London 1-day itinerary

Start at Westminster station, emerging to the iconic view of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. Cross Westminster Bridge for the classic phone-box-with-Parliament photo. Walk the South Bank eastward past the London Eye, street performers, and second-hand book stalls under Waterloo Bridge. Stop at the Tate Modern (free). The Turbine Hall installation alone is worth the visit. Coffee at Monmouth on Borough Market.

Tube to Tottenham Court Road. The British Museum (free) holds the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Egyptian mummies, and the Sutton Hoo treasure. You could spend days here, so prioritise 2–3 galleries. Lunch in Soho: Bao on Lexington Street for Taiwanese buns (£5–8), Kricket for modern Indian (£8–14), or a classic pie and mash. Walk through Chinatown and Leicester Square to Covent Garden.

Head to Borough Market (open until 5pm weekdays, 6pm Sat) for London's best food market: Padella for fresh pasta (£7–12, expect a queue), Kappacasein for raclette, and Neal's Yard Dairy for British cheese. Walk east along the river to Tower Bridge, illuminated at night and free to photograph. If you want drinks, Bermondsey's Maltby Street Market area has excellent craft brewery taprooms (pints £5–7).