If there is any city that captures the ‘vitality’ of life at its full force, it is London, a city which like New York, is a concrete jungle that never sleeps. The streets are alive with the illusion of promise, as the 24 hour tubes swing into action at the weekends where patrons drink merrily until sunrise, and the clubs are heaving with sweaty endorphins bouncing around the room like puppies. The days are whimsical, as the flower markets float on by, while the food critics wrinkle their nose to capture tasting notes permeating from wine glasses, heady and sensual. 24 hours in the big city of London, is an adventure that is filled with possibilities, as you waltz on the London Eye and goof around next to Brad Pitt, in Madame Tussaud’s. There is culture, fashion, food and drink, rolled around in a meringue of possibilities, where the sun is never shining but the rain free falls with optimism. Tourists and locals mingle alike, savoring the melting pot of cuisines that the big city of London brings, relishing the taste of culture on parched lips. There is a thirst for knowledge here, soaked up in old parchment and scrolls, dust mites crawling out of well thumbed library books, that remain triumphant in the face of technological advance.
Tower Bridge: City Of London
There is a merger between the old and new, where old traditions give way to new values. We live in an age where London is not only a crossroad into the past, but also a stepping stone into the future, a financial hub, the center of technological activity, a space where transport remains on top of its game. But still the old world remains, the Ancient Egyptian artifacts in The British Museum, the sewer rats roaming the underworld for centuries, the Kings and Queens that lie in eternal slumber, enshrouded in death. We have an obsession with the macabre, a thirst for the consumption of something new, an Island wise beyond its years. But 24 hours in London is a journey of ups and downs, as you ride the wave back into history, where Henry VIII was a tyrant once more, and Shakespeare was merely an ember in his Mothers Womb. But on the highlights reel you sample delicacies in Borough Market, while shopping until you drop in ‘Oxford Circus’ a mecca for those who bow down before the Goddess of Shopping herself. From luxurious stays in five star hotels, to watching shows like Kinky Boots, in the West End, here are some great ways that you can spend 24 hours in the Big City Of London.
Start Your 24 Hours In London As You Mean To GO On: In Luxury
You land in the early hours of the morning, where the tubes are filled with people who are rushing to work in a frantic frenzy, and you get caught up in the manic rush hour, counting down the minutes until you step foot into your luxury five star hotel, where your strife and worries will melt away, in one simple transaction. You choose LaLiT London, a luxurious boutique hotel with an 180-year-old neo baroque edifice and 70 beautifully designed rooms. Even the room service is five star, boasting a 24 hour room service to attend to your every need and want, while the hotel is a luxurious of ‘East Meets West’ with holistic therapies in the ‘spa room’ (Rejuve), while the bars and restaurants have nailed Indian gastronomy down to a T, with mouthwatering culinary concepts from all over the Subcontinent, such as grilled tofu, featuring Coconut sukha, spiced tofu mince, spinach and super seeds, found at Baluchi, a Pan Indian destination.
If it was up to you, you would luxuriate in the spa all day, before being served dinner in bed, but in 24 hours your guide has packed so much into your itinerary, so onwards and upwards your journey must commence, into the big City Of London, where endless possibilities wait. So, once the problem of where to stay in London is taken care of, you take a nice warm bath and set out to explore the city—fully rejuvenated and energetic, with a spring in your step.
Sightseeing Around The Typical Tourist Hotspots
Like any tourist you want to tick off as many of the ‘self acclaimed’ tourist spots as you can, ranging from marveling at the Instagram worthiness of ‘Elizabeth Street’ in Belgravia, to having a Champagne Toast on The London Eye, as you watch the big city go round and round in one spherical bubble. For those who are ‘museum enthusiasts’ it might be best to start your day in South Kensignton, where the dinosaurs roam freely in The Natural History Museum and the electricity comes alive in The Science Museum. Or perhaps you are more into the ‘shopping and gastronomic delights’ of the nearby Knightsbridge , where locals and tourists alike race around the boutique stores throwing their cash to bemused shopkeepers, and the patrons drink unicorn lattes in flower shops nearby. For those who like ‘sightseeing’ with a good ol’ dose of history, St James Park and Buckingham Palace might be a good shout, as you watch the changing of the guard, and waltz around perfectly manicured gardens, where red and green merge in perfect harmony. Or perhaps Westminister, where The Houses Of Parliament and Big Ben reside might be more up your street, as you take a political journey through London.
Your taste for history is not satisfied just yet, you jump on a boat down the Thames towards Tower Bridge, where you enter The Tower Of London and see Anne Boleyn, while in your imagination, you become a Queen for a day, as you put on the Crown Jewels that lay heavy on your head. And no day would be complete without a trip to Southbank, where you ride the carousal, like a kid once more, with a candyfloss in one hand and a veggie burger in the other.
- Culture In The West End
If you’re in London, a West End theatre show has to be high on the must-do list. Walk around Theatreland (Piccadilly in the west, Holborn in the east and Covent Garden in the middle). Choose one show of your liking, and soak in the marvelous culture, ranging from shows like Kinky Boots, The Book Of Mormon and The Lion King.
- Shopping
If you mean serious shopping, Oxford Street, with its giant Topshop, is a great place to begin. If you venture further down, you will see the Marble Arch for Selfridges, John Lewis. You can also head towards the high-end New Bond street or the flagship stores on Regent Street instead.
- London pubs
London has the largest concentration of Michelin Star restaurants in the UK, and there are a lot of places you can try. There is also a pub on practically every corner. You can choose from the array of speakeasies, craft beer houses, historic pubs or simple old-fashioned boozers depending on your preference. So, maybe after a long day of sightseeing and shopping, you can relax in one of these fine restaurants or grab a drink or two in these fancy bars.
So whether you are a history enthusiast, a luxury seeker or a lover of life’s simple pleasures, London has something to suit every taste. And while you might be worried that 24 hours is not long enough to spend in the big city of London, you will be surprised to know the many things you can do and places you can visit in this short duration—especially London’s highlights! It’s a great way to kickstart your trip around the UK, or to spend your stopover, if you are flying to another destination.
Leave a Reply