I will be traveling with my family to Spain this summer with a one day (2 night) stop-over in London. Does anyone have any suggestions for the best strategy for spending only one full day in London? Any hotel or restaurant ideas?

Hi:
you should e-mail Smartblonde81. She lives near London and she's also very smart.

... and very blonde, I am guessing! :p Thanks! I will consult her.

I would recommend a nice walk through London to start things off. I use this walk as a way to cure my jet lag and keep me moving upon arrival. Start around Marble Arch near Hyde Park. Travel down towards Buckingham palace then through St. James Park to Westminster and Big Ben. From there head up Whitehall past 10 Downing, past the Horse Guards to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. From there you can walk to Piccadily Circus and Leicester Square. Despite all the directions, it is not that long of a walk (2 miles?) total and you can see some of the biggest sites in London. After this, a trip to the Tower of London could be arranged if time allows. Of course the first walk will take you past so many major sights, if you tour all or some of them that might fill up the day.

Regarding food, my favorite places to eat are Pubs. A good pint and some hearty pub grub will fill you up. Also, if you do the walk I suggested, you will end up near Leceister Square and Soho. There are numerous ethnic restaurants in this area that are inexpensive if you like Thai, Indian, Chinese, etc. Also, Les Miserables and many other theaters are in this area so you can end the night with a quality musical or play.

Hope this helps. Get a good map of London and you can connect the dots of sights. London is one of my favorite cities - I will be there in February and plan to do the exact walk as an introduction to my wife who will be visiting for the first time. Enjoy!

If you do happen to pass by Big Ben, you might as well cross the bridge. You get the best views of London with all it's attractions, St Paul's, London eye, Royal Festival Hall and more. If you can just time it so you get there at sunset the colours of the Thames and sky is breathtaking and you have the artificial illumination of the grandest buildings, domes and spires. There are wonderful new pedestrian only bridges to take you back to Leicester Sq via Charing Cross/Trafalgar Sq but stop over at the Royal Festival Hall's grand balcony and have a pint while savouring the views, there may be something going on in the foyer or an exhibition at the Hayward or just stroll along the South Bank promenade towards the new Tate modern and the Globe. Watch the skate boarders, the boats, you could take Waterloo Bridge back into Aldwych and theatre land or continue and take the foot bridge leading to Wren's majestic St Paul's and on into the City.
You could end the evening if you like with a Haagen Daaz on the benches of Leicester Sq and have a chin wag with good ol'Charly Chaplin.

Miche,
Great advice, I will be doing the same thing in December, have a night layover in London to take a whirlwind tour with my son, who has not been there. I was there some years ago in my hippie days!

Wow - thanks for the advice. I am noting everything in the last couple of responses. I was in London many years ago and was pretty sure that there were a lot of great sites within walking distance of each other. I can't wait!

Im also thinkng of doing a couple days in London in late Feb/early march... I have no idea what to do there, so this is a start! Anybody know of a nice/safe hostal or cheaper hotel?? What region of the city is best to stay in?? Areas to avoid? Thanks!

Wow, I'm excited for you guys coming over to London!!! I'm sure you'll have a lovely stay whatever the time of the year and weather.
As for hostels/hotels all I can recommend is the West London area, just so you're only a short bus hop from the major attractions. Nottinghill Gate, Lancaster Gate, Queensway are all in line with Hyde Park and 10 minutes in the bus you're in Oxford St and Regent's st.
Shops i recommend are 'Liberty's' on Regents Street a wonderful huge Tudor building with exquisite merchandise and specialises in haberdashery and British fashion. It serves as a kind of museum for me so i just perve at the wonderful textiles tapestries etc etc. It's not as ostentatious as Harrods is, but more tasteful in my opinion though if you can get to Harrods check out the food hall ay ay ay that'll knock your socks off.
Oxford St has all the chain stores, you know Gap, McDonalds...but coming from Marble Arch into Oxford St after 'Selfridges'(another must see dep. store) on the right is St James street a small Italian, French restaurant lined street offering great food. On the left you are near New Bond street and here's where the seriously expensive shops start.
Oh and if you haven't seen the Natural History museum yet, please please have a walk by it, it's huggggge and jaw dropping (South Kensington tube), my mind blows everytime i walk past.

Buen viaje

Oh can't stop myself now, you got me going.

For those staying for more than one day, Richmond which is only 45 min tube travel from the centre is incredible. It's on the Thames, i go there often to chill out away from the hum drum of the city. Walking beside the river offers a very English experience with great bars to hang out and lovely green to relax. However, walking up towards Richmond Park is best as you soon hit upon by a vast and overwhelming view of the Thames and woodland. YOu'll soon see a line of benches where you can sit adn take it all in and watch the cows graze below. Behind this vista point there is a Pub sorry i can't remember the name but they allow you to take your beer accross the street and they also have one of the best Fish & Chips in town where the 'batter' is made with their own beer!! yummy. Full stomach? walk, another 10 minutes and you're in Richmond Park walk a little further until you find the deer. Oh and there is some kind of American institute there, i keep meaning to check it out because there are a lot of students about. It's not far from the park.