Copy of Tour London - Day 1
Description:
Get to know London with a flashy bus tour then explore the South Bank for stunning views of London. Take in the Tower of London, Tate Modern, Big Ben & Parliament and ride on the London Eye.
Author: chuckmyd
Day 1 - London
To shake off that jet leg and become familiar with one of the world's famous cities...take a tour. Yes, it's touristy but it less than 3 hours visitors can view the highlights of the city and then decide which attractions warrant further exploration. Try a hop on, hop off style double decker bus tour with www.bigbustours.com or www.theoriginaltour.com departing from several locations. Tickets are good for 24 hours and usually come with an optional Thames river cruise. Make sure to get a bus with live commentary over the headphone tour. For the afternoon session head east for The Tower of London, one of most interesting historical spots for the entire family. The 1,000 year old site has been a palace, a prison, an arsenal, and even a zoo! Make sure to tag along with a Yeoman Warder for the 60 minute guided tour and visit the jaw-dropping Crown Jewels. The view towards Tower Bridge is a perfect photo backdrop. Kids will get a kick out of trying to make a Royal Guard laugh or watching the ravens who also help keep watch over the Tower. For lunch try one of the tasty cafes on site or try a cafe picnic to be taken on the lawn. Family activities and trail guides are available from the Information Center. Hint: Book online to avoid the crowds. Still have energy? Every visitor needs to stand along the Thames and take in the iconic landmarks of Big Ben & Parliament. I never tire of this sight, day or night, but there is something special about this dramatically lit spot in the dark. The BA London Eye offers night flights for a bird's eye view as well - book online to avoid the queue. Walk from the London Aquarium down the South Bank to the Tate Modern (open late on Fridays & Saturdays until 10pm) and over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's taking in street entertainers, skateboarders and the river itself. On route are plenty of places to eat: Wagamama, pizza at Gabriel's Wharf, and OXO Tower, to name a few. Should daytime hours be of more interest, go early (before 10am) to get the place to yourself.
1
Big Bus Tours
Location:
view in google maps48 Buckingham Palace Road
SW1W ORN London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7233 95332
Tower of London
Location:
view in google mapsOff Tower Bridge Approach
Tower Hill, EC3
EC3N4AB London, England
Phone:
0870/756-70702
Victoria and Albert Museum
Location:
view in google mapsCromwell Road
Cromwell Rd., SW7
SW7 2RL London, England
Phone:
020/7942-20002
Oxford Circus
Location:
view in google mapsOxford Circus
Regent and Oxford Street
London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)2
Buckingham Palace
Location:
view in google mapsBuckingham Palace
At end of The Mall (on the road running from Trafalgar Sq.)
SW1A 1AA London, England
Phone:
020 7766 73002
Changing of the Guard
Location:
view in google mapsWellington Barracks
(Buckingham Palace)
SW1A 1AA London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 783 91372
The Guards Museum
Location:
view in google mapsBirdcage Walk
(Wellington Barracks)
SW1E 6HQ London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7414 3271 / +44 20 7414 34282
Piccadilly Circus
Location:
view in google mapsPiccadilly Circus
W1V 9LB London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)2
Westminster Abbey
Location:
view in google maps20 Dean's Yard
Broad Sanctuary, SW1
SW1P 3PA London, England
Phone:
020/7222-51522
Covent Garden Piazza
Location:
view in google mapsCovent Garden
WC2E 8RF London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)2
British Library
Location:
view in google maps96 Euston Rd., NW1
St Pancras
NW1 2DB London, England
Phone:
020/7412-73322
Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column
Location:
view in google mapsTrafalgar Square
WC2N 5DX London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7983 47502
Admiralty Arch
Location:
view in google mapsThe Mall
WC2 London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)2
National Gallery
Location:
view in google mapsTrafalgar Square
N. side of Trafalgar Sq., WC2
WC2N 5DN London, England
Phone:
020/7747-28852
National Portrait Gallery
Location:
view in google mapsSaint Martin's Place
(Trafalgar Square)
WC2H 0HE London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7306 00552
Hunterian Museum
Location:
view in google maps35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
Royal College of Surgeons
WC2A 3PE London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 (0)20 7869 65602
British Museum
Location:
view in google mapsGreat Russell Street
Great Russell St., WC1
WC1B 3DG London, England
Phone:
020/7323-82992
Borough Market
Location:
view in google maps8 Southwark Street
SE1 1 London, United Kingdom
Phone:
020 7407 10022
Portobello Road Market
Location:
view in google mapsPortobello Road
W11 London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7229 83542
London RIB Voyages
Location:
view in google mapsThe London Eye Millineum Pier
Riverside Building, Waterloo Millennium Pier
SE1 7PB London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 0207 928 89332
London Transport Museum
Location:
view in google mapsCovent Garden Piazza
Covent Garden Piazza
WC2E 7BB London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7565 7299 / +44 20 7379 63442
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Location:
view in google mapsWest Carriage Drive
W2 2UH London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 (0)20 7298 21002
Trader Vic's
Location:
view in google maps22 Park Lane
(Hilton Park Lane, Lower Ground Floor)
W1Y 4BE London, United Kingdom
Phone:
44 20 7208 41133
Tower Bridge
Location:
view in google mapsTower Bridge
At Tower Bridge, SE1
SE1 2UP London, England
Phone:
020/7403-37614
Tate Modern
Location:
view in google mapsBankside
Bankside, SE1
SE1 9TG London, England
Phone:
020/7887-88885
Big Ben
Location:
view in google mapsParliament Square
House Of Commons
SW1A 0AA London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7234 5800(Tourist Information)6
Houses of Parliament
Location:
view in google mapsParliament Street
SW1A 2AN London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 20 7219 42727
London Eye
Location:
view in google mapsRiverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road
(Riverside Building County Hall)
SE1 9TA London, United Kingdom
Phone:
+44 870 500 0600