A Lauren-tiki Tour of London

Begin your day with a Full English Breakfast at your hotel (bacon, eggs, tomato, sausage, baked beans and toast). Then set off on a full-day walking tour of England’s capital.

Walk along Oxford Street from Tottenham Court Road to Marble Arch. Along the way view many of London’s famed shop and tourist counters. Step into Selfreges’s for a glance at the higher life. Visit Hyde Park, walking under some of London’s large trees and view old Royal buildings, perhaps glimpsing Kensington Palace. View many locals bearing their white skin while running.

Then walk through some of England’s war memorials toward Buckingham Palace. Be sure to get a good spot at the gates of the Palace as the crowds become thick closer to 11am. Watch the Changing of the Guard but remember to keep your bags close as many people push through the crowd to get a view. Keep your elbows sharp to maintain photo spot rights. After the 30 minute ceremony take a few minutes to admire the Queen Victoria fountain and achieve better views of the Palace.

Walk up the Mall, with views of Clarence House and St. James Park. See Horseguard’s parade and Admiralty Arch before finding yourself in Trafalgar Square. Here you will see Nelson’s column, the famous Trafalgar Lions, and the National Gallery. Extra points are awarded to people who find pigeons, as few are left in the square.

Stroll down Whitehall toward the City of Westminster. View 10 Downing St (residence of the Prime Minister), Whitehall Banqueting House, and many other state buildings. Stop to view Westminster Palace, the home of the houses of Parliament. Be sure to take many photographs of Big Ben.

Visit Westminster Abbey, see the tombs of Edward the Confessor, Henry III, Richard II, Henry VII & Elizabeth of York, Margaret Beaufort,, Mary I, Elizabeth I, Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare (monument), General Woolf, Charles Darwin and many more. Be sure to note the Coat of Arms of Katherine Swynford on Elizabeth’s Tomb. As a bonus for visiting on a Thursday, be sure to see the Cloisters and College Gardens – a rarely seen area. The snack shop in the Cloisters offers a good selection of goodies.

Hike over Westminster Bridge to get views of Westminster Palace. Then continue to walk along the south bank around the bend of the Thames. Get views of many old palaces, hotels and factories. See the Waterloo Bridge, Blackfriers Bridge, the Tate Modern, the London Eye and the Globe Theatre. Cross the Thames again on the Millennium Bridge with fantastic views of St. Paul’s Cathedral. See the Cathedral from many angles as you walk toward Fleet Street.

Stroll down Fleet Street taking in the average Londoners afternoon busyness. Make sure you note how many Starbucks you see!! Be careful not to miss the small turn into the Inns of Court, the home of London’s legal world. Visit Temple Church (newly famous due to the DaVinci Code) and the Middle Temple. Be sure to note that the Middle Temple is the eating hall for modern day law students and was constructed during Elizabethan times.

Hike from the Inns of Court to Leicester Square, along Charring Cross Road. Keen visitors will spot the Eleanor Cross (tho I didn’t, AGAIN… ). Leicester Square is the ‘real Londoner’s’ square – where all the movie cinemas an restaurants seem to be. It’s also the heart of the Theatre district. Walk back to the hotel via Tottenham Court Road, being mindful of both construction and pickpockets.

After a short break head out into the Goodage/ Tottenham area for food. Disappointing curry restaurants should be avoided at all cost due to high prices, mediocre food and poor service.

Optional extra: Theatre trip. Be sure to pick up tickets earlier in the day for last minute deals. Tonight’s visit will take you to The Mouse Trap. Be careful on your walk back to the hotel as the London nightlife is quite different to daylight life.

Sleep. Repeat.