London, England: there’s nowhere else in the world quite like it.
From the bustling city centre to the beautiful outer suburbs, there’s so much to see and do, whether you’re visiting for the first or fiftieth time.
Recently, my family and I went back to the Big Smoke for my son's birthday with a big group of his friends. We were able to visit all the top tourist attractions and see them through fresh eyes as if it was the first time.
How? Well, through The London Pass, of course.
This digital ticket gives you access to over 80 attractions and includes a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour.
And a bonus? It allows you to cover a lot of ground if you’re only in London for a short amount of time.
Want to know more? Not to worry—here’s what we got up to when my party was provided with a complimentary 1-day pass.
- Buckingham Palace
Firstly, you can’t visit London Town without paying a little visit to the Queen.
Buckingham Palace sure is a spectacle in itself, but have you ever witnessed the changing of the guards?
Also known as the “Guard Mounting,” The Changing of the Guard is a special ceremony that consists of The Queen’s Guard being replaced by The New Guard as they march to Buckingham Palace from the Wellington Barracks. And it doesn’t happen every day.
Currently, the schedule is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays between August and May. Then the Queen’s Guard changes daily in June and July.
Therefore, we were in luck because we were in London on a Monday in February!
2. Westminster Abbey
After we saw the guards changing, we proceeded to Westminster Abbey.
I mean, this royal church with incredible gothic architecture is only a 10-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, so it only made sense to drop by!
Not to mention, it has over a thousand years of history. Ergo, it’s a must-do.
3. Leadenhall Market
By this point, our tummies were grumbling so we headed to lunch at Leadenhall Market.
What is Leadenhall Market, you ask?
Well, it’s a covered market located in the heart of London amongst cobbled back streets. And it has elegant Victorian architecture.
Under its impressive roof, you can find stalls, restaurants, shops and pubs in abundance.
As a result, it’s a great spot for shopaholics and foodies alike!
4. Tower Bridge
With our bellies full, we decided to head to Tower Bridge.
For those of you who might not know, this is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London that crosses the River Thames.
Built between 1886 and 1894, it’s an iconic symbol of London that would impress even the most aloof among us.
The good news is that there was a family activity happening at the time that we were there, which Connor was able to participate in.
The bad news? It was raining cats and dogs so we had to let the downpour dissipate before we could continue with our day.
5. Tower of London
Luckily, the Tower of London is just a 5-minute walk from Tower Bridge.
This central castle and infamous prison was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s. As a result, it holds so much history.
Due to time restrictions, we weren’t able to walk around the complex too much. That said, we were able to see the Crown Jewels, which consist of 140 royal ceremonial pieces that were worn at the coronations of British kings and queens.
One word: wow.
6. City Boat Cruise
After being mesmerized by the Crown Jewels, we hopped on the City Cruises boat ride. This takes you down the River Thames where you can see landmarks such as the Tower Bridge, London Eye, Greenwich, and Westminster.
We decided to get off on the pier by the London Eye so we could take more up close and personal photos and then have dinner in nearby Chinatown.
7. Harrods
Finally, after a quick pit-stop at the LEGO flagship store in Leicester Square, we ended our day in Harrods.
This globally-renowned department store is located in Knightsbridge and home to over 5,000 brands, including designer fashion and accessories, beauty, fine jewelry, furniture, and food.
Even if you don’t fancy shopping there, make sure you visit just to marvel at the Egyptian-themed elevators.
Trust me, you won’t regret your decision.
Exploring London with The London Pass: How It Works
As you can probably tell, we had an amazing day in London using The London Pass.
For those who might be wondering how it works, all you have to do is pick the duration of your pass (1, 2, 3, 6, or 10 consecutive days). You can then download the mobile pass instantly using The London Pass app. When scanned, the QR code serves as your entry to the top attractions.
Alternatively, you can have your pass mailed to you or collect it when you arrive in London.
Either way, it’s valid for 12 months and simply expires at the end of your chosen duration.
And guess what? The London Pass also comes with a travel option. This is where you can add on an Oyster Travelcard that will give you access to the London Underground, Overground, buses and the DLR at all times.
It’s a win-win!
Reaping the Benefits of The London Pass
Personally, I found The London Pass to be super convenient. Therefore, I can understand why it’s used by over 3 million visitors.
The only thing I would flag is that each pass is only valid for consecutive days, not 24-hour periods.
This is why you should always start your London adventure early in the day, whether you’re visiting the Big Smoke in August or December.
After all, who wouldn’t want to maximize their time in one of the world’s greatest capital cities?
Have fun!
AD: Please note that this was a sponsored post in collaboration with The London Pass, but all opinions are my own. If you’d like to find out more about The London Pass, please visit their website at www.londonpass.com.
