Highlights from London

  • Learning that the London bridge is not the one you see pictured here
  • Getting rained on 5 minutes after arriving in London from the airport
  • Experiencing a London pub
  • Getting to see famous landmarks in person, like Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, and Big Ben

About my time in London

I didn't get to spend very much time in London itself, but I got to see a lot in a little bit of time. As I was flying to Malta to start 3 months in Europe for the Summer, I had a very long layover in London. It was long enough that I decided to put my bags in a locker and go explore for several hours.

In typical London Fashion, the day was quite rainy, but I made the most of it anyways. I figured out taking public transportation to the city center and less than 5 minutes of getting off the subway, it started to pour. Since I had little time, I still continued making my way around the city.

First I went to Kensington Palace, although I meant to start heading towards Buckingham Palace. I wandered around Hyde Park and then eventually made my way to Buckingham Palace. I continued walking towards the river and saw Big Ben in person as well as the London Eye, then I made my way towards the London Bridge and Tower Bridge. 

I was jet-lagged yet full of adrenaline. As the day went on, I grew a little tired so I went to a restaurant to sit down for food and relax for a bit before heading back to the airport.

The Top Things to Do in London, England

I may have only had about 6 hours to explore London, but I saw so much in such a short time. First I made my way towards Kensington Palace. The line was long to get in, so I didn't go inside. I made my way back towards Buckingham Palace. Then I headed towards Big Ben, The London Eye, and The London Bridge. It was so incredible to see all these famous landmarks in person.

Visit Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is even more beautiful up close. But keep in mind there will likely be crowds. I went when it was raining and that didn't deter people (myself included).

If you time it right, you can also see the changing of the guard.

See Big Ben in person

Yep? You know I had to go see the famous Big Ben clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. I knew it was going to be grand, but I'm glad I got to see the incredible details with my own eyes.

Walk around Hyde Park

In the heart of London is Hyde Park. This was such a lovely place to walk around and people-watch.

Go to Kensington Palace

Another palace? Yep! I actually went to Kensington Palace before heading to Buckingham Palace. This palace used to be the home to Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, so I couldn't resist going to see it in person. I didn't go inside because the line was so long and I was short on time, but it was still great to see.

Watch the Tower Bridge let a ship pass through

It was really lovely to see this bridge in action. And make sure you actually go onto the bridge itself. When it's not raising up to let ships pass, you can walk along it.

See the London Bridge in person

To my surprise, I had no idea that the London Bridge was just a normal looking bridge. I grew up hearing about this bridge thinking it was some spectacular bridge. Nope. Just a normal bridge.

Even though it was raining, I enjoyed getting to see the city of London. I didn't actually stay overnight, so I'd love to go back someday to get a better understanding of the city and spend more time at many of the places that I barely scraped the surface of. London has so much to do, and I think it would be worthwhile to make the trip back.