London ideas for a one day trip

Hello,

I have quite a few family and friends coming to visit me in Oxfordshire next week. Most are not staying very long and would like to see London for a day or two.

I was just wondering if anyone had suggestions on good things to do and see in London if someone were to go there only for the day. My friend would like to go there on the train and come back the same day. I was thinking things that aren't too expensive or time consuming, seeing as traveling around London on the Tube itself can be time consuming.

Also, another traveler from my family would like to know of "non-touristy" things to do or see in London. I've only really seen the touristy areas and I could only think of Covent Garden.

Thanks!

Well, they're going to have to accept that they can only do one or two things in a day .  What do they like to do?  Sightseeing, shopping, history, art, music? 

When my mom and brother went down for a day we got them a day pass on one of those hop-on bus tour things (http://www.theoriginaltour.com/) They were able to go wherever they wanted and seemed to have a good time.

a day pass on one of those hop-on bus tour things (http://www.theoriginaltour.com/)

I second that idea.  If you don't know what you want to see, this is a wonderful way to see most all of the landmarks and attractions.  If you see something you want to explore a little more, simply hop off the bus, look around and hop back on when you're ready.  I am pretty sure the tickets are valid for 24 hours.  You'll see so much more this way than you would if you took the tube.  I've taken it twice now and wouldn't mind doing it again. 

If your "non-tourist" person is in London over a weekend I would tell them to wander around the City on the Sunday. It's usually totally deserted then and it's only one square mile so totally do-able. Lots of interesting old churches including St. Paul's, take a gander at the Gherkin, the Monument of the Great Fire, Guildhall, etc. And not far to the Tower.
If the weather is nice, check out some of the parks.

Days Out Guide - http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london and City Cruises - http://www.citycruises.com/sightseeing.aspx can give you great ideas of things to do that your family & friends will find interesting.   

When my mom and brother went down for a day we got them a day pass on one of those hop-on bus tour things (http://www.theoriginaltour.com/) They were able to go wherever they wanted and seemed to have a good time.

Definately recommend that for someone just doing a day. When DW's daughter and friend came to visit a couple of years back DW and her friend took them to London for the day on the megabus (£12 return) and then they did the tour bus, got off at the Tower of London and visited that.

The bus tour thing is a great idea. I went to London for the first time last summer with a friend who was visiting from the US.  We did the bus tour and it was a load of fun.  You can hop on/off whenever you want, and they go by all the major tourist attractions.  Also, we found the tour guides on the bus to be really fun and interesting. We spent quite a bit of time in the Tower of London and also the National Gallery (the gallery is free admission).  Also, some of the bus tours offer a discount for tickets to other attractions if you purchase it direct through them.  We got 3 or 4 quid off on tickets to the Tower.  Not a huge discount, but it all adds up!

As for a not so touristy thing to do, which is super convenient for Paddington station seeing as they are coming in from Oxfordshire, is a walk along the Regent's Canal.

They could walk from Paddington to Little Venice, the go east via Regent's Park, maybe popping into the zoo if they fancy, and a stop up Primrose Hill with its panoramic views. If the weather is nice and in spring's favor, the daffodils will be out and it really is quite pretty and serene. They could lunch at the lock, grab some food from the market and hang out on a patch of grass to watch the boats go through. Then they can take the 29 bus from Camden Road which ends at Trafalgar Square where there is plenty to keep them busy, including one of my favorite slightly hidden gems, the cafe at the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery (behind the National Gallery) - more fantastic views if you can find the stairs/elevator to take you there (hint: way in the back!) I had lunch with a friend there once and spotted the actress who plays Lady Edith. I was suitably impressed.

From there they can catch that hop on hop off bus that is also an excellent idea.

Just FYI, it's absolutely bloody freezing in London at the moment. Like the five minute walk home from work is unbearably windy and cold.

I would avoid anything that involved walking and you couldn't pay me to get on top of a tour bus *brrrrrr*

Tour busses are great if you want to see the whole city but they are freaking expensive, £25 a person o_O
You can avoid the tube and get regular busses to get around, depends if you want to see as much as possible or just do one thing.

Non touristy, that depends on what day you're coming in? Different things on different parts of the week Vintage clothes shopping trawl down Brick Lane, Street food market? Best pancakes in London? etc.

I would avoid Covent Garden itself like the plague, and I live there! I don't really see the *point* of it, there's nothing there aside from the moomin shop and Laudree that isn't somewhere else (oh and Meat Market), too many tourists and I want to punch all street performers in the face.

There's some nice boutiques and places around 7 dials if you are in the covent garden area.

hijack

Cheesebiscuit, have you been to the Cambridge Satchels shop near Covent Garden?  I think I remember you mentioning that you are a fan of the brand.  I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying to make a quick stop there on my way through London to Manchester.  I'd like to see a satchel in person before ordering one.  Thanks!

/hijack

hijack

Cheesebiscuit, have you been to the Cambridge Satchels shop near Covent Garden?  I think I remember you mentioning that you are a fan of the brand.  I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying to make a quick stop there on my way through London to Manchester.  I'd like to see a satchel in person before ordering one.  Thanks!

/hijack

Yes. So about six weeks ago I went in and randomly bought a mustard coloured one. I loved it...a week later a friend said "hey wanna go to the CSC shop then get a drink", "why yes, I said" so I accompanied her and one thing led to another....I got a small sized rainbow sparkly one for half price, I double loved it. Then...well let's just say that I really like the colour red...

Now I'm not allowed in there anymore

That part of covent garden is lovely, pop into Neals yard and get some cheese, get cheap/decent conveyor belt sushi at Kulu Kulu, stop in at my house (I live on Seven Dials ) go to Tatty devine and the Poste Mistress shoe shop (<3 <3) get a cupcake at candy cakes etc

I second that idea.  If you don't know what you want to see, this is a wonderful way to see most all of the landmarks and attractions.  If you see something you want to explore a little more, simply hop off the bus, look around and hop back on when you're ready.  I am pretty sure the tickets are valid for 24 hours.  You'll see so much more this way than you would if you took the tube.  I've taken it twice now and wouldn't mind doing it again. 

I second that - my parents loved it!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Yes. So about six weeks ago I went in and randomly bought a mustard coloured one. I loved it...a week later a friend said "hey wanna go to the CSC shop then get a drink", "why yes, I said" so I accompanied her and one thing led to another....I got a small sized rainbow sparkly one for half price, I double loved it. Then...well let's just say that I really like the colour red...

Now I'm not allowed in there anymore

There's no shame in loving a good bag, or five.  I've got a fantastic leather bag that was not cheap and will last forever, and part of me feels like I should be content with that, but another part covets those satchels like nobody's business. 

That part of covent garden is lovely, pop into Neals yard and get some cheese, get cheap/decent conveyor belt sushi at Kulu Kulu, stop in at my house (I live on Seven Dials ) go to Tatty devine and the Poste Mistress shoe shop (<3 <3) get a cupcake at candy cakes etc

I've only got an hour between trains!  But the next time I get to London for fun, I might take a closer look.  I try to get to London at least once a year, and explore a different area each time.  There's so much in a city, and if you try to do too much at once, you don't get a real experience of anything.  That's why I'm not a huge fan of the hop on hop off buses.  DH and I did that in Dublin, and I hardly remember anything of what we saw.  It was information overkill.  I'd always suggest choosing one or two things per day that you really want to do, and not worry about the rest.  Of course, if these are people who are never going to get to London ever again, they may think the most is the best .

If someone is considering a hop on hop off bus tour, I would highly suggest checking out their reviews before choosing a company. There are a few and some have better reputations than others. You don't want to spend half your day waiting for a bus that is not showing up or stuck in traffic.