What to do with 24 hours in London

London is a city that defies easy explanation. Over 2,000 years of history bump shoulders with the hip, cool and modern city London has slowly been transforming into. English bobbies collide with fanny-pack wearing tourists anxious to get a peek at Big Ben. Young adults totter on impossibly high heels over cobblestone streets that are hundreds of years old to get to the newest hot nightlife spot. So how do you see all the incredible landmarks that London has to offer, and get a taste of the culture of the cities burrows, and experience uniquely London things all in 24 hours? Our first suggestion is to extend your holiday and make your stay in London longer than just a day. Barring that change though, here is a sample itinerary that will give you a good start on seeing the magic and energy that charges through London day in and day out.

Morning: London Eye, London Aquarium and London Dungeon

You can see many of London's top attractions from the iconic London Eye. In fact, so many take a turn about the big wheel to see the top attractions from a bird’s eye perspective that they put handy maps inside each cubicle pointing out places like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and St Paul's Cathedral. It is the perfect jumping-off point for your day of sightseeing—especially as the earlier you go, the shorter the queue.

After seeing London from above, walk along the river Thames to the London Aquarium, which is less than a minute away. The aquarium has one of Europe's largest collections of global marine life, including sharks, crocodiles, penguins and seahorses. There are daily feeding times and talks and if you plan ahead sometimes you can even help the employee with the feed.

If gore is more to your liking than marine life, visit the spooky London Dungeon located right next to the aquarium. This popular attraction includes scary rides and fascinating exhibits about London's gruesome history. If you book your London Dungeon tickets in advance, you'll get priority access on the day as well as great discounts.

Lunch: St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge

From the London Dungeon, take the bus or Tube to St Paul's Cathedral on the north side of the river. If you're feeling energetic, why not take your time and walk there on foot? The walk will take you past many more top London sights, including the Tate Modern art gallery, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the OXO Tower.

Then, cross the Millennium Bridge and gaze up at the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral as you go. The Bridge is yet another attraction as its construction was fraught with problems (since corrected), and it was even featured in the later Harry Potter films. At St Paul's, you can enjoy your lunch in either the cafe or the restaurant, which both specialise in traditional, seasonal British fare. You'll need to pay an entrance fee if you want to go into the main cathedral, which is quite a sight to behold if you have the time to do so.

Afternoon: Madame Tussauds and the British Museum

You don't have to be an A-lister to have your photo taken with George Clooney or the Queen. Simply hop on the Tube to the Baker Street stop and visit Madame Tussauds. This famous London attraction is full of realistic wax figures of celebrities, world leaders and sports stars, with a British influence.

Once you’re done checking out the wax celebs, head a few blocks over to the British Museum. This incredible building is London's most popular visitor attraction and its exhibits explore more than two million years of human history, with objects including the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies. Entrance to the permanent collections is free and you could spend hours upon hours in this place if you had more than a day.

Evening: dinner with a view

Finally, catch the Tube to Piccadilly Circus for England’s central hotspot. You’ll be able to find all sorts of restaurants and bars and pubs as well as plenty of shops and stores a little further up the block on Oxford Street. Here, you’ll also be close to Trafalgar Square where you can wander and enjoy the sights after a fulfilling dinner.

It may seem implausible to see all of the London attractions in one day, and in many cases that may be correct. With our sample itinerary though, you have the tools you need to get it done in one fun-packed day. Don’t waste time worrying about your belongings or your health. Purchase premiere travel insurance cover for your holiday and you won’t waste any time worrying about your belongings or health or other things that are outside your control. Cover-More’s team of experts are available 24/7 to policyholders to help with medical emergencies and more.

Image courtesy of Flickr user Russell Trow