Can you see London in one day?

You can see the main sights from the outside and visit one or two of them inside. This route links 7 of them in an order that avoids backtracking.

Is there a free audio guide for London?

Yes. The Itinerarly app has 3 free self-guided audio tours of London, narrated in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

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One day in London: a walking route in the best order

By Reda Chaouki, founder of Itinerarly · November 5, 2026

London is big, but its historic core along the Thames is walkable in a day. This plan follows the Intense London audio tour in the Itinerarly app, from the Tower of London to Parliament Square, with the Westminster Express tour if you only have an hour.

At a glance: 7 stops, about 5.8 km in straight lines between them (expect a bit more on foot), and about 2 h 20 of walking and listening, plus the time you spend inside the sights.

Morning: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral

Tower of LondonWelcome to the Tower of London, a thousand-year-old fortress that has served as a royal palace, armory, menagerie, and most notoriously, a feared state prison. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066 following the Norman Conquest, the central White Tower remains the core of this massive defensive…
Tower Bridge↳ 291 m from the previous stop (straight line)This is Tower Bridge, undoubtedly the most elegant and recognizable bridge in London. Built in the late 19th century to ease road traffic while still allowing tall ships access to the Port of London, this neo-Gothic bascule bridge is a marvel of Victorian engineering.
St Paul's Cathedral↳ 1.8 km from the previous stop (straight line)This is St Paul's Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece and one of the City of London's most precious jewels. Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, it is famous for its majestic dome that dominated the London skyline for nearly 300 years.

Afternoon: Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Covent Garden, Parliament Square

Millennium Bridge↳ 475 m from the previous stop (straight line)You are currently crossing the Millennium Bridge, a bold pedestrian footbridge connecting the City of London with the cultural district of the South Bank. Designed by architect Norman Foster, this steel 'blade of light' was inaugurated in the year 2000.
Tate Modern↳ 223 m from the previous stop (straight line)Welcome to Tate Modern, the world's most visited museum of modern and contemporary art, iconically housed in the former Bankside Power Station. This temple of creativity has preserved the massive Turbine Hall—a colossal space used for spectacular, large-scale art installations.
Covent Garden↳ 1.7 km from the previous stop (straight line)Welcome to Covent Garden, the liveliest and most charming district of the West End, once famous for its wholesale fruit and flower market. Today, its Victorian-style covered market, with its wrought-iron arches, houses elegant boutique shops and fine restaurants.
Parliament Square↳ 1.3 km from the previous stop (straight line)You are standing on Parliament Square, a place steeped in history where political power and civic fervor meet. This green square, surrounded by Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster, pays tribute to great defenders of freedom and democracy.

Only have an hour?

Take the Westminster Express tour instead: 3 stops, about 1 h: Big Ben & Parliament → Westminster Abbey → London Eye.

Practical tips

Many of London's big museums, including the National Gallery and Tate Modern, are free to enter.
The Tower of London needs a paid ticket and is worth at least an hour; start the day there.
The Changing of the Guard does not take place every day. Check the official schedule if you want to see it.
Buses and the Underground accept contactless cards and phones directly, with a daily fare cap.
Crossing the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's to Tate Modern gives one of the best river views in the city.

Do it with a story at every stop

This route is the Intense London tour in the free Itinerarly app. It walks you from stop to stop and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. See all the audio tours of London.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see London in one day?: You can see the main sights from the outside and visit one or two of them inside. This route links 7 of them in an order that avoids backtracking.
What is the best order to visit London's main sights?: One efficient order is: Tower of London → Tower Bridge → St Paul's Cathedral → Millennium Bridge → Tate Modern → Covent Garden → Parliament Square. It is the order used by the Itinerarly Intense London audio tour.
Is there a free audio guide for London?: Yes. The Itinerarly app has 3 free self-guided audio tours of London, narrated in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.