs) is another opportunity, this time with sunset and nighttime views! Here’s what’s included:

• Dinner & dance boat cruise
• 1 glass of sparkling wine per person on arrival
• 4-course dinner with tea & coffee
• Pass by modern sights of the O2 Arena & Canary Wharf
• Listen to a live singer performing songs from West End shows

Option 3: If you’re looking for a low-key (or just quicker), quintessential London pub experience for dinner head to the Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden! It was a favorite of Charles Dickens, and they have amazing food and drinks!

24 Hours In London: Show in the West End

You’re in London for a full 24 hours, which means you have time to sightsee, eat and see a show! The West End is where you can catch Broadway shows and more! Check out what’s currently on here.

24 Hours In London: Pubs

It’s now that in-between time of wanting to take in a bit more nightlife before winding down. The hotels listed earlier all have top-rated bars, too! They are:

• The Xi Bar & Lounge at The Tower Hotel
• The Churchill Bar & Terrace at The Hyatt Regency London Churchill
• Green Bar at Hotel Cafe Royal is the #2-rated bar in London on Trip Advisor! It’s speakeasy-inspired, plus has amazing decor and live music.

What to Consider for 24 Hours in London

👉 Weather. The summers in London are partly cloudy and comfortable, while winters are very cold, windy and mostly cloudy. The best time to visit is late June through early September. London is notorious for rainy days, but there are actually around 200 dry days per year! You might want to bring a packable umbrella like this one and/or rain jacket like this one just to be prepared, though!

👉 Stay Hydrated. When you’re only in a place as exciting and adventure-filled as London for a short time (like 24 hours), it’s really easy to get so wrapped up in sightseeing that you forget to hydrate and eat! Bring a water bottle, electrolyte packets and some snacks to be prepared (when I was there, I never stopped for food – I think I maybe stopped once for water)!

👉 Plan time for traveling in-between sites. Always plan for traffic and mistakes, especially things like the tube taking longer than expected or missing it altogether and having to wait! You can find the timetables here (and download the app here).

24 Hours in London: FAQs

👉 What can you do in London in 24 hours?

You can do and see a lot in London in 24 hours! Besides taking time to sleep overnight, London doesn’t take as long as you think to navigate, and you can fit many activities and sites into one day, especially if you plan places in order based on location!

👉 Is 24 hours enough in London?

Yes! Obviously, there’s more to see than you can fit into 24 hours, but you can see the major sites in London in 24 hours and get some amazing experiences!

👉 How can I spend my whole day in London?

To spend a whole day in London, start with a tour of the city, or the Changing of the Guards ceremony, with Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park and Horse Guards Parade. Then check out the major sites along the River Thames, followed by lunch. After that head to South Kensington and the Museum District before exploring Hyde Park. Then have afternoon tea, followed by the famous shopping areas of Oxford St. and Piccadilly Circus. Stop at Trafalgar Square for some photos, then go for dinner with a view, a river cruise or a famous pub. After that, if you have time catch a show in the West End before going to the pubs for nightlife!

👉 Can I travel to London for 1 day?

Yes, you can travel to London for 1 day. You can see the city on a long layover, or plan one full day in the city to take in all the sites!

All In All: 24 Hours In London

I hope this post helps you plan your London adventure – you’ll seriously be amazed at how much you can see and experience with 24 hours in this amazing city!

🇬🇧 P.S. If you want even more sites to see while you’re in London, check out this post on the best photo spots in the city!
🇬🇧 If you’re traveling to London in the Winter, be sure to check out this post: 7 Crucial Items Tourists Forget to Pack for London in December
🇬🇧 If you’re trying to decide between these cities, read this post: London vs Madrid: Which City Is Better To Visit And Why?

👉 For more International travel guides, check out this page.