With the school holidays in full swing, I’ve been looking into a few easy day trips that don’t involve long drives or overnight stays, and London keeps coming up. It’s packed with things to do, whether you’re going with kids or just want a full day out that feels like a bit of an adventure. There’s no shortage of places to explore, and once you’re there, it’s surprisingly simple to get around thanks to the trains, tubes and buses. Whether it’s history, food or something a bit more fun, it’s not hard to fill a day without overdoing it.
Get Up Early and Venture Out
London is a pretty big place with anything and everything that you want to do. From flower gardens to zoos, there’s pretty much nothing that the city doesn’t have. In fact, it is surprising how little you can get done in one day, given the size of the place! Black Cab London Tours are a great way to introduce yourself to the city and get to know some of the main tourist attractions, especially if you want to stay around the massive London city centre.
Use Public Transport
London’s public transport system is the oldest and most famous in the world, and perfect if you're doing London on a budget. The Victorian Tube rail system, black cabs and red buses are among the most iconic and useful things the city has to offer. You could also consider a green Boris Bike, but you might just end up getting in the way! However, by all accounts, public transport is your best option as it is actually much more challenging to get around by car, so grab an Oyster Card and be on your merry way!
London gets around 30 million visitors a year, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s history on every corner, but it also feels fast and modern, which is part of what makes it so good for a short break. You won’t manage everything in a weekend, but there are a few things worth prioritising. The Tower of London is one of the big ones. You get a mix of royal history, armour, executions and crown jewels all in one spot, and the Beefeaters do a decent tour if you’ve got time. Westminster Abbey is another that’s hard to skip. It’s properly beautiful inside and packed with history, plus you’re right near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament so it’s easy to fit a few sights in at once. If you’re into architecture, The Shard is worth a look. You can go up for the views or just admire it from the outside, especially at night when the lights come on. And if you want a proper city walk, Southbank is good for stretching your legs with plenty to see along the way.
Visit a Museum
London’s packed with museums. There are more than 200 across the city, and quite a few of the best ones won’t cost you a thing. Big names like the British Museum and the Natural History Museum are completely free to enter, which is handy if you’re trying to keep spending down. The only thing you’ll really need to budget for is time. These places are huge, and if you try to squeeze in too much, you’ll end up rushing through it all. It’s worth picking just one if your day’s already looking busy. The British Museum alone could take hours. It’s got everything from the Rosetta Stone to Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. The layout isn’t small either, so comfortable shoes make a difference. The Natural History Museum’s a favourite for kids, especially the dinosaur gallery and that enormous blue whale model hanging from the ceiling. It’s also near the Science Museum and the V&A, so if you’re nearby and energy levels allow, you can at least poke your head into more than one. If you’re after something quieter, smaller places like the Garden Museum or the Museum of the Home are easier to get round in an hour or two. And if it’s raining (which let’s face it, it often is), museums are one of the best ways to stay dry without just ending up in a café. Most of them have decent cafés and toilets too, which helps when you’re out with kids or want a proper sit down.
Check Out a Local Restaurant
There’s been this running joke for years that British food is awful. For some reason it’s stuck, even though it hasn’t really held true for a long time. Chefs like Michel Roux and Galton Blackiston have spent their careers showing just how good British cooking can be, and there’s a lot more to it than soggy veg and overcooked meat. London’s food scene especially doesn’t match the stereotype. It’s packed with award-winning restaurants, proper gastropubs, and tiny neighbourhood spots that serve up really decent food. You’ll find places with multiple Michelin stars, but also smaller family-run places doing simple British classics really well. And because it’s such a multicultural city, you get the best of everything else too, whether that’s Sri Lankan street food or handmade Italian pasta. Even if you’re not going for anything fancy, you can eat well in London without having to search too hard. Lots of pubs now focus on quality seasonal menus, and there are weekend markets where you can try everything from Scotch eggs to smoked brisket. Then there are the amazing London gastropubs too, which are not to be missed! So no, the old joke about terrible British food doesn’t really hold up, especially not here.
