Off on a European holiday with Royal Caribbean Cruise, to explore six iconic Northern European cities in sixteen days, Anne and her sister Vera answer London calling by beginning their adventure by spending a few days exploring the capital of jolly old England. Here are their picks for 3-days in London, England.
Exploring Iconic Northern European Cities
Six iconic Northern European cities in sixteen days – one unforgettable trip!
London, Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Prague – some of the most beautiful and historic cities of the world, and once just names on a map – came to life as my sister Vera and I explored each on our recent European holiday with Royal Caribbean Cruise.
In this four-part blog series, I will recount some of the highlights of our time in these wonderful cities, and share some tips and recommendations based on our experiences, starting with 3-days in London, England.
First Stop: 3-Days in London, England
London Bridge is not ‘falling down’, Londoners are very friendly and like beer as much as tea, and London is a very walkable city – just some of the things that struck us as we explored this incredible city. In our 3-days in London, England we walked all over London, seeing the iconic sights and much more. In fact, the only times we used any public transportation in London was the Tube from the airport to our hotel when we arrived, and the National Express Bus to the Southampton cruise port when we left.
Our hotel, the Travelodge London Central Waterloo, proved to be a central and convenient home base for our London sightseeing outings. Located in South Bank near the Waterloo Train Station, we could walk in various directions to all the major sights. Using Google Maps helped us decide on the best and most efficient route each day, and the many bridges over the Thames River gave us lots of options to go back and forth.
Day 1: London’s Big Five
On the first day, we eagerly headed out to see a few of the most famous sights – each of these so massive they were impossible to miss. The London Eye was the first one to catch our eye. As the world’s largest observation wheel, it is a popular, but rather pricey attraction as it provides tourists with expansive views of London from its highest points. I, however, had learned of another even better way to see the view for free. Read on, as I will share that find later in this article. So, for now, Vera and I simply admired the gigantic wheel and moved on.
As we walked over the Westminster Bridge, there, towering ahead on the other side were the iconic Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. We gazed in awe at these enormous and historic landmarks. Big Ben is the massive 13 ton Great Bell at the top of the 11 storey Westminster Clock Tower. The Houses of Parliament are so enormous they take up 8 acres and have almost 5 km of hallways inside! It’s hard not to ponder all the historic meetings that have taken place inside its 1100 rooms. You can join a tour with the UK Parliament of Big Ben, or a broader tour of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to delve into a few such stories.
Nearby is the magnificent Westminster Abbey. I had been looking forward to seeing this famous site of so many Royal weddings and coronations. It was absolutely breath-taking to view this grand historical cathedral from the outside, and the next day we were to see how beautiful it was on the inside as well.
A lovely tree-lined stroll down Birdcage Walk led us to another highlight of the day – the world-renowned Buckingham Palace. Our excitement grew as we spotted it from a distance, its grandeur made even lovelier with all the British flags and colourful gardens leading up to it. I had seen it so many times in photos and news reports that I felt like I knew it, but it was awe-inspiring to be up close and imagine all the Royal events that have taken place there.
With all of this incredible sightseeing, we had worked up an appetite, so we capped off our first day of walking with a traditional fish ‘n chips dinner in a classic-looking British pub. We toasted the wonderful start to our trip with a pint, laughing about the beer we had chosen simply because of the funny name – Old Golden Hen. From there on in, we jokingly referred to ourselves as Old Golden Hens for the rest of the trip.
Day 2: Art, Markets & Tall Towers
After a good night’s rest, the following day’s route led us all over London – along the South Bank, over bridges, up tall towers, and down the Thames. Our first stop was the renowned Tate Modern, full of contemporary art by artists like Andy Warhol and Picasso – some of it so bizarre it made us laugh. Admission to Tate Modern is free, but you can book a 1-hour guided tour of Tate Modern for a fee.
Still talking about the unusual art we had just seen, we made our way to the bustling Borough Market. Hundreds of stalls of breads, cheeses, produce, and more were on display… but the market was very crowded and rather overwhelming so after briefly browsing we moved on. Part of Borough Market’s popularity is its connection to the Harry Potter movies, as No. 7 Stoney Street served as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and at No. 8 Stoney Street the entrance to the Third Hand Emporium. You can even sign up for Harry Potter Tours of Borough Market. Foodie tours of Borough Market are also popular, which I’d be tempted to sign up for in returning.
Arriving at the modern and sturdy looking London Bridge, we indeed verified that it was not ‘falling down’. We laughed and sang the well-known nursery rhyme as we crossed over it and took in the lovely views.
Now on the north side of the Thames, we paused by the Monument to the Great Fire of London, a tall pillar commemorating the devastating fire of 1666 which began in a baker’s shop nearby and destroyed much of London.
A few blocks down, we were excited to arrive at the first of two towers I had been eagerly anticipating since I had booked the free tickets prior to our trip. On the 38th floor of this tower, nicknamed the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building for its resemblance to the portable radio, was a fantastic viewing area called Sky Garden, which provided beautiful 360 degree views of all of London. Should you enjoy a light breakfast and an early start, you can also book an Early Access Ticket to Sky Garden with a Breakfast Treat.
As if these breathtaking views were not enough, our excitement grew as we headed to our second viewing tower, this one even higher. So tall we could see it from several blocks away, the skyscraper at 22 Bishopsgate is London’s tallest building. A dedicated high-speed lift whisked us up from the ground level directly to the 58th floor in mere seconds. Here we were treated to Horizon 22, the free two-storey public viewing gallery with floor-to-ceiling glass windows which allowed for unobstructed views for miles of London and even beyond. The views were thrilling, and we were up so high it made us chuckle to see how small the Sky Garden and the London Eye looked from way up there.
Coming back down to earth, literally, we wandered through the city, with interesting things to see along the way – sights such as the curious-looking ‘Inside-Out’ building, the nickname given to the Lloyd’s of London office building, and the Leadenhall Market, a beautiful Victorian-looking indoor/outdoor market. Leadenhall Market is another point of interest on Harry Potter Tours of London. It was mid-day, but the cafes, pubs, and outdoor patios at the market, and in fact all along our walk through the downtown, were full of well-dressed men and women enjoying a pint of beer.
Arriving at our next destination, the famous Tower of London, we gazed at the massive structure and pondered its incredible history. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066, it has been a symbol of British power for centuries, and has been everything from a palace to a prison over that time, even housing the Crown Jewels, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Conveniently nearby was a pier, where we hopped on a Thames River Cruise boat, and took in the beautiful views as we floated down the Thames to the Westminster Bridge dock. Our timing was spot on, as we walked up to the Westminster Abbey just in time to go inside for the start of an amazing service. Mesmerized by the stunningly beautiful interior, the lovely choral singing, and the priest’s message, we relaxed and contemplated all the famous Royal events that had taken place right where we were seated. As the service ended we felt very much at peace, yet our heads full of incredibly beautiful images and sounds, and to this day we remember that service as one of the absolute highlights of our entire Europe trip.
Day 3: Raising a Pint to Sacred Ceremony
Our final day in London started off with joining the masses of people going to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. As a ‘don’t-miss’ event I was eager to see it, and I enjoyed the ceremony, the striking red uniforms walking in perfect unison, and the pageantry. However, being a very hot day and extremely crowded, I was also glad when it was over and we could find a shady, quiet street to walk down.
This lovely tree-lined street, simply called The Mall (pronounced like ‘pal’), and famously seen in all the Royal processions and parades, led us to the busy tourist hub of Trafalgar Square. At our first stop, the National Gallery, we went through room after room gazing at the amazing works of famous painters such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt. With several floors of paintings, all very well organised and labelled, we could have easily spent much more time here, but with more wonderful places yet to see we ultimately moved on. As with Tate Modern, the National Gallery is free to visit, and even offers free one-hour taster tours of the collections from 3- 4 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (excluding public holidays). You can, of course, also book a paid tour of the National Gallery guided by an art expert.
Close by is the quaint St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, a landmark since the medieval period and venue outstanding music and artists. Here we sat in the lovely sanctuary and listened to a choir rehearsing, and then headed downstairs to the crypt for a delicious lunch of home-style cooked food.
Looking back, I was rather amused to realise the sequence of these last few places in London – we went from a church to a pub to a church to a pub! After leaving St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, we walked through the downtown area, and notably down historically significant Fleet Street.
This led us to the popular and historical Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub. Famous for having had literary patrons such as Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, it is considered a ‘must-see’ for tourists, and we really enjoyed looking through the quaint-looking rooms and having a wonderfully cold and refreshing fruit beer.
I suppose our next stop was technically a church, but it is immensely more grand than your average church. St. Paul’s Cathedral is famously known around the world as the site of many significant historical and Royal events, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. With the second largest dome in the world, behind only St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, it is a massive and majestic cathedral. We arrived in time for their Evensong, and for the next hour listened to the most heavenly beautiful choral singing in the most spectacularly beautiful setting imaginable.
The peace and beauty of the cathedral stayed with us as we left, and spotting a small shady park nearby we decided to sit for awhile and enjoy the quiet and beauty of the outdoors before heading to a pub for dinner. After our brief rest, a short stroll led us to what couldn’t have been a more marked contrast to the serenity we had just experienced – the very noisy and busy Blackfriar Pub. Yet it proved to be popular and crowded for a reason – it is known for its delicious food particularly its pies, and we had the yummiest Steak & Ale Pie, along with delicious craft cider, that we still talk about to this day.
Full of good food we strolled back to our hotel, taking the lovely Millennium Bridge nearby, and enjoyed the gorgeous views of the Thames one last time as we recounted some of our wonderful experiences in London.
Tips & Recommendations for 3-Days in London, England:
- The Travelodge London Central Waterloo – A clean, modern, reasonably priced, and centrally located hotel for a stay in London. Would recommend and would stay again.
- Tate Modern Museum – Very unusual and interesting modern art, displayed in a massive building with many entrances. All museums in London are free.
- Sky Garden & Horizon 22 – Fabulous free viewing towers. Book free timed tickets online. Check availability a few weeks prior to your trip as tickets sell out quickly.
- Westminster Abbey – Check ahead for Evensong or Services times, which are free to attend and a wonderful way to spend time in the beautiful cathedral.
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace – Go early to find a good viewing spot, as it gets very crowded. Be prepared to stand for some time.
- The National Gallery – A fabulous and huge art gallery that is free to visit. It features many floors and rooms full of classical and famous paintings, well-categorised by centuries and eras. You could spend hours here, so perhaps plan ahead which centuries and paintings you would most like to see.
- St. Martin-in-the-Fields – A wonderful Church of England from medieval period with a very welcoming atmosphere. Check for free concerts. Their Crypt Cafe is also a great place for lunch with delicious and very reasonably priced home-style cooked food.
- Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese – A very popular historical pub, rebuilt after Great Fire of 1666, famous for literary patrons such as Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. Go early afternoon to avoid potential tourist crowd. I personally recommend the delicious unique fruit beers.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral – A spectacular cathedral, famous for many Royal and significant historical events. Attend a free Evensong to see the beautiful interior and listen to the most beautiful choral singing.
- The Blackfriar – A very popular historic pub, not far from St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Blackfriar can get super crowded in late afternoon with the after-work crowd. It is known for its delicious pies, such as Steak & Ale Pie. I highly recommend.
- Millennium Bridge – Very near The Blackfriar, the Millennium Bridge provides a great car-free way to walk over the Thames River to the South Bank, sharing many beautiful views and photo ops.
What Are Your Tips in Visiting London, England?
The beauty in visiting a city like London, England is there is so much to do, see and experience, that we are all going to have different experiences and see and do different things. What are your tips in visiting London, England? We’d love to read them in the comments below.
London, England Accommodations Map
Planning a visit to London, England? Check out this interactive map to different accommodations available in London.
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