London in 3 days: royal sights, the river and the great museums

Three days in London gives you time for the royal sights, a walk along the river and a proper visit to the great free museums, without rushing from one to the next. This plan gives each day one area of the city, so most of your time is spent on foot rather than underground. It suits a first visit at a steady pace, with a show or a pub in the evenings.

How it compares with our other London plans: London in one day squeezes the riverside landmarks into a single walk, while London in 4 days adds Greenwich and Notting Hill. This three-day version keeps the essentials and gives the museums a day of their own.

How this plan works

• Day one: royal London, from Westminster to Trafalgar Square, with a West End evening.
• Day two: the Tower of London first thing, then the South Bank west to the London Eye.
• Day three: the British Museum, then South Kensington's museums and Hyde Park.
• Expect to walk 10–15 km a day. Comfortable, waterproof shoes are the most useful thing you can pack.

Day 1: Westminster and royal London

Start with the Houses of Parliament, the Elizabeth Tower (home of the bell called Big Ben) and Westminster Abbey, where monarchs have been crowned since 1066. The abbey is a working church with limited sightseeing on Sundays, so plan around that.

Then walk through St James's Park to Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard happens in the late morning on set days; check the schedule if you want to see it. From the palace, follow the Mall to Trafalgar Square and spend the afternoon in the National Gallery, whose collection of European paintings is free to visit. The National Portrait Gallery is right behind it.

Day 1 evening: Covent Garden and the West End

In the evening, eat around Covent Garden and see a show in the West End, London's theatre district. Popular shows sell out at weekends, but many theatres release day tickets for flexible visitors. Soho, just to the west, is full of restaurants and pubs.

Day 2 morning: the Tower of London

Be at the Tower of London when it opens and go straight to the Crown Jewels before the queues build. Then join one of the tours led by the Yeoman Warders, whose stories bring the fortress's long history to life, and see the White Tower, begun under William the Conqueror. Allow at least three hours. Afterwards, walk across Tower Bridge to the south bank. The high-level walkways are part of a separate, paid exhibition.

Day 2 afternoon: the South Bank

Follow the South Bank west along the river. Borough Market, near London Bridge, is the place for lunch (it's busiest at weekends, and not every trader opens every day), with Southwark Cathedral beside it. Continue past Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern, whose permanent collection is free. If you have energy to spare, cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's Cathedral and back.

End with a ride on the London Eye at sunset. A full rotation takes about 30 minutes and gives you a view over Westminster and the whole city. Then walk across to Westminster Bridge to see Parliament lit up.

Day 3 morning: the British Museum

Day three is for museums. Start at the British Museum in Bloomsbury, whose collection spans two million years of human history. Pick a few highlights rather than trying to see it all: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the Egyptian galleries are the classics. Like most of London's national museums, it's free, though special exhibitions charge admission.

Day 3 afternoon: South Kensington and Hyde Park

In the afternoon, take the Tube to South Kensington; the Piccadilly line runs direct from Russell Square or Holborn. The Natural History Museum's cathedral-like main hall is worth seeing even if you're not a dinosaur fan, and the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum are next door. Choose one rather than all three.

Then walk north through Hyde Park, past the Albert Memorial, to the Serpentine, the long lake at the park's centre. Kensington Palace sits on the western side of Kensington Gardens if you want one more sight.

What to book ahead

• Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye: all sell timed tickets online, which usually saves queuing. Sunset slots on the Eye are the most popular.
• West End shows: book ahead for popular productions and weekend performances.
• Free museums: some may ask you to reserve a free time slot in busy periods. It's quick and guarantees entry.
• Restaurants: book ahead for weekend dinners in Covent Garden and Soho.

Check official sites for current opening days, since some sights close for ceremonies and state events.

Adapting the plan

• Rain: day three already works in any weather. Swap it with a wet day and save the South Bank walk for a dry one.
• With children: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Tower are strong choices. The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is another.
• Slower pace: take a river bus between Westminster and Tower Pier instead of walking, and pick just one museum a day.
• A fourth day: add Greenwich, Camden or a day out of the city. Our guide to day trips from London compares the options.

Getting around and where to stay

Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the Tube and buses, and your daily fares are capped automatically. Use the same card or device every time.

For three days, stay central: Covent Garden, the South Bank or South Kensington all keep each day within a short ride. Our guide to where to stay in London compares the areas in detail. Many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK, so check the current rules on the official government site before you travel.

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Cover photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons