Visitors could spend months in London and still not scratch the surface. The 1500 square kilometre city is the largest in Europe and provides visitors with one of the best tourist optimised cities in the world. London sees more than 30 million visitors every year, with the many guests of the Bayswater Inn London just a fraction (but not an unimportant one) of the tourist influx.
But visiting London for a month is one thing, a day in the city is quite another. Whether because you’re visiting on business or your trip is fully booked up with engagements, many only have the chance to fleetingly experience the city on their own terms. This blog will explore some of the ways that guests of hotels near Buckingham Palace can get as much out of the city as possible in just one day.
Get To The Museums Early
Museums open around 9 am, so if you want to fit in more than just one activity during your day, we’d recommend visiting the museums early, before the queues form. This frees up your afternoon to enjoy other aspects of the city.
Use Santander Cycles
Whilst the London Underground will get you from point A to point B within half an hour, a cycle through the city on one of the many rentable bikes will allow you to enjoy the journey as well as the destination. There are 750 docking stations across London, as well as other rentable eScooters and bikes such as Lime as well, all of which allow you to both travel and sightsee simultaneously.
Book Events In Advance
To get the maximum time out of London, you might want to do a little forward planning by booking your events in advance. From West End shows to your ride on the London Eye, queues for tickets will eat into your time in the city. Spend a bit of time before your day in London to hone in on exactly what it is you want to see and do, book tickets and use the time between bookings wisely.
Top Areas To Explore
So now you know some of the ways to help your day in London run smoothly, here are a few highlights of London districts that are unmissable for a first time visitor.
The “green lung” of royal parks in London promises many attractions and nearby historic sites. If the weather holds up, a cycle around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens is a great way to spend an afternoon.
With plenty of things to do in Hyde Park, it’s also very close to the South Kensington museum trio, all of which are completely free to visit. For more free museums, check out the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
To soak in the vibes of riverside culture, make your way down to the South Bank, where cultural institutions like the National Theatre, British Film Institute and Royal Elizabeth Hall programme unmissable events. It’s also at the South Bank that you’ll find attractions like the London Eye and some brilliant views over the Thames, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral.
