Stopover Sorted: See London in a Day

Changing flights in London? Lucky you. Few cities make a stopover feel this good. Thanks to quick, easy links between Heathrow and the heart of the city, you can be soaking up the sights before you know it.

Whether you’ve got sunrise to sunset or a midnight layover, our 24-hour London guide has you covered — the very best of the capital, no matter when you land.

If you’ve just crawled off a red-eye, head straight to Hampstead Heath and watch the city come to life from Parliament Hill. It’s arguably the best spot in the capital for watching the sunrise.

If you’re still not awake, then join the locals and hit the ground running with an early morning dip in one of London’s best outdoor swimming spots. Parliament Hill Lido opens at 7am, as do the neighbouring Hampstead swimming ponds (closed during winter) if an open-water experience is more your style. Other famous London lidos include Tooting Bec – the largest outdoor freshwater pool in the UK – and the art deco Grade II-listed Brockwell Lido in Brockwell Park, both in the south of the city.

For something less energetic, start your day with a walk across Hyde Park. Catch a tube to Hyde Park Corner and take a diagonal route via the Serpentine lake to the Bayswater Road exit in the north west corner of Kensington Gardens. From here it’s about a 15-20 minute stroll into lovely Notting Hill where you can reward yourself with a well-deserved breakfast. Mingle with smart west Londoners at Daylesford Organic or Granger & Co or opt for something more value-led and casual at Mike’s Cafe on Blenheim Crescent.

If you want more landmarks, take a train to Waterloo and walk along the south bank of the River Thames in an easterly direction. This is a great chance to view some of London’s best-known architectural icons before the tourist hordes arrive. Start at Westminster Bridge, where you can snap some classic shots of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on the other side of the river, then head east past the London Eye, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. You could also take a detour over the Millennium Bridge to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral which opens for sightseeing at 8.30am. If you’re still too early, grab a bargain coffee and bacon sandwich from Grace St. Paul’s on Creed Lane (weekdays only) and find a bench in the well-tended churchyard.

With just one day to pack in all the sights, opt for a quick and easy lunch that won’t take up too much of your time. Check out the healthy fast food on offer at Leon which has branches all over the capital, or head to any number of stalls at foodie’s favourite Borough Market near London Bridge for a wider selection of global fare.

Aching feet? The afternoon is an ideal time to sit back and relax on a sightseeing tour. It might sound touristy but for those with limited time this really is the best way to see as much of London as possible. London Bus Tours takes place on an open-top double decker bus, and the hop-on hop-off ticket also includes a Thames river cruise between Westminster and Tower piers. With three different routes and more than 80 bus stops across the capital, this is probably the most stress-free way to enjoy the city.

You could also take a river cruise in the opposite direction, which is a good option for those who’ve been to London before and already seen the major sights. Westminster Passenger Service Association (WSPA) are the only company to operate a scheduled westerly service (daily, between April and October) with their 90-minute Westminster to Kew cruise offering views of Lambeth Palace, the Tate Gallery, Battersea Power Station and the sought-after riverfront properties of Putney, Barnes and Strand on the Green.

Early evening is the best time to get up high and watch the city turn from day into night. There are plenty of ways to see London from above, and they don’t all have to cost a fortune. The best value is to climb the 311 steps to the top of the Monument (last entry 5pm, tickets £4.50), a Doric column in the City of London built to commemorate the Great Fire of London.

Later evening options include giant 135-metre ferris wheel the London Eye for amazing river and skyline views, which were the highest in London until superseded by relative newcomer The Shard (last entry 6pm Sun-Wed, 9pm Thurs-Sat) in February 2013. Known officially as The View from the Shard, the highest observation deck is on Level 72 which is partially outdoors at a height of 244 metres.

The newest viewing platform in London is Sky Garden which occupies the 34th to 37th floors of the controversial “Walkie Talkie” building; a skyscraper more correctly known as 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London financial district. Access is free if you book online in advance, though only until 6pm weekdays or 9pm weekends. However, the three restaurants and bars are open until late, so if you book a table for dinner you can linger for longer.

Once your feet are back on the ground, round off your night with a trip to a traditional London pub. So many of the capital’s watering holes are soaked in centuries-old history and local legend, and most will serve you a decent meal in addition to a pint. In the heart of the city you’ll find storied establishments like the Dog & Duck in Soho, the river-fronting Anchor Inn at Bankside, the galleried 17th century George Inn on Borough High Street, and notorious highwaymen’s favourite the White Hart on Drury Lane – though every neighbourhood has its gems.

Still awake? Maybe you have an early flight connection and you don’t want to spend the money on a hotel, or perhaps your body clock is telling you it’s still lunchtime. Either way, if you’re going to stay up all night in London, you might as well make the most of it.

Aside from venues like nightclubs and casinos, London is not really a 24-hour city in the manner of Las Vegas, New York or Berlin. But this did change with the arrival of all-night weekend tube services in 2016 – and outside of that you can still find ways to squeeze the maximum fun out of your time. If you’re with friends, start with a spot of ten-pin bowling at All Star Lanes: the Holborn and Brick Lane branches are open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Follow up with a vocal chord workout at Karaoke Box in Soho, is open until the early hours every night (except Sunday). Looking for something less raucous? Plenty of cinemas show late night films. Check the cult Prince Charles Cinema on Leicester Place for all-night events, or Curzon Soho and Odeon Leicester Square for regular post-midnight screenings.

Finish your night in one of the capital’s legendary all-night dining establishments. For a simple cup of coffee head to Soho’s Bar Italia in Frith Street: they’ve been serving the finest Italian espresso here since 1949 and it remains one of the best people-watching spots in town.

Further east, Brick Lane Beigel Bake serves traditional Jewish-style bagels 24 hours a day, stuffed with fillings like cream cheese or its best-selling hot salt beef and mustard. Vingt Quatre – better known as VQ – is a popular 24-hour diner with a round-the-clock alcohol licence and sites in both Chelsea and Bloomsbury. Want to go out with a bang? Whizz up to the 40th floor of the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate for a final splurge on Champagne cocktails and smoked salmon at upmarket restaurant Duck & Waffle.

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