Visiting London – Our tips
One trip into London we have done for a few people, takes in quite a few sights, is a nice mix of relaxing, walking, photo opportunities and distance is as follows:
From Twickenham, take the train into Waterloo (they go every 12 minutes and the journey is 20 minutes only)
At Waterloo, walk to the London Eye. I would advise booking tickets online for the London Eye – not only do you save money, but you also can cockily walk up to the credit card payment machines, put in, get ticket, board for London Eye – saving about 45 minutes in queues!
After London Eye, walk up river to Westminster Bridge. Go over the bridge, take in Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament on your left. Keeping those on your left, walk straight forward, across the square beyond Big Ben, across the next square, and straight forwards, until you get to the corner, and entrance, to St James Park. Make your way any way through St James Park – one of the best views of London, looking back across the Park from the bridge in the middle back towards the river, you will see Horse Guards Parade – looks like Disneyland 
Continue through St James Park, and on to the main road – this is The Mall, and up to your left is Buckingham Palace! Gladly take in the sights of the Palace, then across the road you just entered is Green Park. Walk up through Green Park, and when you get to the top, you will reach Mayfair. If you exit at the top right corner of the park, you are at The Ritz.
Now, you can either turn right down here, walk along, and take in Piccadilly Circus, then straight forward to Leicester Square, and hang out around there … or
As you’ve exited Green Park, with The Ritz on your right, stop right there. In front of you there are people selling tickets to the Big Bus Tour bus service. It costs about £22, and is a ticket that is valid for 24 hours, to get on and off any of the Big Bus Tour buses at any stop around London (there are lots), get a birds eye view upstairs of the bus with a running live commentary (normally done by budding thespians so quite funny and acted out a lot!) and the ticket includes a one way Boat ticket. So what we’ve done twice before is get on the bus at The Ritz, and then get off about 45 minutes later right through the other side of The City, at The Tower Of London. You can then look around The Tower, then get on the boat at Tower Pier, and catch the boat, for free, all the way back down the river to Waterloo Pier where you started! Another advantage of the bus tour is that you can take pictures easily as you’re above the height of the maddening throng and you learn about the history of London as you ride it!
Believe me, that’s a full day out and thoroughly worth it. Vary your route to suit the weather, shoppers, eating, booze, whatever
The Big Bus Tour company – buy your ticket online, save £2 per person
