Emma
31 January 2018
When staying in Kent or Sussex, a trip to London is not out of the question. With regular rail links to the city you can easily and reasonably cheaply get in and out with plenty of time to look around, without having to pay for costly London accommodation. Here are our top things to do in London if you only have a day to visit.
Home to the crown jewels and previous home to many notable names of history. A few hours here will be well spent enjoying a trip back in time.
- Recommended for: History lovers
- Price: From £22.70 for adults, £10.75 for children, £40.80 for families
- Opening days: Daily
- Last admission: 4pm
No one can resist these panoramic views across the city. Even on a cloudy day you can see far and wide across London. The trip takes around 30 minutes to complete with a 4D experience prior to your ride.
- Recommended for: Sight seekers
- Price: Adults from £24.30, children from £19.80
- Opening days: Daily
- Last admission: Varies
Quoted on their website as ‘The home to British art from 1500 to the present day’, the Tate Britain is a large art gallery showcasing a mixture of traditional art works through the centuries. If you prefer modern art their sister gallery Tate Modern is a good alternative.
- Recommended for: Art aficionados
- Price: FREE
- Opening days: Daily
- Last admission: 5pm
When you go to London, you expect to spot a celebrity or two wandering around, but if you don’t fall in the same circles, to be able to get a selfie with the stars a trip to Madame Tussauds is a must. From Ant and Dec to Nelson Mandela, the variety of famous faces on show will entertain everyone!
- Recommended for: Celeb spotters
- Price: Adults from £29, children from £24
- Opening days: Daily
- Last admission: Varies
Discover more about British politics with a visit to Parliament. They offer an audio tour where you can walk around at your own pace. Make sure you check timings in advance though as it is closed when Parliament is in session. Tours up Elizabeth Tower may be suspended due to refurbishments until 2021 but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a photo shot from outside.
- Recommended for: British politics followers
- Price: Audio tours for adults from £18.50, children free with paying adult, or £7.50 otherwise
- Opening days: Every Saturday, and when not in session through the week
- Last admission: 4pm
A vast history of the Royal family awaits at Buckingham Palace, a home to many monarchs over the years it’s walls are adorned with artwork of previous members. Take a guided tour around the state rooms during the summer months. You can also purchase tickets to see the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery for a combined ticket price.
- Recommended for: Royalists
- Price: State rooms tours from £24 for adults, £13.50 for children and £61.50 for families
- Opening days: Daily between mid-July and end of September.
- Last admission: 5.15pm in July and August, 4.15pm in September.
One of the most iconic landmarks in London is Nelson’s column and the bronze lions in Trafalgar Square. Stop by for a photo opportunity, take in the cultural spaces and visit the museums and galleries.
- Recommended for: Sight seekers
- Price: FREE
There are so many places for retail therapy in London that you won’t be short of choice, but if you want to experience a true Londoner’s lifestyle then head to Covent Garden. The supposed birthplace to ‘Punch and Judy’ and the home to many street performers today, you are assured a spectacle while taking in lunch, a drink or shopping.
- Recommended for: Retail therapy
- Price: FREE
In the middle of London you’ll be surprised to see penguins, lions and monkeys, but sure enough they are there just waiting for you to come face-to-face with them on the outskirts of Regents Park. It makes a great family day out.
- Recommended for: Animal lovers
- Price: ££
- Opening Days: Daily
- Last admission: 3pm
Just 200 metres from the original site of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is the newly reconstructed one. Open all year around and holding theatre shows during the summer months (due to it being open air) have a glimpse at where many literary stories came to life.
- Recommended for: Shakespeare fans
- Price: Adults from £17, children from £10, families from £46
- Opening days: Daily
- Last admission: 4.30pm
If we've tempted you to take a trip so you can absorb the sights of London without the high accommodation cost, take a look at our cottages in Kent and Sussex that are available for your next visit to the South East.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.