Trying to plan a trip to London on my own - opinions on itinerary?

[TravelCapers]

Hello. I've never been on a train before and I've never been to London either. I am trying to put together a travel plan for what sights I want to see while I'm there. My current plan is getting there on an early train and then getting a late train back. I'll be travelling from North West England and the train arrives at Euston Station. It also departs from Euston. The train takes around 2 hours 30 minutes to arrive. I am expecting to have around 8 hours to spend in London before having to get back to Euston for the return train. Here is what I would like to see if possible.

British Museum
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Tower Of London
London Eye
St Paul's Cathedral

When considering the time travelling between each place and then time spent queueing etc, I am not sure how much time I would need exactly. There isn't really enough time to see everything unless I was planning to stay overnight. It would cost me more to stay in a hotel overnight than what it would cost for the train there and back and the entrance fees for the attractions. What are your thoughts? Do you think 8 hours is enough to see most or all of what I'd like to see?

I think you could go straight to tower of London, I'd say that's easily three hours.

Have something to eat and then do the British museum before coming back to Euston, they are close by ish. Anything more is going to feel rushed and exhausting.

Even that is going to feel like a really long day! And you're not really going to have time to just walk and explore leisurely.

Are you sure you can't save up and do a proper stayover trip?

Rather than the expensive Hop on Hop off you could use the sightseeing bus routes https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/experience-london/bus-leisure-routes

I agree with pp stick to one part of London.
British Museum, St Paul’s and Tower of London are doable.

I would suggest Tube or taxi to British Museum.

Bus to St Paul’s - you need to change at Trafalgar square. This allows you to see some familiar places on the journey.

Lunch near St Paul’s. Also walk to/over the Millennium Bridge.

Bus 15 to Tower Hill & Tower of London. I love the Thames Clipper/uber as it gives you wonderful views of London but it takes time.

Circle Line back to Euston Square.

Some people prefer museums to cocktails though.

London is warmer than outside London when it’s warm (city heat), but is also wet and cold. It won’t be boiling hot all summer! Definitely can be uncomfortable if you hit a heatwave though.

I echo all the comments about staying overnight. If you feel able to share roughly when you’re thinking of coming I bet we could find you a good deal. MN is a great travel agent!

The choice isn't mushrooms or cocktails. London museums are fabulous but if you've never been there why spend all your time indoors looking at ancient pots, stuffed animals or a frock worn by Anne Boleyn when you can be walking about seeing iconic sights like the Houses of Parliament, Westminster abbey, tower bridge, Buckingham Palace, the city, the south bank etc stopping for refreshments along the way (whatever floats your boat)

Museums not mushrooms

I'm a London and I live in central London. It's just not enough time, OP. All these places will have queues to get in. You'd be better off planning several separate day trips and doing a couple of things that are close to each other on each trip. That will also give you time to enjoy them, have something nice to eat and just wander around a bit too.

I'm a Londoner!! Typo!

I personally would want to do both but for some people they really do just love museums! (Others love mushrooms more.)

I don’t think the OP is a museum obsessive to be fair and seeing eg the Houses of Parliament and walking down Whitehall to Trafalgar Square etc definitely should be done on a first trip to London.

At the moment I am thinking of either going in June or alternatively delaying the trip until some time in September (or soon after that). I would like to avoid going during the school holidays if possible. It's London, so I expect it to be crowded whenever you go, but I'd expect it to be much more crowded during school hols, bank holidays or weekends.

I would walk from Euston to the British Museum. It’s a really straightforward route basically just cross the road opposite Euston, walk straight ahead until Great Russell St, turn right.

I would then walk down to the Strand maybe via Covent Garden, but you can just carry straight along the road you came from Euston.

Cross over Waterloo Bridge and admire the view of the Thames.

Then you will be right near the London Eye. Personally I wouldn’t bother, but up to you.

Then you could:

Walk along the South Bank to St Paul’s or the Tower. I would just pick one, as they are expensive, so shame to rush. You get to St Paul’s first. I would allow an hour for a stroll there.

Or you could get a river boat from the pier by the Eye to the Tower in about 15 minutes.

From there, a tube back is quicker if you are short of time. Buses can get stuck in traffic.

From the Tower, tube stop is Tower Hill, Circle Line (yellow) West to Euston Square. Walk to Euston station.

Or from St Paul’s tube station - central line (red, the only one) one stop east to Bank. Then Northern line north to Euston itself. Or to avoid having to change, just walk down to Bank and go from there, it is straight down one road, so easy to find.

The tube might be a bit daunting if you have never been on a train. Just remember if it is crowded, that lots of people will get on and off at both Kings Cross and Euston, so you can follow the crowd, even if it is looking like you won’t possibly be able to squeeze your way out.

For your first time on the tube, avoid rush hour if you can since it will be full of hurrying commuters on autopilot. You can use your contactless card so have it ready as you approach the gate, and remember to stand on the right on the escalator so that people can walk down on the left.

On buses, you only need to tap your card getting on, not getting off.

bin off the London eye do sky gardens - same thing and faster / free

mid do it in this order and I’d take the tube for some of it!

1 British Museum - walking distance from Euston

2 Tower Of London - you need to book

3 skylon sky gardens - you need to book
4 St Paul's Cathedral

take tube across London

5 Natural History Museum - next to science museum

6 Science Museum - does lates
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/lates

back on late train….

Go on a Sunday and come back Monday….hotels are way cheaper in London on Sunday night….we stayed at travel lodge Euston for £49 last month on a Sunday night

If you look online, you can get free printable maps of walks around key sights - is that an option? They visit the attractions, plus slightly lesser known places.

September is quieter than June, as June is school holidays in the US and other parts of Europe.
So easier to get bookings for the free things like sky garden and museums.

I’d do the V and A rather than the Nat History and Science Museums, fewer crowds especially in the upper floors, lovely courtyard to have a coffee or lunch. The Jewellery gallery and glass galleries are lovely, just do one of those and enjoy the building. If it’s nice weather I would walk from there through Hyde park and Kensington Gardens see the Diana Statue, you can then walk to Buckingham Palace or go the other way to Marble Arch. agree that the Sky Garden is better than the London Eye so you could book that up. get TFL Go app on your phone which has tube maps, can tell you how to get from one place to another where the bus stops are etc. there are loads of lovely places to see in London you can’t possibly do all your list in one day unless you get one of those tourist buses which take you round the sights.

Using your wish list as a guide I would walk through Bloomsbury to the BM spend time there then head towards the City and the Tower of London.There is a lot of atmosphere and interest without necessarily going in. You will catch a view of St Paul's and the Monument if you like also eg the Bank of England .Cross the river and walk west passing the Globe, Tate etc. Don't bother with the Eye but cross back over the river aiming for Trafalgar Square for the National Gallery . Close to here are the National Portrait Gallery and the Courtauld ( you have to pay for this but it is lovely and in Somerset House) if you prefer.You can route this to incorporate Whitehall and Downing Street , the Houses of Parliament or Covent Garden if you want but not all of them.You will have seen loads of London sights , have tired legs and have been able to eat/drink easily along the way.You won't fit it the West London museums. Outside stations and major tube stations are some good maps showing bus routes if you want to rest your legs at times but I agree that it is a waste of your time and much less interesting going on the tube unless eg it is at the end of your day and you are just shooting back to Euston. Download city mapper as it is excellent!

Agree with PPs - that’s WAY too much for one day. We lived in London for years but now when we visit, we choose an area and stick to it. Last time we stayed in Marylebone, went to Regent’s Park, the Wallace Collection, Daunt Books etc.

Obviously the fact that we lived there means we’re less bothered about all the big touristy places.

I would choose one ‘big’ thing in the morning, then spend the afternoon mooching around a nice area.

i would do Natural history and V and A. Science Museum I found less interesting.

If you want to stick to this area, Harrods (and Knightsbridge) is only a mile away so not far to walk.

Not been to museums this year yet but was at Tate Britain yesterday to see the Sargent exhibition, we got there approx 11.15/30 and there was still a queue of 4 people at the main entrance desk.

Luckily tube was quiet going there but coming back at 2.30/45 it was definitely busier.

It’s bonkers trying to see al these in a day and I’d never do it.

I travel to Euston several times a year. I try to get trains that arrive after rush hour. If I land during rush hour, it absolutely can take 45 mins to get into central London. For a first timer, it can be overwhelming and scary.

Euston into town is a fairly easy journey, but I think you can only do 2 things on your list in one day. So be selective. Or, as suggested, get on a bus/walk to just take in the city. Then you can plan return trips to visit specific attractions - I agree that Tower of London takes the best part of a day, for instance. You can also stay in different areas, depending on what you want to see (eg South Kensington for the museums).
I have been visiting London for 30+ years, and there are still lots of things I haven't seen!

I live in central London. There's no way you'll be able to cover all that in 1 day. You'll be able to do 2, 3 at a push. The British Museum itself will be at least 2 hours, the Tower of London is in the opposite direction to the Natural History Museum, etc.

British museum is near Euston but the NHM and Science Museum are in Kensington which is a tube or bus journey away and something of a detour.

You only have time to do a couple of those going inside but you could always just look outside.

My suggestion is to go to the natural history museum first, and possibly science museum (next door) straight from Euston, then go see the Tower of London and tower bridge outside (not worth paying unless a full day) go to St Paul's (again look from outside) before going on London eye. Finally head to British museum for as long as you have left, not far from Euston. Upside is the only fees are for London eye as the museums are free.