London Itinerary: Best Sights to See in 3 Days
Coming up with a London Itinerary can be a little daunting if it is your first time visiting the city. It is a huge bustling city with so much to see and do.
I first visited London in 2012 as part of a round-the-world trip. Like many New Zealanders, I left for a gap year and headed to London to work and explore Europe.
I have to admit that I didn’t like London on my first visit. It was crowded and expensive and everyone was always in a hurry.
But over the years I have returned multiple times and every time I like the city more and more. We have visited London multiple times in the last few years so have started to get to know the city well.
London is a huge city with so much diversity and you will never run out of things to see and do. Using our London Itinerary you can make the most of your time in the city.
How Many Days Are Enough For London?
What you include in your London Itinerary will depend entirely on how many days you have in London.
In my opinion, the minimum number of days you should spend in London is 3 days. This will give you enough time to see all the main sites without being in too much of a rush.
London is a huge city and getting from one place to another can take a long time. Just getting from one side of London to the other by public transport can take an hour.
So your days will quickly disappear when you are moving from one location to the next.
In this article, I will give you a rough guide for a 3-day itinerary in London. If you do all the activities you will have very busy travel days. So I recommend doing the activities that appeal to you and customizing it to suit yourself.
Day One London Itinerary
Free Walking Tour
In my opinion, the best way to start your London Itinerary is to go on a free walking tour.
When I arrive in a new city my favorite thing to do is to take a free walking tour.
It is an awesome way to learn about the city, and see the main sights all for a reasonable price.
The SandeMans London Walking Tour will take you to the first few locations on the itinerary. I recommend going with this tour if you would like a guide to learn more as you walk.
But if you would like to have full control and go at your own pace then keep following the tips below.
1. Big Ben and Westminster Palace
The first stop on your London Itinerary will be the iconic Big Ben and Westminster Palace.
Westminster Palace is the home of the British parliament and Big Ben is the clocktower attached to it.
It is a building that people all around the world connect with London and it is super impressive to see in real life.
I have seen Big Ben many times and I am always impressed.
A fact, I learned while writing this paragraph is that Big Ben is officially called the Elizabeth Tower.
It was renamed after the late Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her diamond jubilee in 2012.
It is a beautiful building just to walk around and view from the outside. But if you want to go on a tour inside Big Ben it costs 30 pounds or 38 USD. You can book your tickets here.
Graffiti Tunnel
If you would like to see something a little different while visiting Big Ben you can check out the Graffiti Tunnel.
The Graffiti Tunnel is underneath Waterloo Station and is the longest legal graffiti wall in London.
If you like street art it is an awesome place to visit. When you visit there is a high chance artists will be creating new pieces. It is interesting to watch them go the process of creating their art.
Walking to the graffiti tunnel takes 10 minutes from Big Ben so it is only a small detour. I liked the tunnel as it is a big contrast to the other attractions in the area.
2. Westminster Abbey
After visiting Big Ben and Westminster Palace the next stop on your London Itinerary should be Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey is a famous church that has been used for many well-known royal weddings over the years.
The church has been in its present location since 1100! So almost 1000 years which is quite an amazing fact.
Of course, the church has gone through many renovations over the years. So it looks much different than it did in 1100. But it is still amazing to think of all the history that has happened on this spot.
Westminster Abbey is still a functioning church and you can visit during services.
For a list of church service times check out the schedule here.
3. Buckingham Palace
After visiting Westminster Abbey the next stop on your London Itinerary should be Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace is the most famous royal palace in London. The palace has been the home of many famous royals such as Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria.
It is an important place for royal events and is where the popular changing of the guards takes place.
Should You See The Changing Of The Guards?
Every day crowds of tourists gather around the gates of Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards.
It is a super touristy event that happens every day at 10:45 am wh the guards at Buckingham Palace are replaced. So they march around and play instruments in a formal display.
The classic clothing of the guards is quite cool to see in real life. But in my opinion the whole experience is not that amazing.
If you happen to be around when it takes place I recommend watching. But if not I would not go out of my way to see the ceremony.
4. V&A Museum
If you are a fan of Museums then I can highly recommend the V&A Museum.
It is not as well known as other museums in London. But it is huge with tonnes of interesting displays and it is totally free!
In fact all museums in London are free which motivated me to visit a lot while I was in London.
You can walk to the V&A Museum from Buckingham Palace in about 35 minutes or if you want to take the tube it will take 20 minutes.
If you are not a fan of Museums then feel free to leave the V&A off your London Itinerary.
Museums are not for everyone and most people go to them because they feel they should.
But if you like art, history, and impressive buildings you will love the V&A museum.
5. Hyde Park
Once you have finished the V&A Museum your next stop is Hyde Park. This is the most famous park in London and is full of people relaxing on sunny days.
It is a huge park and is a green oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. If it is a sunny day it is the perfect place to stop for a picnic.
The Royal Albert Hall is also located next to Hyde Park. This is one of the most famous concert venues in London that was opened in 1871.
Over the years it has hosted many of the most well known musical acts in the world. It is a beautiful building and you can take a tour for 25 USD if you have the time.
6. Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is another royal residence at the far end of Hyde Park. In recent history, this palace is most well known as the home of Princess Diana.
After their marriage, the Palace was the official home of Princess Diana and King Charles. Princess Diana lived at Kensington Palace for 15 years. After her death, it became a popular memorial site.
In front of the palace is a pond with statues of Princess Diana with Prince William and Harry as it was a favorite spot of hers.
Kensington Palace is not the most impressive building from the outside. It is all red brick and is not the most ornate building.
But if you would like to see the interior you can go on a tour for 30 USD. You can book the tickets here.
7. Covent Garden
After visiting Kensington Palace the next stop on the list is Covent Garden.
Covent Garden is a bustling area of London centered around the Covent Garden Market building.
Inside you will find a wide variety of shops and stalls. The area is well known for having street performers so you can stop and check them out while walking around.
There are also many restaurants around this area so it is a great place to find something to eat in the evening.
8. West End Show
To round out the first day of your London Itinerary an excellent activity is attending a West End Show.
The West End is an area of London where most of the stage shows take place.
Every night of the year you can see musicals performed by some of the most talented singers, dancers and actors in the world.
On my first few trips to London I thought the idea of attending a musical sounded cheesy and not for me.
But on a recent trip, we went to see Mary Poppins and it was awesome. Even if you are not into musicals I am confident you will be impressed by the shows here.
If you book in advance you can also get tickets at low prices on londontheatre.co.uk.
Day 2 London Itinerary
9. Tower Of London
The Tower of London is a castle in central London that is one of the oldest buildings in the whole city.
It was built around 1100 AD so it has almost been in place for a thousand years. It is of course full of history and was the home of many kings and queens.
A ticket to enter the Tower of London costs 41 USD. Inside there are many different interesting artifacts such as suits of armour from past kings and crown jewels.
But if you do not want to spend the money you can look at it from outside the gates.
10. Tower Bridge
A short walk from the Tower of London is Tower Bridge which is the most famous and beautiful of London’s Bridges.
It is often confused with London Bridge which is an unremarkable bridge further down the river.
So remember you are looking at Tower Bridge not London Bridge!
If you want to get one of the best views in London you can go up the towers on the bridge.
Once you are inside the towers you go across the walkway connecting the towers for a unique and beautiful view of London.
Tickets to Tower Bridge cost 17 USD and can be bought here.
11. Borough Market
Just a short walk from Tower Bridge is Borough Market one of the oldest markets in London.
A market has been operating at this location since 1014. So as with many attractions in London, there are hundreds of years of history under your feet.
The current building was built much more recently in the 1850s. So it has still been around for a long time.
The market is full of vendors selling an array of different types of food. But as it is super popular with tourists expect it to be pricey.
Even if you do not buy anything to eat it is still a nice market to stroll around.
Just be warned that it will be incredibly busy on the weekends or during holidays.
12. Sky Garden
Your next stop is the Sky Garden which is one of the best views in London and it totally free.
It is located at the top of a skyscraper to gain access simply book a free ticket here.
At the top of the tower, there is a huge viewing area surrounded with glass. If you are lucky to have a clear day you will get clear views over the whole city.
I had very stereotypically drizzling and grey London weather during my visit. But it is still worth it on a miserable day.
At the top, there is a cafe and restaurant selling coffee, beer, and food. So it is also a great place to escape the weather outside with a drink if it is raining.
13. St Pauls Cathedral
St Pauls Cathedral is one of the most iconic buildings in London and is a 20-minute walk from the Sky Garden.
The Cathedral was completed in 1710 and for many years was the tallest building in London.
Inside the cathedral, the walls are beautifully decorated and they are an awesome sight.
Because St Pauls is still a working church you can visit for free during services. There is a morning prayer every morning at 7:30 am and an evening worship with a choir at 5:30 pm.
Just remember that if you visit during services to be respectful and follow St Pauls guidelines here.
If you would like to visit as a tourist a ticket to enter St Pauls costs 25 pounds or 30 USD. Tickets to St Pauls can be booked from the St Pauls website here.
14. Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is one of the most well-known and impressive squares in London.
The square of full of statues and fountains and surrounded by beautiful old buildings.
The square was named after the Battle of Trafalgar an important Naval battle in the 1800s.
In the middle of the square is Nelson Colum, erected to commemorate an admiral who helped win the battle.
On the edge of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery one of the top art galleries in London. It is free to enter so is worth stopping by if you are interested in art.
15. Chinatown
If you love Asian food then I recommend heading to China Town to finish your day.
It is just a 10-minute walk away from Trafalgar Square and has some great Asian food at decent prices.
I only ate in Chinatown for the first time after visiting London over 5 times. I had always just walked past assuming the food would be overpriced for tourists.
But on a rainy day we decided to stop in for some pho at Viet Food. A bowl of pho here is only around 12 pounds or 15 USD which is quite good for London.
The pho was very good as well not just cheap. Just don’t expect to get good service! The staff are just focused on shuffling as many customers through as possible.
Day 3 London Itinerary
16. Notting Hill and Portobello Market
Notting Hill and Portobello Market is the starting point for the 3rd day of your London Itinerary.
This area became world famous after the movie Notting Hill. The area is full of beautiful and colorful Victorian terraced buildings.
So it is nice to visit even if you are not a fan of the movie like me.
The Portobello Road market is a good place to start exploring Notting Hill. It is on every day from 8 am to 7 pm. It is a good place to grab something small to eat or some souvenirs to take home.
After the market, I recommend strolling around the streets and checking out the colorful buildings in the area.
17. Little Venice
When you think of London canals and houseboats are not the first thing that comes to mind.
But in Little Venice that is exactly what you will find. Walking around Little Venice will have you feeling like you have been transported to Amsterdam.
If it is a sunny day I think it is one of the best places to go for a long walk in the whole city.
If you only want a short walk then walk along the canals until you reach Cafe Laville. If you feel like stopping for a coffee this cafe has awesome views down the canal.
But if you feel like a longer walk you can follow the canal all the way Regents Park. Then after Regents Park you can walk all the way to Camden Market.
This walk will take about an hour but is beautiful on a sunny day and well worth it if you like to walk.
There are tonnes of beautiful houseboats and way more people living on boats than I expected in London.
Another option if you do not want to walk is to take a boat tour. The London Water Bus Company operates boat trips from Little Venice to Camden Market from 19 USD.
It is a relaxing way to see the canals and a great option if the weather is not great.
You can book tickets for the boat here.
18. Camden Market
Camden Market is a conglomeration of retailers full of over 1000 places to shop and eat. There are stalls selling all types of cuisines and it is always a bustling place.
It is always a busy place and for some it may be too busy. Everytime I have visited it has been packed!
But everyone is there for a reason. It is full of interesting shops and colorfully decorated buildings.
There is also plenty of great food but it will be fairly pricey as it is a market in London.
Camden is not only famous for its market but for also being a center for live music in London. Over the years many famous musicians have made their name in Camden.
Punk music has always been big in Camden and it gives the area a more gritty feel to Borough Market or Central London.
Overall Camden is a great area to visit to see a different side of London that you will not see in the center.
19. Harry Potter Station
This attraction is not a must unless you are a Harry Potter fan. But most Harry Potter fans would love to see the famous 9 and 3/4 platform at Kings Cross Station.
The platform of course never existed and was created as a tourist attraction after the success of the books.
The fake platform was set up for tourists to take a photo with. But if you want to line up for a photo you may be in line for up to an hour! We could not believe how long the line was when we arrived.
So if you are a hardcore fan arrive early or be prepared to wait in a long line.
If you are a serious Harry Potter fan the tour below is for you. You will be taken on a walking tour of Harry Potter filming locations around London. At only 20 USD it is a very reasonably priced tour.
20. British Museum
The British Museum is one of the most famous museums in London. It is also my favorite museum as I love all the Egyptian artifacts they have.
There are also a lot of interesting artifacts from Ancient Greece and the Middle East. Even if you are not a museum lover I am sure you will enjoy the British Museum.
The best thing is that the museum is free. So even if you do not enjoy it you won’t lose any money.
To visit you simply have to book a free ticket here and turn up at your time slot.
21. The Shard
If you want to finish off your London Itinerary in style the you can go to the top of The Shard.
The Shard is the tallest skyscraper in London and has the highest viewpoint in Western Europe.
Tickets to the top are not cheap at 44 USD. But if you have the money to spare you cannot beat the view.
At the top there is bar and restaurant where you can enjoy one of the best views in London
Enjoying a drink at the top while looking out over the top of London will be the perfect way to finish off your London Itinerary.
Arriving In London
When you arrive in London the best way to get into town is to take the tube. Do not take a taxi unless you are rolling in money because it will cost you an arm and a leg.
When you take the tube you have the choice of taking the Piccadilly Line or the Elizabeth Line from the airport. I highly recommend taking the Elizabeth Line.
The Piccadilly line is old, loud, cramped, and in need of a lot of repairs.
But the Elizabeth line is new, quiet and much larger. After a long flight, you will definitely want to be on the Elizabeth line and not the Piccadilly line.
How To Get Around London
Until recently you needed to buy an Oyster Card to use public transport in London.
The Oyster Card is a travel card that you can load money on to use public transport in London.
In the past, it saved you a lot of money as it is much cheaper than buying individual tickets. But with all London transport, you can now pay with your credit card.
So simply tap on with your credit card and you can travel all around London using public transport.
TIP : Catch one of Londons famous red buses at least once on your trip. Sitting at the top gives you a unique perspective of the city and almost feels like a tour bus.
Where To Stay In London?
Pet Sitting
One negative about visiting London is that it is an expensive city. Even spending a few days there can break the bank.
On our last few visits to London, we have done petsitting. So in exchange for looking after some cool pets we are allowed to stay at the owner’s house. We have petsat four times in London and everytime it has been an awesome experience.
If you love pets this is something to consider in London. We use the website TrustedHouseSitters.com. If you are interested in petsitting sign up using our link below.
Sign up to Trusted House Sitters for free + use code HAPPYHEALTHYNOMADS at checkout for a 25% discount on your membership! 🐶 Read about how it works and our experiences here.
London Hotels
Below are four hotels that are affordable for London and they have good reviews.
The Fox and Goose Hotel – is a beautiful small old hotel in Wembley with a traditional English pub on site. It is just 30 minutes by public transport to Central London.
ARK Wembley – has modern condos with great common areas for guests to enjoy. The rooftop terrace also has great views.
London Visitors Hotel – has basic hotel rooms at an affordable price. The major benefit of this hotel is that it is very centrally located.
Hackney Guest Rooms – has large modern rooms equipped with kitchens. Hackney is a trendy area that is a great place to stay if you like night life and good restaurants and cafes.
London Hostels
Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage – is a hostel set in a beautiful historic building that has very reasonably priced dorms and private rooms.
NX Lodge Hostel – is a budget hostel with some of the cheapest dorms in London starting from as low as 16 USD per night.
Wombats City Hostel London – is a very centrally located hostel. Dorms are more expensive but the hostel is very well equipped and the location cannot be beaten.
Onefam Notting Hill – is a great hostel if you want to meet other travelers. They focus on bringing guests together for daily activities and creating a community atmosphere.
Have Fun Planning Your London Itinerary
I hope my London Itinerary helps you to have a good time in London. It is an awesome city that you have to visit multiple times to really get a feel for.
But I am sure if you visit the locations on my list you will love the city and want to come back for more. Hopefully!
If you have any questions or think that there is anything I should add to the itinerary let me know in the comments below!
Hey there! Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us to generate income and keep creating content for you. So we greatly appreciate your support! Thanks!
Hi, I am Allan, a travel, health and fitness fanatic from New Zealand. I'm a former lawyer who turned into a full-time nomad in 2020. For the last 4+ years I've been traveling the world. I'm always on a hunt for good food, activities on a budget and workouts on the go. I hope you find my tips helpful and get inspired to travel more!