4-Day Itinerary For London – Ultimate Guide For First Timers

Our 3- or 4-day itinerary for London covers the top sights, cultural attractions, and local neighbourhoods of our hometown. It’s one of our favourite cities in the world, and our detailed itinerary helps you plan the perfect experience.

We realised putting this guide together just how much there is to do in London.

As long-time residents, we know the city well. We see many of the attractions covered in this guide on a daily basis. Yet, even just writing this guide created a tinge of excitement like we’re visiting the city for the first time.

This guide is about exactly that.

This itinerary focuses on the main attractions you’ll want to see as a first-time visitor but also includes some of our favourite local hangouts.  

It’s primarily designed as a walking itinerary, with the sights mapped out in an order that allows you to see them all on foot. However, London is very easy to navigate via public transport, so there’s always the option to jump on the tube or a bus.

At the end, we’ve covered some practical tips for your visit.

If you’re visiting over the festive period, you might find our London winter itinerary useful.

MAP – LONDON ITINERARY

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ITINERARY?

This is an itinerary for first-time visitors to London.

We’ve put together a plan that allows you to see the top sights that showcase London’s history and grandeur, along with some of our favourite local gems that make the city such a great place to hang out.

Each day is mapped out to minimise the time spent getting between places.

We don’t expect you to visit everything we’ve listed each day.

Instead, we’ve put the attractions together in a walking route order so you can decide which you want to spend time in and which ones you just want to see from the outside as you walk past. To help you decide, we’ve indicated what Mark and I recommend seeing properly.

You can follow the suggested route on the map above.

At the end of this guide, we have recommendations on where to stay, tips for visiting London and advice on how to save money.

BOOKING ATTRACTIONS

Below, you’ll see links to book attractions ahead of time so you can avoid queuing for the popular sights. This earns us a small commission, so thank you very much.

We check the prices and only include booking links if they are the same price as the official website.

Also, we have only provided links for the entry ticket and not an unnecessary guided tour from a 3rd party unless it’s a particularly good tour that we have done ourselves and believe makes the experience better.  

If the price is higher on a booking platform, we have provided the official website for you to buy advanced tickets.

Even as locals and knowing which attractions often have queues, we tend to book tickets in advance these days, mostly to confirm the opening times are still valid as they can change.  

DAY 1 – ROYAL LONDON & THE WEST END

On your first full day in London, we suggest you visit the main tourist attractions around Westminster.

Even though we pass them regularly, the excitement of seeing some of these notable landmarks never seems to fade.

Our Suggestion – If it’s your first time in London, pick one or two of the big sights to see in depth. Our pick would be Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey. In the afternoon visit one of the art galleries in Trafalgar Square.  

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Start at Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the UK sovereign and the working headquarters of King Charles.

The palace is in the heart of central London, with St James’s Park and Green Park on its edges.

Generally, you’d just want to pop by and admire the façade, but it is possible to go inside for a few months of the year.  

State Room Entry Tickets – There are 19 State Rooms inside the palace, which are open for ten weeks over the summer. If you have timed your visit to go inside Buckingham Palace, book your tickets well in advance.

Getting there – The closest tube stations to Buckingham Palace are St James’s Park on the Circle and District Lines and Green Park on the Jubilee and Victoria Lines. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the front of the palace from both stations.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Changing of the Guard is a formal ceremony where a fresh set of guards replaces the guards currently on service at Buckingham Palace.

The Old Guard leaves St James’s Palace at 10:43 am and marches up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. To facilitate the handover, the New Guard leaves Wellington Barracks at 10:57 am and marches up Birdcage Walk.

The ceremony takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Parts of the parade can be seen from The Mall, but the best view is probably from the Buckingham Palace forecourt.

Changing of the Guard Tour – It’s free to watch the Changing of the Guard, but this tour picks the best vantage points, and the host provides information about the tradition.  

Scheduling Note—The changing of the guard is quite late in the morning if you want to make an early start, but not late enough that you could see something in the area first and then go back for it. Personally, we’d skip it, but we included the information because we know a lot of people like to see it.

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS

Take a lovely stroll across St James’s Park to the Churchill War Rooms, the underground operation centre used by Winston Churchill to direct the Second World War.

The maze of rooms in the secret bunker provides a fascinating insight into what it would have been like to live and work beneath the streets of London during the war.

Mark and I have been a few times and our highlights are the Cabinet War Room, the Chief of Staff Conference Room and the fascinating Map Room.

You can also inspect the tiny sleeping quarters used by Churchill.

The complex includes the Churchill Museum, which documents his life, leadership and legacy.

It’s one of our favourite museums in London and one we highly recommend visiting.

Churchill War Room Tickets—You can book tickets in advance, but tickets are generally available on the day. Unlike many other museums in London, this one is not free, and it’s not cheap. But we do think it’s worth spending the money on.

Getting there: The Churchill War Rooms are a 20-minute walk from Buckingham Palace through St James’s Park. The walk itself is lovely, and it’s part of our London Parks & Palaces walk.

HORSE GUARDS PARADE, WHITEHALL & DOWNING STREET

Next, head through Horse Guards Parade, where two mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Lifeguard are posted outside from 10 am to 4 pm daily.

So even if you miss the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, you can get some good photos of the troopers here.

Turn right down Whitehall, home to the grand offices of the British State.

You’ll soon pass the entrance to Downing Street, the home of the British prime minister. You can’t get very close, but you can peer between the gates and almost make out the famous number 10 on the black door.  

Next, head across Westminster Square, where the iconic statue of Churchill and other great leaders stands. The views of Westminster Palace and Big Ben are excellent.

Getting there – It’s a 10-minute walk from the Churchill State Rooms through Horseguards Parade and down Whitehall to Westminster Abbey.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey is an unmissable attraction on your London itinerary if you want a superb taste of British history.

The building was originally constructed on this site in the 11^th century by Edward the Confessor, who wanted a royal burial church for himself. In a supreme act of good timing, it was consecrated on December 28, 1065, one week before his death.

Rebuilding commenced under Henry III in the 13^th century and continued throughout the years until Sir Christoper Wren was appointed to restore the exterior in the 17^th century.

Inside, the nave is grand with high-vaulted ceilings and majestic columns, it’s an awe-inspiring space.

You can see the tombs of Henry VII, Elizabeth I and her sister Mary, possibly the most important figures in British royal history.

One of the highlights is Poets’ Corner, where you’ll find graves or memorials to famous writers, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

You can see the Coronation Chair, which has been used for over 700 years, and the King Henry VII Lady Chapel, one of the most beautiful spaces in the abbey.

Westminster Abbey Tickets—Timed entry tickets need to be booked in advance for Westminster Abbey. The price is not cheap, but if you only visit one building on day 1 of this London itinerary, make it this one. An audio guide is included.

Getting there – Westminster Abbey is directly opposite Westminster Square.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER & BIG BEN

Westminster Palace is the home of the British Parliament and a magnificent building on the banks of the Thames.

It’s a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture with intricate details and towering spires. Of course, the crowning glory is Big Ben, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower.

Possibly the world’s most famous clock, Big Ben is an unmissable photo opportunity, and you can catch it on the short walk from Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Palace Tours – You can go inside Westminster Palace on either an audio tour or a self-guided tour.  You’ll visit both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as the original Westminster Hall. As with the rest of this day, this is not cheap (£33 for the guided tour, £29 for the audio tour), but if you are interested in British politics, it’s something you’ll enjoy.

Getting there – The Palace of Westminster is a 3-minute walk from Westminster Abbey.

SOUTH BANK (NATIONAL COVID MEMORIAL WALL)

After visiting the Palace of Westminster. Head over Westminster Bridge to continue this London itinerary on the South Bank of the River Thames.

The bridge itself is a great spot to photograph Big Ben. You can also take a small detour by turning right at the end of the bridge and taking the steps down to the waterfront.

Here, you’ll find the National COVID Memorial Wall and the best vantage point to photograph Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

All the details about finding this location and many more are on our South Bank self-guided walk, which includes the main attractions south of the river.

Getting there – The COVID Memorial wall is a 5-minute walk from the Palace of Westminster.

LONDON EYE

If you continue eastwards along the South Bank from the COVID Memorial, you’ll walk past the London Eye.

We’ll let you decide if this is something you want to do. It’s not cheap, but it does provide a good view of the London skyline.

There are other great views of the city coming up in this itinerary, which are completely free.

London Eye Tickets—You absolutely need to book skip-the-line tickets in advance because the queues can be astonishing. The fast-track ticket allows you to avoid some of the queues, but the standard ticket is around £20 cheaper.

Getting there – London Eye is around a 4-minute walk along the river from the COVID Memorial.

NATIONAL GALLERY OR NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Whether you decide to ride the London Eye or not, continue along the South Bank, then cross the river again at Hungerford Bridge (Golden Jubilee Bridges).

Walk up to Trafalgar Square to visit one (or two) of the best galleries in London.

The National Gallery has an extensive collection of European art from the 13^th to the 19^th centuries. Some of the most famous pieces include Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rocks.”

Just around the corner, the National Portrait Gallery is our favourite gallery in London. As a free museum, we often pop in when we’re in the area just to see what’s on.

The collection celebrates British history through portraits and has recently reopened after a big facelift.

They have around 11,000 portraits in total, with around 4,000 on display at any given time. Subjects range from contemporary photography to paintings from across the centuries.

The permanent collections at both the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are free; however, you must pay for temporary exhibitions.  

Getting there – The National Gallery is a 20-minute walk from the London Eye.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Finish up the first day of this London itinerary by having a quick look around Trafalgar Square before you head over to Covent Garden.

The square is named after the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Lord Horatio Nelson, who was killed in the battle, is remembered with Nelson’s Column, the centrepiece of the square.

Each corner of Trafalgar Square is adorned with a statue of notable names from British history, except the northwest corner. Known as the fourth plinth, it was left empty when it was built in 1844 because the money ran out.

The empty plinth houses rotating contemporary artworks, so make sure you see what is on during your visit.

If you happen to be visiting during the festive season, there’s always a lot happening over Christmas at Trafalgar Square.

Getting there – Trafalgar Square is right out the front of the National Museum. 

COVENT GARDEN & THE WEST END

Covent Garden is one of those rare places that somehow manages to be extremely touristy yet great for locals as well.

It’s the heart of London’s West End and a great place to spend the evening. It’s one of our favourite areas to hang out in.

There’s so much to do in Covent Garden it would take a whole other guide to cover, which we should get onto. But here are some suggestions:

The Barbary Next Door—Enjoy North African / Spanish-inspired food in an intimate wine bar setting.

Seven Dials Market—Although it can get a bit crowded and messy, Seven Dials Market has a wide selection of international food.

St Paul’s Church – Attend one of the free concerts and events at St Paul’s Church, also known as the Actor’s Church, for the shows performed by West End stars.

See a West End show—If there’s something on during your visit, we highly recommend seeing something at the Donmar Warehouse.

Blind Spot – This cool speakeasy in the St Martin’s Lane Hotel has a fantastic selection of cocktails.

Stereo – This dimly lit basement with a great menu of late-night snacks with American / French influences, with regular musician or DJ sets.

DAY 2 – CITY OF LONDON & EAST END

On day two of this London itinerary, start the day at the Tower of London, then explore some of the attractions on the Southbank before heading over to the city of London. Finish up with an evening in the urban cool of the East End.

TOWER OF LONDON

The Tower of London is an imposing fortress on the North Bank of the Thames, which has played a pivotal role in British history.

Over the centuries, the tower has served as a fortress, a palace, a prison and even a zoo. It’s probably most famous for incarcerating and executing Queen Anne Boleyn.

The highlight is the Treasury, which contains the Crown Jewels, some of the world’s most valuable and historic royal jewellery and regalia.

There is a lot to see at the Tower of London, and it can be a bit overwhelming, so you might want to consider the audio guide, which is an extra charge (£5 over the ticket price). However, information is on boards throughout the exhibitions, and the Yeoman will be happy to answer any questions.

If you decide to get a guided tour, keep in mind that only Accredited Guides or Blue Badge guides are allowed inside the tower.

Tower of London Tickets—It’s a good idea to book timed tickets in advance, which allows you to skip the line at the ticket desk. However, there may still be a queue to get through security, so it’s a good idea to go as early as possible.

Getting there: The Tower of London is a 5-minute walk from Tower Hill Tube Station, which is on the District and Circle Lines. It’s also a 10—to 15-minute walk from the following stations: Monument, Bank, Aldgate, and London Bridge.

BOROUGH MARKET

After the Tower of London, we’d suggest you head over Tower Bridge to Borough Market, the oldest and largest market in London.

Borough started as a medieval market around 1,000 years ago. Today, it celebrates sustainable food production, short supply chains, and top-quality food.

You’ll find all kinds of produce, including cheese and charcuterie, cakes and wine, pastries and condiments.

There are also plenty of restaurants and food stalls dotted around the market, which could be a good option for lunch on this day of the itinerary. Some of our favourites are:

• Arabica Bar & Kitchen – Sample Middle Eastern small plates and mezze.
• Berenjak – Try the wonderful selection of Persian stews, kebabs and sharing dishes.  
• Mallow – Plant-based restaurant with creations inspired from all over the world.  

Getting there – From the Tower of London, it’s a 15-minute walk across Tower Bridge and along the River Thames to Borough Market.

SHAKESPEARE GLOBE

After Borough Market, walk along the South Bank, picking off some of the sights on this great promenade. Our South Bank London guide, which includes additional stops along the way, has more information.

Weave through the backstreets behind Borough Market (use our map above) to get to Bankside, the pedestrianised footpath along the banks of the Thames.

One of the first landmarks you’ll encounter is the Shakespeare Globe. This is a realistic recreation of the Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599 and housed many of Shakespeare’s original plays.

For this itinerary, you’ll probably just be admiring it from the outside, but if you are keen on seeing a production, visit the Shakespeare Globe website.

Getting there – The Shakespeare Globe is around a 10-minute walk from Borough Market.

TATE MODERN

If you are interested in modern art, the Tate Modern Art Gallery is a must-visit stop on this London itinerary.

It houses the UK’s national collection of modern and contemporary art in the converted Bankside Power Station.

The galleries contain famous works by Lichtenstein, Matisse and Picasso, plus a huge collection of sculptures, large-scale installations and plenty of other art forms at varying levels of accessibility.

Don’t miss the Turbine Hall, which once housed the electricity generators of the old power station. It’s used to exhibit huge-scale art installations.

Best of all, the Tate Modern is completely free to enter.

Getting there – Tate Modern is around a 3-minute walk from the Shakespeare Globe.

ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

Now head across the River Thames on the Millennium Bridge to head over to St Paul’s Cathedral.

The beautiful interior is filled with monuments to key figures in British history and artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and mosaics. If you plan on going inside, you should allow plenty of time to look around.

Cathedral Floor – The main floor features the imposing nave, choir and main altar. The highlight is seeing the massive dome from underneath.

Crypt—The Crypt is one of the most interesting spaces in the cathedral. It contains the tomb of Sir Christopher Wren and Nelson and a memorial to Florence Nightingale. There’s also an interesting museum about the construction of the church.

Galleries—If you are able, it’s well worth climbing the 528 steps to the top of the dome. There are three levels: the Whispering Gallery, which is at the base of the dome; the Stone Gallery, an outdoor viewing platform; and the Golden Gallery, a small viewing platform at the top of the dome.

The view from the Golden Gallery is probably the best I’ve seen in London.

St Paul’s Tickets—It’s a good idea to book tickets ahead of time to avoid the queues. Tickets include a multimedia guide, and you can book a guided tour or talk on arrival.

Getting there – St Paul’s is a 15-minute walk from Tate Modern.

SKY GARDEN

As we mentioned above, there are plenty of great ways to see the London skyline. The Sky Garden is one of the best, and it’s free to visit.

Located at the top of the Fenchurch Building, nicknamed the Walkie-Talkie, Sky Garden is a lush indoor garden with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a 360° view of London.

The views of the Thames stretching off into the distance from the 43^rd floor are simply spectacular.

Sky Garden Tickets—The Sky Garden is free to visit, but you need to book a timed ticket in advance. If you are following this itinerary and plan on entering the Tate, Tower of London, or St. Paul’s, then book for late afternoon.

Getting there – Sky Garden is a 20-minute walk from St Paul’s.

BRICK LANE & SHOREDITCH

After Sky Garden, head over to Brick Lane to enjoy an evening in one of London’s most colourful neighbourhoods.

Throughout most of its history, the area around Brick Lane has been one of the most deprived parts of London. But migrant groups over the years have bestowed a unique cultural fingerprint on the area which makes it what it is today.

If you’re planning to have dinner, there are plenty of curry houses on the street. The best approach is to pick one you think has the energy you’re looking for and go for it.

There are plenty of other great things to do around Brick Lane and Shoreditch in the evening. Here are a few suggestions:

Shoreditch Street Art—Our self-guided walk covers the best of the area’s street art, and you’ll get a good feel for the overall area.

Spitalfields Market—This wonderful market near Shoreditch is great for vintage clothes, jewellery, and gourmet food.

Cheshire Street—For more vintage shopping, check out the area around Cheshire Street.

Cocktails—The Discount Suit Company is one of our favourite cocktail bars in London. Found is another with dark cosy nooks, great service and excellent cocktails.

Pride of Spitalfields—For a more traditional pub, you can’t go past the Pride of Spitalfields.

Princess of Shoreditch—We’ve always loved the food and atmosphere at this classy pub.

Getting there: It takes around 30 minutes to walk from the Sky Garden to Brick Lane, or you could catch the bus from Gracechurch St Monument just around the corner from the Sky Garden.

Several buses will take you to Brick Lane, so it’s best to check the journey on Google Maps, which will give you all the bus options. Otherwise, take the Tube on the District Line from Monument to Aldgate East.

DAY 3 – NOTTING HILL & SOHO

For your third day in London, we suggest heading to Notting Hill and grabbing brunch in this colourful neighbourhood. Then, explore Kensington and Chelsea or Mayfair and Soho.

NOTTING HILL

Notting Hill is a vibrant neighbourhood in West London, a great place to get a feel for the city’s different personalities.

It’s a diverse neighbourhood with high-end boutiques, beautiful colourful houses, a wonderful street market and some cool independent shops.

A good way to get your bearings is to start with our Notting Hill self-guided walk. The walk takes 2 to 3 hours if you explore at a leisurely pace.

Notting Hill also has some great breakfast options, which we have summarised in our Notting Hill brunch guide.

Getting there – To get to Notting Hill, take the tube to Notting Hill Gate station, which is on the Central, Circle and District Lines.

PORTOBELLO MARKET

Depending on the day of the week you are visiting Notting Hill, you’ll want to check out Portobello Road Market.

There’s something happening every day of the week except Thursdays. In our opinion, the best day to visit the market is Friday, when the full market is open but not as busy as Saturday, the other day when everything is running.

The market is closed on Sunday.

We have more ideas for what to do in the area in our guide to visiting Notting Hill.

DAY 3 AFTERNOON

After pottering around Notting Hill, we suggest you visit the museums and shops near Kensington or the British Museum, which is across town.

OPTION 1: KENSINGTON & KNIGHTSBRIDGE

The Natural History Museum is a fantastic exhibition of all things in the natural world.

There are literally millions of objects on display, so a good place to start is the Treasures Gallery, which has just 22 items, each chosen for their remarkable scientific or cultural importance.

It’s free to enter; however, you need to pay for special exhibitions, such as the excellent Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Natural History Museum Tickets—Although it’s free, the queues can be very long. Save time by booking a free time slot in advance.

The Victoria & Albert Museum, just across the road, is a celebration of human creativity with a vast collection spanning 5,000 years.

There’s everything from Egyptian artefacts to contemporary installations. Some of the most famous items include the Raphael Cartoons and Tippoo’s Tiger.

Our guide to the best things to do in London has more details.

Getting there by foot – If you had the time, it would take you 45 minutes to walk from Portobello Road in Notting Hill through Hyde Park to the museums in Kensington. Alternatively, you could walk down Kensington Palace Gardens, one of the most expensive streets in London.  

Getting there on the tube – To travel via the underground, take the tube from Notting Hill Gate Station to South Kensington. The museums are just a few minutes’ walk from the station.

HARRODS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE

After the museums, you could enjoy some of the iconic shopping London has to offer.

Harrod’s is around a 20-minute walk from the museums. You’ll be walking through one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods to get to this slice of British retail therapy.

There are 330 departments in Harrods, but Mark and I generally make a beeline for the food hall.

Getting there – Harrod’s is a 17-minute walk from the Natural History Museum.

AFTERNOON TEA, CADOGAN HOTEL

If you fancy a classy break, cut your shopping short and stop for Afternoon Tea at the Cadogan on Sloane Road.  

Inside the stately home, you’ll be served a refined afternoon tea by a Michelin-starred chef in gorgeous surroundings.

The food is excellent. There are no boring cucumber sandwiches here. You’ll still get tray after tray of delightful British traditions, just put together in a much more interesting way. 

Afternoon Tea in London is not cheap, but this one is no more expensive than the other top hotels, and the quality is much better.

After exploring South Kensington, Knightsbridge, and Chelsea, we suggest spending the remaining day in Mayfair and Soho.

Getting there – The Cadogan Hotel is a 7-minute walk from Harrods.

OPTION 2: BRITISH MUSEUM

The other option you have for the afternoon of your second day in London is to head across to the British Museum – the most-visited attraction in London.

The world’s first national museum open to the public, the British Museum contains important artefacts of human history and culture from the last 2 million years. 

Highlights include the Egyptian mummies, the Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone.

The domed glass ceiling is one of the most beautiful spaces in London.

British Museum Tickets—The museum is free to enter. You can book a free, timed entry, although Mark and I have always just turned up without a problem. The entry queue directs you to payment terminals, but this is just so you can leave a donation if you wish. Rest assured, the museum is free.

Getting there – To get to the British Museum from Notting Hill, catch the Central Line from Notting Hill Gate to Tottenham Court Road Station, then walk for around 8 minutes.

BRITISH MUSEUM GUIDED TOURS

We highly recommend visiting this museum on a tour. There’s so much to see that you’ll have a much better experience on a tour where they pick out a few selected items that you may well have walked past on your own.

Viator Tours—Viator offers several different tours of the British Museum. It is more expensive than other providers, but it is well-rated.

Meet Up—If you are on Meet Up, this group holds free tours of the museum. I did one a few years ago, and it was excellent. They are not very regular, but it’s worth keeping an eye on their group.

Official Tours—The museum holds regular talks and tours for different interests. Many are free, and some cost around £14.

EVENING IN MAYFAIR / SOHO

In the late afternoon and early evening, head to Mayfair and Soho.

In Mayfair you’ll find the grand boutiques and stores of New Bond Street, Burlington Arcade, Saville Row and Regent Street.

Soho, on the other hand, is packed with buzzy pubs, secret wine bars and cool galleries. Try a half-pint at the French House, dim sum at Yauatcha, a stroll down Carnaby Street or a night at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

Connected by Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus this is the very heart of London.

DAY 4 – DAY TRIP

For your fourth day in London, we suggest taking a day trip to one of the remarkable towns just a short train ride away.

We have a complete guide with all the best day trips from London, but here is a summary of the ones we think would complement this itinerary nicely.

Windsor – Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It’s only 30 minutes from Paddington Station, so you could easily visit the castle, have a stroll around the town, and still have time for the evening in London.

Oxford – Oxford is just under 1 hour from London by train so it’s very accessible as a day trip. There’s a lot to see in Oxford so this would take the whole day. We have more information in our Oxford day trip guide.

Greenwich – Greenwich is not so much a day trip out of London, but it would take most of the day by the time you got out there and have a look around. The Painted Hall in the Old Royal Naval College and the Greenwich Observatory are two of the main attractions.

3 DAYS IN LONDON

If you only have time for 3 days in London, you can just skip the last day and not go on a day trip outside the city.

You’ll still get a great taste of what the city has to offer, but you won’t have any additional time to explore things you missed on the main itinerary.

WHERE TO STAY

We have a complete guide to the different neighbourhoods of London, which includes recommendations on where to stay. But here is a summary of the main areas:

WESTMINSTER

Westminster is a great option for first-time visitors as it’s right in the centre of the main tourist attractions. It lacks the neighbourhood feel of other areas, but you can find some surprisingly good hotels.

Read our guide to staying in Westminster for the details, but here are a few suggestions:

• Luna & Simone Hotel ($) – This modern, clean, and comfortable family-run hotel is conveniently located near Victoria bus and train stations.
• The Guardsman ($$) – This boutique hotel feels like a sophisticated private members club on the edge of St James’s Park.
• The Goring ($$$) – The Goring has an elegant style with a large private garden, smartly decked doormen and a Michelin-star restaurant.

SOHO

Soho has a bohemian feel and excellent bars, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a great base if you plan on enjoying London’s nightlife and want to be in the centre of the action.

Read our guide for staying in Soho, but here are a few suggestions:

• Z Hotel Strand (£) – It’s not easy to find decent-value hotels near the West End, but Z Hotels has a few, with the pick being on The Strand.
• Hazlitt’s (££) – In the heart of Soho, I’ve walked past this hotel many times and never knew it was there. It oozes old-world charm across four Georgian townhouses with a wood-panelled library, leather-bound books, and antique furniture.
• L’Oscar (£££)—Located on the north-eastern corner of Covent Garden, this exquisitely designed boutique hotel is opulently decorated in a style that evokes 1920s glam and Studio 54. 

PADDINGTON

Paddington is not the most interesting area in London but it has excellent transport links so you can be in Soho within 15 minutes. You’ll find some of the best value accommodation here.  

• Kensington Gardens Hotel (£) – There are lots of good-value hotels near Paddington, but this 2-star hotel is one of the best.
• The Hayden (££) – A cool pub with well-priced rooms just a few minutes’ walk from Hyde Park and the boutiques of Westbourne Grove.

GETTING AROUND LONDON

Many of the best attractions are in a compact part of central London, and we have designed this itinerary so that you can walk between the sights.

Nevertheless, to see everything, you’ll need to use public transport or taxis.

LONDON UNDERGROUND

The London Tube system (Metro) is very extensive and an excellent way to get around. In central areas, tube stations are rarely more than ten minutes’ walk apart, and tubes run every 2 or 3 minutes.

You can simply pay with contactless as you walk through the gates or buy a prepaid Travelcard. (More about this later).

LONDON BUSES

London Buses are slower than the tube for getting around, but the views are great, especially if you nab the front seat on the top deck.

Buses are handy to use in a few places where the underground stations are a bit further away. In this itinerary, buses are only really needed to get out to Brick Lane, but you could also use them to cut down a bit of walking.

The best way to find out if you need the bus is to search for your destination in Google Maps and click on the public transport option.

You can pay with contactless on all London buses.

PAY-AS-YOU-GO CAPS & TRAVELCARDS

The best way to pay for public transport in London is to use Contactless. You pay by tapping a physical card or phone to the barriers, and the gates will open automatically.

Contactless payment is available on all London buses and Underground Stations.

Contactless payments are automatically capped daily and weekly. So, no matter how many trips you make, you’ll pay a maximum of £8.50 per day or £42.70 per week, whichever is cheaper.

The other way to pay is via a Travelcard. Travelcards need to be purchased in advance for the zones you want to travel on. For this itinerary, you only need Zones 1 and Zones 2.  

However, due to the daily price caps, the Travelcard is more expensive than using Contactless. A 1-Day Travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 is currently £15.90, compared with £8.50 for Contactless.

A weekly Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 is £42.70, so even if you met your Contactless cap daily for a week, Contactless would still be the same price or cheaper.

BIKES & E-BIKES

There are shared bikes all across London, which can be a convenient and fun way to travel short distances.

Forest—Forest is the cheapest e-bike and the only one with a zero-emissions fleet. It offers 10 minutes free every day, then 19p per minute after that.

Santander Bikes—This is the official bike provider from Transport for London. They have hundreds of docking stations all over the city. A day pass gives you an unlimited number of 30-minute journeys for £3, or you can hire them for £1.65 for 30 minutes.

TAXI & UBER

Yes, Uber is still a thing in London. In our experience, it’s not as reliable as it once was, but it’s still much more cost-effective than getting a black cab.  

Black cabs are more expensive, but they’re an iconic way to travel in London. You can hail a black cab from the street and expect to put the world to rights on your journey.

GETTING TO LONDON FROM THE AIRPORT

Each of the main airports serving London has an express train service to get you into central London swiftly.

FROM HEATHROW

From Heathrow, you can take the Heathrow Express.

It’s one of the most expensive train journeys in the UK, but it only takes 15 minutes. If you book up to 60 days in advance, you get a discount, and it’s also cheaper if you book multiple tickets.

You can purchase tickets on the train, but it’s cheaper to book online, even if you do so on your phone when you get to the airport.

The other and more affordable option from Heathrow is to catch the Elizabeth Line. Currently, the Elizabeth Line’s fare from Heathrow to London Paddington is £12.80. You can pay using contactless.

The cheapest way to travel from Heathrow to Central London is via the Piccadilly Line. It takes around 55 minutes, and the fare is £5.50 if you use contactless.

To be honest, Mark and I never use the Piccadilly Line anymore. The Elizabeth Line is quicker and much more spacious and comfortable. It’s well worth the extra £7.

FROM GATWICK

The best way to get to London from Gatwick is on the Gatwick Express, which takes 30 minutes to reach London Victoria.

MORE GUIDES TO PLAN YOUR LONDON TRIP

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– Paul & Mark.