Let’s begin the day in the Southwark district, on the south bank of the Thames opposite the gleaming City of London. Here you can spend an hour or two browsing contemporary masterpieces housed within a former power station at Tate Modern, where entry is free.

Wander a few minutes down the road to Borough Market, one of the city’s oldest and largest food markets, full of fresh fruit and vegetable stalls. Grab a seat in the light-filled Market Hall or pick up a quick snack in Green Market, selling everything from Iraqi street food to Ethiopian wraps and British pies. It’s another short walk to London Bridge, where you can take in priceless views of the river and cross over to the north bank.

With extensive and meandering routes, London’s signature red double-decker buses are a brilliant way to get around – and get acquainted with the city at street level. Hop on the Route 15 bus at the Tower of London (£1.75/HK$17.4), which gives you a front-row view of historic sites such as the Royal Courts of Justice, Fleet Street and St Paul’s Cathedral on the way to Trafalgar Square.