How Many Days in London? A lifetime may never be enough to fully explore this vibrant city (just ask any Londoner!). But if you're a first-time visitor with limited time, I recommend a 3-day London itinerary to explore the must-see attractions in central London. If you have more time, consider adding days four and five for non-touristy things to do in the city. For a full week, you can use days six and seven to venture into London’s outskirts and nearby day-trip destinations.
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London Main Attractions and Food Distribution Map
This map highlights London’s classic attractions (deep red camera icons), themed experiences within the city (black hearts, yellow footballs, blue music notes), central dining spots (orange fork and knife), and shopping destinations (red and black shopping bags). The map’s default language is English, but you can switch to your preferred language by clicking "Expand Map" in the top right corner!
London Itinerary: 3, 5, and 7-Day Plans
- Day 1：Thames River Cruise + Tower Bridge + Tower Bridge Exhibition + Tower of London + Borough Market + St. Paul's Cathedral + The Shard
- Day 2：Buckingham Palace + St. James's Park + Westminster Abbey + Big Ben + Trafalgar Square + London Eye + Chinatown + Soho
- Day 3：King's Cross Station ＋ British Museum ＋ Oxford Street Area ＋ Hyde Park ＋ Harrods ＋ Covent Garden
- Day 4 ＆Day 5：Choose two in-depth themed routes to explore, such as football pilgrimage, opera culture, Greenwich, and Richmond Park
- Day 6 ＆ Day 7：Day trips to Windsor Castle, Bath, Stonehenge, or Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton to perfectly conclude your London journey
For the suggested itinerary, check out >>> London Attractions | Top 20 Must-Visit Spots for Beginners | Essential Map, Opening Hours, and Ticket Information <<< * and * >>> London Pass Guide | Is the LONDON PASS Worth Buying? Save £100 in 3 Days. <<< for further planning.
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London Itinerary: Detailed Route and Map
Day 1: Thames River and Historic Landmarks
Thames River
After arriving in London and dropping off your luggage at your accommodation, you can head out to explore at a relaxed pace.
You can start by taking a *Thames River Cruise* to enjoy the scenic views along the river. After disembarking, head to *Tower Bridge* for some photo opportunities, and visit the museum inside the bridge. If time allows, you can also check out the *Tower of London.
In the afternoon, head to *Borough Market* to savour some delicious food.
Borough Market
Next, I recommend visiting the nearby *St Paul’s Cathedral*. If you happen to visit during cherry blossom season, you can capture some classic Instagram-worthy photos of the blossoms alongside the cathedral. If time and energy permit, you might also choose to climb to the dome for a stunning view of London.
In the evening, head to *The Shard* for dinner, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Seeing Tower Bridge from such a height offers a completely different perspective.
Day 2: Classic Central London Attractions
Buckingham Palace
This day’s selected central attractions are all within a 15 to 20-minute walk of each other, making them easy to reach. It’s advisable to allocate ample time to explore each site in detail.
Start the morning at *Buckingham Palace* to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. If you’re visiting in the summer and the palace is open to the public, I highly recommend going inside.
Afterwards, walk from Buckingham Palace to *St. James’s Park*, taking in the park's natural beauty along the way. Upon crossing the park, you'll arrive at *Westminster Abbey*. After visiting the abbey, you can stroll to *Big Ben*, and if you have time and energy, consider visiting the Houses of Parliament as well.
Before sunset, you may want to head to *Trafalgar Square*. If your visit coincides with the Christmas season, you’ll find a charming Christmas market here.
In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset and night views of London from the *London Eye. For dinner, head to either *China Town／Soho*.
Day 3: A Cultural and Shopping Adventure
The British Museum
On this day, since you'll want to save some money for shopping (just kidding!), I recommend starting the morning with a visit to *King’s Cross Station* and the famous Platform 9¾, which are free to access. After that, head over to *The British Museum* for an in-depth visit to balance your budget!
Just kidding—The British Museum is definitely worth the entry fee (but it's free). Personally, I believe the only museums in Europe that can compare to it are the Vatican Museums and the Louvre in Paris. However, the latter two are quite expensive, and you often need to book well in advance, which doesn’t guarantee entry. In comparison, the British Museum is incredibly generous, almost to the point of being unusual for the UK!
Piccadily Circus
After that, you can head to the nearby shopping hotspots *Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, and Piccadilly Circus*, where you can shop till you drop. If all goes well, your day will likely end here in a shopping frenzy (just kidding! It's not that easy!).
Walking all the way down Oxford Street will lead you to *Hyde Park*. After a quick stroll to catch your breath, you can pop over to *Harrods* right next to the park! I used to work at Harrods, and let me tell you, even if you're not into luxury brands, you won't walk out empty-handed. It's the kind of place where even someone as frugal as Tang Seng would end up splurging!
Harrods London Christmas Decorations
If you visit between November and early January during the Christmas season, not only will you find amazing sales, but the dazzling light displays along the way will look almost unreal.
Finally, in the evening, you can head to *Covent Garden* to enjoy some delicious food and...do a bit more shopping.... If you're around during Christmas, you'll also find a beautiful Christmas tree here, perfect for Instagram photos!
Days 4 to 5: Non-Touristy Themed Tours
In*Football Tour*、*Opera & Culture Tour*、*Day Trip to Greenwich** and **Richmond Park and Camden Market*, choose one or two themed tours that interest you the most.
For more details, read：>>> 4 Themed Tours In London - Football, Opera, Richmond Park, Greenwich <<
Day 6 to 7: Day Trips To London Nearby Towns
In*Windsor Castle, Bath & Stonehenge*；*Cambridge & Oxford** and **Brighton & Seven Sisters Cliffs*, choose two or three routes that interest you the most.
>>> London Suburbs Route (Driving & Tours) <<<
After reading this London itinerary guide, are you ready to decide how many days to spend in London?
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