I’m constantly asked by visiting friends and family what are the “must-dos” in London, particularly for first-time visitors, so I thought I’d make a London Travel Guide of my top stops for first-timers.

One of the perks of living in the heart of England is its proximity to London. And one of the perks of being an American living in England is that everyone who visits wants us to meet in London! London is easily one of my favourite cities in the world, full of history, culture, architecture, events, and – who are we kidding – shopping.

Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Top of the list is the Tower of London, an 11^thcentury castle and World Heritage Site. If you want to learn about London’s history in a nutshell, you can do it here. Get a guided headset tour and learn its torrid and horrible story.

Here, you can see the Queen’s Guards (the Beefeaters), meet the famed ravens, and see diamonds bigger than your fist. The Tower has guarded some of the nation’s most prized possessions – it was the home of the Mint and currently houses the Crown Jewels (clearly the part I went through multiple times).

Top tip: I suggest going early in the morning, as it gets incredibly busy. Follow it up with a walk across the Tower Bridge and stop at The Ivy Tower Bridge for lunch. If you pre-book, ask for a table on the second floor by the windows for the best view money can buy.

London Eye

Yes, this is super touristy. Yes, it is worth every penny. Basically a giant ferris wheel made of huge glass pods, you can see the whole of the city from here.

The great part about this is it can be done any time of day with incredible effect. If you start your trip here, you can get a lay of the land before setting out on your sight-seeing adventures. A day flight will give you the best view of the major attractions from the top of the world. A night flight will show you the gorgeous lights of the city.

Top tip: Pre-book the champagne experience. Not only will you get champagne (#winning), you’ll skip the queue and be in a pod with fewer people.

Big Ben, Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey

Easily combinable with the London Eye, head over the bridge and ogle the famous tower clock (which is under construction until August 2021). If you’re enthused about UK government, the Houses of Parliament is open for tours most Saturdays and weekdays during recess.

If you’re into gorgeous cathedrals or are a royal family fan, take a tour of Westminster Abbey. The Abbey has been the site of every coronation since 1066 as well as the wedding of Prince William and Catherine and Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. Tours are available Monday through Saturday and services are held throughout the day, every day. You can also book online for concerts or attend a 30-minute organ recital every Sunday afternoon.

Top tip: If you want the best photo of Parliament, head to the south bank (the same side of the river as the London Eye) and head in the opposite direction of the London Eye (its technically south, if you’re that way inclined). From across the river, you’ll get a stunning view of the entire building.

Buckingham Palace

Did you even go to London if you don’t get a photo in front of Buckingham Palace and take a walk down the mall? No, no you didn’t.

Go see the place where the Queen lives along with the famous Victoria Memorial. If you can get there through St James’ Park, it’s worth the beautiful stroll. If you’re planning on attending the changing of the guard, be sure to check out the dates online, as it’s not a daily occurrence. Get there early to stake out the best spot (I prefer to watch from the fountain).

Buckingham Palace opens to the public for tours during the summer months (classified as July through September here), and while I haven’t had the opportunity to do this myself, it’s on the bucket list. Learn from my mistakes and book up early if this is on your radar.

Top tip: If you walk just to the left of Buckingham Palace, you can find the Royal Mews which houses the royal carriages and cars, including the Gold Stage Coach. It’s opulence at its finest.

A Spot of Tea

Afternoon tea is a must in England, and almost everywhere you turn there’s another restaurant or hotel offering tea. The spectrum can range everywhere from “cream tea” – which is a pot of tea plus scones, clotted cream and jam – to proper “afternoon tea” – which is cream tea plus sandwiches and other pastries – and finally to “afternoon high tea” – which is all of the above, plus a savory hot dish.

If you’re looking for the best traditional afternoon tea that is the perfect representation of British culture, book a spot at The Ritz. You’ll get the classic cucumber sandwiches and strawberry jam that true English Afternoon tea is known for, and you’ll get it to the highest standard.

On the other end of the spectrum, for something really adventurous (and stunningly Instagram-worthy), head to Sketch London. Chances are you’ve seen Sketch’s pink puffy dining room (or even moreso, the toilets. No, I’m not kidding) all over social media and their afternoon tea is equally as elegant and quirky. The current menu includes a foie gras tartlette and passionfruit opera cake.

My absolute favourite afternoon tea is at The Langham. It’s luxury with a modern twist, refined but not stuffy. For example, the salmon sandwich includes a twist of lime and the preserves are always seasonal (this last time we had pear preserves). To top it all off, it will all be served on Wedgwood, which I think is just the most perfectly British way to enjoy tea.

Top tip: Don’t be terrified by the prospect of ordering tea. All of the wait staff is expertly trained to help guide you through the abundance of choice. Do, however, make sure you always use the tea strainer before pouring!

Shopping

For first-timers, my suggestions will always be the old standards – Harrods, Regent Street/Oxford Street, and Covent Garden. There are so many incredible shopping areas in London, it’s nearly impossible to narrow it down!

Harrods is absolutely worth a journey through (and it is a journey!). If you want to see the most luxurious pieces of furniture, ogle fine art, or even buy overpriced groceries, this is the place to do it. Take a wander (pick up a map so you don’t get too lost) and make sure you find the Egyptian Staircase and Shoe Heaven.

If you’re looking to SHOP shop, walk from Piccadilly Circus up Regent Street to Oxford Circus and head west on Oxford Street. Any store you can imagine is located on these two streets, but beware that you’ll be with the crowds! Stop into Selfridges (yes, it’s a real store!) and head up to the roof for alfresco dining at alto.

Covent Garden is a classic, not simply for the shopping, but for the whole experience. Top retailers like Tiffany & Co., Mulberry, and Burberry have set up shop here. It is the perfect place for an Instagram photo and has tons of gorgeous food stops, like Laduree and Clos Maggiore. If you’re there during the holiday season, grab a mulled wine and get pulled into the warmth of the shops. In the summer, enjoy live music and outdoor eating.

Top Tip: Liberty London is just off Regent Street, south of Oxford Circus. The department store was built in Tudor Revival style out of the timbers of two ships and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Get Cultured

London’s West End is the equivalent to New York City’s Broadway, and is the home of the theatre district in the city. There shouldn’t be a question if the West End is as good as Broadway; it is undoubtably as phenomenal – and on average half the price. Go see “Hamilton” (where King George’s appearance is a bit more hilariously apropos) or the more British “Mary Poppins” and “Matilda.”

The Royal Albert Hall is home to summer concert series BBC Proms among a whole host of rock & pop concerts, opera productions, and jazz & blues gigs. Not in town for a show? Tour the hall to learn about the world famous acoustics and get behind the scenes access to the venue.

If you’re a museum-goer, you’re in luck! Most permanent exhibitions at London museums are free of charge. This includes the  British Museum (home to the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Marbles), Natural History Museum (where “Hope,” the blue whale skeleton is suspended from the ceiling), and even the Tate Modern (the most popular modern art museum in the world).

Hidden Gems

If you’ve got a little time and are looking for something a bit less stereotypically London, venture to St. Katharine’s Docks. It’s a stone’s throw from the Tower of London and is a secluded marina in central London. Take a quiet wander ‘round, eye up the beautiful boats, and stop for a coffee in the sunshine.

St. Christopher’s Place (pictured) is just east of Selfridges and north of Oxford Street. While there’s some great shopping here, you’ll want to go for a meal (or four). SCP is home to Martin’s favourite Italian restaurant in London, Harry’s Bar, and that’s saying a lot for a guy who used to live in Italy. I’m partial to Feya, a contemporary cafe and patisserie whose breakfast menu was designed by a Finnish blogger (so you know the presentation is beautifully photogenic).

Day Trips

Have a little bit longer in England and want to do a day trip outside the city? Try a few of these favourites of mine.

Admittedly, I ventured to Stonehenge a bit begrudgingly, really only adding it to the travel bucket list because of its presence on several of the “Wonders of the World” lists. Oh, how uninformed I was! This English Heritage site is well worth the quick train or bus ride from London. In a word, it’s fascinating – as puzzling as the pyramids when asking “how” and “why.” Wear suitable outdoor clothing; while there is a bus to the stones, you can enjoy a 1.5 mile walk there instead. The area is also surrounded by miles of walking trails if you want to explore the countryside.

Venture the hour from London to Windsor if you’re in the mood for cobbled streets, cozy tea shops, and…oh yeah, royalty. Windsor Castle is an official residence of the Queen and was recently the place of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan. Tour the state apartments, reception spaces, and grand halls seven days a week. If you’re interested in seeing the interior of St. George’s Chapel, don’t visit on a Sunday.

Visit the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford, in a short 1-hour journey. Touring the colleges of Oxford University should be high on your list (Christ Church is the most famous and home to several filming locations in Harry Potter). In the summer, punting down the River Cherwell is an English pastime. Pick up a copy of Alice In Wonderland at the original Blackwells Bookshop, then wander through the city that inspired Lewis Carroll. You can’t visit the City of Dreaming Spires without taking in the actual spires – The Varsity Club and The Alchemist are top picks for rooftop drinking.

Near Oxford is Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and popular filming location. I’ve spent many days on the grounds of Blenheim, walking the paths and gardens, enjoying a cup of tea from the café, getting lost in the maze, catching a cricket match, and hiking to the Column of Victory – and that’s just the outside of the building! Inside, you can see the palace state rooms, learn about the life of Churchill, and even enjoy an organ recital in the magnificent two-story library.

London never fails to provide tourists and locals alike with the most incredible places, food, and entertainment. The trouble is always narrowing it down to just a few to fit into your itinerary! While I could never fit all the incredible places into one list, hopefully this can provide you first-time London travellers with a bit of guidance of what to put on your must-see list.

Outfit: Dress and bag by Boden. Shoes by Principles.