LONDON for 36 Hours

Things to do in London

London for 36 hours presents a challenge since there are many things to do in this very large city. However, I have been there several times as I do a lot of traveling, so I had to narrow my activities down. I flew in from Bucharest https://travelswithsteve.com/bucharest-is-little-paris/ on British Airways and would change to American Airlines and leave the next day for Philadelphia after my London layover. I would be staying by Heathrow where I could go into London twice using the Piccadilly Line tube. For good hotel options near Heathrow Airport, please do as I do and use Booking.com. Save, save, and save.

Day 1 – Thames River North Bank

I thought that a stroll along the Thames would be nice since the weather would be sunny. I usually walk on the South Bank of the Thames River but decided to try the North Bank for a change. We left the Embankment Tube Station and made our way past St. Paul’s Cathedral where an aerial performance group was performing outdoors on its exterior https://www.bandaloop.org/. St. Paul is one of the most recognized sites of London with its 365-foot height which made it the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1963.

We finished up at the Tower of London (1078) and the Tower Bridge (1894). The tower was used for a long time as a prison. while today it is very famous for housing the crown jewels. The nearby Tower Bridge is another famous London landmark.

Day 2 – British Museum and Harrods

We saw that the weather did not look promising so to be sure we scheduled indoor activities. I went online and made reservations for the British Museum on their website. https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzoeuBhDqARIsAMdH14HwvIdDav9cyv-TcvyLZwnYPrzq1jjFE6mDKvtuMC3DJRTixaAHoLwaAtqQEALw_wc Here is a good tip. I think that it is important to make reservations online in advance so as not to be disappointed. I love their 1st floor because of their Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Roman, and Greek artifacts. What a fabulous collection.

Next, we went to Harrods Department Store https://www.harrods.com/en-us/ particularly the 3rd-floor Mens Department with its vast inventory. Nice to look at as I always try to stay stylish. Sometimes, I succeed at it. Since, I was on a tight schedule, London for 36 hours passed quickly.

Option – Windsor Castle

A good option would be Windsor Castle since it is not too far away from Heathrow Airport. It is only a 15-minute taxi ride which is the quickest way to reach it. The origins of the castle date back to the 11th century and was enlarged several times including a magnificent 15th century St. Georges Chapel. In 1992 Windsor Castle survived a major 15-hour fire that caused major damage. Authorities made the to replicate the pre-fire architecture as much as possible. The rebuilding costs were 37 million GBP (or $47 million (US) in 1997 money.

Today, the castle grounds cover 13 acres and is both a fortification and a palace. Windsor Castle is the largest and longest-occupied palace in the world. Queen Elizabeth II used it as a weekend home before her death. We will see how King Charles III uses it. He did use the lawn for his Coronation Concert featuring many well-known performers including Lionel Ritchie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and others.

If you are staying at Heathrow like us, there are many options to get there including a taxi (14 minutes ), or train ( 1 hour 3 minutes ). You can even have a tour pick you up at Heathrow from my friends at Viator.

A Word from Steve

I have produced a curated guide for a 36-hour layover at Heathrow not meant to be a comprehensive London guidebook. As a traveler, I have been to London many times and have had many experiences. I do not like to waste layovers and welcome the opportunity to do some explorations since London is a very easy town to get around. If you are looking for a cheap fare to get you from here to there. Please check my friends below at cheapOair.