My perfect day out in London for tourists
Whenever anyone visits me in London they want to know the best places to go, the best things to see and the best things to eat. I’m not a fan of the traditional tourists traps. Places like Madame Tussauds and The London Dungeon are ok, but not worth wasting your time on for a short visit – they’re expensive, busy and nothing special. Instead, this is my perfect one-day trip out in London, local style.
Get on the DLR at Bank towards Greenwich
Bank is on the Central or Northern line (see tube map) and is pretty easy to get to from anywhere in London. Aim to get there about 10am – any earlier during the week and you’ll hit rush hour. Get on the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) towards Lewisham. Try to sit at the front.
The DLR journey to Greenwich gets you great views of the commercial part of London, past Canary Wharf. There’s not much to get off for around there, but it’s worth seeing from the train. Get off the DLR at Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich – you’ll end up in central Greenwich.
Grab brunch in Greenwich
In Greenwich, have a good look around the market, and check out the views across the river. The market has a number of good stalls selling tasty food, but there’s another smaller and less glamorous market near the Ibis Hotel which sells some of the most tasty Thai noodles on London.
After brunch, wander down the road to Greenwich park. The view from the Greenwich observatory in the park is one of the finest views in London – you can see for miles across to central London, St Pauls, the Gherkin and Docklands. If you have some time and have any interest in boats, the Maritime Museum within the park grounds is worth a look.
Once you’re done in Greenwich (aim for about 4pm) get the 188 bus to North Greenwich and the The O2. The O2 is the final stop on the bus, so you don’t need to get out until it terminates – you can find the route map here.
From the O2 to Waterloo on Clipper
The O2, formerlly the Millennium Dome, is the most popular concert venue in the world. It’s got plenty of shops and restaurants inside, but there’s not too much to see there during the day. Have a quick look around, but after you’re done head towards the pier, where you can board a Thames Clipper.
The Thames Clippers are a river commuter service, and zoom down the Thames from the O2 to Chelsea Pier and back. They give you a brilliant view of all of London – on your way to Waterloo pier you’ll see the O2, Greenwich, Docklands, Gherkin, London Eye and houses of Parliament. It’s a great way to get back into central London.
From Waterloo to China Town
From Waterloo, wander up to China town. It’s about a 15/20 minute walk, and will take you up through Westminster, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.
Dinner in China Town
China Town has some of the best Chinese and Japanese restaurants in London. My personal recommendations are:
- Red n Hot – really tasty and authentic Chinese hot pot (map)
- Tokyo Diner – delicious Japanese bento boxes (map)
- Misato – cheap and tasty Japanese food, including wonderful Katsu Curry (map)
- New China – more familiar British-style Chinese food, but still authentic and delicious (map)
After you’ve eaten, walk the 10 minutes to Covent Garden and check out some nightlife. There you’ll find bars, clubs and entertainers in the central arcade:
