Three days is the perfect amount of time for a first trip to London. It’s enough to see the famous landmarks, walk along the Thames, visit a couple of world-class museums and still have time for a pub lunch and a West End show — if you plan your days by area instead of zig-zagging across the city.
This London 3-day itinerary groups the sights into three walkable areas, with a realistic timetable, the opening-day traps to avoid (Westminster Abbey closes to visitors on Sundays, the Changing of the Guard doesn’t happen every day), Google Maps routes for each day, and versions for kids, teens and budget travellers. It’s the itinerary we’d give a friend visiting London in 3 days for the first time.
London in 3 days: the plan at a glance
| Day | Area | Highlights | Paid tickets (adult) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Westminster & West End | Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, National Gallery, Covent Garden | about £27–31 (Abbey) |
| Day 2 | The City & South Bank | Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St Paul’s, London Eye | about £62 (Tower + St Paul’s), Eye extra |
| Day 3 | Museums & neighbourhoods | British Museum or Natural History Museum, Hyde Park, Notting Hill or Camden | £0 |
Before you go: book the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s online for a set time — it’s usually cheaper than at the door and you skip the ticket queue. Wondering if a sightseeing pass would save money on this plan? We did the maths in Is the London Pass worth it? (short answer: not for this pace).
Day 1: Westminster, Buckingham Palace and the West End
Best days: Monday, Wednesday or Friday — the Changing of the Guard takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 11:00, and Westminster Abbey is closed to sightseers on Sundays. Always check the official Changing the Guard calendar for cancellations (it’s often cancelled in bad weather).
Morning: St James’s Park and the Changing of the Guard
9:15 – St James’s Park. Start with a calm walk around the lake — look out for the pelicans — with views of Buckingham Palace at one end and Horse Guards at the other.
10:15 – Find your spot. The ceremony begins at 11:00 and lasts about 45 minutes. For a front-row view at the palace railings, you need to arrive well over an hour early; for a less crowded view, stand along The Mall or near St James’s Palace by about 10:20, where the Old Guard sets off (viewing tips).
Midday: lunch and Westminster Abbey
12:00 – Lunch around Victoria Street or a picnic in the park.
13:00 – Westminster Abbey (about £27 online). Coronation church since 1066 and resting place of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and many kings and queens. Allow 1.5 hours with the free audio guide. Opening is from 9:30, Monday to Saturday, but it closes early on some days (around 1:30 pm on Saturdays), so check the time of the last entry when you book.
Afternoon: Big Ben, Parliament and Trafalgar Square
14:45 – Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Walk onto Westminster Bridge for the classic photo, then up Whitehall past Downing Street and the Horse Guards Parade.
15:30 – Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery (free). Even 45 minutes is enough to see Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and works by Turner, Monet and Leonardo da Vinci.
Evening: Covent Garden, Soho and a show
17:30 – Covent Garden. Street performers, the market hall and Neal’s Yard. Then dinner in Soho or Chinatown and, if you can, a West End show — the best way to end a first day in London. Find West End show tickets.
Open the Day 1 route in Google Maps — about 4 km of walking.
Day 2: Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the South Bank
Morning: Tower of London
9:00 – Tower of London (about £34.80). Arrive at opening and go straight to the Crown Jewels before the queues build up, then join a free Yeoman Warder (“Beefeater”) tour — they’re funny and full of stories. Allow 2–3 hours (ticket guide). It’s generally quieter after midday, but in this plan you’re doing it first to free the afternoon.
11:30 – Tower Bridge. Walk across the bridge for the views. The Tower Bridge Exhibition with its glass floor is optional (paid).
Midday: Borough Market
12:30 – Borough Market. A 15-minute walk along the river past HMS Belfast brings you to London’s most famous food market — perfect for lunch. It’s at its fullest from Wednesday to Saturday. Next door, Southwark Cathedral is free to enter.
Afternoon: Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s
14:00 – Tate Modern (free). Modern art in a former power station; don’t miss the free viewing level on the top floor.
15:00 – Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral (about £27). Climb the dome galleries for one of the best views in London — 528 steps to the top. Sightseeing ends late afternoon and the cathedral is open for worship only on Sundays, so check times.
Evening: the South Bank and the London Eye
17:30 – Walk the South Bank back west towards Waterloo — buskers, book stalls under Waterloo Bridge and views of the City across the river.
Sunset – London Eye (book a time slot online). Then dinner on the South Bank or in Waterloo. Compare London Eye tickets.
Open the Day 2 route in Google Maps — about 6 km, with an optional bus or Tube hop.
Day 3: museums, parks and neighbourhoods
Choose the museum that suits you — both are free:
Option A: the British Museum (Bloomsbury)
10:00 – British Museum. The Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the Egyptian mummies. Two hours is enough for the highlights. Then walk through Bloomsbury’s squares and grab lunch near Covent Garden or Fitzrovia.
Option B: South Kensington museums
10:00 – Natural History Museum (dinosaurs and the blue whale in Hintze Hall) or the V&A (design and fashion). The Science Museum is next door — a top pick with kids.
Afternoon: Hyde Park and Notting Hill or Camden
13:30 – Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Walk past the Serpentine and Kensington Palace (paid, optional).
15:30 – Notting Hill — pastel houses and Portobello Road (the big antiques market is on Saturdays) — or Camden for street food, Camden Market and a walk along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice or King’s Cross.
Evening: Shoreditch or a pub dinner
End your 3 days in London in Shoreditch — Brick Lane curry, street art and rooftop bars — or in a traditional pub with a Sunday roast if it’s the weekend.
Open the Day 3 route in Google Maps.
London 3-day itinerary with kids
- Day 1: Changing of the Guard (arrive early so they can see), St James’s Park, then the London Eye and a short river cruise instead of Westminster Abbey.
- Day 2: Tower of London (kids love the Crown Jewels, the armour and the ravens), Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, then a relaxed afternoon.
- Day 3: Natural History Museum and Science Museum in the morning, the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens in the afternoon.
Children under 11 travel free on the Tube and buses with a paying adult. Plan one main sight in the morning and something relaxed in the afternoon — London days are long on small legs. A base in South Kensington or the South Bank helps; see where to stay in London with kids.
London 3-day itinerary with teens
- Swap the Abbey for the Harry Potter sights: Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour (book far ahead; it’s outside London).
- Add Camden Market, Shoreditch street art and a climb at St Paul’s or The Shard.
- Book a West End musical or a football stadium tour.
- Let them navigate with the Tube map — it’s part of the fun.
London in 3 days on a budget: free things to do
For the complete list, see our guide to free things to do in London.
London can be expensive, but many of the best things to do are free. A budget version of this itinerary:
- Free museums: British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A.
- Free ceremonies: the Changing of the Guard.
- Free views: Primrose Hill, the Tate Modern viewing level, and the Sky Garden (book a free slot well ahead).
- Free walks: the South Bank, Regent’s Canal and the royal parks.
- Cheap food: Borough Market, Camden Market and Brick Lane street food; pub lunches instead of restaurant dinners.
- Transport: use contactless and let the daily fare cap work — or walk, since Day 1 and Day 2 are mostly on foot.
Choose just one paid sight — the Tower of London is our pick — and your 3-day sightseeing cost can stay under £40.
How much does a 3-day London trip cost?
| Item | Budget | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Attractions (this itinerary) | £35 (Tower only) | about £90 (Tower, Abbey, St Paul’s) + London Eye |
| Transport (3 days, Zones 1–2) | £15–30 | £25–35 |
| Food per day | £25–35 | £50–80 |
| Hotel per night | £85–150 | £150–300 |
Our estimates per person (hotel per room) based on the 2026 prices quoted in our London guides. Attraction prices are adult prices.
Getting around London in 3 days
- Walk: central London is more compact than it looks on the Tube map — Covent Garden to Leicester Square is a 5-minute walk.
- Tube and buses: tap in and out with contactless or Oyster; daily caps mean you never overpay.
- River buses (Uber Boat by Thames Clippers) are a scenic way between Westminster, the South Bank and the Tower.
- Arriving at Heathrow? Read Heathrow to central London for the best option to your hotel.
Mobile data makes maps and bookings much easier: get a UK eSIM before you fly.
If it rains (it might!)
Swap the outdoor parts for: the British Museum, the National Gallery, the V&A, the Churchill War Rooms, the Tower of London’s indoor exhibitions, Covent Garden’s covered market, Leadenhall Market, or a matinée in the West End. Keep the parks and markets for the drier afternoon.
Best time to visit London for 3 days
- Spring (April–May): parks in bloom, mild weather, fewer crowds than summer.
- Summer (June–August): long days and festivals, but the busiest and most expensive time — book early.
- Autumn (September–October): pleasant weather and better hotel prices.
- Winter (November–February): Christmas lights and markets, short days — start early.
Where to stay for this itinerary
For this route, the best bases are Covent Garden, Westminster or the South Bank — you can walk to most of Day 1 and Day 2. Read our full guide to where to stay in London or compare hotels in London. Don’t forget travel insurance and, if you still need them, flights to London. For the big picture, see our London travel guide.
FAQ: London 3-day itinerary
Is 3 days in London enough?
Yes, for a first visit. Three days lets you see the major landmarks, a couple of museums and a few neighbourhoods. With 4–5 days, add Greenwich, Windsor or Hampton Court.
What should I see in London in 3 days?
Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, the South Bank and London Eye, the British Museum or Natural History Museum, and Covent Garden.
How should I plan a 3-day trip to London?
Group sights by area: Westminster and the West End on Day 1, the City and South Bank on Day 2, museums and neighbourhoods on Day 3.
What days is the Changing of the Guard?
Usually on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 11:00 at Buckingham Palace, but always check the official calendar for changes.
Do I need the London Pass for 3 days?
Not for this itinerary. With about £90 of paid tickets over three days, buying them individually is much cheaper than a 3-day pass.
What is a good 3-day London itinerary with kids?
Changing of the Guard and the London Eye on Day 1, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge on Day 2, and the Natural History and Science Museums with Kensington Gardens on Day 3.
What can I do in London for free?
Visit the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum, watch the Changing of the Guard, walk the South Bank and relax in Hyde Park and St James’s Park — all free.
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