London Day 1 Big Picture Help

Not exactly what you asked, but you could visit Skygarden in the Walkie Talkie building and get a LITERAL overview of the city to start off your visit. Skygarden is free but the tickets go quickly and must be booked ahead. Tickets are released 3 weeks in advance every Monday morning. You can walk around the whole floor and get views in all directions, and because it's so close to the Tower of London, you can see right down into the Tower grounds as if looking at an aerial map. There's also an outdoor observation deck open most (but not all) of the time--check the website. https://skygarden.london/plan-your-visit

A boat ride on the Thames.

Both good ideas, thanks!

We walked through Hyde Park towards Buckingham Palce on our first day. It was a great way to keep ourselves moving but low pressure - no museums that needed my full attention. Saw Big Ben and Westminster, and then called it for ah early night by 8:30 after a long flight from on the west coast - woke up the next day at 8 and never had problems with jet lag.

Here are the best bus routes to see the sites:> https://www.visitbritainshop.com/world/articles/top-3-bus-routes/

We lived in London for a couple of years and the first day always consisted of a walk along the Thames from St. Paul's to 'Big Ben'. This way you see a lot of the city and most importantly the fresh air helps immensely with jet lag.

Definitely be sure to do the Tower of London. I never tire of this site, so historical and the crown jewels are there! Get your Oyster cards and use the tube and buses.

Thanks everyone, all good info. We'll be staying near Sloane Square. Since we are flying in that morning, I am leaning towards a low key afternoon. A walk to some iconic sites sounds like a good way to kick things off, as we will be doing the Tower of London and river on day 2. Thanks also for the SkyGarden tip.

As I said in my response to your other (itinerary advise) post, I'm not a big fan of the hop-on/hop-off bus tours of London. The city is pretty congested and there is always a fair amount of construction going on. The HOHO buses seem to sit in traffic and take convoluted routes so they don't seem to be very good for getting a feel for the layout of the city.

My advise, listen to a couple of Rick's walking tours while looking at a good map of the city. I think you'll find that London's major tourist sights are pretty walkable (in my opinion). If you just get out and walk a bit from your Sloan Square flat, you'll be amazed at how close everything is. As an example, Buckingham Palace is a twenty minute walk from Sloan Square and the London Eye is a twenty minute walk beyond the palace. And, the Princess Diana Memorial in Hyde Park is only a 30 minute walk (or 15 minutes by bus and walking) from Sloan Square.

Easy reply. Take the Underground from Sloane Square to Westminster via the District or Circle line. Mind The Gap, exit and follow signage to Exit 4 and walk outside. The Thames will be in front of you with the London Eye across the river and the Westminster Bridge to your right.

Turn right and look up, smile and begin you first day in London there.

Wander around Parliament Square, try a meal at the Red Lion Pub on Whitehall, enter the furthest door to your left and climb the stairs to the dining room or if not overly crowded sit downstairs.

You could then tube back to Sloane Square OR walk across Westminster Bridge to the park around the London Eye OR continue on up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square OR walk up Birdcage Walk through St James Park up to Buckingham Palace.

Take a look at London via Google Satellite Maps View and as previously mentioned you will see many of the iconic sites are within easy walking distance of one another.

Your choice of what to see and day on day 1 will be decided by your stamina and mother nature.

Enjoy. GREAT city!!