We’ve mapped out three days that cover the most important things, with food stops along the way, all organised so you’re not running from one end of the city to the other. Just follow this and enjoy London. That’s it.
If you haven’t been to London before and want to know what’s actually worth seeing, check out our [full London guide] first. This itinerary is built around those highlights, just structured so you can follow it day by day without having to think too hard.
So let’s grab our comfiest shoes and let’s go!
Day 1: Westminster, Buckingham Palace & the West End
This is classic London. The kind of day where you’ll constantly think “wait, I’ve seen this in a movie.” Because you have. Start in Westminster and work your way through the West End, it’s all walkable and every turn looks like a postcard. But keep in mind, earlier start, less crowds.
Big Ben & Westminster Bridge
Start here. There’s really no better way to begin a London trip than standing in front of Big Ben in the morning before the crowds arrive. The gothic details on the clock tower are genuinely stunning up close, and if you’re there at the full or half hour, wait for the chimes, they sound special.
The best view is from Westminster Bridge, you get Big Ben on one side and the London Eye across the river on the other. Classic London. The iconic red phone box nearby is worth a photo too, just saying. If you want more photo spots around London, check them out in our guide.
Quick fact that will make you sound smart: Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside, not the tower. The tower is officially called Elizabeth Tower.
⏰ Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, tours start at Cromwell Green.
🎟️ Tickets: you can purchase it on the official website released three months in advance
Westminster Abbey
Right around the corner, and worth slowing down for. The exterior alone is stunning, pure gothic architecture that somehow looks even bigger in person than in photos. Westminster Abbey has been the site of every royal coronation since 1066 and is the final resting place of more than 3.300 people, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Charles Dickens.
You can attend a daily service for free through the Great West Door. General admission gets you the full experience inside, and if you’re into history, the guided tour is worth it.
⏰ Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM last entry.
🎟️ Tickets: £31 (~36€) and you can buy them here
Buckingham Palace & the Changing of the Guard
Walk up to Buckingham Palace along The Mall, the long tree-lined avenue that leads straight from Westminster toward the Palace. It’s a lovely walk and very much part of the experience.
The Changing of the Guard happens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 11:00 AM, it’s free to watch, lasting about 45 minutes. Be there by 10:30 AM to get a decent spot because it fills up fast.
If you want to go inside Buckingham Palace, the State Rooms and gardens are open to visitors.
🎟️ Tickets: ~£30 (~35€)
🛒 Buy entry tickets and attend Changing of the Guard
Check out our full guide on how to get the best spot for the Changing of the Guard.
St. James’s Park & toward Trafalgar Square
After the Palace, walk through St. James’s Park. It’s right there, it’s beautiful, and after the crowds of the Changing of the Guard you’ll appreciate the breathing room. Walk around or just sit on the ground, feed some squirrels.
From the park, keep walking east and you’ll arrive at Trafalgar Square, Nelson’s Column in the middle, the National Gallery behind it. It feels like the centre of everything, because geographically, it kind of is. Charing Cross, just off the square, is the official point from which all distances to London are measured.
I don’t know why but every time we were at Trafalgar Square, it was under construction, even in 2014. when we first visited London.
From Trafalgar Square it’s a short walk to Piccadilly Circus: loud, bright, chaotic, and somehow brilliant. Screens everywhere, streets shooting off toward Soho and Regent Street. The famous statue everyone calls Eros is actually called the Angel of Christian Charity, designed in 1893. Almost nobody calls it that though. Walk around, take it in, grab a coffee, some pastry and just watch the city move for a bit. Or go shopping! Regent Street has all the shops from high street.
Where to eat on Day 1:
- Timmy Green – brunch place
- The Black Penny – brunch place
- GAIL’s Bakery Strand – pastry sweet and savory
- Buns From Home – pastry
- 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo – Neapolitan-style pizza
- Shoryu Ramen Regent Street – japanese restaurant
- Marugame (The Strand) – Japanese Udon Noodles & Tempura
- Blacklock Covent Garden – steak house
- Tortilla Oxford Circus – mexican restauran
- Crème – cookie shop
Day 2: The City, South Bank, Borough Market & Tower Bridge
Today starts in the heart of the City, works its way down to the South Bank, picks up Borough Market for lunch, and ends at Tower Bridge. And if the evening behaves, there’s a rooftop sunset waiting for you at the end of it all.
London Eye & a River Cruise
Start on the South Bank. The London Eye is right here and it makes much more sense as an evening ride, so for now just take in the view from the riverbank, Big Ben on one side, the Eye on the other. One of the best free views in London.
If you want to start the day on the water, a Thames River Cruise from here is a great idea. You’ll pass under several bridges, get views of the City skyline, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London from the river, and arrive pretty much where you’re headed anyway. A little sneak peak!
Millennium Bridge & St. Paul’s Cathedral
Walk east along the South Bank and cross the Millennium Bridge. Stop in the middle, because the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral framed above the riverbank is one of those iconic pictures you will want to take.
St. Paul’s has been overlooking London for more than 1.400 years. Churchill’s funeral was held here. So was the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 AM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM on Wednesdays, closing at 4:30 PM.
🎟️ Tickets: £27 (~31€)
🛒 St Paul’s Cathedral Entry Ticket
Borough Market
Continue east along the South Bank and you’ll reach Borough Market, one of the oldest food markets in London, dating back to 1885. This is brunch. Don’t skip it, it will be the best decision you make all day.
The quality is genuinely high and it gets busy, so arrive with a rough plan.
Our picks: The Black Pig for the best sandwich we’ve had in London, worth every minute of the queue.
The Ginger Pig for a hot sausage roll.
Bread Ahead Doughnuts are dangerous, everyone goes for the crème brûlée one but the chocolate s’more is my personal preference. And by dangerous I mean dangerously overfilled.
⏰ Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Tower Bridge
About 15 minutes walk east from Borough Market along the riverbank. The best combined view of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London is on the south bank, just before the bridge.
Tower Bridge is genuinely one of the most beautiful bridges you’ll ever see. You can go inside and walk the glass-floor walkway up top for panoramic city views, and visit the Victorian Engine Rooms below with the original steam engines that used to power the bridge lifts. The bridge still lifts occasionally, check the schedule at towerbridge.org.uk/bridge-lifts.
⏰ Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
🎟️ Tickets: £18 (~21€)
🛒 Buy tickets online
Tower of London
Right next door, the Tower of London is a medieval castle that has served as a royal palace, a prison, and a place of execution over the past 1.000 years. The Crown Jewels are kept here, and they are extraordinary to see in person. Now that I think about it, why would they keep the crown jewels next to a prison? Hm… You could easily spend here at least two to three hours. There are free guided tours, they leave from the main entrance every 30 to 45 minutes from 10:00 AM and the stories are wild.
⏰ Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Sunday and Monday 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, last admission one hour before closing.
🎟️ Tickets: ~£34 (~40€)
🛒 Buy Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket
Leadenhall Market
A 10 minute walk north into the City. If you’ve seen the Harry Potter films, Leadenhall Market will look very familiar. It was used as Diagon Alley, and you’ll feel exactly why the second you walk in.
And after that loooong day of walking, it’s time to relax!
You’ve earned a drink with a view. These are great options:
Sky Garden has 360-degree views of the city from three floors of landscaped gardens and is probably the most well known of the three. It’s free but you need to book in advance. Tickets are released every Monday morning around 10:00 AM for dates three weeks ahead, and sunset slots go within hours. Book the Monday before you travel. If you missed the free slots, booking a table at one of the bars or restaurants inside gets you straight in without a separate access ticket.
⏰ Opening hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, weekends 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
🎟️ Tickets: Free, book at skygarden.london/booking
Garden at 120 is the quieter, less crowded alternative and honestly just as good. London’s largest public rooftop garden, 15 storeys up, 85 Italian wisteria trees, a 60-meter water feature, and views of The Shard, The Gherkin, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s all at once. Completely free and no booking needed, just go through security at the entrance on Fenchurch Street, take the lift, and you’re up. If Sky Garden is sold out, come here. You might actually prefer it anyway.
And then, if the evening is being kind to you, loop back to the London Eye for the ride you skipped this morning. The city at dusk from 135 meters up looks completely different from the daytime version, lights coming on across the skyline, the Thames going golden. If you’re going to do it, this is when to do it.
⏰ Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM Friday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on other days.
🎟️ Tickets: £29, book online in advance.
Where to eat on Day 2:
- Flat Iron Borough – steak house
- Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats – barbecue restaurant
- Lina Stores Broadgate Circle – italian restaurant
- Marugame – Japanese Udon Noodles & Tempura
- Darlish Ice Cream
Day 3: Covent Garden, King’s Cross, the British Museum & Hyde Park
For today, less rushing between landmarks, a bit more wandering. Some of London’s more unexpected corners, a legendary train station, the best free museum in the world, and Hyde Park at the end to decompress. A good way to finish.
Covent Garden & Neal’s Yard
Start in Covent Garden. The market piazza is always lively, street performers, boutiques, cafes, and a general energy that’s hard to explain until you’re in it. Walk around, explore the side streets, and just enjoy.
Neal’s Yard is a tiny colourful courtyard nearby that looks almost too pretty to be real. Painted walls, flower boxes, independent shops. Easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, so look for it. And don’t miss the doughnuts at St John Bakery while you’re in the area. This whole area is less touristy and feels local.
King’s Cross & St. Pancras
A short Tube ride north. King’s Cross is famous for Platform 9¾, the Harry Potter spot, and it’s worth five minutes of your time even if you’re not a huge fan. There’s a luggage trolley embedded in the wall of the station, a photo queue, and a small shop packed with wizarding world merchandise. Free to visit, no ticket needed. The professional photo op is optional but the queue does move, just go early.
Another reason to come here is St. Pancras International right next door. Step outside King’s Cross and look left. The Victorian gothic red brick facade is one of the most dramatic buildings in London, and the exterior alone is worth the trip. It just looks so impressive.
The British Museum
Head back south toward Bloomsbury. The British Museum is free to enter but you need to book a time slot in advance because it fills up fast. Secure your ticket here.
8 million objects. Human history from prehistoric times to the present. Go in the afternoon, it’s much quieter than the mornings and you can actually enjoy it instead of shuffling through with the crowds.
⏰ Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily, Fridays until 8:30 PM. Entry is free.
Hyde Park
End the trip here. The largest park in central London and a completely different world from everything you’ve seen over the past three days.
Walk, sit on the grass, visit the Rose Garden, the Diana Memorial Fountain, or just sit by the Serpentine Lake and do absolutely nothing for a while.
On a sunny day it’s one of the nicest places in the whole city.
Where to eat on Day 3:
- HALFCUP KINGS CROSS – brunch place
- Flat Iron Kings Cross – steak house
- Agrodolce London – Italian restaurant
- The Mayfair Chippy – fish and chips
- Via Emilia by Food Roots – northern Italian restaurant
- Fortitude Bakehouse – for something sweet
Things to know before you go
- the Tube is your best friend – pay with your phone or contactless card, no separate ticket needed
- book Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s in advance, they sell out and the queues are long
- changing of the Guard: be at Buckingham Palace by 10:30 AM on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday
- Borough Market is closed on Mondays, plan your days accordingly
- you will walk a lot around London, comfortable shoes are a must
- most major museums are free, always worth checking before assuming you need to pay
Best Time to Visit London
Any time, honestly. We know that sounds like a cop-out but we mean it.
We’ve done London in June and in December and both trips were completely different and both were great. June gave us long days and warm evenings. December gave us fairy lights everywhere and that specific London winter energy that’s hard to describe until you’ve felt it.
The crowds peak in summer and around Christmas, but don’t let that put you off. The city handles them well and there’s always somewhere quieter to escape to. The one thing worth knowing is that air conditioning in the UK is genuinely rare, even on the Tube. If you run hot, July and August might test your patience. May, early June, or September are probably the sweet spot, decent weather without the full summer heat and slightly thinner crowds. But really, London in any season is London. It works.
Getting Around London
Your feet will do most of the work, and that’s actually a good thing. London is one of the most walkable cities we’ve been to, and some of the best moments happen between destinations rather than at them.
For everything else, the Tube is fast, easy, and pays for itself. Tap in with your phone or contactless card, no Oyster needed unless you prefer it. Buses are just as good and a double-decker ride, upstairs, front row, is something you should do at least once. It’s technically transport. It also happens to be one of the best ways to see the city.
Taxis are available but pricey. With how well the public transport connects everything, you rarely need one. Open Google/Apple Maps, select public transport, follow it. Done.
Where to Stay in London
London is expensive, there’s no getting around it. City centre hotels especially. We stayed in Earl’s Court on one trip and Bethnal Green on another, both outside the centre but well connected, and we never felt like we were missing out. Twenty minutes on the Tube or bus and we were wherever we needed to be.
It really comes down to your budget. Stay central if you can swing it. If not, anywhere with a good Tube connection works just as well.
- London House Hotel
- Cleveland Residences Kensington
- St Pancras, Autograph Collection – if budget is not a problem
- Hotel Meridiana – affordable close to city center
- Apartments in Bethnal – affordable, bit outside city center
Staying Connected in London
EU visitors should be fine on roaming, same rates as home, though it’s always worth double-checking with your provider before you go.
Coming from outside the EU, an eSIM sorted before you fly is the easiest option. Quick to set up, works the moment you land. And either way, Wi-Fi is everywhere in London. Cafes, restaurants, hotels, the Tube stations. You won’t be scrambling for data.
- Airalo – use code TAJANA3694 for 3€ off your first purchase
- Holafly – use link for 10% discount
- if you need help with choosing the best eSIM and how to set it up, hope this blog will help you How To Stay Connected Abroad
And that is it! Hope you enjoy your short London stay and until next time, be mesmerized 🩵
