England · London — A three-day city guide
London
A three-day route for a first visit, grouped by area — Westminster and the West End, the Tower and the river, then Kensington and Notting Hill.
7 min read
Introduction
London is too large to see as a single list of sights. It works far better when each day stays within one part of the city, with the Tube for the longer connections and walking for everything in between.
This guide is built for a first visit of three days. Day one covers Westminster, St James's and the West End; day two follows the Thames from the Tower to St Paul's; day three moves west to South Kensington and Notting Hill. Each day has one or two booked visits and enough room around them to walk.
London
At a glance
Time needed Three full days; add a fourth for museums or Greenwich.
Best base Covent Garden for convenience; Mayfair for a luxury stay.
Best time Spring to early summer, or September and October. Weather can change quickly in any season.
Getting around The Tube and walking.
Book ahead The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, a West End show and restaurants.
Getting there & around
From the airport
| Heathrow | The Elizabeth line serves several central stations; the Heathrow Express runs to Paddington; the Piccadilly line is the lower-cost option. | Heathrow rail ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | Thameslink to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras, or the Gatwick Express to Victoria. | Airport transfers ↗ |
| Stansted | The Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street. | Stansted Express ↗ |
| Luton | Train from Luton Airport Parkway, linked to the terminal by the DART shuttle. Choose "Luton Airport" as the destination so the ticket includes the DART. | Luton trains ↗ |
| London City | The DLR towards Bank or Stratford. | Airport transfers ↗ |
Fares and journey times change; check the operator before you travel.
Tap in
- Pay with a contactless card, a phone or an Oyster card.
- Touch in and out on the Tube, rail, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line; on buses, touch in only.
- Daily and Monday-to-Sunday capping are applied automatically according to the zones and services used, as long as you use the same card or device.
- Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, river buses and the cable car do not count towards capping.
- If you do not touch in and out correctly, you may be charged a maximum fare.
The itinerary
Three days in London
A route for a first visit, grouped by area. Visit London · first-time itinerary ↗
Day 1
Westminster, St James's and the West End
Westminster—St James's Park—Trafalgar Square—Covent Garden—Soho & the West End
01
Westminster Abbey and Parliament
Start at Parliament Square, with the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben, on one side and Westminster Abbey on the other. The Abbey has been Britain's coronation church since 1066; if you plan to go inside, book ahead and give it proper time.
- Allow 1.5–2 hours inside the Abbey
- Book Timed entry recommended
- Official Westminster Abbey ↗
02
St James's Park and Buckingham Palace
Walk through St James's Park towards Buckingham Palace. The Changing the Guard ceremony takes place on selected days only; check the official calendar, and do not build the day around it. Horse Guards Parade, just off Whitehall, is on the way back towards Trafalgar Square.
- Allow 1 hour
- Know Check the official schedule shortly before your visit; ceremonies can change or be cancelled.
- Official Changing the Guard ↗
03
Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
The National Gallery fills the north side of Trafalgar Square. Its collection is free to visit; a free timed ticket booked in advance gives quicker entry, while special exhibitions are ticketed. Choose a few rooms rather than trying to see everything.
- Allow 1.5–2 hours
- Book Free timed ticket recommended
- Official National Gallery ↗
04
Covent Garden
Continue on foot to Covent Garden, where the covered market building sits at the centre of a pedestrian piazza. Walk through the market, then north towards Neal's Yard and the streets around Seven Dials, which lead on naturally towards Soho.
- Allow 1 hour
- Map Covent Garden ↗
05
Soho, Chinatown and the West End
Spend the evening in Soho and neighbouring Chinatown for dinner, then see a show in the West End if you want to. Book popular productions in advance; for same-day seats, use the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
- Book Shows and dinner in advance
- Official TKTS · Official London Theatre ↗
Day 2
The Tower, the City and the river
Tower of London—Tower Bridge—Borough Market—Tate Modern—Millennium Bridge & St Paul's
01
The Tower of London
Arrive for the first entry of the day. The Tower combines a medieval fortress, the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warder tours, and it is easy to underestimate how long it takes. Book tickets on the official site.
- Allow Around 3 hours
- Best First entry
- Know Check temporary route closures before visiting.
- Official Tower of London ↗
02
Cross Tower Bridge
Walk across Tower Bridge to the south bank. Crossing on foot is free; the Tower Bridge exhibition, with the high-level walkways and engine rooms, is a separate, ticketed visit that you can add or skip.
- Allow 20–30 minutes to cross; longer with the exhibition
- Official Tower Bridge ↗
03
Lunch at Borough Market
Follow the river west to the historic Borough Market for lunch among the stalls. Opening days and hours vary, so check them before you go.
- Allow 1 hour
- Official Borough Market ↗
04
Tate Modern
Continue along Bankside to Tate Modern, inside the former power station. The collection displays are free; temporary exhibitions are ticketed.
- Allow 1.5–2 hours
- Official Tate Modern ↗
05
Millennium Bridge and St Paul's
Cross the Millennium Bridge in the late afternoon, with St Paul's Cathedral directly ahead on the north bank. Visit inside if time allows, or simply see the dome and the steps from the outside before evening.
- Allow 30 minutes outside; 1.5–2 hours inside
- Official St Paul's Cathedral ↗
The river line
- Tower of London
- Tower Bridge
- Borough Market
- Tate Modern
- Millennium Bridge
- St Paul's
Day 3
South Kensington and Notting Hill
One museum in South Kensington—Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park—Notting Hill & Portobello Road
01
Choose one museum in South Kensington
South Kensington has several major museums side by side, and it is better to choose one than to attempt them all. The V&A covers art, design and fashion; the Natural History Museum is the obvious choice for natural history. General admission is free; check each museum's website for booking.
- Allow 2–2.5 hours
- Official V&A ↗Natural History Museum ↗
02
Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
Walk north through Kensington Gardens and along the western edge of Hyde Park. Treat it as the way to Notting Hill rather than an obligatory half day.
- Allow 45–60 minutes
03
Notting Hill and Portobello Road
Portobello Road runs through Notting Hill, lined with stalls, antique shops and cafés. The market changes character through the week, with its fullest days at the weekend; check what is on before you go.
- Allow 1.5–2 hours
- Official Portobello Road ↗
04
A quiet finish
End the last day without another booking: stay in Notting Hill for an early dinner, or return towards Mayfair or Covent Garden, depending on where you are based.
If you have more time
Swaps and additions
·
The British Museum
General admission is free. A free ticket booked in advance is recommended, and bags go through security checks at the entrance. It can replace the South Kensington museum or open a fourth day.
- Official British Museum ↗
Greenwich, reached by river boat or DLR, is the natural choice for a separate half day. Keep it, and any second museum, as an alternative rather than squeezing it into the three days above.
Book ahead
The permanent collections of the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern and the museums of South Kensington are free. Special exhibitions are often ticketed, and several museums recommend a free timed ticket.
Where to eat
Restaurants in London
Gymkhana
££££Mayfair
Two Michelin stars. Indian cooking in a dining room inspired by colonial-era Indian clubs.
Best for a landmark dinner
Rules
£££Covent Garden
Traditional British cooking in a richly historic dining room.
Best for a classic meal before the theatre
Noble Rot
£££Bloomsbury
Classic French-leaning cooking with an extensive wine list.
Best for a wine-led dinner
Where to stay
Hotels in London
Claridge's
Mayfair
Three Michelin Keys. A Mayfair grand hotel with historic Art Deco character.
Best for heritage and service
The Savoy
Strand
Three Michelin Keys. A landmark hotel on the Strand, between the river and the West End.
Best for river and West End access
NoMad London
Covent Garden
A luxury hotel in the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court, opposite the Royal Opera House; part of Hilton.
Best for design and location
Practical
Before you go
Weather
Rain can arrive in any season; carry a light layer and plan an indoor stop each day.
Distances
Central London is walkable, but areas are farther apart than they look on a map; use the Tube between days' zones.
Security
Major museums and attractions check bags at the entrance; travel light.
Strikes and works
Check TfL for planned closures and industrial action before each day.
Payments
Contactless payments are widely accepted; keep a second payment method available.
Driving
A car is not needed in central London; congestion and emission charges apply.
Three days will not cover London, and they do not need to. Keep each day to one part of the city, book the few visits that need it, and leave the rest for another trip.
Feels like home.
Nearby, and next
In this guide — London