3 Days in London – The Ultimate London Itinerary

Are 3 days in London enough? This is something we are often asked. So we put the question to our London expert Karen Worrall, who shares her perfect three day London itinerary. 

I’ve spent a lot of time in Britain’s capital city. I lived there for a few months and have regularly visited several times a year for the past two decades. The vast city and its 32 boroughs have a lot of exciting things to see, which could take years to see it all. But luckily, many of the major sights are located within the central area and are possible to see in just three days.

Planning for a trip to London is key to making the most out of your time. Plus you don’t want to waste too much time on transport, so I put together this easy London Itinerary to help you make the most out of your 3 days in The Smoke.

The Perfect 3 Days in London Itinerary

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CAN I DO LONDON IN 3 DAYS?

I have created this itinerary for you so you can make the most of limited time in the city. This guide has you visiting the sites by area to maximize time making it easy to see everything London has to offer in three days. Even though there is a lot to see in London, it can be done in 3 days if you follow my detailed itinerary. These tips will help you make the most of your stay.

Where to Stay in London when you Have a Short Time

I like to base myself in or near Covent Garden or Westminster as a lot of the best things to see in London are in these areas. If you can base yourself within walking distance of these areas, you’ll save a lot of money on transport. Pro Tip: Saving on transport may balance out potential extra accommodation costs.

But London’s transport system – particularly The Tube – is very convenient and easy to use. So even if you’re a little further away, it shouldn’t take too long to get in. For a detailed breakdown of the best neighborhoods in London, visit our guide: Where To Stay In London – Guide to The Best Neighborhoods

London Itinerary Day 1

Click here for the Interactive Map

Westminster is one of the oldest areas of the city. It is also where the seat of power is. The home of The Crown and State are both in this area. The Houses of Parliament are within walking distance from the working royal home, Buckingham Palace. This area gives you a feel of the significance of London throughout history So we begin here in Westminster, to get a feel for the King and country.

Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

The Palace of Westminster is home to the Houses of Parliament, which made of up the House of Commons, and the House of Lords. You can learn how it all works, and enjoy the splendid architecture, by taking an audio or guided tour – you can even add afternoon tea too if you like.

Right next-door is Big Ben – which is not the clock as most people think – but the nickname for the Great Bell behind it. It is currently under renovation to change the black clock face to its original blue.  It will be complete in 2021. Even though you can’t fully see it at the moment, it is still a must-see photo stop while in Westminster.

• You can book tours in advance. This highly rated tour takes you to, Westminster Hall – the oldest part of the palace, the Royal Staircase, the Queens Robing Room, Royal Gallery, the House of Commons, and The Chamber of the House of Lords. Read more: How to Visit The Palace of Westminster

Westminster Abbey

Benedictine monks founded the Abbey in 960AD and it’s still used daily for worship. You may have seen the majestic interior of the church if you’ve seen photos or footage of Royal Weddings including: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Prince William and Kate Middleton, in 2011. Read: How to Visit The Palace of Westminster

You can visit it by going on a multimedia guided tour, or adding a Verger tour to see parts inaccessible to regular visitors such as St Edward the Confessor’s tomb. If you are visiting to worship, this is always accessible and always free. Don’t forget, if you have the London Pass, admission is included!

10 Downing Street

10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister (PM) and is worth taking a look at when in Westminster – whether you’re a fan of its residents or not. This prestigious address has housed British PMs since 1735 and is Britain’s White House.

There isn’t access to the actual building for security reasons, and it is used continuously but you can get a decent view of it from White Hall.

Alternate Attraction: If you are into War History make sure to check out the Churchill War Rooms on your way to St. James Park. Here you can explore the secret rooms of Winston Churchill that depict all ninety years of his life, divided into five chapters. A must do if you are into history!

If you purchased the London Pass, this is included. If you did not, you can either take a Skip the line guided tour or peruse the museum on your own.

• Hours: 24-hour view of the street.
• Cost: Free.
• Location: 10 Downing Street, Westminster, SW1A 2AA.
• Tube Stop: Westminster Station: District, Circle or Jubilee Line.

Lunch: St James’s Park

There are eight Royal Parks in Central London and a few minutes walk away from Westminster is the start of St James’s Park. St. James is right on our route making it the perfect spot to stop to relax and enjoy a picnic or buy some. Or pop into the St James Café for a coffee and lunch. It is close to Buckingham Palace, Whitehall and Clarence Hall. One of the highlights is to visit the pelicans that reside here. Louis, Vaclav, and Gargi are fed between 2.30-3pm daily by Duck Island Cottage.

Fun Fact: London is well catered for with green spaces, being home to over 400 of them, plus over eight million trees in Greater London. Read more 10 Fun Facts About England That You Don’t Already Know

• Hours: 24 hours.
• Cost: Free.
• Location: Between The Mall and Horse Guards Parade.
• Metro: St James Park: District and Circle Line.

As you leave the park, it is just a couple of minutes to our next destination.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the principal residence for Britain’s Royal Family since 1837 and is the official administrative headquarters for the Monarch. It is over 300ft long, 360ft deep and 75ft high. Buckingham Palace has 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 53 Royal and guest bedrooms, and 188 staff bedrooms. The best view of Buckingham Palace is from in front, on The Mall. Visit another royal residence: How to Visit Windsor Castle

As it is a working palace and family home, it isn’t generally open. However, every summer for ten weeks when the Royals are on vacation and its 19 spectacular staterooms are open to the public. Read more details of how to see it in in my 20 of the Best Things to Do in London article.

If you are a real Royal Fan make sure to check out this Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony experience!

Camden

We’ll now take our first transport of the day since arriving in Westminster and hop on the Tube at Green Park station taking us on the Northern line to Camden Town Station.

Camden has been one of London’s coolest spots to hang out since the 1790s. This is a great place to find a spot for dinner and enjoy the evening.

• Check out the many markets:
  • The original Camden Market for local artisans and art.
  • The Stables Market for alternative clothing.
  • Inverness Street Market for shoes and souvenirs.
  • Camden Lock Market for books and crafts.

Dinner:

The Grand Union Canal runs through it, and Camden Lock is a great place to wander and stop for a pint or some dinner after a busy day.

Nightlife Electric Ballroom

If you’re still going strong after dinner, head to Camden’s octogenarian iconic venue the Electric Ballroom on Camden High Street for an authentic Camden experience. Artists such as Sid Vicious, The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Muse have performed here.

If that’s too wild, the Jazz Café on Parkway street is the best place for London’s top jazz, soul and blues gigs.

• Hours: Camden and Stable Market 10am-6pm in winter, usually extending to 8pm May-September. High street stalls open until 9pm, bars, restaurants later, nightclubs usually from around 8pm-2am.
• Cost: Free to stroll, cover charges for nightlubs.
• Location: Camden Market – Camden Lock Place, Camden Town, NW1 8AF.
• Tube Stop: Camden Town, Northern Line.

London Itinerary Day 2

Click here for the Interactive Map!

The interactive map above will will help you see what kind of distances you will be covering. Plus where everything is in relation to each other. On our second day in London, we’ll visit the Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square area.

Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square areas

The Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square area is my absolute favorite part of London. Begin by strolling around the original Covent Garden, checking out the stalls and shops, then look into the middle section and downwards towards the bar called The Crusting Pipe.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is where you’ll hear and see very high caliber music performances by classical musician students and performers from the nearby opera school. Stop for a coffee or glass of wine and enjoy the shows, and purchase a CD from an act if you are moved to do so.

Then head out over to the Jubilee Market for some real London market fun. Magicians, jugglers, contortionists, and more put on often-excellent al fresco shows. Make sure you have a few pound coins ready to pop in the hat at either of these otherwise free outdoor shows.

If you want a more in-depth history of the area, we recommend Viator. They offer a great Covent Garden Sightseeing Tour that takes you to all the cool areas.

• Hours: Square 24 hours, shops and markets regularly 10am-6pm.
• Cost: Free to stroll. Have a couple of pounds ready to put in the hat of performers you enjoy.
• Location: Covent Garden, WC2E 8RD
• Tube Stop: Covent Garden, Piccadilly Line

Drury Lane

Drury Lane is a typical old London street, which is home to one of London’s oldest theatres – the Theatre Royal. Since the original theatre’s opening in 1663 many of the city’s biggest productions have been put on here. At the top of the street is the perfect place to stop for brunch.

Brunch or Lunch at Lebanese Bakery

The Lebanese Bakery has become incredibly popular since it opened in summer 2018. Their philosophy is to be a neighborhood bakery using primarily ingredients from Lebanese farmers, using traditional cooking techniques to a city center clientele. It works. Their Lebanese dough flatbreads Manoushehs are amazing, and the “breakfast pizza” options are incredible.

• Hours: Drury Lane 24 hours. Theatre Royal Lebanese Bakery Monday-Thursday 9am-10pm, Friday-Sunday 8am-10pm.
• Cost: Walking the lane free. Lebanese Bakery menu around £6-8 per meal
• Location: Drury Lane, Covent Garden.
• Tube Stop: Covent Garden, Piccadilly Line.

Trafalgar Square and The Strand

Stretching along from Fleet Street to Trafalgar Square is an excellent spot for high street shopping, as well as some more unique stores, such as tea shops and the Japanese Bakery.

Once you’ve finished retail therapy and arranged tickets for a West End show later, we arrive at London’s most iconic square – Trafalgar.

The square itself has attractions all around it with the National Gallery at the north end, St Martins-in-the-fields church (which hosts many classical concerts and a great café The Caves underneath it) and The Strand at the east. Whitehall is at the south, and The Mall and Admiralty Arch at the southwest.

• Hours: Strand shops generally 9am-6pm, Trafalgar Square 24 hours.
• Cost: Free to stroll and view.
• Location: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN.
• Tube Stop: Charing Cross, Bakerloo and Northern Lines.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is my favorite gallery in London, which I visit on every trip there. It is “the story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece”.

It is home to a staggering array of masterpieces by masters from the 1300s through to the 1900s, including Titian, Cezanne, Seurat, Monet, Bellini, Rubens, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Raphael, Canaletto, Turner, Da Vinci, and Botticelli. It is free to visit the permanent collections, but donations are always appreciated.

Tours run throughout the day of some of the most important pieces as well as individual interest talks. Audio guides in many languages are available to rent too.

• Hours: 10am-6pm daily, extended to 10pm on Fridays.
• Cost: Permanent exhibitions free. Sorolla exhibit £14 online price Mon-Fri, £16 at weekends. £2 more in person.
• Location: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN.
• Tube Stop: Charing Cross, Bakerloo and Northern Lines.

11. Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus

Just behind the National Gallery is another of London’s most vibrant squares. Leicester Square is a hub of activity with street performers and buskers next to cinemas Odeon, Cineworld and Vue where many movie premieres take place.

The middle of the square is a good spot to stop, and people watch with a coffee. It is flanked by several theatres and restaurants that provide good pre-theatre dinner menus.

From here, walk just four minutes northwest and you’ll arrive at our next bustling square – Piccadilly Circus. This square is like London’s Times Square with its giant advertising neon signs and always full of people at any hour.

• Hours: 24 hours.
• Cost: Free.
• Location: Leicester Square, Soho, WC2H.
• Tube Stop: Leicester Square, Northern and Piccadilly Lines.

12. Chinatown Dinner & Show

London’s Chinatown is just a six-minute walk away. Chinatown is a great place to wander and look in at the shops, markets, and supermarkets at the wares from Chinese and other Asian nations. It is also one of my favorite areas to go for dinner.

• Plum Valley and Imperial China have delicious food and atmosphere ideal for a sit-down meal.
• Jen Café is great for a quick bite.
• Kowloon Bakery is my top pick if you’re short on time and need to grab and go.

After you’ve been fed, go to see the West End Show you managed to get tickets for earlier. If musicals aren’t your thing, walk three minutes to Frith Street to Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Bar to hear some of London’s finest musicians.

• Hours: Gerrard Street 24 hours. Shops generally 9am-8pm, restaurants and bars individual times, but most around 12pm-10pm for restaurants and until 12am for bars.
• Cost: Free to stroll street, costs your choice in shops or amenities.
• Location: Gerrard Street, W1D 6JN.
• Tube Stop: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus with both on Northern, Bakerloo and Piccadilly Lines.

London Itinerary Day 3

Click here for an interactive map!

London – The South Bank

On our final day in London, we’re going to explore the uber cool South Bank area and its treasures. From the ancient Tower of London to the home of hip festival tents and modern art, it has something for all tastes.

Tower of London

The Tower of London has been the home of history, murder, intrigue, plots, prisoners, royalty, and the Crown Jewels for centuries.

The structure is millennia old and is one of the best places to learn about the darker side of the city’s past.

Make sure not to miss meeting the seven ravens of the Tower, whose presence is thought to protect it. And look out for the Ravenmaster, who looks after them and also has many tales to tell.

The Crown Jewels are literally the crowning glory of the tower, and seeing the Royal Regalia encrusted with over 23,000 gems is quite breathtaking.

If you want even more information, we suggest taking a Tower of London and Tower Bridge Walking Tour.

• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm, Sunday-Monday 10am-5.30pm.
• Cost: £24.70/19.30 concessions. If you have the London Pass, this is included and with Skip the line access as well!
• Location: St Katharine’s & Wapping, EC3N 4AB.
• Tube Stop: Tower Hill, District and Circle Lines.

From here, walk along the waterfront to London Bridge and walk across it to get to the other side of the Thames for our next stop. This is a delightful stroll with great views of some of London’s most famous building, as well as the picturesque Tower Bridge as you look back towards the direction of the Tower of London where we just came from.

Borough Market

Borough Market is one of the best (and my top pick) of foodie markets in the city and is where we’re going to stop for lunch. Opened in 1851, it was and still is considered one of the top food markets in the world and it’s easy to see – and taste – why.

Three Crown Square is the largest trading area full of fruit, veg, meat, and cheese, while the stalls flanking it have foodstuffs from around the world. There is a market hall, vintner area and multiple talented traders selling delicious food to take home as well as dishes to eat right there. Check out the Demo Kitchen for what’s cooking when you’re in town.

• Hours: 8am-5pm.
• Cost: Free to stroll.
• Location: 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL.
• Tube Stop: London Bridge, Northern and Jubilee Lines.

Tate Modern

One of the world’s premier galleries dedicated to Modern Art sits along the south bank of the Thames in the dramatic building that was formerly the Bankside Power Station.

If you enjoy modern art, large installation pieces, and oft-controversial statements through art, this is the place for you.

Its permanent collection holds paintings by some modern masters of the 20th century including Picasso, Dali, and Warhol for those easing their way into contemporary works.

• Hours: Daily 10am-6pm, extended to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Cost: Free for main collections, sometimes fees for special exhibits.
• Location: Bankside London, SE1 9TG.
• Tube Stop: Blackfriars, Circle and District Lines. Or London Bridge, Northern and Jubilee Lines.

The Shard & dinner

Arguably the best view of London’s incredible skyline is from the viewing platform on the 68th, 69th and 70th floors of The Shard. Named due to its shape looking like a giant shard of glass, this is the highest viewpoint you can get of London. To me, this is the spot to watch your last sunset in London. 

Book your tickets ahead online to get a better price and book it to go in about 20 minutes before sunset is due. Your ticket is timed within a 30-minute slot to go in, but there are no restrictions once you’re inside. They even offer a weather guarantee where if the weather is bad and you can’t see the view, you’ll be given a free ticket to return another day. Also remember, if you have the London Pass, The Shard is included in the price.

Dinner

After you’ve seen a stunning sunset, its time to have a farewell to London dinner. The South Bank area has many fantastic eateries, most with great views of the skyline.

My pick in this area is The Butlers Wharf Chop House, which is situated with unrivaled views of the beautifully lit up Tower Bridge. While their signature steaks aren’t cheap, they do offer a very reasonable and delicious fixed price menu.

• Hours: Shard 10am-9pm daily.
• Cost: Standard Package £24 (booked 14 days in advance), £27 (1-13 days in advance) or £32 on the day. 25% off for children and concessions. This is included in your London Pass!
• Location: 32 Bridge Street, SE1 9SG
• Tube Stop: London Bridge, Northern and Jubilee Lines.

London Itinerary Resources

What Time of Year Should I visit London?

There really isn’t a bad time to visit London. It can be visited all year long. Being situated in the south of the United Kingdom the temperature is generally a little warmer than the rest of the country.

However, it is still Britain, and expect rain at any time of the year, or day, even if it was sunny when you left in the morning. Dressing in layers is always a smart move, and bring a small umbrella.

Prices are higher during the summer and holidays.

How do I get Around London

As I said, London is huge, but public transport is widely available and pretty easy to navigate.

If you ordered your London Pass with the Oyster Card Option before you arrived you can use the Oyster Card portion without activating the pass itself to pay for the tube upon your arrival.

Hop on Hop Off Bus

The Hop on Hop off Bus is another option. If you get the London Pass the Hop on Hop off bus is included for 1 day.

Getting to and from the Airport

Getting to and from the Airport: London technically has 6 airports. But for the purpose of this post, we will focus just on the most popular, Heathrow Airport. The most economical way is to take the tube. Read our breakdown about all the ways to get to the City of London from the Airports when you travel to London.

You can also take a coach like the Megabus for about 6 pounds. A good option if you have a lot of luggage. / A Private Transfer will cost about $78 USD one way.

Before You Go

• Ready to fly to London? Check out Cheap Flights here with Skyscanner.
• Make sure you have travel insurance. We never travel without it and recommend World Nomads for short-term trips. If you are looking for something more long-term check out Allianz Travel Insurance. Read more about the value of Travel Insurance here.
• Need Data? KnowRoaming offers unlimited data and roaming for $7.99 per day. PlanetD readers receive a 50% discount with code DDSave30. Read our review here.
• London is on the Pound Sterling, or Great British Pound (GBP), being the capital city of the United Kingdom. £1 = 1.30 USD as of April 2019 – For up to date conversions get the XE Currency Converter App 

There is no doubt that London can be expensive. But luckily there is a pass that will allow you to get free or discounted admission as well as skip the lines at most attractions listed in this post.

How to Skip the Lines and Save Money in London

The London Pass is the one we recommend. This pass allows you to get the most bang for your buck while helping you save time by skipping the lines. We have used their passes in both Rome and Paris as well and found them to be the best ones on the market. So what do you actually get with the London Pass? The benefits are listed below:

• Free entry to Tower of London, The Shard, Windsor Castle and Westminster Abbey 
• Fast Track Entry to Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, London Zoo and Kew Gardens 
• Free hop-on-hop-off bus tour ticket of London for 1 day.
• Free Audio Guides at popular attractions
• Optional Pre-Loaded Oyster Card for access to London’s public transport system.
• Free detailed Guidebook to help plan the perfect trip.
• Discounts on Theatre Tickets, dinner cruises and more.

So, how will the London Pass save you money?

In order to get the most out of the London Pass, we recommend planning out your trip before you arrive. If you are planning to visit a number of the free sites then this may not be the best value for you. But if you are on your first trip to London, and want to see the most popular places in London then this could really save you some money.

When we totaled up the entry fees and added in the value of the Hop on Hop Off Bus then compared what is covered in the London Pass (€125), we came up with a savings of almost €40. In our opinion that is a great amount of savings.

When making your decision you should be aware that attractions like The London Eye, Buckingham Palace tours, London Dungeon, London Aquarium, and tours of the Houses of Parliament are not included in the Pass.

While the cost savings is worth it on its own merit, it really is the time saving and convenience elements that you will love the most. In order to make the most of your three days in London,  you will definitely want to get this card. You can purchase it from the official site here. Now you can see why we recommend this card. It includes a lot.

Recommended London Tours

We’ve taken a few amazing tours and London and highly suggest having a guided experience or two when visiting the city. We recommend Viator and Get Your Guide as they have a great selection of tours and their guides are amazing.

Harry Potter Tour of Warner Brothers Studio in London: If you are a Harry Potter fan then this is a must do.. Behold original sets such as Platform 9 ¾ and Diagon Alley; see the Hogwarts Express steam train; ride a broomstick like the cast, and uncover the behind-the-scenes secrets of the movies’ on-screen wizardry. This Harry Potter studio London tour includes round-trip coach transport and entrance tickets.

Royal London Walking Tour: Early Access Tower of London & Changing of The Guard: Discover London’s royal history and sights on a London tour by foot and boat. Start with an early access visit to the Tower of London to see the opening ceremony and Crown Jewels without the usual daytime crowds. Then, take a sightseeing cruise, and learn all about the British Royal Family from a knowledgeable local guide.

For more London travel information to help your London itinerary, check out these links below.

• Where To Stay In London – A Guide to The Best Areas and Places
• How to Get from London Airports to the City
• 22 of the Top Things to do in London, England
• London’s Top 5 Alternative Attractions
• The Top 5 Museums in London you Have to See
• London Landmarks – 18 Famous Places in Photos

If you are planning a trip to England, make sure to check out our UK Travel Guide

Whew. That was a lot of London London is an incredible, vibrant city. You can definitely do London in three days and I hope these ideas of what to see there give you a good introduction to it, and whets your appetite to return. To quote Paddington Bear “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.”