72 Hours In London: What to See
Before I dive into all that London has to offer, I want to point out that public transit is key here in London, and you definitely want to utilize it. I recommend getting an Oyster card. It works for all the buses and the underground. For the buses you simply tag on, and for the underground you tag on and off. It may seem intimidating, but the transportation system in London is actually super easy and straight forward. I’m horrible with that type of thing and I had no issues and never got lost!
Also I would highly recommend getting the London Pass. It costs £75 and gives you access to all the major attractions and touristy spots, most of which cost at least £20 or more per ticket. You’ll end up saving a ton of money in the long run and you get to skip all the lines!
St. Paul’s Cathedral
We didn’t actually end up going inside the cathedral because the line was absolutely massive, but I still had to snap a photo of the outside if it.
As you can see, its breathtaking and I loved the clock in the tower. Also the cloud formations all weekend were unreal and made for a great backdrop to all my photos.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the architecture in London is totally different than cities such as New York. The attention to detail and the ornate designs are incredible, and really give the city a unique charm.
London Tower & Tower Bridge
Our next stop was the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, which I would definitely recommend visiting. By far one of the prettiest bridges I’ve ever seen, the baby blue really makes it stand out.
The nice part about touring the tower is that there is no guide, so you can go at your own pace and take your time. We really enjoyed learning about the history, seeing the crown jewels, and reading about the prisoners who were kept there.
They have six ravens on site, and legend has it that the kingdom and tower will fall of the ravens ever leave the fortress.
View From The Shard & Gong Bar
We had initially planned on visiting the Sky Garden, but it was completely booked, so we decided to visit The Shard.
The Shard is one of the world’s most recognizable buildings, and is practically a city in itself. It features the Shangri-La Hotel, several restaurants and bars, retail, offices and apartments.
It also has a viewing deck at the very top. We had drinks on the 52nd floor in the Gong bar, and then proceeded to the viewing deck. You can literally see all of London, whether you go during the day, or at night to see the city lights.
If you aren’t afraid of heights and are looking for an exceptional view, then visit The Shard.
Westminster Abbey
The Westminster Abbey is one of the most well known Churches in the world. Unfortunately you cannot photograph the inside, but just by looking at the architectural detailing on the outside, you know it’s special. Inside you are provided with a headset, and follow the numbers 1-13 around the abbey, listening to minute long snippets of the history of each part. Many famous people are buried here including Stephen Hawking, as well as numerous kings and queens throughout history. The line is roughly an hour wait, unless you have the London Pass.
The London Eye
The London Eye is one of those must-do iconic touristy attractions. It provides you with stunning views of the city and plenty of great photo ops. Again, the London Pass will allow you to skip the wait!
Sexy Fish Restaurant
Several people had referred us to the Sexy Fish restaurant saying it’s a must-dine spot, and let me tell you we were not disappointed. In fact, it was probably the best meal and atmosphere I’ve ever been in.
The restaurant is very hip and trendy, with a waterfall behind the bar, and bumping music. We had drinks at the bar while we waited for our table (you have to make a reservation), then we were taken to our seats and given our menus.
Initially we had presumed it was a sushi restaurant. While they do have sushi, they also feature a number of seafood dishes such as soft shell crab and lobster. They also serve wagyu beef. If you’ve never tried wagyu beef, it’s the most tender and flavorful in the world.
Naturally, we got all three of these things. We also tried some Japanese whiskeys which were incredible.
We decided to go for an assorted seafood platter, which was presented to us in a giant shell with a lit up ice block in it.
To finish off the night, we ordered a cheesecake dessert for two. Again, it was out of this world. The food and drinks are a little pricey, but trust me it’s well worth the money!
Still looking for more? Check out my blog post on A Weekend in Kilkenny, Ireland!
