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Ready to explore the world-class museums and buzzing pubs of London? Let’s plan your perfect trip!
From rich history to stunning architecture, London never fails to impress! But as it’s a huge city with a lot to explore, we know just how overwhelming it can be to work out what to do here and fit everything in.
But don’t worry about that because we’ve got you covered! We’ve spent plenty of time exploring London, and now we’ve crafted the perfect 3-day itinerary to help you check off iconic landmarks and legendary sights while making sure you eat and drink like a local. Let’s go!
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE activity was this walking tour of Westminster! We learned so much while walking by historic London sights. This also included entry to the Abbey – which is a huge perk!
Check out the 1,000+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here!
Day 1
Breakfast – Hyde Park Serpentine Bar & Kitchen
Hyde Park is one of the most famous urban parks. Not just in London, either, but the whole world! So where better to go for breakfast on your first day in the UK’s capital?
The Serpentine Bar & Kitchen is right next to Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake. Not only does it offer stunning views of the water, but we also think that the food here is fantastic. If you want to eat like a local, for a classic Full English breakfast to start your day right. You’ll be doing a lot of walking today and eating lunch pretty late, so fuel up accordingly!
We recommend getting here around 9 am so you have plenty of time to enjoy your breakfast before this morning’s tour. It’s a really peaceful spot in the morning. Hyde Park Corner is the closest tube stop, and it’s about a 10-minute walk from the cafe.
Morning – See London’s top sights
Exploring Westminster is a must while you’re in London, and in our experience, this guided walking tour is the best way to do it! It begins at 10 am outside the Ritz, and it covers the 20 most essential sites in Westminster City.
Our guide, Adrian, took us on a super in-depth tour of the UK’s seat of power. We got to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives. Adrian was a fantastic guide, and he brought Westminster’s history to life for us as he regaled us with tales of the antics of past prime ministers and monarchs. We also got to watch the Changing of the Guard at the Horse Guards Palace, which was fantastic.
Then, we went on a guided tour inside Westminster Abbey, which was our favorite part of the tour. Westminster Abbey is the site of all royal coronations, as well as many royal weddings, including Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding and, more recently, Prince William and Kate’s nuptials. It’s incredibly grand inside and the ceiling feels as though it’s miles above the ground!
We definitely came away knowing a lot more about the British political system and the city of London itself. Adrian’s commentary made the experience 10x better, so we’re glad that we booked this tour! And we’re not the only ones who had a great time – check out over 1,000 rave reviews here.
Book this comprehensive Westminster walking tour here and enjoy free cancellation!
Lunch – Head to Trafalgar Square
The walking tour ends at about 3 pm, by which time, you’ll definitely be hungry! But no worries, because we’ve got lunch planned in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square. It’s a 15-minute walk from Westminster Abbey, where the tour ends, and we recommend heading here on foot so that you can check out the beautiful buildings along Whitehall on the way.
Once you arrive, grab lunch at Caffè Concerto. It’s an elegant Italian spot that’s instantly recognizable by its charming red awnings.
We loved the decor here and the food was delicious. I highly recommend the grilled halloumi focaccia or the tricolore salad, but there are tons of fantastic options to choose from! It’s a popular spot, though, so we suggest booking a table for around 3:30 pm.
Afternoon – Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square is world-famous, and it’s bustling with history, culture, and energy. From towering monuments to world-class art galleries, there’s plenty to see, so we suggest taking a few hours to check out the following must-visit landmarks at your own pace:
- National Gallery – England’s National Gallery is right here in Trafalgar Square, and it’s home to masterpieces by Van Gogh, da Vinci, and Monet. Better still, it’s free to visit!
- Nelson’s Column – A towering monument honoring Admiral Lord Nelson, guarded by four iconic bronze lions. It’s a quick snap but definitely worth snapping a photo of.
- Trafalgar Square Fountains & Statues – Nelson’s column is flanked by two fountains featuring elaborate sculptures, and you can toss coins in for good luck if you like! There are also several statues dotted around the square, such as an equestrian statue of George IV.
- St Martin-in-the-Fields Church – This gem of a church is beautiful inside and out! Make sure to stop for coffee in their Café in the Crypt, or during the summer you can sit outside and enjoy a drink at the Courtyard Café & Bar.
- Walk to Piccadilly Circus – If you’ve got enough time, make the 10-minute stroll over to Piccadilly Circus, which is famous for its neon billboards, Eros Statue, and fantastic shopping.
Evening – Ride the London Eye
The London Eye really does offer the best views of London because you can see for miles in every direction from those glass pods. Basically, you can’t miss it while you’re in town!
Since the London Eye is so popular, lines can get very long! For that reason, we highly recommend booking skip-the-line tickets if there’s room in your budget, especially if you’re visiting during the summer, around the Christmas period, or on a public holiday. We breezed right past the queues and only had to wait for about 5 minutes.
However, if you do book standard entry tickets, it will be worth the wait, regardless. We could see all of London’s most famous attractions up here, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, and the city’s financial district. From up here, we were truly able to get a sense of what a historic, diverse, and beautiful city London is.
The wheel moves super slowly, so it’s not scary at all, and there’s plenty of space in the pods. This is a real must-do activity while you’re in London, and if you’re short on time, it means you’ll still get to see everything! It’s definitely one of the best observation wheels we’ve been on, and we would definitely go again.
To get here, you can take the Bakerloo line from either Charing Cross or Piccadilly Circus to Waterloo. The station is then just a 5-minute walk from the Eye.
Depending on what time you get tickets for, you can also go and do this after dinner at the Duke of Sussex, rather than before! Flexi-time tickets are also available if you want to decide on the day.
Check prices and grab your London Eye tickets here!
Dinner – The Duke of Sussex
The Duke of Sussex is just 15 minutes’ walk from the London Eye, but that’s not the only reason we’ve chosen it for tonight’s dinner spot. We love it because it’s clean and modern but still has that proper British pub atmosphere! They serve true English pub grub here, from Scotch eggs to hearty roast dinners and, of course, fish and chips. Best of all, there’s a big beer garden out back if you’re lucky enough to enjoy some rare UK sunshine.
Day 2
Breakfast – On the go!
We’ve got an early start today, so grab breakfast on the go. This morning, just grab something close to your hotel so that you’re ready to meet your tour guide at Victoria Coach Station just before 8 am.
Full-day trip to Stonehenge and Windsor
One of the best things about London is that it’s a fantastic base to explore some of England’s most unique and historic attractions. Stonehenge and Windsor Castle are both world-famous landmarks so you can’t pass up the chance to go and check them out on this day trip from London!
We had to get to Victoria Coach Station between 7:30 and 8 am, but it was so worth the early start. You don’t need a car in London, but you can’t access Stonehenge by public transport, so a tour is definitely the best option as there’s no hassle involved. And trust me, there is absolutely no way that you would also be able to visit Windsor Castle and Bath in just one day without a guided tour.
Speaking of Windsor Castle, it’s one of the British royal family’s official residences, and has been for almost 1,000 years! We loved visiting the opulent rooms and seeing the influences of different monarchs on the castle’s decor and architecture.
Next up, we continued onto Bath, which is one of England’s most beautiful towns. We opted to book the tour with admission to the Roman Baths included, and we’re so glad we did because we loved exploring with our guide.
Finally, we visited Stonehenge, which is one of the most mysterious ancient monuments in the world. We had time to explore the site at our own pace and went to the visitor center, where we saw a forensic reconstruction of a 5,500-year-old man.
All in all, this is a fantastic whistle-stop tour for anyone who wants to see some of England’s most famous places in just one day. We really got to dive deep into the country’s history and see some very beautiful spots. We definitely recommend booking this tour with the Windsor Castle and Roman Bath admission included!
Reserve your trip to Stonehenge and Windsor here before it sells out!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
Dinner – Marquis Of Westminster
Today’s tour gets back at around 7 pm, so make things easy for yourself and grab some hearty pub food near the coach station. It only took us 10 minutes to walk to the Marquis of Westminster. It’s a classic pub that serves hearty roast dinners, big burgers, and amazing bangers and mash, so we think it’s the perfect spot to refuel after today’s adventure.
Day 3
Breakfast – Coppa Club
Coppa Club at Tower Bridge is a shiny and glamorous restaurant perched on the edge of the Thames, right near the Tower of London. Our top tip would be to book in advance because that way, you can dine in one of their private igloos at no extra cost! That way, you can enjoy first-class views of the famous London and Tower Bridges as you dine.
Breakfast is served between 9 and 11:30 am, and the prices are actually very reasonable considering how fancy this place is! There are quite a few light options, which is perfect as we’re heading to one of London’s biggest food markets for lunch today, so it’s a good idea to save a little room.
Morning – Tour the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral
Tower of London
No trip to London is complete without a visit to the Tower of London, so that’s exactly what we’re doing this morning! The Tower is just a few minutes walk from today’s breakfast spot, and this fortress is packed with history, mystery, and even a few ghost stories.
Long ticket queues are an almost permanent feature of the Tower. Even if you get there early, you’ll just find yourself waiting in line with hundreds of other early birds! Fortunately, you can counteract this by booking tickets online. Not only does this guarantee you won’t miss out on exploring the Tower of London, but it also means you get to enjoy a fascinating tour led by a Yeoman Warder!
We loved our tour with our guide, Nev. He was full of fascinating stories about the Tower’s famous prisoners, including Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, and Lady Jane Grey. Even though some of the tales he told us were pretty dark, he made us laugh a lot, too. We also loved learning about the Tower’s legendary ravens, who are said to protect the British monarchy.
And of course, we were super excited to visit the Crown Jewels. We got to see everything from the Koh-i-Noor diamond to the Imperial State Crown, which has been used in coronation ceremonies for hundreds of years. There were also tons of other cool artifacts like knights armor, weapons, and cannons.
We had a blast on this tour, and so did thousands of other visitors, judging from all of the 5-star reviews! It’s an unmissable experience for anyone visiting London, and having a Yeoman guide makes it ten times more interesting.
Reserve your Tower of London tour here and enjoy FREE 24-hour cancellation!
St Paul’s Cathedral
After leaving the Tower of London, you can walk over to St Paul’s Cathedral if the weather’s good, which should take about 30 minutes. Or, you can take the tube by jumping on the Circle or District line from Tower Hill to Mansion House.
St Paul’s is a truly unmissable London attraction. Not only is this iconic cathedral a staple of London’s skyline, it’s steeped in so much history that we barely know where to start!
The current structure was built after the former iteration was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, and Christopher Wren was chosen to design the new cathedral. Since then, it’s been the site of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding, Winston Churchill’s funeral, and Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee celebrations.
The cathedral is open for sightseeing every day except Sunday, with last admission at 4 pm. If your last day in London happens to be a Sunday, you may need to shuffle things around a bit.
Tickets cost £26 per person, and you can just buy them on the day unless you want to take a tour. This grants admission to the Cathedral floor, the Crypt, and the Galleries. Make sure to check out the Golden Gallery, which offers insane panoramic views of London!
However, if you really want to dive deep into St. Paul’s, we suggest booking this guided tour. While it isn’t strictly necessary, it made our visit to the iconic cathedral SO much better. We learned a ton about the cathedral’s history, including how Old St Paul’s was destroyed by Vikings on three separate occasions – how crazy is that? Plus, entry time is super flexible, as you can turn up whenever you like and join a tour group once you get inside.
Check availability and book this guided tour in advance here!
Lunch – Borough Market
Borough Market is a huge food market that’s beloved by locals and tourists alike. It boasts over 100 food stalls and is one of the best places in the city to discover London’s global food scene. It also happens to be just across the river from St. Paul’s, so why not take a scenic walk across London Bridge to get there?
Once you get to the market, we highly recommend grabbing a pie from Pieminister. They’re seriously the best pies ever! But if that’s not your thing, you’re guaranteed to find something else to tickle your fancy.
Afternoon – Enjoy a history and pub tour
Why even go to London if you don’t check out its historic pubs? But given that there are an estimated 3,500 pubs in the city, it can be hard to know where to start. We really wanted to avoid the tourist traps and check out beloved local boozers, so we booked this walking pub tour!
It was so much fun – just be sure to book the 2 pm option to ensure that you have time for tonight’s activity. Bear in mind that you’ll need about 20 minutes to walk from Borough Market to the meeting point, or you can take the Northern Line from London Bridge to Bank and walk the rest of the way. Oh, and this is a popular activity, so be sure to snag your spot at least a week in advance.
Logistics aside, we had the best afternoon exploring some of London’s most legendary old pubs. Our guide, Kevin, was full of fascinating stories about everything from beer-brewing monks to how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came up with the idea for Sherlock Holmes!
Kevin took us to a range of local haunts, including former Shakespearean playhouses and popular watering holes for Fleet Street’s journalists. He also had great recommendations on what to order, from where to find the best Guinness to trying local brews like London Pride and Camden Hells.
There really is something so special about the lively and cozy atmosphere of a classic British pub, so this tour is truly the perfect way to spend an afternoon in London. And we’re not the only ones who think so – check out 7,000+ glowing reviews here! Plus, it wraps up in Covent Garden, which is home to tons of fantastic pubs and where everyone goes for dinner before catching a West End show!
Secure your spot on this top-rated historical pub tour here with FREE cancellation!
Dinner – Ave Mario in Covent Garden
Ave Mario is a fun and flamboyant restaurant in Covent Garden! It’s the perfect place to catch dinner before a show, and their huge pizzas and pasta dishes will certainly help to soak up all the beer from the afternoon’s pub tour. Although saying that, you should definitely treat yourself to one of their house cocktails and join in with the upbeat party atmosphere.
However, this place is a little on the pricey side at £15 – £25 for a main dish. If you’re looking for something cheaper, there are plenty of more affordable options around, such as the colorful, flower-adorned Viola’s, or popular local chains like Franco Manca and Dishoom.
Evening – See a show in the West End
The West End is the heart of London’s theater scene. It’s basically the British counterpart to Broadway, so why not end your trip with one of the city’s world-class shows?
There are always lots of fantastic shows to choose from on the West End. If you’re interested in catching a more classical performance, check out the Royal Ballet and Opera to see what’s on. Their stunning productions are always worth experiencing!
Meanwhile, if plays or musicals are more your style, check out what’s on at iconic theaters like the Lyceum, the Apollo, or the Palace Theatre. The best way to find out what’s on is to visit the Official London Theatre website, where you can grab tickets for everything from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to The Lion King. And if you’re into standup comedy, I visited the Secret Comedy Club recently and laughed so hard that I almost busted a rib.
Most shows start at around 7:30 pm, so time your meal accordingly! Then, afterwards, you can always head to one of Covent Garden’s cocktail bars for a nightcap. Freud is always a great choice, or Blame Gloria is super fun and upbeat.
Where to Stay in London
London is a massive city, so where you stay really depends on what you plan on doing! Luckily, the tube provides excellent public transportation, so you can get all around the city no matter where you stay. Here are my three recommendations for a luxury, mid-range, and budget stay!
Luxury – $$$
St Martins Lane London is located in Covenant Garden, which puts you within walking distance of one of the best areas. The rooms are modern, minimalist, and very trendy – but make for quite the luxurious hotel. They have an onsite bar and restaurant that is top tier, or you’re close to tons of great London hot spots.
Prices for this luxury hotel start at £330 and can be reserved on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
For a quieter stay not directly in the city center, The Drayton Court Hotel is a high-quality option at a moderate price point. It’s right next to the West Ealing Railway Station so you can get anywhere quickly, but enjoy a different side of London. I love this period themed hotel, who wouldn’t want a room with a clawfoot tub!? You can choose from twin and double rooms to luxury suites.
Rooms are priced from £160 to £260 – not bad! Check availability and book this hotel on Booking.com.
Budget – $
The Z Hotel Victoria is all about location (okay, and nice rooms too!). Located just a 5-minute walk from Buckingham Palace, this budget stay is great for travelers who want to be out exploring, instead of hanging at the hotel. The rooms are quite small, but clean and provide all you need for a comfy place to rest your head.
You can book a room for £100 to £130 here on Booking.com.
For more options, check out all of the hotels in London here.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
We think three days is the perfect amount of time to spend in London, especially if this is your first time! This itinerary is full of London’s can’t-miss sights and some of our favorite hidden gems. We had so much fun exploring this historic city, and I’m sure you will, too.
Before you take off, check out our other Europe blogs! We have tons of resources to help you plan an epic vacation, no matter where your travels take you. Here are a few extra blogs to inspire your travels!
10 Best Things to do in London, England