How Much of London Can You See in 3 Hours?
So how much of London can you see in just three short hours? I had no real idea but I was ready to find out.
While en route to Stockholm, Sweden, for a work trip I was able to find a ticket with a layover at London’s Heathrow Airport that would be just long enough for a quick jaunt into the city. Having never before been to London, my challenge was to take in as many sites as possible and experience this vibrant city while making it back to the airport in time for my next flight.
After taking into account navigating one of the largest and busiest airports in the world, what can be a rather lengthy customs process and the required transfers to/from the airport, I ended up with about three hours in the city for what was sure to be a whirlwind adventure.
As soon as my tickets were booked I started asking family, friends, colleagues and officemates for recommendations on the “must-see” items in London. Naturally, everyone’s reply was “how much time do you have?” followed immediately by “oh, that’s going to be tight.”
Multiple conversations, hours of online searches and one incredibly helpful Londoner in my office later - thank you, Jacqueline! - and I had a rough game plan...
Speed through the airport and customs as quickly as possible
Drop-off my bag at excess/left baggage and grab a round trip ticket on the Heathrow Express
Hail one of the traditional London taxis or get on one of the iconic red double-decker tour buses
See as much of the city as possible and make it back for my second flight
Speed and customs are not synonymous with each other but I was able to get through the entire process, purchase my train ticket and drop off my bag in a little over an hour. Not a bad start.
I made sure to “Mind The Gap” and 20 minutes later I was walking up the street into Paddington.
The weather this time of year is typically cold and wet but despite being a bit chilly there was hardly a cloud in the sky - couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Even though it would likely be a little more expensive, I opted for the Hackney Carriage (black cab) as it seemed like the most efficient way for me to see everything and go everywhere on my own schedule.
After explaining my idea to the driver (Justin) he agreed to give me an expedited tour of London and we were off, driving down the “wrong” side of the road!
Justin and everyone else I encountered during my visit were incredibly nice, polite and helpful. This always makes things more pleasant but it’s especially appreciated when visiting a foreign country.
The first landmark we passed was Hyde Park, which is situated in the heart of the city. The 350-acre park is one of London’s eight Royal Parks, and I was able to get a feel for the size as we skirted its edge for many kilometers. In addition to the rallies, marches and concerts, one of the more popular events throughout the year is the Winter Wonderland, which was in the process of being broken down as I passed. With more time it would have been fun to take a run through the park to fully appreciate the size and beauty that resides amidst such a massive metropolitan area.
We sped past Speaker’s Corner, the Marble Arch and Wellington Arch en route to Buckingham Palace.
The large Victoria Memorial fountain drew closer as the taxi came to a stop mere steps from the front gate of the Buckingham Palace. Instead of the Royal Standard flag, the Union Jack was flying so that meant I would not be spending any time with the Queen on this day.
It would have been fun to witness the changing of the guard but it was not meant to be. Instead, I snapped a handful of pictures, took a moment to look around and admire the Palace before hopping back in the cab as we headed down to the street toward Parliament Square.
Prior to leaving, my five-year-old son, William asked me to take some pictures of Big Ben. Sure thing, I said. Heading down the street I hear Justin say that Big Ben is just at the end of the boulevard but I’m not seeing anything. To my and later William’s dismay the entire tower was blanketed with tarps and scaffolding rendering it barely recognizable. I was also quite surprised at how relatively small it was after having envisioned this massive structure in my mind.
Slightly disappointed we made our way past the statue of Sir Winston Churchill and pulled up right in front of Westminster Abbey.
The Gothic facade and rising towers of the cathedral were quite impressive. Even more impressive was the fact that while some of the larger parts of the cathedral, such as the two towers, weren’t constructed until the 18th century, the Abbey is more than a century old, having been founded by Benedictine monks in 960 AD. Needless to say, there is an immense amount of history and beauty within the Abbey that I would love to experience the next time I visit.
A handful of rapid photos later and we were back around the roundabout and paralleling the River Thames with the London Eye in sight.
The 443-foot tall wheel was impossible to miss, situated right along the water's edge. Providing one of the highest vantage points of London, it’s no wonder millions of visitors per year climb aboard for a 360-degree view of the London skyline.
As we drove alongside the Thames, Justin pointed out the New Scotland Yard, Whitehall Gardens and Golden Jubilee Bridges before making a hard left back into thick of the city.
Our next destination was the original Rapha Clubhouse in the heart of SoHo. Having recently joined the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) and becoming a bit of a Rapha fanboy I was excited to visit another clubhouse and meet some fellow riders. The free coffee for RCC members was just an added perk!
I thanked Justin for being so accommodating and sharing his knowledge of the local sites before disembarking and heading into the Clubhouse. Not surprisingly the staff was welcoming and we immediately began talking coffee - the barista’s “Brewed by Hand” shirt serving as an appropriate conversation starter.
Latte and almond croissant in hand I found a seat in the crowded cafe area to take in some of the memorabilia, read about the daily club rides throughout the area and plan my next couple of hours. My expedited Tour de London was indeed just that and I was fortunate enough to still have about two hours to backtrack on foot for a more intimate view of the landmarks I had just whizzed past.
After some more cycling-related chats and a pair of Rapha London Club socks later, I wandered through the tight streets of SoHo, down past the Piccadilly Circus Underground Station and back to the front of the National Gallery, which we had passed on our way to Rapha.
Trafalgar Square sits in front of the Gallery with Nelson’s Column - built to honor Admiral Nelson after his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 - positioned front and center. The five-meter tall Column is surrounded by fountains and statues, including a bronze depiction of King George IV on horseback (foreground in the picture below).
In the early 2000’s the Square was made more pedestrian-friendly and that was evidenced by the number of people walking throughout the space admiring the historic structures and stepping into modern times with street artists showing off their talents with colorful chalk murals on the large tiles and musicians playing a variety of instruments.
I backtracked through the grass of the Whitehall Gardens and by the New Scotland Yard before catching a glimpse of the one visible clock face on Big Ben. I made sure to at least get a few pics of this for William, as well as some additional shots of the Houses of Parliament before making my way back toward Westminster Abbey.
As I walked through the city I was continuously passed by a number of people out for a mid-day jog. This, along with a number of cyclists utilizing the various protected bike lanes throughout the city was very noticeable. I suppose the combination of picturesque routes and unseasonably pleasant weather was too much to pass up. Going for a ride would be my ideal way to see a new city so next time I’ll have to try and make this a reality.
I walked down Abingdon Street with Westminster Abbey on my right and the Old Palace Yard on my left, admiring the centuries-old history and architecture. I looped back around by the Westminster School as some kids made their way to field hockey practice, the whole setting feeling more like a scene out of Harry Potter than a regular Tuesday afternoon.
At this point, time was running out and I had burned through that almond croissant so it was back to Paddington Station for a quick bite and a pint before boarding the Express back to Heathrow.
I popped into The Dickens Tavern and placed my order for some “fish” and chips and a pint (can in this case) from London’s Beavertown Brewery. The pub was very much your traditional English establishment - tons of taps, dark wood, low ceilings - and despite the fish substitute (I don’t eat meat) it was quite good and helped me check “visit English pub" off my list.
With a few minutes to spare before the Express departed back to Heathrow, I took a moment to take in the Victorian architecture of Paddington station before we sped off down the tracks.
Upon arriving back at the airport, the process of retrieving my bag and making it through security was relatively painless and I made it to my gate with a little time to spare.
All-in-all it was a perfect way to fill the time between flights and I can easily understand how so many people fall in love with London. This little teaser certainly makes my desire to return for a proper holiday that much stronger. Hopefully one with the whole family and after Big Ben’s facelift is complete.
Cheers!
