3 Days in London Itinerary: The Perfect Three Day London Trip
If you are traveling to London and feel overwhelmed with what to do in London, I completely understand! Trying to plan a full 3 days in London itinerary can be draining, especially with countless museums, historical sights, boat tours, shopping, walking tours, foodie spots, filming locations… the list goes on!
Hopefully, I can shed some light on your London itinerary and help you fill those 3 days with a trip you’ll never forget!
If you only have time one day, check out my One Day Itinerary for London! If you have extra time and want to take some day trips, try one of the super easy day trips in my guide!
The Perfect 3 Days London Itinerary
Day One: 3 Days in London Itinerary
Tower of London
Start your 3 days in London itinerary at the Tower of London, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the UK.
Yes, it will be very busy. Pre-book the opening time slot and arrive early. There will be a line, but it will go quickly once the doors open.
Head to the Crown Jewels first, which normally has a line to get in the building, but if you walk straight there you’ll get right in!
Other notable attractions inside the tower grounds are the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula, and the Ravens!
Did you know all the ravens have names and legend says if the ravens leave the tower then the crown and the tower will fall?
Allow AT LEAST 2 hours to explore the tower, but you’ll likely need more if you want to listen to the Yeoman talks or take a lot of photos around the grounds! The walk around the fortress walls will give you amazing views of the River Thames and Tower Bridge… so there’s plenty to do!
Tower Bridge
Once you are finished at the tower, head to the Tower Bridge. You don’t need a timed ticket, but I highly recommend pre-booking!
You can walk from the Tower of London to the Tower Bridge, no need to get on the tube!
Most people just walk across the bridge without realizing there is a glass walkway above them!
This is one of the cheaper attractions in London (aside from the free ones) and not as crowded as you would expect it to be, even in the height of summer.
There are quite a few steps to climb to the top, but you can request to go in the elevator if someone in your party has issues with climbing stairs.
There is a small museum up top and two sections on the bridge are glass so you can peer down at the River Thames and the cars passing by.
When you are finished with the bridge walk by down and head across to the engine room which is located in the gift shop. You will have to have your ticket ready to show so you can gain access to them!
Sky Garden
Next, you need to head to Sky Garden. You can either walk across the bridge to the Tower Hill underground station and take it to Monument or continue walking to Sky Garden (it’s about 10 minutes from the Tower Hill station).
The Sky Garden is FREE! Walk-ins are accepted, however, you can pre-book your time slot online!
It’s free to book your tickets online, you will need to bring an ID with you when you show your tickets.
The Sky Garden will give you panoramic views across London and the Thames.
There is seating available throughout the Sky Garden and an outdoor observation deck to take in the views. You can also walk all the way around the garden and get 260 views of the city.
If you are ready for dinner you can make dinner reservations at one of their restaurants! I highly recommend Darwin Brasserie!
Congratulations, you’ve survived your first day on your 3 days in London itinerary!
Now onto day two!
Day Two: 3 Days in London Itinerary
There will be some walking involved on this day, but you got this! And wear some comfy shoes!
British Museum
Start at the British Museum, another one of the UK’s top tourist attractions.
The tickets are free but you need to pre-book your ticket for the opening time slot! Try to arrive 30 minutes before opening to get in line before anyone else because there will be a wait no matter what and at least this way you’re only waiting 30 minutes! During the off-season, you can arrive 15-20 minutes before opening.
The British Museum holds some of the most prominent treasures in the world and British history.
Highlights include:
- Rosetta Stone: The stone has text in three different languages inscribed into it. It was the first major discovery in Egyptian history and the key to deciphering hieroglyphics!
- The Elgin Marbles: These Greek sculptures were on the Parthenon and surrounding structures on the Acropolis in Greece. Lord Elgin acquired the marbles in the 1800s and they’ve been in the British Museum for over 200 years!
- Aztec Serpent: A sacred symbol to the Aztecs, this serpent (most likely a tribute to show allegiance to the emperor) is made of about 2,000 tiles of turquoise!
- Hoa Hakananai’a: This statue (or moai) is straight from Easter Island.
- Sutton Hoo: An Anglo-Saxon burial site was found on land owned by Edith Pretty. She hired an amateur archaeologist to dig up the weird mounds around her property. To her surprise, it was a king’s burial site with a 90-foot ship! (They made a movie about it, it’s called The Dig). Pieces from the burial site along with the famous Sutton Hoo helmet are found here!
I would allow at least 3 hours in the museum, however, I’ve spent more than 4 there before!
Trafalgar Square
Now it’s time to head to Trafalgar Square! You can either take the tube from Tottenham Court Road to Charing Cross, or take a 20-minute walk.
There’s not too much to do here, but everyone has to see Trafalgar Square! Nelson’s Column dominates the square (we love Nelson over here, BTW), it was constructed between 1840 and 1843. A little over 30 years later, the bronze lions were added surrounding the square.
The National Gallery is also located in the square. You can see John Constable’s The Hay Wain, Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and Da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks… to name a few!
You can also stop for lunch in this area! I LOVE the Sherlock Holmes pub, it’s got a quirky pub vibe (just like Sherlock) and the food is good. If you want an excellent view (and I mean a really excellent view) and you’re looking for more small bites, then head to The Rooftop, although it’s a little pricey, the view is worth it!
Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade
The Horse Guards Parade is a ceremonial area and official entrance to St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace… and it’s free to walk around. If you have ever seen the very regal “Trooping the Colour” on the King’s official birthday, this is where it is held!
You can also see the Life Guards here, the most senior regiment of the British Army! Just don’t stand too close to the horses, remember they are working and they can bite… and they do! Just google it if you don’t believe me!
The mounted guards are only outside from 10am to 4pm, so plan accordingly if you want to see them!
Since you are in the area, you might as well see the famous street where the British Prime Minister lives! The street is closed to the public, but you can still see the house and the street sign through the fence.
Buckingham Palace
If you want to take a peek at Buckingham then it’s a little under a mile from Downing Street. It will take you about 20 minutes to walk down to the Victoria Memorial and the Buckingham Palace facade. The palace is open to the public on select days during the summer so plan ahead if you really want to go inside!
Covent Garden
Time to head to Covent Garden to chill out for the evening! The closest underground station will be Westminster, but it’s easier to walk to Charing Cross and take it to Leicester Square and then Covent Garden.
I love walking around Covent Garden or sitting at a cafe watching the time pass by. For a quick drink, I like the Punch & Judy Pub (but you have to sit outside, the balcony overlooks the square), and for dinner, you are spoiled for choice!
Check out The Real Greek, Flesh & Buns, Old Chang Kee, and YORI.
West End Show
If you still have the energy, why not go see a West End Show? The theaters are spread around the area and there is a show for everyone… from musicals to plays, I promise you will find something you like!
Some of my favorites are The Lion King, Sister Act (no longer on the West End), The Book of Mormon, and Wicked!
Day Three: 3 Days in London Itinerary
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in the world. Aside from King Charles III’s coronation in 2023, Prince William and Catherine’s wedding in 2011, and Remembrance Day, the Abbey has held coronations since 1066, countless royal weddings and funerals, and every year welcomes over a million visitors.
That being said, Westminster Abbey gets VERY busy, but you can’t skip the abbey on your 3 days in London itinerary!
Make sure you pre-book your ticket for the opening time slot and arrive 20-30 minutes before opening.
I highly recommend paying the extra fee to visit the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries! Not only do you get to see Westminster Abbey treasures previously hidden from the public view, but the gallery is gorgeous! And the view over the abbey is amazing too!
Westminster Bridge and Parliament
Walking across Westminster Bridge and taking a photo of Parliament and “Big Ben” is pretty much a staple on anyone’s 3-day itinerary in London!
For the famous archway photograph, head across the bridge, walking away from Big Ben. At the end of the bridge, turn right and head down the steps. When you reach the river walk, turn right and the archway is right there. Just be prepared for the terrible smell… but it’s worth it for the photo, right?
London Eye
The London Eye is just a short walk from here! If you want to go on the London Eye, then you will have to pre-book your ticket (of course)! You can purchase a ticket there, but it will cost you a lot more and you might not even get a ticket!
You can also privately book a pod for you and your group or book a romantic evening with your significant other.
I normally don’t recommend the Eye because there are so many free views around London, but if it’s your first time in London, I think you should definitely experience the Eye!
London From the Water
Head to the London Eye Waterloo Pier and take a ferry to Bankside. It’s fun to get a different perspective and see London from the water.
Ferries are quite frequent and you can use your Oyster Card or Visitor Oyster Card on board! You can also use the Uber app to book your tickets! You won’t get any commentary about the sights, but this is such a cheap way to see London from the Thames, you can’t miss out!
Millennium Bridge, St Paul’s, and Tate Modern
Once you hop off at Bankside, you have a few options!
You can check out the Tate Modern, a museum for modern art and it’s FREE! There are special exhibitions throughout the year that will charge a small fee, but most of the collection is free. There is also a fantastic view from the observation deck!
The Shakespeare Globe Theatre is also here. If you are a fan of Shakespeare or have ever wanted to see one of his plays performed live then there is no better place than the Globe! The Globe has been built and moved several times over the past few centuries, but has always put on Shakespeare’s plays. You can even take a guided tour if you don’t have time for a show!
Next check out the Millennium Bridge, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll recognize it from the movies! And you’ll recognize the iconic view of the bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background.
If you want, you can walk across the bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral and visit inside the church. You need to pre-book your ticket and it includes the main cathedral, the crypt, and the galleries which will give you more amazing views from above. St Paul’s does close early every day (and it’s not open to sightseeing visitors on Sunday), so just be aware if you are desperate to see the interior or climb to the galleries!
If you skip out on St Paul’s then head towards the Borough Market!
Borough Market
The Borough Market is only a 10-minute walk away and this is the perfect place to have a wander, buy some local goods to take home with you, or have some dinner after a long day!
The market is closed by 5pm every day, except Monday, when the market doesn’t open at all. It’s ok because even though the vendors aren’t there, you can still walk around and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants around for food and drinks!
Check out The Market Porter (yummy pub food – the pie is reallllly good), Padella (Italian and cheap!), and Hawksmoor (a bit pricey, but a great steakhouse).
Where to Stay in London for 3 Days
Staying in London can get expensive, but you can also find some really great deals right in central London (if you book early enough)!
- Motel One London – Tower Hill: Don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not a classic “motel”! And the location is great.
- citizenM Tower of London: You can’t get much closer to the Tower of London for this price and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a fantastic view! Also right next to the Tower Hill Underground Station!
- Cheval Three Quays: If you want a splurge and lots of luxury, book this apartment overlooking the Tower of London and The Thames.
- The Mad Hatter Hotel: Reasonably priced in Southwark with a 5-minute walk to the Southwark Underground Station. Next to the Tate Modern and Shakespeare Globe.
- The Wellington: Budget-friendly hotel with lots of transport options. Right next to Waterloo which gives you options for the underground AND day trip options too!
- St Ermin’s Hotel: It’s worth paying the price (which isn’t as expensive as some Central London hotels) for the location and luxury!
Leave Your Comment Below: 3 Days in London Itinerary
Is it your first time heading to London? What would you add to your 3-day London itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!
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