Us by a red telephone box with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament behind, London

England

London

The city & a day trip to Stonehenge · 7 must-see spots

The trip

All the classics, and easier than you'd think.

London is one of those cities that just delivers. We went in June and the weather was great overall — a few grey clouds that only made the red phone boxes pop more. We stayed in an Airbnb just outside the city and took the city bus in each day, which turned out to be dead easy and a lot cheaper than staying central. We hit all the big tourist spots — the red telephone box by Big Ben is the photo spot — and set aside one day for a tour out to Stonehenge, which was absolutely worth it. Here's exactly how we'd do it again. We visited in June 2025.

Us posing by a red telephone box with Big Ben rising behind us in Westminster Melody leaning against a red telephone box with Big Ben and Parliament in the background
The highlight01

Big Ben & the red telephone box

📍 Red phone box on Great George Street, by Parliament Square

This is the London photo, and it's every bit as good in person. There's a classic red telephone box on the corner right by Westminster Bridge with Big Ben framed perfectly behind it — one of the best free photo spots in the whole city. It gets busy, so go early if you want it to yourself, and be ready to take turns with the other couples doing exactly the same thing (we did). Andrew even found a proper working box up on Regent Street for the full phone-call shot.

Best free photo spotGo early
Us in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in Parliament Square Andrew holding the receiver in a working red telephone box on Regent Street
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Westminster & Parliament Square

📍 Parliament Square · Westminster, SW1

Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey are all right here in one square, so you can knock out several icons in a single stroll. We just wandered the green and the bridge and took it all in, but if you want to actually go inside, Westminster Abbey is stunning and a skip-the-line ticket saves you the queue. It's a short walk from the phone-box spot, so pair the two.

Icons in one squareWalk the bridge
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London: Westminster Abbey Skip-the-Line Entry & Guided Tour

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Us in front of Buckingham Palace and the golden Victoria Memorial under a dramatic sky Andrew on the Mall lined with Union Jack flags and King's Guards in red
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Buckingham Palace & the Mall

📍 Buckingham Palace · walk down the Mall from Trafalgar Square

The walk up the Mall to Buckingham Palace is pure pageantry — Union Jacks strung down the whole avenue, guards in their red tunics and bearskin hats, and the golden Victoria Memorial out front of the palace. We got lucky with a moody sky that made the photos even better. If you can time it with the Changing of the Guard, do — just get there early to grab a good spot along the railings.

Changing of the GuardFlags down the Mall
Us standing on Tower Bridge with its blue-and-white towers rising above us Us on the Thames riverside walk with Tower Bridge behind across the water
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Tower Bridge & the Thames

📍 Tower Bridge · & the riverside walk on the south bank

Everyone mixes up Tower Bridge and "London Bridge" — this blue-and-white beauty is the one you're picturing. Walk across it for the up-close shot, then cross to the riverside path on the south bank for the postcard view of the whole bridge over the water. The stretch of the Thames here is one of the nicest walks in the city, and it's all free.

Walk across itBest view from the south bank
Us posing with wands at the Platform 9¾ trolley disappearing into the wall at King's Cross Melody with a flying Gryffindor scarf and wand at the Platform 9¾ trolley
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Platform 9¾ at King's Cross

📍 King's Cross Station · near platforms 9 & 10

If you love Harry Potter even a little, this is a must. Inside King's Cross there's a luggage trolley disappearing into the wall, and the staff there will hand you a house scarf and a wand and actually throw the scarf so it flies for the photo — it's such a fun moment. It's free to pose, there's usually a queue, and they'll take the shot for you. The shop right next door is a full Potter wonderland.

Free photo opThey fly the scarf for you
Andrew crouched by the water surrounded by white swans in Hyde Park
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Hyde Park & the swans

📍 The Serpentine · Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

When you need a break from the crowds, Hyde Park is enormous and green and calm. We walked down to the water and got swarmed by the swans on the Serpentine — dozens of them, completely unbothered by people. You can rent a pedal boat, grab a coffee, or just sit by the water. It's the easiest way to slow the day down without leaving the centre.

Free & hugePedal boats on the lake
Us in front of the standing stones of Stonehenge under a clear blue sky Andrew mid-jump with arms and legs spread in front of Stonehenge
Best day trip07

A day trip to Stonehenge

📍 Stonehenge · Salisbury Plain, ~2 hrs west of London

Booking a tour out to Stonehenge was one of the best calls of the trip. These 5,000-year-old standing stones are genuinely awe-inspiring in person, sitting alone in the middle of rolling green fields (we passed cows and countryside the whole way out). Going on a tour is by far the easiest way to do it — the coach handles the long drive and your admission is sorted, so all you do is show up and take it in. A half-day tour with admission is the sweet spot if you're short on time.

5,000 years oldTour = no driving
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From London: Half-Day Stonehenge Tour with Admission Ticket

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Make a day of it

Bigger day trips from London

If you'd rather combine Stonehenge with more in one go, these full-day tours pair it with Windsor Castle and the Roman city of Bath. We did the half-day version above, but these are exactly what we'd book to see more in a single trip.

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Windsor, Roman Baths & Pump Room, and Stonehenge

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GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Windsor Castle, Stonehenge & Bath: Day Tour from London

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The most Instagram-worthy shots

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Red telephone box with Big Ben Platform 9¾ flying scarf On Tower Bridge Buckingham Palace Jumping at Stonehenge Swans in Hyde Park

The full roll

More from England

Us close in front of the Stonehenge stones Us on the Thames riverside with Tower Bridge behind Andrew on the flag-lined Mall with the King's Guard Us sitting together in a field of daisies Andrew in a green field with cows on the way to Stonehenge Us in Parliament Square with Big Ben Us in the open countryside near Stonehenge Andrew in a working red telephone box on Regent Street