London itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in London, day by day: Westminster, Big Ben and the London Eye, the Tower and Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, the great free museums, Greenwich and more as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
London in 1 day
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
London in 2 days
Day 1
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Day 2
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
London in 3 days
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Day 2
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral; climb to the galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, for views over the City. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Sky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of the 'Walkie-Talkie' tower, looking over the City and the Thames; book a free timed ticket online.
Leadenhall Market
A Victorian covered market in the City with ornate painted ironwork and a cobbled arcade, now pubs and restaurants, and a Harry Potter filming location.
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
St Katharine Docks
A former dock by Tower Bridge, now a yacht marina with cafes, restaurants and waterside walks.
Day 3
British Museum Must see
Two million years of history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; free.
Covent Garden
A lively piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
London in 4 days
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Day 2
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral; climb to the galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, for views over the City. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Sky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of the 'Walkie-Talkie' tower, looking over the City and the Thames; book a free timed ticket online.
Leadenhall Market
A Victorian covered market in the City with ornate painted ironwork and a cobbled arcade, now pubs and restaurants, and a Harry Potter filming location.
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
St Katharine Docks
A former dock by Tower Bridge, now a yacht marina with cafes, restaurants and waterside walks.
Day 3
British Museum Must see
Two million years of history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; free.
Covent Garden
A lively piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
Day 4
Portobello Road
Notting Hill's long market street: antiques on Saturdays, food and second-hand stalls on weekdays, pastel houses all along.
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and the Hintze Hall in a grand Victorian building in South Kensington; free.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's largest museum of art and design, from fashion and furniture to sculpture and jewellery; free.
Harrods Must see
The famous Knightsbridge department store, with its grand Food Halls.
Hyde Park Must see
London's biggest central park, with the Serpentine lake and Speakers' Corner.
London in 5 days
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
Day 2
British Museum Must see
Two million years of history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; free.
Covent Garden
A lively piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
Leicester Square Must see
The West End's cinema square, at the heart of theatreland.
Piccadilly Circus Must see
The busy junction famous for its huge illuminated screens and the statue of Eros.
Day 3
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and the Hintze Hall in a grand Victorian building in South Kensington; free.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's largest museum of art and design, from fashion and furniture to sculpture and jewellery; free.
Harrods Must see
The famous Knightsbridge department store, with its grand Food Halls.
Hyde Park Must see
London's biggest central park, with the Serpentine lake and Speakers' Corner.
Day 4
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral; climb to the galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, for views over the City. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Sky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of the 'Walkie-Talkie' tower, looking over the City and the Thames; book a free timed ticket online.
Leadenhall Market
A Victorian covered market in the City with ornate painted ironwork and a cobbled arcade, now pubs and restaurants, and a Harry Potter filming location.
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
St Katharine Docks
A former dock by Tower Bridge, now a yacht marina with cafes, restaurants and waterside walks.
Day 5
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Shakespeare's Globe
A reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air playhouse on the South Bank, with guided tours and plays in summer.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Southwark Cathedral
London's oldest Gothic church, a few steps from Borough Market and London Bridge.
London Bridge Must see
The bridge over the Thames at the site of the city's first crossing, near Borough Market.
The Shard
Renzo Piano's glass tower at London Bridge, the UK's tallest building, with a viewing gallery on the upper floors looking over the city.
London in 6 days
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
Churchill War Rooms
The underground bunker where Churchill's government ran the Second World War, now part of the Imperial War Museums.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Southbank Centre
A riverside arts complex of concert halls and galleries beside the Thames, with free foyer events, a skate park and a Sunday food market.
Day 2
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
National Portrait Gallery
Portraits of famous Britons from the Tudors to today, just off Trafalgar Square; free.
Covent Garden
A lively piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
Leicester Square Must see
The West End's cinema square, at the heart of theatreland.
Piccadilly Circus Must see
The busy junction famous for its huge illuminated screens and the statue of Eros.
Soho
Central London's nightlife district, packed with theatres, independent restaurants, bars, Chinatown nearby and a long LGBTQ+ history.
Day 3
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and the Hintze Hall in a grand Victorian building in South Kensington; free.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's largest museum of art and design, from fashion and furniture to sculpture and jewellery; free.
Harrods Must see
The famous Knightsbridge department store, with its grand Food Halls.
Hyde Park Must see
London's biggest central park, with the Serpentine lake and Speakers' Corner.
Day 4
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral; climb to the galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, for views over the City. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Sky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of the 'Walkie-Talkie' tower, looking over the City and the Thames; book a free timed ticket online.
Leadenhall Market
A Victorian covered market in the City with ornate painted ironwork and a cobbled arcade, now pubs and restaurants, and a Harry Potter filming location.
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
St Katharine Docks
A former dock by Tower Bridge, now a yacht marina with cafes, restaurants and waterside walks.
Day 5
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Shakespeare's Globe
A reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air playhouse on the South Bank, with guided tours and plays in summer.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Southwark Cathedral
London's oldest Gothic church, a few steps from Borough Market and London Bridge.
London Bridge Must see
The bridge over the Thames at the site of the city's first crossing, near Borough Market.
The Shard
Renzo Piano's glass tower at London Bridge, the UK's tallest building, with a viewing gallery on the upper floors looking over the city.
Day 6
British Museum Must see
Two million years of history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; free.
Camden Market
A sprawl of markets along the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, known for street food, vintage clothing and crafts.
Regent's Park
One of the Royal Parks, with Queen Mary's Gardens and its roses, a boating lake and London Zoo at its northern edge.
Primrose Hill
A grassy hill by Regent's Park with a famous view of the London skyline, popular at sunset and surrounded by pastel-coloured streets.
London in 7 days
Day 1
Buckingham Palace Must see
The King's London home; the State Rooms open in summer and the guard changes outside.
St James's Park
A Royal Park between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall, with a lake, pelicans and views of the palace from the bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church since 1066 and resting place of monarchs, poets and scientists.
Big Ben Must see
The Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament, London's best-known landmark.
Churchill War Rooms
The underground bunker where Churchill's government ran the Second World War, now part of the Imperial War Museums.
London Eye Must see
The giant observation wheel on the South Bank; a 30-minute ride with views of Parliament.
Southbank Centre
A riverside arts complex of concert halls and galleries beside the Thames, with free foyer events, a skate park and a Sunday food market.
Day 2
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and the Hintze Hall in a grand Victorian building in South Kensington; free.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's largest museum of art and design, from fashion and furniture to sculpture and jewellery; free.
Harrods Must see
The famous Knightsbridge department store, with its grand Food Halls.
Hyde Park Must see
London's biggest central park, with the Serpentine lake and Speakers' Corner.
Day 3
St Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's domed cathedral; climb to the galleries, including the Whispering Gallery, for views over the City. Closed to sightseers on Sundays.
Millennium Bridge, London
A steel footbridge from St Paul's Cathedral across the Thames to Tate Modern.
Sky Garden
A free garden and viewing gallery at the top of the 'Walkie-Talkie' tower, looking over the City and the Thames; book a free timed ticket online.
Leadenhall Market
A Victorian covered market in the City with ornate painted ironwork and a cobbled arcade, now pubs and restaurants, and a Harry Potter filming location.
Tower of London Must see
A 1,000-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the Beefeaters.
Tower Bridge Must see
The Victorian bascule bridge; walk its high-level glass walkways.
St Katharine Docks
A former dock by Tower Bridge, now a yacht marina with cafes, restaurants and waterside walks.
Day 4
Trafalgar Square Must see
London's central square, with Nelson's Column, fountains and the National Gallery.
The National Gallery Must see
Western painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, on Trafalgar Square; free.
National Portrait Gallery
Portraits of famous Britons from the Tudors to today, just off Trafalgar Square; free.
Covent Garden
A lively piazza with a covered market, street performers and the Royal Opera House.
Leicester Square Must see
The West End's cinema square, at the heart of theatreland.
Piccadilly Circus Must see
The busy junction famous for its huge illuminated screens and the statue of Eros.
Soho
Central London's nightlife district, packed with theatres, independent restaurants, bars, Chinatown nearby and a long LGBTQ+ history.
Day 5
Tate Modern
Britain's national gallery of modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the South Bank; the collection is free.
Shakespeare's Globe
A reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air playhouse on the South Bank, with guided tours and plays in summer.
Borough Market
London's oldest food market, beside London Bridge, with stalls of produce and street food; closed on Mondays.
Southwark Cathedral
London's oldest Gothic church, a few steps from Borough Market and London Bridge.
London Bridge Must see
The bridge over the Thames at the site of the city's first crossing, near Borough Market.
The Shard
Renzo Piano's glass tower at London Bridge, the UK's tallest building, with a viewing gallery on the upper floors looking over the city.
Day 6
British Museum Must see
Two million years of history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures; free.
Camden Market
A sprawl of markets along the Regent's Canal in Camden Town, known for street food, vintage clothing and crafts.
Regent's Park
One of the Royal Parks, with Queen Mary's Gardens and its roses, a boating lake and London Zoo at its northern edge.
Primrose Hill
A grassy hill by Regent's Park with a famous view of the London skyline, popular at sunset and surrounded by pastel-coloured streets.
Day 7
Greenwich
Maritime London: the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian.
Cutty Sark
A 19th-century tea clipper in dry dock in Greenwich; you can walk on deck and underneath the hull.
Old Royal Naval College
Christopher Wren's baroque ensemble beside the Thames in Greenwich, with the Painted Hall, whose ceiling is covered in allegorical murals, and the Chapel.
National Maritime Museum
Free museum of Britain's seafaring history in Greenwich, next to the Queen's House and Greenwich Park.
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Home of the Prime Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time, at the top of Greenwich Park, with views over the Thames to the City.
Watch: London in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Where to stay in London
When to go to London
May to September has the warmest weather and longest days, though rain is possible all year; July and August are the busiest and most expensive months. Winter is cold and dark early, but Christmas lights and markets brighten the city from mid-November. Wimbledon fills late June and early July, and the Notting Hill Carnival takes place over the late August bank holiday weekend.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in London on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in London on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in London on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in London with Kiwitaxi
- Sightseeing pass: save on London's top attractions with Go City
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in London with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for London
- The British Museum, the National Gallery and many other museums are free.
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the Tube and buses; daily fares are capped automatically.
- Book the Tower of London and the London Eye online; it's cheaper and skips the ticket queue.
- The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace runs on set days; check the schedule before you go.
- A Thames Clipper boat from Westminster to Greenwich doubles as a sightseeing cruise.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Big Ben: Diliff, CC BY 2.5
- Borough Market: Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0
- British Museum: Luke Massey & the Greater London National Park City Initiative, CC BY 2.0
- Buckingham Palace: SAC Matthew 'Gerry' Gerrard RAF/© MoD Crown Copyright 2016, OGL v1.0
- Camden Market: en:User:Grim23, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Churchill War Rooms: MapRoomCabinetWarRooms20060617_CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg : Kaihsu Tai derivative work: SilkTork ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Covent Garden: Covent_Garden_Interior_May_2006.jpg : Diliff derivative work: SilkTork ( talk ), CC BY 2.5
- Cutty Sark: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Greenwich: Steve F-E-Cameron, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harrods: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hyde Park: @LondonNPC #NationalParkCity, CC BY 2.0
- Leadenhall Market: Diliff, CC BY 2.5
- Leicester Square: Romazur, CC BY-SA 3.0
- London Bridge: Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- London Eye: Khamtran, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Millennium Bridge, London: Ibex73, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Maritime Museum: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Royal Naval College: Dmitry Tonkonog, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Piccadilly Circus: Jimmy Baikovicius, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Portobello Road: Schellack at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- Primrose Hill: Louise Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Regent's Park: ed g2s • talk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Royal Observatory, Greenwich: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shakespeare's Globe: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sky Garden: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Soho: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo, CC BY 2.0
- Southbank Centre: Opringle at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Southwark Cathedral: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St James's Park: Colin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Katharine Docks: Panhard, CC BY 2.5
- St Paul's Cathedral: Mark Fosh, CC BY 2.0
- Tate Modern: Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The National Gallery: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Shard: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tower Bridge: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tower of London: [Duncan] from Nottingham, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Trafalgar Square: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Westminster Abbey: Σπάρτακος (changes by Rabanus Flavus ), CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
