Itinerary Summary:
Travel Time: July 2023 (check avg. temperatures by month here)
Day 1: London’s Iconic Landmarks
Day 2: Greenwich and Cultural Delights
Day 3: History and Modern Marvels
Day 4: Exploring Diverse Corners
Travel Tip: Tap any contactless credit card/ Apple Pay/ Google Pay at the ticket gates instead of purchasing individual tickets for the Tube and Bus in London City
Day 0:
After a short and uneventful Ryanair flight from Nuremberg, we arrived at London Stansted Airport around 23:40. Immigration queue was long, but shorter than anticipated, especially for non-EU citizens (post Brexit impact). A 10-minute walk brought us to our stay in London – the Hampton by Hilton – a great place to stay in the vicinity of the airport.
Day 1:
After a good night’s rest and a hearty English breakfast, we embarked on our whirlwind adventure through the heart of London’s iconic landmarks!
1) Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye: From the Abbey built in 1066 to Big Ben in the 1800s to the Eye built in 1990’s, these monuments represent between them the continuity of Central London’s prominence over time. No wonder then that these landmarks took our breath away with their grandeur, elegance, and historical significance.
2) Downing Street, Whitehall St. and Trafalgar Square: A stroll along Parliament Street and then Whitehall Street, led us first to 10 Downing Street, and then past the imposing Household Cavalry Museum and Dover House, and a few steps away from the Great Scotland Yard to the bustling charm of Trafalgar Square, with the Nelson’s column and National Gallery in the background. Had the cars not been modern, it would have been hard to discern if we were in the 19th or the 21st century!
3) St. James Park and Buckingham Palace: One of the green lungs of Central London, the picturesque park St. James’ Park was perfect for a tranquil stroll from Trafalgar Square, with its stunning lake and vibrant greenery, while the Buckingham Palace stood majestically at the end of “the Mall”, epitomizing the grace usually associated with a royal residence.
4) Constitution Hill, Green Park and Hyde Park: Trundling along Constitution Hill from Buckingham Palace, we passed by Green Park, the Commonwealth Memorial Gates, and Bomber Command Memorial and through the Wellington Arch, onto another Green Lung of London – Hyde Park. The mere names of the places reminded us of the beauty of the English language on the one hand, and the imposition (more often cruel) of British imperialism on a large section of the world until recently, on the other.
5) Harrods, Covent Garden, and Oxford Street: A quick walk from Hyde Park led us to the most famous department store in the world – Harrods! And although the culinary delights on offer there were truly mind blowing, our shopping cravings were more appropriately satisfied at Covent Garden and Oxford Street (easily accessible by Tube), with their charming shops and more affordable variety of fare on offer!
We rounded off our first day in London by looping back to London Stansted from Liverpool Street, eagerly waiting for Day 2!
Food haunts of the day: Pret-a-Manger at Trafalgar Square and the Fatt Pundit at Covent Garden.
Day 2:
A new day, and once again we were aboard the post-breakfast National Express service from Stansted to Whitechapel! We had kept the second day for exploring the eastern fringes of London city and some spots of Central London.
1) Canary Wharf: Our first stop of the day and one of the main business districts of London City and of the world is easily accessible from the rest of London through the newly opened Elizabeth Line, the Jubilee Line and the Docklands Light Railway. Once there, we explored the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, admired the impressive business center, and discovered the tranquil Crossrail Place Roof Garden.
2) Greenwich – the Observatory, Park, and Cutty Sark: A short ride on the DLR from Canary Wharf is the quaint town of Greenwich, home to the world-famous observatory and the basis for time-keeping all over the world. It’s encircled by the Greenwich Park from where one can get a delightful view of the London skyline. On our way back, we stopped by the harbour to view the “Cutty Sark“, one of the best maintained clipper ships from the 19th century.
3) Borough Market: Feeling hungry after all the walking, we travelled by tube to Central London to indulge our taste buds at one of the oldest food markets in town. The sheer range and diversity of culinary delights was a feast for both our stomachs and our eyes!
4) 221B Baker Street and Regent Park: Duly fed, we embarked on what is a must-visit for any Sherlock Holmes fan – the “supposed” home of the fictional sleuth and the museum in his honour. Right next door is the Regent’s Park which too is highly recommended for its soothing contrast to the hustle and bustle around it.
5) Chinatown: For our final stop of the day, we travelled to an oft ignored gem of London, it’s Chinatown. The vibrant atmosphere and the range of restaurants from the various corners of China would make any Chinese feel instantly at home!
Full of the smells, sounds, and memories of the different corners of London, we returned once again to Whitechapel and then to London Stansted.
Food haunts of the day: Gujarat Rasoi and Horn Ok Please at Borough Market, and Cuppacha at Chinatown.
Day 3:
After two very hectic days walking and traveling around London, we had planned to spend Day 3 exploring the chronistic contrasts of Central London.
1) British Museum: Our first stop a walking distance from Tottenham Court Road, is a treasure trove of history and made us feel like we had embarked on a time-travel journey across different corners of the globe.
2) St. Paul’s Cathedral and Millennium Bridge: A short tube ride away, these awe-inspiring sights of London have been immortalized in photos and movies, be it the wedding of the then Prince Charles and Lady Diana, or the scenes in Harry Potter.
3) Tower Bridge and Tower of London: Walking alongside the Embankment and the Thames and soaking in the sights of Central London, we were soon at the most iconic landmark in London, the Tower Bridge. Walking across it to the home of the crown jewels and the famous Kohinoor gave us goosebumps and made us appreciate their place in history and their larger-than-size impression on the city.
4) The Shard and the Sky Garden: The best sunset spot in London is FREE! So, after admiring the historical features of the Tower of London, we walked barely 10 mins to get a panoramic view of London from its most iconic modern monument – the Shard. Like us, we strongly recommend booking the free tickets to the Sky Garden in advance!
As the sun set below the horizon, we too made our way back, with dreamy eyes and loaded memories!
Food haunts of the day: Chettinad Restaurant near the British Museum and Pret-a-Manger near the Embankment
Day 4:
We spent our last day in London exploring some rather unusual spots, all of which we would definitely recommend!
1) Wembley Stadium and London Designer Outlet: Located in the northwestern corner of the city, Wembley stadium is the mecca of football in Europe and in addition hosts the best artists who visit London. Right next door is the London Designer Outlet at Wembley Park, which gave us a perfect opportunity to indulge in some retail therapy at a very reasonable price!
2) Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square: Heading back into Central London, we disembarked at Piccadilly Circus and traversed the distance to Leicester Square, soaking in the neon lights and the vibrancy of the place, especially the entertainment options on offer – the next time we are back, we will surely indulge in a musical!
3) Imperial War Museum: A short distance from Leicester square, this museum is FREE! for all, and provided us with a thought-provoking experience, delving into the history of conflict and courage.
4) Leadenhall Market: Our final stop of the day and in the proximity of the iconic Lloyd’s Building was this hidden gem. By the time we visited it, the shops had closed for the day, offering us to opportunity to revel in the old-world charm of the place in tranquility, before walking over to Liverpool Street station to take the Stansted Express train back to Stansted airport and boarding our late-night flight back to Nuremberg.
As we bid farewell to this incredible city, we couldn’t but feel the weight of London’s history, culture, and vibrant atmosphere and the indelible mark they had left on our hearts, vowing to return to this dynamic and diverse metropolis soon, to explore even more of its wonders.
Food haunts of the day: Snacks at Masalchi by Atul Kochhar near Wembley Stadium, and late Lunch at Kathi Roll Company near Soho.
