How To Spend a Day in London

*This post is a paid partnership with Encore Tickets*

London is one of my favourite places to visit. I love all the hustle and bustle and endless choices of things to do no matter what your interests are. Every street is filled with something different to do and see. It’s not somewhere I think I could live, and I love coming home to the countryside, but I try to go a couple of times a year for a change of scenery and to do a few different bits and pieces. As I am currently considering a day trip before Baby Owen-Gibson arrives, I thought I would share my recommendations on things I love to do each time I visit.

Make a plan

Whether you’re Monica Gellar organised like me or you just like to wing it, I would highly recommend having a rough idea of what you would like to do during the day. There are loads of things to see and do that are all fairly close together, but there is nothing worse than realising you have covered the same ground ten times just to tick off three things on your list. I like to have an idea of what we want to do and where they are located in relation to each other and also a rough idea of opening/closing times or if we need to be there for a set time. 

Sight seeing

London is infamous for its sites and it’s definitely something I think you have to tick off at least once in your lifetime. A lot of things are free, and it can take as much or as little of your day as you like; depending on how many places you would like to see of course. Some of my favourites are the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and you can’t forget Buckingham palace. The museums are also a great place to stop at too, they are free to get in and can be enjoyed by the whole family. My favourite is the Natural History Museum!

Go to the theatre

Going to the theatre is something that I always associate with being in London. Whenever I visit, I always make a point of trying to see a new musical. If I am completely honest it’s normally what I plan my day around. I get so excited because I love the atmosphere; it’s such a unique experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. For me it’s also something a little bit different to do that I don’t always get to do at home in Cardiff and I always look forward to it. 

If you would like to go to the theatre my top tip again would be to plan ahead. I always find tickets are a little bit cheaper the earlier you book. There are so many places online to choose from, however I would highly recommend booking through a reputable retailer. There is nothing worse than tickets not turning up or not actually being able to get into the theatre on the day. Somewhere that I have used previously is Encore Tickets. They have a wide selection of musicals to choose from and their site is really easy to use. 

I have managed to tick a few musicals off my bucket list so far and some of my favourites have been The Lion King, which was absolutely magical both as a child and an adult. I also loved Mamma Mia too. As you can imagine I still have a few I want to tick off and I am desperate to see both Wicked and Aladdin as I have heard such good things about them. 

Eat somewhere different

London has quickly become well known for some of the most instagramable restaurants, cafes, brunch spots and juice bars in the country and you might want to make the most of that whilst your there. If that’s not your thing, then there are plenty of lovely independent restaurants to try out where you can have some amazing food. Save the chain restaurants for weekends at home.  If you don’t have time to sit down and eat, then Borough Market is a great place to pick up some yummy snacks while you’re on the go!

Shopping

It isn’t a day in London for me without stopping in a shop or two! Whether it’s Oxford, Regent or Bond Street there is something for everyone. If you are looking for somewhere that isn’t your normal everyday shops, then Portobello Road or Camden market are a great place to explore. I am pretty sure you can find what you need somewhere, no matter what you are shopping for. 

How do you like to spend the day in London, what are your favourite things to do? Do you have any musicals you would recommend? I would love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment below!

*This post is a paid partnership with Encore Tickets, however all opinions are my own and are always completely honest.