After two months in Ghana and two weeks in Sierra Leone, we stopped in London for a week on the way home. We did it the classic way: every big sight we’d ever seen in a movie.
But honestly, our favorite part of London had nothing to do with sightseeing. For months we’d washed our clothes by hand and taken bucket showers. Our first hot shower with real indoor plumbing, and our first load of laundry in a real machine, felt like pure luxury. Nobody has ever been happier to see a hotel bathroom.
A week is a great amount of time for a first visit. You can see the icons without rushing, and still have time to just wander along the river.
Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
Tower Bridge, the one with the two stone towers and blue walkways, is the bridge most people picture when they think of London. (London Bridge is a different, much plainer bridge just upriver.) Walk across it, then look back from the riverbank for the classic photo.
Right next to it is the Tower of London: nearly a thousand years of history in one place, with castle walls, the famous ravens, and the Crown Jewels. Plan at least half a day here.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren’s huge dome dominates the skyline. If you’re up for the stairs, the climb to the galleries at the top gives one of the best views in the city.
Buckingham Palace
The King’s London home. The flower beds out front were in full bloom when we visited. Time your visit for the Changing of the Guard; it doesn’t happen every day, so check the schedule before you go.
Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey
“Big Ben” is technically the bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, but everyone calls the whole tower Big Ben. The Houses of Parliament stretch out beside it along the river.
Just across the square is Westminster Abbey, where coronations and royal weddings happen. Even if you don’t go inside, the outside is worth the stop.
The London Eye and the River Thames
The London Eye gives you the whole city from above in one slow rotation. It’s right on the river, so it pairs well with a walk along the South Bank or a boat ride on the Thames.
Kensington Gardens at sunset
One of our quieter evenings was a walk through Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace as the sun went down. After a week of crowds, it was the perfect way to slow down.
Tips for a week in London
- Use contactless to ride the Tube and buses. Tap your bank card or phone, and daily fares are capped.
- Group the sights by area. Tower Bridge, the Tower and St Paul’s are in the east. Westminster, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye are in the west.
- Walk the Thames. A lot of the icons sit right along it.
- Book popular sights ahead to skip the longest lines.
- Try a hop-on, hop-off bus on day one. Riding up top is an easy way to get your bearings and see the big sights before you pick where to go back.
We went back to London in 2025 on a bigger Europe trip, and it was just as good the second time. More on that one soon.
