How to see London in One day with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary!

There’s so much to see and do in London. You could fill weeks trying to explore everything that the ‘Big Smoke’ has to offer, it’s hard. But what if you don’t have weeks? What if you are limited to one day? What are the best London attractions? Maybe you’re travelling England on a budget or have a stopover and want to explore, or you’re down for an event and have one day spare to visit London. There are loads of reasons that you may only have one for sightseeing in London. So what do you prioritise? How do you make the most of your time? What are the must-see traditional things to visit in London that are also fun for kids?

Student accommodation provider Urbanest has put together a handy infographic of a one-day itinerary of London for you to make the most of your day. An early start, with ten stops and a little over twelve hours, and you have seen most of central London. From the main landmarks to food stops, follow the itinerary, or use it as a rough guide for the best way to have a great one day of exploration in England’s Capital city.

Table of Contents

One Day London Itinerary

Stop 1 – Trafalgar Square

The day starts bright and early at 8:30 am. This early time and a good idea allows you to get some good photos before the landmark is flooded with other tourists. As one of London’s famous cultural spaces, it gets very busy first thing.

Stop 2 – Buckingham Palace

It will take about fifteen minutes to walk past St. James’ Park and down to Buckingham Palace from Trafalgar Square. You should get here for 9:30 am to coincide with its opening and to see the changing of the guard. You could also take an iconic double-decker bus – remember to purchase an Oyster card to ride the bus – it’s a great way to see lodnodn .

You could take half an hour to explore the outside of the royal headquarters. Be sure not to miss the famous guards here! Lots of fun photo opportunities with kids at this one!

Between July and October, you do have the option to go inside and see the staterooms. However, to do this, you will need to skip the next stop on the itinerary, and you will need to purchase tickets.

Stop 3 – The English Rose Café

You have now ticked off two of the major attractions in London, so it’s time for a coffee break! It’s only about a ten-minute walk to The English Rose Café, and we recommend you get there for around 10:10 am. That way you can spend fifty minutes in this independent, family-run tea room. You can choose from some breakfast favourites, such as a full English breakfast or croissants and there are also some yummy cakes for kids (or adults!) If you’re not hungry they have a wide selection of teas and coffees to keep you going. If you find yourself done before fifty minutes is up, why not browse their shop, where you can buy some teas, preserves or other souvenirs.

Stop 4 – Big Ben

Well, kind of. You will actually be seeing the Elizabeth Tower (formerly the Clock Tower) as Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell inside the clock tower. From your coffee stop, you need to walk past Westminster Abbey (you can take a guided tour here if you have more time) to arrive at the famous tower, and the Houses of Parliament for 11:20 am. The walk should take you about twenty minutes, you could also take a bus if you don’t have much time have very young childen with you. You have thirty minutes here to admire the architecture at Big Ben and Houses of Parliament and get some pictures.

Things to do with Kids in London

Stop 5 – Borough Market

Hop on the tube at the Westminster Station and catch the Jubilee line towards Stratford. Get off at London Bridge and walk the rest of the way to Borough Market. The whole journey should take you about ten minutes. You should arrive by 12:00 pm.

The famous Borough Market makes the perfect lunch stop for today. London’s oldest food market has been serving locals for over 1000 years. You have an hour and fifty minutes here to browse the stalls that range from exotic foods, such as Japanese street food to fresh fruit and veg. Even the pickiest eaters should be able to find something to please their taste buds here. Our kids LOVE Borough market because you also get some tasters for free! Their favourites are the French Gallettes, Hot Dogs, Fish and Chips or the yummy Chocolate waffles.

Stop 6 – Shakespeare’s Globe OR Tate Modern

Stop 7 – Riverside Terrace Café, Southbank Centre

After all that culture, whether play or art, you’ll need some time to reflect. So we recommend you grab the tube again, you’ll want the Circle or District line. This does mean a short walk over Southwark Bridge to Canon Street Station, get off the tube at Embankment and cross the Golden Jubilee Bridge back to the south side of the river to get here. This should take you no more than twenty-five minutes, meaning you arrive by 3:15 pm. Spend forty-five minutes refreshing at this great pitstop. Located in the Southbank Centre, the Riverside Terrace Café offers great views of the River Thames. You could grab a drink here, afternoon tea or maybe something from the pastry counter to keep you going if you have younger children.

Stop 8 – The London Eye

The direct walk to the London Eye is only five minutes, but if the weather’s nice, you can make this a leisurely stroll along the river or spend some time in the Jubilee Gardens. Just be sure to arrive at the London Eye by 6:30 pm. You have an hour here, so you can either explore the river nearby and take in the views of the Eye. Or you can queue to ride this giant observation wheel. The wheel gives incredible panoramic views of the city from 135 metres high. If you visit in spring or autumn, a ride at 7:00 pm can offer sunset views. There is also an adventure playground here for kids to explore.

Stop 9 – Sherlock Holmes Pub

Take a ten-minute walk to the north side of the river, to enjoy a two-hour dinner at this traditionally English Sherlock Holmes themed pub. As 221-B Baker Street is a little out of the main city centre for this one-day itinerary, this pub offers a great alternative to get your fix of the famous detective. There’s even a recreation of Holmes and Watson’s sitting room and study. Enjoy a well earned British pint and some traditional English “pub grub” during your time here. The pub does allow small children and they have a kid’s menu but there are lots of other child friendly restaurants in the area.

How to spend one day with kids in London

Stop 10 – Leicester Square

Kids will probably be very tired by now but if you happen to be kid-free – take a ten-minute walk to arrive at your final stop of the day for 9:50 pm, Leicester Square. This renowned square boasts some of the best nightlife that London has to offer. You could try The Perception, Opium Cocktail Bar or the Light Lounge, to name just a few. So treat yourself to a tipple of your choice and congratulate yourself on seeing the best of London in one day! If you have more than one day – try these hidden gems of London to explore! This is the best list of fun but non-touristy things to do to uncover the real London. Check them out to make the most of your time in London.

Things to in London with Kids

If you have a little longer to spend in London, then a great place to visit is Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens, home of Princess Diana. It’s situated in one of London’s Great Parks – Hyde Park and that’s also home to Princess Diana Memorial Playground which is worth visiting. See here for more of our favourite playgrounds in London. Or if you have a second day or a few more hours to spare, than. a boat ride down the Thames on a thames river cruise which is a good spot for a family trip. If it’s more museums you’re after – South Kensington is the best place to view Natural History Museum, Science Museum (great for younger kids) Victoria and Albert Museum (this is a good one for older kids). Free museums are one of the best things about London. You could also do a hop-on hop-off bus tour to see more of London if it’s your first time here.

Other notable places to visit are the the Tower of London – kids will love to find out about Crown Jewels or Madame Tussauds.

If you’re visiting during half term, check out our favourite places to visit during half term with kids in london.