At the end of my adventures in England, I had only one afternoon to explore London before flying home the next day. I was amazed at everything I was able to see in a short amount of time.
I chose a hotel in the heart of the city, which gave me additional time that I would have spent just getting into the city from an airport hotel. I walked from my hotel to the closest Original London Sightseeing Tour bus stop. No matter what major city I am visiting, I always take one of the hop-on, hop-off buses for the narrative as well as the ease of navigation.
Aboard this classic double-decker tour bus, I settled in to listen to the onboard tour guide point out major sites as well as tidbits like where J.K. Rowling lives and Princess Kate shops for Prince George’s clothes. Past Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben the bus made its way through traffic.
Just after crossing Tower Bridge, I left the bus at the Tower of London in order to board a Thames River cruise that was included with my bus ticket. Beginning at the Tower of London, the boat passed in full view of Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, and EDF Energy London Eye soaring 442 feet above the city.
If you have the time, bus tickets also include three walking tours: Changing of the Guard Walk, Rock ‘N Roll Walk and Jack the Ripper Walk.
On dry land again, I walked to the London Eye, a mega Ferris wheel on the river bank. Lines can be long, but time passed quickly as I watched people getting on and off the ride. Finally my turn. I boarded the car and was offered a wonderful 360-degree view of the city. The cars are so big you can walk around inside the glass capsule to take it all in.
After grabbing a quick dinner on my way back to the hotel, I was ready to relax before heading to Heathrow the next morning.
By planning ahead, I was able to map out an afternoon of sightseeing and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
When you go:
Original London Sightseeing Tours can be joined at any of the bus line’s 80 stops. The main office is located at the Original London Visitor Centre, 17-19 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square.
Brown’s Hotel, Albemarle Street, is located in Mayfair close to Piccadilly Circus and Green Park underground station. With exceptional amenities, exceedingly comfortable accommodations, and professional and friendly staff, this five star hotel is an excellent choice for a London holiday.
For more information about visiting England, click here.
