If you’ve only got half a day in London to see as many famous landmarks as you can, try following this path – it took me three and a half hours to see so much of London!

If you’re looking to get the directions on Google Maps, click here to have the directions from Green Park to the river taxi.

Start by taking the tube to Green Park Underground station. You can get the Picadilly or the Jubilee line to get to the station.

Leave the Park exit, grab a coffee – you’ll need it, you’ll be walking a lot today  – and marvel at the park’s beauty as you walk toward the golden gates, through to Buckingham Palace!

Take pics if you like, and make your way through the crowds (there will always be a ton of tourists here!).

Cross to the other side of the palace and through the smaller golden gate; turn left to walk through the famous St. James’s Park.

Check out the pond, the ducks, the cafes…enjoy them, but keep walking. Much more to see!

At the footbridge, turn right, then left when you hit the road. After 7-8 minutes of walking, you should be able to see Big Ben across the street. Take pics by a red phone booth if you like.

Here you’ll be close to Westminster Underground station, so if you have a plane to catch you can get back on the tube.

Otherwise, walk with Big Ben on your right towards the river; soon you’ll see the London Eye on your left. Cross the river, turn left and head towards the Eye. We’re not going on – we’ve got more London to see!

Walk along the river, passing the eye on your left, and you’ll see Southbank; there’s a carousel, a ton of food huts, and a skate park. If you’re there over the weekend there’s usually a book market and a separate food market.

If you need to end your trip here, you’ll be very close to Waterloo station (which has both underground and south-west train services). But if you can keep going, there’s one more leg to this jouney!

Find the riverboat port, buy a ticket for £11.90 to go down to London Bridge. There’s a regular schedule and the ride will take 15 minutes, with your audio tour guide pointing out famous stops along the way.

You’ll end at a port in tower bridge; marvel, and move on. With the bridge to your right, walk back down the river and check out views of Tower of London and the financial district across the water. You’ll end at London Bridge station.

This isn’t all of London, of course; this isn’t the best way to experience good food or culture. This is literally just a whistlestop tour of all the places you’ll see in everyone’s Instagram feed when they come back from London.

But if you’ve got a long layover at a London airport, or only have half a day to see as much as London as possible, this is a great way to see a lot of famous landmarks.

Would you do this walking tour? Let me know in the comments!