Day #1 – London Eye, Big Ben, Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square
- What you will see:
- London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Horse Guards, Churchill War Rooms, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery and Leicester Square
You want your first day in London to be exciting so let’s start with a ride on the London Eye. We always recommend riding this on the very first day because it’s a great way of getting an overview of the city without chewing up too much time (allow for 30 mins, plus 30 mins in the queue).
You should know where the Big Ben is now, so walk over Westminster Bridge and take some photos of Parliament.
Spend a couple of hours exploring Westminster Abbey where we hold all of our coronations, Royal weddings and State funerals. It also contains the tombs of some of our greatest-ever monarchs: Edward the Confessor, Henry V (Agincourt), Edward V (War of the Roses) and Elizabeth I (Spanish Armada).
You’ll find Downing Street a short walk down Whitehall. If you get lucky then you might be able to see the Prime Minister’s limo driving out, but you should be able to see the famous black door of No.10 easy enough: it’s halfway down the street on the right (the one with a policeman standing outside it).
Keep walking and you’ll find one of London’s most popular tourist photos – the sentry boxes outside Horse Guards. There’s usually a huge crowd of tourists standing around trying to get a selfie of them with the horses.
Walk through the central arch (there are some more soldiers standing inside the arch) and you’ll come out into a huge parade ground where they hold military and Royal events like Trooping the Colour.
If you’re interested in WWII then you might like to visit the Churchill War Rooms. You’ll find the entrance to the side of the parade ground, just past King Charles Street. This was the underground bunker that housed Churchill’s wartime cabinet during the Blitz (allow for 2 hours).
Now walk up the side of St. James’s Park towards the Mall. Head through Admiralty Arch into Trafalgar Square and take some photos of Nelson’s Column.
The National Gallery is one of the world’s great art galleries and contains paintings by the likes of Rembrandt, Renoir, Raphael, Titian, Turner, Leonardo Da Vinci and Vincent Van Gogh (allow for 1½ hours inside).
You don’t want to tire yourself out too much on your very first day, so let’s spend the evening eating and drinking nearby. Leicester Square is only 5 mins from Trafalgar Square. There are lots of good pubs and restaurants around there because it’s the heart of the West End.
Day #2 – Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Square Mile, The Shard
- What you will see:
- Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Sky Garden, Leadenhall Market, Royal Exchange, The Shard
Theis second day of the six-day is going to involve quite a bit of walking, but trust us – it will be worth it. You’re going to see some very impressive buildings today.
We don’t recommend going inside the Tower Bridge exhibition but you’ll definitely want to take a photo of the bridge. Check the scheduled lift times beforehand to see if you can catch it when the drawbridge opens.
Spend the next 2½ hours exploring the 1,000-year-old Tower of London. Begin with a 60-min Yeoman Warder Tour with one of the Beefeaters, and then use the remaining time to see inside the White Tower, Bloody Tower and Waterloo Barracks where they keep the Crown Jewels.
Now walk down Great Tower Street, Eastcheap and turn right up Philpot Lane until you find the Sky Garden. This 525-feet skyscraper has got a tropical garden at the top with jungle plants – it’s a bit like the Palm House at Kew, but 35 floors up. Bear in mind that you need to book a time on their website beforehand, so you can’t just turn up on the day (allow for 1 hour).
Walk up Lime Street and you’ll see the entrance to Leadenhall Market. This ornate Victorian market looks like it’s been lifted straight from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel.
Depending on which exit you come out of you might have a bit of trouble finding Cornhill, but once you’ve found it walk down there towards Bank. This busy junction makes a great photo with the front facades of Mansion House and the Royal Exchange.
Walk down King William Street, past Christopher Wren’s Monument, and over London Bridge. This will give you another great view of Tower Bridge.
You can probably guess what’s coming next: we’re going to climb to the top of the Shard. This is easily the highest observation point in London and you definitely need a head for heights. It has floor to ceiling windows which means you can put your toes right up against the edge, and the top floor has a few spaces that are open to the sky (allow for 1 hour).
Day #3 – Kensington Palace, Museum, shopping at Harrods
- What you will see:
- Kensington Palace, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum and Harrods
We’ve got something a bit more sedate planned for the third day: catch the tube to Queensway or High St. Kensington and then walk across the park to Kensington Palace. Most tourists will know it as the home of Princess Diana, or William and Kate, but it’s better known over here as where the young Queen Victoria lived (allow for 2 hours).
Have a quick look at the Round Pond and then walk south towards the very impressive Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall.
You have a choice of three different museums now, but you’ve only really got time to visit one of them (or two if you don’t mind rushing). You can find all three at the end of Exhibition Road.
Option 1 – Natural History Museum
Think of the Natural History Museum as a dead version of London Zoo – it has just as many animals inside as the zoo, but all of them are stuffed. They’ve got every animal you can imagine from lions, tigers, zebras and elephants, to monkeys, gorillas, fish and insects. They’ve also got a huge collection of dinosaur skeletons (allow for 2½ hours).
Option 2 – Science Museum
The Science Museum has everything from a Model T Ford and Stephenson’s Rocket to a full-size model of the Eagle lander from the Apollo moon mission. They’ve also got a 3D IMAX cinema and some flight simulators (allow for 2½ hours).
Option 3 – V&A Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum is a good choice for people interested in the history of art and design. It contains old furniture, fashion and jewellery, and artworks by the likes of Turner and Raphael. The Cast Room contains full-size replicas of some of the world’s greatest monuments and statues (allow for 2½ hours).
When you’re finished with the museums walk up Brompton Road until you reach Harrods – the most luxurious (and expensive!) department store in the world. Even if you can’t afford to buy anything it’s still worth a quick look inside to see the Food Halls (allow for 45 mins).
Day #4 – London Dungeon, Aquarium, Globe, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s
- What you will see:
- London Dungeon, London Aquarium, Globe Theatre or Tate Modern, followed by a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral
You have four different options for today, but you’ll only have time to visit three of them.
Option 1 – London Dungeon
Craig absolutely hates the London Dungeon – but that’s probably just him. Tourists seem to love it because there’s always a huge queue outside the door. They might sell you a timed ticket during busy periods, though, which means you’ll have to return later in the day to get inside, so make sure you buy your ticket in advance (allow for 30 mins queuing, and 1½ hours inside).
Option 2 – SeaLife Aquarium
By comparison, absolutely everybody loves the SeaLife Aquarium because not only have they got the usual tropical fish, piranhas and sharks, they’ve also got a nice collection of other animals including crocodiles and a North Pole snow scene full of penguins (allow for 1½-2 hours).
After those two attractions we recommend walking along the river for 15 mins until you reach the next ones. Don’t bother catching the bus – it’s quite a nice walk along Southbank.
Option 3 – Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre is a perfect reconstruction of William Shakespeare’s Elizabethan playhouse which stood on this site in the 16th-century. There are two ways of getting inside: a guided tour or watching a play. If you pre-book a play then obviously you’ll have to switch the attractions around to accommodate it because it will take up an entire afternoon, but if you go for the tour then you’ll be in and out inside 1½ hours.
Option 4 – Tate Modern
Your fourth choice is the Tate Modern art gallery. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London and contains works by the likes of Pollock, Picasso, Dali and Matisse (allow for 1½ hours).
Now cross over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s.
We nearly made this option No.5, but decided to make it compulsory because you can’t come to London and not visit Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. After you’ve seen the interior try climbing up to the Whispering Gallery. If you’re feeling brave then you can go up another 199 steps to the outside of the dome. And if you’re feeling totally nuts you can climb a further 152 steps to the very top of the dome (allow for 2 hours).
Day #5 – Boat to Greenwich, Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory
- What you will see:
- Boat ride to Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory
There are plenty more things to see outside of the central areas, so that’s what day five is all about: we’re going to catch a boat to Greenwich. The three big companies are Thames Clippers, City Cruises and TRS, but we always recommend TRS to tourists because Thames Clippers don’t have many outside seats, and City Cruises tend to be extremely busy, which reduces the fun.
Get your camera ready because this enjoyable ride will take you past lots of popular landmarks including Cleopatra’s Needle, St. Paul’s, the Globe Theatre, HMS Belfast and the Tower of London, before passing straight under Tower Bridge and past the skyscrapers at Canary Wharf (allow for 60 mins).
When you pull into Greenwich pier you’ll see the impressive Old Royal Naval College on your left. Poke your nose into the famous Painted Hall for 15 mins because it contains one of the most fantastic artworks in the whole of London.
We’re going to give you a choice of three different attractions now, but you’ll only have time for two:
Option 1 – Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is an old clipper ship that used to sail back and forth to China carrying tea. They’ve suspended it above the floor so you can walk under the hull before exploring all of the cabins and cargo decks (allow for 1½ hours).
Option 2 – National Maritime Museum
If you’re interested in the British Navy then try the National Maritime Museum. They have a very good exhibition about the Battle of Trafalgar, including the actual jacket that Nelson was wearing when he got shot onboard HMS Victory. And Queen’s House is where they keep the museum’s collection of naval artworks (allow for 2 hours in total).
Option 3 – Royal Observatory
If you have an interest in astronomy then climb up Greenwich Hill to the Royal Observatory. Flamsteed House contains an interesting exhibition of early clocks and telescopes. Of more interest to modern astronomers will be the state-of-the-art planetarium next-door (allow for 3 hours in total).
When it’s time for dinner there are plenty of old pubs in the town centre, but we especially recommend the Gipsy Moth pub next to the Cutty Sark.
Note: Remember to check your boat company’s timetable because the last return trip might be as early as 4 PM or as late as 9 PM. If you miss it then don’t worry – just catch a train from Cutty Sark to Westminster instead.
Day #6 – Changing the Guard, tea at the Ritz, shopping and a show
- What you will see:
- Changing the Guard, afternoon tea at The Ritz or Fortnum & Mason, shopping and a West End musical
If you’re wondering where Changing the Guard is then we’ve saved it for the last day of your holiday. Bear in mind that you need to get there by 9.30 AM if you want a decent view, so you haven’t really got enough time to visit anywhere else beforehand – maybe you can enjoy a big breakfast in your hotel?
After the parade ends at around 11:30 AM walk through the gate into Green Park and keep going until you see The Ritz.
Here’s another treat for your final day: afternoon tea at the Ritz. This is the poshest tea in town and you’ll have to dress smart, but it’s the kind of thing that you can tell your friends about when you get back home (and make them jealous!).
Unfortunately you have to book a table at least 2-3 months in advance, so if you can’t get one then try Fortnum & Mason instead. This is where Buckingham Palace buys its groceries from, which gives you an idea about how posh it is, and you only have to book 1-2 weeks in advance for this one.
When you’ve finished walk down to Piccadilly Circus (10 min walk). We’ve given you 2-3 hours to do some gift shopping now. Regent Street is where you’ll find Hamleys. Oxford Street is home to Selfridges.
Your final night in London needs to be something special, so how about a big West End musical like Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables?
Most of the big theatres are around Haymarket, Shaftesbury Avenue and the Strand. If you want a cheap ticket then try the TKTS booth in Leicester Square the day before your show – that’s where they sell all the unsold seats at a discount.
View this itinerary on the planner
The author Craig Cross owns city-guide.london and has spent the last decade reviewing the capital’s landmarks, attractions and hotels. His guidebook London Squire is available from Amazon
Your comments and questions
Jared Hello! My wife and I have a rough outline for our 6 days visit and would appreciate your feedback: Day 1) Tower of London, Crown Jewels, Beefeater tour, White tower, Westminster Abbey, Tate Modern -- Day 2) London walk tour, St Paul's Cathedral, London Bridge to Bankside tour, Old Globe, London Eye, pub crawl in Shoreditch -- Day 3) Boat to Greenwich and tour, Docklands Railroad tour -- Day 4) Leicester Square, West End walk -- Day 5) Buckingham Palace, Double Decker Hop-on Hop-off tour, St. James Park, Churchill War Rooms, National Gallery, Theatre -- Day 6) British Library, Portobello Market, Harrods, shopping in Kensington Pubs and eating not included but assumed! Cheers Jared
Craig If it was me I would probably shift the Tate Modern from Day 1 to Day 2, because it is literally right next-door to the Globe. Then you can start at The Shard (London Bridge) and walk all along the river past Tate Modern and the Globe, to the London Eye. I would then shift St Paul's into Day 1 (Tower of London in the morning, and St Paul's in the afternoon) Westminster Abbey can go into Day 4, because that day is nearly empty. Westminster Abbey is easily within walking distance of Leicester Square - you just walk up Whitehall past Downing Street and past Trafalgar Square (Nelson's Column). Maybe you can stop off at the National Gallery on that day as well, because that's in Trafalgar Square. That will make Day 5 less of a rush (you can easily spend 2 hours just sitting on the sightseeing bus). Day 6 is doable, but very spread out. Harrods looks pretty close to Kensington on a map, for example, but it's not really. If you're planning on doing some shopping in Kensington then you need to go to the area around Kensington High Street, so you will waste a bit of time on the bus or tube (but tube journeys can be interesting if you've never been on it before). Your itinerary is certainly doable.
Jared Thank you so much for you thoughtful comments, I really appreciate it! One more thing if you don't mind: We are incoming from California on Wednesday afternoon. The reason we considered the Tate the first day was that it would give us something nice to do that first evening. Is there something you recommend instead, near Shoreditch, that we could enjoy whether on our current itinerary or not? Thank you.
Craig There's not really much around Shoreditch (the Tower of London and Tower Bridge are not much good for your first evening). Tate Modern isn't exactly on the doorstep either - it's a bus or tube train away. So how about going a few stops further and doing an evening ride on the London Eye? (I don't know where you're staying, but you can probably get the Circle line all the way to Westminster, and then just have a quick 5-min walk across the bridge, past Big Ben) The London Eye is a good thing to do on your first evening because you can look across the city and spot all the things you will be doing later. And the city looks pretty in the evening when all the lights come on. It stays open quite late too so you won't have to rush.
jared Great idea, thank you so much!