London In Three Days

By Shelli Elledge on April 22, 2019 in European Travel, For Kids, Health & Wellness, International, Lifestyle, Travel

What to See in London in Three Days

See London in three-days? Is that even possible? London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Steeped in historical significance and legendary traditions, but a world leader in fashion and architectural design, it’s difficult to decide what to see if you only have a few days.

So, how do you make the best of it? If you’ve been here before, (and if you’re like us) you revisit some of your favorite places and also include something that you haven’t toured on previous visits.

Ron and Shelli in their favorite English Pub

And there are so many choices! But one of the best things about this city is that many of the sights are free, or at least of a reasonable cost, that will leave you amazed and inspired.

In this article, I’ll explain what we did on our recent trip to London. I’ll also explain several additional places that you might want to visit, as well.

We started our whirlwind adventure from our small boutique hotel near the Tower of London.

Our Early Morning Walk to Westminster Abbey

We’ve launched several of our European trips from London, but if you were to see our snapshots it might look like it’s our first time visiting here. That’s because we enjoy seeing many of the traditional sightseeing places as much now as we did when we visited London the first time in 2000.

It would be difficult to not snap pictures in such an iconic world-class city. Whether it be the centuries-old London Bridge, the London Tower, a neighborhood pub, or the relatively-new and contemporary building known as the Shard, each place exemplifies British ingenuity.

The Shard from Tower Bridge

This year, our visit to London included a Take Walks Tour of Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. Since these buildings are located within a couple miles of our hotel, we knew we’d get in our early morning walk.

From our hotel, Ron started his phone navigation and we set off for the Abbey. His navigation, as it turned out, lead us through off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods and saved us almost fifteen minutes of walk time. Which was an experience in itself!

In a maze of narrow streets and alleys, the work-a-day life of Londoners had already started. Small open-air markets were just receiving crates of fresh veggies and fruits for the day, men and women in business suits and tennis shoes – coffee cup in hand and determined looks on their faces – briskly walked to work. Neighborhood coffee shops were busy, and shopkeepers were just sweeping the sidewalks of a jumble of not-yet-opened local cafes and pubs.

Double decker on Westminster Bridge – London

After about forty minutes, we popped out of the tangle of tiny streets and reached the large thoroughfares of double decker buses, iconic English taxis, and pedestrians. But now, we could also see glimpses of our destination. Although shrouded in scaffolding except for the huge face of the clock, the Big Ben tower lead us the rest of our way.

Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament

One could easily spend an entire day at Westminster Abbey and not see all of the historical remembrances, shrines, and relics in this cathedral. However, even if you only have a small amount of time, you’ll still want to see it. Known as the church of the monarchy, it’s the location for royal weddings, the final resting place of 30 monarchs, and it’s where Great Britain’s royal coronations have been held (except two) since 1066.

Westminster Abbey in London, England

To put it into perspective, an Abbey employee named Wolter was quoted on the website as saying,

“The biggest challenge we face is actually time – getting all our work done alongside the daily routine of the Abbey as a working church, visitor attraction and home to 1,000 years of history.”

But, as the writer said, it’s not just a place to commemorate history. It is a working church with a regular schedule of services. And a place of continued prestige and nobility. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Catherine) were married here in 2011. And in 2018, Steven Hawking’s ashes were buried in the same area of the nave as where Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are buried.

Leaving Westminster, we walked across the street and headed towards the another highly recognizable building. For the rest of our tour, we would explore the Houses of Parliament from one end to the other. We stepped through the enormous door and into a cavernous room called the Great Hall. Our guide told us that this is where banquets, meetings and stately dinners have taken place for hundreds of years.

Houses of Parliament in London, England

From there, we went through the different rooms in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We walked through the areas where the legislators do their research and prepare for presentations. We also spent time in the formal debate room. One of the highlights of our tour was when we were taken through the private areas where the Queen enters the building and saw her private Robing Room where she is prepared for opening session. We would love to show you, but pictures are not allowed in many of these areas.

Although the tour was three and a half hours long, the time flew by. We saw rooms and portions of the Parliament that few people are able to see unless they’re with a tour guide. I might add a note here to say that neither the construction nor the environmental protesters negatively influenced our time. As a matter of fact, the whole Parliament area was pedestrianized. Without the auto and bus traffic, it was a lot easier for us to get around!

So, what if you’re in London and you don’t have the time or the money to spend for a tour? London has many options for things to do and places to see on your own pace!

Inexpensive Things to Do in London

One of the most interesting things to do in London is to walk the city! Each area of the city has parks, gardens, statues, and architecture that are amazing!

If you’re unfamiliar with the city, take one of the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours. It’s an inexpensive way to see a large area and you can get off at whatever stop you decide.

If you decide you have several hours, take in the London Tower and you’ll see a huge castle once used as a royal residence as well as a prison. You’ll also have the opportunity to see the two largest diamonds in the world, both of which are housed here.

The London Tower is a beautiful historic site in England, home of the Royal Jewels.

The Tower Bridge, another icon, it one of London’s most recognized structures. Trimmed in blue and gold representing the Queen’s royalty, chances are pretty good that there will be crowds of people. However, to see it in real life is a great experience. Take pictures from every direction, close-up or far away. Snap a picture from a slightly different angle. It will be impossible to capture the true experience, but it’s so worth the effort!

Have you been to Shakespeare’s Globe? Located on the Thames River promenade, it’s next door to Tate’s Modern Museum. I mean, who wouldn’t want to relish in the ambiance of one of its reading rooms with over-stuffed chairs, shuttered windows, and massive rock fireplaces while lingering over a steaming cup of Earl Gray tea?

The London Eye on the River Thames

The London Eye, a slow-moving ferris wheel on steroids, is popular with locals and visitors and offers the opportunity to see some of the best views of the city. Located not far from the Big Ben clock tower, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament, just head for the Thames River promenade. If you purchase tickets online, it will save buckets of time.

A trip to Buckingham Palace London, England

Another London attraction is Buckingham Palace and the St. James Park Parks. Maybe needless to say, but the gardens are royally gorgeous. Tulips, lilies, geraniums, and other flowers I don’t know the names of! Absolutely stunning and precisely tended and manicured just as the Queen would have it! Don’t forget to grab an ice cream from the cutest little English truck!

Ice cream in St. James Park London

If you’re headed north from Buckingham Palace, take in the Marble Arch, Piccadilly Circus, or Trafalgar Square. They’re north of Buckingham Palace and St. James Park so it’s walkable or you can take the tubes (subways). Directions are well-posted.