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The Ultimate Day Trip by the Thames

London has so much to offer throughout the entirety of our vast capital city, however many of the top, must see attractions are located relatively close together scattered right down the banks of the iconic Thames river. It can be difficult to decide which landmarks to see and which ones to discard, so we have compiled a list of the best attractions London has to offer that you can hit on a whistle stop tour all in just one day!

Westminster

Big Ben

Big Ben is a must see for any London tourist with it being the most iconic of all the attractions. Big Ben gets its name from the great bell inside the clock tower with the name also commonly used to refer to the tower itself, however the structure is officially named Elizabeth Tower. Built in 1859, it is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in Central London. The tower is 96m high overlooking Westminster with nearly 400 steps leading to the top. It is not open to the public with only UK residents allowed to climb Big Ben after pre-arranging a tour through an MP or Lord.

Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament is where all of the business of Parliament such as approving laws and debating current issues and government policy takes place. Situated right on the banks of the river the parliamentary buildings hold many historical stories including the infamous tale of Guy Fawkes. Tours are available on a regular basis providing access to the palace, along with explaining what parliament is, does, and how it has shaped history.

Some of the earlier buildings such as Westminster Hall, date back to 1097. Designed by William Rufus (son of William the Conqueror) Westminster hall is a striking building and is officially a royal palace. The history of the buildings combined with their sheer magnitude makes for a great place to stop by.

South Bank

To get onto the South Bank you need to cross over Westminster Bridge (a great place to get a picture of Big Ben, Parliament and the London Eye).

London Eye

Since its opening in 1999, the Eye has become a major landmark and one of the most recognisable sights in the whole of London. Standing at 135m high the London Eye is the tallest observation wheel in the world making it a true feat of engineering and design. Traveling at 26cm per second, each rotation takes roughly 30 minutes giving you plenty of time to marvel at the views of up to 40km in all directions. There is a reason why it’s the UK's most popular paid for visitor attraction (over 3.5 million people a year) so you should definitely give it a shot when you’re down there.

London Dungeon

Located at the base of the Eye are the London Dungeons where you can experience gruesome events spanning 2000 years of London's history. The whole tour, described as a museum of horror from history, lasts roughly 1 ½ hours on which you will see actors recreating events such as the Great fire, Sweeney Todd, Jack the ripper and the Plague along with several rides. Small children and those of a nervous disposition will probably not enjoy this attraction as you never know who will jump out of the shadows to scare you, there can also be quite a wait to begin the tour so it’s definitely best to book tickets beforehand.

Southwark

Oxo tower

Originally a power station, later a plant owned by Oxo, the tower was set for demolition in the 1980s, however it was redeveloped in the 90s as a multifunctional venue hosting shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and studios. Oxo initially intended to place large advertisements for its products on the building, when this proposal was rejected the tower was re-constructed to include a set of three vertically-aligned windows on each side. These just so happened to be in the shapes of a circle, a cross and a circle (OXO). Nowadays these illuminated windows make the tower visible from miles away.

Tate Modern

Tate Modern is the premier museum of modern art in London housing a collection of British art spanning from the 1500s to present. The Gallery was created in 2000 from a disused power station and is now the most visited art gallery in the World. The buildings vast size becomes apparent when you enter through Turbine hall which stands at 152 metres long and five storeys tall, once used to house power stations generators.

The collection of modern and contemporary art includes masterpieces by Picasso and Matisse. There is also a host of surrealist works and Pop art, including major works by Lichtenstein and Warhol. The displays of permanent collections are complemented by temporary exhibitions exploring broad themes of British art. Best of all admission is free so make sure to drop by.

Shakespeare's Globe

The Globe is a reconstruction of the open air theatre originally designed in 1599. Shakespeare wrote most of his plays for this theatre along with acting on the stage himself. There is an exhibition and tour on offer illustrating what life was like in London during Elizabethan times. Visitors can see the costumes, instruments, music and special effects that were used back then. From April to October the Globe Theatre showcases a number Shakespeare's plays, for full details of the schedule take a look at the Globes website.

Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge is a suspension bridge linking the City to the Bankside. It was designed following a competition run by Southwark council and the Financial Times in 1996. The winning design consists of a 4m wide deck with steel and supporting cables positioned below the bridge itself. After its initial opening in June 2000 (the first new bridge straddling the Thames in 100 years) problems quickly arose. The bridge swayed uncontrollably resulting in the nickname of ‘Wobbly Bridge'. The bridge was temporarily closed while modifications took place. The result today is a stunning piece of engineering that you can walk across without getting sea sick.

City of London

To get to the City of London you need to cross over the Millennium Bridge (a great place to get a picture of St Pauls) to the North Bank.

St Pauls

St Paul's Cathedral was designed by famous architect Sir Christopher Wren in 1710. The infamous dome is one of the world's largest, measuring 111.3 metres high, making it an unmissable part of London's iconic skyline. Many great events of national importance have taken place inside the cathedral including the funerals of Lord Nelson, Sir Winston Churchill and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. One of many great features is the Whispering Gallery. 259 steps up from ground-level the gallery is mind-boggling. A whisper made against the gallery walls can be heard on the opposite side and is something you have to witness.

The Gherkin

30 St Mary Axe is an office building in London known worldwide as The Gherkin thanks to its unique Gherkin shape. Designed by Sir Norman Foster and completed in 2004 it stands at 180m tall, making it stand out as one of the Capitals most stunning and acclaimed architectural features. Its awe-inspiring glass exterior and ground-breaking eco-friendly methods saw it voted the most admired building in the world (2005). You can see it from a number a places around London but it's worth a visit just to stand at the base of one of the capitals most iconic buildings, even though you can’t actually go in.

Southwark - Bridge Quarter

To get the Bridge Quarter you need to first cross over London Bridge (a great place to get a picture of the Shard) to the South Bank.

The Shard

The Shard is unmissable. With 87 floors standing at 310 metres it was the tallest building in Europe upon completion in 2012 and is currently the 45th tallest building worldwide. The structure serves multiple functions containing offices, multiple floors of restaurants, the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel, apartments (ranging from £30-£50 million) along with the highest viewing gallery in Western Europe. Covered in 11,000 panes of glass, the public viewing galleries offer unparalleled views for up to 40 miles.

HMS Belfast

The HMS Belfast is the only surviving ship of its kind to see active service during WW2. The ship was in operation for 32 years and was saved from destruction by a former Captain. It is now docked on the Thames in pride of place between the London and Tower bridges. You can take a tour of the ship and see how life was like on board, with a number of educational exhibits and family activities available on the last weekend in every month.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most recognisable sights. After its construction in 1894 it was considered the most sophisticated bridge of its time. Today you can see inside the rooms where the original steam engines were housed to power the bridge, along with an exhibition showing the bridges history and how it works. If you have a head for heights you can also go on the walkways on top of the bridge, providing fantastic views of sights such as St Paul's Cathedral, The London Eye and Canary Wharf.

Central London

To get to Central London you need to cross over Tower Bridge onto the North Bank.

Tower of London

Built by William the Conqueror around 1080 the Tower has fulfilled various roles including prison, palace, arsenal, mint, menagerie and place of execution. You can take the time to check out the infamous Crown Jewels which boast 23,578 gems in total including one of the world's most famous diamonds; the Koh-I-Noor. You can learn about whose heads rolled inside the towers walls along with the many famous inmates including Anne Boleyn, Edward V, and Guy Fawkes. There is so much to see and learn at the Tower so it’s worth a visit, even if you’re just dropping by.

Greenwich

To get to Greenwich you need to get on the tube. Opposite to the Tower of London is Tower Gate station which you can take to Cutty Sark and the O2 Arena.

Docks – (Tower Gate DLR -> Poplar)

Limestone Marina - BWML

Cutty Sark and the O2 Arena are a small trip via train, so why not stop off half way and visit some of London’s famous docks. These aren’t thought of as much of an attraction in London being situated away from all the major sightseeing destinations. The quaint, tranquil docklands are a great way to spot some less seen sights by going off the beaten track. Most definitely worth a look on your way.

Cutty Sark (Poplar -> Greenwich)

The Cutty Sark is the only remaining original Clipper ship in the World and is preserved in Greenwich. Built in 1869 it served as a merchant vessel, travelling around the world. The Cutty Sark is believed by many to be amongst the most beautiful ships ever made and features in the London Marathon. The ship was severely damaged during a fire in 2007 whilst restoration work was taking place. The ship is no longer open to the public but it can be viewed up close near the National Maritime Museum.

O2 Arena (Greenwich -> Canary Wharf -> North Greenwich)

The O2 Arena, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, is a multifunctional entertainment venue and still one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe with a seating capacity of roughly 20,000 depending on the event. The venue plays host to a variety of musical concerts, sporting events and stand-up comedy. The O2 was built with the audience in mind boasting clear sight lines from every angle and crystal clear acoustics. For the more adventurous you are able to climb over the O2 on a guided walk, it is wise to book this in advance to ensure your place.

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