The best of London by foot
London is known as the 'launchpad' to Europe but that's not to say it doesn't have it's own hidden gems.
​
On my first day with my brother he took me on a whirlwind walking tour of London & I think it covers almost all of the hotspots making it perfect for when you first land in London or have family & friends come to visit you. But you should 100% of the time pack something warm/waterproof because well, UK weather is temperamental at best.
​
Start out the day at monument underground station & get caffeinated, this walk has loads of steps attached so you have been informed😉
Stop 1 : Sky Garden
What better way to start your day then high in the sky at London's tallest public garden at 34 floors, enjoy your 360* views & feel boujee all at the same time! Entry is free.
Stop 2 : Tower of London & Traitors Gate
Take some time exploring the gardens & the inside of the grounds, entry is £30, finish off stop one by walking across the tower bridge.
You can grab your tickets here.
Stop 3 : HMS Belfast
A really cool opportunity to see what life was like aboard a war ship. The HMS has an 80 year history & with the ticket you have access to every inch of the ship. Could be of great interest to the kiddies or the boomers in your life. Entry is £23 and you can grab your tickets here.
Stop 4 : London Bridge
Quick stop off at the ACTUAL London bridge, not the one that everyone assumes that you can see the gorgeous views both ways down the river Thames. Walking to the middle & back is perfectly enough 🤣.
Stop 5 : Borough Markets
One of my favourite stops along the walk was the markets because,
1. It was warm on a cold & rainy Feb day,
2. It smells great! So many food vendors serving up delicious flakey pastries & street food &
3. It's also maybe the prettiest location for a market that I have seen. Fun fact, it holds the award as London's oldest commercial market
Stop 6 : Millennium Bridge
This one is for my HP fans. A memorable death eaters scene was filmed on this bridge but it also has a beautiful view of your next stop, the St. Pauls cathedral.
Stop 7 : St Pauls Cathedral
Princess Di's wedding was held here & it has the second largest dome in the world, if you are a fan of stunning architecture then this one is worth the detour. Entry is £18 & you can book your tickets here.
Stop 8 : Tate Modern
Art homies line up! You don't need to pay to enter but thanks to 'Rona you need to book an entrance time slot, the space is split over 5 levels so you can spend as little or as long as you like. There are free exhibitions but the 'special' exhibits have their own individual costs; ie. Yayoi Kusama.
Stop 9 : Southbank
Food vendors & street performers galore, a beautiful area to slowly walk along & take in the best of what London has to offer on a warm, sunny, day.
Stop 10 : London Eye
Those with a height aversion maybe sit this one out. London Eye has the title of 4th largest observation wheel in the world, of course Dubai is #1, no comment. The revolution takes 30 minutes, & on a clear day you can have views as far as Windsor castle. Entry is £33 & you can book your tickets here.
Stop 11 : Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
Westminster goes down in history as the site for coronations & royal weddings. You can check out the poets corner or the royal tombs or just relax your legs in the garden. Make sure to snap a pic with Big Ben on your way. Entry is £25 & you can book your tickets here.
​
Once you are done with your day of exploring you will definitely need to refuel before dancing the night away. The lovely Brianna @travel_munchers has done the hard work for you and put together a list of the most delicious places to get a good meal. You can find it here.
Enjoy London & stay dry
​
#awanderingredhead