5 Things to do on a Short Stay in London | England 

Last updated on 19 March 2025

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Planning a short stay in London?

London is a city of nearly 9 million people. More people live in London than in my entire country. It’s big. And that means that even if you’ve lived there your entire life and you’re about to retire, there’s no way that you’re going to see everything there is to see. Even more so if you’re just planning a short stay in London.

Despite the long list of things you could do when you’re just staying overnight in London – or for a few days – there are some activities in London that I recommend checking out.

During my time in England, I was able to go to London several times, sometimes just for the day, sometimes for a couple of days. Each time I managed to do different things, so as to best get as much in as possible. If you’re one to cut up your time into morning and afternoon segments, then there are a few things that don’t take more than that time. I’ve narrowed that list of places down to 5 that I really enjoyed.

Sea Life Aquarium in London Central

There’s just something about an aquarium that’s almost other-worldly. The London aquarium is true of superb quality and can be done easily in the morning or afternoon.

Right there on the water’s edge, by the London Eye, the Sea Life London Aquarium in the city’s centre is the perfect place to take the kids, especially if you’ve managed to visit London on a rainy day. There is plenty to see, and lots of different activities inside to keep the whole family occupied. If you’re marking your trip with a trinket, there’s a gift shop, as well as a cafe to quench your thirst or fill your belly.

You can book your tickets online (and it’s 10% cheaper to do so), or grab them when you arrive.

How to get there: Get off the Underground at Westminster and across the bridge. It’s on your left. Or get off at Waterloo, and make your way towards the River. If you’re driving, the best parking is the Q-Park Westminster car park, which is a short distance from the aquarium.

Camden Market in Camden Town

One of my favourite parts of London (okay, granted I haven’t been to ALL the spots) is Camden Market.

Camden Market is a rabbit warren of wonders, a sprawling market with everything from delicious food stalls, clothing shops and jewellery stands. It has everything from steampunk items to retro clothing, from second-hand books to handmade wax products, from personalised prints to artisan accessories. And that’s just the shops!

The food is vast and varied. Whether you’re partial to shawarma, Korean hot dogs, Italian gelato, or the classic English fish n chips, there’s something for you. Better yet, the entire party can grab different things and meet together on a table to enjoy their food.

Whether you go for lunch and wander around, or you arrive early afternoon and stay on for dinner, there’s always something happening, always something to see and do.

How to get there: Get off the Underground at either Camden Town station or Chalk Farm station.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington

If you’re a museum or history lover, then the Victoria and Albert Musem (or V&A) is definitely worth a visit. It’s the world’s leading museum for art, design and performance (thanks, website), and it’s truly a wonder to wander around.

8 miles of corridors full of history, art and sculptures, you could spend hours and hours wandering their beautiful halls. But if there are specific things you’d like to see, you can easily head to that floor and just see the things that really interest you.

The V&A showcases exhibitions from a wide range of ages, stages, countries, and cultures. Some exhisbitions are changed up over the year, so it will depend when you visit as to what’s on. But the permanent collections include journeys through Asia, the Medieval Renassance, theatre, ceramics and more.

How to get there: Get off the Underground at South Kensington station and walk to Cromwell Road.

Abbey Road Studios in St John’s Wood

Fans of the 60’s band The Beatles will be sure to head to iconic Abbey Road Studios anyway, but if you’re interested, it is a fun expedition, and you’ll forever remember trying to get the ultimate Beatles-style photo across the zebra crossing.

If this isn’t something that you’d like to spend your afternoon doing, but you’re still intrigued, you can check out Inside Abbey Road by Google for a virtual tour.

Top tip: If you’re visitinh from overseas and you have family interested in your trip, let them know when you plan to be there so they can tune in to the live cam and see you in action!

How to get there: Get off the Underground at St John’s Wood or Maida Vale.

St James Park in London Central

If Hyde Park’s vastness doesn’t do it for you, St James Park, which runs between Buckingham Palace and the Parliament buildings, is a beautiful walk. With a river running through the park, it’s full of wildlife, cyclists, picnic-ers, and, well you.

Whether you’re settling down for a picnic or you’re wandering between other site seeing locations, St James Park gives you a breather from the hustle and bustle of London’s city life. And if you’re not from England (or anywhere else that has squirrels), then it’s the ideal place to spot the furry creatures. Can you tell we don’t have squirrels in New Zealand?

How to get there: Get off the Underground at St James’ Park or Westminster

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Obviously, there are so so many more things to do in a half-day, but that’s a start for you, and some of the things that I’ve done in a short space of time that I really enjoyed.

Have you been to London? What other things can you do in just a short stay in London?

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