First on your list should be Westminster Abbey, if you can get there by 9:30 you will avoid the rush and be able to walk in peace. The Abbey is a shrine to the nation and most of the country’s kings and queens have been crowned there and many have also been buried there.

Since the 11th century, the Houses of Parliament have been the seat of government for the country and are a truly remarkable landmark that has seen Britain through centuries of colonization, war and prosperity. The building is watched over by ‘Big Ben’, the most famous clock in the world, so why not set it?

Continuing down the political route you can walk down the road towards Downing Street, sadly you can’t walk down it anymore but if you’re lucky you might see someone important walk past the hordes of police and security officers. Other than that, it’s hardly palatial, but at least you can say you were there.

If you continue north, you will reach the center of London, Trafalgar Square. Home to Nelson’s Tower, it is the scene of many demonstrations. Once teeming with pigeons, each year thousands of partygoers descend on this square to ring on New Year’s Eve.

From the square you can enter the National Gallery, home to masterpieces by Da Vinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt to name a few. The panoramic galleries span eight centuries of some of the world’s most famous works of art and spending less than an hour on this would be a crime.

Just north of Trafalgar Square is Covent Garden. England’s most historic market was designed by Inigo Jones in 1633 and is home to a variety of stalls and talented street performers.

You may be getting a little peckish by now, so why not pop into Covent Garden’s ‘Porters English Restaurant’ where you can enjoy authentic traditional English pub food? Owned and operated by the Earl of Bradford, it is an ideal stopover for your busy day.

A quick trip on the tube, which is a must in itself, will take you to Charing Cross station, from here you can take a short walk to Buckingham Palace. This place really needs no explanation and depending on the time of year you may be able to get in, but be aware that this will involve queuing and will take a lot of time out of your day. If you choose the right time, you may be able to see the changing of the guard, but don’t plan your day around it as there is so much more to see.

One last tube ride will take you to the Tower of London, for over 900 years it has been a palace, a royal mint and, above all, a prison. Many famous English people have lost their minds there and it is the national home of blood and gore. A one hour guided tour by one of the famous Beefeaters is well worth the effort and will bring the tower to life.

When your legs start to go weak, head to ‘The Salisbury’, a popular Art Nouveau pub in the heart of the theater district. You can enjoy a wide variety of drinks and some clearly homemade cakes without breaking the bank.

The best way to spend a night in London would be to attend one of the many shows on offer, you could head to a great West End musical or a traditional Shakespeare show at the Globe. You won’t be disappointed either and would be a great way to relax and take the weight off your shoulders.