London is big and full of things to see: planning your days well, grouping visits by area, lets you see much more while walking less. Here are four tried-and-tested itineraries, from two days to a week, to adapt to your interests.
London in 2 days
Day 1, Westminster and the West End. Morning in Westminster: the Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, then on foot through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard. Lunch in Piccadilly or Soho, afternoon at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, a stroll through Covent Garden and dinner in Soho or Chinatown. In the evening, a West End musical.
Day 2, the City and the river. Morning at the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels, then Tower Bridge. Lunch at Borough Market, afternoon along the South Bank: Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's. At sunset, a ride on the London Eye or a free view from the Sky Garden.
London in 3 days
The first two days as above, plus:
Day 3, museums and Notting Hill. Morning at the British Museum in Bloomsbury. Afternoon in South Kensington: the Natural History Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum, then Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Evening in Notting Hill (Portobello Road market is on Saturday mornings) or in a Kensington pub.
London in 5 days
The first three days as above, plus:
Day 4, alternative London. Morning at Camden Market and along the Regent's Canal to King's Cross and Coal Drops Yard. Afternoon in Shoreditch and Brick Lane, among street art, vintage markets and curry houses. Evening in a Shoreditch bar.
Day 5, Greenwich and Docklands. By boat on the Thames to Greenwich: the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory with the meridian and the view from the park. Return on the DLR via Canary Wharf, or by the cable car over the river. Evening at the theatre or in a historic riverside pub.
London in 7 days
The first five days as above, plus two day trips:
Day 6, royal palaces. Hampton Court, Henry VIII's palace with its maze, or Windsor Castle, less than an hour by train.
Day 7, out of town. A day in Oxford or Cambridge, university cities an hour away; or Brighton by the sea, Canterbury with its cathedral, or an organised tour to Stonehenge and Bath. Ideas in day trips from London.
Planning tips
- Book ahead for the most popular paid attractions and free museums that require a time slot.
- Mondays and Tuesdays some attractions are less crowded; weekends are market time.
- Walk: many distances in the centre are short, and you discover much more on foot.
- Leave room for rain: alternate outdoor and indoor visits.
- Contactless: always use the same card to benefit from the daily and weekly transport caps.
See also what to see in London, transport, where to stay and the London guide.