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London in one day really is a wonderful challenge; the city is huge, and there are so many things to see! So I suggest focusing on the truly unmissable attractions, wearing comfortable shoes, and getting yourself ready for a great walk!

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MORNING: London in One Day

For starters, in order to pay our respects to the Queen, we should start our tour from the square in front of Buckingham Palace (nearest metro stations: Victoria Station or Green Park Station).
In actuality, Elizabeth II rarely lives here, as most of the year she lives in Windsor, her favorite residence.
To find out if Her Majesty is present at the palace, we just need to observe the flags hoisted at the top of the building: if there are two (the Union Jack and the Royal Banner) it means that the Queen is at Buckingham Palace.
From here, you can take the path that goes through St. James Park, and with a pleasant walk of only a few minutes, you will arrive at Trafalgar Square.
This is one of the most famous squares in London with its fountain, the famous lions and the Column of Nelson. The square is dominated by the monumental facade of the National Gallery.

National Gallery

For art lovers this museum is a paradise, so for this visit I suggest you focus on only a few rooms, as it is impossible to see it all at once. The room of the Italian Renaissance impressionists is unmissable.
The Museum is free, but you can contribute to its maintenance through a donation or having coffee in one of its cafes, or shopping in the gift shop.

Afternoon: London in one day

If all this art leaves you hungry, you can pop into the crypt of St Martin in the Fields.
Yes, that’s right, I’m suggesting you go and have lunch in a crypt of a church! I haven’t gone crazy, a large self-service restaurant has been set up here offering simple and delicious dishes of English cuisine (at prices which are more than honest for central London).

The atmosphere is very lively and usually quite crowded. From Trafalgar Square, take a walk down Whitehall / Parliament Street along which it will be possible to see to your right the famous no.10 Downing Street (home of the English Prime Minister). You will recognize it by the armed guards who are always stationed in front of them. But don’t expect too much, as for security reasons you will have to stay away from the building, so the view of the house is rather limited.

Around the city center

Within a few minutes, we will reach Parliament Square, where you can admire in all its majesty Westminster Abbey (where many royal weddings take place), the English Parliament and Big Ben.

The latter is currently being restored and will be for the next two years or so, so expect a souvenir photo with scaffolding! Crossing the Westminster Bridge you reach Southbank, an area of London that in recent years has become extremely lively. This is where is the London Eye (the Ferris wheel) is found, from which you can enjoy a splendid view of London.

If you wish to take a trip on it (a complete tour lasts about half an hour and the cost is about 25 pounds) I recommend booking the tickets in advance to avoid, at least in part, the inevitable and often endless queue.

Tate Gallery

Continuing the walk along the south bank of the Thames, you will find the Tate Gallery to your right, one of the most famous museums in the world of Contemporary Art. If you have some time go on in, just to see the structure.
This former industrial building (it was a Power Station) deserves a visit, being the result of an intelligent and interesting renovation. Climb to the top floor to admire a beautiful view of London.

Leaving the Museum, right in front of the Tate, take the pedestrian bridge called Millennium Bridge, which will take you to another London icon: St Paul’s Cathedral.

Last stop on the tour

Take a break to take a few photos before heading off on the final leg of the tour. From St. Paul’s, I suggest you take a bus which will take you along a few stops through the city district until you reach the fabulous Tower of London. London Bridge, which are probably the most famous symbols of London.
At sunset, the view from here is amazing and you can finally rest while enjoying a beer at one of the many pubs along the Thames, possibly thinking about when to organize the next trip to London!

Read our article on Rome and the tour we created to discover it in one day.

The Crane Resort Barbados takes its name from the beach it faces, and is located only a few kilometers from the airport. It is an absolutely ideal position to reach all areas in no time.
The Crane accepts children under the age of 14, unlike many other 5-star hotels on the island, but also offers a pool and an area reserved for adults. Not accepting minors is a popular choice among Barbados’ luxury hotels, which is also shared by many restaurants.

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ROOMS

Well, what can we say about the wonderful suites of The Crane Resort Barbados?
The hotel offers very large rooms, with the option to choose either a second bedroom or a sofa bed. Either way, the suites boast two bathrooms; one with a shower and the master with a sensual shower and jacuzzi.
Each room has a kitchenette equipped with every appliance imaginable, and the toilet area separate from the bathroom. The terrace faces the park with a view of the pools and the sea, and if you don’t feel like swimming with other guests, you have a private pool overlooking the sea.
The only thing about these rooms is that the beds are too high, and a bed ladder to climb on the mattress would be very useful. I wonder why…?

BEACH

With a panoramic lift, you can reach the famous Crane Beach. You can benefit from umbrellas and sunbeds to enjoy the sun with the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to see the calm sea on this side of the island.
Behind the beach there is a wonderful palm tree area where you can spend few minutes in the shade or drink fresh coconut milk. There is no need to bring towels, the hotel will provide them. You will receive a card and you can collect them at the pool.

POOLS

There are four pools, plus a small bathtub/fountain inside the temple next to the restaurant.
The pools are all panoramic with fountains and waterfalls. One is located right in front of the restaurant, so it’s common to wait for lunch by the pool while sipping a cool drink.
The fourth pool is reserved for adults, and is located next to the terrace of the famous Azul restaurant. In this wing of the structure, you can breathe in luxury at every corner. Next to the pool you have the spa (don’t you need a massage after such a stressful day?).

MINI CLUB

There is an area dedicated to children, but Flavio never wanted to go as the hotel offers plenty of fun for children to have fun in the pool, between the waterfalls and the fountains.
During our stay, they were preparing some fantastic decorations for a party.

SHOPPING

There are many shops around the area, including souvenirs and precious gems, like those in Colombia; just be sure to take your credit card.

Why did we choose The Crane?
When we are on holidays, we want to be free to choose our activities, without the stress of organisation and with the comfort of being catered for.
For example, if one day you don’t feel like driving, or in the case of bad weather, the Crane Resort has all you could ever need.
Check out all our Barbados articles here.