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London
Trip Planning & Itineraries
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London - the grand resonance of its very name suggests history and might. Its opportunities for entertainment by day and night go on and on and on. It's a city that exhilarates and intimidates, a Monopoly board studded with stellar sights.
It's a cosmopolitan mix of Third and First Worlds, the stubbornly traditional and the proudly avant-garde. But somehow - between 'er Majesty and Boy George, Bow Bells and Big Ben, the Millennium Dome and the 2012 Olympics - it all hangs together.
Best of London: Top 3 Things to Do
Best of London: 3-Day Itinerary
London has everything - art, architecture, fashion, food, coffee - well, they're still working on that last one, so have a pint instead. Join a long line of failures in your attempt to make a Beefeater laugh. Hunt down that rare as-yet-uncollected Elvis Costello single in Portobello Road. Or conquer your vertigo and climb to the top of St Paul's Cathedral. There's a lot to do in three days, so read on for some ideas on how to maximize your travel time.
A summary of our suggested itineraries in London is below, or click here to read the full-blown London itinerary and travel tips. Click here for more tours of London. Also read the latest posts on the Viator Travel Blog about London Heathrow airport transport.
Day 1: Get your bearings in London
Where to start a trip to London? Not Big Ben or Buckingham Palace - save those attractions for later. Instead start your visit on the London Underground (the Tube), the oldest metro system in the world and an indispensable tool for getting around London. (Note that a London Sightseeing Pass will get you free transport on the Underground as well as free admission to museums, galleries and attractions throughout London.)
Right - now ascend that impossibly steep escalator and hit the town. Should you fancy the affairs of state, just look up and find that unmistakable clocktower that is Big Ben - a handy signpost for the Houses of Parliament, where you can watch the legislative process in action. Follow that up with the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and a spot of tea.
Day 2: London shopping, a spot of tea
London's many weekly markets feature everything from trendy clothes to vintage, antiques to modern amenities, health-food to sweets. Harrods and Harvey Nichols are certainly worth a trip, but the markets should be a part of any London itinerary. Among them are Portobello Road, famous for antiques and quirky odds 'n' ends (Saturdays); Borough Market, a Saturday must-do for foodies; and Camden Markets, open every day, with alternative fashions and hand-made crafts. Continuing to mix the old with new, 300-year-old Fortnum and Mason, the 'premiere purveyor of exotic edibles' brings an elegant, age-old tradition to life every day with the serving of afternoon tea. The custom was invented by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857), one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.
As chock-a-block as London is with sights, there are plenty of things to see and do beyond the city limits. Head southwest to Windsor Castle (continuously occupied for nearly 1,000 years - a record, as it happens), mysterious Stonehenge, and the light opera and Roman spas of genteel Bath. Or make a pilgrimage to Canterbury, Dover, Leeds Castle, and the other treasures of Kent. Stratford, birthplace of Shakespeare, has annual festivals and performances of the Bard's work nearly year-round. Go even further: try haggis in Edinburgh or blood pudding in Paris.
Best of London: Sightseeing Tours
Best of London: Top 3 Restaurants
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All things to do in London
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Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours
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Cultural & Theme Tours
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Day Trips & Excursions
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Family Friendly
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Food, Wine & Nightlife
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Multi-day & Extended Tours
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Outdoor Activities
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Private & Custom Tours
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Shopping & Fashion
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Shows, Concerts & Sports
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Sightseeing Tickets & Passes
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Tours & Sightseeing
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Transfers & Ground Transport
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Walking & Biking Tours
Fancy a private Stonehenge viewing? Try Viator's private Stonehenge day tour including Bath and Lacock. Or add Windsor Castle onto the itinerary, that's OK too.
