What would you like to do when you come to London?
Of course, you can visit the famous tourist spots, but there are many people who definitely don’t want to miss out on shopping and afternoon tea as well.
Choosing souvenirs is one of the great pleasures of travelling, and taking ‘afternoon tea’ is one of the most British of activities.
In this article, I will introduce a 2-day itinerary in London in which you can enjoy shopping and afternoon tea while visiting all the typical tourist destinations as well.
The itinerary suggested here is a “lightning visit” tour schedule for those who want to see as many sights as possible within a short length of time; it also requires at least a nodding acquaintance with the London public transport system. Some of you might prefer to spread the sightseeing over a longer period, or be selective about which places to visit….
The First Day
Westminster Abbey
The place to start is Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site.
It is not only where important events of the British Royal family such as the coronation are held, but also the last resting place of many famous people from British history.
Unfortunately, you can’t take pictures inside, so be sure to etch the beautiful decorations on your memory – or buy some postcards!
| Location (Google Maps) | 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA |
House of Parliament and Big Ben
The British Houses of Parliament, the ‘face of London’, is unfortunately still undergoing restoration.
The well-known name “Big Ben” is actually not the clock tower itself, but the nickname given to the Great Bell inside.
The British Parliament Building, with its neo-Gothic architecture, including Big Ben, can only be entered if you are on an official tour (reservation required).
The restoration work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021, but some of it might take longer. Never mind! For now, let’s just take a picture and go on to see the London Eye on the banks of the River Thames.
| Location (Google Maps) | Westminster, London SW1A 0AA |
London Eye
This is a popular attraction with a 360-degree view of London.
Egregiously, its current official name is the Coca-Cola London Eye, after it was sponsored by Coca-Cola in 2015. To go along with this, it has changed its illuminations from blue to red, the colour of the Coca-Cola logo.
Unfortunately, we can’t get on it right now due to a long queue, so let’s take a picture of it from Westminster Bridge, which is the best angle to photograph it from.
If you really want to ride on the ‘Eye’ – and it is quite expensive – it’s a good idea to buy a ticket online in advance as this allows you to avoid the queue. Don’t forget to check the business hours.
| Location (Google Maps) | Riverside Building, County Hall, Bishop’s, London SE1 7PB |
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square features two large fountains and a memorial column to Admiral Nelson – who won the battle of Trafalgar! It is always crowded with tourists – and pigeons!
In summer it is particularly full of people. Parents allow their kids to play in the fountains, and there are many young folks who’ve come to London for the long vacation.
On the way from Westminster Abbey to Trafalgar Square, you’ll find “10 Downing Street,” which you often see on British television news. This is the official residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – ‘Number Ten’. It’s just an ordinary house with a black door, but very familiar to TV viewers as the scene where reporters wait for the British Prime Minister to come out and take a picture.
Of course, for security reasons you cannot really get close, but even so, it is interesting to see it and take a picture from a distance.
| Location (Google Maps) | Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN |
It takes about a quarter of an hour on foot to reach Trafalgar Square from Westminster Bridge.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery is a majestic, temple-like building on the north side of Trafalgar Square.
Many of the most important paintings in the history of art are on display, and because the exhibits are limited to paintings, some people say, “It’s easy to see and I prefer it to the British Museum.”
A highlight is Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”. Van Gogh has painted seven authenticated versions of “Sunflowers”, one of which is on display at the National Gallery.
There is a shop near the entrance where you can buy souvenirs for yourself and the ‘folks back home’ – why not check it out when you leave?
| Location (Google Maps) | Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN |
To be continued on Part 2…