A Day Out in London – Plan It With Our Detailed Guide

So exactly how do you plan a day out in London? Here’s how to go from a hum drum day in which you have little to show for it but throbbing blisters to one where you are energised by London in its glory. As they say, “fail to plan and plan to fail”.

Plan a Day Out in London by Finding Your Starting Point

Well in advance of your day out, decide where are you going. The sooner you start to plan the more options you will have. You will be able to book tickets that will be sold out nearer the day and you will have more time for research.

Your start point is going to be the theme for your entire day.

For example, if you are going to see Buckingham Palace you may decide to have a Royal day. Or maybe a Thames Clipper boat trip to Greenwich could become a maritime adventure taking in the naval museum and the the Cutty Sark. Or the Churchill War Rooms could be the spark for a military history day.

Good places to research your starting points are:

• Time Out
• Londonist
• LOTI
• Ian Visits
• Cultural Wednesdays

Think of what could spoil your enjoyment like long queues and crowds, rain and bad weather and make contingency plans.

If a heatwave is expected, you may want to postpone a walking tour of Kensington for a trip to the Regents Park Open Air Theatre where you can rent a deckchair and have a picnic and a leisurely stroll of the famous rose garden before a performance. If rain is forecast you won’t want to be on a Thames river boat so consider indoor or covered venues like The Tate Modern and Borough Market.

If you are planning many weeks in advance you can check the average weather and precipitation levels for the month online.

Is there a Google chart which shows when the venue is less busy? Avoiding busy periods means that you are more likely to get tickets and you’ll spend less time waiting in queues.

Amp Up Your Main Experience

Check the Events page of the venue’s website. By arriving earlier or later you may be able to take advantage of a free guided tour or performance.

Or maybe you could plan your day out in London to coincide with with a Happy Hour at a nearby bar or the pre-theatre menu.

Museums and major attractions often have delightful museum shops and cafes.

Read about the main exhibits, paintings or features of the place that you are visiting in advance as this definitely enhances the experience.

Add Additional Activities

Now we are going to look at how to take the day from special to amazing by researching nearby activities which are a different type of experience to your central event. If you have been on your feet sightseeing or at an art gallery, look for concerts, restaurants, cafes and theatres.

TripAdvisor is a useful reference as it has a map function which shows nearby attractions, restaurants and bars.

Put your Day Out in London Plan Together Like a Movie

Once you have your plan, sequence it together in your mind like a movie. What’s is the day going to look like? Imagine the photos that will make up your day.

If you live in London mix things up, don’t just tread a well worn path to your favourite cafe or restaurant.

Be Realistic About Your Time and Energy

When you plan a day out in London, allow for both travel time and downtime. Also allow for things going wrong. Check, and double check, opening, closing and last entry times. Does anything need to be eliminated or saved for another day?

Refine the Plan to Meet Your Budget

Are you getting the most for your expenditure?

It’s about getting the best value for money not about overall cheapness.

Maybe you could switch in some more budget friendly options, or spend more on some aspects of the day for a memorable, luxurious experience.

Save Vouchers and Make a Rough Schedule

Finally, print out anything that you will need like vouchers, tickets etc or photograph them to save to your phone. You will need a record of your London day plan and easy access to it.

Its amazing how your internet signal mysteriously disappears as soon as you arrive at a box office.

I sometimes use Tripit for planning day trips especially if my day includes a lot of time critical events.

With a bit of forethought and research, you can plan a day out in London that is truly amazing.

Additional Information on how to Plan a Day Out in London

If you have enjoyed this guide on how to plan a day out in London why not check out our other blog posts on cheap and free days out in London and planning a day out at Buckingham Palace?

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