3 Day London Itinerary: How To Spend 72 Unforgettable Hours in London

What To See in London in Three Days

Overwhelmed trying to cram all the best London sites into a three day visit?

As a bit of a London travel expert, I’m often called upon to help friends plan their first visit to England’s capital. I’m a frequent London visitor who most recently visited in November 2025. I even spent a winter after college living and working in the City of London, so I’ve had decades to hone my 3 Day London itinerary.

I’m confident you’ll not only see the very best of London with my itinerary, but you’ll also fall in love what I truly believe is the best city in the world. While this enormous metropolis could keep you busy for a lifetime, if you’re traveling on business or as part of a larger European itinerary (maybe you’re dovetailing in 3 days in Paris?), you really can see the best of London in just 72 hours.

I’ve organized your three days into two days of exploring Central London on foot and one day trip down the Thames to Greenwich. In just 72 whirlwind hours, you’ll take in Top 10 London sights such as the Tower of London, The House of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. Since I recently visited, you know my recommendations are up-to-date and accurate.

This itinerary includes all my personal favorite London activities. Best of all, I’ve kept things budget friendly by utilizing public transportation and making sure you’re actually saving money on admission costs with the London Pass.

What’s Included In My 3 Day London itinerary

• Houses of Parliament & Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)
• Westminster Abbey
• Trafalgar Square
• National Gallery
• Covent Gardens
• City of London
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Southwark
• West End Theatre
• Piccadilly
• Buckingham Palace
• Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
• Kensington Palace
• Albertopolis (Albert Memorial, Royal Albert Hall, Museum of Natural History, Victoria and Albert Museum)
• Harrods
• Afternoon Tea
• Thames boat ride
• Greenwich
• Tower of London
• Tower Bridge

Have your camera at the ready as we take in the best of London today on a 4.5-mile walk through central London. You’ll see iconic London sites like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, The Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.

Westminster

In route: Start the day by taking the Tube to the Westminster Underground Station via the Circle or District Lines.

The Elizabeth Tower of the Houses of Parliament greets you as soon as you emerge from the Westminster Tube station. You might be tempted to call this sight “Big Ben,” but you can’t actually see Big Ben, although you might be lucky enough to hear it. Big Ben refers to the bell inside the clock tower whose official name is the Elizabeth Tower.

Tip: For the best photo of the iconic clock tower, either head out on Westminster Bridge or across the street to Parliament Square where you might find protestors trying to bring MPs’ attention to various causes.

Westminster Abbey

This UNESCO World Heritage site has been the site of coronations and royal weddings for centuries. While the first Westminster Abbey dates back to the 10th century, the current abbey was constructed in medieval times. Don’t miss Poets’ Corners where many of England’s most acclaimed writers are laid to rest. Allot about an hour to tour the massive church. The Abbey accepts the London Pass.

St. Margaret’s Church

If you’re not “churched out” after the Abbey, pop over to next door St. Margaret’s Church. This 12-century church is free to enter. Often known as the Church of the House of Commons, many MPs come here to worship. It’s also where Winston Churchill married Clementine in 1908.

Whitehall

Return to Parliament Square and start walking north on Parliament Street which quickly turns into Whitehall.

Along the way, you’ll pass Downing Street and the Prime Minister’s residence as well as the Banqueting House of Whitehall Palace. In 1649, Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians executed King Charles I by the middle lower-level window of this building. Inside you’ll find a beautiful Rubens ceiling.

This wide road between the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square is also where you’ll find the Cenotaph National War Memorial, a memorial to the Women of War II, and the Royal Horse Guards positioned in front of the entrance to the Horse Guards building.

Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery Museums

Find fountains, lions, Nelson’s Column, and plenty of pigeons in Trafalgar Square. This popular public square commemorates the 1805 naval battle of Trafalgar in the Napoleonic wars. Don’t miss the small police outpost (often misreported as London’s smallest police station) in southeastern corner. Can you find the George Washington statue?

The National Gallery overlooks Trafalgar Square. Just around the corner on Charing Cross Road, you’ll find the National Portrait Gallery. Both museums are free to enter and well worth an hour or so of your time. Go inside and enjoy some of the best European art. I personally slightly prefer the Portrait Gallery.

Covent Garden

You might recognize this historic marketplace as the spot where Eliza Doolittle sells her flowers at the start of My Fair Lady. Known for restaurants, craft vendors, and street performers, take a few minutes to browse Covent Garden‘s stalls and watch the street performers. It’s a bit of tourist trap, so watch for pickpockets.

The Strand

From Covent Garden, head down to the Strand. This iconic London street is home to the Savoy hotel, several theatres, and Somerset House. You’ll pass the High Commission of Australia building (aka Gringotts Bank in the Harry Potter films) and the fairytale palace-like Royal Courts of Justice.

If you’re a tea lover, be sure to pop into the Twinings flagship shop at 216 Strand to sample some teas and find some souvenirs to bring home.

City of London

The Strand turns into Fleet Street as you enter the City of London. A dragon statue signals that you’re leaving the City of Westminster and officially entering the City of London. If you’re ready to put your feet up for a minute, pop into Ye Olde Chesire Cheese for a drink. This historic pub was rebuilt in 1667 after the Great London Fire.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Although you were already inside Westminster Abbey today, I think it’s well worth popping inside this majestic space, even if you don’t have energy for the audio tour. (St. Paul’s Cathedral accepts the London Pass.) Designed by famed architect Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of London, the cathedral feels very modern compared to the Abbey.

My favorite spots in St. Paul’s are the American Memorial Chapel, Whispering Gallery, and the Crypt. In the crypt you’ll find the tombs of several notable Brits including the Duke of Wellington and Horatio Nelson.

Millennium Bridge

Due south of St. Paul’s, you can use the Millennium pedestrian bridge to cross the River Thames As the name would indicate, the bridge opened to the public in 2000. (I don’t include the bridge in my list of Harry Potter locations in London because it was an anachronism to show the bridge in a scene of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!)

Southwark

Once you’ve crossed the Thames, head east on the Queen’s Walk, a wide promenade that hugs the river shore that’s technically part of the Thames Path National Trail. Points of interest along the way include the Tate Modern, Borough Market (a great option if you’re feeling peckish!), and Southwark Cathedral. If you still have some energy, you could tour the Clink Prison Museum, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, or the replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde galleon.

London Bridge

Here’s the thing: London Bridge is utilitarian at best and ugly at worst. I know you’ve been singing about it since you were in diapers and I’m sorry. The Bridge just hasn’t been the same since the London Bridge of “falling down” fame was moved to Lake Havasu, AZ. (Sometimes life truly is stranger than fiction, eh?)

While the bridge probably isn’t going to inspire you to pull out your sketchpad, it does offer you a fabulous view of the much more picturesque Tower Bridge, as well as the City of London skyscrapers and the Tower of London. If you spy a golden orb topped column on the north side of the bridge, you’re seeing the Monument to the Great Fire of London.

Leadenhall Market

Walk up King William Street and turn up Gracechurch St (about a 10 minute walk from London Bridge) to reach Leadenhall Market. This Victorian covered marketplace served as the entrance to Diagon Alley you see Harry and Hagrid walking through in The Sorcerer’s Stone film. Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, this is still a beautiful London landmark.

Sky Garden

You might prefer to skip Leadenhall Market to head to nearby Sky Garden instead. Located on the 38th floor of the Fenchurch Building this greenery filled observatory dubs itself London’s highest public garden.

Admission is free, but you still need a ticket to enter. Tickets are available starting about 3 weeks in advance and the website is notoriously glitchy. If you just want to swing in, see if you can reserve a table at the bar. A drink with a view of Southwark and the Shard isn’t a half bad way to end of this long day of sightseeing.

In route: You’ve reached the end of this central London walking tour. Head to Monument Tube Station to grab the Tube into London’s West End Theatre district.

West End Theatre

It would be a travesty to visit London and not go to a show! London’s West End is on par with Broadway in New York. Perennial favorites currently running in the West End include Wicked, The Lion King, Les Miserables, and Hamilton, but there’s always something new and exciting showing at the nearly 40 West End theatres.

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Meander through beautiful, vast Hyde Park. When you cross over the Serpentine Bridge, you officially enter Kensington Gardens, although the green space all merges together and feels like one big park, at least to me.

Once you cross the Serpentine, visit the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. If you’re in the mood for modern art, the nearby Serpentine Gallery is one of my favorite free things to do in London. Continue west across the park until you reach Kensington Palace.

Kensington Palace

This royal residence dates back to the early 1600s. With its lovely garden setting I vastly prefer it to stodgy ol’ Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria grew up in Kensington Palace. More recently, the two-story mansion housed two of England’s most notorious princesses, Margaret and Diana. Now it’s home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

To be honest, Kensington Palace is one of my very favorite places in London. Use your London Pass to go inside to see the gorgeous State Apartments and learn about Queen Victoria’s childhood. They also often have fascinating special exhibits about royal fashion.

If you’re feeling hungry, grab a light lunch either in the Orangery Restaurant or the Palace Pavilion.

South Kensington and Albertopolis

When you leave Kensington Palace head southwest through Kensington Gardens towards the Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall. You’re now entering the section of the South Kensington District of London that’s sometimes referred to as Albertopolis.

With a high concentration of museums, universities, and institutions, Albertopolis’s focus on arts, culture, and sciences harkens back to London’s Great Exhibition of 1851. Most notably, you’ll find three free public museums – Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and Victoria and Albert Museum – that were all built with some of the excess cash raised by the Great Exhibition.

Natural History Museum

Of the three Victorian South Kensington museums, the clear winner for most dramatic architecture is the Natural History Museum. While you could spend hours wandering through the museum’s collections, I recommend just ducking inside to see its beautiful Gothic entrance hall which features the skeleton of a blue whale.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Of the three South Kensington museums, I greatly prefer the Victoria and Albert Museum. Sometimes described as visiting “the attic of the empire,” the V&A is my favorite London museum. It’s also completely free. If you feel overwhelmed by six floors of exhibits, join one of their free “museum highlights” tours.

My personal V&A highlights include the fashion and Britain collections. However, as a first-time visitor, you really shouldn’t miss the Cast Gallery or seeing the Raphael cartoons.

Harrods

Do you really need to map to navigate a story? You do at Harrods!

With its green uniformed doormen, Harrods definitely doesn’t shy away from British pomp and circumstance. This fabled six-level London department store truly offers everything. Even if you have no intentions of purchasing anything, spend a little time wandering the various departments if it’s not too crowded.

If you’re hitting sensory overload, I recommend just checking out the Harrods gift shop section on the lowest level. . .

Afternoon Tea

I really don’t think you should go to London without having afternoon tea. This elegant, but comforting tea ceremony gets you into some of the most beautiful rooms in London. Be sure to book about three weeks in advance to make sure you don’t miss out.

If you’ve had enough time on your feet, just head up to the 4th Floor to the Harrods Tea Rooms. Otherwise take your afternoon tea at the Ritz, Savoy, Lanesborough, or a whole sleuth of other central London hotels and restaurants including the Kensington Orangery and the restaurants in the Shard skyscraper.

Day 3: Greenwich Day Trip + Tower Hill

If you’re feeling anxious to see more of England, you could certainly day trip out of London on today. There’s a myriad of worthy day trip destinations less than a two-hour train ride outside of London. Popular London day trips include Windsor, Salisbury/Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford, and Canterbury.

However, I recommend heading to nearby Greenwich today since getting there is an unique London adventure in and of itself.

In route: Take the Tube to the Westminster Station and walk to the Uber Boat section of Westminster Pier. Be sure to admire the statue of Boudicca, a fiery Celtic figure who lead an uprising against the Romans around 60 AD, and her two daughters right next to the pier entrance.

Boat to Greenwich

From Westminster Pier it takes about 45 minutes (and a lot of stops) to reach Greenwich Pier. Along the way you’ll pass by St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Bridge, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.

Greenwich

Greenwich feels like a small English village surrounded by the big city. It’s particularly fitting to travel to and from Greenwich by boat since this London borough was the British naval ground zero for centuries. In fact, Greenwich housed a Royal Navy training facility until 1998.

Queen Elizabeth I was actually born in Greenwich, although the Tudor palace that she frequented during her reign was replaced in the 17th century by the Old Royal Naval College designed by famed English architect Christopher Wren.

In 1997, its high concentration of historical and architecturally significant buildings earned Greenwich the designation of “World Heritage Site.” In addition to a rich naval and royal history, maybe you’ve heard of a little thing we call Greenwich Mean Time?

Cutty Sark

As soon as you embark the boat in Greenwich, you’ll be greeted by the Cutty Sark, one of the last tea clippers used before Britain totally industrialized. This proud sailboat used to pick up trade goods across the world. In 2007, it suffered a devastating fire, but has been completely refurbished and reopened. If you like, your London Pass does cover admission.

Old Royal Naval College

National Maritime Museum – This free museum far exceeded my expectations and I made sure to return on my most recent visit to London.

If you’re a fan of Arctic and Antarctic explorations like I am, make a beeline to the Polar Worlds Expeditions exhibit. I also highly recommend the Napoleonic Wars exhibit where you can see the actual coat (bullet hole and all) the Nelson was wearing during the Battle of Trafalgar!

Queen’s House – Built starting in 1616 for the queen of James I, Anne of Denmark, it’s free to visit the royal residence. Best known for a spiral staircase with a beautiful, tulip-motif cast iron banister and its display of maritime paintings, the house definitely warrants a visit . . . just not a long one.

Painted Hall of Old Royal Naval College– Known as “Britain’s Sistine Chapel” this ticketed attraction (covered by your London Pass) is a Greenwich must-see. Be sure to use the provided mirrors so you can fully enjoy the ceiling details of this Baroque masterpiece without straining your neck!

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Perched on a hill above Greenwich Park, you can’t miss the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Many significant astronomical and scientific advancements -perhaps most significantly the invention of longitude- occurred at this 17th-century observatory.

It’s well worth a visit to the Observatory (also covered by your London Pass, natch) if only so you can get a photo of straddling the Prime Meridian. 

Even if you opt to skip the museum, definitely make the steep climb up the Observatory Hill for a sweeping view of Greenwich Park, the Old Royal Naval College, and Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames.

In route: After you’re done in the Observatory, head back down the hill and catch the next boat back to Tower Millennium Pier.

Tower Bridge 

While I’m not a personal fan of the Tower Bridge Exhibition (if you have a passion for hydraulics, you may feel differently!) I do highly recommend taking a little stroll across the bridge’s sidewalk. You’ll be rewarded with great views of the Tower of London, the City, Southwark, and Thames.

Tower of London

I’m about to tell you something you’re not going to like: The Tower of London is one of the most overrated things to do in London.

I know it sounds like it’s all royal prisoners, Crown Jewels, and murder most foul. And gosh it looks impressive. But inside you’re greeted with hordes of tourists, a bunch of ravens, and endless stone masonry. They actually put you on a conveyor belt past the Crown Jewels to help disperse crowds.

That said, I don’t really expect first-time London visitors to skip it. Your London Pass will get you right in. Explore the Tower and all of its medieval history and armor exhibits to your heart’s content.

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour

If you want to explore one of the most gruesome episodes in Victorian London (and raise your hackles), I recommend heading out on a Jack the Ripper Walking Tour once night falls. Not only will you learn about the notorious murder spree, you’ll also explore an area of East London that tourists generally miss.

I’m partial to London Walks‘s Jack the Ripper tour which meets right in front of the Tower Hill Underground Station. (Your London pass does cover the cost of a different, midafternoon Jack the Ripper walking tour, but I think this history is most poignant when explored after dark.)

Full disclosure: I haven’t actually done this since 2008 and in the meantime, some claim DNA has solved the mystery of who Jack the Ripper was. However, the tour remains popular and well reviewed so I’m sure there’s still plenty of intrigue to keep you well entertained for the entire two-hour tour.

Tips To Make the Most Out of Three Days in London

Have a plan for getting from the airport to central London

If you’re flying into Gatwick, the easiest way to get into central London is to take the nonstop Gatwick Express train to London’s Victoria Station. For Heathrow arrivals, you have a choice of taking the Underground (aka Tube, or “Subway” to us Yanks) into central London or taking the nonstop Heathrow Express to London Paddington.

(I have a whole post to guide you through the process of getting from Heathrow into Central London.)

Set up contactless pay on your phone before arrival

The easiest way to pay for London transport, whether you’re taking a train, the Underground, bus, or boat is with contactless pay on your phone. Just tap your phone at the entrance barriers and you’re good to go. (You can also use a tap credit card – just make sure you use the same card when you tap out at the end of your journey to avoid unnecessary fees.)

On my recent visit to London, I was surprised to find that it’s basically a cashless town. From transport to restaurants to vending machines and admissions, you can tap to pay for everything in London. No need to stop to pull out cash at the ATM in the airport!

Reserve any “must-do” activities before arrival

If your heart is set on doing a popular London activity, like afternoon tea at the Ritz or Savoy, make those reservations about four weeks in advance. If there’s a particular West End show you really want to see, make sure to book those as well.

Not too picky about your theatre? You can always score some good last minute deals through the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth. Since time is tight with this itinerary, I recommend booking online rather than standing in line at the official booth in Leicester Square.

Buy A London Pass

I know, it can be stressful figuring out if these city passes are worth it. But I did the math for you and if you just go to sites I recommend in this itinerary, you will save money by purchasing a 3-Day London Pass. (You don’t need the London Pass Plus – just select the basic 3 Day pass option when you book.)

To actually save money with the pass, you need to use it to cover the following admissions: Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Uber Boat to and from Greenwich, Kensington Palace, and the Tower of London. To really maximize your savings, also use it for the Royal Observatory, Painted Hall, and Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

Stay close to an Underground Station

To maximize your limited time in London, stay in a hotel within London Transport Zone 1 that’s no more than a 10 minute walk to the nearest underground station. Yes, you’ll likely spy tempting deals farther afield. If you’re spending the better part of an hour getting to and from central London, transit will eat up six of your precious 72 hours in town.

Pack comfortable, broken in shoes

Even you’re an active person, there’s something unique about London streets that chews up your feet and spits them out again. Since we’re pounding pavement (not to mention climbing up and down flights of stairs at attractions and in Tube stations) for three days straight, you’ll want to plan your footwear accordingly.

These Dansko Chelsea boots (paired with arch support insoles) are my go-to footwear for European explorations. A big bonus for London? They’re waterproof!

Favorite London Restaurants

You’ll notice that I didn’t include any dining recommendations in the itinerary above. I have a few reasons for that.

Restaurants come and go in a way that attractions don’t. (The Tower of London isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but that cute little Thai restaurant around the corner could close at a moment’s notice.) Offerings and quality of service can change very quickly. Lastly, dining in London can get pricey fast and I want you to feel empowered to explore options that work best for your price point.

Still, here are a few favorite restaurants from my latest trip to London that I think are worth recommending.

The Seafood Bar

A highly rated and delicious seafood restaurant in the heart of Soho. Perfect for a pre-theatre dinner. One note: they are cashless.

Dishoom

London is known for its excellent Indian food offerings. Dishoom is a small chain with several locations in central London that makes particularly tasty Bombay-style food.

Fuller’s Pubs

Fuller’s is a pub operating company that started as a West London brewery. They’re known for buying up pubs around London and southern England and retaining their traditional character. If you spy an especially tempting looking pub while you’re out and about, there’s a good chance it’s a Fuller’s pub.

We had great experiences at both The Harp near Covent Garden and The Hereford Arms in South Kensington. If you have a hankering for a Sunday roast, seek out a Fuller’s pub.

The Golden Chippy

Often credited with having the best fish and chips in London, the Golden Chippy is small chipper located in the heart of Greenwich. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the main Greenwich attractions near the Old Royal Naval College, but I think it’s worth it. You can either dine in or take away.

Tonkotsu

A small chain of ramen bars sprinkled throughout London and greater England. They tout their homemade noodles and they deserve the hype. We really enjoyed our experience at the Notting Hill Tonkotsu location.

Other London dining options:

Pick and Cheese – A cheese conveyor belt restaurant near Covent Garden. I foolishly failed to incorporate this into my last visit, but I won’t be making that mistake again.

Pizza Express – You’ll see this chain pizza restaurant everywhere in London, but it’s really too shabby and good price point too if you want a sit down lunch.

Wagamama – An affordable noodle bar chain that makes a good, fast lunch option.

Where To Stay in London

There’s a dizzying array of hotels to choose from in London. I’d love to tell you to choose the first hotel you find with good ratings and that’s the right price for you and your group. But sadly, selecting where you’ll stay in London is a little more complicated than that. You don’t want to be far from or close to action.

I’ve found the sweet spot for selecting the location of your London hotel is to pick a spot no more than a 15-20 minute Tube ride from top London sites like Westminster and the Tower of London. I’ve been accused of being an elitist traveler and it’s true: I greatly prefer to stay in the bougie West End of London, particularly South Kensington and Notting Hill.

That said, the West End is spendy. To stretch your travel budget out, check out Whitechapel, Wapping, and Shadwell in East London or Camden and Hackney to the north. Don’t overlooking staying south of the river in Lambeth or Southwark either.

I don’t like to stay too centrally as I prefer to be a little removed from the hustle and bustle of Soho and Covent Garden at night and have always found Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia just north of those two busy tourist epicentres a little devoid of personality.

Some good London lodging options:

Vacation rentals

If you want a flat of your own during your time in London, you’ll find plenty of options on VRBO and Airbnb. Price points can be all over the place, so I definitely recommend figuring out where you want to stay in the city before starting your search in earnest. Then pop an ibuprofen and make sure you read through the reviews very carefully. We ended up scoring this sweet spot in Notting Hill on our last visit.

Apartment Hotels

I did look into staying at an aparthotel (the best of both worlds; hotel services but with actual living space and the ability to fix your own meals) but couldn’t find one quite at the price point or location I wanted. Some favorite London aparthotels include the Wilde chain, the Residence Inn London Kensington, and Cleveland Residences.

Hotels

London hotel rooms are notoriously small and don’t always feature A/C, which is really only an issue for summer visitors. Still, there are plenty of reasons to prefer staying at hotel including luggage storage, concierge services, and an option for a cooked breakfast (usually for an additonal fee).

I recommend:

London House Hotel

A budget-friendly hotel, London House Hotel is clean, comfortable, and no frills. It’s a quick walk to both Bayswater and Queensway Tube Station.

The Ritz

If you’re feeling fancy (and flush with cash), you can’t beat the Ritz’s central location and luxurious offerings.

The Kensington Hotel

At the end of our last trip to England, we spent two nights in the Kensington, located in the heart of South Kensington near the museums and Tube station. While our cozy Queen room was indeed quite cozy, we had a great stay and really enjoyed their breakfast. It was super easy to grab the Tube to Heathrow on our last morning too.