One day London itinerary: Landmark sights on a budget

This one day London itinerary has been created for those families visiting London with children who have one day in the city and who want to make the most of that time by seeing London’s most iconic sights without breaking the bank. Focussing on seeing London’s iconic landmarks from the outside and from public spaces, this itinerary will give you a taste of the city without the need to spend a fortune on entrance fees or spend a lot of time queuing for attractions. An element of forward planning will help you to make the most of this itinerary but it is not essential.

Other than getting to the starting point and from the end point, the only public transport that needs to be taken as part of this itinerary is the river boat. Otherwise, travel between the stops is by walking.

This itinerary will suit those:

on a budget (the only cost is the river boat ticket);
who don’t want to take the Underground; and
those who want to see the main sights (but who don’t want to or don’t have the time/budget to go in them).

Approximate time to allow for this itinerary: around four and a half hours, plus time for lunch and other rest stops. This time does not include transport to and from the start and end point.

Viewing platform

(allow up to an hour)

The first stop on your London itinerary is one of London’s free viewing platforms. Starting the day by getting a bird’s eye view of the city is an exciting way to set the stage for your day of exploration, to see some sights you might not otherwise get to see and to grasp the scale of the city below you.

There are a few options for viewing platforms:

Horizon 22 – pre-book tickets online (more details here) or chance walk-in availability;
The Lookout – pre-book tickets online (more details here) or see if they allow walk-ins; or
The Garden at 120 – walk-ins only.

Whichever viewing platform you choose, you’ll get a great view of a wide variety of landmarks.

After leaving, walk to your next stop, the Monument (around 10 minutes).

Monument

(allow around 15 minutes to view)

The next stop on your London itinerary is a visit to the Monument to the Great Fire of London. As kids are often taught about the Great Fire of London in English schools, this will be an interesting stop where history will come alive for kids as they can stand in the streets they have learnt about at school. Whilst it is possible to climb to the Monument, this is not free. But, even if you are just viewing the Monument and nearby Pudding Lane, this will be a memorable stop on your itinerary.

Walk from Monument to your next stop, the Tower of London (around 10-15 minutes).

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

(allow for up to 45 minutes)

No London itinerary would be complete without taking in the iconic Tower of London and nearby Tower Bridge. While this itinerary does not include a visit inside the Tower of London, from the outside you will be able to see the moat, Traitors’ Gate and walls. You may even spot a Yeoman Warder or two. Various information points will give you some history. Walk along the bank of the Thames to get an up-close view of Tower Bridge.

Walk to nearby Tower Pier (around 3-5 minutes).

Uber boat down the River Thames

(allow around 30 mins plus any waiting time)

From here, head to the Thames Pier to catch an Uber Boat travelling West up the Thames to Westminster Pier.

On the way you’ll pass by a number of iconic London landmarks:

HMS Belfast (on your left)
The Shard (on your left)
St Paul’s Cathedral (on your right)
Shakespeare’s Globe (on your left)
Tate Modern (on your left)
Cleopatra’s Needle (on your right)
The London Eye (on your left);
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (on your right)

As at September 2024, a single adult ticket (bought online, via the app or using Oyster/contactless) is £9, a child ticket for age 5-15 (bought online, via the app or using Oyster/contactless) is £4.50. Children age 4 and under are free.

Check the timetable here.

Westminster and Whitehall

(allow 15-20 minutes)

No visit to London would be complete without seeing Big Ben. As you leave the pier after disembarking the Uber boat, it will be right in front of you. If you happen to be nearby on the hour, you will get to hear it chime. You will also have a great view across the river to the London Eye.

From Big Ben, head along Whitehall (stopping along the way to take a photo with a red London phone box) and look out for Downing Street on your left. If you’re lucky you might even spot Larry, resident cat and chief mouser.

Walk further down Whitehall to Horse Guards Parade (5 minutes).

Horse Guards Parade

(allow 5-10 minutes)

The next stop on the itinerary is the gates of Horse Guards Parade. The Horse Guards building is guarded by two mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Life Guard who are posted outside from 10am to 4pm daily. At 11am daily and 10am on Sundays the Life Guard change takes place here. Feel free to take photos but please respect the guards and do not get too close or touch the horses or guards.

After seeing the Horse Guards, walk through Horse Guards Parade and across the road into St James’ Park (3 minutes).

St James’ Park

(allow around 20 minutes to walk through, plus time to relax or play)

As you enter into the park, keep an eye out for the resident pelicans that normally hang out near Duck Pond Cottage. You might also spot herons and black swans. For little ones looking to burn off some energy, head to the playground. With its pretty lake, bridges and views of iconic landmarks, St James’ Park is the ideal spot to recharge.

Walk through the park to Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace