Written March 8, 2025.

Maybe you’re a London pro, and you’re looking for a fresh itinerary. Or maybe you’ve never been to London, but you don’t have any expectations for being a first-timer; you just want to make the most of your time in the city.

Either way, I’ve written this to help you plan your next trip.

In my itineraries, I like to focus on experiences that are unique to the city. Which museums are there? What are iconic parts of the city? What are experiences I can only have in this city?

The other thing I like to focus on while building itineraries is convenience: What can I do in a day? What makes sense to fill my time?

I’ve planned out three perfect days in London for you. They offer a brilliant combination of seeing classic London attractions and neighborhoods while also incorporating a few niche suggestions for you to try that are exclusive to the city of London.

What to expect:

This itinerary is for three full days in London, and they are booked morning till night.

These three days are not planned as part of an extremely lavish trip, but they also aren’t planned with a restrictive budget in mind.

Expect three busy days of sight seeing, tours, museums, shopping and trying great food.

Day 1:

Morning: See the classic sights in Central London.

The London landmarks are waiting for you!

I would start Day 1 with a quick bite to eat and a walk to Buckingham Palace. It’s such a beautiful area of the city with gardens, the Queen Victoria Memorial, St. James Park and Hyde Park. Stroll around the gardens and take lots of photos.

Then head towards the Parliament building to see Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

Maybe even shop along Brompton Road and make your way to Harrods, a classic London department store.

This is your chance to enjoy the center city.

If you’ve already seen these sights, do something different!

Maybe check out Kensington Palace, the gardens, and the neighborhood of Kensington instead. Or, if you have time, explore Kensington after Buckingham palace.

There’s a lot of potential in this morning, and you can make it your own.

Afternoon: Enjoy a proper high tea. Then see the city from the London Eye.

Afternoon tea is a quintessential aspect of the London tourist experience. Tea dates back as a mid nineteenth century tradition associated with its royal roots from Anna the seventh Dutchess of Bedford.

For lunch, choose a cozy spot, like Grand Caffe Concerto, to enjoy tea sandwiches, scones, desserts and bottomless tea.

I loved these adorable salmon, egg salad, and cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, raisin and traditional scones, and an array of tarts and cakes. Paired with some earl grey tea, it was the perfect afternoon tea.

After tea, take a stroll toward the London Eye for a gorgeous and unique ride over the city.

The London Eye sees over three million tourists a year. It looks like a ferris wheel, only instead of small seats there are large enclosed pods you can ride in to admire the city.

The pods are a lot bigger than they appear… It makes the height seem less intimidating if that’s something that worries you!

You will need tickets… book them ahead of time here.

When you’re done on the London Eye, head toward Big Ben – your last adventure of the day sets sail from Westminster Pier.

Evening: London Dinner Cruise on the Thames

To experience the city from a yet another perspective, treat yourself to dinner on a cruise of the Thames, the river that runs through the city.

I love river cruises: they give you the chance to take in so much of the city with up-close views of buildings and landmarks. And honestly, I love a boat ride.

I would recommend this dinner cruise from Viator. For about 100 pounds per person, you can depart the Westminster Pier and enjoy a three course dinner as you sail the Thames for three hours.

Day 2:

Morning: Immerse yourself in the adorable Notting Hill.

Start your day in the cute and cozy neighborhood of Notting Hill in west London.

If you’ve seen the film Notting Hill with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, some sights in the neighborhood might look familiar to you, including the famous blue door and the Notting Hill Bookshop.

Have breakfast at the Cheeky Scone, a scone bakery I saw on Recipe TV and had to try. It’s incredible. Try to get there right when they open, at 10 am, because the line forms out the front door quickly and there are just a few tables inside.

There’s so many different scones and teas to try, and it was hard to choose from all of the great choices. I went with the traditional scone, and it was one of the best I’ve ever had.

Take this morning to walk around the Notting Hill streets, enjoy the beautifully painted buildings, and shop.

There are so many jewelry stands and antique shops to explore. It’s easy to pass your time in Notting Hill looking for treasures.

On my list of places to try in Notting Hill: “Museum of Brands” for some history and “Farm Girl” restaurant for a yummy brunch.

Afternoon: Learn about history at the National Gallery.

Make your way back to the city center. Right by Trafalgar’s Square is The National Gallery, the central art museum of London that was established in 1824. It houses over 2,300 works of art.

You can reserve a time slot for your visit on their website, and tickets are free!

Spend the whole afternoon enjoying the museum without any rush at all. Its collection is stunning, and for no charge, it’s an opportunity you have no excuse to pass up.

There are so famous works, including pieces by:

• Botticelli
• da Vinci
• Rousseau
• van Gogh
• Velázquez
• Monet
• Picasso

Evening: Dine on the 32nd floor of The Shard. Take an evening walk across the Tower Bridge.

Following an afternoon full of art, cross the Thames and make a visit to The Shard.

The Shard is the tallest building in London. It’s a unique pointed structure, and it’s 1,016 feet tall.

If you’re searching for an epic dining experience, make a reservation at a chic modern restaurant called Aqua. This restaurant is located on the 31st floor of the exquisite Shard building and offers a selection of premium British cuisine.

After a long ride up the elevator, you are greeted by a dark and inviting modern ambiance. The bar is perfect, the guests dapper, and the culinary presentation extremely detailed.

This dinner doesn’t compare to any other in the city.

And after this incredible dining experience, walk just a few minutes over to the Tower Bridge. Stroll across this iconic bridge under the bright lights.

Day 3:

Morning: Eat your way through Borough Market. See the famous Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

Borough Market is one of the the oldest food markets in London. It’s home to many food and drink stalls each serving their own unique taste of the city. Located near the London Bridge, it’s a great city sight to explore, especially before it gets busy.

Enjoy a few bites of London at 10 am when the market opens.

Walk about 20 minutes to another famous attraction: The Tower of London.

The Tower of London, a historic British castle, is home to the breathtaking Crown Jewels.

With this ticket, you’ll be able to see inside the tower and see the Crown Jewels for 35 pounds. Plan to spend about two hours for your visit here.

Break for lunch after your visit, and head back across the Thames.

Afternoon: Take a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Explore Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar’s Square and Carnaby Street in Soho.

Next stop: The Shakespeare Globe Theatre for a guided tour.

Why the Globe Theatre?

It’s a gorgeous Elizabethan theatre built to model the original from the sixteenth century. The original was destroyed in a fire in 1613.

The theatre is different from what we know today as a theatre stage – The Globe Theatre is an outdoor theatre built with the seats all surrounding the stage, like a stadium.

This tour is a great way to learn about theatrical history and one of the most famous playwrights of all time. You’ll need about 2 hours in the theatre. You can buy tickets for 27 pounds here on the theatre’s website.

Take the tube back towards Piccadilly Circus to walk around, window shop, see the lion statues in Trafalgar’s Square, and make an appearance on Carnaby Street in Soho for prime shopping.

Evening: Dinner at a pub for British classics. Finish your trip with a show on the West End.

At this point, you’ve dined on a river cruise and at the top of The Shard, so let’s refocus ourselves and dive into London pub culture. Spend your last night in a real London pub to enjoy some British classics.

Take in the cozy ambiance of a small London pub and enjoy a beer or cider with your meal before your very last activity of the day.

If you thought you were done with theatre activities for the day, think again! What’s London without a taste of the West End?

If you have any interest in shows, musicals or plays, find something playing on the West End. The shows are incredibly entertaining, and they are a key part of the London tourist experience.

You can get tickets for all different prices, it just depends on the type of view you will settle for. Even without amazing seats, a show on the West End is a show worth seeing. Make sure you buy your ticket ahead of time.

There you have it: three days in London. Three busy days, for sure!

If you’re looking for a complete itinerary to follow for your next London trip, this is it! All you need is to book a few tours and reservations, and find a place to stay in the city, of course!

If you’re not looking for a full itinerary, I hope that you can take at least one idea from this list to add to your own plan. Safe travels!