24 hours in London

England's capital might have attractions enough to last a month, but we’ll show you how to make your 24 hours in London count. Do more than simply chip away at the city's surface and experience its many faces.

9AM // The Heart of the Metropolis

From Westminster to William Shakespeare

Either Victoria or Charing Cross railway stations will drop you in the thick of the action where postcard favourites such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square all hustle for attention within one chock-a-block square mile.

A waterside walk along the Thames from the iconic London Eye to the expansive Tate Modern and neighbouring Globe Theatre allows you to soak up the grandeur of the city, while offering culture and cloud-high views along the way.

A post shared by Visit London (@visitlondonofficial) on Sep 12, 2016 at 11:26am PDT

12PM // Maritime and the Meridian Line

Greenwich for time travel and a change of pace

Take a short train to Greenwich where classical architecture and vast swathes of green mix to give that real period-drama feeling. Step aboard the legendary Cutty Sark or spend some time in the Maritime Museum, whose displays include an oversized 19^th century biscuit.

While here, hop back and forth across the Meridian line and experience the thrill of standing in two hemispheres at once. Tip: follow the Meridian out into the fields rather than queuing for photos within the Royal Observatory.

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4PM // Rest in Peace

Highgate Cemetery or Camden Town

Back in London proper, Highgate cemetery is a macabre must-see, containing the remains of Douglas Adams, Karl Marx, and George Eliot, to name a few. Dating from 1839, graves range from the tongue-in-cheek (see Patrick Caulfield's) to the sublime.

If final resting places aren't your thing, head over to the very much alive Camden Town for markets, tattoos, pubs, street grub, retro-vintage stores, canals, and people-watching. Grab a drink, relax your limbs, and let the colourful world go by.

A post shared by Camden Market (@camdenmarketldn) on Aug 18, 2016 at 12:35am PDT

7PM // Theatreland

Take in a Musical at the West End

No 24 hours in London would be complete without a trip to the West End. Walking around Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus in the early evening is a show in itself, as towering facades and bold neon nights hint at elaborate art-deco interiors and years of timeless entertainment.

Rivalled only by Broadway, watch international stars old and new give it their all from one of almost forty stages.
Book your theatre tickets for West End shows through our trusted partner Encore tickets!

A post shared by 42nd Street (Musical) (@42ndstreetldn) on Mar 31, 2017 at 11:05am PDT

11PM // Soho, so good

Paint Chinatown red

Round off the evening by exploring nearby Soho and Chinatown. While Chinatown offers late-night food, dancing, and karaoke, notorious Soho's cobbled streets are rich in both nightlife and history.

Try cocktail bar, Opium, on Gerrard Street for some late night theatrics and dim sum. With smoking cocktails priced from £10 up, you might want to pace yourself; yet what this bar lacks in thrift, it makes up for in atmosphere and mystery - the hardest part is finding the door.