Planning a trip to London? This guide covers the best London itinerary — how to structure 3, 4 or 5 days, which museums to prioritise, and how to fit in a day trip without wasting time on transport.
✔ Best 3-day plan: British Museum + Tower of London + South Bank
✔ Best for first-timers: 4-day balanced itinerary below
✔ Best experience: add a 5th day for Oxford or Stonehenge
Day 1: Central London & The Free Museum Circuit
Start at the British Museum first thing — it's free, but the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian galleries get busy by mid-morning. Allow 2–3 hours, then walk to Covent Garden for lunch among the street performers. In the afternoon, take in the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square (also free), then walk the South Bank to Tate Modern for the Turbine Hall and the best free view of St Paul's Cathedral from its terrace.
Tip: None of these museums require paid entry — only special/temporary exhibitions charge, so budget travellers can fill an entire day here for free.
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Check Availability →In the evening, book a West End show — day seats and returned tickets are often available at the box office from 10am, or use the TodayTix app for last-minute discounts.
Day 2: Royal London & The East End
Book the Tower of London online in advance — the Crown Jewels and the medieval White Tower are unmissable, but this is one of the few major sights that isn't free (£30+) and queues build fast in summer. Walk across Tower Bridge afterwards (the walkway itself is ticketed, but the view is free from the south bank), then head to Borough Market for lunch — London's oldest and best food market, busiest Thursday–Saturday.
Spend the afternoon in Shoreditch: street art on Brick Lane, Spitalfields Market, and if time allows, Dennis Severs' House — an extraordinary candlelit historical installation unlike anything else in the city. Stay in the area for dinner; Brick Lane has some of the best Indian and Bangladeshi food outside the subcontinent.
Day 3: West London & Green Spaces
The Victoria & Albert Museum (free) has the world's finest decorative arts collection — allow at least 2 hours. Walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (also free) to the Natural History Museum, home to the blue whale skeleton and an extraordinary Romanesque building. If it's a Saturday, spend the afternoon at Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill.
Tip: These three free museums alone (British Museum, Tate Modern, Natural History/V&A) would cost €50–80+ combined in almost any other European capital.
Day 4: Greenwich & A Different Side of London
Take the DLR or a river boat to Greenwich — the Royal Observatory (stand on the Prime Meridian), the Cutty Sark tea clipper, and the free National Maritime Museum, all set in Greenwich Park with spectacular views back over the Thames to Canary Wharf. Return via Bermondsey for the Beer Mile — a stretch of railway arches converted into craft breweries — and Maltby Street Market.
Day 5 (Optional): Day Trip from London
If you have a fifth day, Oxford (1 hour by train, £15–25 return) or Stonehenge (coach tours from £30) are the most popular options. Brighton (1 hour, £15–30) offers a completely different, seaside-town pace if you want a break from the city.
❓ London Itinerary FAQs
Is 3 days enough for London?
Yes — three days covers the British Museum, Tower of London, the South Bank and one neighbourhood comfortably. It's tight if you want to properly explore the free museum circuit at a relaxed pace, though.
Can I do London as a day trip?
It's possible but not recommended — London rewards longer stays more than almost any other European city, given how much is free and how spread out the neighbourhoods are. A minimum of 2 nights is a much better use of the journey.
Should I book museums in advance?
Permanent collections at the major free museums don't require booking, though timed entry is sometimes offered for the busiest galleries in summer. Paid sights like the Tower of London and special exhibitions should be booked ahead, especially June–August.
How do I fit in a day trip without wasting time?
Book an organised coach tour for Stonehenge (transport and admission handled) or take the train directly to Oxford/Brighton — both under 90 minutes each way, making a full day trip realistic without cutting into your London sightseeing time too much.