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Three days in London is enough to cover a good mix of the city’s highlights. This itinerary balances London’s must-sees with lesser-known gems, so you can see more than the postcard highlights.
Family with kids
Art and culture enthusiasts
History buffs
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Start at The Breakfast Club in Soho, a family-friendly spot known for hearty pancakes and a vibrant atmosphere.
Attraction: Natural History Museum
One of the world's most impressive natural science collections, with 80 million specimens spanning 4.6 billion years, from dinosaurs to diamonds, all free.
Highlights:
- Gaze up at Hope, the 25-metre blue whale skeleton suspended in the Hintze Hall.
- Feel the ground shake in the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery's earthquake simulator.
Pro tip: Follow the colour-coded layout: blue for dinosaurs, green for fossils, red for earth sciences, and orange for the Darwin Centre.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Pizza Express, with plenty of kid-friendly options like the Margherita and Dough Balls.
Attraction: Sea Life London Aquarium
Europe's largest marine collection, with 500+ species across 14 themed zones, from sharks to penguins.
Highlights:
- Walk the glass Ocean Tunnel as sharks, rays, and sea turtles glide overhead.
- Touch starfish at Rockpool Explorer and watch Gentoo penguins at Polar Adventure.
Pro tip: Catch a feeding talk or penguin encounter before the crowds arrive for front-row views.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5–2 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: London Eye
Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel at 443 feet, offering 360-degree views on a 30-minute rotation.
Highlights:
- Ride one of 32 glass capsules representing London's boroughs, each holding up to 25 people.
- Spot Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and St Paul's Cathedral from the top.
Pro tip: Book a sunset capsule to watch London’s skyline light up as the sun goes down.
Suggested time to spend: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Gail's Bakery in Notting Hill for fresh pastries — try the almond croissant.
Attraction: Kensington Palace
A royal residence for over 300 years, birthplace of Queen Victoria and current home of Prince William and Catherine.
Highlights:
- Ascend the King's Staircase, painted by William Kent in 1724 with baroque trompe-l'oeil frescoes.
- Explore Queen Victoria's childhood rooms, where she was born in 1819.
Pro tip: Visit the Sunken Garden at opening time for quiet photos of Diana's memorial statue.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Dishoom, known for its Bombay-inspired menu — don't miss the House Black Daal.
Attraction: Science Museum
A world-class science museum with 300,000 artifacts, from steam engines to space capsules, all free.
Highlights:
- See the Apollo 10 command module and authentic moon rock in the Exploring Space gallery.
- Try live science demonstrations at the interactive Wonderlab.
Pro tip: Book the Space Descent VR experience with astronaut Tim Peake for a virtual ride through his Soyuz re-entry.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: St James's Park
London's oldest Royal Park, at 57 acres, with a scenic lake, resident pelicans, and palace views.
Highlights:
- Cross the Blue Bridge for views of Buckingham Palace to the west and the London Eye to the east.
- See the Queen Victoria Memorial, unveiled by her grandson in 1911, outside the palace gates.
Pro tip: Time your visit for golden hour, around 3–4pm, for the best light on Buckingham Palace.
Suggested time to spend: 1–2 hours
Day 3
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: The Wolseley for a classic English breakfast in an elegant setting.
Attraction: Tower of London
A UNESCO World Heritage fortress nearly 1,000 years old, home to the Crown Jewels and centuries of royal history.
Highlights:
- See the Crown Jewels, including St Edward's Crown, still used in coronations today.
- Explore the White Tower's Line of Kings exhibition and the 11th-century Chapel of St John.
Pro tip: Arrive before 10 am to catch the Ceremony of the Keys, then head to the Crown Jewels before the crowds build.
Suggested time to spend: 3–4 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Borough Market for a mix of international cuisines and local delicacies.
Attraction: Shakespeare's Globe
A faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare's original 1599 open-air playhouse, staging classic plays on Bankside.
Highlights:
- Stand as a groundling in the open-air yard, exactly as Elizabethan audiences did.
- Walk across the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's Cathedral to reach the theatre.
Pro tip: Book an evening performance between April and October to see Shakespeare under the stars.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Covent Garden
A historic market and entertainment district with street performers, boutique shopping, and the famous Piazza.
Highlights:
- Watch street performers in the cobblestoned Piazza beneath Victorian arcades.
- Catch a Royal Ballet or Royal Opera performance at the Royal Opera House.
Pro tip: Visit St Paul's Church gardens for summer open-air theatre, then explore Seven Dials and Neal's Yard nearby.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Sketch in Mayfair, known for its quirky decor — try the eggs Benedict.
Attraction: Tate Modern
This world-renowned modern art gallery, housed in a converted power station, features collections from 1900 onwards, monumental Turbine Hall installations, and panoramic city views.
Highlights:
- Ascend to the Level 10 viewing platform for free panoramic views across St Paul's Cathedral, The Shard, and the Thames.
- Discover works by Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, Warhol, and Hockney across the Natalie Bell and Blavatnik Buildings.
Pro tip: Visit the Rothko Room on Level 2 during weekday mornings for an intimate experience before crowds arrive.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: The National Gallery Café, with views over Trafalgar Square.
Attraction: National Gallery
A world-class art museum on Trafalgar Square, housing over 2,300 European masterpieces spanning 700 years, from medieval to Impressionism, free to enter.
Highlights:
- Admire Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks alongside Botticelli, Turner, and Monet.
- See Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait, one of the Gallery's most-viewed works.
Pro tip: Enter through the Sainsbury Wing to explore chronologically, and visit on Friday nights for evening lighting and live performances with fewer crowds.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Royal Opera House
A historic theatre in Covent Garden since 1732, home to the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet in an opulent Victorian auditorium seating 2,256.
Highlights:
- Watch opera and ballet productions in the auditorium rebuilt in 1858 after a fire.
- Tour backstage areas, including costume workshops and rehearsal studios.
Pro tip: Book amphitheatre standing tickets from £10 for a budget-friendly way to catch a world-class performance.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Ottolenghi in Islington, known for vibrant salads and fresh pastries.
Attraction: British Museum
The world's largest museum, housing 8 million artefacts spanning human history across 94 galleries.
Highlights:
- Marvel at the Rosetta Stone, the 196 BC key that unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- Stand before the Parthenon Sculptures, 2,500-year-old marble friezes from Athens' Acropolis.
Pro tip: Touch the Rosetta Stone replica in the Enlightenment Gallery (Room 1) to skip the crowds around the original.
Suggested time to spend: 3–4 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Dishoom for Bombay-style street food.
Attraction: Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's largest decorative arts museum, with over 2 million objects spanning 5,000 years, free to enter.
Highlights:
- See Tipu's Tiger, the mechanical sculpture with built-in sound effects.
- Discover the Great Bed of Ware, Shakespeare's famously oversized four-poster bed.
Pro tip: Follow the V&A trail map, highlighting 10 must-see objects for efficient exploring.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Somerset House
A grand neoclassical complex on the Thames, home to the Courtauld Gallery and seasonal events from ice skating to film screenings.
Highlights:
- Visit the Courtauld Gallery's Impressionist masterpieces, including Van Gogh, Manet, and Monet.
- Explore 500 years of history, from the Tudor palace where Elizabeth I lived to today's contemporary arts center.
Pro tip: Descend into the Dead House beneath the courtyard to see the last remaining Tudor headstones from the original palace.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Day 3
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: The Wolseley for a classic English breakfast.
Attraction: Design Museum
The world's leading contemporary design museum, showcasing product, fashion, and architectural design, with a free permanent collection.
Highlights:
- Explore the Designer Maker User gallery, featuring iconic designs from the AK-47 to the iPhone.
- Catch rotating exhibitions on influential designers and cultural phenomena.
Pro tip: Check out Design Museum Lates on Fridays, with talks, workshops, and DJ sets until 9pm.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: The River Cafe, known for its Italian-inspired menu and riverside setting.
Attraction: Saatchi Gallery
A leading contemporary art gallery in a restored former military building on King's Road, Chelsea.
Highlights:
- Discover exhibitions from emerging international artists across painting, sculpture, and installation.
- Explore the neoclassical Duke of York's HQ building, dating from 1801.
Pro tip: Visit on a weekday morning for an uncrowded experience, then browse the King's Road boutiques nearby.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Royal Albert Hall
An iconic Victorian concert hall, opened in 1871 as a memorial to Prince Albert, hosting annual shows in an amphitheatre.
Highlights:
- Experience the BBC Proms, the world's largest classical music festival, founded in 1895 and hosted here since 1941.
- Tour backstage areas, stand on the stage where the Beatles performed, and see the hall's famous pipe organ.
Pro tip: Book the secret-history tour, running only a limited number of times a year.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Day 1
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Begin at The Wolseley, a classic venue serving a full English breakfast in a historic setting.
Attraction: Westminster Abbey
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and Britain’s coronation church since 1066, where monarchs are crowned and over 3,000 notable Britons are buried in Gothic splendour.
Highlights:
- See the 1296 Coronation Chair, still used for every crowning, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
- Explore Poets’ Corner, where Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen and Chaucer are buried or commemorated.
Pro tip: Book the 90-minute verger-guided tour to access the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Dine at The Admiralty, a pub with traditional British fare and views of Trafalgar Square.
Attraction: Churchill War Rooms
This secret underground bunker beneath Westminster is where Churchill directed Britain’s WWII operations, preserved as in 1945 with the Churchill Museum.
Highlights:
- Stand in the Cabinet War Room where Churchill and senior officials made late-night decisions shaping Europe’s fate.
- See the Map Room’s coloured telephones and wall charts tracking global military movements, untouched since 16 August 1945.
Pro tip: Book the exclusive afternoon tea with an introductory talk on life under 12 feet of concrete, followed by luxury tea in the historic bunker.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Tower of London
Head to this UNESCO World Heritage fortress, nearly 1,000 years old, housing the Crown Jewels, royal armoury, and infamous execution and prison sites.
Highlights:
- Marvel at the Crown Jewels’ 23,578 gemstones, including St Edward’s Crown, used in coronations and kept in the Tower since 1661.
- Explore the White Tower, showcasing Henry VIII’s armour in the Line of Kings and the 11th-century Chapel of St John the Evangelist.
Pro tip: Watch Yeoman Warders lock the Tower gates by lantern light, exchange the password, and hear the haunting Last Post echo through the fortress.
Suggested time to spend: 3–4 hours
Day 2
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Start at The Breakfast Club, known for hearty fare and retro vibes.
Attraction: Temple Church
This hidden 12th-century Knights Templar church features a unique circular nave, medieval knight effigies, and Gothic architecture in London’s historic legal district.
Highlights:
- Marvel at the 1185 Round Church, modelled on Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a rare medieval design.
- Study ten 13th- and 14th-century stone knight effigies on the floor, famously featured in The Da Vinci Code.
Pro tip: Attend the free Friday historical talk “The story of the Temple Church from the Knights Templar to the present day,” included with your £5 admission.
Suggested time to spend: 45 minutes–1 hour
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Enjoy lunch at The Mitre, a riverside pub serving classic British dishes.
Attraction: Cleopatra’s Needle
An Egyptian obelisk from 1450 BC on Victoria Embankment, flanked by bronze sphinxes, originally erected in Heliopolis by Pharaoh Thutmose III.
Highlights:
- Marvel at 3,500-year-old hieroglyphics carved by Thutmose III and Ramesses II, commemorating military victories across four granite faces weighing 180,000kg.
- Admire the two Victorian bronze sphinxes by George John Vulliamy, with WWI shrapnel damage still visible.
Pro tip: Look for the Victorian time capsule buried underneath, containing newspapers, toys, and Bibles in multiple languages.
Suggested time to spend: 15–20 minutes
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: Trafalgar Square
London’s iconic public square commemorating the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, featuring Nelson’s Column, lion statues, fountains and the National Gallery.
Highlights:
- Stand beside the 169-foot Nelson’s Column, topped by Admiral Nelson’s 16-foot statue and guarded by four bronze Landseer Lions symbolising British naval power.
- Admire redesigned fountains with mermaids and dolphins lit by LEDs at night, creating reflections across the square.
Pro tip: Visit after sunset when the fountains are illuminated, and the National Gallery glows golden against the night sky.
Suggested time to spend: 30 minutes–1 hour
Day 3
Morning (7am - 11am)
Breakfast spot: Have breakfast at The Wolseley, offering a traditional English breakfast in an elegant setting.
Attraction: Buckingham Palace
The monarch’s official London residence with 775 rooms, hosting state occasions and featuring opulent State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and the King’s Gallery.
Highlights:
- Tour 19 lavish State Rooms during summer opening, adorned with masterpieces from the Royal Collection.
- Visit the Royal Mews to see the four-tonne Gold State Coach used for coronations.
Pro tip: Arrive at the palace gates 45 minutes before the 11:30 am Changing of the Guard for prime viewing.
Suggested time to spend: 2–3 hours
Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)
Lunch spot: Dine at The Ivy, a classic British restaurant with a stylish setting and delicious cuisine.
Attraction: Big Ben
The 316-foot Gothic clock tower, officially Elizabeth Tower, houses the Great Bell and the world-famous clock at the Palace of Parliament.
Highlights:
- Climb 334 steps on the exclusive 90-minute guided tour to see the original Victorian clock mechanism and stand behind the four 23-foot illuminated dials.
- Hear the 13.5-tonne Great Bell striking the hour and the Westminster Chimes ringing every quarter-hour, an iconic London sound broadcast worldwide since 1859.
Pro tip: Book tower tours months in advance via the UK Parliament website, as spaces are extremely limited.
Suggested time to spend: 1.5–2 hours
Evening (4pm - 7pm)
Attraction: The South Bank
Vibrant riverside cultural quarter along the Thames featuring world-class arts venues, street performers, restaurants and iconic London skyline views.
Highlights:
- Stroll the Queen’s Walk promenade from the London Eye to Tower Bridge, passing Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and street markets with Thames views.
- Enjoy rooftop views from Queen Elizabeth Hall’s wildflower garden overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and city views without the crowds.
Pro tip: Head to the rooftop garden at Queen Elizabeth Hall during golden hour for sunset photography over the Thames.
Suggested time to spend: 2–4 hours
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Frequently asked questions about a 3-day London itinerary
What can I do in London in 3 days?
You can cover major landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Tower of London, while also exploring museums, markets, and neighbourhoods.
What is the best way to spend 3 days in London?
Divide your days by area to minimise travel. Focus on Westminster and South Bank on one day, the City and Covent Garden on another, then explore Kensington, Regent’s Park, or Camden on the third.
Are 3 days enough to see London?
Three days give you enough time to see many of London’s major sights while leaving room for museums, food stops and neighbourhoods beyond the main tourist route.
What should I do in London for 3 days if it’s my first visit?
Start with Westminster, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye, then explore the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden and some of London’s major museums.
Can I use a hop-on hop-off bus for all 3 days in London?
Yes. A multi-day hop-on hop-off pass can connect many of London’s major sightseeing areas, while letting you spend more time at the stops you want to explore.
What can I do in London in 3 days with a family?
Combine landmarks with family-friendly attractions such as the London Eye, Natural History Museum, London Zoo and SEA LIFE London Aquarium, keeping each day focused on nearby areas.
Can I have a relaxed 3-day London itinerary without too much sightseeing?
Yes. Limit each day to a few main attractions and leave time for long lunches, cafés, shopping, markets and neighbourhood walks. Parks such as Hyde Park and Regent’s Park are also easy places to slow down.
What are the best areas to visit in London in 3 days?
Westminster, South Bank, the City, Covent Garden, Kensington and Regent’s Park offer a mix of major landmarks, museums, food and green spaces.
