As the nation’s capital, London makes a fantastic destination for a staycation or tourists visiting the UK. What makes London great is that you don’t need much time here to fully explore all of the sights.
In fact, many domestic holiday tourists rarely stay three nights or longer in the capital, opting instead for a long weekend trip away. So, if time is of the essence, here are our top tips on how you can make the most out of your weekend trip to London.
- Stay in a central location
When it comes to choosing a hotel, it is all about location, location, location! It can be tempting to opt for a cheaper hotel or rental just outside London, but when you are short on time, it is definitely worth the extra bit of cash to secure some more centrally-located accommodation.
To this end, you could book a room at a hotel such as Dorsett Hotel, City, which is physically close to a wide range of amenities and tourist attractions. Not only will staying at a hotel like this save you time, it will also probably save you money, as you will not have to travel into the capital every day.
- Get a travel card
If you do have to travel to get to the tourist attractions, or you don’t feel like walking, consider getting a travel card for the few days you are in London. This will give you unlimited travel at any time on bus, Tube, tram and other rail services in London, and can be purchased for a single traveller or a group.
Some people may prefer to walk, but everyone has an off day where they feel a little tired. If this is the case, and you don’t wish to get a travel card, take advantage of travel caps on the Tube by using a contactless card for your journey.
- Group itinerary by location
Most popular tourist attractions can be grouped together so that you can make the most out of your days and avoid having to dash back and forth. For example, the Tate Modern, Borough Market and Shakespeare’s Globe are all close by on the South Bank.
You can also visit the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral in one day; Big Ben and the London Eye; and the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, all of which are free.
- Take an open top bus tour
If you run out of time to see everything you wanted but don’t mind having a whistle-stop tour, why not hop on an open top bus? This will take you around all the sights, so you don’t have to feel like you missed out.
When you are on the tour, spot places you wish you could have seen up close and make a note of other attractions nearby. After you start planning your next weekend trip to London, this will make your itinerary-planning a lot easier. Happy holidaying!
