This plan balances London’s best-known sights with characterful neighbourhoods, keeping each day focused on one area. Times between stops are approximate and assume walking or a short Tube ride.
Budget
About £250–£500 per person, excluding accommodation, flights and local transport; costs vary with meals, show tickets and optional exhibitions.
Best time to visit
Late spring or early autumn, when the weather is often pleasant for walking and the days are comfortably long.
Westminster and the South Bank
See the historic heart of London, then cross the river for an easy riverside evening.
Morning
Explore
Allow around two hours for the abbey’s royal history and remarkable architecture. Arrive early to make the most of your visit.
About £30Morning
See and Parliament Square
Walk about 5 minutes from to admire the Houses of Parliament and from outside.
Afternoon
Visit
It’s about a 10-minute walk from . Book ahead for this absorbing underground look at Britain’s wartime command centre.
About £35Evening
Walk the
Cross Westminster Bridge in about 10 minutes and follow the riverfront toward the London Eye, stopping for dinner along the way.
Tower of London and Borough Market
Pair the City’s medieval landmarks with a lively food-market lunch and a riverside stroll.
Morning
Discover the
Give yourself at least three hours for the Crown Jewels, the historic towers and the Yeoman Warder stories.
About £35Afternoon
Cross
Walk about 5 minutes from the Tower to the bridge; cross it for classic Thames views. The walkway exhibition is optional.
About £13Afternoon
Lunch at
Allow about 25 minutes to walk from along the riverside to this historic market, where you’ll find plenty of quick lunch options.
About £12–£20Evening
Stroll beside the river at Shakespeare’s Globe
Walk about 10 minutes from to the Globe and its riverside surroundings; check for an evening performance if you’d like to stay.
About £0–£70
Bloomsbury and Covent Garden
Spend the day among world-class museum collections, handsome squares and ’s lively streets.
Morning
Explore the British Museum
Start early and pick a few galleries to enjoy rather than trying to see everything. General admission is free, but special exhibitions may charge.
FreeAfternoon
Browse
Walk about 15 minutes from the museum to the market halls and surrounding streets, with time for lunch and independent shops.
About £12–£25Afternoon
Pause in
It’s about a 5-minute walk from Piazza to this colourful tucked-away courtyard, ideal for a coffee break.
About £4–£8Evening
Catch a West End show
Walk about 10 minutes from Neal’s Yard to and nearby theatres. Book tickets in advance for the widest choice.
About £25–£100
Kensington and Notting Hill
Enjoy a relaxed museum morning, then finish with garden squares, pastel-coloured streets and neighbourhood browsing.
Morning
Visit the
Allow a couple of hours for the galleries and the dramatic Hintze Hall. General admission is free; some exhibitions require tickets.
FreeAfternoon
Relax in
Walk about 15 minutes from the museum to the gardens for a peaceful break among broad lawns and tree-lined paths.
FreeAfternoon
Explore Notting Hill and
Take the Tube from Queensway to Notting Hill Gate in about 10 minutes, then walk roughly 10 minutes to for shops and colourful streets.
About £0–£30Evening
Have dinner in Notting Hill
Stay in the neighbourhood for dinner; restaurants around and are within a short walk.
About £25–£45
Good to know
Getting around
Use contactless payment or an Oyster card on the Tube and buses, and walk between nearby sights. Journey times can vary with service and traffic.
Bookings
Reserve timed entry for popular attractions and West End shows, especially at weekends and during school holidays.
Market timing
is busiest around lunch, and is most lively on Saturdays; check opening days if your dates are fixed.