london 7 day travel guide

7 day London itinerary for first time visitors

Steeped in history and culture, crammed with iconic landmarks, and bustling with activity, there’s something for everyone in this world-famous capital. Founded by the Romans in the first century, London is now the most visited city in the world.

The skyline is a blend of the modern and the ancient, with hidden gems in every corner; stumbling across a stunning piece of architecture or a hidden cafe is just the norm, making it an exciting place for any visitor. This 7-day London itinerary will help you see as much as possible combining popular and unique things to do in London. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission.

Tips for your 7-day London itinerary

Depending on how you plan to travel to and from the airport and around London during your trip, it may be worth buying an Oyster or travel card. It is therefore advisable to decide what type of ticket will be best before you arrive, as it may be possible to also use this ticket to get from the airport. Some tickets also need to be purchased in advance, such as Visitor Oyster cards.

Oyster and travel cards

If you plan to travel around London using public transport it’s best to get an Oyster card, as tickets are usually cheaper when you pay with these. If you want to pay for tickets as you go and you live outside the UK, you can get a Visitor Oyster card, which you preload with credit. The card itself costs £5 and needs to be bought before you arrive. The Visitor Oyster card also gives you access to discounts and special offers around London.

If you know you will be using public transport a lot then you might want to buy a travel card. Have a look at Transport for London’s (TFL) handy guide if you’re unsure whether a Visitor Oyster card or a travel card would be best for you.

London Pass

It is also possible to combine a travel card with the London Pass. The London Pass gives you entry to many of London’s top tourist destinations, which can be excellent value if you intend on visiting a lot of attractions. The pass can be bought with or without a travel card.

A 6-day London Pass, excluding travel card, costs around £154. If, for example, you chose to do every activity in this guide, you would save around £90 using the London Pass. Tickets can be collected in Charing Cross, London, or downloaded to your mobile phone for free. You can also have them delivered to your home for a fee.

Click here to buy your London Pass.

Click here to read my London Pass review.

How to spend 7 days in London a first timers itinerary

While this itinerary can be followed as it is, you might want to swap some days around as certain events only happen on specified days, or you might want to take advantage of some good weather by doing outdoor activities, and saving the museums for those inevitable rainy days.

7 days in London: Day One

After arriving and settling into your hotel, there is no better way of getting that London feeling than heading towards the West End.

The British Museum

The British museum is widely considered to be one of the best museums in the UK, with around six million visitors every year. Displaying over two million years of human history through a large collection of arts and antiquities, there’s bound to be something to peak your interest. The Egyptian mummies and Rosetta Stone are must-sees, along with the Greek and Assyria exhibitions.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm

Admission: free

The West End

After taking in the culture at the British museum you can soak up the atmosphere of the West End, including world-famous shopping destination Oxford Street, Covent Gardens with its historic markets and quirky street performers, Leicester square famous for its cinemas, as well as lively Soho and China Town.

Check here some amazing things to do in Covent Garden. 

While you’re in the area, it’s a great opportunity to catch a West End show. There are over 40 theatres in “theatreland”, mostly from the Victorian and Georgian period and architecturally very impressive. As there are so many theatres, there is always a great range of shows to choose from, including several classic, long-running show.

These include Phantom of the Opera, which has been running at Her Majesty’s Theatre since 1986, the world’s longest running musical, Les Misérables, which has been playing at Queen’s Theatre since 1985, or even The Mousetrap, which has been staged at St. Martin’s theatre since 1974 and is the longest continuous run of any show in the world.

If you just want to see a quintessential West End theatre then visit the London Palladium, arguably one of the most famous, or the London Coliseum, one of the largest theatres in London.

7 days in London: Day Two

Buckingham palace and trafalgar square.

Buckingham Palace is the Queen of England’s official residence and a working palace. When the queen is not in residence (during the summer and some selected days in winter and spring) it is possible to go inside and visit the impressive State Rooms, which are lavishly furnished and used for entertainment on a grand scale.

The visit also includes a walk through the gardens. However, even when the queen is home, the palace is still a great place to visit, not least for the famous Changing of the Guard. The ceremony never fails to bring in a crowd and is totally free to watch, although it’s recommended to get there around 45 minutes before the start to guarantee a good viewpoint.

You can also always visit the Royal Mews, which is a working stables housing all the horses, carriages and vehicles used for royal occasions. The Queen’s Gallery is also open year round and displays an impressive array of artwork from the Royal Collection.

Opening hours:

The State Rooms 9:30 am to 7:00 pm (closes at 6:00 pm in September)

The Royal Mews 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (closes 5.00 pm March to November)

The Queen’s Gallery 10.00 am to 5.30 pm (opens 9.30am in the summer)

Changing of the Guard times: every day during the summer (weather permitting). Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for the rest of the year. Starts at 10:45 am with the actual of change of guard occurring at 11.00 am

The State Rooms £24,

The Royal Mews £11, included in London Pass

The Queen’s Gallery £12, included in London Pass

All three £42.30

After visiting the palace, you can walk down The Mall, the famous tree-lined street that leads up to the palace gates. Walking through the historic Admiralty Arch takes you straight towards another important London landmark, Trafalgar Square.

Here you will find the 52-metre high Nelson’s Column, guarded by four lions. Along with the other statues in Trafalgar Square, be sure to check out the “Fourth Plinth” which has traditionally stood empty, but is now used for specially commissioned temporary artworks.

Churchill’s War Rooms

From Trafalgar Square, take a stroll through St James’ Park, or a very short tube ride, to Churchill’s War Rooms. Here you will find the underground complex from which prime minister Winston Churchill ran the government during the Second World War. There is also a museum about Churchill, giving you everything you need to know about this important figure in British history.

Admission: £21, included in London Pass

Opening hours: 9.30 am to 6.00 pm

Westminster Palace and Abbey

Just a short walk from the Churchill War Rooms is Parliament Square, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Westminster Palace (also known as the Houses of Parliament) including the instantly-recognisable Elizabeth Tower which house Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.

Parliament has been meeting at the site of Westminster Palace since the 13th century, however the current building has been in place since around 1840. Only from seeing it in real life is it possible to really gain a sense for the scale and ornate detail of this truly impressive building.

If you want to go inside you need to book a guided tour, which lasts about 90 minutes. During the tour you will learn about how the parliament works, visit the Commons and Lords Chambers and see the nearly 1,000 year-old Westminster Hall. It is also possible to have afternoon tea in one of the riverside rooms, although you do need to book in advance.

Next to the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. Founded in AD 960, the current gothic building was constructed in 1245. The abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of 17 monarchs. Guided tours are available, and recommended if you want to learn all about the abbey’s rich history.

The tour lasts around 90 minutes, during which you will see Poets Corner, the Lady Chapel, the nave, the royal tombs and the gardens which are said to have been cultivated for over 900 years.

The guided tour also includes a visit to Edward the Confessor’s tomb, one of the last Anglo Saxon kings of England, which is not accessibletovisitors who wish to look around on their own.

Houses of Parliament

Admission: £28 (cheaper if booked in advance)

Afternoon tea: £29

Westminster Abbey

Admission: £22, included in London Pass, tour costs an additional £5

Opening hours: depends on the day. Visit website for details.

Click here to book your Westminster Abbey fast track tickets. 

Cruise in River Thames

With the River Thames winding its way through the centre of the capital, there is no better way of seeing the city than by getting on a boat that traverses the waterway. With views of Big Ben, the Tower of London, the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, you’ll be in for a real treat!

Seeing London’s sights by night while enjoying hours of entertainment is an amazing way to spend an evening while in London. The music events by City Cruises allow you to dance the night away, listening to sounds of the 80s, 90s, 00s and today. Hosted by top DJs, the events each have a fun theme, with everything from a Hip Hop Karaoke and Silent Disco to a stylish Champagne Sunday Brunch, so you can choose your style, get your friends together and enjoy an event to remember!

Alternatively, you can stick to a more traditional dinner cruise along the Thames or simply opt for a sight-seeing tour during the day.

7 days in London: Day Three

On day three you can get out of the city centre and head to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, where two of London’s best attractions can be found. There is a lot to see at both of these places, so if you want to have a thorough look around, and have the time, you can dedicate a whole day to each.

Hampton Court Palace

It’s easy to reach Hampton Court train station from Waterloo. Building of the palace began in 1515, but it has been extended multiple times over the centuries. Even if you’re not usually a fan of royal history, stories of the events at Hampton Court Palace will never bore.

Steeped in scandalous Tudor history, and offering an immersive experience, Hampton Court won’t disappoint. Some of the highlights are the 300-year old hedge puzzle maze and Henry VIII’s kitchen, where you can learn about the extraordinary Tudor feasts.

There are many different guided tours available, and with all the tales of ghosts, beheadings, adultery and royal births and deaths, you won’t want to miss out. There are also daily and seasonal presentations that you can listen to for free.

Admission: £20.90, included in London Pass

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm

Click here to book your Hampton Court Palace tickets.

Kew Gardens

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew have one of the largest and most diverse collections of plants in the world, some of which are rare or threatened. One of the most recognisable features of Kew Gardens is The Palm House. Built in 1844, it was the biggest glasshouse built at that time and was used to house plants that Victorian explorers brought back with them.

Following the success with the Palm House, the Temperate House was built in 1860 and is the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. The Temperate House is home to an internationally important collection of temperate zone plants.

In the Princess of Wales Conservatory you can find plants from 10 different climate zones, including the titan arum which is often known as “the corpse flower” due to its stench of rotting flesh used to attract insects.

As well as strolling through the greenhouses, you can also experience what it is like to walk through a forest canopy, with the treetop walkway. Set 18 metres above the woodland floor, this 200-metre long walkway transports you through the canopy with its birds, insects, lichens and fungi.

Admission: £17, included in London Pass

Opening hours: opens at 10.00 am, closing times vary dependent on season. Check website for details.

Click here to book your Kew Garden Tickets.

If you only have 3 days in London you might want to check this itinerary for 3 days in London. 

7 days in London: Day Four

There are many great places not far from London than can easily be explored within a day, so why not get out of the city and try one of these day trips?

Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer

If you’re a Harry Potter fan then a visit to the Warner Brothers Studios is an absolute must during your time in London!

Located on the outskirts of Watford, the studios feature a selection of permanent exhibitions as well as extra special exhibits that change on a regular basis so there’s always something new and exciting to see.

Witness the fantastical props from the films, step into the Gryffindor Common Room and walk through Diagon Alley while tasting a sip of sweet butterbeer along the way.

You can even buy some chocolate frogs or a copy of your character’s favourite wand from the epic gift shop at the end.

To ensure you have a hassle-free trip, book on to a Studio tour which includes entrance fees and return transfers from central London.

Click here for more information and to book the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio tour. 

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument consisting of a ring of standing stones, each standing around four metres high and two metres wide, with no one really sure how, or why it was built. Nonetheless it’s a very impressive sight, incredibly intriguing, and one of the UK’s most famous landmarks. The site and its surrounding is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The stone circle itself is a masterpiece of engineering for its time and it is incredible to think how much work would have been involved to build it, and therefore how important it must have been.

Walking around the stone circle (albeit from a short distance) is the highlight of a visit to Stonehenge and will leave you wanting to know more about its construction and possible purpose, however there is also much more to see and do.

The visitor centre offers a lot of context and insight into the stones and their history. Outside the visitors centre some Neolithic houses have been constructed, enabling you to see how the people of Salisbury would have lived 4,500 years ago, when Stonehenge was built. Volunteers are on hand to answer questions and demonstrate activities that would have been daily parts of life at that time.

At te Stonehenge exhibition you can see many of the artefacts that have been found during archaeological digs in the area, ranging from jewellery, pottery and tools to human remains. You can also find out about the diet and lifestyle of the people who built Stonehenge, as well as the science behind how these have been discovered.

There is a visitor shuttle between the visitor centre and the stone circle, however you can also walk if you want to get a feel for the landscape and enjoy Salisbury Plain.

Stonehenge is located in Salisbury, which is around one and a half hours away from central London by train. Take the train from London Waterloo to Salisbury and then jump onboard the dedicated tour bus to Stonehenge . You can also take a day-trip bus from London, which takes around two and a half hours.

Tickets are required to see Stonehenge, for which you will be given a set arrival time, it is therefore advised to book in advance.

Admission: £17.50 when booking in advance

Opening hours: 9.30 am to 7.00 pm

Book a day trip from London to Stonehedge with a visit to Bath here.

Situated in picturesque south-west England, the ancient city of Bath has it all, famed for its history, culture, literature, art and UNESCO World Heritage status. The city was founded in first century by the Romans, who used the natural hot springs as a spa and built the baths around them.

The baths have remained at the heart of the city’s development ever since, and are considered to be some of the best preserved Roman remains in the world. However, it’s not just its Roman past that makes Bath historically important. The 18th century was when the town really developed, with elegant Georgian architecture characterising the city andmaking it one of the most beautiful in Europe.

A visit to the Roman Baths is obviously a must. With so much to see, it is recommended you spare at least two hours for your visit. From the Great Bath itself, to the changing rooms, saunas, plunge pools and the Sacred Spring. Admission to the baths includes an audioguide, a public guided tour and the opportunity to try the natural spa water from the spa water fountain.

Bath is the only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural hot springs and while its not possible to bathe in the old Roman Baths, you can head over to Thermae Bath Spa for a more modern alternative, including a roof-top pool with panoramic views of the city.

To experience Bath in its full glory, you should climb the Bath Abbey Tower , which offers breathtaking views of the city. On the way up the tower you visit the ringing chamber and bell chamber, and can even go behind the clock face. Once up the top you will get unrivalled views of Bath. You will need to buy ticket to go up the tower, with the whole tour lasting around 45 minutes.

Another excellent way to enjoy Bath is the Skyline Walk . The six-mile long footpath takes you through woodlands and valleys and up to some stunning viewpoints over the city. You will also find several sites of archaeological interest along the way, such as the Iron Age fort and Roman settlements. If you’re more interested in learning about the history and architecture of Bath, there are many guided walks you can take through the city, dependent on your interests.

Bath is easy to reach from London, with a direct train from London Paddington to Bath Spa, which takes around one hour and 40 minutes.

Click here to book a a day trip from London to Stonehedge and Bath.

You might be interested in: Things to do in Bath

7 days in London: Day Five

Kensington palace.

Kensington Palace has historically been a fashionable home for young royals, with Queen Victoria spending most of her childhood at Kensington. This tradition has continued in modern times, as Prince Charles and Princess Diana brought up their young family, William and Harry, at the palace, and it is now home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) and their children.

The Queen’s State Apartments and the King’s State Apartments are mostly unchanged since their construction in 1690, and the opulent decor is worth the visit. At the palace you will also find a collection of royal ceremonial dress and an exhibition of Princess Diana’s most famous outfits. Kensington Palace is also a fantastic place to enjoy an afternoon tea, surrounded by the stunning formal gardens and giving you that real royal feeling.

Admission: £19.50, included in London Pass

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (closes at 4.00 pm November to January)

Click here to book your tickets to Kensington Palace.

Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park

Kensington Gardens was once the grounds of the palace, but is now a Royal Park. The park itself is lovely to walk through and has several points of interest for you to stumble across on your way round. The Albert Memorial (one of many memorials Queen Victoria dedicated to her husband who died in 1861), is one of London’s most ornate memorials. If you want to get up close you can take a tour for £8 (they run daily and there is no need to book).

The Serpentine Galleries were built in 1934 as a tea room, but has been a gallery since 1970 and is free to go inside, with new exhibitions every season. The Italian Garden is a 150-year old water garden featuring four fountains and a number of classical sculptures.

There is also a Princess Diana memorial playground, featuring a large pirate ship. As the “Peoples’ Princess” there are several memorials to Princess Diana in the area, including the Diana Memorial Fountain in neighbouring Hyde Park. For real fans of Diana, there is a seven-mile memorial walk, following 90 plaques set in the ground that take you within sight of famous building where Diana spent her time.

National History, V&A and Science museums

Kensington is awash with world-renowned museums, so once you’ve got your royal palace fix for the day, you can walk through the parks and head over to one, or all, of these tourist favourites.

National History Museum

Famous for its dinosaur exhibition, including several dinosaur skeletons, the National History Museum tells you everything you need to know about the planet’s and humans’ evolution and all about the diverse life on Earth.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.50 pm

V&A Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum, most often known simply as the V&A, is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design. It holds everything you can think of from ceramics, textiles, and glass to the world’s largest collection of post-classical sculptures, spanning all times and geographies.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.45 pm

Science Museum

The Science Museum is one of London’s most popular tourist attractions and includes items such as the oldest surviving steam locomotive and the first jet engine. With many interactive exhibits, you’ll know everything there is to know about medical history, space, technology and much more, in no time.

7 days in London: Day Six

St. paul’s cathedral.

St. Paul’s Cathedral sits at the highest part of the City of London and was designed in the 17th century in the English baroque style by one of the most highly acclaimed architects in English history, Sr Christopher Wren. The cathedral was part of major rebuilding work that happened after The Great Fire of London in 1666, with the site of the original church dating back to AD 604.

Once inside, make sure you try out the Whispering Gallery which, due to its architecture, means you can whisper on one side of the large dome and be heard on the other. The other two galleries, the Stone and Golden galleries, offer fantastic views over London. There is also an exhibition on Sir Christopher Wren and the challenges he faced with his unique design.

Admission: £18 includes a guided tour, included in London Pass

Opening hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Click here to book your fast track tickets to St. Pauls Cathedral.

The Tower of London

Founded towards the end of 1066, the Tower of London is primarily known for its history as a prison, although that was never intended to be its main purpose. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage sight and makes a slightly strange sight, this series of ancient buildings nestled in a thoroughly modern area of London.

The Tower has played a very prominent role in English history, acting as a fortress and protecting the City of London. The Yeoman wardens, commonly knowns as “Beefeaters” are one of the most famous symbols of London and Great Britain. You can hear their stories on a one-hour guided tour. Be sure to be mindful of the ravens on your way around, as it is said that if the ravens all leave the Tower then it will fall and Britain with it.

You can also see the Crown Jewels in the Jewel House. These are still used today in royal ceremonies and are kept under armed guard. In The White Tower you will find the Royal Armouries and in the Bloody Tower, you will see the famous prison.

The Lower Wakefield Tower offers an exhibition on the methods used for torture in the tower, along with some replica instruments. An execution site memorial can be seen at Tower Green, within the grounds, although it was usually only high-profile people who were executed at the Tower of London. You can see where executions were more commonly held at nearby Tower Hill, where an original part of the 3rd century city wall also still stands.

Admission: £26.80, included in London Pass

Click here to book your tickets to the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is yet another classic London landmark, built between 1886 and 1894. It’s fun to just walk over this bridge and take in the views, however you can also have a look at the Tower Bridge exhibition, making your way across a glass walkway 44 metres above the Thames, as well as access to the bridge’s old engine rooms, complete with original steam engines, used to raise the bridge.

Admission: £9.80, included in London Pass

Click here to book your tickets to the Tower Bridge. 

This 95-story sky scraper stands 309.7 metres high, and at the top there are two viewing platforms; one indoors on the 69th floor, and a second partially outdoors on the 72nd floor. If you just want to enjoy the view you can buy a ticket to go up to the viewing platform, however The Shard is also the perfect place to luxuriate with an afternoon tea and spectacular view, and you have a choice. Aqua, on the 31st floor serves innovative, contemporary British cuisine, including a traditional afternoon tea.

Or if you prefer a little more altitude and a little less tradition, you can opt for Shangri-La’s restaurant Ting on the 35th floor, serving British cuisine with an Asian twist and an afternoon tea with theatrical elegance. Both restaurants have also been known to do quirky, themed afternoon teas for special occasions.

Admission for The View from the Shard: £30, included in London Pass

Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm Sunday to Wednesday

Click here to book your tickets to The Shard. 

Check my Shard experience here.

The Southbank, Tate Modern and the London Eye

Walk off your sandwiches and scones with a stroll down the South Bank, which is the best way to soak up some famous London sights. Along the walk you’ll come across the buzzing Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre (a reconstruction near to the site of the original which was demolished in 1644), and the Tate Modern (one of the largest galleries of modern and contemporary art in the world, housed in an old power station).

Finally you’ll reach the London Eye, so if you haven’t had enough of city aerial views, then jump in one of the pods and marvel at the glory of Westminster from above.

Click here to book your tickets to the London Eye. 

Check my London Eye experience here.

Tate Modern

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (closes at 10 pm on Friday and Saturday)

The London Eye

Admission: £27

Opening hours: dependent on the season, check online for details

7 days in London: Day Seven

The final day can be a day of catching up on anything you might have missed in this vast city, however a trip to Greenwich allows you to cram in more history, culture and great views before you leave. You can even take a Thames Clipper boat trip to Greenwich, giving you a scenic tour of London down the world-famous river.

It takes around 35 minutes from the London Eye Pier and you can pay using your Oyster card. You can buy a Greenwich day explorer ticket which covers all the below attractions, except the planetarium, for £24.25.

Greenwich Royal Observatory and the Planetarium

The Royal Observatory at Greenwich has played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation. It is here you can stand in the centre of the world, where east meets west, at the Greenwich Meridian.

You can also visit the Peter Harrison Planetarium, which offers range of shows for children and adults, such as experiencing the night sky with expert commentary from an astronomer, or shows which delve into the depths of space.

Royal Observatory

Admission: £15, included in London Pass

Planetarium

Admission: ticket price depends on the show. Information can be found online .

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm

One of the one remaining ships of her kind in the world, the Cutty Sark is a clipper ship constructed in 1869 and built for speed to challenge the other ships on the tea trade. As well as going on board and learning about the history of the ship and life at sea, you can enjoy an afternoon tea in a very unique setting underneath the ship.

The Cutty Sark afternoon tea offers a very traditional spread of finger sandwiches, cakes and scones with jam and clotted cream. It is, however, necessary to pre-book at least 72 hours in advance.

Admission: £13.50, included in London Pass. Afternoon tea £27 per person, includes admission to the ship.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily

Old Royal Naval College

While in Greenwich make sure to stop by the Old Royal Naval College, another of architect Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces. This impressive waterside building and its surroundings are a UNESCO World Heritage site, symbolising English artistic and scientific endeavours in the 17th and 18th centuries.

It’s free to wander around the historic grounds, but you can also take a tour to explore the magnificent painted ceiling. The Neoclassical chapel, featuring notable craftsmanship in the chapel design and decor, is also worth a look.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, historic grounds 8.00 am to 11.00 pm

Greenwich Market

Dating back to 1737, Greenwich market is known for its distinctive arts and crafts. Here, in the quaint cobbled streets, you will find all manner of items that cannot be bought in high street shops, making it the perfect place to buy some souvenirs. There is also a wide range of food stalls to choose from if you want to grab some lunch.

Opening hours: 10.00 am to 5.30 pm, daily

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum is as beautiful on the outside as it is interesting on the inside, documenting Britain’s strong naval history. The museum is home to a large collection of maritime-related artwork, including many portraits You can also learn about the history of the British navy, including an exhibition on Lord Nelson, often considered one of Britain’s most heroic figures, and his legacy which still has influences today. You can also find out all about the tumultuous history of the East India Company, which shaped trade between Britain and Asia for 250 years.

Greenwich Park

When you’re tired from exploring all Greenwich has to offer, take some time to relax in Greenwich Park, which has some truly stunning views across London. The park has a long history, with remains from the Anglo Saxons and Romans having been found.

There are also several beautiful gardens within the park, such as the Queen’s Orchard, a walled garden with several varieties of fruit trees dating back to the 1500s, the Flower Garden, first laid out in the 1890s, and the longest herbaceous border in London, which dates back to 1925. The Pavilion Cafe at the top of the hill near the Royal Observatory is the perfect place to relax with a cup of tea.

Where to stay in London

There are many accommodation options to choose from, from traditional B&B to quirky London hotels and posh apartments. Find here a selection of places I have stayed over the years.

Park Plaza County Hall London

The Park Plaza County Hall is located in a prime position on London’s South Bank, with wonderful views of the London Eye and the River Thames. Guests not only have great on-site facilities such as a fitness centre and restaurant but they are within walking distance of a number of top attractions and transport links. Rooms are spacious and comfortable throughout and staff are especially friendly!

Click here for the latest prices and to book this hotel.

The Ampersand Hotel

This superb hotel in the Kensington and Chelsea borough of London is chic and cosmopolitan and is ideal for those visiting the museums around South Kensington. Both the rooms and the facilities of the hotel are sophisticated and stylish, with quirky décor and a fantastic restaurant adding to the experience.

Click here for more information and to book your stay. 

Novatel London Canary Wharf

The Novatel at Canary Wharf offers everything you expect of a smart chain hotel: contemporary design, comfortable rooms and a 24h front desk for added convenience. This property also boasts a stunning rooftop bar with 360-degree views of the city which makes it well worth a visit!

Andaz London Liverpool Street

This five-star property is stunning both inside and out with sleek interiors and state-of-the-art facilities. Andaz is well situated in the hipster area of Shoreditch with loads of cool bars, restaurants and shops nearby. Plus, Liverpool Street Station is right next door so you have easy access to both underground tubes and National Rail links.

The Z Hotel

The Z is a simple but mordern hotel that offers everything you need for a busy stay in London. The rooms are quite compact but perfectly comfortable and an optional hearty breakfast with unlimited coffee is a great way to start the day! Old Street station is close by so you can hop on and off the tube to reach the city’s top spots.

The Chilworth London Paddington

The Chilworth Hotel near London Paddington is perfectly located for exploring the capital with Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Oxford Street all within 20 minutes. The décor is modern throughout and some rooms feature both a double bed and sofa bed which is great for families or groups of friends looking to save while travelling.

Getting to Central London from the airport

Heathrow airport.

Heathrow is the most centrally located of all the airports and is also the largest. Pay close attention to which terminal your flights arrive and leave from, as travel between the terminals takes time and requires the use of a shuttle.

Heathrow Express train

The Heathrow Express train is the fastest way to get into central London. The train goes directly from terminals 2 & 3 and 5. If travelling to or from terminal 4 you will need to take the free transfer train. These run every 15 minutes and the journey takes about 4 minutes.

The Heathrow Express trains are every 15 minutes, running from the airport to London Paddington. The journey to Paddington takes around 15 minutes. If you are planning to use the Heathrow Express both to and from the airport it is cheapest to get a return ticket, costing £39 when bought before boarding the train.

Tickets can be purchased at the train station, at ticket machines, online or via the app. It is possible to buy tickets onboard the train but these are more expensive. Note that it is not possible to use an Oyster or travel card on the Heathrow Express.

National Rail trains

It is also possible to take the regular National Rail train service to Paddington. While this journey takes longer than the Heathrow Express (around 30-50minutes), tickets are cheaper and you can use an Oyster or travel card. Trains leave every 30 minutes and stop at stations across west London.

Underground train

The Piccadilly line runs directly from central London and is the most cost efficient way to get into the city centre. There are stations at terminals 2 & 3, 4 and 5 and you can use your Oyster or travel card for the journey. The journey takes around 50 minutes.

Gatwick airport

Gatwick Express and National Rail trains

The best way to get into central London from Gatwick airport is by train, with services running four times an hour. You can either take the Gatwick Express or use the National Rail service. The Gatwick Express goes to Victoria and takes around 30 minutes at a cost of £19 one way. However the National Rail service is cheaper and only marginally slower (taking around 35 minutes to Victoria and Clapham Junction). You can also take the National Rail train to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras, in around 30/45 minutes. Travel cards are not valid on trains to Gatwick airport. You can use Pay As You Go Oyster credit, although it may be cheaper to buy a regular rail ticket instead.

Travelling by coach can be a cheaper alternative to the train, particularly if booked well in advance. National Express run a service from Gatwick to Victoria coach station, which takes between one and a half to two hours depending on the time of day and costs from £10. While easyBus runs a service to West London from as little as £2 one way. The journey takes around an hour.

Luton airport

The easiest way to travel into the city centre from Luton airport is by coach. National Express coaches run 24/7, with up to four departures every hour during the day. There are two different routes: A1 runs to Victoria coach station, while A2 goes to Paddington. Both routes have several stops along the way and tickets cost from £5. The coach journey to central London takes around 50 minutes.

It is also possible to take the train from Luton, however there is a 10 minute shuttle bus service to get to the train station. The train journey itself takes around 40 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes during peak times, with services to various central stations including St Pancras. It is not possible to use Oyster or travel cards on these services.

Stansted airport

Stansted Express and National Rail trains

The Stansted Express is the fastest way to get into central London from Stansted. The service runs to Liverpool Street and takes about 47 minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes. Prices vary and can be found online . It is also possible to use the National Rail services, however you cannot use an Oyster or travel card for these journeys.

National Express coach services run 24 hours a day and stop at 15 different locations in central London. The journey can costfrom as little as £6 one way and takes around 50 minutes.

Taxis from all London airports

A taxi from any of the airports into central London is not particularly recommended unless you really don’t want to use public transport. Taxis are usually expensive (it can cost around £100) and can take longer than public transport due to the heavy traffic in central London. If you have a lot of luggage, it is usually possible to get a luggage transfer from the airport directly to your hotel.

If you do decide to take a taxi from the airport then either take a black cab (metered prices) from the taxi rank outside the airport or book a minicab (fixed prices), either by booking in advance online or by phone, or via the kiosk once you arrive at the airport. More information about getting a taxi safely in London is found below.

Getting around London

Navigate your way around on public transport using TFL’s journey planner. Oyster and travel cards are valid on the underground and buses throughout the city.

The easiest way to get around London is by the underground, known as “the tube”. Thanks to the award-winning map design, navigating the tube is easy, and really opens up your options for visiting every part of the city. Keep a map close to hand or download one of the many tube map apps to make it even simpler.

Another great way to get around and to see the sights is by bus. London buses are iconic and it’s easy to just hop on and off using an Oyster or travel card.

There are two types of taxi in London. The traditional black cab and pre-booked minicabs. Black cabs can be hailed from the street, picked up from taxi ranks or booked in advance. The prices are metered and there is a minimum fare of just below £3. Minicabs, however, are booked in advance and offer a fixed fare for your journey. Remember that only black cabs may be hailed from the street. If you decide to take a minicab (i.e. not a black cab) you must call and book it in advance from a licensed minicab service. Taking a minicab from the street is illegal and unsafe. More information about the safest way to get a taxi can be found on the Visit London webpage .

Where to eat and drink in London

Duck and Waffle

The highest 24-hour restaurant in London offers the most stunning views night and day. Located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, the quirky British cuisine with European influences is designed for sharing and will certainly give you and your dinner companions plenty to talk about. If you’re finding it impossible to choose from the menu, the waiters will happily advice you, just make sure you save room for the signature dish of duck and waffle. This unique dining experience is in demand, so book well in advance and be aware of the more formal dress code.

Gordon’s Wine Bar

Gordon’s Wine Bar in Charing Cross is thought to be the oldest wine bar in London, having been established in 1890. The original decor has been maintained, creating an atmosphere as if time has stood still. Although it can become cramped, that’s just part of its charm, with its cost candle-lit tables in the cellar and historical newspaper cutting and memorabilia on the walls. Along with its award-winning wine list, Gordon’s serves food in real-sized portions, including home-made pies.

Christopher’s Grill and Martini Bar

Located in Covent Garden and perfect for drinks, lunch or dinner. If you want drinks or a lunch head into the American Deco martini bar, billed as a theatrical and atmospheric drinking parlour. Here you can get burgers, wraps, clubs and salads as well as American tapas for sharing. Seating can be booked but walk in places are always available. Alternatively you can make your way to the grill, an American restaurant set in an elegant dining room that blends the contemporary with the classic. At the weekends you can get a superfood brunch, or if you fancy something less healthy opt for the build-your-own pancake menu, with a wide range of toppings available.

La Trompette

Slightly outside of central London, in Chiswick, you will find modern British restaurant La Trompette. The restaurant is known for having some of the best food in London without the associated high prices or formality. The lunch menu is particularly good, but choosing the tasting menu means you’re sure not to miss out on a thing.

Located in fashionable Soho, HIX offers indulgence and comfort in the heart of the West End. HIX specialises in fish and shellfish, although there is also a vegetarian menu. In fact there is a menu for every occasion: a la carte, lunch, brunch or a theatre menu, popular in many of the restaurants in the West End and catering for those going to see shows in the evening. Below the restaurant you will find Mark’s Bar, known as one of the best bars in London, offering classic luxury with its chesterfields and cocktails.

Cinnamon Club

Not trip to London would be complete without going to an Indian restaurant. Indian food has long been an important part of British cuisine, with Anglo-Indian cuisine taking on a life of its own. Cinnamon Club is set in a historic building, which was previously the Westminster library, giving it an air of sophistication before you’ve even set foot in the door. This fine-dining restaurant has redefined modern Indian cuisine in London, using exclusive ingredients in its contemporary menu. Don’t forget to dip into the gin trolly, which includes a specially curated selection of gins sourced from iconic brands and small-batch producers across the UK.

Jackson & Rye

Offering New York food with a hint of Parisian influence, this brasserie, bar and grill is open seven days a week and perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between. With several locations, including one in Bank and one in Soho, it’s hard to find an excuse not to go to this relaxed, yet stylish eatery.

Inn the Park

Easy to miss, nestled in amongst the trees in St James’ Park, but worth seeking out, is Inn the Park. Perfect for a breakfast or lunch, you can get some delicious British classics and it’s always hard to choose just one thing from the menu. The calm atmosphere and beautiful surrounding nature makes it the perfect place to relax away from the frenzy of central London.

Social Eating House

Social Eating House positions itself as a place where people can enjoy key elements of the current London dining scene, but in a social and informal setting (while still being endlessly fashionable). The Michelin-star awarded food is designed to be simple and uses locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Hidden above the restaurant is the award-winning cocktail bar The Blind Pig. The bar, as the name suggests, has a speakeasy vibe and mirrored ceiling, while the cocktail list is inspired by children’s literature.

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2 thoughts on “7 day London itinerary for first time visitors”

This is so helpful. I will be travelling to London on my own too, and seeing your blog is a really big help. This made me more excited.

Nice Itinerary. Great to read and useful content.

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7 day London itinerary: A Comprehensive Guide for First Time Travellers and Beyond

Are you planning a 7 day London itinerary? Well you are in luck, London has to be one of our favourite cities. It’s full of museums, beautiful buildings, and awesome places to just explore. Living in Manchester means that we get to visit quite often. Every time we go we turn into instant tourists, cameras at the ready . There is so much to see and do in the city, and it can be hard to decide where to start, so we have put together a 1 week London itinerary for first time visitors and beyond. 

London Itinerary Factsheet

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Country:  England

Languages Spoken:  English,

Currency:  British Pound – GBP

Famous for: Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Red Buses, Royalty…..the list goes on

Visit if you like:  history and culture, theatre, and really old buildings

London is the capital of both England, and the United Kingdom. It’s also famous for being the political, economic, and cultural hub of the country.

London is highly populated with almost 9 million people living her. But what you might not know is that this statistic actually represents Greater London. The city of London itself is only small and covers 1.2 square miles. It has a population of around 9000 people.

Greater London is incredibly diverse, and there are over 300 languages being spoken in the area. The top 5 languages after English are Polish, Turkish, Bengali, French, and Punjabi.

Before you embark on your 7 days in London you probably want to know how to get there. Well, good news, London is probably one of the easiest cities to get to. There are 4 airports that you can fly into including, London City, Stansted , Gatwick , and the busiest, Heathrow . There are good public transport links from all airports and you can easily hop onto the tube and get yourself into central London.

If you are arriving from within the UK the train is usually your best option, with most National Rail services stopping at Euston Station. We recommend looking at Trainline website for some great deals. You can even get the bus to Victoria Station if you are trying to save your pennies. Before you start to plan your 7 days in London we highly recommend that you book your train in advance. The cheapest tickets are found well in advance. 

A 7 day London itinerary is going to involve a lot of travel around the city. Once you are in London the easiest way to get around is via the Tube. You should purchase an Oyster card and top up with the required credit. Alternatively you can download the app, or use your debit card to tap in and out of stations. For more information on this we recommend having a look at the Transport for Greater London website .

Public transport is brilliant in London and most major attractions can be accessed by Tube, but admittedly it can get tricky when signal failures or planned engineering works strike. It can look daunting at first but study the Tube map, and once you know how the stations connect you will be commuting like a pro in no time. Google maps is also a Godsend and you can easily navigate your way around on the Tube and the buses with it. 

If you are spending 7 days in London you can purchase a Travelcard. These are valid for either 1 day or 7 days depending on the option you pick. You can also choose what zones you would like it to cover as well. For more information here is a handy link for you. 

Accommodation in London ranges from the super expensive to the more budget friendly options so you have a lot of choices when planning your 7 day London itinerary. Just keep in mind the more budget you go, the less amenities in the hotel and the further away it will be from the main city attractions.

You are probably best looking at hotel booking sites well in advance of your trip to find the best deals.

On our last trip we decided to stay at the Assembly Hotel which was located a couple minutes from Leicester Square tube station. The hotel was very modern with clean rooms and a very central location. The only downside was that there was no TV or coffee/tea making facilities in the room. This can be standard in London and to be honest who wants to sit inside and watch TV when you are in London anyway? 

One of the tips when planning your 1 week London itinerary is to make sure that you book accommodation near a Tube Station. This means no matter how far our of central London you are staying it will still be easy to get around.

When planning your 7 day London itinerary you will need to think about where you want to stay. London is huge! Like seriously HUGE! And therefore deciding on where to stay can be quite overwhelming at times. For that reason we wanted to list a couple of our favourite areas. This list is by no means comprehensive, but hopefully will give you some ideas when planning your own 7 days in London.

Covent Garden

Our top area to stay in for 7 days in London is definitely Covent Garden. It’s a really well connected area in terms of transport, and there are a number of attractions located around this area too. Accommodation can be a bit expensive, but we think it is worth it. For starters there are a number of restaurants, and bars in the Covent Garden area, which makes it a fantastic base particularly if you want to enjoy a few nights out.

Notting Hill

Notting Hill is another great area, especially if you are after something a little quirky. It’s a little less touristy then Covent Garden (only just) and is close to the Portobello Road Market too. There are lots of bars and restaurants in the area, and it’s definitely a lot cooler than Covent Garden. It’s a good area if you are travelling as a couple.

Westminster

Accommodation in Westminster is certainly on the more expensive side, and rooms are smaller here too as space is at a premium (although it pretty much is anywhere in London). Westminster is great if you want to be close to a lot of the tourist attractions, and public transport. Although not so great if you are planning to have some wild nights out. The nightlife in the area is pretty much non-existent.

South Kensington

South Kensington is another good all-round area to stay in. It’s close to some cool restaurants and bars, as well as being close to a number of museums. It’s a central location with good transport links, and is often suggested as one of the best locations to stay in London for families.

One of our favourite neighbourhoods in London has to be Camden. Admittedly it is a little further out then say South Kensington, but still has great transport links. It’s also close to the London Zoo if that is your thing. What really makes this area great though is the nightlife. There are a lot of indie rock bars, grungy markets, and a lot of different restaurants serving international cuisine. Camden probably attracts a slightly younger, partygoing crowd, so if its peace and quiet you want this might not be for you.

You might be wondering when is the best time to plan your 7 days in London . Well London really is one of those cities that can be enjoyed year round. Here is our seasonal breakdown on the best time to plan your 1 week London itinerary.

Winter (December – February) 

Winter in London is great because there are way less tourists. So you won’t have the queue for hours to visit the big attractions. It does get cold and rainy in winter, though so you will want to limit your time outdoors. If you want to take advantage of the museums and the galleries then this is a good time to go. In December there are a number of Christmas markets to enjoy as well as ice skating rinks, in preparation for the holidays. 

Spring (March-May)

Spring is probably the best time to visit London in our opinion. The weather is mild, and whilst it is busy with tourists, it isn’t as chaotic as the summer months. Spring is also a nice time to enjoy walking through the parks with the daffodils in bloom. 

Summer (June – August)

Summer is peak tourist season so expect a very sweaty warm, and crowded 7 days in London. The weather is at its best, and there are a number of summer events that take place in the city. A lot of schools are finished for summer holidays so there are a lot of families around, and a lot of activities for kids and adults alike. If you visit in summer make sure that you book things like accommodation and attractions well in advance. It can get really warm in London over summer, so remember this particularly as travelling on the tube squashed up against other commuters in 30 degree heat is not fun. 

Autumn (September – November)

Autumn is another good time to book your 7 days in London. The weather starts to cool, but hasn’t quite reached the cold temperatures of winter. It also isn’t as busy as the summer months with tourists. 

Realistically, 7 days in London is a good amount of time to really get to grips with the city. It gives you the chance to explore some of the neighbourhoods, eat a lot of British  food (or visit a lot of British pubs more to the point), and see the key tourist attractions.

That being said, London is such a vibrant and incredible city that there is always something to do. We honestly don’t think even 2 weeks in London is enough. And ask some of our friends who live there, even years in London isn’t enough. But in all seriousness, a week in London is doable, particularly if you want to immerse yourself in the place.

London can be really daunting, because there is literally so much that you can see and do. With 7 days in London sometimes this can be overwhelming so it is good to have a plan. These are our recommendations for things to do.

Further down in the article we have a 7 day London sample itinerary to help you plan your trip. This guide is probably best for first time visitors as it covers the key tourist attractions in London, but also a few hidden gems as well. 

Westminster Bridge

Every time we come to London we take a walk along this bridge. To me this really symbolises London. Get off at Westminster Station and the first thing you will be greeted with is the Houses of Parliament looming over you. I like to start the walk on Westminster Bridge on the left side walking towards the London Eye. You can then cross over on the way back and face the Houses of Parliament for an excellent view.

What I love about the bridge, and London in general has to be the intricacy, and the designs. Make sure you take time to appreciate the little things like the beautiful street lamps on the bridge. Directly opposite the Houses of Parliament instead of turning towards the London Eye walk under the tunnel and you will find a secret photo spot where you can take a picture of Big Ben. 

Getting Here

Get the Tube to Westminster Station and take a short walk past the Houses of Parliament to the Bridge. 

A 7 day London itinerary is not complete without a visit to Southbank. This is one of our favourite places just to people watch. Here you will find street performers, and skateboarders, as well as tourists gazing out at the Houses of Parliament.  The Sealife centre is also here, if time allows as well as the main attraction, the London Eye.

Get the Tube to Westminster Station and take a short walk past the Houses of Parliament and across Westminster Bridge. 

The London Eye

We have done this a few times now and whilst some people may say it is over rated we love it. It costs about £36 although if you get advance tickets this can be cheaper. You can visit their website for further information. It takes about 30 minutes to do a full rotation and you really do get an amazing view of London.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a beautiful gothic cathedral which is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament. If you are into the Royal Family, then you will recognise it from a lot of Royal Weddings, including Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton. It is also the traditional place of both coronation and burial for English Monarchs.  You can see the inside of the Abbey for £25 or if you are short on funds you can admire it from the outside.

Get the Tube to Westminster Station and take a short walk away from the South Bank. 

Trafalgar Square

Another must for your 7 days in London has to be a visit to one of the most photographed public squares in the city. Trafalgar Square was built to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar that took place in 1805. These days it is swarming with tourists all trying to get those iconic shots of the fountains and the lions.

I actually remember visiting the Square as a kid and it being filled with pigeons, in fact I even remember feeding bird seed to them. If you visit these days however you won’t find many. In fact you may even see some of the trained birds of prey that fly around discouraging pigeons to visit. Apparently pigeon droppings caused some of the Square’s monuments to erode and so pigeon feeding was banned.

Charing Cross is the closest Tube Station, but it is also walkable from Piccadilly Circus and Leicster Square. 

The National Gallery

The National Gallery which is located right at Trafalgar Square, houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings. Entry into the main exhibits is free although for special or visiting exhibits you do need to pay for entry.

Buckingham Palace

The Palace is the official headquarters and residence of the British Royal Family. If you are a fan of royalty then make sure you add this to your 7 day London itinerary, even though it does get really busy with tourists. One of the most amazing things to witness is the changing of the guards. It is a daily ceremony where the old guards welcome the new guards to take over the duty of guarding the Palace and St James Park. You really do need to get in early for a good view and it is best to check the Palace website for up to date information on times.

Buckingham Palace is only a 15 minute walk from Trafalgar Square. 

St James Park

Located just next to Buckingham Palace St James Park is a lovely place to take a stroll. It also has a wonderful view of Westminster Abbey and the London Eye when you stand on the Blue Bridge and look west.

The park is located right next to Buckingham Palace. 

Speaking of parks, the most famous park in London to visit is of course Hyde Park. It is a wonderful place to sit and feed the ducks, go for a stroll or rollerblade, or even take a boat ride on one of the lakes.

The Park is huge but one of our highlights include Speakers Corner. This is a place where speakers get on soap boxes to try and convince the masses of particular points of view. There is no set schedule to whom you may find here but if you like your debates then this is the place for you. Famous speakers have included Karl Marx and George Orwell.

The park also includes the famous pedal boats you can hire on the Serpentine, which makes for a really beautiful summers day out. There is also the Diana Memorial which is a must for any Royal fans. Bring your walking shoes if you do want to do a proper explore of Hyde Park as it is massive. 

Considering Hyde Park is huge there are a number of Tube Stops that you will lead you here. The main stations around the park though are:

• Lancaster Gate 
• Marble Arch 
• Hyde Park Corner
• Knightsbridge 
• Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is the place to go for all your natural history needs. With exhibits ranging from dinosaur bones to collections relating to botany and zoology. The best thing is this museum is free, although be prepared to wait in line especially during peak season in the summer (usually around the August summer holidays). Even if you aren’t into museums it is a great place to visit to marvel at the architecture. Construction was finished on the museum in 1880 and it really is an architectural dream.

The best station for the Natural History Museum is South Kensington. 

St Pauls Cathedral

The cathedral is one of the most famous sights in London and has been the location for a number of Royal weddings and funerals, much like Westminster Abbey. The interior is worth a look, and if you are brave enough you can actually climb to the viewing platform for some incredible sights over London.

The aptly named St Pauls station on the Central Line is your best best for getting here. The cathedral is only a 2 minute walk away. 

If you are looking for restaurants and quirky bars then head to Covent Garden. There are so many places to eat, drink and be merry. If you get the chance explore the area and see if you can find the secret Neal’s Yard courtyard. Neal’s Yard is basically a small alley with restaurants and shops and very colourful buildings.

Conveniently the closest Tube Station is Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line. 

Camden Town

Ok so Camden is our absolute favourite part of London. It is sort of an alternative/indie paradise. You can explore the markets and pick up some quirky T-Shirts. There are also some amazing indie music inspired bars where you can sit and have a drink. Our favourite bar has to be the World’s End located just across from the Camden Tube Station.  Overall Camden is a great place to go if you want to buy anything from funky jewellery, to souvenirs, to sunglasses. The atmosphere in Camden is almost an anything goes kind of feel. It’s also a great place for people watching.

You will need to get on the Northern Line and take the tube to Camden Town. 

Churchill Arms

If you are looking for the prettiest pub in London then look no further than the Churchill Arms. Its located a short walk from Notting Hill Gate Tube Station, and it is a great place for a pint or some pub food. The pub is decorated form head to toe in flowers and its even quirkier inside.

Notting Hill Gate or High Street Kensington are your closes Tube Stations with the pub being a short walk from both. 

Tower Bridge

Another of London’s most famous monuments that often gets confused with London Bridge, is Tower Bridge. The bridge was completed in 1894 which makes it nearly 123 years old. You can pay for entry into the Tower Bridge Exhibition, and more information can be found here .

The area around Tower Bridge is also great to explore. There are some lovely bars and coffee shops nearby with wonderful views of the bridge. 7 days in London will involve quite a bit of walking so we recommend popping into Vicinity which is a bar and restaurant with prime views of the Bridge. 

The bridge is about a 5 minute walk from the Tower Hill Tube Station. 

Tower of London

Located next to Tower Bridge is the Tower of London a historic castle founded in 1066. If you are into history this is a fascinating place to visit as you get a full understanding of the history of the castle. This includes its time as a Royal residence and even a prison. Entry for adults is £21.50 but do keep in mind that this is a popular attraction and the queues can be long so you are best booking in advance .

Again this is a short walk from the Tower Hill Tube Station.

Piccadilly Circus

Home to the iconic advertising hoarding that you will see other tourists trying to get a picture of, Piccadilly Circus is one of London’s busiest squares. I should also note that if you are expecting to find a circus acts this is not your place. In this context circus actually refers to the fact that it used to be a roundabout.

Get off at the Piccadilly Circus Tube Station. 

St Dunstan in the East

This is a quaint little garden on the site of a former church that was damaged in 1941. Whilst they decided not the rebuild the church the remains add to the atmosphere in this secluded garden. This is a real hidden gem in London.

Either Tower Hill or Monument will be your closest stations and you will need to take a short walk from both to get here. 

Imperial War Museum 

The Imperial War Museum is another of London’s amazing museums and it is free. Here you can learn all about Britain’s involvement in historical wars. One of the most haunting parts of the museum has to be the section documenting the Holocaust. There were some bits where it was so hard to keep reading, but it is so important to document what happened in the past in the hopes that we can learn from these atrocities. 

You can either get the Tube to Lambeth Road and walk (7 mins) or to Elephant and Castle and walk (10 mins). 

Churchill’s War Rooms

This is another fascinating insight into Britain’s involvement in war. This time documenting Churchill’s involvement in the second world war. The museum is housed in an underground complex where the government operated a command centre during WWII. You do have to pay for entry but it really is worth it.  

Get off at either St James’ Park Underground station or Westminster. 

Leadenhall Market

One of the prettiest places in London has to be Leadenhall Market, a victorian era building with shops, restaurants and bars. It is a great place to explore and take those all important social media photos. 

The closest station is Monument. 

Harrods is one of the world’s most famous department stores. It is ideal if you want to purchase luxury goods and designer clothes. But if your budget doesn’t cater for that it is still worth a visit. We purchased a tin of hot chocolate and left with the satisfaction that we ticked ‘shopping in Harrods’ off our London bucket list. 

Knightsbridge is your closest station. 

• Tate Modern

The Tate is a must for art lovers. Located just across the Thames from St Paul’s Cathedral the building houses works from artists from around the world. This is another attraction that is free to visit, unless you want to go to one of the special exhibitions in which case you will need to pay. 

Blackfriars is the closest station right near the Tate Modern, but a lot of people also walk from London Bridge Station which is about 10 mins away. 

Chelsea is one of the most affluent areas of London and certainly a great place to walk around and explore. In fact there are a lot of really cool things to do in Chelsea . If you get the chance visit some of the back streets with those pastel houses that you see all over Instagram. Do be mindful that people live here though so have a peak and then leave, and don’t trespass on other people’s property. 

Sloane Square is probably your closest Tube Station and it is a bit of a walk to get to Chelsea from here. 

Nunhead Cemetery 

I know adding a cemetery on a list of things to do in London, might sound weird, but Nunhead Cemetery is truly beautiful. It is a really old cemetery that was left to go to ruin before being restored by the council. It’s fascinating looking at the really old graves that have become overgrown with plants and vines, which to me is a symbol of life going on after death. Nunhead is accessible via the overground network, so you will need to get a tube to Victoria and change there. 

You do need to get the overground to Nunhead Station, and the cemetery is a short walk from there. 

Thames cruise

Departing from Westminster Bridge a Thames cruise is a really nice way to see London from the water. Plus its also an awesome opportunity to get up close to some of London’s beautiful bridges.

The cruise departs from different locations but if you are leaving near Westminster Bridge then Westminster Station is the closest. 

So now you have seen our list of things to do in London in 7 days, here is our sample 1 week London itinerary. 

We recommend starting your 7 day London itinerary by getting acquainted with the Westminster and Southbank areas. Start the day at Southbank and check out some of the street performers and the incredible views of the Thames and Houses of Parliament. Be sure to ride the London Eye for some amazing city views. 

Afterwards cross Westminster Bridge and do a Thames cruise, before checking out the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey before finally making your way over to Trafalgar Square. Once you get your selfie with a lion head into the National Gallery. 

For dinner there is a great pub called the Admiralty that serves the most amazing selection of pies that you simply have to try. 

7 days in London is not complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. Afterwards check out St James’ Park before making your way to the Natural History Museum in the afternoon. 

In the evening head to Covent Garden for dinner and do visit Neals Yard which is one of the hidden gems of London. 

Head to St Pauls Cathedral, and if you are both brave and fit enough you can climb to the top and enjoy the views of London. Afterwards cross the Millennium Bridge and make your way to the Tate Modern. 

In the evening/ afternoon head to the Churchill Arms near Notting Hill to rest your weary legs and grab some pints and dinner. 

In the morning explore Leadenhall Market, before making your way over to St Dunstan in the East in the afternoon. Take a trip to Chelsea and explore the neighbourhood and get some photos of those incredible pastel houses. Checkout Piccadilly Circus, and Oxford Street in the evening. 

Start the morning with a visit to the Tower of London. You will probably spend a good few hours here taking you to the afternoon. Afterwards walk towards Tower Bridge to see it up close. Explore the surrounding area and see if you can find the girl with the dolphin statue. Grab some lunch here and some drinks with a view. 

In the late afternoon head to Camden Town to explore before having some dinner and drinks there in the evening. 

In the morning visit the Imperial War Museum. Entry is free and in all honestly you could spend a good day exploring. In the late afternoon get a bus to the Churchill War Rooms. Along the way make sure you take a photo of the classic red phone boxes with Big Ben in the background. 

In the evening head to Harrods to see it all lit up and explore the food hall. If you are feeling flashy grab some dinner here, otherwise grab something cheaper in the area. 

Take a trip out of the city and head to Nunhead Cemetery. It is a great place to walk around and whilst there see if you can spot the framed view of St Paul’s Cathedral. Take the rest of the afternoon to explore Hyde Park. we recommend having dinner and drinks in Shoreditch afterwards. 

If you are looking for some fun experiences to add to your 7 day London itinerary here are some of our favourites.

Rock and Roll London tours

Let’s be honest London is pretty synonymous with some of the greatest musical acts of all time. So a rock and roll style tour of London is something that music lovers should immediately add to their 7 day London itinerary. There are a couple of tours we recommend, like this London Rock and Roll history tour taking you to places such as Jimi Hendrix’s flat and Abbey Road.

Or if you are a straight up Beatles fan then do the Beatles London tour that takes you to all the key Beatles’ locations in the city.

Climb the roof of the O2 Arena

If you fancy yourself a bit of a daredevil this might be the tour for you. It gives you the chance to climb one of the city’s most popular entertainment venues, but also to get a completely different view of the city.

Do a bike tour

A guided bike tour is actually a really fun way to see London, and there are so many different ones to choose from during your 7 days in London.

Jack the Ripper Tour

London’s most famous serial killer has to of course be Jack the Ripper. We highly recommend doing a Jack the Ripper tour, that takes you back to historical London, as you walk in the footsteps of the killer and his victims.

If your week in London happens to be with your significant other than there are a lot of romantic things to do in the city. Here are a few to give you some inspiration.

The London Eye itself is pretty romantic, that is if you think sharing views of the cityscape with your significant other constitutes as romance. But there is actually a champagne package that you can purchase. It might be a little pricey at £55 pp but can you really put a price on love?

Little  Venice

One of the more romantic spots to add to your 7 day London itinerary has to be Little Venice. Here you can do a canal boat ride, or even just sit at a café and soak up the views.

A romantic river cruise

Another romantic option for London is to do a river cruise with dinner . What could be more romantic than sailing up the Thames devouring a three course meal and drinking wine?

Ice skating

In the winter months take your significant other to the pop up ice skating rink outside the Natural History Museum. Not only is the setting beautiful but you can skate hand in hand in the cool London air.

Hyde Park Picnic

One of my favourite romantic things to do in London is to have a picnic in Hyde Park. Why not grab some bread and cheese from one of the local supermarkets, and enjoy them whilst people watching in the park.

Do a tour in a mini cooper

This one is advertised as a bit of a romantic treat. You get a 90 minute tour in a classic Mini Cooper , which is such a British thing to do. Plus you can sip on champagne whilst being driven around the city.

There are also so many restaurants and cocktails bars to plan the perfect date night in places like Camden or Covent Garden. London is literally your romantic oyster.

A lot of the things we have already mentioned in the post are free, but to make it easy for those on a budget here are our suggestions for free things to add to your 1 week London itinerary.

VISIT THE MUSEUMS

If you are travelling from the US or other parts of Europe you might be surprised to discover that some of the top museums in London are actually free. For your information here are some of the free museums can you visit as part of your 1 week London itinerary.

• Imperial War Museum
• National Gallery
• The British Museum
• Science Museum
• National Maritime Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

One of the top things to add to your 1 week London itinerary has to be to see the Changing of the Guard. It’s a lot of pomp and ceremony and it is completely free.

It’s essentially a ceremony when the King’s Guards change shifts. It’s really interesting to see and attracts a lot of visitors.

LEADENHALL MARKET

Leadenhall Market is another free thing to add to your 7 day London itinerary. It’s also popular among Harry Potter fans as you may recognise it from the films.

It’s free to walk around, but obviously if you buy anything or have a drink or coffee, you will need to pay.

VISIT PLATFORM 9 3/4

Speaking of Harry Potter, located near the Harry Potter Shop at King’s Cross Railway Station you will find Platform 9 3/4. Here you can get a photo with a disappearing trolley and make your Harry Potter dreams come true. Lines do get long though so expect to wait.

CHILL IN SOME OF THE PARKS

For a bustling metropolis London is pretty green. There are so many great parks you can add to your 7 day London itinerary for free. Here are some of the best:

• Richmond Park
• Greenwich Park
• St James’ Park

The weather in London isn’t always perfect so here are some rainy day ideas in case it rains during your 7 day London itinerary. We have mentioned museums a lot in this article already, so I’ll keep those out.

THE SKY GARDEN

Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in London the Sky Garden is one of the prettier places to visit in the city. You get panoramic views over London and get to chill out in the indoor garden area. And the best thing is you get complete shelter from the rain! It’s also free you just have to book your space in advance.

THE BARBICAN CONSERVATORY

One of the quirkier things to add to your 7 day London itinerary, has to be the Barbican Conservatory. It’s a garden/ oasis that is completely indoors, which is great for sheltering from the rain. It’s located in the Barbican Estate and it was originally designed to hide the massive fly tower. It started with a few plants and things escalated quickly into the amazing conservatory we see today.

It is free to visit but you must book your space in advance

HAVE AFTERNOON TEA

Afternoon tea is a very English thing to do. And there are so many incredible places to do this in London. One of our favourite spots is  Peggy Porschen . Not only is it incredibly pretty, but you can have tea and cafe whilst sheltering from the rain.

GO TO THE PUB

Another quintessentially British thing to do, is head to the pub. In fact your 1 week London itinerary will not be complete without a pub experience. They obviously provide some excellent shelter from the rain.

There are so many to choose from but our favourite is the Churchill Arms. You will know you are in the right place once you see the baskets of flowers that decorate the pub.

Spring is the best time to visit as all the flowers are in bloom. That being said they also go all out at Christmas as well. The closest station is Notting Hill Gate. The pub is about a 4 minute walk from the station.

If you are travelling to London with the kids you might be wondering what to do. Here are some suggestions for the best things to add to your 1 week London itinerary when travelling with kids.

SEA LIFE LONDON

Right next to the London Eye in Southbank you will find the Sea Life London Aquarium. It’s a popular attraction particularly if you are visiting the city with kids.

It’s a great experience for kids as they can see seahorses, piranhas, sharks and much more.

MADAM TUSSAUDS

Madam Tussauds is another top attraction for your 1 week London itinerary with kids. You can get your photo taken with wax royalty, as well as celebrities and sports stars. Plus there is also the Marvel Universe 4D experience which is a lot of fun.

SEE A MUSICAL

There are a number of kid friendly musicals in London at any given time. And many of these have lunchtime or early afternoon showings so you don’t have to stay up super late to go.

DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES MEMORIAL PLAYGROUND

If you are visiting Hyde Park as part of your 7 day London itinerary then make sure you visit the playground. There is a giant pirate ship for kids to discover, and it is one of the better playgrounds in London.

LONDON DUNGEON

The London Dungeon is probably better suited to older kids. I say this as a 30 something year old who screams every time she visits!

It’s an interactive and fun way to learn all about the gory history of London including Jack the Ripper, and Sweeny Todd. It can be a bit gory and you do have actors jumping out at you which is why it’s not great for really little ones.

IFS CLOUD CABLE CAR

Another fun thing to add to your 1 week London itinerary is the IFS Cloud Cable Car. It goes from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks and glides above the Thames in about 10 minutes.

Tickets cost £5 for a single trip for an adult, and £2.50 for kids.

HOP ON HOP OFF BUS TOUR

Personally this is one of my favourite things to do in London because you can literally just sit there and watch the world go by. It’s a fun activity to do with kids, especially on a nice day when you get a seat on the open top part of the bus. You will get to learn all about the history of London as you pass the sights.

Here are some tips for planning your 7 days in London. 

• Book attractions in advance when you can
• Book restaurants and bars in advance to avoid missing out
• Bring decent walking shoes – because you will want to get out there and explore
• Be prepared for things to be more expensive than other parts of the UK
• Tipping isn’t customary in the UK, but some restaurants will add an additional service charge to your bill. You can request for this to be removed, but if the service was good do leave it. 
• Bring a waterproof jacket/ umbrella. It’s London- it rains!
• If you are not from the UK you should remember to look right when crossing a road. 
• Choose public transport over a taxi. It is way cheaper and you will get where you need to go much faster. 

London is massive and you honestly have so many places to choose from when it comes to eating and drinking. If you are spending 7 days in London we recommend that you explore a different area each evening. Some of our favourites include:

We highly recommend spending a bit of time around Camden as part of your 7 day London itinerary. The World’s End is a must when visiting. It is somewhat an institution in London and attracts an eclectic crowd. It is genuinely one of those places that you feel that everyone is welcome. 

Another favourite, particularly if you love indie music is the Dublin Castle . It is a live music venue/ pub with great music and chilled out vibes. 

Covent Garden/ Chinatown

If you are after something a little more upmarket Covent Garden is a great night out. With a mixture of pubs and cocktail bars you can never go wrong. We really like Eve which is a dimly lit cocktail bar serving some quirky cocktails in a sort of Garden of Eden type setting. Cocktails can be a bit expensive (£17 on average) but they are nice and it is a good place to stop by for a few drinks. You should book before visiting, especially if you are planning to go around 6pm/ 7pm as it gets very busy. 

Another quirky cocktail place is Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration . It is a speakeasy style bar with an around the world theme. Cocktails are grouped into location and there are quite a few to choose from. What we like about this bar is that it is a lot of fun without feeling pretentious. 

Our final recommendation of bars is Opium which is a little out of Covent Garden and situated in Chinatown. It is a 1920’s Shanghai themed bar serving some tasty Dim Sum as well. You definitely should book a table if you want to visit although they do try to fit you in, you just might be waiting for a while. 

If you are a first time visitor to London you might be wondering what traditional foods you should add to your 7 day London itinerary. Here are some of our suggestions.

Fish and Chips

I don’t know what is more quintessentially British then a good serving of fish and chips with mushy peas. If you are going to give them a try the best fish and chips are found at your local ‘chippy’ takeaway and not a restaurant.

English Breakfast

Commonly referred to in the UK as a ‘fry up’, English Breakfasts are very popular and a must try if you are visiting London. It includes things like eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans, fried bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, and black pudding.

A good old London Pub

One of the things London is famous for (and the whole of the UK for that matter) is of course the pub. Pubs in London can be traced back to Roman times, where they started the idea of the Tavern, a place visitors, importers, and soldiers could visit to quench their thirst. Ale was one of the more popular things brewed in the UK, which is another must try when you are in London.

There are so many pubs dotted across London, although one of the prettiest has to be the Churchill Arms in Notting Hill.

Pie and Mash

No 7 day London itinerary is complete without chowing down on some good old English comfort food. And Pie and Mash is certainly one that we recommend. Originating as a working class meal from the Industrial Revolution, a good Pie and Mash usually consist of a steak and ale pie, fluffy mashed potatoes, peas, and then a whole lot of gravy.

If you are wanting to add some food tours to your 7 days in London here are some suggestions.

British food tour

If you are struggling to find the best places to go to indulge in some British food why not do a food tour. There are so many different tours to choose from that all guarantee good food, and good company.

Historical Pub Walking Tour

A 7 day London itinerary is not complete without a visit to the pub. So a pub tour is a great way to experience some of the more historic pubs in the city.

If you have a little bit longer in London or if you are wanting to explore a bit more of the UK as part of your 7 day London itinerary, you could do a day trip. Here are some of the best day trip ideas from London.

Oxford is another good choice for a day trip. You can do an organised tour like this one  that takes you to Oxford and the Cotswolds. Alternatively you can get to Oxford yourself by train in about an hour.

Surry itself might not sound like the most exciting place to visit but it is home to Denbies, a wine estate with wine tours and accommodation. If you are thinking of a day trip here, there are some wonderful walking trails and of course some wine tasting at the end. It takes about 1 hour to get here by train with a 20 minute walk at the end.

One of my favourite day trip options from London has to be Brighton. If you are looking for a beach escape this one is for you. On average it takes about 1.5 hours on the train to get to Brighton. This one is obviously weather dependant so try and plan this for a dry day.

Depending on what time of year you are visiting London you will need to pack accordingly. In the winter months make sure you wrap up warm with a heavy coat, scarf, and gloves.

If you are visiting in summer London can get quite hot so carry a bottle of water around with you (especially on the Tube), and wear sunscreen. Summer evenings can be chilly as well so bring a light jacket.

In general it does tend to rain a fair bit in London so an umbrella is a really good shout when visiting London. Or you could be a super tourist in one of those giant rain ponchos!!! Also make sure you bring a good pair of shoes with you because you will do a lot of walking in London we can guarantee it.

Short answer yes, London is quite an expensive city. Particularly in comparison to the rest of the UK where you might find items are a lot cheaper. In fact we judge how expensive London is in terms of the cost of a pint of beer. It depends where you go in London but a pint can cost you around £5 and up whereas in other parts of the UK you can purchase a pint for £3 or less in some places.

That being said a lot of things in London are free. The museums are completely free, and even seeing a lot of the attractions is free. It doesn’t mean you necessarily have to go in to them. The Tube can be costly and so is food and drink, but it also depends on how much you want to spend.

You might be wondering how much money you need for your 7 days in London. In reality London is a pretty expensive city. To put it into context a mid-range hotel room around the 3 star mark will probably cost you upwards of £100 per night. And these rooms tend to be small, particularly the closer you get to central London. If you stay a little bit further out you can save a bit of money but anything that you do save in hotel prices will probably end up being spent on transport trying to get back into Central London.

The good news though is that in terms of other essentials like transport, with an Oyster Card the Tube is capped at £7.70 per day as long as you stick to Zones 1 & 2. In fairness most of the tourist attractions are within this area anyway.

Tourist attractions can also be a little pricey depending on what you want to do. For example, a ticket on the London eye will set you back around £36. Obviously, it all starts to add up.

We would recommend budgeting around £100 – £150 per person per day not including your accommodation. You can spend less if you avoid actually entering the tourist attractions. For example, the London Eye is still pretty cool to see even if you don’t go on it. And you can further bring costs down by eating at cafes and local pubs as opposed to restaurants. Also as mentioned above do keep in mind there are tons of free things to do in London as well like museums and public gardens to help you save your pennies.

Speaking of money matters, London as well as the rest of the UK use Pound Sterling (GBP). We recommend carrying some cash on you for things like tipping, or emergencies, but you can get away with just using your credit card here too as most places will accept these.

If you do take out cash you will find that ATMs dispense notes such as £20 & £10. Although some may dispense £5 notes too.

 A £50 note is rarely used in the UK, and if you do find yourself with one, you might discover that a lot of places won’t accept this. And if they do, they may examine the note, to make sure that it is real and not counterfeit. Don’t take offense to this, this is pretty standard.

Coins are made up of Pence – and come in 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p & 1p. You will also come across £1 and £2 coins too. The £1 coins come in handy particularly for tipping, or paying for public bathrooms (as do the 20p).

7 days in London is a really good amount of time to get to grips with the city, explore the vast majority of the tourist attractions, and basically have a really good holiday. London is such a fascinating city, and there is basically an endless number of things to do. We have visited so many times now, and find something new and exciting to do each time we go. It might be expensive and overwhelming at times, but London is one of the greatest cities in the world, and we absolutely recommend visiting.

If you are still wondering if London is worth visiting here is a useful guide.

Or trying to decide between London and Dublin – here is a helpful guide.

Hopefully this guide will help you plan your own trip to the British capital and has answered your questions about what to do in London in 7 days. It really is an incredible city with so much to see and do. and if you plan ahead you will be able to cover a lot of ground in a week.  Don’t forget to Pin this 7 day London itinerary for later. 

And if you are trying to decide between London or Amsterdam or London or Manchester here are some handy guides.

Wanderlust and Life is a blog for those that love to travel.

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I’ve been visiting London regularly for the last 6 years and there are still lots of places I’ve never been to. My favourite spots from your list are Camden (there’s such a great vibe there) and the Natural History Museum, mainly for the stunning architecture. The first time I went I barely noticed any exhibits, I was so blown away by the building itself!

I so agree. The Natural History Museum is just an incredible building! And Camden is probably one of our favourite places in London too.

this is the place to be http://www.tripindicator.com/view/attractions/london.html There is a large number of fascinating sights in this huge, lively city. Above all else, you’ll need to look at Buckingham Palace, regardless of the possibility that just to take a gander at it from outside, and on the off chance that you time it right you can see the Changing of the Guard. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey are in a split second conspicuous notable images of London. There are the vivacious markets, for example, the outstanding one at Camden where numerous a deal can be found, and brilliant road entertainers in Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. Investigate the city’s terrible past at the London Dungeon, and see tremendous dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum. For astonishing perspectives, move to the highest point of St Paul’s celebrated Dome or take a ride on the London Eye. For a fun day out with the children, go to the edges for a visit to Chessington World of Adventures or LegoLand in Windsor, which offer an assortment of rides.

You definitely listed up all the main things to discover in London! It’s been so many years since I was there, and your post makes me wanna go again 🙂

Aww thanks! There is so much to do and it always feels like so little time.

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One Week in London: Perfect 7-Day Itinerary (1st time visit)

7 days in london: the best one week itinerary + where to stay.

You’re planning to spend one week in London and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you this 7 days itinerary in London.

During your trip, you will discover all must-see attractions of the city as well as (if you wish to!) amazing places to visit nearby such as Oxford, Cambridge, Windsor, Stonehenge, Brighton or Stratford Upon Avon.

In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, how to spend 1 week in London? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

1. The London Pass

7 days in london: must-see attractions:, one last tip for a perfect 7-day stay in london, b. westminster abbey, c. buckingham palace and the changing of the royal guard, d. trafalgar square & national gallery museum, e. london eye, f. tate britain and/or tate modern museum, a. st. paul’s cathedral, b. the city, c. the tower of london, d. tower bridge, e. the shard, a. notting hill and portobello market, b. the natural history museum, c. hyde park, d. shopping on oxford street, f. piccadilly circus, g. covent garden, a. hampstead village, b. camden town, c. regent’s park, d. abbey road (optional), e. madame tussauds or the british museum, day 5: greenwich, day 6 – visit to harry potter studios, option 1: day trips around london, option 2: visit the city of london for one more day, where to stay in london, london in one week with your family, map of your 7-day itinerary in london, find the best flight prices for your 7 days in london, you’re traveling to england these articles will help you, how to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time) at london’s tourist attractions.

You know it, London is certainly one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

The British capital , like all other European capitals and big cities ( Rome , Madrid , Barcelona , Paris…), attracts millions of visitors every year. And all these travellers will want to do just like you: discover London’s must-see attractions such as the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey.

So you might have to wait for hours at the ticket office to enter these places.

But don’t worry: I have 2 solutions that will allow you to save a lot of time (and money!) during your one week trip to London.

Your first option is to buy the London Pass for your 7-day itinerary in London.

It gives you priority access to all attractions of London!

Very convenient , the London Pass is in fact an electronic pass to download on your smartphone. Instead of having to queue at the ticket office, you will just need to scan your London Pass at the entrance of each site.

It’s valid for between 1 and 10 days (depending on what you choose when booking).

And that’s not all, the London Pass is also a great way to save money . Let me explain:

The London Pass will grant you tourist credit. They are deducted each time you visit a tourist site in London.

For example the 7-day London Pass comes with 740 credits , which corresponds to 740€ in entrance fees, yet it costs only 167€ to buy!

It’s thus easy to understand why all savvy travelers opt for this solution.

The London Pass is without doubt the most complete city pass to visit London in 7 days!

The London Pass includes:

• Access to more than 80 of the best sites and museums in London. That’s most of the attractions I will talk about in this one-week London itinerary: Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Tower Bridge…
• A hop-on hop-off bus ticket. For those who don’t want to walk too much, or simply to enjoy a guided tour in a double-decker bus!
• Discounts at some souvenir shops
• A guide of London, including opening times and information for each site.

To buy your London City Pass, you just need to click on the button below:

As an alternative, there’s also the London Go City Explorer Pass which works a bit differently.

You will need to purchase a pass based on the number of attractions you want to see. So you can buy a pass for 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions.

You can book it by clicking here!

2. Skip-the-line tickets for London’s tourist attractions

If you don’t want to get the London Pass, your 2nd option to visit London in one week is to buy priority tickets for each attraction individually.

There are skip-the-line tickets for all major historical monuments, and you can also book fun and original activities or guided visits to enjoy a memorable one week stay in London.

Here is the list of all skip-the-line tickets and excursions I will be talking about in this 7-day itinerary in London.

To view the prices and to book, simply click on the links below (you’ll also find them throughout the article):

• Westminster Abbey
• Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
• Tower Bridge
• Tower of London
• Boat tour on the Thames
• See a musical
• Madame Tussauds Museum
• Saint Paul’s Cathedral
• Harry Potter-themed guided tour – I love this guided tour!
• Double-decker hop-on/hop-off bus tour

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!) , you should really book your accommodation.

As London is one of the most touristic cities in the world , the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in London by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at  traveler’s favorite hotels in London.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in London , simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

A week in London: the best itinerary

Let’s now start your 7-day itinerary in London!

For each day, I will give you all the details you need to plan your visits + a map that will allow you to visualize the itinerary a bit better.

I’m assuming you will be staying in London for 7 full days and that you will be using the London Pass or have purchased Skip-the-Line tickets . It’s the best way to save time and money during your one week stay!

If you still have questions after reading this guide (or need help organizing your holiday), don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section located at the very end of this article.

I will be glad to help you plan your trip 😄.

So, what are the best things to do in London in 7 days?

Day 1 – The historic centre

Day 1 visits:

A. Big Ben B. Westminster Abbey C. Buckingham Palace D. Trafalgar Square E. London Eye F. Tate Britain and/or Tate Modern

You should start your week-long stay in London by first greeting the city’s icon: the legendary Big Ben.

The famous neo-Gothic style tower topped by a 7-metre diameter clock is of course a must-see for the first-time visitor to the capital.

The Clock Tower (Big Ben’s real name, as “Big Ben” is actually the name of the bell located inside the tower) is located in the heart of historic London, on the banks of the River Thames.

It’s part of the Houses of Parliament , also called the Palace of Westminster , which you can admire at the same time.

Just next to Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, you should visit another historical landmark of London: Westminster Abbey .

This is the place where many kings and queens have been crowned , including Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

The London Pass includes a priority entrance to Westminster Abbey, however if you don’t have it, you should really purchase a skip-the-line ticket in advance.

There is often a 2-hour waiting line at the entrance , and you don’t want to waste your time to start your 7-day itinerary in London right? 😅

You need to book your skip the line ticket by clicking on the button below:

And if you want to learn more about the history of the abbey, you should opt for the 2-hour guided tour (click here) . It also acts as a priority entrance.

To avoid the crowds, you should ideally be at Westminster Abbey when it opens (9.30 am during the week, 9.00 am on Saturday, closed on Sunday).

Visiting London in 7 days of course includes seeing Buckingham Palace , King Charles III’s main residence.

The palace is just a few minutes’ walk from Big Ben and if you get there at the end of the morning , you will be able to witness the Changing of the Royal Guard.

This solemn ceremony attracts crowds all-year-round and takes place every two days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) at 11.00 a.m.

The Royal Guards switch teams in a carefully orchestrated parade to the sound of the marching band.

To get a good spot, you should arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony begins . Otherwise you risk being relegated to the back and not seeing anything.

In rainy weather (Ok, that might happen in London, but the weather can also be nice, I swear 😁), the Changing of the Guard may be cancelled. You can check this online calendar for the latest schedule.

You can only visit the interior of Buckingham Palace during 2 months of the year, generally in August and September. As the places are very limited, you will need to book as early as possible.

You have a choice between 3 different tickets (click on the orange links for more info and to book):

• Ticket for the State Rooms , so you can see the reception chambers
• Entrance to the Queen’s Gallery featuring a large collection of works of art
• Entrance to the Royal Mews (stables) , where the Royal Family’s carriages are kept.

Your one-week itinerary in London continues with a visit to the National Gallery , one of the city’s best museums.

But before you do that, first head towards Trafalgar Square (a 15 minute walk from Buckingham Palace via St James’ Park).

Trafalgar Square, one of the most popular squares in the capital, is characterised by its 4 large black lion statues that surround the fountain in the centre.

The National Gallery overlooks Trafalgar Square, and I strongly recommend you to visit this beautiful museum, especially since entry is free of charge (and it’s the same for all British national museums!).

This art museum was founded in 1824 and exhibits an impressive collection of well-known works including the Sunflowers by Van Gogh and other paintings by Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci .

Allow 1 to 2 hours for your visit.

Opening hours are available on the official website.

It’s now time for an activity both kids and adults alike will love: a ride on the London Eye Ferris wheel!

This huge Ferris wheel (130m tall, the biggest is Europe!) rotates very slowly and a complete turn lasts about 30 minutes. It’s the perfect way to admire the city from above !

So after visiting the museum , return to the historic centre (which will take you 10-15 minutes on foot or by bus ) and head to the London Eye , located on the banks of the Thames, opposite Big Ben.

Note that if you want to go on the Ferris wheel, you absolutely need to book your seat in advance .

Your ticket for the London Eye needs to be booked here:

And if you want to do several activities, a great way to save money is to opt for the combined ticket : London Eye + Thames Cruise + Hop-on Hop-off Bus.

Once you’re down from the sky and back down to earth, finish the day with a visit to 1 or 2 unmissable museums in London: the Tate Britain and/or the Tate Modern museums.

They are both located by the Thames , one on the north bank and the other on the south bank.

The Tate Britain is dedicated to classical British art . You can see works by Hogarth, Blake and Turner, for example.

The Tate Modern museum , on the other hand, is focusing on contemporary art.

The two museums are connected by a river shuttle that allows you to visit them one after the other. It runs every 40 minutes.

Of course, as they are national museums, both museums are free. They are open every day from 10.00am to 6.00pm.

If you want to enjoy a beautiful view of London at night , you can switch the Tate museums with the London Eye and do the Ferris wheel at the end of the day.

For this, after the National Gallery:

• Head to the Thames and “ Embankment Pier”
• Take the river shuttle to Millbank Pier , where the Tate Britain entrance is located.
• For the Tate Modern , stop at Bankside Pier.

Day 2 – Best things to do in London

Day 2 visits:

A. St. Paul’s Cathedral B. The City C. The Tower of London D. Tower Bridge E. The Shard

For the 2nd day of your one week trip in London, you will discover the City district.

Let’s start with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral , dating back to the 17th century.

Admire its baroque architecture from the outside and enter to see:

• The beautiful nave
• The Whispering Gallery and its amazing acoustics
• The Stone Gallery
• The Golden Gallery
• A superb panoramic view from the dome (85 metres high).

If you purchased the London Pass , entry to St. Paul’s Cathedral is included.

Otherwise, you need to purchase your skip the line tickets by clicking the green button below:

After visiting the cathedral, you will stay a bit more in the City of London, the British capital’s business district and geographical centre.

So take a bit of time to stroll through the streets of the neighbourhood, admire the buildings and soak up the atmosphere.

Don’t miss out on the famous ‘Gherkin’ skyscraper , the most iconic building of the City.

While in this district, you should also visit the Sky Garden , the highest public garden in London. It offers a breathtaking view over the city.

To enter the Sky Garden, you will need (free) tickets. You need to book them in advance here.

In the City district, there are not only skyscrapers and businessmen, but also historical monuments such as the famous Tower of London.

The fortress siting on the banks of the Thames (not far from Tower Bridge, your next stop) is just a 15-minute walk from The Gherkin .

The Tower of London dates back to 1066 and has served throughout history as a royal residence, a prison and also a place of torture and execution.

Inside, you can discover the torture chambers , but also visit the very beautiful outdoor gardens and, the highlight of the show, admire the Crown Jewels.

Kids really love this visit , as the guided tour done by guides in period costumes is particularly awesome!

The guided tour is included in the price of the admission ticket. They leave every 30 minutes from the main entrance.

The London Pass includes entry to the tower, but you can also buy your tickets separately by clicking here:

Let’s now head to the famous Tower Bridge , located right next to the Tower of London.

This magnificent Gothic bascule bridge with sky blue ironwork is another iconic monument of London.

You probably have already seen pictures of it!

It connects the north and south banks of the Thames , and sometimes opens up to let the big boats pass. At the time of its construction, in the 19th century, it was actually the most sophisticated bascule bridge in the world.

You can simply admire Tower Bridge from the river bank , and then cross it on foot.

You can also visit the old engine room located inside one of the towers. On the upper decks, you can walk on a transparent glass footbridge just above the Thames. It’s very impressive!

Entry to Tower Bridge is included in the London Pass.

If you only want to buy a skip-the-line ticket for this attraction, you need to click the button below:

At the end of the day, you can head to The Shard, just a 10-minute walk from Tower Bridge.

This huge building is the newest skyscraper in London and also the highest observation platform in Western Europe . Climb and enjoy a 360° view over the whole city at sunset.

You need to book your tickets for The Shard by clicking on the button below:

Day 3 – Landmarks to visit in London

Day 3 visits:

A. Notting Hill B. The Natural History Museum C. Hyde Park D. Oxford Street E. Soho F. Piccadilly Circus G. Covent Garden

Let’s start your 3rd day in London by visiting Notting Hill, a chic neighbourhood  located west of the city.

Made famous by the movie ‘Notting Hill’ starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, it’s considered as one of the most beautiful districts of London.

With its large pastel-coloured mansions , antique shops and flower-filled cobbled streets , the least I can say is that Notting Hill is truly charming!

In the morning, the area hosts the very popular market of Portobello Road . There you can take a stroll, do a bit of shopping and enjoy the street food stalls.

To make the most of your visit to Notting Hill, you should really book this guided tour:

If you’re travelling for a week in London during the last weekend of August, you will be able to attend Notting Hill Carnival , a festive parade of over 5 km to the sounds of Caribbean music.

When you’re done exploring Notting Hill, let’s now head to the Natural History Museum of London.

To get there, it takes about 20 minutes by bus .

The museum, housed in a very beautiful Gothic building, is literally huge!

Zoology, botany, volcanology, archaeology, dinosaurs, anthropology, mineralogy … the National History Museum boasts numerous rich and varied galleries. There are also lots of fun activities to do with children.

Attracting 5 million visitors annually, it’s actually the most visited natural history museum in Europe.

To be honest, you would need to spend a whole day there to see everything , however, you should try to focus on what interests you the most and spend about 2h there, to have time for the next visits.

After your visit to the museum, let’s enjoy a bit of fresh air in central London’s largest public park: Hyde Park.

It’s for sure one of the most beautiful city parks in the world, and many London residents come here to do a bit of sport , stroll or picnic on summer weekends.

At the end of the year , you can enjoy huge Christmas market in Hyde Park, as well as the Winter Wonderland amusement park and the largest ice rink in the United Kingdom.

If your week-long stay in London takes place in summer , then you will have the opportunity to attend the concerts and festivals held there every summer.

Let’s now leave Hyde Park via the north east exit (Marble Arch) to reach Oxford Street.

You will find more than 600 shops on this 2.5km shopping avenue, including major British brands such as Marks & Spencer, TopShop, Mush, Primark, Urban Outfitters etc.

So you can do a bit of shopping or window shopping while heading to Soho, the next stop of your itinerary.

At the end of Oxford Street, you will arrive directly in the Soho neighbourhood.

Soho is the smallest district in London but also the most lively and festive . With its numerous theatres, comedy clubs, restaurants, pubs, cinemas and nightclubs , it attracts Londoners and tourists alike who come to party every night of the week.

If you’re looking for a unique activity during your 7-day itinerary in London, you can attend a musical in one of Soho’s theatres!

You can for example see “Les Misérables” at the Sondheim Theatre ( you buy your tickets in advance here )

The equally famous “Phantom of the Opera” is also staged regularly. Tickets can  be purchased in advance right there.

If you’re looking for an original experience in Soho, you really should opt for a Harry Potter-themed guided tour .

Departing from Soho, your guide takes you to the cult locations from the films including Diagon Alley, Gringotts, platform 9 3/4, Knockturn Alley and much more besides. It’s a really good tour and the guide is amazing!

To book your Harry Potter guided tour , simply click on the button below:

Stroll through Soho and follow the crowd to get to Piccadilly Circus, the famous square featuring giant advertising screens. This is also a great area for party-goers.

From Piccadilly Circus, you can walk for a bout 10 minutes to reach Covent Garden.

The former markets of London, famous for its beautiful glass roof , is now a very touristy area with shops, restaurants, art galleries and street performers.

There, you will also find the London Transport Museum , that you can visit if you have time.

To end your evening, head to a good local restaurant before going back to your hotel for a good night’s sleep

Day 4: exploring other districts of London

Day 4 visits:

A. Hampstead Village B. Camden Town C. Regent’s Park D. Abbey Road (optional) E. Madame Tussauds or British Museum

Your 1 week itinerary in London continues, it’s now time to discover the north of the city.

You should start your morning in Hampstead Village, a peaceful district in the heights of the city, just a 20-minute metro ride from central London.

You will see, it really feels like being in a small countryside town rather than in the busy British capital!

You will for sure love walking among the flower-filled gardens and the beautiful Victorian houses. You can also stop in one of the numerous cafés for breakfast or a brunch.

You simply can’t spend 7 days in London without visiting Camden Town.

Probably the trendiest district of the city, Camden Town is famous for its alternative culture.

While walking there, you will encounter Punks, goths, alter-globalists… as well as numerous offbeat boutiques, piercing/tattoo parlours and second-hand shops. All in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere!

The local flea market, Camden Lock Market , is open every day from 10.00 am to 6.00pm.

You can browse through vintage treasures, unusual gadgets, and unique pieces of clothing, taste street food from around the globe , or simply take a walk along Regent’s Canal while listening to the live music.

From Camden Town, head south and walk for about 10 minutes to reach Regent’s Park, another famous public park in London

Filled with flowers, this pretty park covers 166 hectares.

In Regent’s Park, you can see and find:

• The lake, where you can go boating or hire a pedalo
• Restaurants and cafés
• Several playgrounds , if you’re traveling with kids
• Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens (interesting to visit, especially in spring/summer!).

The 4th stage of the day is a must-see for Beatles fans and an optional little detour for everyone else.

Abbey Road and its legendary zebra crossing are located less than 2 km from Regent’s Park. It’s here, in Abbey Road studios, that the iconic English band recorded their album of the same name.

The famous picture illustrating the album was taken on this zebra crossing. So you can take a few minutes to reproduce a similar picture. Just be careful of the traffic!

Near the studios, you can also find a souvenir shop dedicated to the Beatles.

To end the day, you can visit one of the following 2 places:

• Madame Tussauds: The legendary waxworks museum in London.

Located about a 20-minute bus ride from Abbey Road , it’s one of the most visited museums in the city. There, you can take pictures with celebrities (or rather their wax lookalikes!)

This fun visit lasts between 2 to 3 hours. You need book your tickets in advance by clicking on the button below:

• The British Museum: if you prefer culture and history (and free tickets!), then I recommend visiting the British Museum to end your 4th day in London.

From Regent’s Park, you can get there in 20 minutes by metro . Housed in a magnificent building, this museum of anthropology has numerous archaeological remains, including several mummies and the famous Rosetta Stone.

The museum’s collection is one of the richest in the world with more than 7 million objects on display!

Let’s slow down the pace a little bit for this 5th day.

I would suggest you to spend the day in the neighbourhood of Greenwich. You can easily get there by boat (departure from the historic centre of London).

Here are the best things to do and see in Greenwich:

• The remarkable Victorian and Georgian architecture
• Large wooded parks
• A beautiful walk along the river
• The famous Greenwich Meridian (you need to buy tickets here) at the Royal Observatory
• The splendid view of London from the Observatory
• The Cutty Sark (tickets here!), a huge sailing boat built in 1869 and converted into a museum
• Greenwich Market
• The National Maritime Museum: one of the largest maritime museums in the world.

If you have the chance to spend one week in London , you will have time to visit the city’s surroundings.

And the Warner Bros. Harry Potter studios is the perfect day trip for fans of the Harry Potter saga!

The Warner Bros. studios, where the 8 Harry Potter movies were shot, are just a few kilometres outside London.

There, you will get immersed in the world of the famous wizard: try your hand at flying on a broom , taste the famous butterbeer and take a stroll along Diagon Alley!

Discover the film sets, the props, the costumes and learn all the secrets and anecdotes about the films. Personally, I loved it!

The tour must be booked in advance by clicking on the green button below.

And you know the best? The bus transfers from London are included 😎.

Day 7: Last day in or around London

For your 7th and final day in London , I have prepared a few options, depending if you prefer to visit the city of London a bit more or would rather explore the surroundings of the city

• Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon , the home town of Shakespeare, is a very charming rural town just a one-hour drive from London.

There, you can take stroll around the town and see traditional English cottages and houses , including the house where Shakespeare was born and lived.

The cool thing is that you can visit Stratford with an organized day trip that also goes to Oxford!

You need to book your guided tour here:

• Visit to Windsor Castle

Windsor is another charming little town in the London suburbs, only 45 minutes by train from Paddington Station.

The main attraction in town is for sure a visit to Windsor castle , the royal family’s second home .

Admission tickets to the castle must be booked in advance by clicking here.

The hassle free way of discovering Windsor is to opt for an organised day trip from London.

The best one includes not only Windsor, but also Oxford and Stonehenge! For more information and to book your day trip, simply click on the button below:

Cambridge is one of the most beautiful cities to visit around London, and it’s only a 45-minute train ride from King’s Cross Station.

There, you will be able to visit Cambridge’s world-famous university and its Gothic buildings, including the magnificent King’s College chapel.

To discover the city, you should opt for a guided tour:

• Guided walking tour of the city + river boat tour
• Guided tour of the university with entrance to King’s College
• Hop-on hop-off bus tour

Oxford is the other famous British university city , and it’s located an hour’s train ride from London .

Slightly bigger than Cambridge , its architecture is just as remarkable!

You might not know it, but Oxford University and the whole historic city actually inspired Hogwarts , the school of the Harry Potter saga.

As I mentioned earlier, the day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon also goes to Oxford . You need to book it by clicking here.

If you are going there by yourself, here are a few great tours to discover Oxford like a local:

• Walking tour of the university and the city with a student from Oxford
• Private guided tour of the city and university
• Harry Potter filming location Oxford tour
• Hop-on hop-off bus tour.

If you fancy fresh air and sea water, then head to Brighton for this final day of your 1-week stay in London.

This pretty coastal town is less than an hour’s train ride from London and attracts many Londoners every weekend.

In Brighton, you can:

• Take a walk on the beautiful pebble beach
• Eat in one of the seafront restaurants
• Wander in the old town cobbled streets.

In the modern part of the city , you can also go to the top of the British Airways tower (138 metres). From up there, you will be able to contemplate the view over the entire coast.

Tickets for the British Airways tower needs to be purchased here.

• Discover Chelsea district

You can take advantage of your 7th day in London to visit Chelsea district.

Chelsea is a wealthy and very upmarket neighbourhood , with many luxury shops and designer boutiques located mainly around King’s Road .

During your visit, you should also go to the Duke of York Square , see the Saatchi Gallery contemporary art museum and enjoy Chelsea’s chic bars and restaurants.

And for those who prefer simplicity, Chelsea is also famous for its stylish and colourful houses located in quiet alleys. If that’s what you’re looking for, head to Burnsall Street, Godfrey Street and Bywater Street.

This last street also regularly attracts cinema and photo shoots.

After spending your morning in Chelsea, enjoy the afternoon discovering the city from another angle by taking a boat tour on the Thames .

Several companies (City Cruises, Crown River Cruise, Thames Clippers and Thames River Services) offer 20-minute to 3-hour river tours. The piers are located:

• Near Big Ben
• Next to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge
• Close to the London Eye.

There are also hop-on hop-off boat tours where you can get on and off the boat at your leisure to visit the main tourist attractions.

You need to book your ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off cruise here:

And now you know how to visit London in 7 days!

Do you know your travel dates? One piece of advice: book your accommodation night now!

There is just one more thing to do: booking your hotel. Where will you stay during these 7 or 8 days?

In order to help you out, I have selected the best hotels in London depending on your budget.

Remember that t he further in advance you book , the better your chance of finding affordable accommodation. The best deals don’t last long, especially in London!

So if you know your travel dates, you should really book your hotel night now!

• The Chamberlain: Close to the Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and the banks of the Thames. This British-style hotel offers cosy, comfortable double rooms from 120€ per night, breakfast 12€. Strong points: a smartphone is made available, excellent locations, the welcoming staff and the comfortable bed linen. It’s my favourite for its excellent value for money!
• Hotel Indigo London – Kensington: This hotel is in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and very close to a tube station. Well-equipped, quiet and warm double room from 200€, breakfast from 19€. Strong points: the quiet area, cosy ambience cosy, the smiling and efficient staff.
• Haymarket Hotel, Firmdale Hotels: 5* hotel close to London’s “theatreland”, minutes on foot from St James Park and 15 minutes from Buckingham Palace. Really comfortable, spacious and quiet double room from 390€ per night, breakfast 20€. Strong points: perfect location, charming staff and excellent bed linen. The best choice for a romantic stay in London!
• The Soho Hotel, Firmdale Hotels: A luxury hotel right in the heart of London, 5 minutes from Oxford Street and Soho, and just 10 minutes from Piccadilly Circus. Really spacious designer and magnificently decorated double room from 500€ per night, breakfast 29€. Strong points: the perfect geographical location, magnificent bedrooms, the sumptuous breakfast. The best hotel in London for a luxury stay!

If you’d prefer a London hotel that isn’t too expensive, you should check out the “Z Hotel” chain. You can find them in lots of different areas of London, and prices start of 60€ per night. They’re the best bet for budget accommodation in London.

• The Z Hotel Shoreditch
• The Z Hotel Gloucester Place
• The Z Hotel City
• The Z Hotel Victoria
• The Z Hotel Piccadilly
• The Z Hotel Soho

You’re planning a one-week family stay in London ? Wondering if the visits will suit children?

Remember, London is a city that lends itself to all ages. There are so many things to do abd see that you are sure to find tours and activities that everyone will enjoy.

Here are a few ideas to make the most of your trip to London with kids:

• The National History Museum 
• Greenwich Maritime Museum
• Most of the museums in London offer short and fun tours for children (such as the National Gallery).
• Madame Tussauds museum promises a fun time for the family.
• The Tower of London is one of the favourite tours among kids and adults alike.
• The Changing of the Guard in front of Buckingham Palace
• A must for a family holiday:  1 day at the amazing Harry Potter Studios!
• Book a family musical evening at one of Soho’s theatres.
• A boat tour on the Thames is also a great thing to do with your family
• Your children will for sure love a trip on the red double-decker buses, preferably upstairs and all in front! Book your multi-stop double-decker bus tour by clicking here.

There are also several amusement parks: the Shrek Adventure Tour at Dreamworks , Legoland or even Kidzania.

To help you visualise your itineraries during your 7 days in London, I have created a map listing all the places to visit each day. You can display the map legend by clicking the button on the top left with a small arrow.

You will then be able to view the itineraries for each day.

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to London, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

If you need help organising your one-week trip to London, feel free to ask me your questions via the comments section below.

Discover all my articles about London : All my articles to help you plan your trip to England are listed there.

• London: Top 20 best things to do
• 2 days in London – The perfect itinerary for 48h!
• 3 Days in London – The best 72h itinerary
• 4 Days in London – The defitinive guide to plan your trip
• 5 Days in London – How to plan your itinerary + My best tips!
• One week in London – The perfect 7-day itinerary
• Where to stay in London? My guide of the best places to stay for all budgets

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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The perfect 7 day london itinerary for families.

Introducing guest blogger Annisa from London Travellers

How can London be so small yet be a big part of everyone’s lives? How can London be so small yet, have more than 30 million visitors each year? Good things do come in small packages. London has everything wrapped in a tiny box for people to open.

This 7 days in London itinerary post will include many hidden gems of London and a day trip. When you travel, you need to find the best luggage storage in London , so that your belongings are safe and you can enjoy your trip.

Note: This is only a guide so, don’t take it religiously – play around with your days and plan an itinerary to suit your ages and interests. You will never fit it all in, and, of course, with younger children in London , you will want to build in plenty of rest stops too.

There are also plenty of free attractions in London if you want to save on your trip. All the attractions mentioned here will be kid-friendly, and even adults will want to join in the fun.

This post is part of our Explore My City series – come and visit cities around the world through the eyes of locals

What can i do in london in 7 days.

Ideally, 4 days is enough time to visit the top 10 attractions and the famous landmarks of London. However, if you have 7 days to spare, then you can easily cover the hidden gems, get out of Central London and go on a day trip.

It’s recommended to buy the London Explorer Pass for the London Eye, London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and Shrek the Experience in the Southbank area.

Note: Not all attractions cover the London Pass and not all cover the London Explorer Pass. The London Pass cover 80+ attraction and the London Explorer Pass cover 20+ attractions. Check to see which attractions you want to visit with both passes. They are two different types. Don’t get it confused.

How to best tackle London as a tourist

When visiting London, choose a place to start your day and cover all the attractions in that area, then move on to other places. There are so many things to do in every area of London, you probably won’t have time to visit all the nooks and crannies.

London’s social and economic climate change every day, so make sure to check updates on the news or online. The BBC Travel website is the most accurate and reliable source to read.

You can learn more about the best areas to stay in London here.

7 Days in London: Day 1 of 7

Highlights Day 1 in London

Westminster Abbey

• Thames River Cruise
• Tate Gallery
• Millennium Bridge
• Shakespeare’s Globe

Details Day 1 in London

Start your day getting to Westminster tube station . If you’re staying near Southbank, you can easily walk. The first two attractions you’ll notice are Westminster Abbey and Big Ben . Children will enjoy learning about British history. Learn about 13 th – 19 th  Century kings and queens, poets, scientists and many more.

With more than 1 million visitors each year, Westminster Abbey is not only a place of worship but a place for burials and memorials for British famous people who have made an impact on society; from Jane Austen’s memorial plaque to William Shakespeare’s statue. Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens were buried here along with 14 th – 16 th Century British monarchs, except Henry VIII.

You will be given headphones with an interactive iPad in more than 5 languages. You will be guided by a number from the iPad. Each item in the Abbey are numbered, and on the iPad, press the number associated with the item and you will hear descriptions of the item and who was buried there. Spend 1 hour here.

Big Ben and the houses of Parliament

As for Big Ben , tours are suspended until 2021 for major refurbishments.

UK Parliament is a fantastic place for a family day out. There are two types of tours. The family tours are suitable for families with young kids and guided tours are suitable for families with teenagers.

When you book your tour, add an afternoon tea with a kids’ menu and a river view. The tour includes exploring the Commons Chamber, the Lord’s Chamber and the history of Guy Fawkes, a Catholic activist who failed to assassinate the Protestant King James and blow up the Parliament with gun powder.

Tours take from 40 minutes up to 2 hours long depending on what you want to see and do.

Cross the Westminster Bridge, head over to the River Thames. You will see street performers and several rickshaws waiting to take you around London. The rickshaws aren’t worth it, they’ll take you around London with limited amount of time and it’s quite expensive.

Instead, join a River boat cruise and see famous landmarks by the River Thames or the Hop on Hop Off bus if you want a great overview of London’s sites.

A lot of people enjoy spending time in Southbank during summer. Solos, couples, and families with children congregate together to enjoy the seasons. In the Summer, next to the Southbank Centre, children run through water fountains shooting from the ground to get wet.

In Winter, why not visit the Southbank Winter Market, sip on hot chocolate, drink mulled cider (for the adults of course 😊), watch Christmas shows in Southbank Centre and go on fairground rides?

Every year, the Southbank changes its events so make sure to check the Southbank Centre website for future Christmas shows. Last year, children enjoyed a circus show going back to the 19th Century. This year, who knows what surprises will be in store for us. If you find accommodation near here, even better.

Top London attractions around Southbank

As you reach the other side of Westminster Bridge, head down to your left. You’ll see several attractions. An alternative to the London Explorer Pass is getting a discount for more than 2 attractions, depending on how many attractions you want to see. Go over to one of the attraction’s reception and they’ll offer 3 for 2 attractions, 4 for 3 attractions and 5 for 4 attractions, including Madame Tussauds.

The attractions on offer are next to each other which include Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Dungeons, Shrek the Experience, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast Museum.

Spend 1 hour each on all the attractions here. The London Eye takes 30 minutes to go round so give yourself extra time to visit the 4D London Eye Experience (included with your price) and the queue. That’s 4 hours of time spent in all the attractions.

Note: Madame Tussauds is situated in Baker Street. You’d have to take the tube from Westminster tube station to get there.

Dining on Southbank

There are many restaurants and cafes under the Southbank Centre, so take advantage of having lunch there. Borough Market is around 30 minutes from here if you want to have lunch there. The Market opens Mon – Thu (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM), Fri (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM), Sat (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)

The Jubilee Park is a great outdoor space with a playground to relax, situated in front of the London Eye.

Further along Southbank and afternoon options

After lunch, walk further up and you’ll see a carousel ride “Wonderground” for £2.50. The Tate Gallery is free to get in and you can spend a whole day there. If you want to visit the Tate Gallery, spend no more than 1 – 2 hours.

Head back to Southbank, turn left, you will see Shakespeare’s Globe Museum . It’s £5 to see a Shakespeare play and £17.50 to tour the theatre. You will learn about the history and the architecture of the theatre.

Check out the Shakespeare Museum for free and learn all about his work. You will see a miniature of the theatre itself and the tools Shakespeare used to write his materials.

The museum isn’t that big, there’s not a lot of people and can be intimate. The tour of the theatre takes approximately 50 minutes and you can spend an unlimited amount of time in the museum.

Assuming you want to go inside all the attractions mentioned above on your first day, you won’t have time to go on the Tower Bridge tour or the HMS Belfast Museum Tour (on Day 1 at least!). You can stick around until sunset though for beautiful nighttime photos of Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the London Eye at night.

7 Days in London: Day 2 of 7

Highlights Day 2 in London

Tower of London

Tower bridge.

• Borough Market
• Southwark Cathedral
• Maltby Market

London Museum

Postman’s park.

• St Paul’s Cathedral
• Carnaby Street

The details Day 2 in London

If you didn’t already do so on day 1, visit Borough Market for breakfast or lunch. You’ll be continuing the route from where you left off from Southbank the previous day. Now, you’re in the London Bridge area .

Start your day by beating the crowds and visiting the Tower of London . Do the tour, and spend as much time as you want here. The Wardour Tour , with bloody and gruesome stories of murder with the Beefeater, takes approximately 50 minutes and it’s included with your entry ticket or with the London Pass (not the London Explorer Pass) – may not be suitable for your younger children.

The tour is worthwhile but will take up half a day, so you won’t have much time for other attractions around London on Day 2 if you take this option.

London’s Markets

Borough Market is next to the Golden Hinde Ship and Southwark Cathedral. Spend no more than 1 hour here. You can also take a Borough Market tour if you want to find out the history of the Market. Borough Market is the oldest market in London and it also has a great history, it’s not just any old market.

An alternative market is Maltby Market. Maltby Market , a hidden gem of London is smaller yet crowded but only open during the weekends. As you arrive, you’ll see a small alleyway cramped with many stalls serving cakes, biscuits, cookies, snacks, wine, and cheese from around the world. The products are the same as Borough Market but smaller.

Above you, you’ll see a steel plank with ropes wrapped around it. “Rope Walk” is written in the middle of the steel plank. Colourful flags hang from above to show locals and visitors they’ll find food and drinks from around the world. After Borough Market (if visiting during the weekend), spend no more than 30 minutes here.

Hidden Gems at the eastern end of Southbank

Walk further up, two hidden gems include the ruins of Winchester Palace and The Golden Hinde Ship docked by the river. All you’ll see is a one-sided wall of Winchester Palace, everything else is empty.

Winchester Palace was a 12 th Century palace, the home of many Archbishop of Winchester and it’s one of the English Heritage sites around England.

As for the Golden Hinde Ship, the ship travelled around the globe during the 16 th Century, captained by Sir Francis Drake. To get in, it’s £7 for adults and £5 for children between 3 and over. You will learn about Sir Francis Drake and the furniture and equipment he used during his voyage. They also do school visits too.

The Old Thameside Inn Pub is next to the Golden Hinde Ship if you want to try British food such as fish and chips. There are many restaurants and pubs open until late for dinner including The Real Greek, Zizzi’s Italian and Nando’s . The Anchor Pub is another alternative to The Old Thameside Inn Pub.

Spend time walking on Tower Bridge and take photos of Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge tour consists of the construction of the bridge, and if you and your kids are into engineering and construction, Tower Bridge is great for them.

The tour includes videos of how they were made, shows how many people died making the bridge, the history of how they constructed the bridge, a view of the River Thames, the Engine Room museum and you’ll be able to walk on the glass floor above the River Thames. You’ll be given a sticker to say, “You’ve done it”. Just a warning though, the tour can be cramped.

Assuming you want to visit the Tower of London first, that’s 4 hours of your time spent in Tower Bridge, Borough Market and Maltby Market.

Afternoon – central London

After some time in Borough Market, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, head over to Sky Garden. Access to the Sky Garden is free of charge but you’d have to book a time slot on their website.

Like the Shard, you will see a birds-eye view of London from the top. The Sky Garden is a glass building surrounded by beautiful plants. It feels as if you’re in a giant greenhouse. There are several couches, chairs and tables overlooking the view of London so you can relax. It does get busy here so seating may be limited. There is a bar in the middle for the adults too but the bar there can be expensive. Spend 1 hour here.

Head over to Guildhall , one of London’s hidden gems. Guildhall has been a townhall for the City of London for over 200 years. It is a Grade I building, built in 1440. However, during the Roman period, it was the site of an amphitheatre. You can see the remains of the amphitheatre in the basement.

Opening times vary because there may be functions. So, check and book in advanced to see when you’re able to visit. Spend 1 hour here. If you want to save time, take a few photos for 10 minutes and move on to the next attraction.

Spend time in the Museum of London for 1 hour. Children will love it there. The Museum of London has a collection of over a million objects of a thousand years’ worth of London history. From the prehistoric and Roman discoveries found in London, items include antlers and pottery during the Stone Ages as well as Bronze Age weapons.

Some highlights include interactive galleries and online games for children to learn and play. Why not shop in the Victorian times or learn about the plagues, fires, and war between the 1550’s to the 1660’s? Learn more about the Fire of London and when London became divided since there were many deaths. On top of that, King Charles I was executed in 1649, the plague started in 1665 and The Great Fire of London in 1666.

The Museum of London should be the last entry attractions to visit as it closes at 6 pm.

Spend time in Postman’s Park , a hidden gem of London. Situated next to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Postman’s Park is an intimate park to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s a great place to relax after your day and a place to have your lunch.

The park is surrounded by Tudor houses and the special thing about this park is the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self plaques. It commemorates plaques of people who died saving another from disasters. The plaque opened in 1900 and there are more than 50 plaques dating back to the 18 th Century.

Since you’re in Postman’s Park, if you haven’t done so already from the previous day, take photos of St. Paul’s Cathedral , the River Thames, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Theatre, the London Eye, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

Nightlife in Central London

Next, take the tube to Trafalgar Square, and take photos of the National Gallery from outside. Head over to Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, Regent Street, Oxford Street and Covent Garden.

Alternatively, behind the Admiralty Arch, (situated in front of Trafalgar Square) you’ll see a street linking to Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Park. (Buckingham Palace also illuminates at night). These are all Trafalgar Square’s neighbour. The night gets lively and lights up around the Leicester Square area. It does get busy and younger kids may not enjoy the crowds.

Here are some suggestions of what you can do in these places in the evening:

• Chinatown isn’t really that big compared to the Chinatowns in other countries but there are a few South East Asian restaurants around to choose from.
• Go up to the 9 th Floor at Hotel Indigo . You’ll see a bird’s eye view of Leicester Square and the London Eye.
• You can shop around various theatre stalls in Leicester Square for 50% off theatre tickets , but you must buy it on the day. Have a walk-through Shaftesbury Avenue to see several West End theatre lights and theatre shows you plan to see. Some ideas include watching Harry Potter the Cursed Child, Les Miserables, Thriller and many smaller independent international theatres shows.
• Take photos of the Shaftesbury Memorial and the billboard lights in Piccadilly Circus . Piccadilly Circus is nothing but a place to hang out and you’ll usually hear buskers, street entertainers and crowds of people. It’s famous because of its location, nothing more. Piccadilly Circus really lights up well at night too.
• If you want to go late-night shopping, most stores in Regent Street closes at 8 pm – 9 pm . Take some time in Carnaby Street, a small cobbled alleyway selling several expensive boutique shops and smaller chained stores. Check out Liberty’s Department Store there . Liberty’s Department Store has beautiful Tudor architecture and sells luxury fashion and beauty brands. Worth window shopping.

There are many utterly instagrammable restaurants , pubs, and clubs in the Soho area for dinner. Take your pick. I advise spending time in some of these places until 10pm. If you have kids that get tired easily, go home and spend time on these attractions the next day, early morning before the crowds are about.

7 days in London: Day 3 of 7

Highlights of Day 2 in London

Buckingham Palace

• St James’ Park
• Changing of the Guards
• National Gallery
• Regents Park
• Sir John Soane Museum

The details Day 3 in London

The third day, spend your time visiting Buckingham Palace and some of the free museums and galleries on the western side of London. Spend no more than 1 hour in each museum.

Before planning your visit, remember it can take 3 days to cover everything for each museum. It’s not possible. After 1 hour, your feet will get tired (and the moaning will no doubt start!), plus you still need to visit other areas of London. Save your time.

Otherwise, substitute some of these activities by visiting one of the eight royal parks, ideally St. James’ Park , since it’s next to Buckingham Palace.

If you want to watch the Changing of the Guards , then visit Buckingham Palace first and wait around until 11 am (when the Changing of the Guards start). Then, visit the National Gallery second and the British Museum third. Walk down The Mall, between Buckingham Palace and the Admiralty Arch, you’ll end up in Trafalgar Square (where the National Gallery is).

Buckingham Palace gets remarkably busy, so make sure you get to Buckingham Palace by 10 am. You can spend time in St. James’ Park if you wish but, 15 minutes before the Changing of the Guards, you might lose your spot.

If you don’t like larger crowds, watch the Changing of the Guards at Horse guard Parade. Instead of footguards, guards will usually be on their high horses. In Horse guard, there is a lot of standing around. Horse Guard Parade is a place for national events such as Trooping of the Colours, other than that, it’s just a wide-open space for people to walk through.

Please note, the Changing of the Guards doesn’t happen every day, so double check online when the next schedule is.

Whichever places you want to visit first, the National Gallery, the British Museum and the Changing of the Guards can get terribly busy if you arrive late.

Spare 1 hour for lunch – There are several restaurants, supermarkets, and cafes in Piccadilly (street) or visit Covent Garden and Neal’s Yard (London’s hidden gem) for colourful buildings, graffiti and quirky boutique stores.

After you watch the Changing of the Guards and taking photos of Buckingham Palace, The National Gallery, and the British Museum, that’s 4 hours gone including lunch.

Other London Attractions to Visit

If you have access to the London Explorer Pass, visit Madame Tussauds for an hour and with the London Pass , visit the London Zoo for another hour. These two attractions are great for children, although both attractions can get busy. Spend time in Regent’s Park while you’re in London Zoo.

Sir John Soane Musuem

If you have time, visit Sir John Soane’s Museum , it closes at 5 pm. A hidden gem, it’s one of the truly unique things to see in London.

Sir John Soane was a famous architect who built many properties around England, some you can still visit if you have free time. A stately 17th century home, it’s full of an eclectic collection of classical sculptures, curiosities, and paintings from famous artists .

Sir John Soane specialised in neo-classical designs, and he became a professor in Architecture at the Royal Academy, located in Piccadilly, and was involved in many works including projects in the Office of Works.

Only got three days to spend in London? Here is how I would fit in the best of London in 3 days .

7 days in London: Day 4 of 7

Highlights of Day 4 in London

• Portobello Market
• Victoria & Albert Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• Kensington Gardens & Diana Memorial Fountain
• Kensington Palace
• Holland Park

The details Day 4 in London

Today, spend your time in Portobello Market, Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace .

Portobello Market & Notting Hill

Visit Portobello Road on a Saturday, although busy, that’s when everything opens. On Saturdays, you will see antiques, goods arcades (not game arcades), second-hand items, fashion & clothing, fruit & veg, and street food.

Sundays are closed. If you visit Portobello Road on Sundays, take photos of various London mews, visit areas where they filmed Notting Hill e.g. Number 208 and St. Luke’s Mew, take pictures in front of the famous pink house with the bicycle and other colourful buildings here. Be careful, it’s someone’s house and you must respect it.

Take the tube to Notting Hill Gate (circle and district line) and follow the flow of where people are walking. The first few stores you’ll notice include boutique art shops, several jewellery stores, vintage souvenir shops, a fish, and chips shop and several food outlets.

There are plenty of other interesting places to see and things to do in Notting Hill . Walk further along, you will reach Portobello Road and you will see the first few colourful houses in a row. Notice a plaque of George Orwell on one of the houses where he used to live.

Visit Lancaster Road to take Instagram-worthy photos of colourful buildings. The various mews worth visiting include Elgin Mews, Pembridge Mews, Portobello Mews, and many others scattered around Portobello Road.

You can find a great guide to London’s most instagrammable spots here .

Don’t worry about many websites telling you to arrive in Portobello early because as soon as the market opens, it’s already busy with people. Later during the day, the crowds aren’t that much different.

Alternatively, arrive at 8:30 am if you want to avoid the crowds, then by 9 am, you’ll be the first to enjoy the markets and the shops. Spend half a day here including lunch. There are several pubs and fish and chip shops around here, explore Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park for more lunch options and colourful 19 th Century buildings.

More Museums to visit in Kensington

After lunch, spend some time visiting the museums around Kensington (noting the advice above you will need to pace yourselves)

Start with the Victoria and Albert Museum , one of the big four museums on the Top 10 London Museum list. V&A Museum consists of Ancient Chinese ceramics, Alexander McQueen’s dresses, contemporary art, theatre and performance items, illustrations and many more. Spend 1 hour here.

By the time you finish visiting the V&As, it would roughly be around 3 pm. Spend time in the Natural History Museum which consists of over 8 million species from 4.5 billion years ago, bugs, birds, mammals and fossils from hundreds of dinosaurs. There are also activities and kids’ events to enjoy throughout the tour.

The Science Museum , next to the V&As and the Natural History Museum consists of science inventions, history of nature and the environment, the history of medicine throughout the years and interactive activities for the kids to enjoy. Experience the simulator and take a 360-degree trip to outer space with astronaut Tim Peake. Spend no more than 2 hours in each museum.

Royal Parks and Gardens in Central London

Have dinner and head over to Kensington Gardens, Holland Park and Kensington Palace. The two parks close at 11 pm so you have all day to relax and let your kids roam around freely. To be honest, £17.50 is not worth visiting the grounds of Kensington Palace , it’s better to take photos outside and spend time with the Egyptian geese, white swans, and other birds by the lake.

Other attractions in Kensington Gardens worth visiting are the Diana Memorial Fountain, where children can splash their feet in the water and The Albert Memorial. Take photos of the Royal Albert Hall and its nearby Tudor houses here.

Spend time in Holland Park. You can visit the Kyoto Garden , a Japanese themed garden, a waterfall and a pond with koi fishes and ducks.  Visit the Fukushima Garden to see the peacocks. Children can spend time in the Holland Park Adventure Playground and the Chess Playground.

7 Days in London: Day 5 of 7

Highlights of Day 5 in London

Harry Potter Studio Tour

• Neal’s Yard
• Little Venice
• Camden Passage
• Thames Path

The details Day 5 in London

This day could be spent visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour in the morning, then exploring the areas north of the city centre.

There are several tours you can take depending on where you’re staying. We departed from Victoria Coach Station to Leavesden, the studio location. They’ll drop you off outside the studio and drop you off back to your departure location.

The tour takes approximately 3 – 4 hours but you can take as long as you want and best to arrive 20 minutes before arrival time for security checks. Either way, it’s recommended to pre-book your tickets online.

Leave early in the morning for the tour and by 1 pm, you would have finished. You can go back to Central London and visit the free hidden gems you’ve missed listed below.

Here are the highlights of the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

• As you enter while queueing up, you won’t be staring into four plain walls. You’ll see the cupboard under the stairs where Harry was locked up by the Dursleys.
• The tour guide will introduce you to the large entrance to the Great Hall where Harry and his classmates had their assemblies. The Great Hall is smaller than what you see in the movies and there weren’t any tables and chairs lined in the middle. They were all moved against the four walls. You will see gargoyles around the room and Hogwarts’s uniforms. Take some time admiring the Great Hall by yourself here.
• We then went to see the Hogwarts Express train where Harry boarded to get to Hogwarts with his friends. You get to practice your wand waving, give you the chance to visit the Womping Willow and see the gigantic steel door leading to Harry’s Gringotts. Why not say hello to Buckbeak and visit the Forbidden Forest while you’re at it?
• During the tour, you can go on a broomstick ride in front of a green screen. The green screen is where you’ll fly across London in “full speed” and can also buy the photo at the end of the ride. Visit Ron Weasley’s house where you see the knitter knitting itself.
• Give yourself a chance to taste Butterbeer at Backlot Cafe. I imagined what it tasted like while reading the book and I must say, it tasted spot on as how I imagined. Sweet! The café not only serves Butterbeer but other non-alcoholic beverages too.
• We then went to see Privet Drive, the Night Bus and Diagon Alley where the tour finishes. The tour will be great fun because you could hear music background similar with what you hear in the movies.

Central & North London

Here are some free hidden gems you should visit after the Harry Potter tour.

• Neal’s Yard hidden inside Covent Garden. You will see multicoloured buildings and graffiti art while shopping for quirky souvenirs and having lunch.
• Little Venice , a quiet and peaceful canal between the Grand Union Canal and Regent’s Canal. You will see how locals live in council estates, greenery, rows of Georgian houses and modern office blocks by the canal, cafes, pubs, and restaurants as well as boat houses. Portobello Market and Camden are the two trendy vintage markets nearby.
• Camden Passage is a passage near Camden Market where they sell more antiques, vintage and quirky boutique cafes, great place for lunch.
• Walk down the Thames Path which consists of a wide green space. There are no beautiful flowerbeds, but you can hear birds tweeting, fallen branches from natural disasters, dog walkers and lakes with ducks and birds. The Thames Path has a rural and urban areas. The urban area covers the Southbank area where you can take a nice stroll by the River Thames, sipping on beer and soda in the local pubs, visit the London Eye, London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge and most of Central London. The rural areas cover village towns such as Henley-on-Thames and Oxford.
• Experience pie and mash in several Pie and Mash shops around London. Pie and Mash is a 19 th Century dish the lower classes used to eat. It consists of stewed eel with mash potatoes poured with gravy and vegetables. The presentation isn’t that great but it’s the salty taste that matters.
• Grab lunch in local cafes with the British locals and try authentic British food (usually found outside of Central London). The local cafes consist of black chairs with no cushions and simple tables. Only the working-class eat here. Rarely, would you see aristocrats eat here.

7 Days in London: Day 6 of 7

Highlights of Day 6 in London

• Chessington World of Adventures Day Trip

The details Day 6 in London

Your sixth day could be spent on going to Chessington World of Adventures theme park. This is your first day trip outside of London and it takes half an hour to get there from Waterloo Station, depending on where you’re staying. You can take the South Western Railway straight to the theme park.

Chessington World of Adventure

Chessington World of Adventures is not just a theme park, it has many activities to do for younger kids. In 2020, the theme park unveiled The Rainforest area with three new rides. Take the Jungle Rangers river ride, River Rafters flumes and bounce off a tree top canopy on Treetop Hoppers. You can spot tortoises, capybaras, and the world’s largest rodents.

For the younger kids, why not go on the Elmer’s Flying Jumbo where he’ll spin you slowly in circles?

For all ages, visit Chessington Zoo and hop on the safari truck. You’ll see giraffes, lions, gorillas, sealions and many more.  Like Southbank Sealife London Aquarium, Chessington World of Adventures have one too. It will be like the one in Southbank but there’s no harm in visiting Sea Life, Chessington as well. Talks and events usually goes on there too.

As for the main rides, my four favourites are Vampire, Kobra, The Scorpion Express and Dragon’s Fury.

• Vampire isn’t really that scary. Suitable for the not-so-brave passengers, you are hung from the steel railings from the top instead of the bottom. You’ll still feel the thrill of your heart dropping down to your feet. It’s also a great ride to get you warmed up for the scarier rides.
• The Scorpion Express is for younger children. There were kids as young as 5 go on this ride and it’s a chance for your younger kids to experience adult rides for the first time.
• The Kobra is great for any ages. Young kids from the ages of 8 upwards can go on this ride. You sit and spun around in a large circle and they’d swing you from side to side. You do get dizzy and you wouldn’t know where you’ll be once you get off the ride.
• Dragon’s Fury is another favourite. Like the rollercoaster, Dragon’s Fury consists of a wheeled car on a steel track, like a normal rollercoaster. It goes up and down steep railings but at the same time, the car spins you around in circles. It doesn’t look scary but when you’re up there, you would feel the thrill.

Whatever you want to do in Chessington World of Adventures, there’s something for all ages making it a really fun family day trip from London.

7 Days in London: Day 7 of 7

Highlights of Day 7 in London

Richmond Park

• Kew Gardens
• Isabella Plantation
• Hampton Court Palace

The details Day 7 in London

This day could be spent relaxing after your hectic 6 day adventure in London. Explore South West London and the attractions within it today. You can visit the Richmond Park, Bushy Park , the two of eight royal parks of London or Kew Gardens .

You can spend as much time as you want here (recommended to spend 2 – 3 hours in all the parks first thing in the morning, visit Kew Gardens first and Richmond Park second. Visit Bushy Park after lunch). This day could be a day for relaxation after your hectic 4 days touring London.

Please note: You’d have to pay to enter Kew Gardens and book in advanced online.

South West London

This area has a village feel to the central urban area of London. To describe the South West London area, it’s stylish with rows of 19th Century million-pound houses and it’s one of the most upper-class areas of London. Compare it to the Chelsea area with fewer people.

Aside from the fact that the area is known for Kew Gardens, there are many sophisticated pubs, cafes and restaurants overlooking the River Thames. It’s great during the summer season when you’re sipping cider or beer. Just head over towards Kew Bridge or Kew Village near Kew Gardens Station where there are plenty of gastropubs for fish and chips, cider and beer, delis, coffee shops and restaurants there. Spend no more than 1 -2 hour in town.

5 restaurant suggestions include The Stable Pub, The Glass House Michelin Star restaurant, The City Barge pub situated in Chiswick, Annie’s Restaurant, the 18 th Century Queen’s Head pub in Chiswick.

In Richmond Park , a lot of people will usually take their cars with them and drive down the park lane. The first thing you’ll notice is the green space and woodland areas. You will usually see people walking their dogs and birds twittering as you drive.

As you go inside, you’ll notice several groups of deer gathering there. Remember, they’re wild animals and people have been injured by getting close to them. If you’re lucky, by car, you can see them up close and personal.

Check out the Isabella Plantation, a Botanical Garden , also a hidden gem consisting of several lakes, green plantation, birds and ducks, colourful flower beds and hear the creasing sound of waterfalls. You’d feel as if you’ve stepped inside the Garden of Eden.

Bushy Park & Hampton Court Palace

Once you’ve visited Richmond Park, head over to Bushy Park , the second largest royal park in London. If your time allows it, visit Hampton Court Palace , and take a boat trip and see several rows of houses overlooking the lake. There are also self-guided and private guided tours around Hampton Court Palace if you book in advance.

Compared to Richmond Park, Bushy park is quite small but still a huge park. There are several cricket, rugby, and hockey clubs nearby and like Richmond Park, you will see red deer grazing right in front of your eyes. There are so many routes and paths to take, there will always be full of surprises. The environment is the same as Richmond Park but both parks offer serenity and peace from Central London. It’s also great for children enjoying the outdoors.

So, there you have it, 7 days in London with a day trip to a theme park. Another alternative to Chessington World of Adventures is Camber Sands Beach for a great day out in summer. The only downside to it is the rail journey which can take up 2 hours.

As you can see there are plenty of things to do with your kids, no matter what age they are, there’s always something for everyone in London.

Use this handy itinerary planning tool (free!) to help you plan out your days in London

Hi, I’m Annisa. I’m an Indonesian national living in London. I’ve been living here since 1991. My family and I packed our bags to pursue a better way of living. My father thought London was a prosperous city with many opportunities.

Since living here, I noticed London is rich in history and culture and I had an idea of writing about it in a blog. As a resident here, I’ve learned the ins and outs of London and every time visitors see London, there’s always something new to see and do. It’s impossible to see everything in a short amount of time, so that’s why I made it my mission to write about London and give visitors tips and tricks for planning a great holiday.

For more information on London Travellers, follow Annisa at:

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With thanks to Annisa for her contribution to our guest series.  You may also like to read about London with young kids , or heading north learn more about York with Kids .  

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7-day London itinerary: How to plan the perfect week in London

Steeped in history and culture, London is a destination on the bucket list of many. There’s so much to see and do in London—planning your itinerary could be daunting. We’ve come up with this 7-day itinerary that includes all the star attractions and some hidden gems so that you’ll have the perfect week in London.

Day 1 - Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden

Start the day at Westminster , the political, cultural and geographical center of London. Head to the grand Houses of Parliament , where you’ll find one of the unmissable landmarks of London, the Big Ben . Nearby is Westminster Abbey , one of the most impressive and historical churches in England. Collectively, the Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’d like to explore the interior of both buildings, skip-the-line tours are available.

A short stroll along The Mall will lead you to Buckingham Palace . Check out the timings online for the Changing of the Guard ceremony and make sure that you arrive at least 30 minutes beforehand for a decent spot.

Continue strolling up The Mall, and you’ll arrive at Trafalgar Square , dotted with statues and monuments, including the iconic Nelson’s Column in front of the National Gallery . Entrance to the museum is free and it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours. Or, rest your legs at Trafalgar Square with a drink, and people watch.

Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening soaking up the lively vibe in and around Covent Garden —it’s always buzzing with regular themed events and street performers. The shopping scene here is also trendy, with a mix of known brands and independent labels. Dining options are aplenty.

Day 2 - Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, museums

Kensington Palace , the birthplace of Queen Victoria, has been home to the royal family for over 300 years. Remember to get a ticket in advance if you’d like to explore the palace, or you can book a private tour with afternoon tea for a complete royal experience.

While you’re there, take a leisurely stroll through Kensington Gardens and stop by the Albert memorial built by Queen Victoria in honor of her late husband. Continue your walk towards the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park . The fountain was built in 2004 as a tribute to the “people’s princess”.

In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the impressive Royal Albert Hall and then head down towards the V&A museum , the world’s largest museum of art and design. Be sure to visit the jewelry collection to see sparkling tiaras and precious gems amassed over 2,000 years. Entrance is free but some exhibitions may be ticketed.

End the day at Harrods where you can do some shopping and pick up dinner. Here’s a guide that might be helpful for you.

Day 3 - Harry Potter London or day trip to Stonehenge

For Harry Potter fans, London isn’t London without experiencing the magic of the wizarding world. Start your day by visiting Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station. Join a walking tour or a bus tour that will take you to all the Harry Potter filming locations in London .

For the ultimate experience, book the Warners Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour . Learn the secrets behind the making of Harry Potter , drink butterbeer and retrace the footsteps of your favorite characters. This tour will take around 6 to 7 hours, so plan your day accordingly.

Tip: Book your tickets in advance as they run out fast.

If you’re not a Potterhead, go on a full-day tour to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath , southern England’s historical attractions. It includes two-way transport, guided commentary and admission tickets.

Day 4 - Tower of London, Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral

Start the day with a history lesson at the Tower of London and be dazzled by the world famous Crown Jewels . Gain exclusive access by signing up for a VIP tour and be among the first visitors of the day to explore the landmark’s highlights.

Walk over to Tower Bridge to enjoy magnificent views of the city.

For lunch, browse the food stands in one of London’s largest and oldest food markets, the Borough Market . Just a stone’s throw away from The Shard , the Borough Market overflows with the best produce and street food. Wander around and fill your tummies before making your way to Shakespeare’s Globe , on the south bank of the River Thames. You can take a guided tour or catch a performance here.

Next door is Tate Modern , Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art. It’s one of the many free museums in London, and if you’re an art lover, here’s your chance to lose yourself in the works of many great artists.

From Tate Modern, cross the Millennium Bridge and you’ll arrive at the last stop for the day— St. Paul’s Cathedral .

Day 5 - Museums and more

London is home to dozens of museums, and one of the best is the British Museum . Discover over two million years of human history and culture here through the expansive range of works, including Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone and the samurai armor. There’s so much to see that you can spend the entire day here, or join a guided tour and see all the highlights in about 3 hours.

In the afternoon, head to one of London’s best places for afternoon tea to enjoy a quintessentially English experience. If you’ve had enough of museums, consider joining a food tour , do some shopping , or tick off some of these non-touristy things to do in London .

Day 6 - Camden, Regent’s Park, Baker Street

Explore North London, one of the most affluent residential districts in the city with a laidback and tranquil vibe.

Music lovers will love Camden Town for its connection to the city’s punk scene. The Camden Market also takes the spotlight for visitors looking for quirky and unique gifts. In the evening, this area is known for its vibrant nightlife.

After that, make your way to Regent’s Park , one of London’s royal parks designed in 1811 to serve as one of the royal hunting grounds. Today, the park is open to the public and has the largest grass area for sports in Central London, as well as a wide variety of activities such as the open air theater . The London Zoo is also located at the park’s northern edge.

Next up: Baker Street—best known as the home to the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, said to live at 221B. If you’re a big fan, there’s a Sherlock Holmes Museum and gift shop for you to pick up some souvenirs .

Day 7 - Sunday Roast

To mark your final day, partake in one of the most popular British traditions–eating a Sunday roast . As the name suggests, Sunday roasts are usually eaten on Sundays, and finding it on other days may prove challenging. However, if a Sunday roast is not on the menu, just snag a table at one of London’s celebrity chef restaurants for a memorable end to your London trip.

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London Itinerary: 7 Days

Home » Destinations » Europe » England  » London » London Itinerary: 7 Days

• Last Updated on February 15, 2023

London is one of the great cities of the world. The capital of English-speaking Europe and the head of an empire-turned-Commonwealth, this city is the center of one of the most powerful countries on earth. In addition to its political, economic, and historical importance, London is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe, and for good reason. It’s safe, friendly, easy to navigate, and fun. The city is chock full of interesting sights, all linked together by one of the best public transit systems anywhere. You will also find that, unlike much of the rest of Europe, the service in England is excellent most anywhere you go. People are always willing to help you find what you’re looking for.

You could easily spend a couple of weeks in the city and still not see it all. To help you plan your trip and figure out what to see, what to do, and how to get around, here is our suggested 7-day London itinerary . We also included other suggestions in case you have additional time in the city. We recommend doing the activities in the order listed to optimize your time.

Table Of Contents - London Itinerary

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace ★ ★ ★

State Rooms at Buckingham Palace ★ ★

Victoria and Albert Museum ★ ★

Hyde Park ★

British Library ★

British Museum ★★★

Covent Garden ★

Ben Franklin House ★

Chinatown ★

Piccadilly Circus ★

Theater Performance ★ ★

National Gallery ★ ★

10 Downing Street

Churchill War Rooms ★ ★ ★

Westminster Abbey ★ ★ ★

Palace of Westminster: Houses of Parliament (Big Ben) ★ ★

Tate Britain ★

Imperial War Museum ★ ★

London Eye ★ ★

Tate Modern ★ ★

Shakespeare’s Globe ★ ★

Millennium Bridge

St. Paul’s Cathedral ★ ★

Tower of London ★ ★ ★

HMS Belfast ★

Royal Observatory Greenwich ★

Windsor Castle ★ ★

Hampton Court Palace ★ ★

Other Things To Do In London

Afternoon Tea ★ ★

National Portrait Gallery (Closed until Spring 2023) ★

Museum of London ★

Kensington Palace

London transport museum, practical info.

Getting Around

Day Trips From London

Stonehenge & Cotswolds ★ ★

Cambridge ★ ★

STAR RATING KEY:

★★★  Top priority

★★  Highly recommended

★  Worthwhile

No Star – Skippable if not interested‎

Day 1: London Itinerary For 7 Days

If you have extra time on this day, consider adding Kensington Palace to your itinerary. 

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Start your 7-day London itinerary watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. This is one of the most popular things to do in the city, and is a must-do if you have the time. The guards march into Buckingham Palace grounds accompanied by a brass band to change shifts. The ceremony lasts 40 minutes, but you have to get to there 1-2 hours early in high season to get a good spot right up against the fence in front of the palace.

Cost and Hours : Free. Every Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun at 11:00am in front of the palace. Will be canceled in very wet weather. Address : London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom Website : www.householddivision.org.uk

State Rooms at Buckingham Palace

This lavish palace has been the home of the British monarchs since 1837. This is where the monarch  lives most of the year. However, every summer he heads out of town for 10 weeks and the palace is open to visitors. Book your timed-entry tickets online in advance to guarantee a slot and avoid long ticket lines.

Cost and Hours : £30 per adult. Open Thurs-Mon late July-Sept 9:30am-6:30pm (closes 7:30pm late July-Aug). Address : Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom Website : www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace

Victoria and Albert Museum

This unique museum displays 2,000 years of decorative arts from around the world, including altarpieces, furniture, clothing, carpets, pottery, sculpture, and much more. Visiting this unrivaled collection of objects is a treat, even for those who may not love traditional art museums.

Cost and Hours : Free admission. Open daily 10:00am-5:45pm (closes 10:00pm Fridays).

Address : Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom

Website : www.vam.ac.uk

Hyde Park is to London what Central Park is to Manhattan. This huge green space is a place for Londoners to come and relax. Rent a paddle boat and tool around, rent a folding chair and de-stress, lie in the grass and take a nap, stroll about and get some exercise, whatever you decide to do, take a break from your busy London itinerary in this grand oasis.

Cost and Hours : Free. Open daily 5:00am-12:00am.

Address : Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom

Website : www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/hyde-park

This gigantic department store is one of a kind. It is enormous, yet thoroughly fancy. They carry everything here – from nail polish to drones to paintings by Picasso. It is worth taking some time to walk around this store and see what all they have to offer. Additionally, they have plenty of tasty options if you get hungry. Plan to stick to window shopping, unless you’re prepared to spend big bucks.

Hours : Open Mon-Sat 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 11:30am-6:00pm.

Address : 87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL, United Kingdom

Website : www.harrods.com

Day 2: London Itinerary For 7 Days

If you have extra time on this day, consider adding the London Transport Museum , or a walk around SOHO to your itinerary. 

British Library

This library holds an astounding collection of written materials. Treasures include the Magna Carta (800 years old), the Gutenberg Bible, Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook, Jane Austen’s diary, and more. Unfortunately, these gems are displayed in a dimly lit room with little-to-no explanations or information. To put it bluntly, unless you have a specific interest here, this collection can be pretty underwhelming. When you get there, ask how to get to the Treasures Gallery. That is where the historic items are kept – the rest of the building is a regular library.

Cost and Hours : Free admission. Open Mon-Thurs 9:30am-8:00pm, Fri 9:30am-6:00pm, Sat 9:30am-5:00pm, Sun 11:00am-5:00pm.

Address : 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom

Website : www.bl.uk

British Museum

The British Museum is arguably the best museum in the country, thus one of the top things to do in this 7-day London itinerary. It opened in the 18th century, and ever since has been filled with the exploits of various English expeditions. Many of the world’s greatest treasures are held here, including the Parthenon friezes, the Rosetta Stone, and an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian mummies. Focus your visit on the ground floor exhibits, particularly those on Egypt, Assyria, and Greece.

Cost and Hours : Admission is free. Open daily 10:00am-5:00pm (closes 8:30pm Fridays). Address : Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom Website : www.britishmuseum.org

Covent Garden

This busy square is one of the best places for people-watching in London. The outdoor spaces are full of crowds and street performers. The iron-and-glass-roofed indoor market is the historic part of this site. A market has been here since medieval times, though its purpose has changed throughout the centuries. Today, it is a mecca for shopping, eating, drinking, and people-watching.

Address : Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Website : www.coventgarden.london

Ben Franklin House

This is the only one of Ben Franklin’s residences that survives to the present day. He lived in this house from 1757 to 1775 during the years leading up to the start of the American Revolution. Mr. Franklin was living in London as the chief diplomat from the colonies to Great Britain. He was an avid loyalist for most of this time, believing that the differences between the colonies and Great Britain could be solved without the colonies needing to become independent. Learn the rest of the story as you tour the house. You must book a guided tour to visit the property.

Cost and Hours : £8-10 per adult. Open Friday-Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm.

Address : 36 Craven St, London WC2N 5NF, United Kingdom

Website : www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org

This charming neighborhood is small, but rich in fun. The main reason to go here is to eat, so work in a stroll around dinner time. If you’re not going to eat here, it’s not worth the trip. Keep in mind, this area is not known for fine dining. We recommend you just walk around and see what looks good to you at the moment, but if you need a recommendation, Joy King Lau is a good bet for dim sum. (Joy King Lau: 3 Leicester St, London WC2H 7BL, United Kingdom . Telephone: +44 20 7437 1133 )

Address : Chinatown: the main intersection is Wardour Street and Gerrard Street . Head here, then follow your heart (or nose) from there.

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is the Times Square of London. It is filled with advertising screens and tourist traps. Despite this, the area surrounding the square is fun. We recommend walking around the circus, going at least a couple of blocks down each of the 5 roads that converge here. If you like what you see after two blocks, keep walking. If not, head back to the circus and try the next street.

Address : Piccadilly Circus, London, United Kingdom

Theater Performance

London theater rivals Broadway for the best live performances in the world. Try hard to see a play while you are in town. Focus on shows in the West End (e. g., Soho, Covent Garden, Piccadilly), as the best shows are typically found here. Find out what’s playing on the Official London Theater website . See the latest reviews here .

Day 3: London Itinerary For 7 Days

If you have extra time on this day, consider adding the National Portrait Gallery to your itinerary. 

National Gallery

This excellent museum holds the most extensive collection of paintings in England. It is organized more or less chronologically. If you know what era you’re interested in, you can find some of the most famous works of art in the world, including masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. Unfortunately, the collection is not well presented, so many visitors wander around the galleries without getting much out of it. Consider taking the free guided tour Tuesday-Thursday at 3:00pm. Just show up 5 minutes early in Sainsbury Wing Foyer to catch the group (check the website before going in case there are cancellations or changes).

Cost and Hours : Free admission. Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm (closes 9:00pm Fridays).

Address : Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom

Website : www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Number 10 Downing Street is the British version of the White House. The prime minister lives and works here. Like the White House, it is barricaded off and there is nothing more to do here than take a quick look from the street.

Address : 10 Downing St, London SW1A 2AA, United Kingdom

Churchill War Rooms

This fascinating site functioned as a bunker for the country’s leaders during WWII. This is where Churchill hunkered down amidst frequent German bombing of London, and established a command center for the war effort. Everything is displayed as it was when the location was abandoned in August 1945. A visit here will teach you all about the bunker and Churchill’s life. Expect to spend at least an hour here. Buy your tickets online in advance, as ticket lines can be over an hour.

Pro Tip : We recommend you watch the 2017 Oscar-winning film Darkest Hour prior to visiting this museum. The movie focuses on the story of Winston Churchill as he leads Britain during WWII. It is available on Netflix. You can also rent it for ~$4 on Amazon Prime Video. Cost and Hours : £26 per adult. Open daily 9:30am-6:00pm. Address : Clive Steps, King Charles St, London SW1A 2AQ, United Kingdom Website : www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms

Westminster Abbey

This is the most important church in Great Britain – arguably in all of Europe. The kings and queens of England have been crowned in this medieval house of worship for nearly 1000 years. This is an absolute must-see on this 7-day London itinerary. You will find the likes of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton buried underfoot. Don’t miss Poet’s Corner, where Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, and Shakespeare are memorialized. There are even several famous artists actually buried here, including Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Robert Browning. Expect to spend 1-3 hours here going over every inch of this church. Book your tickets online in advance to avoid long lines at the ticket counter.

Cost and Hours : £25 per adult. Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat 9:00am-4:00pm. Address : 20 Deans Yd, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom Website : www.westminster-abbey.org

Day 4: London Itinerary For 7 Days

Palace of westminster: houses of parliament (big ben).

This historic site is the heart of Britain’s constitutional democracy. The Palace of Westminster holds the two houses of Parliament, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Visitors can tour the palace, including the two houses, with a live guide or an audio guide. Expect your visit to take 90 minutes. You must book online in advance. Don’t forget to appreciate Big Ben (AKA the Elizabeth Tower – the one with the giant clock) from the outside before or after your tour.

Cost and Hours : £22.50 per adult (extra £6.50 for live guide). Tours available every Saturday year-round, plus Mon-Fri during recess (late July-early Sept), 9:00am-4:30pm. Address : London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom Website : www.parliament.uk

Tate Britain

This is one of the greatest collections of British art anywhere. The works range from the 1500s to modern day. If you are interested in British artists, such as Henry Moore, J. M. W. Turner, or William Blake, this is where you find them.

Cost and Hours : Free admission. Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm.

Address : Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, United Kingdom

Website : www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain

Imperial War Museum

This engrossing museum covers the history of war from WWI through the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. It tells the human story of war, including the lead up to WWI, the rise of fascism, WWII, the Cold War, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and terrorism. The exhibits are well-organized and easy to understand. Book ahead in high season to avoid waiting for your timed-entry slot.

Address : Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ, United Kingdom

Website : www.iwm.org.uk

This observation Ferris wheel is the most unique part of London’s skyline, and has become a must-do for tourists. The experience involves a single rotation of the wheel, lasting 30 minutes. Each “capsule” holds 28 people.

Buy your tickets online in advance and expect to still wait in line for about an hour.

Honestly, this is a standard tourist trap, but there’s no other way to get that classic photo at the top. If you don’t care about getting the perfect photo, skip this activity.

Cost and Hours : £33 per adult. Open daily 11:00am-6:00pm.

Address : Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom

Website : www.londoneye.com

Day 5: London Itinerary For 7 Days

If you have extra time on this day, consider adding the Museum of London to your itinerary. 

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is England’s best modern art museum. This industrial-power-plant-turned-museum holds an impressive collection, including masterpieces by Warhol, Dalí, and Picasso. If you love modern art, this is a must-see. If you hate modern art, this museum isn’t going to change your mind.

Address : Bankside, London SE1 9TG, United Kingdom

Website : www.tate.org.uk

Shakespeare’s Globe

This theater is a replica of the original Globe theater, where Shakespeare wrote and directed his plays in the early 1600s (the original globe theater burned down in 1613 during a performance of King Henry VIII). You can visit the theater at night during a performance of one of Shakespeare’s plays, or you can take a 50-minute expert-guided tour during the day. You must book ahead online for either.

Cost and Hours : £19 per adult for guided tour, click here for available time slots and info. Tours only offered during summer.

Address : 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, United Kingdom

Website : www.shakespearesglobe.com

Millenium Bridge

This sleek steel bridge was the first new bridge in the city of London since the Tower Bridge in 1894. It is a work of art architecturally, even if it did have a rough start. When it first opened in 2000, it was so wobbly the first day that pedestrians had to grab the hand rails for support. It ended up closing for 2 years for repairs, but it hasn’t had any problems since. The views from the bridge toward St. Paul’s Cathedral are stunning.

Address: Millennium Bridge, London, United Kingdom

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Built in the late 1600s, St. Paul’s Cathedral is master architect Christopher Wren’s greatest masterpiece. This enormous church is full of history, having hosted the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, a sermon by Martin Luther King Jr, and Winston Churchill’s funeral. Don’t miss the extensive crypt, which holds the tomb of Christopher Wren himself. You can also climb the dome for stunning city views. Free guided tours are offered throughout the day at varying times (no set schedule), ask for details when you buy your ticket.

Cost and Hours : £18 per adult. Open Mon-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm (opens 10:00am Wed).

Address : St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD, United Kingdom

Website : www.stpauls.co.uk

Day 6: London Itinerary For 7 Days

Tower of london.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is probably the most important thing to do in this 7-day London itinerary. This medieval castle has served various functions throughout the centuries. It has been a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison. Several famous people were also executed here, including two of King Henry VIII’s wives. Today, it serves as a beloved tourist destination and the home of England’s Crown Jewels. You can expect to spend at least three hours in the tower complex. Get tickets online in advance to avoid the long ticket line. Don’t forget to get a photo with the famous Tower Bridge while you’re in the area.

Cost and Hours : £29 per adult. Open daily at least 10:00am-4:30pm, longer hours in summer. Click here for detailed hours of operation. Address : London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom Website : www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london

HMS Belfast

This WWII warship is the ultimate for WWII history buffs. The HMS Belfast sank a German cruiser and assisted with the D-Day Invasion in Normandy. The vessel is kept just as it was in its heyday. A visit here comes with an excellent audio guide, which walks you through the site step by step (although it is easy to take a wrong turn and get lost). This is a fun site for all ages, but be aware that exploring this ship requires going up and down narrow ladders.

Cost and Hours : £24 per adult. Open 10:00am-6:00pm daily.

Address : The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2JH, United Kingdom

Website : www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

Royal Observatory Greenwich

This site is most famous for being located on the prime meridian (0° longitude). This means that it is the center from which time and distance are measured across the world. There are a few exhibits on time and astronomy, but most people come here to take a selfie straddling the prime meridian, with one foot in each hemisphere.

Cost and Hours : £16 per adult. Open daily 10:00am-5:00pm.

Address : Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, United Kingdom

Website : www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory

Day 7: London Itinerary For 7 Days

Windsor castle.

Windsor Castle has been the home of the British Royal Family for over 900 years. This fortress is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It was Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite royal residence. Visitors are welcome to tour the state rooms, as the monarch is rarely home. Don’t miss St. George’s Chapel, the burial site of the most recently deceased royals (Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, mother, father, and sister) and King Henry VIII. It was also the site of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding in 2018. Book your tickets online in advance to avoid long lines at the ticket counter.

Pro Tip : This castle is over 20 miles from central London (a quick train ride) and is best visited as a combination day trip with Hampton Court Palace. Use Google Maps to plan your train route there.

Cost and Hours : £27 per adult. Open Thurs-Mon 10:00am-4:00pm (closes 3:00pm Nov-Feb). Closed Tues-Wed.

Address : Windsor SL4 1NJ, United Kingdom

Website : www.rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle

Hampton Court Palace

This gorgeous palace was built in the 1500s and served as the royal residence of the notorious King Henry VIII. From state rooms to gardens, this Tudor-turned-Georgian estate will take you a half-day to explore. Pre-booking online is recommended.

Pro Tip : This palace is 15 miles from central London (a quick train ride) and is best visited as a combination day trip with Windsor Castle. Use Google Maps to plan your train route there.

Cost and Hours : £26 per adult. Open 10:00am-4:00pm Wed-Sun (closes later and open daily in the summer, check here for detailed operating hours).

Address : Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom

Website : www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is one of the great English traditions, and worth adding to your 7-day London itinerary if you have time. Today, not many Brits take part in this custom, but it’s still fun for tourists to experience. The event varies at each location, but typically your table comes with a three-tiered stand full of scones, clotted cream, jam, pastries, tiny sandwiches, and bottomless tea. Reserve ahead and plan for an expensive afternoon. There are plenty of places to enjoy afternoon tea in London, but we list a couple of the most famous spots below.

Pro Tip : Beware that some places require you to dress up for afternoon tea. You may even be required to wear a jacket and tie at certain locations – check the dress code directly with the restaurant when you make your reservation.

Brown’s Hotel

This London institution has been offering afternoon tea since the 1800s. In fact, Queen Victoria used to take her tea here. Expect a wood-paneled drawing room with an inviting fireplace that is classy, without being too snooty.

Cost and Hours : £70 per person.

Dress Code : “Smart dress.” No shorts, trainers, sportswear, t-shirts. Collared shirt required for men. Jacket and tie not required.

Address : 33 Albemarle St, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom

Telephone : +44 207 518 4006

Website : www.roccofortehotels.com

Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum and Mason is one of the oldest department stores, having opened over 300 years ago. It supplies tea to many afternoon tea houses, and has its own Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Expect to enjoy a fancy traditional tea experience, while listening to a grand piano in this Georgian-style salon.

Cost : £70 per person.

Dress Code : No specific dress code enforced, but the salon recommends “smart casual attire.” They will allow trainers year-round and shorts in summer.

Address : Fourth Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9LE

Telephone : +44 207 734 8040

Website : www.fortnumandmason.com/diamond-jubilee-tea-salon

National Portrait Gallery (Closed until Spring 2023)

This gallery serves as a veritable who’s who of British history. Portraits go from Charles I, William Shakespeare, and King Henry VIII, to today’s royal family. This museum is thoughtfully presented, quick, and free.

Cost and Hours : Admission is free. Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm (closes 9:00pm Fridays). Closed until Spring 2023 for renovations.

Address : St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE, United Kingdom

Website : www.npg.org.uk

Museum of London

This museum tells the story of London from prehistoric times to modern day. This collection of artifacts is extensive, from elephant fossils to art deco elevators, and is interesting enough to keep visitors engaged. There is also a recreation of a Victorian shopping street, which is a fun exhibit for all ages.

Cost and Hours : Free admission. Open daily 10:00am-5:00pm.

Address : Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN

Website : www.museumoflondon.org.uk

This palace has been a royal residence for over 300 years. Here, you can tour the apartments of King George III and learn about the life of Queen Victoria, who was born and raised in this complex. 

Cost and Hours : £20 per adult. Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm (closes 4:00pm Nov-Feb)

Address : Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

Website : www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace

This museum tells the history of transportation in London, from horse-drawn carriages to today’s double-decker buses and Tube system. The museum is fun and interactive, and worth adding to your London itinerary particularly if visiting with kids. For adults, the displays can be more visually pleasing than truly informative.

Cost and Hours : £21 per person. Open daily 10:00am-6:00pm.

Address : The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB, United Kingdom

Website : www.ltmuseum.co.uk

This funky neighborhood, with its hipster vibe and trendy restaurants, is a great place to explore. This is best done before seeing a show in the West End.

Address: Carnaby St, London, United Kingdom

Getting Around London

London has one of the best public transit systems in the world. The subway (AKA tube) is easy to use (just tap your contactless credit card or apple pay-enabled phone as you go through the gates) and can get you just about anywhere. For any place that the tube doesn’t cover, use the double-decker red buses you see driving around town. Google Maps has excellent coverage in London, and can tell you the quickest way to get anywhere via public transportation. You should avoid bringing a car here.

Stonehenge & Cotswolds

Stonehenge is one of the great wonders of the world and on many travelers’ bucket lists. It is amazing to see, and is definitely worth adding it to any London itinerary. That being said, it is not that easy to reach, and can be a bit underwhelming compared to the effort of getting there. That is why we recommend combining Stonehenge with a visit to the Cotswolds to get the most out of your day. Check out our Stonehenge & Cotswolds Day Trip itinerary for details.

Bath is a beautiful Georgian (Neoclassical) town just 90 minutes by train from London. The town was founded by Romans at the site of healing natural hot springs. In medieval times, it was an important city for the wool trade. In the 18th century, it became the trendy getaway it continues to be today. If you’re looking for a culturally rich day trip from London, this is it. See our 1 day itinerary for Bath for more details. 

Cambridge is a pretty university town 50 minutes away from London by train. The home of Cambridge University, it has a unique combination of youthful energy and medieval ambience. Some of the world’s most famous scholars were educated here, including Charles Darwin, Alan Turing, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking.

The best way to see Cambridge from London is to travel there by train and get a guided tour of the town once there.

We recommend the Cambridge Highlights Tour (~$25). If you prefer a private tour, you can reach out to the company directly by email. See info here .

The one other must-do in Cambridge is punting. This is the name given to the activity of slowly meandering down the Cam River behind the university in a small boat called a punt. We recommend a guided experience, as the punts are harder to maneuver than you might think. A shared punting experience is a good introduction to the activity, and is a good value.

If you don’t want to share a punt, a private punting experience is also a good option.

All rights reserved © Travel Cheat Sheet. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc) is strictly prohibited. 

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London in 7 Days – Use This Itinerary For A Fabulous Time

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What do you think about planning a trip ahead of time?

Do you think it is worth it to sit and plan your entire trip anywhere? Deciding when to travel, what to wear, where to stay , what to do and places to visit? 

Planning your trip ahead is as important as the trip itself.

It helps you to make important decisions and take note of important things.

This will ensure that you have a stress-free stay wherever you go.

Planning ahead keeps you ready for anything.

Before you travel anywhere, you should consider a number of things about the place.

Since we are talking about London , one of the things you should consider is when it is best to visit the city .

This is entirely up to you to decide, based on your interests and preferences.

However, you should note that London is always crowded with throngs of tourists in summer and winter.

The streets and places of interest are crowded during summer and the Christmas season.

The best time to visit London , if you don’t fancy being in a crowd, is during spring and autumn.

At this time, the weather is mild and the crowds aren’t as heavy as it’d probably have been in winter or summer.

Other things to consider after you have decided on when to visit are:

• The weather condition of your visiting season. This will help you choose the right clothes.
• The places to stay during the trip. This depends on your budget and you can choose from a variety of apartments, hostels, Airbnb or hotels .
• Interesting events that you wish to attend. There are popular ones like London Marathon and Notting Hill Carnival .
• The fashion standard of the people should also be considered. This will make you pick clothes that blend with the locals and make you less of a target for pickpockets.

Other things to take note of before traveling are the transportation system, means of communication, currency in use, payment methods, local language and the road signs of the city.

Now that you have those sorted out, you should settle down to plan what you will be doing and the places you will be seeing.

Truth is, there are lots of interesting places to see in London and you may never get to exhaust the list.

In fact, it can get overwhelming at times and you may become confused about where to go and which ones to leave out.

This is why having an itinerary for your stay is good.

Plan your days there, one after another.

From where you will visit to places you can grab a meal when you need to.

You may consider choosing locations that are close to each other on the same days. This saves you the time of having to get on and off the bus, tube or trains all day.

Whether you are a solo traveler going to have some me-time, there are two of you on a couple’s trip or you are going with your family, this seven day itinerary will take you to most of the amazing sights you mustn’t miss on a London vacation.

7 Day London Itinerary

Start your city tour with a visit to Big Ben , the nickname given to the Elizabeth Tower.

While you are there, take a look at the New Palace of Westminster called the Houses of Parliament to experience British politics.

Head on walking the riverside of the Thames for five minutes to get to Westminster Abbey , London’s Official Coronation Church and venue of royal events.

After lunch, you can continue to St James Park for a walk and on to Guards Museum, a museum dedicated to the British Royal Guards.

Trafalgar Square is your first point of call.

The square is a traffic circle famous for being the location of Nelson’s Column.

Move on to the National Gallery to view a collection of the world’s finest art pieces.

Eight minutes walk from where you are, you land at Covent Garden .

This used to be a produce market but is now a place for shopping and street entertainment.

Two minutes away from the garden is the British Transport Museum where the history of the British transport system is displayed in trolley cars, buses, trains and tubes.

After lunch in any of the many restaurants around the square, travel down memory lane at the British Museum with more than eight million historic pieces.

Royalty will mark the beginning of your day as you begin from Buckingham Palace .

Start with an hour tour of the Queen’s Art Gallery viewing the royal collection, go on to the Queen’s residence and if you are lucky you can witness the Change of Guard ceremony.

Six minutes away is Green Park and ahead of that is Hyde Park, two of London’s most beautiful parks.

At Hyde Park, you’ll get to see Diana’s Memorial Fountain and can even use the Speaker’s Corner if you have something to say!

After lunch, head on to view beautiful decorative designs at Victoria and Albert Museum.

The last stop for the day is the Natural History Museum, home to over 80 million specimens and fossils.

There are objects in zoology, botany and a dozen others.

There are also life-size dinosaurs!

Starting on the bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge, visit the 11th-century castle called the Tower of London .

You’ll get to see the Crown Jewels and be taken around by Yeoman Warders called Beefeaters.

Also, check out HMS Belfast and go on a World War 2 warship to experience and go down memory lane on the greatest battle known to mankind.

After lunch at a restaurant around the Thames, continue on to Tower Bridge and travel back in time on a historic journey into the scary events that the bridge was known for.

Wrap up the day with an hour tour of the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

It is in the same location as the original theatre where Shakespeare’s plays were showcased.

Walk down to the Imperial War Museum and learn about British war histories through the hundreds of items on display.

Never miss a chance for a life-changing experience at the Sea Life London Aquarium with its 500 species of animals and up to 14 specially themed zones to spice your visit.

There’s the Rainforest Zone, Shark Walk with real sharks! And even more. It’s a complete aquatic animal kingdom.

After lunch at the cafes or restaurants that surround the aquarium, take a tour of Somerset House and then continue finally to Courtauld Gallery where impressionist and post-impressionist art is on display.

Nature will mark your morning as your first visit will be to Greenwich Park.

Two minutes away from Greenwich Park is the Fan Museum .

The park houses the Royal Observatory and even a boating lake .

A museum dedicated to the history of fans and the art of fan-making. Nothing else! That is really something to see.

When you’ve had lunch, take the next two hours to tour the world’s largest Maritime Museum where amazing artefacts are displayed.

It’s your last day but it won’t be less of a fantastic day as you will be starting off on the holy grounds of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The church has jaw-dropping architectural designs and offers a great view from the top.

It is a gothic beauty and one of London’s most popular places of worship.

Go on from St Paul’s to the Old Operating Theatre Museum and the Tate Modern, one of the four Tate Museums in the world. This one in London is dedicated to modern art.

Finally, you can’t leave London without riding the London Eye .

The London Eye is a large Ferris Wheel with a height of 135 meters and has 32 glass pods you can ride for thirty minutes to get a 360° panoramic view of the beautiful city of London. Now you can call it a day.

Helpful Tips For Your Tour

Check the opening and closing times of each location you want to visit.

Find out the cost of accessing or touring those places of interest. Some of them are free.

Check for the nearest transport stations in the area.

There are options for a bus, train, tube, bicycle, river bus or you can just walk.

Take note of restaurants around where you are visiting so you can have your meals and the prices they offer.

Avoid rush hour if you want maximum enjoyment. This hour usually falls into 7 – 10 am and 4 – 7 pm.

Don’t forget your camera. Digital is good but a hard copy is better.

London’s fascinating views are too much to be exhausted in seven days.

Surely, after this experience, you’ll be planning a return trip.

However, this itinerary takes you to more than 30 of the city’s most iconic, historic and interesting places.

Enjoy your stay!

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The Complete London Itinerary for 7 Days

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London is an incredibly diverse city and full of historical sites, restaurants and gorgeous parks. While 7 days in London may seem like a lot, this complete London itinerary is packed with great activities that you may want even more time.

London is sometimes summed up as being an easy city for English-speakers traveling abroad for the first time but, trust me, there are plenty of nuances and underlying cultural aspects to make it interesting for even the most seasoned traveler.  Plus, it’s one of (if not) the most global cities in the world. 

Table of Contents

What should I know?

Options to get to central london from lhr:.

• Underground (aka the Tube); this is what I did every single time I flew into LHR.  It’s cheap at just £2.50 per person and takes 45 minutes to get to the city.
• Heathrow Express; if you don’t mind spending £25 and want to save 30 minutes, this option will get you to central London in just 15 minutes.  I never did this as the time savings wasn’t worth it to me but if your time is limited, consider it.
• Uber; if you have more than on person, this option is probably cheaper than taking the Heathrow Express at around £25-40. 
• Black Cabs – these are very expensive at around £50-60; if you want the black cab experience, I’d recommend taking one for a short distance in the city center itself. 
• If arriving from another airport, try booking a bus on EasyBus; the fares are typically cheaper than booking on National Express directly.  Trainline is another great app for booking trains to/from central London.

Once in London, I’d recommend (in order):

• Walking (it is so easy to walk around and generally safe. Plus, more calories burned = less guilt with all of the great food you’ll be eating.
• The bus (it’s so cheap at just £1.50 per ride and gives you a great above-ground view of the city)
• The Overground (like the underground but on the outskirts of the city, above ground like the name suggests and only £1.50 per person)
• The Underground/Tube (still cheap at £2.50 per person and gets you around more quickly especially in Central London)

Buy yourself an Oyster card when you land at the airport; it’ll cost you £5 just for the card but you can return the card at the machines when you are departing London and will get that £5 back plus any money unused on the card; this can pay for your last meal before flying out!

Google Maps is a great way to navigate.  Each place you visit will have a post code (similar to a zip code for Americans) but it identifies the precise location of the building and that’s all you need to type in from a longer address to find your destination.  It’ll start with the region of London (e.g. NW1 – north west zone one) and then has a second set of three letters/numbers.

Where to stay:

London is so easy to get around that you don’t need to stay in the city center where prices are high, unless you want to.  Airbnb is a great way to experience the local lifestyle; just remember this is an old city and most buildings are not as modern as you may be used to.  If you want something modern, I’d stay at a hotel.

• If you’re looking for a posher area, stay around Notting Hill/Kensington.  This will put you just west of all the big museums and near Hyde Park. 
• If you want to be close to the shopping area, stay around Marylebone/Mayfair.  This will put you near Regent and Oxford Street and still close to Hyde Park and the museums.
• If you want a hip experience, stay in Camden Town or Shoreditch.  Shoreditch is bigger and more spread out while Camden is a bit smaller and near Regents Park.
• An up and coming area where many transplants are living is stay south of the river in Clapham Common.  There are tons of great brunch spots around here and it’s also easy to get to the city center with a direct tube line.

Restaurant Bookings:

Consider making bookings at some of the restaurants that interest you in advance.  Some great places don’t accept bookings but many do and I’d hate for you to miss out on a fantastic meal at a place you could have reserved in advance. 

12.5% at restaurants (often already put on your bill so check for this), usually no tipping at the pubs

Communication:

It’s very easy to get a SIM card around London; stop in to any 3Mobile shop and you can buy a short- term SIM which will allow you access to data anywhere in the UK and Europe, plus the ability to make phone calls without finding a WiFi connection.  Worth the £10 in my opinion.

Seasonal options:

Depending on the time of year of your visit, consider adding the following to your list:

• Wimbledon (Jul)
• Proms (Summer)
• Frieze Art Fair (Sep)
• Charles Dickens house/museum Christmastime events (Dec)
• Bonfire Night (5 Nov)
• Christmas Carols at Westminster or St. Paul’s Cathedral (Dec)

Trip Snapshot for this Complete London itinerary:

Let’s Go

Day one : central london.

Start your day early with brunch at SkyGarden – great views of the city and a delicious brunch.  (some mornings they offer yoga which is a fun and invigorating way to start your day!)

After yoga/brunch, check out the Tower of London (opens at 9 or 10 am generally) for a couple hours.

If you’re ready for lunch, head south of the river to Borough Market . I love Padella or Tua Pasta for delicious fresh pasta.

With full bellies, head to St. Paul’s Cathedral – step inside to marvel at it.  At this point, you could take a tour. Just consider which of the following activities you may want to cut short to fit everything else in today.

Head west to Parliament to get a glimpse of the famous buildings.  If you’re more interested in government, consider a tour of one of those places with a tour of Parliament.  The tours run mostly on Saturdays and occasionally during the week.

If you have the stamina, continue on to Churchill War Rooms (closes at 6pm). If you want something lighter, check out the National Gallery which closes at 6pm or 9pm on Fridays. Or, take a walk around St. James park and past Buckingham Palace to try to catch the Queen!

Check out Mother Mash, The Barbary or Hoppers for Dinner.  Cahoots or The Lamb and Flag would be fun for post-dinner drinks.  Or, if an ice cream is more your thing, check out Milk Train for some seriously cool Japanese inspired ice cream.

Ready for day 2 of your complete London itinerary?!

Day Two : West London

Have a lie-in (as the Brits call sleeping in) if tired from yesterday.  For breakfast, go to Granger and Co.  If you’re into celeb sightings, David Beckham is known to swing by here for pancakes!

Stoll from here to the Portobello Road Market – fun to see various antiques and snacks for sale.  The mews from Love Actually is nearby too if you want to check it out!

• Stop at Ottolenghi for a delicious and healthy lunch.
• Catch a movie at Electric Cinema – a gorgeous 100+ year old movie theatre with posh seating and feet rests
• Take a stroll through Hyde Park to stretch your legs after the movie. 

Have a pub dinner at Churchill Arms and post dinner drinks at Mr. Foggs. This is one of my favorite places in this complete London itinerary – the food/drinks are delicious and the atmospheres are so fun!

Day Three : Northwest London

Day 3 in this complete London itinerary is based around the beautiful green spaces in the NW1 region of London.  Start your day at Daylesford in Marylebone for a nice breakfast (and learn about their farm in the Cotswolds where a lot of the food is sourced from!). You could also check out Chiltern Firehouse.

From there, walk to Daunt Bookstore – the most gorgeous, travel-inspiring book store in London.  Grab one of their £5 totes for a practical and sustainable souvenir.

Next, head to the Espresso Bar at Regents Park – I’d recommend a tea and scone.  Stroll around the park and don’t miss St. John’s Lodge Garden – it feels like a secret garden within the park!

Walk a little more along Regents Canal to Camden Market for lunch.  Whatever you get for your main, you have to try the halloumi fries from Oli Baba’s for a side – they’re the best.  For dessert, check out Crosstown Donuts.

Walk back along the canal westward towards Abbey Road.  En route, take a brief detour north to walk to the top of Primrose Hill for beautiful views of the city.  Perhaps a good spot to enjoy your doughnuts.

Continue on to Abbey Road.  Enjoy watching tourists stroll the famous crosswalk (aka zebra crossing) andpartake yourself for some Beatles fun.

A couple options:

If it’s summertime, check out the plays on at Regents Park Open Air Theatre – it’s one of my favorite outdoor experiences noted in this complete London itinerary.  Check out Opso Greek restaurant in Marylebone for dinner beforehand.

If there are no shows on, take a train or bus to Hampstead Heath to watch the sunset over the gorgeous city line.  Dinner recommendation is The Spaniard – a great pub full of history.  Their Sunday roasts (only available on Sundays) are great – just don’t get there too late! If it’s wintertime, and a Friday or Saturday, take the tube to Tate Modern to enjoy one of the coolest art museums in London for a “Late at Tate” evening viewing of the exhibits. Try Padella if you didn’t eat there during the Borough Market visit earlier for dinner.

Day Four : Museum and Central London Day

London is full of amazing (and free!) museums.  I’d recommend seeing the highlights at a couple. First, start your day with breakfast at The Creperie for some delicious sweet or savory crepes. From there, walk north to the Natural History Museum to spend a few hours.

Take a break for lunch at Franco Mancas or Nandos (popular chains). Muriel’s Kitchen, another great option, offers a fun afternoon tea served on a mini picnic bench. Check out the Science Museum or the V&A Museum.

Stroll along Regent Street, the famous shopping street.  Check out:

• Fortnum and Mason (my favorite grocery store in the world)
• Liberty (known for its beautiful print patterns)
• Paxton and Whitefield Cheese Shop – an historical cheese monger’s shop.
• Postcard Teas – this place is the best spot to try delicious, sustainable, organic tea from all over the world.  The prices are very reasonable. Take some home and mail someone special a postcard from the shop!

Have dinner at Tibits (great vegetarian buffet style restaurant), Mother Mash or Honey and Co. After dinner, visit an art house auction, such as Christies or Philips. It’s fun to observe an auction live and see some beautiful private pieces of artwork up close.  Unless you end up participating, it also won’t cost you anything!

If you can’t find one to attend, see if the BBC is hosting any live recordings and apply for (free) tickets.  This is one of the more unique, local activities to do from this complete London itinerary.

Day Five : South London

Today you’re heading south of the river! Start your day with breakfast in Clapham Common – Brickwood is a great option.  Then head to Richmond Park for a stroll.  This area is known to have deer and is a beautiful park. 

If you’re up for dessert first, check out Petersham Nurseries at the NW corner of the park for a delicious slice of cake in a gorgeous nursery setting.  Fun to do some shopping here too. 

You’ll backtrack a bit but I highly recommend Takahashi in Richmond park for lunch.  It has amazing Japanese food and is well worth the trip. 

Head back to central London to get ready for a night out.

The West End is known for its reasonably priced musicals. You can get tickets online in advance or in person for a discount at TKTs.  Pick a show for this evening (I can recommend Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera – which is in the theatre it debuted in 30+ years ago, The Lion King, Wicked, Hamilton and The Book of Mormon).   If you can’t find a show in the West End, you could also look into tickets at The Globe theatre south of the Thames. 

The cheapest way to experience the Globe theatre is with £5 Groundling tickets. you’ll have to stand the whole time but it’s fun to experience it like how some of the citizens did back in Shakespeare’s day.  You can see theatre was priced for everyone even way back in the day. This is a highlight experience from this complete London itinerary!

Enjoy one of these amazing restaurants for dinner: Clos Maggiore (voted the Most Romantic restaurant in the world – book WAY in advance so you can sit in the atrium), Yauatcha for dim Sum, Dishoom, or Ciao Bella (rumored to be Meghan Markle’s favorite Italian restaurant in the city).

Day Six : East London

Start your morning at Violet cakes (the CA-native owner was selected to make Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake) for a pastry, tea/coffee and even a cheeky piece of cake for breakfast.

Travel south to explore the beautiful Columbia Road Flower Market (held on Saturdays).  Start early to avoid the crowds.  You can’t bring flowers home with you but you could at least buy lavender to take back home with you!

For lunch, go to Spitalfields Market.  No matter your choice, grab a Yi Fang Fruit tea as you walk around.  Shop around the market too as there are many fun shops.

Nearby is Box Park with lots of fun specialty shops to explore (e.g. Duke of Uke).  If you’re hungry for a snack, check out Beigel Bake (super cheap bagels with a long history).  Definitely a favorite of locals and one of my favorite casual recommendations in this complete London itinerary.

Ottlenghi Spitalfields or Hawksmoor (for a nice steak meal) are great dinner options.

Shoreditch is a popular area to go out at night. You’ll have tons of options for post-dinner drinks. If you’re interested in a fancy spot, check out Duck and Waffle which is open 24 hours and has fabulous views of the city

Day Seven : Central, Classic London

Start your day at The Dalloway Terrace for a beautiful brunch on the terrace. Afterwards, go to the British Museum.  Highlights incude the Rosetta Stone and (controversial) Greek Parthenon artefacts.  Plan to spend a few hours.

This would be a perfect time to check out a famous London High Tea.  Some options:

• The Ritz (may be touristy but it is for a reason)
• Claridges (more local I think and just as glamorous as the Ritz)
• The Wolseley (best value, as you will receive refills on all the food like the more expensive places but at half the price)
• Sketch (quirky, fun and a really unique experience).

Neal’s Yard is a fun spot to walk around and has a few great restaurants if you’re hungry.  Alternatively (and probably what I’d do) is stroll through the vibrant Chinatown.  Food options: Tonkatsu for ramen, Shibuya for delicious shaved ice and Chinatown Bakery for some sweets to takeaway.

Are you ready to plan a trip after reading this complete London itinerary?! For more Global Destinations, read my guides here .

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A Lady in London

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Lady’s London Itinerary for 7 Days

Today I want to bring you my London itinerary for 7 days in the UK capital. A week is an ideal amount of time to see the highlights of the city and explore a few places further afield. Whatever your passions and interests, you can find plenty of ways to take in the sights in London and discover places locals love.

London Itinerary for 7 Days

One of the things I enjoy most about being a professional travel blogger is helping people plan their trips. Whether it’s through my blog posts or my travel planning services , I always like ensuring my readers have a richer experience in London or abroad.

People often ask me how to spend 7 days in London, and today I want to share the official A Lady in London itinerary for 1 week in the UK capital.

I’ve created plenty of London itineraries before, and I hope you’ll find this one as useful as you’ve found the others. You can also take a look at my 1-day , 2-day , 3-day , 4-day , 5-day , 6-day , 8-day , and 10-day itineraries for additional inspiration.

There’s no right or wrong way to spend your time in the city. This 1-week itinerary has a mix of the main attractions and the local places Londoners love.

You can adjust it to fit your interests and travel style, but I hope it gives you a solid overview of what you can do in the UK capital on a 7-day trip to London.

You can refer to my London travel guide to fill in any gaps and find seasonal events and activities for the time of year you’ll be visiting as well.

Where to Stay in London

There are lots of options for London accommodation . Whether you want to stay in a hotel, apartment, hostel, or elsewhere, the city has no shortage of places to choose from.

Given how big London is, basing yourself in or near the heart of the city is wise. You can take a look at my blog posts about the best area to stay in London and the best hotels for your style if you want more ideas.

You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here . With so many choices, you’re bound to find the perfect fit for your trip.

Day 1 in London: Buckingham Palace and Westminster

After you’ve arrived and settled into your accommodation , start your 7-day London itinerary at Buckingham Palace. You can time your visit to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony, or just take in the monarch’s London residence from the gates.

If your visit takes place during the annual opening, you can tour Buckingham Palace as well. You’ll get to see the state rooms and gardens, all of which are beautiful. You can book tickets here .

After visiting the palace, walk through St James’s Park to get to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, and Westminster . These areas are home to some of the most important London landmarks , and they’re what many people come to London to see.

Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament are a must on any London itinerary. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament . You can book tickets here .

You can go on my self-guided Westminster walk if you’re interested in discovering more of the area beyond the sightseeing attractions, too. It will lead you to some of the side streets and tucked-away spaces locals spend time in.

When evening comes, have a casual dinner near where you’re staying. If you’re jet lagged or you had to wake up early to travel, you might be feeling tired.

You can take a look at my list of my favorite restaurants in London if you need inspiration or want to get some ideas for places to eat while you’re in town.

If you do have energy left or you get a second wind, take an open-top bus tour to get an overview of London. It’s a fun way to get a feel for what the UK capital has to offer at the beginning of your week. You can book tickets here .

Day 2 in London: South Bank and the City of London

When morning comes, continue your London itinerary for 7 days by walking along the South Bank .

Right on the Thames , it’s an ideal area to admire the views from the London Eye or browse the book market on the riverfront. You can book London Eye tickets here (you’ll need to book in advance).

There are always street performers, pop-ups, and festivals taking place on the South Bank, so it’s entertaining to meander along the Thames and see what’s happening while you’re visiting.

As you walk east from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, you’ll go by Tate Modern and Borough Market, two more of the city’s most beloved sites.

The museum is a popular place to visit, and the fact that entry is free means it’s possible to spend as much or as little time inside as you want to. There are great views from the top of the Blavatnik Building if you’d like to see the skyline as well.

Not far away, Borough Market is just the spot to grab something for lunch. There are stalls selling everything from burgers to baked goods and beyond.

I always make a point of walking around to soak up the colors and scents of the stalls before choosing.

After getting your fill at Borough Market, cross London Bridge to get into the City of London . Make sure to look to your right to take in the views of Tower Bridge as you go.

From the eye-catching dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the historic lanes around Bank station, this area of the UK capital has more than its fair share of architectural history . You can take my self-guided City of London walk if you want to see the best of it.

If not, walk or take the tube over to Tower Hill to see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You can tour the tower and the bridge if you want to, or just take them in from outside. You can book Tower of London tickets here .

When evening comes, walk across Tower Bridge and head to Bermondsey Street . Locals love this place for its fun pubs and excellent restaurants. Whether you want tapas, pasta, or fish and chips, you can enjoy it here.

Day 3 in London: Notting Hill and the West End

The next morning, your London itinerary for 7 days continues in Notting Hill . This vibrant west London neighborhood is one of the most famous local areas in the city. You’ll find everything from shops to markets and mews here.

If it’s a Saturday, the iconic Portobello Road Market will be in full-swing. Make sure to get here early to avoid the crowds that build up as the day goes by.

If it’s not a Saturday, you can still head to the market and check out the stalls and shops that are open when you visit. Some form of market takes place here nearly every day.

Beyond the market, my self-guided Notting Hill walk is a fun way to see the best of the area. It will lead you around to the high streets, tucked-away lanes, famous filming locations, and restaurants in the neighborhood.

After having lunch in Notting Hill, make your way down to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park . You can spend the afternoon taking in everything from the Serpentine lake to the art galleries and Kensington Palace.

When evening approaches, take the tube or walk through Mayfair to get to Soho and Covent Garden . They’re some of the most popular places in central London .

There’s no shortage of options for eating and drinking around here, and Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Covent Garden Piazza, and Leicester Square are exciting places to spend time in London at night .

You can eat dinner in the West End before going to see a show. Whether you dine at a quintessential restaurant like Rules, a classic place in Chinatown, or one of the many new cafes opening all the time, this part of the city has something for every taste and budget.

There are lots of musicals, plays, comedy shows, and gigs on in the West End throughout the year. Seeing a performance is a great way to cap off a day of sightseeing in London. From dramas to farces, there’s a wide range to choose from.

If you want to go out after seeing a show, the bars and pubs in Soho and Covent Garden are some of the best in the city center. They’re great places to get a taste of London’s famous nightlife scene.

My go-to is Cahoots, a London Underground-themed speakeasy just off Carnaby Street. It’s one of my favorite travel-themed bars in the city.

Day 4 in London: Day Trip

Continue your London itinerary for 7 days with a day trip from London . While there’s enough to do in the city to fill a few decades, there are a lot of places around it that are worth a special trip.

If you love being by the seaside, Brighton , Hastings , and Deal are my top picks. They all have great beaches and plenty of shops and restaurants to discover. They’re easy day trips from London by train , too.

If you’re a fan of the English countryside, I recommend taking a day trip to the Cotswolds . You can go independently with or without a car , or on a day tour . You can book a tour here .

There are plenty of charming towns and villages in the Cotswolds to visit. My favorites include Painswick , Castle Combe, Upper Slaughter , and Bibury.

If you’re a history lover, Winchester , Bath , Canterbury and Dover , Lewes , and Amersham are great. Amersham is so close you can even take the tube.

If you’re into famous university cities , look no further than Oxford and Cambridge . These are some of my favorite places to go on a day out from London.

And if cathedral cities are your thing, my top picks are Canterbury in Kent, Norwich in Norfolk, York in Yorkshire, St Albans in Hertfordshire, and Ely in Cambridgeshire. They all have stunning churches and great city centers.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even take a day trip to Paris from London . There are other day trips from London to Europe that make for exciting adventures, too. From Brussels to Lille and Amsterdam , you’re spoiled for choice.

If you want to see my recommendations for seasonal trips, you can take a look at my guides to spring , summer , autumn , and winter day trips from London for ideas.

Day 5 in London: Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell, and Local Areas

Back in the capital, I recommend spending the fifth of your 7 days in London exploring more of the city center and either the East End or parts of north London .

Start your day in Bloomsbury , where you can go to the British Museum or just walk around taking in the leafy squares. My self-guided Bloomsbury walk can take you around to see the highlights of the area.

From Bloomsbury it’s a short walk to Clerkenwell . Here you can discover London’s design district and visit places like Exmouth Market, Leather Lane, or St John Street for lunch at one of the many good restaurants and cafes.

St John restaurant is a favorite of mine, as is the Fox & Anchor pub , which is right around the corner.

You can do my Clerkenwell walking tour if you want to as well. It will lead you around the area and show you hidden spots in places like Smithfield and Holborn.

After exploring Clerkenwell you have two options: walk to Shoreditch and spend the rest of the day exploring the hip East End, or walk to King’s Cross and spend the rest of the day exploring north London.

If you choose the former, Clerkenwell is a short walk from Old Street in Shoreditch . This trendy area in east London is known for its nightlife scene. If you time your arrival for drinks-and-dinner o’clock, you’ll see the neighborhood at its best.

If you have time beforehand, you can do one of my self-guided Shoreditch walks or check out the street art this part of London is known for. My favorite is on New Inn Yard.

If you have energy left later in the night, head to Hackney . This is one of the coolest neighborhoods in London , and it has a great nightlife scene.

The same goes for nearby Hackney Wick, which is one of the most hipster areas in the city . The bars here are some of the best in the UK capital.

If you prefer to explore north London, you can walk from Clerkenwell to King’s Cross and check out the area around Regent’s Canal, Granary Square, and King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations.

From there you can take the Northern line of the tube to Camden, Primrose Hill, or Hampstead. Camden is famous for its market , and the area is a popular place to shop for London souvenirs , eat, drink, and dine.

Primrose Hill is home to pretty shops, cafes, restaurants, and side streets. It also has a leafy park with sweeping views over central London.

Hampstead is a village-like area with beautiful lanes, great local pubs, and a fun high street . I lived here for years, and it’s my favorite part of London.

Depending where you want to focus, you can do my Regent’s Canal walk from King’s Cross, my Primrose Hill walk , or my Hampstead walk if you have time.

All three places have great options for restaurants, pubs, and cafes, so you can settle in for the evening and enjoy dinner while living like a local.

Day 6 in London: St James’s, Mayfair, and Marylebone

Continue your London itinerary for 7 days by heading into St James’s . This upscale part of the city is known for its historic royal palace , men’s shops, luxury hotels , art galleries, and members’ clubs.

You can walk down Jermyn Street and Piccadilly , and pop into famous department stores like Fortnum & Mason.

From there, walk across Piccadilly to get to Mayfair . This high-end area is home to luxury goods shops, fine dining restaurants, and the iconic curving stretch of Regent Street. You can do my Mayfair walk if you want to discover the best of the area.

Mayfair is a fun place to have a meal or afternoon tea . Whether you go to a casual place on Heddon Street or opt for a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you can’t go wrong for lunch.

When it comes to tea, I love Brown’s Hotel afternoon tea and the fabulous yellow room at Sketch on Conduit Street.

After lunch or tea, head across Oxford Street to get to Marylebone . This is another of my favorite London neighborhoods , not least because it has one of the best high streets in London .

There are lots of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and shops on Marylebone High Street , and they’re great places to get into London’s culinary and retail therapy scenes.

From boutiques to coffee shops, you’re spoiled for choice. My favorite place to shop in Marylebone is Daunt Books. It’s one of the best (and most beautiful) independent bookshops in London . It’s worth a special trip to see it.

If you want to, you can use my self-guided Marylebone walk to explore the highlights of the area. It will lead you around to hidden mews, gardens, and more.

After you’ve explored Marylebone, walk north to get to Regent’s Park . This is one of the most famous green spaces in London, and it’s an enjoyable place to have a wander. If it’s summer, don’t miss the stunning rose gardens.

When the sun starts to go down, head back to Marylebone High Street for dinner or leave via one of the other exits of the park and eat in pretty Primrose Hill , fun Camden (if you haven’t already explored them), or classic Fitzrovia .

Day 7 in London: Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and South Kensington

Continue your London itinerary for 7 days in Belgravia. This luxurious area is full of cute cafes and shops, particularly those on Elizabeth Street .

You can do my self-guided Belgravia walking tour to see the neighborhood highlights, or just wander around the leafy squares and hidden mews. Highlights include Motcomb Street, Pimlico Road, and Belgrave Square.

From Belgravia, walk over to Sloane Square and the King’s Road in Chelsea . These are fun places to shop and dine. You can have lunch at any number of restaurants here.

If it’s a Saturday , don’t miss the food market in Duke of York Square. If it’s not, there’s still plenty to entertain you. The King’s Road is one of the best shopping streets in London , after all.

If you want to, you can do my self-guided Chelsea walk to see the area’s side streets, colorful houses, and riverfront.

From Chelsea, either head up to Knightsbridge to shop at famous department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, or make your way over to South Kensington to explore the museums.

If you choose the former, you can see the area around the shops on my self-guided Knightsbridge walk . There are lots of beautiful streets and mews to take in here.

If you choose the latter, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are right next to each other. They all offer free entry, so you can spend as much or as little time in them as you’d like to. They have great exhibitions, too (book in advance).

When the sun goes down, you can have dinner at one of the casual restaurants outside the South Kensington tube station. There are plenty of different cuisines to choose from.

If you want to end your evening (and your trip!) in style, there’s great nightlife around Walton Street and the King’s Road. From historic pubs to cool bars and stylish clubs, you’re spoiled for choice.

I hope you’ve found my 7-day London itinerary helpful for planning your time in the city. This is an amazing place, and there’s a lot to see and do while you’re here. I’ve spent years living in the UK capital, and I still haven’t seen it all.

If you’re interested in learning more, there are additional ideas for things to do in the city in Secret London – An Unusual Guide . If you’re in the UK, you can get it here . If you’re in the US, you can get it here . Happy travels!

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7 Day London Itinerary: Plan a Perfect Week in London

We recently spent one week in London and, as you can imagine from a travel planner, I spent a lot of time thinking about our London itinerary before we left. One thing that always surprises me about planning a trip to London is just how much there is to do in the city. While 7 days in London seems like a long time, you will be surprised by how quickly your time fills up.

With 5 days in London, you will have enough time to hit all of the highlights if you are smart about how you organize your time. However, I’d recommend planning a week in London to leave some time for day trips to places like Stonehenge, Oxford , or Bath , or specialty tours. Based on our own trip, and my experience planning multiple London trips for other families, I’ve put together this 7 day London itinerary as your very own cheat sheet to planning an awesome trip.

Wondering how much a 7-day trip to London costs? Check out my London trip budget guide .

7 Day London Itinerary with Family

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

I’ve created this 7-day itinerary with London for families in mind, taking care not to overstuff the days racing from attraction to attraction. Trust me, it is easy to fill every second of the day and still not see everything in London. But since that will make most kids miserable, I’ve tried to balance out sightseeing with some downtime and included the must-see attractions that are appealing to families with children of all ages.

We visited London with our teen (see more things to do in London with teens ), but this is a trip that will appeal to school-age children and tweens as well. If you do plan on visiting many of the attractions and historical sights listed in this London itinerary, you may want to look at investing in the London Pass.

Day One – Arrival

If you are coming from the United States, you will likely arrive pretty early and have a lot of time to kill on not much sleep before you are able to check into your hotel. Ideally, you can book a room for the night before so that you can check in as soon as you arrive, but at a minimum try to request early check-in.

We stayed in two different locations in central London, which I will explain more about later. The first, the Royal Garden Hotel , was near Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, with easy access to the Tube. The second, the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences , was within easy walking distance to most of central London in Mayfair. For more options, also check out the top family-friendly hotels in London on TripAdvisor.

If you decide on an apartment rental , be sure to work out luggage storage with the property managers so you don’t have to lug your bags around until check-in time.

If you do need to kill some time, a hop-on hop-off bus tour is a good way to get a sense of the city without expending too much energy.

You can also spend some time relaxing in Hyde Park. In nice weather, you can rent a pedal boat on the Serpentine. Young children will love the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, or you can take a tour of Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens.

We loved staying at the Royal Garden Hotel, just steps away from Kensington Palace. We spent our time until our room was ready taking in the Princess Diana exhibit at Kensington Palace . That night we took advantage of the hotel’s food and flicks package to watch a movie and order up a room service buffet of fun treats.

Whatever you do, don’t overdo it on your first day because you want to save your energy for the rest of the trip. This is your day to get acclimated and seek out those classic British experiences (like a family photo in a red telephone booth!)

Day Two – Royal London

If you start your day early, you can fit in many of London’s most recognizable attractions for a big “wow” factor on your first full day. Start off at Westminster Abbey, the coronation church since 1066 and the burial spot for many of England’s most famous authors, poets, and royalty, including 17 monarchs. With over 1,000 years of history, this has been an important historical landmark for centuries.

It is highly recommended to book online tickets and ticket sales open up two months in advance. If you aren’t taking a formal tour , at least rent an audio guide so you can understand what you are looking at.

Depending on how much time you spend in Westminster Abbey (allot at least one hour) and when you started, you may be able to catch the Royal Horse Guard Parade . This can be a nice alternative or complement to the more well-known Changing of the Guard (and it is much easier to get a better viewing spot.)

The Queen’s Life Guard changes daily during the Horse Guards Parade at 11:00 on weekdays and   10:00 on Sundays. The Horse Guards leave Hyde Park Barracks at 10:30 on weekdays and 9:30 on Sundays to ride to Horse Guards Parade via Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill, and The Mall on their way to the guard change ceremony.

The New Guard arrives at Horse Guards Parade at 11:00 am and the ceremony lasts about half an hour. The Old Guard leaves Horse Guards Parade at 11:30 and passes Buckingham Palace at 11:45 am. Just be sure to check the schedules in advance as they can vary by season and depend on any royal appearances.

From there, walk down to the River Thames for a boat trip down to the Tower of London. The London Pass will get you into Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and includes a Thames River Cruise, or you can just buy a hop-on, hop-off boat tour ticket.

Or, you can take a faster water taxi using your Oyster Card . An Oyster Card is a transportation pass for the Underground Metro. You can get a Visitor Pass and load it up depending on how much you think you will use the Tube during your stay. Either way, arriving at the Tower of London via the Thames is reminiscent of how prisoners or visitors were brought to the Tower back in the day and it is a cool way to cruise through the city.

I would highly recommend a tour of the Tower of London . I know the first time I visited, we mainly went to see the Crown Jewels and nothing else really stuck with me, but there is so much history there to soak up. The Tower of London was built in the 1070s by William the Conqueror and has been a prison, royal armory, royal mint, and even a zoo.

For 500 years, the Tower was used by monarchs as a luxurious palace, but today it is more well-known for some of its most infamous prisoners and the mysteries surrounding some of them. With all the history, you can see why I recommend visiting with a guide. Walking around on your own is fine if you just want to see the Crown Jewels or the Ravens, but the rooms are rather bare without the stories that fill them.

You can always take one of the public Yeoman Warder tours, but you may end up with a group of 40 people. We saw those around the grounds and I imagine it would be very hard to hear and see in a group that large, let alone ask questions.

What we did was take a half-day tour that included Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London , which worked out great. If you are visiting London around Christmas , like we did, you can expect really long lines to get in. Luckily your guide can navigate lines and get you fast-tracked.

If you need lunch beforehand, take a walk over to Leadenhall Market. This covered market is filled with boutiques, shops, restaurants, and bars, and was even used in filming Harry Potter as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.

If you don’t want to go out of your way, there is also a small cafe on-site at the Tower of London that serves meat pies and small snacks.

After spending a couple of hours exploring the Tower of London, I would recommend walking across the Tower Bridge and visiting the Tower Bridge Exhibition . Tower Bridge is the iconic bridge that many of us think of as “London Bridge.” Today you can walk across the Bridge on high-level glass walkways for stunning panoramic views.

You can also go into the magnificent Victorian Engine Rooms and see the engineering magic behind this landmark.

Day Three – City of London

If you didn’t catch the Horse Guard Parade yesterday, make sure you get to Buckingham Palace early for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Be sure to plan ahead and check the schedule , especially if you are visiting in the winter as the ceremony doesn’t happen every day in the winter.

If the ceremony is taking place at 11 am, I would recommend arriving at the Palace NO LATER than 10:30 am (10:15 or even 10 am would be better to get primo spots by the fence.) Expect big crowds so keep an eye on your children and your purses/bags.

You may want to bring a selfie stick to take pictures above the crowds. You can also gather by the monument across from the palace and still get a good view of the guards as they march in.

After the parade, walk through the Mall over to Trafalgar Square. It is always fun to pose with the lions in front of Nelson’s Column. You can also stop at the National Gallery in the Square (admission is free!)

From here, walk through Leicester Square (you may want to check out the giant Lego Store) and over to Covent Garden for lunch and some shopping. Try Chez Antionette for fresh soup, tartine, and charcuterie, or make a reservation at Dishoom for some excellent Indian food (you MUST try the Black Daal!)

If you aren’t too tired, continue on to St. Paul’s Cathedral . You can visit and see where Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married. St. Paul’s is open to visitors Monday through Saturday. It opens for visitors at 8:30 am on most days and 10:00 am on Wednesdays and the last visitors can enter at 4:00 pm.

You can buy tickets right up until the time of entry, but it is recommended that you purchase them in advance. You can even climb to the top of the Dome for views over London.

Day Four – South Bank

Start your day at either Westminster or Waterloo station and get some good views from the South Bank side of the Westminster Bridge of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

After catching your photo opportunity, head over to the London Eye . I’d highly recommend booking in advance so you can skip the line when you arrive.

If you don’t want to worry about arriving at a certain time, you can always buy a Flex ticket that lets you skip the line at any point during the day that you reserved.

This could be a good idea to give you more flexibility to work around the weather. When we visited we booked a timed-entry ticket and it was great to skip the line, but there wasn’t a very big line anyway because it was rainy. The rain definitely impeded our views from the top, but it was still a fun experience.

Stop for lunch at Black & Blue near Waterloo or Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe . If you can continue to walk along the waterfront, you will pass the Millennium Bridge and arrive at Shakespeare’s Globe.

You can stop in for a guided tour of this reconstructed theater or visit the Tate Modern museum.

End your exploration of the South Bank at the fantastic Borough Market . Just make sure you save some room after lunch to sample some of the tasty food stalls and shops. Borough Market is the oldest and largest food market in London, with a focus on quality food, sustainable production, and social interaction. Nearby, you can see filming sites for both Harry Potter and Bridget Jones’ Diary.

There are also plenty of other things to do on the South Bank, but some are really touristy (e.g. SEA Life Aquarium) and these will give you a more authentic experience. If you have some extra time, you may want to try to catch the sunset from the viewing gallery at The Shard, a skyscraper comprised of office space, residences, and restaurants and bars. The viewing platform is on floors 68, 69, and 72, almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London, offering 360-degree views for up to 40 miles.

Day Five – Museums and more

There are many museums in London (and so many are free!) but one that you can’t miss is the immense British Museum . There are eight million artifacts to see, so it is best to explore the museum with a guide . I should recognize that many of these artifacts were taken from their native homes and that is something to explore as you talk to the kids about colonialism (and rewatch the museum scene in the Black Panther.)

If you are visiting London with kids, make sure to find a family-friendly guide that can orient the tours to capture the imaginations and spark the curiosity of kids of all ages.

Set aside at least half a day to explore the museum. Afterward, stop into Hamley’s, the world’s largest toy store, to delight the kids. Or, enjoy some ice cream sundaes at the Fortnum & Mason department store.

Today may also be a good day to schedule an afternoon tea. After all, that is a must-do when in London and there are so many options that are kid-friendly. There is the science-themed afternoon tea at the Ampersand Hotel, the Arcane Wizard’s afternoon tea at the Wands and Wizards Exploratorium, and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea at One Aldwych, along with many others.

Day Six – Shopping and Special Interests

You won’t run out of things to do with 1 week in London, but make sure you leave time for the things you really enjoy. As major Harry Potter fans, we enjoyed a day out at the Warner Bros. Studio Making of Harry Potter tour . Between transportation and time on site, this really ends up taking nearly a whole day from your London itinerary.

Just make sure if you plan on doing this that you book your tickets months in advance because they sell out really early!

We also spent part of one of our days taking a Harry Potter Black Cab driving tour to see all the Harry Potter attractions in London. See my post about Harry Potter sites in London for my full review of both the Studio Tour (spoiler alert: totally a must-do for Harry Potter fans) and the Black Cab Tour (spoiler: only for true die-hards.)

If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, I have to say I found that museum pretty disappointing. There are so many options depending on your interests from a Beatles walking tour, Dr. Who walking tour ,  ghost tours , a street art tour , and even a Paddington bear tour .

You may also want to visit some of the classic London department stores like Harrod’s or Claridges. And take time to go to the theater. This could also be a good day to visit some other London attractions like Churchill’s War Rooms, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Kew Gardens, or Nottinghill.

If you enjoy food and drink (who doesn’t?), you may want to look at a gin tasting tour or an evening SoHo food tour .

Day Seven – Day Trip

If you have one week in London, you should have enough time to plan at least one day trip. Popular day trips include Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Oxford, or Bath. You can visit Oxford or Bath as a day trip by train on your own, or book a guided Stonehenge and Bath day trip .

We wanted to do something on our own but didn’t want to drive. So we took a custom day trip with British Tours to Stonehenge and Oxford . Our driver-guide Michael did an excellent job explaining Stonehenge’s fascinating history and showed us all the Harry Potter tie-ins at Oxford.

Located about 1.5 hours from London, a Stonehenge day trip is one of the most popular for families. There is just something about those mysterious prehistoric stones that fascinates kids and adults alike — especially families like ours that have a special interest in sci-fi and fantasy. After all, isn’t it fun to imagine that those stones were placed there by aliens? (But don’t worry, they weren’t.)If you are visiting Stonehenge on your own, you will want to spend some time in the visitor center to understand its history. You will park at the visitor center up the road and then take a shuttle over to the stone circle. You can no longer walk right up and touch the stones, as barriers have been erected to preserve this historical site.

Our driver-guide Michael from British Tours filled us in on the history of Stonehenge on the ride up from London. We don’t really know the purpose of the stones, since they are 5100 years old (built around the same time as the pyramids) and pre-date written history.

We don’t know what is special about the area, but we have to assume that the whole area was considered sacred as there is also another mini Stonehenge nearby. The smaller stones are 5,000 lbs. and they came from Wales 125 miles away. It is mind-boggling to consider how the ancient Druids crafted and moved these stones when the wheel hadn’t even been invented yet and there was no metal yet to use to shape the stones. The larger stones came from only 25 miles away but they are tens of thousands of pounds!

Oxford is another great day trip pick for families. There is enough to see that you could spend a weekend in Oxford . This university town is both quaint and rich in history. In warmer weather, families can enjoy taking a punting boat out on the river. But one of the main draws for us (and other families) is that it was the filming site for many scenes in the Harry Potter movies. If you visit on your own, you can join a Harry Potter walking tour. But since I told British Tours that this was important to us, our driver guide Michael was able to focus much of our visit on seeing these sites.

Oxford used to be called Oxenford (where oxen crossed or forded the Thames to be brought to market), but it became a place for study after students were thrown out of the Sorbonne in France because of a war in the 1200s. They came to Oxford to study and it grew until it was granted status as a University. Today, the University of Oxford has 38 individual colleges.

There is so much to see in Oxford you can really spend at least a full day but our Oxford tour started off at New College, where Michael pointed out the Cloisters, which were used for many hallway scenes in the Harry Potter movies. You can also see the tree where Draco Malfoy was turned into a ferret.

After lunch we visiting the Great Hall at Christchurch College, which was where they filmed scenes for the dining hall at Hogwarts. And the staircase was where McGonagall greeted all the first year students in the first movie. Something about it just makes you want to put on a robe, head into the library and start studying (magic or something else!)

Oxford is such a wonderful place to visit for those with a literary bent. Famous authors like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, Lewis Carroll and others have spent time in Oxford and it is fun to follow in their footsteps.

Visiting both places was a full day, departing at 8am and returning to our central London hotel by 6pm. In the summer, it would be light longer and attractions would stay open later. If that was the case, we would have included a stop in the village of Lacock in the Cotswolds, another Harry Potter filming site.

So there you have it, a London itinerary with 7 days jam-packed full (but not too full) of fun!

Getting to and around London

Most airlines from the USA will fly into London Heathrow (LHR) airport, although you may find some that go into London Gatwick (LGW.) If you are looking for cheap flights to London, you may want to look at discount airlines like Play Airlines through Iceland, or use miles and points on JetBlue or American Airlines (or other OneWorld Alliance Members.)

We actually found cheap flights (under $500 per person just before Christmas) on Aer Lingus through Dublin. While it took a little longer, it was worth the cost savings and if you have more time, you can always combine a trip to London with 3 days in Dublin .

If you fly into Heathrow, the fastest way to get to Central London is on the Heathrow Express train. This high-frequency train service provides a 15-minute journey from London Paddington Station to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, with an extra six minutes to Terminal 5. A free transfer is available to Terminal 4.

Alternatively, the average price of a cab from Heathrow to central London is £90. If you want to arrange a private transfer instead of waiting in line for a cab, it will only cost a little bit more.

Once you arrive in London, you will want to learn how to use the Underground metro to get around. The “Tube” as it is called in London is easy to navigate. The Underground is divided into nine zones and all of central London is covered by zone 1. There are 11 Tube lines in all, so you just need to identify the line you want to take, the endpoint of the direction in which you are traveling, and the station you want to get off at.

The Tube fare depends on how far you travel, the time of day, and how you pay. The Oyster card or contactless payments are the cheapest way to pay for single fares. An adult cash fare on the London metro for a single journey in zone 1 is £5.50. The same Tube fare with a Visitor Oyster card, Oyster card or contactless payment card is £2.40. 

A Visitor Oyster Card is a smartcard that lets you pay for journeys on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, River Bus, and most National Rail services in London. You put money on your Visitor Oyster card and use it to pay as you go. You can purchase the Visitor Oyster Card before you travel and it will be delivered to your home and ready to use when you arrive.

Where to Stay in London with Kids

Note: We received a media package at the Royal Garden Hotel and hosted stay at the Athenaeum, all opinions are my own.

Royal Garden Hotel

The Royal Garden Hotel is located just outside of Kensington Gardens, nestled between Hyde Park and Millionaires Row on a sought-after piece of real estate on Kensington Road. With some rooms overlooking the park, the location really offers the best of both worlds.

It is convenient to all major attractions (Tower of London, London Eye, etc.) with the Kensington High Street tube station just a five-minute walk from the hotel. Yet you also have the peaceful views of the park with easy access to fun and play. It is a five-minute walk to Kensington Palace and just 10 minutes to the Princess Diana Memorial playground. The Royal Garden hotel even offers loaner scooters to families that want to spend time enjoying the park!

The Royal Garden Hotel décor has the feel of an upscale business hotel – clean and classy without a ton of personality. We stayed in an Executive Room and it was surprisingly spacious for the three of us. I didn’t have a chance to tour other rooms but the Executive Room with a king-sized bed and full pullout sofa bed is plenty of room for a family of four with two small children or a family of three with a teenager.

The bathroom was also quite large with both a tub and stand-up shower. Of course, it always makes me happy when a hotel offers a heated towel rack, robes, and slippers – especially when I want to warm up after a chilly, wet day exploring London. Some of the other luxe perks that I appreciated were the turndown service with complimentary bottled water, complimentary shoe shine, and no additional charge for breakfast room service – this really helped us get out the door on time in the mornings!

Since we stayed for four nights, we had time to enjoy all three of the Royal Garden Hotel’s restaurants. The kid-friendly Park Terrace restaurant offers pretty views and a generous breakfast buffet (so it pays to book a package that includes free breakfast), as well as options for lunch and tea. Bertie’s Bar offers light bites, perfect for when you need just a little snack after indulging at high tea. For a splurge, the Min Jiang restaurant on the tenth floor offers authentic Chinese cuisine with beautiful views over Hyde Park.

Athenaeum Hotel & Residences

For the latter part of our stay, we switched over to the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, on Piccadilly in the Mayfair neighborhood. This is a great location in the heart of London, just a couple of minutes’ walk to the Green Park tube station. Buckingham Palace, Fortnum & Mason department store, Hamley’s toy store, and Trafalgar Square are all within a five-to-ten-minute walk.

The Athenaeum really prides itself on making you feel at home. Every time we walked in, it was “Welcome home Mrs. Gruber” and when we left “Have a good day Mrs. Gruber.” The deluxe rooms are a bit tight for a family of three once you bring in the rollaway bed, but the Athenaeum also offers family rooms and luxury serviced apartments with fully-equipped kitchenettes.

The design and decor are luxurious and fashionable, while still feeling comfortable and child-friendly. The lobby is small but a cozy spot to enjoy a cup of tea and watch the foot traffic along Piccadilly. It was especially beautiful all decked out in its Christmas finery.

Just off the lobby is 116 at the Athenaeum, featuring local produce from independent farmers across the United Kingdom for a modern take on classic British dishes. We had dinner at the restaurant on our second night and enjoyed the braised venison shoulder, Dingley Dell bacon chop with bubble and squeak, and the parsnip and cider soup. For pickier eaters, there is also a children’s menu.

Upstairs, it was all about comfort. Our deluxe room was cozy and the bathroom was also much smaller than the family-sized bathroom at the Royal Garden, but the decor and touches were all about stylish luxury. You couldn’t beat our views over Green Park and, for overlooking Piccadilly, the room was surprisingly quiet.

The Athenaeum also provides the amenities you would expect from a luxury hotel — robes, slippers, turn-down service, a coffee maker, and a mini-fridge with free coffee, tea, milk, juice, and water. With such luxurious comforts, stand-out service, and a convenient location, I would have loved to stay even longer at the Athenaeum.

Looking for more information?

If you are planning a trip to London, be sure to also check out these posts:

• Trip to Lond on cost
• Festive things to do in London at Christmas
• Ultimate fan guide for Harry Potter attractions in London

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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.

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Publish Date: November 23, 2022

4 thoughts on “7 Day London Itinerary: Plan a Perfect Week in London”

The ITINERARY appeared to be ok. How ever I think you could have visited more places in London in seven days. Good to see that South Bank was in list of places to visit. Thanks you very much, I like your experience in London.

I am sure we could have but we like to make sure we have downtime on our trips too.

As a Brit who has visited London many times and because my brother-in-law is a yeoman warder at the tower of london ( so he and my sister live inside the tower so thats where I get to stay 😉 )I have to say this is a pretty good ITINERARY although maybe exhausting.One always seems to spend an inordinate amount of time on the underground.

My one tip for visitors. If you are British contact your MP for a free visit around the house of Lords and commons – it is your right to claim one. If you are a foreign visitor but have british friends get them to contact their mp so they can take you for free. I also recommend the 24hr open top bus ticket and remember you get a free boat trip too and access to walking tours. There is also a Jack the Ripper Walk that starts at 6pm near to Tower Hill Underground station. Make sure the leader is an off duty Yeoman warder (beefeater) because they are the best tours. Good Luck

Thanks for the feedback Rob! I tend to plan to keep us busy but then cut things out if we are tired or time runs short 🙂

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Itinerary for 7 days in London – the perfect week

The Introverted Solo Traveller contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.

London Itinerary 7 Days – Are you ready for the perfect week?

Introduction

London is a magnificent city. There is no doubt about it. London has old charm and it is also modern. There is so much to see that even one week isn’t quite enough for everything, but it will give you a very good impression.

This amazing city has everything for everyone: history buffs, art lovers, foodies, walkers. Just everyone. 

In this post, I want to give you an example itinerary on how to spend your 7 days in London and help you plan, what to look out for, and what not to miss. There are many things to do in London, so be prepared to have a full-on week.

I’ll leave the food side to you as the tastes are so different, and there are loads of restaurants in London to choose from.

Tips & Tricks

London pass.

London offers many attractions, and you might not believe it but a lot of them are even free – well, at least when it comes to museums. 

However, there are lots of places to visit that you need a ticket for. You have the potential to save some money if you buy the ‘London Pass’. A digital ticket that gives you access to over 80 attractions using the credits that are included.

You can buy the London Pass for 1 day up to 10 days. For this itinerary, I recommend buying the 4-day London Pass which costs £149 per adult.

The app that comes with the pass also allows you to book the attractions in advance. Do make use of this as queues on the day can get quite long, or there is a good chance, that an attraction is already fully booked.

London Travel

The tube system in London is a great way to get around the city. Be aware that it can get quite crowded during rush hour when people go to their jobs and return. At other times, it’s usually not too bad.

You can buy a ‘ Visitor Oyster Card’ to use the tube system for £5, but if you have a contactless credit or debit card, then that’s actually not necessary. You can just tab your card on the card reader and it will work just like an Oyster Card. This saves you the hassle of buying a card and loading money on it. 

The daily cap will still be considered, so you won’t pay more than when using an Oyster Card.

Payment in London

London, and the UK in general, are very much a cashless country. There is hardly a place where you can’t pay by card, and some places don’t even take cash anymore. So don’t take out too much cash when you arrive, you probably won’t need it. 

Instead use your credit card, preferably one, that doesn’t charge you a foreign transaction fee for every transaction. This way you don’t have to spend the leftover cash or worry about where the next ATM is when you run out.

Okay, then let’s start with our 7-day London itinerary.

Day 1 – Historic Heart of London

Morning – buckingham palace and changing of the guards.

Closest Tube Station: St James’s Park Palace Price: Free OR £30 per adult

What to do on the first day in London? I’m sure many want to have a feel of being near the royals.

When you picture the Royals you might see them waving from a big balcony. If that’s the case, then Buckingham Palace is that place. 

Home of the monarch, and still a working royal palace. Pretty impressive. And even though the King works from there, people can take tours. 

You can see the White Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Ballroom, the Music Room, and a big staircase – I mean the Grand Staircase. 

If you do want to see all this, then you need to book an advanced ticket which costs £30.

During the Winter months, the public tours are not taking place. You can book exclusive guided tours which cost £95 per person – not cheap, I know. 

You can still Buckingham Palace from the outside which is free, as is the Changing of the Guards. 

The Changing of the Guards usually happens at 11 a.m. Check out this website to see which guards you’ll be able to see on what days.

Afternoon – Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben

Closest Tube Station: Westminster Station Prices: Westminster Abbey £27 per adult (included in London Pass), Houses of Parliament Tour £25 per adult, Big Ben Tour £25 per adult

A short stroll from Buckingham Palace is a hub of tourist spots. We have Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben within a few steps from each other. It’s quite a sight.

Let’s start with Westminster Abbey. This Royal church has recently been in the news for the coronation of King Charles III. And it is definitely a sight to behold. Already magnificent from the outside, the inside is equally stunning. 

Try to book your ticket in advance as they do sell out.

The Houses of Parliament are also an imposing sight. And you can take tours to see what’s going on and if the politicians are actually working.

They offer tours of the Palace of Westminster and the Speaker’s House.  For the Speaker’s House, they only offer tours with multimedia guides, the Palace also has guided tours if that’s more your thing. Check out their website for more details.

Website Houses of Parliament

And last but not least, Big Ben. To book Big Ben tours, you have to go to the same website as the Houses of Parliament. The tours do sell out quickly though, so be aware.

The Big Ben tour takes you up a narrow 334-step stairwell. It is quite noisy, but ear defenders will be provided.

This tour might not be if you’re afraid of heights as the tour goes up to a height of 62 metres.

Fun Fact: Buckingham Palace and the area around Big Ben is actually part of the City of Westminster, but is included in the Greater London Area.

Evening – Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden

Closest Tube Station: Charing Cross Price: free

After so many old buildings, you’ll be glad to know you can see even more! The next stop is Trafalgar Square, named after the Battle of Trafalgar. It’s home to the National Gallery which is a stunning building. 

If you have time and fancy to see some art, then you can enter the gallery for free.

You’ll also find Nelson’s Column at Trafalgar Square and some unusual traffic lights. These traffic lights celebrate same-sex relationships.

After Trafalgar Square, you can stroll a little bit further to Covent Garden. It’s a shopping and entertainment hub with some beautiful buildings. 

They have independent stores and lovely restaurants, so you’ll definitely find something there to do.

If you’re in London during Christmas, then you’re able to see the beautiful Christmas lights here as well. 

Fun Fact: The movie ‘Last Christmas’ was set at Covent Garden.

Day 2 – From Crowns to Cathedrals and Classics

Morning – tower of london and tower bridge.

Closest Tube Station: Tower Hill Price: £33.60 per adult (included in London Pass), Tower Bridge £12.30 per adult (included in London Pass)

If you want to see some incredible jewellery, then you’re at the right place at the Tower of London. 

This is the place where the Crown Jewels are located if the Royals aren’t wearing them that day – which happens pretty rarely, but it happens.

The Tower of London is right next to the Tower Bridge which can’t be overlooked. 

The entrance is to the right of the Tower if you’re looking towards the River Thames. If you didn’t use the London Pass or booked in advance, then the ticket counter is opposite of the Tower of London next to a souvenir and fish & chip shop.

Once you’re inside the Tower, you don’t only have the Crown Jewels to look at, you can also marvel at the Ravens, yes, actual ravens. It is said that when the ravens leave, the kingdom will fall. So, the keepers are making sure there are always a few ravens around.

You can also visit the White Tower which is home to the Royal Armouries. Showcasing, you guessed it, arms and armours. 

And then there are the Crown Jewels. Be aware that you can’t really spend hours there, and that armed guards are in the area.

For the opening times, check the Tower of London’s website as they do vary to an extent.

Tower of London website

After your visit to the Tower of London, you should cross Tower Bridge. You can go to the top section and look down onto the actual bridge. The glass floors are not really my thing, but it might be for you.

 Afternoon – St. Paul’s Cathedral

Closest Tube Station: St. Paul’s Price: £20.50 per adult (advance online) / £23 (walk-up on the day) (included in London Pass)

What a stunning cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral is. Every time I enter, I’m wowed all over again.

It is such a beautiful cathedral that I can’t get enough of. I bought an annual pass previously and went there every time I visited London.

The ticket gives you entry to the Cathedral, the Crypt, and the Dome. There are quite a few steps to the dome (just over 500 if you go all the way up). I managed to do it even though I’m afraid of heights. I did keep back to the wall however as to not fall to my death. 

You do get some amazing views from the Dome. Of the inside of the Cathedral as well as outside. I definitely recommend going up.

Fun Fact: Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral are part of the City of London. If you would only take the City of London it would be a very small area, even smaller than the City of Westminster.

You should also go to Millennium Bridge. The view of St Paul’s from the Bridge is amazing.

Evening – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Show

If you want to have a somewhat unusual theatre experience, then the Shakespeare’s Globe can help you with that.

Their shows only run from April to October, so do check their website before you set your heart on a show here. However, they do offer a daily tour of the theatre all year round. These are held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. depending on the time of year, so you might have to shuffle this day around a bit.

What makes this location so unique is, that it’s round, thus explaining the name ‘Globe’, and it doesn’t have a proper roof, i.e., a closed roof. The central year is open-air, meaning it can be quite chilly there.

Furthermore, they have galleries with seats and standing spaces in front of the stage. Be aware if you don’t want to stand for the whole show, what type of seat you book.

Shakespeare’s Globe Website

Fun Fact: The Globe is the only thatched roof house in London since the Great Fire of London where they all were abolished and they had to get special permission.

Day 3 – Historic Markets and Hipster Vibes

No offence to hipsters, but I’m sure they agree that there are quite a few at the markets I’m going to suggest to you for Day 3. 

Prepare yourself to be so incredibly full in the evening that you can’t move any more.

Morning – Borough Market

Closest Tube Station: London Bridge Price: free

Borough Market, London’s self-proclaimed premier food market, was established in 1756, but it doesn’t look any older than 1860 😀

It’s a great market if you want to buy fresh food and it’s free to enter. They also have many food stalls, so you’ll definitely find something for breakfast here.

If you love cheese, then you’re at the right place here. So many cheeses to choose from. It’s incredible. 

They are closed on Mondays. Their opening times are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are already open at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.

Afternoon – A stroll in Shoreditch and Brick Lane

Closest Tube Station: Old Street Price: free

After that filling breakfast, a bit of a walk might not be a bad idea. A great area to walk around is Shoreditch. It is an arty area where you’ll find plenty of street art and independent shops.

It’s definitely worth a visit and only a 30-minute walk from Borough Market.

If you walk a bit further, you can also have a quick look at Brick Lane. It used to be a spot for Jack the Ripper murders, now it’s a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities.

You’ll again find lots of places to eat if you’re already hungry again.

 Evening – Camden Market

Closest Tube Station: Camden Town Price: free

Yes, you saw that right, another market! I know I’m crazy, but after this day, you can definitely contrast and compare.

Camden Market is also a bit different from Borough Market. There are a lot more permanent stores and food stalls (OMG, so many different and delicious food stalls to choose from – trust me, it’s hard to choose only one or two).

Camden itself is also somewhat eclectic but that’s part of its charm.

Other than eating food, you can also do a few things at Camden Market. If you like Tomb Raider and always wanted to prove yourself, then Tomb Raider: The Life Experience is for you.

It’s an interactive and immersive experience where you help Lara Croft. You can finally become the hero you always knew you were. This takes about 75 minutes to 2 hours and prices start from £33 per adult.

You can also play mini golf or go to an underground fun fair. Super cool. Entrance is free, you just pay for the rides you want to go on. 

It’s a cashless site. You will have to download the app and buy coins online. Super futuristic.

One of the most popular food items at Camden Market is the Sunday Roast Burrito. I had to wait in line for about 40 minutes until I had it in my hands. Not sure it was quite worth it, but it’s delicious and a sight to see.

Day 4 – Just a bit outside Central London

Morning – greenwich.

Closest Tube Station: I actually recommend going by Uberboat to Greenwich Pier Price: Royal Observatory £18 per adult, Cutty Sark £18 per adult (both included in London Pass)

One of my favourite areas of London is Greenwich. It is just so beautiful and so many things to see.

Greenwich is home to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark (a ship), the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Park, and so much more. 

You can definitely spend a whole day here. But for the morning, I would suggest, visiting Greenwich Park and enjoying the view over London’s skyline.

While you’re there, you can visit the Greenwich Royal Observatory. They have the Great Equatorial Telescope for you to look at. Or you can stand on the Prime Meridian Line which is the line for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Yep, that’s the place where that comes from.

If you’re more into boats, then you can also visit the Cutty Sark. You can explore the main deck, walk underneath the ship, or even take part in the Rig Climbing challenge (that’s nothing for peeps who don’t like heights like me).

I would also suggest you go through the tunnel, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, under the River Thames. It links Greenwich with Millwall. The entrance is the small building with the green top.

There is also the London Cable Car, also known as the Dangleway, that brings you across the River Thames to the Royal Victoria Docks. A one-way ticket costs £6 per adult.

Afternoon – Canary Wharf

Closest Tube Station: Canary Wharf Price: free

If you want to see people in suits, then you’re at the right place at Canary Wharf, London’s financial district.

It’s already impressive just walking through the high-rises there and having a great view of the opposite side of London.

You can also visit Crossrail Place Roof Garden. As the name says, it’s a garden, but beautifully arranged along the Meridian line and free to enter.

If a museum tickles your fancy, then Canary Wharf offers the Museum of London Docklands. Showcasing the history of the Docklands. It used to be a very poor area which has now been transformed.

Evening – West End Show 

Closest Tube Station: Leicester Square Price: depends

I’m not sure it is as famous as Broadway, but the West End is definitely an entertainment address in its own right. There are so many incredible shows and musicals being shown here. 

You could spend your week here alone.

Here are some of the most famous theatres in the West End:

• London Palladium
• Dominion Theatre
• Apollo Theatre
• Palace Theatre
• And lots more

And there are shows for every taste. If you like musicals you can get your fix, comedies yep, and if you need a bit of a dramatic show, then the West End got you covered as well.

Here are a few shows that have been long-running:

• The Mousetrap
• Les Misérables
• The Phantom Of The Opera

If you’re up for a show, then you can book your tickets here: https://officiallondontheatre.com/tkts/

And Leicester Square and the West End should be visited anyway, even if you don’t go to a show.

Day 5 – Shopping and Views

Morning – oxford street.

Closest Tube Station: Bond Street Price: free (window shopping)

There is a good chance that you also came to London for a little bit of shopping. The perfect address for that is Oxford Street. You can start the day by browsing Oxford Street.

Oxford Street is home to an incredible number of stores; some independent, some chains. If you’re looking for something to buy, then you’ll find it here, suitable for most wallet sizes. 

Afternoon – Tate Modern (Observation Deck)

Closest Tube Station: Cannon Street Price: free

London is home to many museums and all of them are worth a visit if you have the time. However, one museum, the Tate Modern, is worth a visit for an additional reason than “just” their exhibitions on modern art. 

The museum has the Tate Modern Blavatnik Building Viewing Level, meaning there is an observation with views of St Paul’s Cathedral free of charge. Which is just amazing.

There’s also a café up there if you fancy to enjoy the view with a hot beverage.

Evening – London Eye and River Cruise

Closest Tube Station: Waterloo Price: £46 per adult (combi ticket) (River Cruise: £14) (London Eye: £33)

What would be a visit to London without going on the London Eye and be totally scared? Exactly, unthinkable. If you’re afraid of heights like I am, don’t worry too much. You can also ride the London Eye.

The pods of the London Eye are incredibly big. And they move soo slowly! It’s very difficult to be too afraid. I just kept to the middle of the pod and was all right for most of the journey. The last few minutes could have passed a bit quicker, but it was okay in the end.

The journey takes 30 minutes in total and does provide you with an exceptional view of London.

The opening hours are usually from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the weekend and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

It’s advisable to book a ticket in advance and the queue times can get quite long.

If you like to go on boat tours when you’re somewhere like me, then you’ll also enjoy the River Cruise.

It starts from the pier in front of the London Eye. The cruise takes 40 minutes and cruises along the River Thames. You can listen to audio commentary during the cruise.

Again, advanced booking is advised. The last cruise usually leaves at 5.45 p.m. Check their website if individual prices are cheaper. That’s sometimes the case in the off-season.

London Eye Website

Day 6 – Great Day Trip from London

Option 1 – harry potter studios.

If you like Harry Potter then you should go to Waner Bros. Studio Tour Harry Potter. It’s a great opportunity to see the sets that were used for the films.

You can also take public transport if you don’t have a car available, but a tour is probably the easiest way to go about it.

Tickets should be pre-booked if you’re not taking a tour as they do sell out. There is a direct train from London Euston Station to Watford Junction. Once you arrive there, you can take the shuttle bus directly to the studios.

If you do want to take the tour, then you can get tickets here: Get Your Guide Harry Potter Tour

The dining hall is especially impressive – but really, all looks pretty cool. And you can get your own butter beer in the cafeteria.

Option 2 – Tour to Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath and Roman Bath Day Trip

You could do all of these in one day each, but not all together. And since time is limited during your one week in London, you might want to book a tour to tick off as much as possible.

Windsor was the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite castle. It is incredibly impressive and worth a visit.

With the tour, you get access to the Windsor Castle State Apartments and can see Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. If the latter doesn’t sway you, I don’t know what will 😀

After Stonehenge, the tour will take you to Stonehenge. Stonehenge are a few mysterious rocks in the middle of nowhere. 

It’s pretty cool to see, but I do have to admit that I was a little bit underwhelmed. But maybe that was just me. It’s definitely nice to be able to say that you have seen it.

And last but not least, Bath. It is a UNESCO World Heritage and a beautiful city. So many old buildings made from sandstone. It’s certainly a contrast to London, also due to its size. 

Located in Bath are the Roman Baths which is the best preserved Roman Spa from the ancient world. 

This tour can be booked here .

Option 3: Oxford by train

A day trip that can be done fairly easily by train is a journey to Oxford. There is a direct train from Paddington to Oxford, so you don’t even have to change trains and it will arrive within 55 minutes.

Oxford is another beautiful city to visit. Home to one of the oldest universities in Britain, Oxford University, there are so many spectacular buildings to see.

This city was also the place where a lot of Harry Potter scenes were filmed, and some of them can be visited when you’re there.

This city is highly walkable. If you arrive by train then you can see all the amazing buildings just by walking around.

You’ll also find many independent shops, cafés, and restaurants there.

I had one of the best Afternoon Teas at The Rose in Oxford. 

Other trips from London by train can be done to Cambridge, Canterbury, and Brighton to name a few.

Day 6 Alternative – Museums

I have given you quite the options for Day 6, and here is another one. But this one keeps you in London. However, it’s more for the people who really like museums and/or want to save a bit of money, as most museums in London are free to enter.

Morning – Natural History Museum or Science Museum

Closest Tube Station: South Kensington Price: free

There are so many to choose from but two of my favourite museums are the Natural History and the Science Museum. And they are only a few steps apart.

I believe the names are pretty self-explanatory, so I won’t delve much deeper into this.

You do need to pre-book the free tickets. The links can be found below:

Natural History Museum Website

Science Museum Website

Afternoon – V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum)

Just opposite the Science Museum is the V&A. It’s a museum dedicated to art, design, and performance.

They have often amazing exhibitions on, which you have to pay for (I saw a brilliant Fabergé exhibition there), but the permanent displays are already worth a visit. 

Evening – British Museum

Closest Tube Station: Tottenham Court Road Price: free

And last but not least, the British Museum. For me the quintessential museum with displays of different cultures from across the globe, from thousands of years ago until today.

This one also has free entry but pre-booking is advised.

British Museum Website

Day 7 – Last Day in London Extravaganza

Morning – harrods.

Closest Tube Station: Knightsbridge Price: free (window shopping)

So, it’s the last day of your trip. I know you will have already done most of your shopping in Oxford Street and the various markets, but a trip to London wouldn’t be complete without having a look at the astronomical expensive things that can be bought at Harrods.

If you don’t know Harrods, it’s the world’s leading luxury department store. I believe at some point, they even sold tropical animals. Crazy, I know. Start your day by spending the leftover money you have 😀 (Although if you listened to my advice at the beginning, you didn’t take out much cash).

I always walk around very carefully because I’m afraid to break something and be in debt for the rest of my life. But I still enjoy walking around.

They also have an area where there are restaurants and cafés, so you can have a nice (and probably not cheap) breakfast here.

Afternoon – Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

Closest Tube Station: Marble Arch (or walk from museums) Price: free

It’s the last day and after spending a potential fortune at Harrods, you might want to take it slow and just have a wander through some lovely parks. That’s where Hyde Park comes into play. It is a huge park in London.

If you’re coming during the Summer months, then you can even take a dip on the Serpentine – I haven’t done that yet, so please do so at your own risk.

To be fair, it’s not a super special park, but still a nice place to visit. If you were a fan of the late Princess Diana, then you’ll find the Diana Memorial Fountain here.

Or you can have a little paddle boat tour on the Serpentine.

Opposite the Serpentine are the Kensington Gardens. They used to be part of Kensington Palace, but are now open to the public. They close the gates at dusk, so be aware during your stroll as that time changes during the year.

Kensington Garden is home to a fair number of beautiful monuments. The Peter Pan statue is my favourite.

Evening – The Shard or Sky Garden

Closest Tube Station: London Bridge Price: from £25, depending on the time and day

And last but not least, the last day and last stop has come. What better ending than to have a last look over the London skyline from either the Shard or Sky Garden?!

You can see so many sights in London from there. But it’s definitely a treat. Especially if you choose the Shard. I’m not sure about you, but I always have to grin when I hear the name. Maybe the owners weren’t aware of the word that sounds similar.

The Shard has a viewing platform which can be visited. Ticket prices start at £25 and go up to £32 for general admission. 

You can also go into one of the many restaurants up there, but be advised that they usually want a minimum spend around the £60 mark.

A cheaper alternative, however, quite difficult to get, is the Sky Garden in the Walkie Talkie building.

Yes, you read that right. It has the sophisticated name Walkie Talkie. Why? Because it looks like one (it’s the slightly round one in the photo below if it isn’t obvious).

The Sky Garden offers free access to their view platform. I know, free access, how does that work? Well, it’s on a first-come-first-served basis and you need to book the tickets in advance. And more often than not, they’re ‘sold’ out before you get a chance.

Tickets are released every Monday and can be booked here: Skygarden Website

You can sometimes still get tickets during the week, but weekends are tough. I have not been able to get tickets yet. 

If you are just as out of luck as I usually am, then you can also book a table in one of the restaurants there.

The minimum spend is a bit lower at £40, however, tables do get fully booked, so try to book in advance. They also want a deposit as many people skip their reservations.

I hope you liked this example itinerary for 7 days in London. Like I said, I won’t bother you with food as there are so many different tastes, but I will suggest a few hotels and other accommodations for the various budgets.

London by Bus

If you’re in the mood for a bit less walking during one of the days, then I can also recommend hopping on one of the bus tours in London. A great one is the Big Bus Tours which have routes in many big cities.

Check out their website here: Big Bus Tours Website . I love Hop on / Hop off busses, especially when I’m tired and still want to see things.

They also offer guided tours with their tickets and even river cruises. Definitely worth checking out. You save 10% if you book online.

Accommodation in London

OK, where to stay in London? That’s a difficult question. And also not a cheap answer. 

Hotels in London are notorious, just like other large cities, maybe even a bit worse. 

The rooms are often expensive and then not very big, but I’ve tried to find a good selection. 

Luxury Accommodations (5-Star and Boutique Luxury Hotels)

The ritz london.

Location: Piccadilly, Mayfair Highlight: Known for its timeless elegance and the traditional afternoon tea served in the Palm Court. Great location. You can get anywhere from here.

Room from £925 per night.

Book Your Stay At The Lowest Price Here!

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at The Ritz London now!

Location: Strand, Covent Garden Highlight: Historic hotel with views over the River Thames, known for its American Bar and the Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay. Another great location.

Room from £720 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at The Savoy now!

Shangri-La The Shard, London

Location: St. Thomas Street, Southwark (near London Bridge Station) Highlight: Located within The Shard, it offers panoramic views over London. Different location but still great.

Room from £663 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Shangri-La The Shard now!

Mid-Range Accommodations (3 to 4-Star Hotels, Boutique Inns)

Radisson blue edwardian bloomsbury street.

Location: Bloomsbury Street, Central London Highlight: Harmonious blend of modern sophistication and Edwardian architectural charm. Close to the British Museum.

Room from £305 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Radisson Blue Edwardian Bloomsbury Street now!

The Resident Victoria

Location: Palace Street, Victoria Highlight: Centrally located, this hotel is known for its minimalist design and focus on essential services. Buckingham Palace is nearby.

Room from £179 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at The Resident Victoria now!

The Corner London City

Location: Aldgate, East London Highlight: Contemporary design hotel located in Aldgate. A bit further out but close for exploring the East End.

Room from £126 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at The Corner London City now!

Budget Accommodations (1 to 2-Star Hotels, Guest houses)

Travelodge london covent garden.

Location: Drury Lane, Covent Garden Highlight: Brilliant location in the city centre at affordable prices. Basic accommodation but comfortable beds. Part of a chain, so standard is maintained.

Room from £109.99 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Travelodge London Covent Garden now!

Premier Inn London City (Aldgate)

Location: Alie Street, Aldgate, East London Highlight: Part of the Premier Inn chain, it offers clean and comfortable rooms. Aldgate East tube station is close-by, so easy access to the city centre.

Room from £103 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Premier Inn London City (Aldgate) now!

hub by Premier Inn London Shoreditch hotel

Location: Quaker Street, Shoreditch Highlight: Basic accommodation and part of the Premier Inn chain, so you know what you get. Great central location.

Room from £81.50 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at hub by Premier Inn London Shoreditch hotel now!

You notice that I mainly recommend chains and the reason for that is, that I had bad experiences with non-chain accommodation and I don’t want you to end up somewhere you don’t like or is not up to your standard.

Pictures can be deceiving sometimes, so I want to give reliable suggestions.

Backpacker/Budget Traveller Options (Hostels, Dorms)

Hostelle – women only hostel london.

Location: Ainsley Street, Bethnal Green Highlight: Close to Brick Lane this women-only hostel offers a safe and clean accommodation for women who like to stay in hostels.

Bed in dorm room from £39 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Hostelle – women only hostel London now!

Generator London

Location: Tavistock Place, Bloomsbury, Central London Highlight: An energetic and social hostel. Offering a mix of shared and private rooms. Great central location.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at Generator London now!

YHA London St Pauls Hostel

Location: Carter Lane, Central London Highlight: Only moments away from St Paul’s Cathedral in West London, so an amazing location. The hostel has shared and private rooms.

Bed in dorm room from £36 per night.

Rooms in London go quickly – ➡ click here to book your stay at YHA London St Pauls Hostel now!

Conclusion: Quite a packed London 7-Day Itinerary

This is the end of the post. I hope you found this 7-day London itinerary helpful. There are so many attractions in London that are worth to see. It is great to spend a week in London, and I’m sure you could spend even more time here. There is always something new to see.

London is incredibly beautiful and one of the most amazing cities in the world, in my opinion – although I haven’t been everywhere yet, so it’s not a final decision. I just love going there and I hope you’ll love it as much.

I hope this itinerary gave you a good idea of what to do during your perfect week in London and tick off most of your London bucket list items. Exploring London in itself is already a dream come true.

I’m not a party girl, so I’ll leave the things to do in London at night to you. But as you probably now know, London has things for everyone.

Have a great time in London! And maybe we’ll meet it each other there.

Do you want to see a bit more of England, then check out my 5 Day England Itinerary .

As an introverted solo traveller, I have visited over 20 countries and lived in a few as well. Trying to make solo travel easier for introverts like myself.

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An Easy London Itinerary for 7 Days

If you need a London itinerary for 7 days or one week, then we hope this guide helps! This post is part of my friend, Elissa’s, post-Korea contract travels around Europe.

Before my sister, Jen, started her study abroad in Scotland, we met up in London and explored the city for about a week. We were originally only supposed to spend a few days in London and then head to Ireland but our plans changed so we decided to extend our stay! It worked out because we got to spend more time really exploring the city without feeling rushed.

Tips for Visiting London

Multi-attraction pass.

If you know you’re going to be visiting a lot of London attractions in a few days, you may want to look into purchasing one of the multi-attraction passes! The best I found on Get Your Guide , seems to be the  London Pass.  It’ll give you free access to 60+ attractions and also has fast-track options for some places, a guidebook, Oyster Card options, and special offers.  Check prices here

Getting Around

The London Tube or Underground is quite expensive compared to other metro systems I’ve used around the world, especially when you also factor in the U.S. Dollar to British Pound exchange rate. Rates one-way are about £2.40 with the Oyster Card and £4.90 with cash when you travel within Zones 1 & 2 (most tourist attractions are within these zones).  Because we were on a budget we either took public transportation or walked. 

A London Itinerary for 7 Days

This is a large park in the heart of London that’s lovely to walk through. It’s adjacent to Kensington and Buckingham Palaces and near the Natural History and Victoria and Albert Museums. Since our hostel was a fifteen-minute walk from Hyde Park, we often found ourselves wandering through it on the way to see other sights in London. It’s a great way to see how locals spend their free time.

• Hours: Daily, 5:00 a.m. – 12:oo a.m.
• Tube Stations:  Lancaster Gate,  Marble Arch,  Hyde Park Corner,  Knightsbridge

Kensington Palace and Gardens

Kensington Palace is beautiful and has an interesting history as the childhood home of Queen Victoria and various other members of the royal family. We didn’t go into the actual palace, but you can explore part of the gardens for free!

• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Last admission @ 5pm)
• Adult tickets: £14.40, Get tickets here*
• Address: Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, UK
• Tube Stations: High Street Kensington, Queensway,  Notting Hill Gate

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

Only U.K. residents can tour Big Ben (officially called Elizabeth Tower) by writing to their MP, but you can take an audio or guided tour of the Houses of Parliament.

• M-F: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
• Saturday: 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
• Ticket Office: in front of Portcullis House on Victoria Embankment (postcode SW1A 2LW)
• Houses of Parliament audio tour: £18.50
• Houses of Parliament guided tour: £25.50
• How to Get There: Use Westminster Station

Westminster Abbey

Not only is the Abbey a working church, it also has a fascinating history. It’s the burial place for monarchs and it’s where the coronations have been held since 1066. Since we were trying to save money we didn’t buy a ticket and instead attended the free Evensong (choral evening prayers. It didn’t disappoint!

Although we couldn’t walk about the Abbey, the Evensong is an incredible experience that you won’t get when you purchase a ticket.

• Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
• Daily services are free but you won’t see as much as you would with a ticket
• On Wednesdays , tickets are half price if you enter after 4:30 p.m.
• Address: 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, UK
• How to Get There: Use Westminster or St. James’s Park stations

Trafalgar Square

A great place to just sit and take it all in. You can also see many famous London landmarks from the square.  

• Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK
• How to Get There: Use  Charing Cross,  Leicester Square,  Piccadilly Circus, or  Embankment station

British Museum

The British Museum has been around since 1753 and perhaps one of the most comprehensive museums out there. Its permanent collection alone has over 8 million works from Ancient Greece, Egypt, the Middle East, and much more. The Rosetta Stone is stored here!

• Hours: Daily, 10am-5:30pm, Fridays until 8:30pm
• Admission: Free!
• Address: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG
• How to Get There: Use Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square, or Goodge Street station

For a guided tour check here*

Buckingham Palace

We only saw the Palace from the outside but you can purchase a ticket to see the State Rooms. When I go back, this is definitely on my list.

• July 21st – August 31, 2018: 9:30am – 7pm (Last admission at 5:15pm)
• September 1st – September 30th, 2018: 9:30am – 6pm (Last admission at 4:15pm)
• Adult tickets: £24.00,  Buy tickets here*
• Address: Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, UK
• How to Get There: Use Victoria, Green Park, St. James’s Park, or Hyde Park Corner stations
• Changing of the Guard + Palace Tour
• Tickets + Royal Walking Tour
• Royal Walking Tour + Afternoon Tea

Harry Potter Studio Tour

If you’re a Harry Potter fan or even just a fan of filmmaking, then this is a must! It was so interesting to see how they did all of the movie magic!

• Hours: Timed ticket entry (purchase tickets ahead of time).
• For private tours check here
• Address: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
• How to Get There: There are shuttle buses from Watford Station.

Kings Cross Station and Platform 9 ¾  

We were in London on September 1st and decided to see some Harry Potter related sites in order to celebrate the day the Hogwarts Express goes to Hogwarts. This, of course, is the iconic one!

• Hours: You can take pictures at Platform 9 ¾ any day and at all hours
• Address: Platform 9 ¾. King’s Cross Station Concourse
• For a 3-hour tour including Platform 9 ¾, check here

Tower Bridge

Apparently, you can go inside the bridge! Honestly, I was content with just viewing it for free from the Tower of London, but if you’re inclined to go inside information is listed below.

• April – September 10am – 5:30 p.m.
• October – March 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Adult Tickets: £9.80,  Buy tickets here*
• Address: Tower Bridge Exhibition, Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP, UK
• How to Get There: Use Tower Hill or London Bridge stations

Tower of London

100% worth it, plus the views of Tower Bridge and London along the Thames are great! We took a free tour with the Yeoman Warders  (tours are every 30 mins), and it made the experience.

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and full of Tower theme puns like, “We beheaded to the Tower.” Hehe, I love a fun pun. We also bought lunch at a fish and chip place across from the Tower and found a bench with a wonderful view to sit on right outside the Tower entrance!

• Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 
• Sunday – Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Adult Tickets: £22.70,  Buy tickets here
• Address: Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB
• How to Get There: Use Tower Hill station

Shakespeare’s Globe

We didn’t make it here because we were exhausted and poor by this point. However, if you have the energy and money, check it out! You can even see plays here !

• Hours: Daily (except 12/24-25), 9:00 a.m.-  5:00 p.m., tours every 30 mins.
• Address: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
• How to Get There: Use Blackfriars, Mansion House, London Bridge, Southwark, or St. Paul’s stations
• Exhibition + Theatre Tour
• Tour + Afternoon Tea
• 3-Hour Shakespeare Walking Tour

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Again, didn’t make it here, but it’s on my list for next time! The main attraction is the Prime Meridian Line, which is the line of 0 longitude!

• Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm (last admission at 4:30)
• Adult Tickets: Ticket prices vary but the most basic ticket is £1 0 ( £9 if you purchase online)
• Address: Royal Observatory, Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich SE10 8XJ
• How to Get There: Use Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich Pier, Greenwich Rail, or Maze Hill Rail stations

Day 6: Day Trip

Since Jen and I  didn’t know if we’d ever have the opportunity again, we decided to make the trek and see the iconic Stonehenge. Stonehenge and nearby Salisbury are a fairly easy day trip from London and there was a lot more to see than we realized!

Sam’s Note:  When I visited England back in college, we also did a day trip to Windsor! It’s a beautiful, easily walkable area that’s

Check out this post on to see how you can visit Stonehenge.

While we had a travel day on Day 7 to go to our next destination, if you have the full day, definitely check out the following:

National Gallery

The National Gallery has been around since 1824!  We didn’t go in and I wished we had since it’s the home to many very famous portraits, like Vincent Van Gogh’s  Sunflowers and Leonardo Da Vinci’s  The Virgin on the Rocks.

• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Friday until 9:00 pm
• How to Get There:  Use Charing Cross or  Leicester stations

For a guided tour check here

National Portrait Gallery

Another one I wished we had seen! The National Portrait Gallery holds the portraits of famous and important British people throughout history.

• Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Thursday + Friday until 9:00 p.m.  (temp. closed til June 3rd)
• Address: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE, UK
• How to Get There: Use Charing Cross, Leicester Square, or Embankment stations

What to Eat in London

Afternoon tea.

We actually didn’t get afternoon tea in London because it appeared to be much cheaper out of London (we ended up going to The Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, Scotland for £12.95 a person). But, if you are only visiting London and want to experience afternoon tea, Oliver Magazine has a diverse list.

Sunday Roast

We also only ate this in Scotland, but Sunday Roasts can be eaten in England too! Can be found in pubs and typically served on Sunday, a plate consists of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding (more like a pastry than American pudding), roasted potatoes, and various veggies. So comforting and delicious!!! We ate as many as we could!

Fish and Chips

Jen and I bought fish and chips from a place right by the Tower of London and ate them on a bench overlooking the Tower, actually a really cool experience!

Where to Stay in London on a Budget

We stayed in London for six full days at the Meininger Hotel London Hyde Park  in an eight-bed female dorm with an ensuite bathroom. It was clean, the staff was helpful, and the location was great. As for location, it’s right in the heart of London and a short walk to Hyde Park. 

Other of Elissa’s Guides

• How to Spend 3 Days in Edinburgh
• Elissa’s Local Guide to Los Angeles
• Elissa’s Local Guide to Washington, D.C.

Ahhh, this post makes me want to go back and visit London again. Let us know what you’d add to your own London itinerary below!

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One Comment

The images from London is just breathtaking.

Thanks for the travel tips, looking to go to one of the best cities in the world very soon.

Fabulous blog btw. Bookmarked, and will be back.

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

London Travel Guide

Last Updated: January 5, 2024

London is one of the most popular cities in the world. It’s home to charming pubs, world-class (and often free) museums, tons of history, some of the best theater performances in the world, a diverse population, incredible food, and a wild nightlife.

I know it’s cliche to say there’s something for everyone but, in this sprawling metropolis, there really is!

I’ve been visiting London since 2008 and, with every subsequent visit, the city has grown on me. The more I go, the more awesome stuff I see, the more I fall in love with it. There’s always something new to do here and there’s an energetic vibe to the city.

Unfortunately, it’s also an expensive destination. A visit here can eat a hole in any budget if you aren’t careful.

Luckily, there are tons of free and cheap things to do in London . While budget travelers need to be frugal here, you can still visit London on a budget and have an amazing time.

This London travel guide can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most out of your time in this cosmopolitan capital!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on London

Top 5 Things to See and Do in London

1. Visit Big Ben and the House of Parliament

Although you can’t go up the tower, you can view this Gothic structure from the street and hear its chimes four times an hour. Big Ben is actually the name of the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster which can be found inside Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, but is often used to refer to the clock and the tower as well. To learn about the UK government, take a tour of Parliament, founded in 1801, while you’re here (get there early or reserve tickets online) . Guided tours cost 29 GBP while self-guided multimedia tours are 22.50 GBP. The best view of the tower is from the opposite side of the river on the South Bank, near the London Eye.

2. See the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

Built in 1070, the Tower of London has expanded many times over the years. It was built as a double-leaf bascule bridge in the middle (both sides lift up) to maintain river access to the Pool of London docks while easing congestion on each side of the river. You can visit inside the tower and walk along the glass walkways. Weapons, armor, and coins were made here until 1810 and today you can view the famous crown jewels, walk the battlements, wander recreated medieval palace rooms, see the iconic Yeoman Warders (known as the Beefeaters as they were allowed to eat as much beef as they wanted from King Henry VII’s table), and spot the legendary black ravens that live in the tower. Skip-the-line tickets are 29.90 GBP.

3. Admire Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is only open to the public for 10 weeks during the summer, but you can join the crowds and watch the changing of the guard at 11am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday throughout the year (get there in good time to find a good place to stand). Admission to the palace isn’t cheap, with tickets costing 30 GBP online (33 GBP on the day), while exclusive guided tours are 90 GBP. Check the Royal Collection Trust website for details on other events happening throughout the year.

4. See Westminster Abbey

A working royal church, the Gothic Westminster Abbey was founded by Benedictine monks in 960 CE. More than 3,300 people are buried here including 17 monarchs and numerous royal funerals have been held here over the centuries. It’s the traditional coronation site for British monarchs and has been the setting for every coronation since 1066, as well as for many other royal occasions, including 16 weddings. Other famous British figures buried here include Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, Aphra Behn, and Charles Dickens. Tickets cost 27 GBP , but you can visit for free if you go during a service. Just make sure to dress (and act) appropriately as it is a place of worship.

5. Hang out in Trafalgar Square

Stroll around and admire the fountains and the famous monuments, such as the four bronze lion statues and Nelson’s Column (which honors Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805). It is bordered on all sides by a number of museums, galleries, cultural spaces and historic buildings so there’s plenty to do as well. Trafalgar Square is also known to be a center of national democracy and protest so peaceful rallies and demonstrations are frequently held (usually at weekends). Even if there aren’t any official events, lots of people still hang out here so it makes for a good place to people-watch.

Other Things to See and Do in London

1. take a free walking tour.

London has tons of different walking tours on offer. From free tours to specialty tours to paid tours to literary tours to quirky tea tours, London has it all. Free London Walking Tours and New Europe Walking Tours are two of my favorite companies to go with when it comes to free tours. They’re the best way to see the sights and learn about the city on a budget. Just remember to tip at the end!

If you’re looking for more in-depth and specific tours, check out Take Walks. They offer affordable tours that go into a lot of detail. And if you’re a Harry Potter fan, Get Your Guide runs an awesome Harry Potter tour around the city for 15 GBP.

2. Go museum hopping

London has more museums than you could see in a single visit, and many of them are free. You can spend days visiting world-class museums like the Tate, the British Museum, the City Museum, the National Gallery, the Historical Museum, and many others — all without spending a penny. One of my favorites is the Natural History Museum, a beautiful Romanesque building that contains over 80 million items, including specimens collected by Charles Darwin. It also has an expansive collection of fossils, making it a fun and educational stop. The Victoria and Albert Museum (named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) is another favorite of mine. It’s home to over 2,000 works of art covering over 3,000 years of human history.

3. Grab some food in Borough Market

Established in 1756, London’s Borough Market has something for every foodie. It’s home to some of the best British and international produce and dishes. Come here hungry and leave satisfied. It’s great for people-watching too. The market is open daily but the crowds are terrible on Saturdays so be sure to get there early.

4. Enjoy some theater

London is known for its famous theater scene. Attend a show while you’re here and see some of the incredible performances that make London famous. Tickets can be pretty cheap, and something is playing every night (check out TKTS for discounted tickets to shows in the West End). Otherwise, catch a Shakespeare show at The Globe in South London — tickets range from 5-62 GBP depending on the show and seat you choose.

5. Stroll along Brick Lane

Known for vintage clothing, cheap eats, and art, this East London street is a local favorite. Sunday is the best day to come, as this is when the outdoor street market takes place, though the restaurants and shops lining the street are open daily. Brick Lane has some of the best (and cheapest) food in London, especially when it comes to curry, as this is the hub of London’s Bangladeshi community. This street is also a great place to bring a camera, as its walls are basically a gallery for London’s best street artists, including Banksy, D*Face, and Ben Eine.

6. Ride the London Eye

The London Eye is a 152-meter (500-foot tall) Ferris wheel. While a little cheesy, it’s nevertheless one of the most popular attractions in London. It’s across the street from Parliament and provides excellent views of London and the city’s most iconic buildings, especially on a clear day. Tickets are 32.50 GBP , but if you want to play tourist and take in the view, it might be worth it. The ride lasts 30 minutes and tickets start at 32.50 GBP.

7. Visit the London Dungeon

The London Dungeon calls itself “the world’s most chillingly famous horror attraction.” It covers 2,000 years of London’s gruesome history and is a morbid but interesting museum. Although you can learn about popular torture methods in England, this place has turned into more of an “amusement park” type attraction. But if you like things like escape rooms and scary boat rides, it’s enjoyable. Tickets cost 29 GBP when you book online (32 GBP in person).

8. See St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s is a striking English Baroque cathedral with a world-famous dome. Architect Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, the iconic building dates from the 17th century. Inside, you can visit the crypt to see the resting places of famous figures including The Duke of Wellington, Christopher Wren, and Admiral Nelson, or just enjoy the cathedral’s glittering mosaics and elaborate stone carvings. If you don’t mind climbing some stairs, a highlight is to climb to the Stone Gallery or Golden Gallery for panoramic views over surrounding London. Admission costs from 18 GBP when you buy online , which is cheaper than the London Eye and offers similarly breathtaking views.

9. Explore Covent Garden

Covent Garden, a popular West End neighborhood, is a fun place to hang out for an afternoon. It’s home to lots of quirky stalls, busking musicians, an artsy market, and a selection of unusual pubs and coffee shops. Covent Garden is also within walking distance of all the big musical theater shows, so it’s a great place to spend a few hours before catching a performance. Make sure to visit Covent Garden Market, which has been open since the 1830s. It’s a good place to grab a bite to eat or shop at some of the artisan craft stalls. It’s open Monday to Saturday from 8am-6pm, with an outdoor farmer’s market on Saturdays between April and December.

10. Visit Shakespeare’s Globe

An integral part of England’s history, Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, the venue for which the famous playwright wrote his plays. It’s a must-see for lovers of Shakespeare, with performances embracing near-perfect replicas of Elizabethan staging practices. You can even sit in front where the groundlings did, for shouting and heckling! The theater is open-roofed, so bundle up in the winter. Tickets cost 5-62 GBP depending on the production and the seat (you can stand just as they did in Elizabethan times). You can also take a guided tour for 17 GBP to learn more about the history of the theater (more specialized ones such as the Ghosts and Ghouls tour or the Pride tour cost 20 GBP).

11. Explore Camden Market

A long-time counter-culture haven, Camden Market is home to over 1,000 independent shops, stalls, cafes, restaurants, bars, buskers, and everything in between. It’s enormously popular and busiest on the weekends (it sees over 250,000 visitors each week). Camden Market is actually a series of six separate markets, so you can literally wander the labyrinth of alleyways for hours and not see it all.

12. See the Royal Observatory

Since its founding in the late 17th century, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich has played an important role in astronomy and navigation. The observatory is divided into two sections, with one half focusing on time while the other half is devoted to astronomy. In the Meridian Courtyard, you can stand on either side of the Prime Meridian, which separates the Earth’s eastern and western hemispheres. The Peter Harrison Planetarium is also housed here, where you can see a show for 10 GBP. The Royal Observatory itself costs 16 GBP .

13. Walk around the Strand

In the 12th century, rich noblemen built elegant homes and gardens along the shore (the strand) of the Thames, making it one of the most prestigious places to live (a fact that remains true to this day). Walk down this thoroughfare and be treated to a grand display of wealth and beauty. It was dubbed “the finest street in Europe” by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century. The Strand, which runs from Trafalgar Square to Temple Bar, is home to numerous shops, pubs, landmark buildings, and classic hotels.

14. Drink beer at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

This historic pub has been around since the great fire of 1666 (and there has been a pub at this location since 1538). It’s surprisingly large inside, and in the winter, fireplaces keep pub-goers warm. The wood paneling, atmospheric lack of natural lighting, and vaulted cellars make stepping inside feel like stepping back in time. Famous literary figures like Charles Dickens, R.L. Stevenson, Mark Twain, Oliver Goldsmith, and others used to frequent (and write about) this particular pub.

15. See the Churchill War Rooms

Located beneath the Treasury Building in the Whitehall area of Westminster, the Churchill War Rooms include the government’s command center during World War II and a museum about the life of Winston Churchill. The centerpiece of the whole place is an interactive table that enables visitors to access digitized material from the Churchill archives. If you are like me and a huge history nerd, this is one of the best attractions in the city. I highly, highly encourage you to visit. It’s worth the price! Admission is 29 GBP.

16. Relax in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, head to Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens for some reprieve. Both parks, which are (conveniently for the visitor) right next to each other, are designated as Royal Parks of London. Hyde Park is the most famous park in London. Originally the private hunting grounds of Henry VII, it opened to the public in 1637 and is a great place to stroll, picnic, or catch one of the many events that are hosted here throughout the year. Kensington Gardens are home to the Serpentine Galleries as well as Kensington Palace. The park and the gardens cover almost 250 acres!

17. Take a Jack the Ripper tour

Jack the Ripper is one of London’s most infamous killers — and his true identity was never figured out. Every night, there are tons of people in the East End learning about Jack the Ripper on a ridiculous number of similar tours. The tour guides you through dark alleyways, stopping at historic locations connected with the infamous serial killer. Tickets cost 15 GBP .

For more information on other cities in England, check out these guides:

• Bath Travel Guide
• Brighton Travel Guide
• Bristol Travel Guide
• Cambridge Travel Guide
• Liverpool Travel Guide
• Manchester Travel Guide
• Oxford Travel Guide

London Travel Costs

Hostel prices – A bed in a dorm with 4-8 beds costs 16-25 GBP per night while a bed in a dorm with 10-18 beds costs 13-16 GBP. A private room with a shared bathroom costs 50-90 GBP per night. If you want to stay closer to the center of the city expect to double these prices and expect prices to be at least 10 GBP higher in peak season. Free Wi-Fi is standard and many hostels offer free breakfast and self-catering facilities.

Budget hotel prices – A budget hotel room costs 70-100 GBP per night. Prices are higher in the center and in peak season. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, and a coffee/tea maker.

There are lots of Airbnb options in London. A private room costs 45-60 GBP per night (80-100 GBP in the center), while an entire home/apartment starts around 90-150 GBP per night (more in high season).

Food – While British cuisine has evolved in leaps and bounds due to immigration (and colonialism), it’s still very much a meat and potatoes country. Fish and chips remain a popular staple for both lunch and dinner while roasted and stewed meats, sausages, meat pies, and the quintessential Yorkshire pudding are all common options as well. Curry (and other Indian dishes, such as tikka masala), are super popular too.

You can eat cheap in London if you stick to street eats and food vendors (plus many of the hostels have free breakfast). You can find fish and chips or a kebab for about 7 GBP each. Indian food can be purchased for between 8-10 GBP for lunch entrees. You can buy pizza for 8-12 GBP or burritos and sandwiches for 5-9 GBP. Fast food (think McDonald’s) is around 13 GBP for a combo meal.

For a mid-range meal of traditional British cuisine at a pub or restaurant, expect to pay 14-16 GBP. A pint of beer can cost up to 6-8 GBP while a glass of wine costs around 7-10 GBP.

You can find tons of high-end dining in London, but be prepared to spend a lot. Expect to pay at least 30-35 GBP for a three-course menu with a drink in a mid-range restaurant and upwards of 70 GBP in a higher-range establishment.

If you plan on cooking for yourself, a week’s worth of groceries costs around 50-60 GBP. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, veggies, and some meat. The best places to buy cheap groceries are Lidl and Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are more mid-range, while Marks & Spencer and Waitrose are higher-end.

A great way to save money is to get the Taste Card. This diner’s club card offers 50% discounts on tons of restaurants as well as two-for-one specials. It can really pay off, especially on any nice meals you want to have. You can only live on fish and chips for so long!

Backpacking London Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking London, expect to spend about 60 GBP per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, taking public transit, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, and sticking to free activities like parks, free walking tours, and museums. If you plan on drinking, add another 10 GBP to your daily budget.

A mid-range budget of 150 GBP per day covers staying in a private Airbnb room, eating out for most of your meals, having a drink or two, taking public transit and the occasional taxi, and doing some paid activities such as Tower Bridge or Westminster Abbey.

On a “luxury” budget of about 300 GBP or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, take more taxis, and do whatever activities and tours you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. the sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you spend more, some days you spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in GBP.

London Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. But thanks to its free museums, cheap pubs, and numerous hostels, there are a lot of ways to cut your costs and save money here. Here are my top tips for saving money in London:

• Visit all the free museums – Most of the museums in London are free, including the Museum of London, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum. The National Gallery and the Tate Modern are also free and are two of my favorites.
• Buy an Oyster Card – This prepaid transit card saves you about 50% on each tube, bus and tram ride. If you plan on using the tube a lot, get this card! You can get a refund for the balance left on the card at the end of your trip. If you aren’t charged international transaction fees and have a contactless credit or debit card, you can also use this for travel and the system automatically caps your travel so you never pay more than you would have if you had bought a travel card. Just make sure to tap in and out and the beginning and end of each ride to make sure you’re charged the right fare.
• People watch at the markets – Sunday is market day in London, with Camden Market, the Portobello Market, the Flower Market, being some of the more popular options. People watch, snap some photos, and enjoy local London life without spending a dime.
• Watch the changing of the guards – Both the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (4 times a week) and the changing of the horse guards (daily) at Whitehall take place at 11am (10am at Whitehall on Sundays). Take in true British flare with these interesting and free ceremonies.
• Just walk and explore – London is a huge city and beautiful, historic buildings abound. I once walked for four hours and barely made a dent in the route I was going to take (hence the need to get the Oyster Card.) However, once you get out of the tourist area around the Thames, you get to see London the way the locals do. You can pick up free maps of showing walking routes around the capital from any of London’s tourist information shops.
• Snag last-minute theater tickets – You can get last-minute tickets to the theater from the official booth in Leicester Square. Availability varies every day, so be sure to get there early. And if you don’t want to shell out a lot of money to see The Lion King or Les Misérables , check out smaller shows and comedy nights at theaters like Leicester Square Theater, where prices start at about 17 GBP.
• Skip the cabs – Taxis are incredibly expensive in London and can destroy your budget. I stayed out past when the tube closed one night and the taxi to my hotel was 31 GBP! If you start taking taxis everywhere, you’ll end up spending hundreds of dollars per day, so keep this in mind.
• Master the night bus – In London, the tube closes around 12:30am (the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines do run all night on Friday and Saturday nights). To avoid taking expensive taxis, make sure you get a map of the night bus routes so you can get back to your hotel/hostel on the cheap. These buses go all over the city and into the suburbs.
• Take a free walking tour – London, like most big cities in Europe, has a wide array of free walking tours given throughout the city. For a historical view of the city, try New Europe , and for off-the-beaten-path tours, try Free Tours by Foot .
• Get the Taste Card – This diner’s club card offers 50% discounts on thousands of restaurants as well as two-for-one specials. It can really pay off, especially on any nice meals you want to have.
• Get the London Pass – If you get the London Pass, you can enjoy access to over 80 London attractions, including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. A one-day pass is 89 GBP, a two-day pass is 115 GBP, and a three-day pass is 135 GBP. You can get all the way up to a ten-day pass for 199 GBP although they often have deals on giving discounts to this. This pass makes for good savings if you’re planning on doing a ton of sightseeing! Other passes available include the London City Pass from Turbopass which includes an option to add transport costs, and the London Sightseeing Pass.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in London

While the city may be expensive, its popularity means there are lots of hostels here. I’ve stayed at dozens of hostels over the years. Here are some of my favorites:

• Astor Hyde Park
• St. Christopher’s
• Clink261 Hostel
• Generator London
• Onefam Notting Hill

For more hostel suggestions be sure to check out my list of the best hostels in London.

How to Get Around London

Public transportation – London has excellent public transportation and is the cheapest way to get around. A one-way fare on the tube in Zone 1 costs 6.30 GBP, but getting a Visitor Oyster Card reduces tariffs to 2.50 GBP per ride. No matter how many trips you take per day, your Oyster Card caps your travel at 7.70 GBP for travel in Zones 1 and 2. This is applicable across all public transit, including buses and trams, saving you a ton of money.

The Visitor Oyster Card costs 5 GBP, and then you choose how much credit to add to your card. Remember that you can get back any remaining balance at the end of your trip.

The bus system in London also uses the Oyster Card and costs 1.65 GBP per ride. However, a day of unlimited bus- and tram-only travel costs a maximum of 4.95 GBP. Buses do not accept cash; you must use either an Oyster card, a Travelcard, or your own contactless payment card.

The tram system in London works the same way as the bus system, with rides costing the same.

Bicycle – London’s public bike-sharing program is Santander Cycles. With 750 docking stations and 11,500 bikes, they’re available all over the city. Renting a bike costs 1.65 GBP for up to half an hour and 1.65 GBP for each additional 30 minutes, though you can always dock a bike and take out another one to restart the free timer.

Keep in mind, however, that London isn’t a super bike-friendly city, especially if you’re used to biking with cars driving on the other side of the road!

Taxis – Taxis are readily available, with prices starting at 3.80 GBP and going up around 3 GBP per mile (the tariff is more expensive at night). Given how expensive they are, I wouldn’t take one unless absolutely necessary.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in London but it still costs an arm and a leg if you use it a lot. Stick to public transportation.

Car rental – Cars can be rented for 20-30 GBP per day for a multi-day rental. However, traffic is terrible in the city so I wouldn’t rent a car here unless you are heading out on some day trips. Remember that driving is on the left and that most cars have manual transmissions. There’s also a 15 GBP daily Congestion Charge for driving in the center (7am-6pm Mon-Fri and noon-6pm Sat/Sun/public holidays) and parking is expensive too. Drivers need to be 21 to rent a car as well.

When to Go to London

London doesn’t get too cold, but it’s notoriously foggy and rainy. Summer is peak tourism season, and temperatures are the warmest during this time — but rarely are they ever above 30°C (86°F ). London is bursting at the seams during the summer, but the city has a fun, lively atmosphere. People make the most of the warm weather and there are constantly tons of events and festivals happening.

Spring (late March-June) and autumn (September-October) are also fantastic times to visit, as temperatures are mild and the city isn’t as packed.

Winter lasts from December to February, and tourism crowds thin out dramatically during this time. Temperatures can dip below 5°C (41°F), and prices are slightly lower as well. Expect grey weather and be sure to dress warmly.

Since it is frequently rainy here, pack a light rain jacket or an umbrella no matter when you visit.

How to Stay Safe in London

London is a safe city and the risk of violent crime here is low. Scams and pick-pocketing can occur around high-traffic areas, especially around tourist attractions like London Tower and on crowded public transit. Pick-pockets tend to work in teams, so stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep your valuables secure and out of reach at all times just to be safe.

Solo travelers, including solo female travelers, should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Although there are no super seedy neighborhoods in London, avoid wandering around late at night alone — especially if you’ve had a pint or two. As an extra precaution, only bring the money you need when you go to the bar. Leave the rest of your cards and cash in your accommodation.

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you do experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

Thanks to a few high-profile terrorist attacks and riots across Europe (including London), I frequently get emails inquiring whether or not Europe is safe to visit. The short answer: yes! I wrote a whole post about why Europe is safe to visit.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

London Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• Fat Tire Tours – For bike tours, use this company! They have fun, interactive tours led by expert local guides. You’ll get to see all the main sights without breaking the bank!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!
• Take Walks – This walking tour company provides inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere. Their guides rock and they have some of the best and most insightful tours in all of England.

London Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling England and continue planning your trip:

The 14 Best Things to Do in Bristol

Where to Stay in London: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 8 Best Hostels in London

How to Spend a Week in London

The 9 Best Walking Tour Companies in London

70+ Free Things to Do in London

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• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

The Perfect 5 or 7 day London itinerary with kids

By: Author Wandermust Mummy

London is one of the greatest cities in the world to visit if you are traveling with kids in tow. I am a firm believer that cities can be a good holiday with children, if you plan for it correctly. As a London mum of a toddler I am lucky to have explored this city extensively and know the best things to do with kids in tow , while also understanding the need for good pacing when tackling a city the size of London. This 5 or 7 day London itinerary with kids shows the best that each area of London has to offer as well as offering insights into London hidden gems that should be on your bucket list  and best places to stay.

Note:  This itinerary is designed to be done in any order. The days are merely an indicator so feel free to mix this up as suits you best. This itinerary also does not allow for travel from Heathrow airport to London.  This London itinerary with family covers

• Best things to do in Central London (Covent Garden, Southbank etc)
• Best London Museums for Kids and exploring South Kensington
• Best London Boroughs to visit with families (i.e. Greenwich, Richmond etc)\
• Best London Attractions With kids to visit (London Eye, Tower of London, Buckingham Palace etc)
• Best Day Trips from London with kids to take and 
• Best way to travel around London  with kids. 

Table of Contents

Day one of your 7 day London itinerary with kids (or without)

Note : I have put this as Day One as the Changing of the Guard is not on every day. As a must on any London bucket list , you will not want to miss this. So if you only can do  London in a day with kids I would pick this one but dependent on your interests all of these could work.

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel or try one of our favorite places for Breakfast in the city including:

• The Cereal Killer Cafe
• The Breakfast Club

Changing of the Guard

Watching the Changing of the Guard on your Ultimate London Itinerary with Kids

Today’s first stop is The Changing of the Guard. This ceremonial parade is a must do for any London visitor.

You can read more about the changing of the guard with kids here  – and this will give you all the best information about best places to watch the parade, arrival times and all other essential information.

Once the Changing of the Guard has finished, you may want to consider letting your littles go run off some steam at the Playground opposite Wellington Barracks (the starting point of the parade) There is also a cafe here should your little ones need a snack and is also a good place for a caffeine stop.

Buckingham Palace

Now Buckingham Palace is on everyone’s list for London. You can get some good pictures from the outside but depending on your interest and the time of year you are visiting you may want to book to look inside.  The Palace Staterooms are open over the summer (July-September) and then in December (occasional) – if you want a Winter itinerary for London check out this post. 

 The tour is definitely worthwhile doing especially for fans of royal history ! And for those traveling with small children, you don’t need to worry that this isn’t family friendly. The tour ends in the Garden and there is a lovely soft play area to let your smalls loose in.

As this is only open for such a limited time it is absolutely essential to book your tickets in advance – YOU CAN BOOK YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE

Buckingham Palace on your London 5 day itinerary family will enjoy

If time allows, we also recommend visiting the Royal Mews where you can visit the State Carriages and also meet the Queen’s Horses, a sure fire hit with kids.  There are also some great hands on activities for children here which including a dressing up box and a craft table.

You can book your royal mews tickets in advance HERE 

St James Park 

Once you have finished at the Palace it is worth heading back through St James Park to head towards Westminster which is where you will be spending your afternoon.  In the park, you will definitely want to stop and see the pelicans who are residents in the park.

For the budget conscious, you could consider having a picnic lunch in the park otherwise you can head towards Trafalgar Square for a quick cafe lunch.

Also, if time permits, you will want to make a quick stop at Horse Guards.

Churchill War Rooms 

This afternoon we recommend making your first stop the Churchill War Rooms (this is more suitable for older children and adults than those traveling with small children). This is really the best place in the country to learn about Britain during WW2. The Churchill War Rooms are right opposite St James Park and in there you will learn about Winston Churchill and the operational work that happened in this bunker.

You will find advance booking essential, especially as you get a better rate by booking in advance.

Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament

london with kids itinerary – Houses of Parliament

Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament is just a short walk from the Churchill War Rooms. It isn’t looking its best at the moment as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are currently being renovated. Be warned the renovations on Big Ben mean that barring New Year’s Eve you will not hear the bells chime until 2021. However it is still worth a visit on your trip.

Tours are available and are definitely worthwhile for adults visiting. There is a family friendly audio guide but this is aimed at minimum age 7, so if you are traveling with smaller children, I would recommend just admiring from outside.

Across the road is the beautiful

Westminster Abbey

Opening times for the Abbey vary so you will want to check opening times and tweak this order to make sure you allocate enough time.  The queues can get long here so get your tickets in advance HERE!

After all that exploring head to your final area of the day: Trafalgar Square.

Trafalgar Square

The fourth plinth means that there is always something new to see in the square and if time allows you could nip inside the National Gallery.

Enjoy a dinner in the area and if you are inclined to see a show, then you are in the right area for the theatres. Our favorite theatre shows for traveling with small children are Matilda, Aladdin and the Lion King.

For those traveling with older kids or without children we recommend visiting the longest running play,  The Mousetrap,  by Agatha Christie, a gripping whodunnit which is typically British.

To check out London Theatre Tickets and to make your reservations CLICK HERE

Day 2 of your London with kids itinerary – East London

For Day 2 of your London with kids itinerary we are celebrating all things East London. If you fancy a posh breakfast, a great place in the vicinity of today’s attraction is the lovely Duck and Waffle restaurant with it’s signature dish – Duck and Waffle.

After Breakfast you will head to your first stop of the day:

Tower of London

The Tower of London has so much on offer and it is hard to put a time on how long you will spend there. It is the place to learn about London’s more grizzly history including the beheading of two of Henry VIII’s wives (Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Howard) and about the mysterious disappearance and murder of the Princes in the Tower to name but a few.

It is definitely worth taking the tour (included in the ticket price), with one of the Yeoman Warder who can reveal fascinating insights on the Tower and its history. These tours last an hour and leave every 30 minutes. Be warned however that these can get busy so we recommend doing this as soon as you arrive to avoid the crowds.

Other worthwhile stops on your tour of the Tower of London include the armory, the chapel and of course visiting the Crown Jewels Exhibition.

Advance booking is essential. You can buy your tickets in advance , including Crown Jewel exhibition here.

After a quick lunch we recommend heading over to

Tower Bridge

This iconic bridge is an engineering triumph and has a fascinating exhibition at the top.  If you are lucky you may get to see the bridge open while you are there.

Advance booking is essential. You can buy your tickets online HERE

After your trip to Tower Bridge your next stop is the beautiful

This is a free attraction but advance booking of tickets is essential. The Sky Garden offers great views across London, and rivals the Shard for views and is even better being free.

Click here to book online for free! 

If you have time a bonus stop today is

The Monument

The Monument was resurrected in memory of the Great Fire of London of 1666. The walk to the top of the Monument is not for the faint hearted as it is 311 steps to the top.  Suitable only for adults and older children, this also offers great views of the city without the Shard price tag.

For dinner tonight, we recommend heading to Brick Lane for a curry. Our personal favorite on Brick Lane is Aladdin’s but there is plenty of choice and you can’t leave the UK without trying a curry.

For adventurous eaters head to brick lane for a curry

Day 3 of your London family vacation itinerary (or without) – Day Trip Day

Today in your London family vacations itinerary is allocated as your day trip day. While there is loads to see in London, so much that even me as long time resident still haven’t seen everything, I still think it is worthwhile to head outside the city for at least a day.

If you a traveling with a Harry Potter fan then the Harry Potter Studio Tour is really the only day trip you should be considering doing. This books up months in advance. It is imperative to book these tickets in advance with plenty of notice! 

If you don’t manage to book these tickets in advance then I recommend consoling your Harry Potter fan with a day trip to Oxford.  You can visit the Oxford Colleges which is very interesting in itself but Harry Potter fans will recognize it as Hogwarts filming locations.

Either way you should start your day at Kings Cross to take the iconic platform 9 and 3/4 photograph. The queue for this can get crazy busy so you will want to be there early.

Our other favourite day trips from London with or without kids are:

• Hampton Court Palace – the royal residence of Henry VII which is overflowing with fun attractions for all the family – read our full review here. 
• Windsor – another must for royal fans! You can read our Windsor Essential Guide here.
• Harry Potter Studio Tour

or if you are looking for beach access then

• Brighton is the day trip for you.

Other day trip options from London include Bath and Stonehenge and the Cotswolds.

If you want to know which d ay trips are best in Winter click here.

Day 4 itinerary for London with kids – The Southbank

Day 4 of your itinerary for London with kids is all about Central London in particular the Southbank area. One of my favourite areas in the city. 

london itinerary with toddler

Note: The walk along the Southbank takes in many attractions so depending on what interests you will depend on how many stops you take.

If you are traveling with small children, I definitely recommend taking your stroller today.

Start by having breakfast at Borough Market. This is a London foodie gem. Film buffs will recognize this as the location of Bridget Jone’s flat. Borough Market has existed in some form or another since the 13 th   Century and even the fussiest eater will find something they love with over 100 stalls setting up shop there. Going early is essential as the crowds, especially at lunchtime can get big.

After you have fueled up, head out of the market and walk West. The walk along the Thames is beautiful and you can stop at:

The Golden Hinde Replica

This is a reconstruction of the ship that belonged to Sir Francis Drake. It is great that you can climb aboard and for London it isn’t too busy an attraction.

Nearby is also the famous  Clink Prison.  You can’t fail to notice the Clink as outside there is a large skeleton hanging in a cage. Not a museum in the most traditional sense and a bit gruesome (so not one for those traveling with small children). The museum offers a gruesome insight into some of the prisoners who had been held there.

The next impressive stop on your walk is  Shakespeare’s Globe.  The Globe is a reconstruction of Shakespeare’s open air theatre and offers daily performances of Shakespeare. I recommend coming back here tonight with older children to see a show as you really get a feel for what Tudor theatre was like as you stand to watch the show. If you don’t want to watch a full play however you can always take one of the guided tours instead. In school holidays you will find there are dedicated family tours so it is worth checking availability in advance.

The next big icon on your walk will be the Tate Modern.  This industrial building is hard to miss on the London skyline.

The infamous Millennium Bridge is just outside the Tate and is worth a quick walk. The view from either side of the Bridge is breathtaking and I recommend making time in your Day to do it. If you want to dart across to St Paul’s if time allows this is the time to do so.

The Tate Museum has free entry so if you have enough time and inclination then it is worth jumping into the museum. The museum is the modern art museum of London and has some of the world’s best known modern artists on display and the Turbine Hall has a temporary exhibition space which has some of the most interesting and sometimes controversial exhibits. There are family trails and at weekends and school holidays plenty of family friendly activities.

Even if art isn’t your thing it is worth heading to the Chimney Viewing Deck. This offers great views of the City of London including St Paul’s Cathedral and best of all it is free.

The next stop is the Southbank Centre. You can’t miss it because it is hideous. A brutalist building which however is home to a stretch of family friendly restaurants. This is a great place to come for lunch or dinner. Our favourites include Giraffe and Wahaca

From there you head to the busiest stretch of the South Bank. The busiest place on this section is of course

The London Eye

London itinerary for families – London Eye

Originally only a temporary structure made for the Millennium, the structure proved so popular that is still stands today. Not the highest view in London but the eye offers great views across the city including some of the best views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. For small children, the 45 minute revolution might be a little boring but older children will enjoy picking out the landmarks and it is a must for any adult visitor to the city.

Pre booking tickets is a must to try and avoid the queue!

For those traveling with children, there is a lovely playground  which is a great place to blow off steam.

Also of interest for those traveling with children will be the stretch of Merlin attractions along the Southbank:

Top Tip:      If you are planning to visit several London attractions from Merlin Entertainments group  these include: Shrek’s Adventure! London, Madame Tussaud’s London, Sea life London Aquarium, The Coca-Cola London Eye and The London Dungeon it will save you a TON of money to buy the group ticket – you can buy the Merlin Magical London ticket here!

Depending on your children and your tastes I would recommend finishing your day by doing one of the above.

5 days in London with kids – Museums Galore

If you are planning to do a London 5 day itinerary family will enjoy then you can pick any of the days it notes have to be day one to day 5. 

Note : Today is the celebration of all things cultural as you head to South Kensington as no 5 days in London with kids would be completed without hitting one of the capital’s famous museums. The below are the best picks for those traveling with children but if you aren’t traveling with children or with older kids I would recommend spending the morning or afternoon at British Museum, Sir John Soanes Museum which are in different locations or adding the V&A to the below list.

This day is also perfect if you are due to have a rainy day in London!  

If you are traveling with small children the two museums in South Kensington I recommend are the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Both of them have brilliant hands on areas and depending on your interests depends how long you will spend in each.

Note: if you are in London in December then the natural history museum ice rink has to make it into your Christmas itinerary.

the museums are also excellent for the older traveller especially the dinosaur and geology exhibits as the Natural History Museum and the Making Modern World galleries at the Science Museum.

Looking for books for children visiting the London museums? Check our this post! 

For lunch I recommend heading to the Lebanese restaurant, Comptoir Lebanese near the Tube Station or heading into the Mews House Streets and to the beautiful pub the Queens Arms – my favorite pub in London.

After lunch, head to Kensington Palace. Adults will love viewing the exhibits on show at the Palace, the current home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. For those traveling with younger children, the Diana Memorial Playground is an absolute must and you will struggle to drag them away.

For tonight’s dinner we recommend heading to Covent Garden where there are plenty of child friendly restaurants and kids will love watching the street performers in the piazza.

Day 6 of 7 days in London family itinerary (or without) – West London

Today on your London Family Itinerary you are heading out west on the District Line, to my end of London and my favorite place

Kew Gardens

London family itinerary – Kew Gardens

This beautiful botanic garden offers acres of floral splendor. A favorite is a walk in the iconic glass houses including the tropical Palm House while children will love taking the train round the grounds and walking the Treetop Walkway.

In holidays and weekends there are plenty of family friendly activities. A recent favorite of ours has been watching aromatic performances in the glass house.

For those that want to spend the day in the garden, you can also go into Kew Palace, a royal historic palace in the grounds of the gardens.

For a complete guide on things to do in Kew Gardens with kids check out this guide! 

You can have a picnic in the garden on a nice day or head to one of the eateries inside the ground otherwise you can head into the nearby Richmond (walk or bus) where there are lots of restaurants.

You can spend the rest of the day walking around this historic town and why not hire a boat and have a jaunt on the river.

Day 7 of your 7 day London itinerary with kids (or without) – Maritime Greenwich

The last day of your 7 day London itinerary. Today we are heading to Maritime Greenwich in East London.

The best way to get to Greenwich is to hop on one of the boats and head down the river. Otherwise you can hop on the tube.

Start your day exploring the restored  Cutty Sark.  This historic tea clipper is a must for any Greenwich visit. Being able to climb aboard and see under this ship is a visit not to be missed.

For lunch head to the covered markets of Greenwich.  And do a final bit of souvenir shopping.

After lunch head to the National Maritime Museum.  Kids will love the giant map in the foyer while adults will enjoy learning about Britain’s maritime history.

Another must while you are in Greenwich is to head to and then jump the Greenwich Meridian line.  Striding the Greenwich Meridian line means that you can be in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres at the same time. A really unique thing to end your trip to London on

Where to Stay in for this London itinerary for families

If you are looking for the best places to stay to complete this London itinerary for families then we have put some suggestions in each price bracket to help you make your choice.

Luxury Hotels

Our favorite luxury hotels that are both couple and family friendly are:

Conrad St James

My favorite hotel breakfast in the world. It is a great location and very family friendly

You can book online here!  

Aldwych one

I love this hotel especially its pool with the underwater music.  It also has a great Charlie and the chocolate factory themed afternoon tea.

You can book online here! 

Shangri La at the Shard

If you want to stay in a bucket list worthy hotel in London then this is the one for you.

You can check availability and prices here

You can compare prices here

Mid-Range Hotel Options 

Premier Inn

This chain hotel offers comfortable rooms in an ideal setting for exploration. For more information on the best premier inn to stay in London check out this post.

you can compare prices here! 

MidRange:  Hilton London Tower Bridge

This mid range hotel is situated perfectly to explore some of London’s greatest icons.

Kensington Marriott

Kensington is a great pace for those traveling with children.

You can check availability and prices here! 

For a more complete guide to the best London neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in click here. 

How to get around London with kids or without

London underground.

The Underground is one of the busiest underground systems in the world and dates back over 150 years. As such not all of the stations and lines are accessible and can be difficult to navigate with a stroller.We recommend picking up a London Underground map and looking for the disability symbol at the station as this shows which stations are accessible with strollers. Also be sure to check the TFL website before traveling to look for any train closures or delays. No visit to London is complete without riding the underground. To pay on the Underground you can use contactless card or pick up an Oyster card.

If you want more information about London with a baby then check out this post!

DO YOU NEED A CAR SEAT IN A UK TAXI? 

UK law  states that when travelling in taxis children under three may travel without a car seat. However I never travel without a car seat so we never take a taxi with our little one. If you know that you can store a car seat at your destination or perhaps have a convertible car seat stroller then this may be something you decide to do.

You could try booking a car in advance however with a company that provides car seats but this will obviously mean you have to keep to a tighter schedule.

LONDON BUSES 

Depending on the age of the bus will depend how accessible they are with a stroller. Modern buses have stroller parking but if busy you will have to fold it. London buses are a great way to get around the city while still seeing the sights.

TFL FERRIES

Ferries can be used with your Oyster card and are a great way to see many of the London sights in relative comfort.

LONDON HOP ON HOP OFF BUSES

We have always loved a Hop On Hop Off bus. They are a great way to see the main sights of a city but can be difficult to use especially in the summer. Be sure to have a compact stroller or a carrier if you are planning on using.

Looking for things to make baby travel easier? Then check out this post!

TAXIS AND UBER

Taxis in London can be expensive especially the Black cabs and in London traffic. London Black Cabs are exempt from car seat laws and are the only taxis in London that can be hailed.

Uber is currently still available in London but doesn’t’ provide car seats. If you want some recommendations for car seats for toddlers when travelling check out this post.

FAQs about this London with kids itinerary 

Does this work as a london itinerary with toddler.

This itinerary will absolutely work as a London itinerary with toddler in tow. In fact we lived in London with a toddler and did all of these things. However if you want some more information about visiting London with babies or toddlers check out this post for some specifically designed toddler activities. 

Tell us have you spent 7 days in London? What was your family trip to london itinerary? What were your highlights?

Further Reading: 

• 50 + things to do in London with kids 
• 4 Day London Itinerary 
• London Bucket List 
• UK Bucket List
• 50 Things to do on a Rainy Day in London
• Hampton Court Day Trip 
• Guide to Visiting London with a Baby or Toddler 
• Children’s Books set in London

Monday 1st of July 2019

London is one of my favourite cities anywhere. A number of great itineraries here which take you all over this fabulous city..

Deborah Patterson

Wednesday 26th of June 2019

That's the essentials covered! I'm a Londoner (though don't live there now) and still haven't seen everything there is to see. With little kids one area and museum I'd definitely add is Covent Garden to watch the shows and go to the London Transport Museum. I also always recommend the playground in Kensington Gardens after a trip to the Science or Natural History Museums for a picnic and for the kids to let off steam.

We'll certainly be spending some time in the city this summer...we've not done the Tower of London with our kids yet, so I think that's going on the list. #fearlessfamtrav

the Curious Pixie

Such a fab and comprehensive itinerary. So handy for families! #fearlessfamtrav

Tuesday 25th of June 2019

It always the way isn’t it, I’ve not been to half these places despite living close to London! #Fearlessfamtrav

This is a great itinerary! We have not taken the kids to London yet but it is high on our bucket list. I will definitely be referencing this when we plan our trip. And I'm definitely with you- I'm not comfortable not having our kids in carseats so we don't really travel by taxi. #fearlessfamtrav

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Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting highlights: Shawwal crescent NOT sighted in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE. Eid on April 10

During the total solar eclipse tonight, the sun will briefly get completely cloaked by the moon and will be aligned with the Earth in a straight line, leading to darkness during the daytime in several countries, as the moon will block the sun completely and a result of this, the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon to mark the end of Ramadan 2024 and beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr may be delayed until April 09, 2024. The sun will remain cloaked for a total of four minutes, during which its enigmatic outer layer will be illuminated.

Since the Middle East, USA, UK, Canada etc started fasting on March 11, 2024, the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia had called on all Muslims throughout the Kingdom to sight the new crescent moon on the evening of Monday, Ramadan 29, 1445 Hijri, corresponding to April 8, 2024, that would mark the end of Ramadan and the onset of the month of Shawwal. The Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted by the Muslims in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and other countries in the Middle East on April 8 evening, after breaking the Ramadan fast at maghrib or evening payers hence, chand raat there will be on Tuesday, April 09 and the day of Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated the next day i.e. on April 10, 2024, indicating that Muslims will observe a 30-day fast this Ramadan instead of 29 days.

As per Indian time, the total solar eclipse on April 08, 2024 will take place from 9:12pm to 2:22am, in between which, Muslims across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, USA, United Kingdom, UAE, Qatar and in other countries were gearing up to sight the crescent moon of Shawwal that will mark the end of Ramadan 2024 and the day of Eid-ul-Fitr this year as it is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, after the sighting of the new moon or crescent moon. It is a major Islamic festival where "Eid" means "celebration" and "Fitr" means "breaking of the fast" and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide but the exact date of the festival varies each year, as Islam follows a lunar calendar that is based on the sighting of the new moon and this year, Ramadan was expected to get over on Monday, April 08 with a treat for sky gazers and celestial body lovers since the new moon occurring on April 08 was anticipated to be seen with a total solar eclipse in specific locations on Earth.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in the United Kingdom

With the edges of western Europe slated to experience a partial eclipse tonight, some areas in the British Isles - mostly western Scotland and Ireland - will be able to see part of the moon moving in front of the sun but although the new moon will become visible as a dark circle silhouetted against the blazing surface of the sun, it is the first slim crescent forming around the moon's edge that observers must report before Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 is declared. According to Birmingham Mail, Midlands-based moonsighting expert Dr Zahid Nawaz said, "There is a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, which will impact the visibility of the Shawwal crescent moon this year. This impacts only those countries who attempt to sight the crescent. However, those who follow astronomical calculations will also be impacted as the moon sets before sunset on Monday."

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in US

The United States Naval Observatory reportedly stated, "The sighting of the lunar crescent within one day of new moon is usually difficult. The crescent at this time is quite thin, has a low surface brightness, and can easily be lost in the twilight. Generally, the lunar crescent will become visible to suitably-located, experienced observers with good sky conditions about one day after new moon. However, the time that the crescent actually becomes visible varies quite a bit from one month to another. Naked-eye sightings as early as 15.5 hours after new moon have been reliably reported while observers with telescopes have made reliable reports as early as 12.1 hours after new moon."

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The moon sighting for Eid-ul-Fitr in Canada is anticipated to take place on Tuesday, April 9. If the Shawwal crescent is not sighted on Tuesday, Eid will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in Australia

The Australian Fatwa Council has confirmed that the Shawwal crescent will be born on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at specific times in Sydney and Perth and it will be the last day of Ramadan while Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in Qatar

First day of Shawwal and Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 will be on Wednesday, April 10 in Qatar.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in Pakistan

In Pakistan, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to meet on Tuesday evening for Shawwal moon sighting as the Met Office has predicted that Eid ul Fitr may fall on April 10 since the Shawwal moon is expected to be sighted on April 9. Pakistan's Meterological Department predicted that the crescent would be born on April 08 at 11:21pm and it would be aged between 19 and 20 hours the next day around Maghrib prayer and the crescent could be spotted for over 50 minutes around sundown.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon sighting in Morocco

Morocco’s Islamic Affairs Ministry announced that the crescent moon sighting for Eid Al Fitr will take place on Tuesday.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: Shawwal crescent moon NOT sighted in Saudi Arabia, Eid on April 10

The crescent moon was NOT sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10 2024.

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2024: 30 Best SMS, Eid WhatsApp messages, quotes, wishes, Facebook status to wish Eid Mubarak to loved ones

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Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting: Statement by Saudi Meteorology on Shawwal crescent sighting expectations tonight, amid total lunar eclipse 

Saudi Meteorology has just issued this statement: “We expect that visibility will not be good for seeing the Shawwal crescent in Central regions, Sudair and Tumair due to heavy clouds.” It added, “Today, the weather is suitable for observing the Eid al-Fitr crescent in the north and west of the Kingdom.”

Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting: Preparations begin to sight the Shawwal crescent in Saudi Arabia.

Preparations begin to sight the Shawwal crescent in Saudi Arabia at the main observatories of Sudair and Tumair.

Eid-ul-Fitr 2024 moon sighting: Will Shawwal crescent moon be sighted tonight amid total lunar eclipse?

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