London in 1 Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary
Only have one day in London? With skip-the-line tickets you can still see the Crown Jewels, cruise the Thames, stand before Big Ben and ride the London Eye. Here is how to spend one perfect day in London — plus the best-rated tours and tickets to make every minute count.
At a glance
- 1Tower of London & Crown Jewels
- 2Thames cruise to Westminster
- 3Westminster Abbey & Big Ben
- 4London Eye at sunset
Morning: the Tower of London
Start at opening with the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, joining a Yeoman Warder tour — booking skip-the-line tickets avoids the worst of the queues at this busy site.
Midday: a Thames cruise to Westminster
Hop on a Thames sightseeing cruise from Tower Pier to Westminster, gliding past Tower Bridge, the Shard and the London Eye, then explore Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Evening: the London Eye
End the day with a sunset ride on the London Eye for sweeping views as the city lights come on, with the option of a hop-on bus to link it all together.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in London — prices per person.
