After a good night’s sleep, we were ready to dive back into the action! London stretched out before us in all its glory, and this time, we decided to make the most of every second. With our phones in hand, Google Maps open, a couple of eggs in our stomachs, and an unquenchable thirst for adventure, we headed in the opposite direction from the city center. Why? Well, why not! All the major landmarks and attractions are practically within arm’s reach. Come along and see what we managed to squeeze into one day and what captivated us the most. Trust me, London has plenty to offer!
Morning after the evening beer
After our little experiment with English beer, we quickly realized that the real deal for us is classic Leffe from Belgium – and that immediately made our evening, and then our morning, much better. We woke up feeling like babies, had some scrambled eggs for breakfast, and set off for more London adventures!
Wembley Stadium: Not Just for Football Fans
First stop of the day was the iconic Wembley – yes, the stadium is massive, but that’s just the beginning! The entire area is filled with shops, sports halls, and modern apartments. You can take a tour inside, which costs around £24 (or about €29) and lasts from an hour to an hour and a half. We skipped the tour since we had a bunch of other sights to see. We thought we wouldn’t have enough time, but in the end, we totally could have. By the end of the day, we still had time left, so if you’re into football, definitely add it to your list.
Pro tip: If you get there by 10 AM, you’ll easily fit the tour in along with the other sights we had planned for the day, and still have plenty of time left by the end.
Buckingham Palace and Queen Victoria Memorial
From Wembley, we hopped on the Jubilee line and headed towards Green Park. After a walk through the expansive park, we found ourselves in front of Buckingham Palace, greeted by the majestic Queen Victoria Memorial. This spot is beautiful not just for the memorial, but also for the fountain that adds a unique touch of royal luxury to the whole scene. Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British monarchs since 1837 and boasts an incredible 775 rooms. If you see the flag flying atop the flagpole, it means the royal family is home. Every day at 11:00, there’s the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of the palace, attracting crowds of tourists eager to witness the tradition.
The Queen Victoria Memorial, located right in front of the palace, was erected in 1911 to honor the queen who ruled Britain for an impressive 63 years. The monument is adorned with sculptures symbolizing justice, truth, and charity—values that Queen Victoria championed throughout her reign. At the top of the memorial stands an angel representing victory, with the queen herself positioned in the center, standing tall and overseeing her kingdom.
Big Ben and British heritage at Westminster
Next, our walk took us to the Palace of Westminster – the Parliament and Big Ben – an iconic building that doesn’t revolve around golden coins, but still reflects British pride and glory. Few are familiar with the legend of gilding, meant to reflect British wealth and power. The palace is actually mostly made from stone and brick blocks, but some details, like the clock faces on Big Ben, are adorned with gold leaf. So, when the Brits wanted to show they were at the top of the world, they added a bit of golden shine to it. The Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament, was built in the 11th century and has been continuously reconstructed and expanded throughout its history. Did you know that every 6 days, Independence Day from Britain is celebrated somewhere in the world, making it the most widespread holiday on Earth?
The current form of the palace was created in the 19th century after a fire in 1834 destroyed the original buildings. On our way, we avoided the souvenir stalls (a tough decision, but we resisted). We crossed the bridge, from where we had a great view of the River Thames and the London Eye – that huge wheel that tempted us for a photo. Even though we knew there was a bigger wheel in Dubai, this one is the original and unbeatable. The London Eye was under renovation, so we couldn’t take a ride. It was a bit of a disappointment, but oh well.
As for Big Ben, the name originally referred not to the entire tower but to the huge bell that weighs 13.5 tons. It’s similar to the one we have in Košice, by the Urban Tower, called the Urban Bell. This bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation. So, if you thought Big Ben was just the name for that massive tower, you’re partly right, but in fact, it’s the bell itself, which is a symbol of British tradition and the regular chimes that ring every hour.
Tower Bridge and Tower of London
To cover all the classic London landmarks, we continued to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Nearby, we discovered a Tesco where we stocked up on water and snacks, as lunchtime was approaching. Tower Bridge amazed us with its grandeur and strength—after all these years, it still withstands the weight of the cars that cross it daily, still serving London, while some younger bridges in Slovakia seem to fall one after another. The bridge opened in 1894 and was considered a technical marvel from the start. It’s a combination of a drawbridge and a pedestrian bridge, with its iconic blue-and-white towers. And as if that wasn’t enough, did you know that Tower Bridge used to be raised several times a day to allow big ships to pass? That’s a lot of overtime work!
A short distance from the bridge is the Tower of London, which was built in the 11th century and has since served many purposes – from a royal palace to a prison, and even a treasury where the British Crown Jewels were kept. Today, the Tower of London is considered one of the most important historical landmarks in London, not just because of these jewels, but also due to its dark secrets – including legends about prisoners who met their fate here, such as Anne Boleyn, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, who was executed within these walls. Although this castle has a long and mysterious history, today it mainly serves tourists, who take photos with the guards and seek their own piece of London’s history.
Did you know that there are 33 bridges crossing the River Thames in London? And of those, 5 are over 100 years old! Now that’s quite insane.
Right here, you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the Tower Bridge, the pier, and also the walkway or square where you can take a lovely stroll.
Lucn as true English People: Fish and Chips
At the Tower Bridge Kitchen restaurant, we treated ourselves to the typical fish and chips. For us, it was like a fried schnitzel with fries – nothing extraordinary, but so deliciously served! Did you know that in England, “chips” means fries? Not like for Slovaks when we hear and watch American movies. So, no chips, but crispy, potato fries.
A Modern Wiev of the City from Canary Wharf
Our next stop: Canary Wharf. This is London’s financial hub, full of skyscrapers and banking institutions. I tried my luck and wanted to get into one of the skyscrapers for the view, but the receptionist informed us that without an invitation to an office, we were out of luck. No worries! On the square, we admired a large illuminated globe that added a modern touch to the district. In winter, they also have an ice rink where people go ice skating.
End of the Day and the Iconic Double Deckery
At the end of the day, we took a ride on the double-decker buses. We sat at the front on the top deck and enjoyed the view of London. True, traveling by bus is slower here because the stops are close to each other, but as a tourist experience – I definitely recommend it!
The London adventure continues! In the next part, I’ll share hidden tips and tricks on how to discover the best spots, save money, and experience London to the fullest. I’m preparing practical advice to help you get the most out of this amazing city. Get ready for the next chapter!
Flying Easterner
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