One day in London
 

If you had only one full day in London, what would you suggest doing?

I assume you have never been there.

It would help to know who you are/what are your interests (history, art, architecture, people watching, shopping????)

If it's your first time, I'd go to the Westminster/Trafalgar/Buckingham Palace area. But that's me.

One day in London-take the Hop On Hop Off bus in order to see the major sites, lunch in a pub, stop in Harrods, then catch a show in the West End. Its a full day.

Thank you for your suggestions. I like people watching, architecture, museums but don't want to spend the time for that with one day. Not particularly interested in shopping in London. I guess what I would like - since time is so limited - is an area where I can see some things and also have a place to stop for food/rest. I think I'm really a 'wanderer' so a good place to wander around and browse. I didn't expect to go so have not done my homework. I DON'T want to dash all over the city to get from one place to the other so would rather head to one spot and explore.

Jent suggests one good option: you have, within a fairly small area, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, the Palace (both just to goggle at from the outside), St James's Park to rest in, the river, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. No shortage of places to sit and eat.

Branching out from there, you could wander into Covent Garden or up to the British Museum and Bloomsbury; or you could get a boat for a river trip from Westminster pier, or get one from Embankment pier to Bankside and you have the South Bank with Tate Modern, the Globe, Southwark Cathedral and again more places to eat and drink than you can shake a stick at.

bookmarking

Jent and Patrick have given good options.

Another is--get to Tower Hill. See Tower from outside, walk across the Tower Bridge, walk along the Southbank, cross over the Millineum Bridge for a closer but still outside look at St. Paul's, back across that Bridge, keep walking to Westminster Bridge, see Big Ben and Parliament from that side, walk across that Bridge, walk by outside of the Abbey.
(This might be about 4 miles and so even strolling/photo ops/food it should only take you a few (3-4) hours--could be done in much less if you walked moderately)

If you had energy, you would still have time for Trafalgar Square/Covent Garden area for some MORE walking and some dinner. I'm partial to the Thames and the Southbank views if you're not going IN something.

A completely-rainy day option would be to go IN either The Tower/ the Abbey/ St.Paul's/the British Museum. Or two of those.