London’s architecture
London is one of the largest capital cities in Europe and right on top of my to-see list. From the Netherlands the flight takes less than an hour to arrive at London City Airport. The starting point of a 3 day full on London experience.
Arriving in London
London City Airport is the closest airport out of the six that London facilitates. The connecting metro took us directly to our hotel in Canary Wharf and towards the city center.
For the use of the metro and bus I already ordered the Oyster card online with a top-up of £25, exactly enough for unlimited use of transportation. Luckily there is a maximum amount that is charged per day, when you reach that point all the other rides are at no extra costs.
DAY 1
With our flight arriving at 7 in the morning, we had the full day to explore the city. First stop to Canary Wharf where we dropped our luggage at the hotel, and from there the Jubilee line towards Waterloo. It was a full day of walking, visiting the following:
London Eye
London’s famous ferris wheel is 135 meters high. For £38 it’s possible to enter one of the 32 capsules for a 30 minute ride, or simply enjoy the sight from across the Thames river.
Palace of Westminster and the Big Ben
On the opposite side of the Thames is the gorgeous Palace of Westminster with its tower clock, the Big Ben.
Phone booths!
Yes, these still exists in London, maybe only for the nostalgia’s sake? Nonetheless some are still in commission.
Buckingham Palace
Through St James’s Park it is a 15 minute walk to Buckingham Palace. On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday it’s possible to see the Changing of the Guard at 10:45 AM. We visited on a Saturday and simply stood at the gate, not being invited in for tea.
Soho
One of the most popular neighborhoods is Soho. Carnaby Street and Regent Street are great for a shopping spree. Or just sit down at one of the many restaurants and pubs.
Piccadilly Circus
This road junction connects 5 busy streets. As I was standing in the middle of the crosswalk, I wasn’t sure where to look.
Chinatown
Lanterns everywhere! But really all over the place. Walking into Chinatown can’t be missed.
The Spaces In-Between
An interactive 360 degrees artwork with various projections. This unexpected stop was definitely worthwhile!
British Museum
All British museums are free of charge, with plenty of open time slots just before entering, it was a no-brainer to give the British Museum a short visit. The Great Court is definitely impressive! But since I’m not much of a museum enthusiast, we didn’t explore much further.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden was one of those unexpected surprises. Pretty halls with markets, plenty of street performers. It’s just very pleasant to walk around here.
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is where our hotel was located, but it’s also the second largest financial district in London. Tall skyscrapers all around us, but also plenty of bars and restaurants for a well deserved cocktail in the evening.
DAY 2
The day started with a tasty berry and cream triple pancakes at the Breakfast Club before heading into town.
Tower Bridge
Not to be missed on the river Thames is the Tower Bridge, and compared to other entrance fees, £12 is suddenly a steal. We climbed up the 206 steps to walk over the glass walkway.
The Queens Walk
On the South side of the Thames are views of London’s skyline with superb views of the Tower Bridge and the Financial District.
Hays Galleria
Walk through this gallery from the Queens Walk towards London Bridge station.
Morph’s Epic Art Adventure
This sculpture is part of Morph’s Epic Art Adventure. From 19 June to 20 August 2023, central London hosted 70 different super-sized sculptures in various colors and characters. And yes, we did see them everywhere!
Borough Market
This food market is humongous, there’s stalls and people all over the place. Here you find an enormous variety of food choices. The hustling and bustling of the place adds to the alluring atmosphere.
Camden Town
North from central London is Camden Town, another shopping gem with small stores and market stalls in all categories and interests. Camden High Street with distinct and colorful facades, and of course the Camden Lock Market and the Camden Stables Market. Afterwards be sure to walk along the peaceful canal with its houseboats, towards Primrose Hill.
Sunset at Canary Wharf
After a hot and sunny day we were lucky to witness a beautiful sunset in Canary Wharf. This magnificent moment deserved more photos, check them out here!
DAY 3
The last day of a perfect 3 day trip in London.
Westminster Abbey
To visit Westminster Abbey it’s absolutely necessary to pre-book a ticket online. A hefty charge of £27 per person will set you back to see this church of the royalties. It’s definitely the most expensive church I ever visited, and trust me, I’ve been into plenty of small and large cathedrals throughout my travels. What struck me about Westminster Abbey was the vast amount of tombs.
Notting Hill
With time to spare we thought it would be interesting to visit Notting Hill, famous from the 1999 movie with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It’s obvious they’re still trying to make a profit from that fame now 24 years later. It’s a place that definitely can be skipped, with only a street full of touristy stores and market stalls.
The Historic Financial District
The largest financial district in London is in the city center. Impressive buildings like the Gherkin, the Sky Garden, and other interesting and large skyscrapers are to be found here. It’s definitely a must see for all those architecture lovers out there! View more of London’s architecture.
Flying back home
The return flight at 19:45 fitted perfectly for a full 3 day itinerary. Enjoying a last cocktail to spend our remaining ££. Back to the airport and having a sunset flight back home.
Fun Facts
- In total we walked almost 50 kilometers in these 3 days! 21 km on day 1, 14 km on day 2, and another 14 km on day 3.
- London is similar to the Netherlands, they’re not a big fan of cash payments. In the end we had to do our best to get rid of our remaining ££.
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