Luke Keeler May 1, 2018

London is a huge city filled with many important Tourist Attractions, but what happens if you only have a short layover and want to see the city? Here are 10 Treasures Of Traveling and things to do on a short layover in London.

Top Things to visit in London

London is a huge city filled with many important tourist attractions to visit, but what happens if you only have a short layover and want to see the city. I suggest for you to review the following 10 things to see in London and pick around 5 of them to visit on your short layover. I would suggest that you need a minimum of at least 6 hours, basically half a day, to travel from any one of the major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton Airport to the city center and back in order to catch your flight. Having a full 24 hour layover would give you more time to see the following tourist attractions and ease your mind that you won’t miss your flight. If you had a full 24 hour layover, you would probably be able to go and see each of these attractions, but you won’t be able to spend enough time fully exploring each of them. If you have a desire to explore one of the London attractions, then it would be best to pick two or three and focus your time on becoming familiar with those locations as the city is huge and you only have a short amount of time to explore the city on your layover. Here are 10 Treasures Of Traveling and things to do on a layover in London.

The London Underground

The London Underground is a public rapid transit system serving London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.

You haven’t truly visited London if you haven’t taken the London Underground, which is also known as the London Tube. The London Underground is a public rapid transit system serving London and some parts of the adjacent counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom that transports people from one end of the city to the other. Check out this link to view the latest tube and rail maps.

London Eye

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.

The London Eye has become a structure that is synonymous with London skyline as it stretches high above the city and along the River Thames. It’s a great meeting spot as it is easy to find, but do be careful of the crowd of hundreds of people trying to also visit the eye.

Parliament and Big Ben

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower.

The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London’s most iconic landmarks and must-see London attractions. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower. This area of London is full of commotion with the hustle and bustle of Londoners. Take some time to appreciate this area of London by viewing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, and the double-decker buses on every corner. This is an iconic area of London not to be missed.

Westminster Abby

Westminster Abby is one of the world's great churches, with a history stretching back over a thousand years and an essential part of any trip to London. — Westminster Abby is one of the world’s great churches, with a history stretching back over a thousand years and an essential part of any trip to London.

Adjacent to the Parliament buildings is Westminster Abbey, one of the most significant houses of worship in the world. Every monarch for nearly a millennium has been crowned here. Westminster Abbey serves as the final resting place for many of the most famous names in history as well.

Visit Buckingham Palace and Watch the Changing of the Guards

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom.

No trip to London is complete without visiting Buckingham Palace, home of London royals and the administrative center of the country’s leaders. If you can make it there by 11:30 AM during the summer months, you might be able to catch the Changing of the Guard, which is a striking display of British pomp and pageantry that takes place around the Victoria Memorial where the new guard takes over from the old guard. Just remember to arrive early as it will be extremely crowded. It’s a time-honored tradition that consists of a 45-minute ceremony that occurs daily, and it’s free! Buckingham Palace is usually one of the first places London layover travelers visit. Even if the timing doesn’t work out and you are unable to see the Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace is still a great place to visit with the beautiful architecture and the surrounding area.

Tower of London

The Tower of London, officially Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The Tower has served various purposes throughout history from an armory, a treasury, a prison, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. Now, it is one of London’s busiest tourists attractions where you can always see Royal Guards standing at attention.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.

The Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic symbols of London. It is a suspension bridge that was built between 1886 and 1894. Since the Tower Bridge has become so iconic along the London skyline, it is sometimes confused with London Bridge, which is actually located about half a mile upstream from the Tower Bridge. When visiting London on your quick layover, you can walk across the bridge and over the River Thames. You can also visit the Bridge’s twin towers and high level walkway, which is part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Piccadilly Circus

The famous bright signs of Piccadilly Circus in Central London!

Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s most popular tourist destinations, home to the iconic Piccadilly advertising screens and what is believed to be the statue of Eros. It is a road junction and public space that is close to major shopping and entertainment areas in London’s West End. It was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly Street. Its status as a major traffic junction has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting place and a tourist attraction in its own right. Piccadilly Circus is particularly known for its video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building, similar to the bright lights of Time Square in New York City.

Take a Sightseeing Tour

Sometimes, having a short amount of time to sight-see in a large and busy city, is best when guided by a professional. There are many sightseeing companies in London, where travelers can use the few hours of their layovers to see the most iconic sights throughout London on a tour bus. Depending on the type of tour and company you book with, tours will visit famous London cultural landmarks, museums and public parks. Some Layover Tours include pickups and drop-offs at the airport, which could be convenient for travelers in a time crunch.

Try Some of the Famous Fish and Chips

You can’t truly experience a new city or country without trying the food that it is culturally known for and England is famous for its Fish and Chips. You can easily spend your layover embarking upon a taste test adventure that will let you sample the flavors of London. You can look up individual restaurants in London, or hit up the best foodie neighborhoods in town, but sometimes the local pubs on many of the street corners is where you can find the best Fish and Chips.

— Luke Keeler