Ideas for 1st Day

London is gigantic and may be quite overwhelming on your first day, especially after an international flight, getting through Passport Control when you land, collecting baggage, navigating out of Heathrow and into the center of the city, getting settled at your hotel, getting cash from an ATM, etc. It's likely to be about 11:00 by the time you do all that, and you'll need to re-fuel with lunch. Maybe it would be good to take an open-top bus tour to begin with, to help you get the big picture of the city. If the weather's good and you sit up top, it should help to keep you alert. If you got one that started/ended in Westminster, after the bus tour you could continue seeing the things there that interest you (the Abbey closes at 3:00 though). Then walk across the Westminster Bridge and stroll along the Jubilee Walkway on the South Bank, down as far as you can manage - enjoying the views along the Thames, the bridges, and scenes across the river. It's about 4km (2.5 miles) from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. There are many places to stop for refreshment. Maybe ride the London Eye (buy tickets in advance if you aren't getting a London Pass or whatever). Riding the Eye will give the bird's eye view after having seen the ground-level tour. Save the crowded inside visits, like the Tower of London for Day 2 when you'll be hopefully fresh and a bit rested. It's the crowds in the inside spaces that sap my energy the most.

A cuppa builder's tea every hour. :) And mix indoor with a bit of outdoor, which will happen naturally if you walk between sites. You'll know when you hit the wall. Also the day will be long, with late daylight. I find that a catnap of about an hour taken before supper revives me enough to keep going till I'm really ready to crash for the night. And I avoid alcohol, especially wine, because it always makes me drowsy.

Which site should I see on this day?

Yes, a bit of an over do it itinerary on day 1. How about this? Once you have gotten through Heathrow, checked into your accommodation and unpacked, head out the door and explore your surrounding neighborhood. That will give you time to adjust to the hustle and bustle that is London, realize you ONLY cross the streets with the lights after having looked BOTH ways, and gotten the blood flowing to your extremities following the long flight. Find the closest tube (Underground Station) grab a pocket sized tube map and head to the Westminster Station. May take a few train changes depending on your locale but taking the tube is part of the London experience. I've repeated this route on numerous posts so apologies to fellow helpline contributors who have read it before. Exit at Westminster station and follow signage to EXIT 1. Climb the few steps and you'll be overlooking the Thames with the London Eye across the river. Turn right, look up and enjoy the view. Climb the stairway, turn right and begin your exploration there. This is Parliament Square so you'll be able to see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Abbey closes at 3pm so you may only get to see the exterior unless you decide to stay for evensong. Otherwise take a stroll up Birdcage walk through St.James Park up to Buckingham Palace. Depending on your energy level and food intake you might walk through the adjacent Green Park into Mayfair to enjoy fish and chips or some other pub grub at the Shepherd's Tavern on Hertford street. Back to where you are staying for a good nights rest. Cheers.

I'm with you. I too need at least one sight-seeing goal to keep me going. In Edinburgh, I had to the Castle. That coupled with some walks gets me through to dinner at 7 and then a collapse into bed after 9. So, Westmister Abbey is good idea if you get settled and in time to beat the 3 PM ending time. St. Paul's BTW closes at 4 PM so if you're running late, that might make a nice option. I like Westminster, though, because there are so much to see just walking around the Abbey. If you enjoy art, you could go to the Tate Museum Trafalgar Square. The Square itself is interesting, and St. Martin in the Fields is right there. And from there you could walk over to the Embankment, or up the Mall to Buckingham Palace and Green Park. I think that it's good to have something planned, but not too much. And if at all possible include outdoor time. Don't let a soft rain keep you from getting outside that first day. Pam

I think Pam must mean the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. The Tate Britain is about a 30-min. walk from there, in Millbank. The Tate Modern is on the South Bank near the Millennium Bridge. St Martin-in-the-Fields church is a great place just off Trafalgar Square to stop for a few minutes of peaceful rest. Last time I was there a few months ago I stumbled into a dress rehearsal for a concert taking place that evening. Wonderful! I always duck into churches to catch my breath from the crowds, get off my feet for several minutes, and have time for a bit of quiet reflection about where I've been, what I've seen, and where I'm going next. Also, there's a fab cafeteria-style café in the Crypt at St Martin. Great soups, sandwiches, salads, cakes, etc. It's cool and dimly lit, which takes the edge off intense site-seeing.

Yes, that's the one I mean. I forgot. The last time I was in London I set out for the Tate and Tube issues combined with a bad knew thwarted me. So, I ended up at Trafalgar Square and it was a very happy ending. The museum is wonderful. PAm

Claudia has a good plan, I'd see the Abbey first out of your choices. Whether you can get into Westminster Palace (Parliament) depends on the day of the week and whether they're in session, but it's a guided tour with serious security screening beforehand, maybe best left for another day if you can do it at all. You'll see the outside if you follow Claudia's well-worn path. Tower is big and complicated, often crowded, maybe too much to bite off the first day. HOHO bus is better, imho, when you can use the ticket for a full day to get your money's worth, including hops on and off at places of interest to you. Some jet-laggers report falling asleep on the bus, which is a sad waste of time and money. If you have to crash, at least be comfortable in your hotel!

I would avoid the HOHO the first day for two reasons, you want to wait to get the full days worth if you want to take the bus and because if you are very tired from your journey the bus will probably just lull you to sleep. As for checking in upon arrival, it will be a bit early for check in at many places. If so, most will store your luggage for you if you ask. You want to maximize your time on Day 1, but maybe look at your overall plan for London and try to do the outdoor things on that day. Any walks you have planned would be good. For me, I find that it is best to keep moving. A nap would be the end of me!!