72 Hours in London | Travel Guide Series
Are you planning a trip to London? Good choice! There is SO much to do and see in this beautiful city, so it can feel overwhelming to plan for. The good news: you can see a whole lot if you plan a bit! To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the things we choose to do with our 72 hours in London.
DAY ONE
Big Ben, Westminster Abbey & Regent Park
You can catch views of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Regent Park with a walk through the main city. I’d recommend starting your day this way. Begin at Whitehall road, which has statues positioned along the streets dedicated to war veterans. Then, catch sight of Big Ben. Make your way through Regent Park, with paths lined beautifully with flowers and ponds with young ducks and their mothers guiding them into the water. Take this walk to…
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the residence and headquarters of the United Kingdom monarchy and is located in the City of Westminster. The palace is open to the public when the Queen is not in residence, usually August and September. Nevertheless, the grounds are worthy of a visit.
The Borough Market
The Borough Market is London’s most renowned wholesale and retail food market in Southwark. The market offers quality British and international produce; from meats and cheeses, oils, chocolate and more, it’s a true haven for food lovers. You can catch the market Friday through Sunday, with a limited market on Mondays). I recommend picking up a light lunch and finding a grassy area nearby to enjoy it!
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater
Near the Borough Market is Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and bookstore. Walk along the bank of the River Thames in it’s Cultural Quarter. Built in 1599 by Shakespeare’s playing company, you can catch a performance or step in when performances aren’t taking place.
Piccadilly Circus
If you find some time in the early evening, wander Picadilly CIrcus. This is a fun area, and especially at night, when crowds come in and the energy changes.
DAY TWO
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a 900+-year-old castle and fortress that was once the home of some of London’s most infamous prisoners and now houses the country’s crown jewels. For any less familiar with England’s history, it can be summed up by what’s known of goings on at this Tower; it’s a story of the struggle for power, the wrath of capital punishment and the true power of the government.
(Get tickets in advance.)
Abbey Road OR Museum Visits
If you’re a Beatles fan like me, I’d recommend a visit to the Abbey Road Crossing in London, also known now as the Beatles Crosswalk. This is located in the north London neighborhood of St. John’s Wood, where fancy homes and cars line the pristine neighborhood streets. It is accessible by a short ride on the London Underground. While you’re here, you can also tour the Abbey Road Studios.
… If the Beatles aren’t your thing, you may get more pleasure out of seeing some of London’s best museums (some of the best in the world!).
I’d suggest some time in the British Museum, located in London’s West End. The museum covers 18.5 acres (woah!) and includes items that date back to 1753. And if you’d like to venture to some of the others, here is TripSavvy’s suggestion of the best museums in London.
The SOHO district
There were so many fun stores in this area, and young, bustling, well-dressed locals. If you have time, head to the SOHO district in the afternoon, then stick around and hit up one of the recommended restaurants in the area.
DAY THREE
The British Library
Start your day off with some coffee and crisants, then head to the British Library!
The British Library was a pleasant discovery - and contained so much more than we’d even realized it would, so it has made this list. This is the national library of the United Kingdom and the largest national library in the world. It is worth planning to spend an afternoon here, if this is your kind of thing.
Local Pubs
If there is something London is not short on it’s pubs! There are plenty to choose from, but if you’re looking for one near the British Library, check out The Skinners Arms and The London Pub
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I hadn’t even left London before I made the vow we’d be back (and sooner rather than later!). It’s a beautiful and vast city - one that offers hustle for young dreamers and the historic mastery to make any literary minded visitor heavily pleased.
There are so many other worthwhile places to see in London that I just couldn’t get to. When planning your trip to London, consider what draws you to this big and diverse city and plan your days around what you’d most love to see! You really can’t go wrong.