How To Enjoy London In One Day; Sights, Views, Art Gallery

There is so much to see & do in London where you can explore the city at very little cost. We recently put it this to the test by preparing an itinerary that ticks off many of the top sights in London all at a budget price. Follow our ideas below that can hopefully give you some inspiration when planning your next visit to London.

Tower Bridge, (FREE)

Having consulted the upcoming Lifting Times for Tower Bridge we started our day upon the banks of the River Thames. With the Dixie Queen Paddler Steamer heading upriver at 12:30, we positioned ourselves outside the front entrance to the Tower Hotel to watch events unfold before us.  A working bridge over the River Thames since 1894, you can see the lower bridge opening & closing allowing safe passageway through for larger shipping vessels. Simply find yourself a good position along the river bank & to enjoy the lifting of the bridge that takes around 10 minutes from start to finish.

Next Stop; The Lookout via London Underground, (Tower Hill to Monument).

The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate, (FREE)

There are now a number of visitor attractions that offer stunning views over London that are available free of charge.  Although many require some pre-planning to guarantee free entry, often there are walk-up options available on the day. We tried our luck at The Lookout at 8 Bishopsgate on a wet Thursday in June and were in luck.

Whilst entry is subject to availability, staff on the door quickly added us to the visitors numbers on the day. Once we’d navigated security, we were whisked off to the 50th floor to enjoy views over London. Our view included many of the main tourist attractions including the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, River Thames, St Paul’s Cathedral, BT Tower & Canary Wharf. Whilst there is a decided lack of signage, for those that know their sights this is a great stop-off on any day out in London.

Next stop; St Paul’s Cathedral via London bus, (number 25, 8 or 26).

The Lookout; 8 Bishopsgate

St Paul’s Cathedral, (half price entry)

Having taken advantage of a Trial National Art Pass promotion, we were able to pick up discounted entry to St Paul’s Cathedral. Synonymous with the London skyline, the dome at St Paul’s Cathedral remains one of the most famous landmarks within the city. Steeped in a thousand years of history, St Paul’s has played host to Royal Marriages & Coronations & is the final resting place for many notable historic figures.

Passholders are eligible for a 50% off walk-up individual adult, concession or child admission tickets for St Paul’s Cathedral, (cannot be booked in advance). Admission includes access to the Cathedral, Whispering Gallery, Stone Gallery, Golden Gallery & Crypt so this offers great value for money.

Another option for travel-savvy visitors would be to take advantage of Dome Only Tickets running on selected Sundays during the year.

Next Stop; Tate Modern by walking across the Millennium Bridge.

St Paul’s Cathedral – View From The Golden Gallery

Tate Modern, (FREE entry/donations welcome)

Housed in an old power station, Tate Modern plays an impressive architectural backdrop to modern & contemporary art from the 1900’s. With no admission charges in place, (although donations are welcome), it makes a great stop-off for dose of culture.

To enhance our visit, we selected a Free Guided Art Tour that run most days at the gallery. Run by a team of Tate volunteers, tours mirror the interests of the host guides and last around 45 minutes in duration. Packed with insights, stories and information about selected pieces of art, we’ve never yet been disappointed.

Next Stop; 2 minute walk to Bankside Pier to enjoy a trip along the River Thames.

Tate Modern

Thames Clipper, (£9.90pp)

Next stop on our itinerary was embarking upon the river boat service from Bankside Pier. The Thames Clipper is a stop-on-stop-off service that provides great flexibility to any visit to London. By combining sight-seeing with a mode of transport, it’s a great way to enjoy the relative peace of water transport away from the crowds.

We travelled west to Battersea Power Station where our single-trip journey was priced at £9.90pp. Look out for concessionary rates, child rates and travelcard discounts for further savings. Our journey along the Thames took in prime views of the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Southbank & Westminster Bridge. Whilst there isn’t any commentary during your trip, if you know your sights of London, then it remains a cost effective option.

More information available within our Guide To The Thames Clipper.

Next Stop; Our final destination was Battersea Power Station.

The Thames Clipper

Battersea Power Station

Following a recent £9 billion refurbishment programme, Battersea Power Station has become a destination hub for shopping, entertainment or eating out. Within you’ll find a range of stores, a cinema complex plus a host of cafes & restaurants. You’ve the option to take Lift 109 up one of the iconic power station chimneys where you literally pop out the top to enjoy the view, (paid attraction).  From an architectural perspective, it’s fascinating to explore the transformation from power station to entertainment hub where you’ve the option to simply enjoy the ambiance.

Worth returning another day to enjoy an aqua class, from a stunning rooftop pool, that sits directly across from the power station; all for just £25pp. Find out more information over at Battersea Power Station; Aqua Class With A View.

We hope we’ve given you a few ideas of what can be achieved in London at very little cost. For those looking for more inspiration, you can enjoy a few more itinerary suggestions within our Guide To Exploring London In A Day.