London in one day - what to visit | PolishTrains

At a glance

• The suggested one-day London walking route covers approximately 4 km from Piccadilly Circus to Tower Bridge
• Key stops include Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye
• Tate Modern and Tower Bridge complete the day's itinerary on the South Bank
• Eurostar travels from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in just over 2 hours
• A valid passport is required for all Eurostar journeys — a national ID card is not accepted
• Border checks are conducted before boarding at St Pancras, so allow extra time before departure

We suggest starting the tour at 10am with:

1. Piccadilly Circus ( Piccadilly Cir****cus tube station) one of the most recognisable places in London located in the heart of the entertainment West End, in the Soho district worth returning to in the evening. The square is famous for the huge illuminated advertisements placed on one corner. It brings together shopping centres and numerous theatres. After leaving the square, head towards, running alongside the National Gallery, Whitecomb Street, which will lead you to Trafalgar Square - 8 min 650 m

2 Trafalgar Square ( Charing Cross tube station) is a square located in central London on the site of the former Royal Stables. It is a meeting place for Londoners. Among other things, London New Year's Eve is held here. Nelson's Column is located in the central part of the square. Amongst other things, it is the venue for the London New Year's Eve celebrations. In the central part of the square is The Mall and Admiral Arch - 10 min 100 m

3. The Mall and Admiral Arch - Admiral Arch is the so-called High Gate , opening onto the Mall - a wide avenue leading directly to Buckingham Palace. Along the Mall stretches the royal ** St James's** Park, an enclave of greenery in the middle of the city where many important official royal events, including the Queen's birthday, are held amongst the flowers and trees. The park is known for its tame squirrels, approaching tourists. Walking all the way along The Mall you come to Buckingham Palace - 20 mins 1 km

4. Buckingham Palace - it is worth getting here before 11:30 a.m. as this is when the changing of the guard and the so-called House Guards Parade take place. In front of the palace is the 1931 statue of Queen Victoria. Continue along Spur Road and Bridcage Walk - Walking along ** St James's** Park, head towards the Parliament building topped by Big Ben, the modern seat of England 's political government. At the point where Bridcage Walk changes to Great George Street turn right and after three minutes you reach Westminster Abbey - 15 mins 1 km

5 Westminster Abbey - is the most important Anglican church next to Canterbury Cathedral. Westminster Abbey Street is famous for its row of, standing on the pavement, red telephone boxes, an indispensable symbol of London and a place where you should definitely have your photo taken. Big Ben is also best seen from here . Continue walking towards it towards the big clock and then enter Westminster Bridge Crossing the Thames we are already on the South Bank - 10 min 1 km

6th South Bank - or the southbank of the Thames. Now it's time for a change of atmosphere - we leave history behind and enter the world of modern London. We head towards the London Eye, visible from afar. Walking along the waterfront, we have the opportunity to admire historic London from the perspective of the river. After a few minutes we reach the London Eye - 5 min500 m

7. London Eye - the Millennium Wheel, erected in 1999. The wheel is 135 metres high and takes 30 minutes to fully rotate. Price from PLN 24.30. This is a great opportunity to relax and see the city skyline (note, there are no toilets in the pods ?). After the ride we continue along the Thames where, near Waterloo Bridge (take the underpass), we pass the Southbank Centre 5 min 500 m

8 The Southbank Centre - one of the largest arts centres in the world. Beyond Waterloo Bridge, to our right is the famous National theatre. Now we are faced with a somewhat boring riverside stretch. After 15 minutes and a walk of about 1.5 km, we come to the Tate Modern 15 min 1.5 km

9. Tate Modern - a contemporary art gallery with extensive collections including paintings by Picasso, works by Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp 's urinal - the exhibit from which conceptual art began. It is certainly worth taking the time to explore the exhibition, especially as the museum is free to visit. Again we return to the seafront and, after walking 150 metres, we see Shakespeare's Globe 3 min 150 m

10. Shakespeare's Globe standing on the site of the Elizabethan Globe Theatre, associated with William Shakespeare. From this point you can also already see Tower Bridge. Head towards it, on the way passing through a short tunnel (crossing) under the tracks 10 min 800 m

11. Tower Bridge - this is the drawbridge over the Thames and the destination of our trip today. From the towers of the bridge we can watch the sunset over London. Tower Bridge was built in 1872 and from the very beginning was considered a masterpiece of the engineering of the time. Interestingly, from the very beginning it was compared to the Eiffel Tower, built five years earlier. Right next to Tower Bridge, on the north bank of the Thames, is the historic fortress of British monarchs , the Tower of London, built in the 11th century for William the Conqueror. However, it is best known for its grisly story of King Henry VIII's wives. Today, it is where the royal valuables are kept.

12 It' s now up to us to decide - do we still have the energy to explore the nearby City, London's modern business district. Or was the view of its landmark 30 St Mary Axe, the famous 'London egg', from the perspective of the river enough for us?

One thing is for sure - London's top tourist attractions, passed!... and it's only afternoon, approaching five o'clock or tea time!?

13 An evening in London or Paris? - An important question to ask yourself on this day. If the choice is London, then it's simple ... we go to Soho or Camden, and if romantic Paris... a very good choice - we'll relax while travelling in comfort by train!

14 Go to the nearest tube station - London Bridge Underground and take the black line underground towards Edgware, Mill Hill East or High Barnet Get off 4 stops away at Kings Cross St Pancras and head to St Pancras station from where the Eurostar train to Paris leaves.

How do I buy a ticket for a Eurostar train?

Ticket reservations can be made via the booking form, e-mail: kontakt@polishtrains.eu or by phone: 703 402 010 (Call cost: PLN 2.58 including VAT/min). Feel free to contact us!