London is a city that needs no introduction. As the capital of the United Kingdom and the once powerful British Empire (the largest empire that ever existed), London is a city that offers visitors an endless supply of experiences.
If you ever find yourself in this magnificent city but short on time, then read below to see some of the most important things to do in just 72 hours.
Top Experiences in Just 72 Hours
Big Bus Tour
We highly recommend that one of the first things you do when visiting London is to take a Big Bus Tour. Unlike other major cities, most of the main attractions in London are spread far apart from one another. As such, the Big Bus Tour is a great way to get acquainted with the city prior to exploring major sites by foot.
For about 39 Pounds (approximately $52 USD) per adult, you will be able to relax and get close, elevated views of the incredible architecture without having to worry about weaving through crowds or crossing streets all while learning a few interesting facts about the major landmarks and sites.
You can find more information on Big Bus London Tours at: https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours/
Tower Bridge
When visitors first see Tower Bridge, they often confuse it for London Bridge and for good reason. Tower Bridge has been an iconic landmark since the turn of the 20th century and its impressive neogothic architecture makes strolling along the river quite a site to behold.
For just 10.60 Pounds (roughly $14.25 USD) you can climb to the top of the north tower and walk across the famous walkway that links the two towers, a section of which is completely glass flooring! You will also get to enjoy panoramic views of London and its skyline. Afterwards, you can visit the engine rooms that power the bridge’s suspension system.
You can find more information on visiting Tower Bridge at: https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Saint Paul’s Cathedral is a 17th century architectural masterpiece built in the English Baroque style by the genius architect Sir Christopher Wren. It sits at the highest point in London, and for over 300 years it was the tallest building in London.
Several important figures are buried here including Alexander Fleming, the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Horatio Nelson.
You can find more information on Saint Paul’s Cathedral at: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/
National Gallery at Trafalgar Square
This is really a two-in-one suggestion.
Trafalgar square is a huge, beautiful plaza, built to commemorate the British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars. As you walk around, you will notice several interesting statues as well as a huge column in the center of the plaza with lion statues at its corners that was built in memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson, one of Britain’s heroes during the Napoleonic wars.
The National Gallery is a free art museum that houses masterpieces dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It includes works by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Hans Holbein the Younger, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, El Greco, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gough.
You can find more information on Trafalgar Square at: https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/our-building-and-squares/trafalgar-square
You can find more information on the National Gallery at: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Piccadilly Circus & China Town-
This is another two-for-one suggestion.
Piccadilly Circus is a vibrant intersection with neon signs, shops, department stores, restaurants and even street performers. In some ways it’s almost like a mini Times Square and there is a ton of energy and activity here.
Just 5 minutes walking distance from Piccadilly Circus, you will find China Town with its iconic, colorful entrance gate. As the name suggests, this neighborhood is an ethnic enclave of east Asian restaurants, shops, alternative medicine, travel agencies, massage parlors and more. If you are a foodie or cultural enthusiast, then this is a must visit.
Buckingham Palace
No trip to London is complete without stepping inside the famous Buckingham Palace, the official royal residence of the monarchy since the 19th century.
Just outside of the palace gates you can see the Victoria Memorial, a beautiful monument to Queen Victoria which is topped with a gold angelic statue.
Another familiar site that you will recognize from popular culture will be the guards with their red uniforms and fuzzy black hats.
Once inside the palace, you can walk around the various royal quarters and rooms, each designed with a different function. The opulence is something that truly rivals the Palace of Versailles and it may even take you a half day or more to see and appreciate all of its splendor.
Note, they do not allow photography or videos to be taken inside the palace.
At the end of your visit, you can walk around the gardens and enjoy some cake and tea at the Garden Café.
You can find more information on Buckingham Palace at: https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace
You can find more information on the Garden Shop and café at: https://www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk/shops/garden-shop-at-buckingham-palace.html
Westminster Abbey & Palace
Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous religious buildings in the world. This gothic building has served as a traditional role in British political, social and cultural affairs for more than 1,000 years.
Westminster Abbey has been the site of all coronations since William the Conqueror and also houses the tombs of some of history’s most important figures such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking and about 30 kings and queens. In total, Westminster Abbey is the final resting place of more than 3,000 important British historical figures.
Westminster Palace, is where the British government meets to manage the country’s political affairs, much like Capitol Hill in the USA and you can even watch debates and committee hearings take place in the House of Commons and House of Lords. If you are an American visitor, then you will notice the many parallels that UK parliamentary structure has with our own system of government. The House of Commons and House of Lords are equivalent to the House of Representatives and US Senate and much like Westminster Palace, US congressional debates and hearings are open to the public.
Deservedly, both Westminster Abbey and Palace are deemed UNESCO World Heritage sites.
You can find more information on Westminster Abbey at: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us
You can find more information on Westminster Palace at: https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/
Big Ben
At the north end of Westminster palace you’ll find Big Ben, a Neo-Gothic Clock tower whose official name was changed to Elizabeth tower in 2012, honoring the queen’s diamond jubilee. This is perhaps the most famous clock in the world, as it’s been featured in countless movies and TV shows.
Interestingly, Big Ben is also place where many people gather to ring in the New Year’s Day celebrations, much like the big clock and ball drop on Times Square in New York City.
You can find more information on Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) at: https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/big-ben/
London Eye
London Eye is Europe’s tallest ferris wheel, and is indeed a perfect place to relax and enjoy incredible views of the London skyline.
Tickets range in price from 24.50 Pounds ($32.71 USD) for a standard ticket to 34.50 Pounds (46.06 USD) for an express pass. The entire experience lasts about 30 minutes and is well worth it.
You can find more information on the London Eye at: https://www.londoneye.com/tickets-and-prices/
Shopping- Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols
One thing that we noticed while in London was the impeccable taste and manner of dress of almost everybody in the city. We even witnessed children wearing suits and ties on the subway (Londoners call it the “Tube”).
As such, one of the top things that you must do while visiting London is to go shopping or browsing at some of the high end retailers such as Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. Truth be told, you could probably spend an entire day marveling at the visual merchandising, designer selection and innovative store layouts.
You can find more information on Harrods at: https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/plan-your-visit?icid=megamenu_store_store-information_plan-your-visit
You can find more information on Harvey Nichols at: https://www.harveynichols.com/
You can find more information on Selfridges at: https://www.selfridges.com/US/en/features/info/stores/london/
Helpful Tips For Your Visit
Arrival/Getting There
London is serviced by six major airports and a train that connects mainland Europe to the UK called Eurostar.
You can find more information on London’s airports at: https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/travel-to-london/airport/london-airport-map
You can find more information on Eurostar train at: https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/train
Getting Around
Walking - The streets of London are impeccably clean, and cars will respect pedestrians at cross walks so this will be an enjoyable way to explore the city. Unlike other parts of the world, you will not often see cars speeding up to a yellow light, aggressive honking or other boorish and belligerent behavior, so we would say that walking is quite safe in London.
Taxi - The taxis (also known as “hackney carriages”) in London are so peculiar that they are quite charming. They really stand out among other vehicles as they are all black and are shaped like a hearse.
Also, the fares that they charge are standardized and you can find more information at: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/taxi-fares
Trains/Subways - Also known as the “Tube”, the subway system in London is easy to comprehend and is very punctual. If you are walking on the street, you will recognize the subway/tube station as a sign with a with a red and white circle with the words “Public Underground” written on it. The majority of the routes take you east/west or north/south so navigation is rather simple.
For more information on the tube you can visit: https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-tube#:~:text=An%20adult%20cash%20fare%20on,the%20Transport%20for%20London%20website.
For train schedules you can visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/timetables/
Bus - Like the peculiar taxis, London’s public buses really stand out since they are generally red double decker type buses. Please note, that the buses do not accept cash. In order to pay the fare, you will have to purchase something known as an “Oyster card”, which is a prepaid card for the specific purpose of spending on public transport. Oyster cards are sold at various places throughout the city such as visitor centers and train stations. You can even buy them online in preparation for your trip.
You can find information on Oyster cards at: https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/oyster?ref=nav
You can find more information on bus schedules at: https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/timetables/
Language
The official language of London and the UK is English, spoken in a dialect known as “received pronunciation” or the Queen’s English.
Currency
The official currency is the British Pound (GBP) and as of the time of this writing, the British Pound is historically weak versus the US dollar. Fun fact, locals sometimes say “quid” instead of pounds, much like Americans sometimes say “bucks” instead of dollars.
You can find more information on currency exchange rates at: https://www1.oanda.com/currency/converter/
Other
Information Centers - If for any reason, you find yourself lost or need additional information, you can always visit the local information center which can be found at various booths throughout the city. The information center will usually appear as a booth with a cursive letter (i) on it. They will usually have maps, bus schedules and information on excursions and activities which they will provide to you free of charge. Some information centers might even be able to sell you tickets for said excursions.
There is also a “Visit London” app that you can download from any app store.
You can find more information on tourist information centers at: https://www.visitlondon.com/tag/tourist-information-centre?ref=nav
Expensive - London is one of the more expensive cities to visit, owing in part to the fact that its currency (GBP) has always traded higher versus the US dollar, which is the world’s reserve currency. Because of this exchange rate arbitrage, as well as the fact that the cost of living is among the highest in the world, you will have to adjust your budget accordingly (upwards).