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London, United Kingdom · Free itinerary
3-Day London Itinerary: Best Things to Do
London blends two millennia of history with a relentlessly modern energy, from royal palaces and world-class free museums to the river-spanning skyline of the City. Three busy days take you from Westminster's royal heart to the medieval Tower and the buzzing West End. Expect grand landmarks, iconic markets and some of Europe's best dining packed into walkable clusters.
3 days18 sights + 9 food & drink stopsLondon, United Kingdom
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1
Royal Westminster & South Bank Icons
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1hRegency Cafe 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:00 AM📍 Pimlico, LondonIconic 1946 art-deco caff serving London's definitive no-frills full English breakfast (Mon-Sat from 07:00).
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9:21 AM – 9:30 AM· Walk to Westminster Abbey ·0.7 km ·9m
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1h 30mWestminster Abbey ⛪ Religious site9:30 AM – 11:00 AM📍 Westminster, LondonThe Gothic coronation church of British monarchs since 1066, packed with royal tombs and Poets' Corner (open to visitors Mon-Sat).
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11:10 AM – 11:15 AM· Walk to Churchill War Rooms ·0.3 km ·5m
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1h 30mChurchill War Rooms 🖼️ Museum11:15 AM – 12:45 PM📍 Whitehall, LondonThe preserved underground bunker where Churchill ran WWII Britain, now an Imperial War Museum site.
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Walk to The Cinnamon Club ·0.5 km ·7m
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1h 30mThe Cinnamon Club 🍴 Food12:45 PM – 2:15 PM📍 Westminster, LondonAcclaimed Indian fine-dining in the grand former Old Westminster Library, steps from the Abbey.
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2:19 PM – 2:30 PM· Walk to Household Cavalry Museum ·0.8 km ·11m
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1hHousehold Cavalry Museum 🖼️ Museum2:30 PM – 3:30 PM📍 Whitehall, LondonA working stable-museum at Horse Guards where you can see the mounted regiments up close.
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3:37 PM – 3:45 PM· Walk to St James's Park ·0.6 km ·8m
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1h 15mSt James's Park 🌳 Park3:45 PM – 5:00 PM📍 St James's, LondonLondon's oldest royal park, with a lake, pelicans and a famous bridge view toward Buckingham Palace.
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5:02 PM – 5:15 PM· Walk to Westminster Bridge & Big Ben Viewpoint ·0.9 km ·13m
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45mWestminster Bridge & Big Ben Viewpoint 🌄 Viewpoint5:15 PM – 6:00 PM📍 Westminster, LondonCross Westminster Bridge for the postcard view of Parliament, Big Ben and the Thames at golden hour.
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6:10 PM – 6:15 PM· Walk to London Eye ·0.3 km ·5m
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45mLondon Eye 🏛️ Landmark6:15 PM – 7:00 PM📍 South Bank, LondonThe 135m riverside observation wheel offering a slow 30-minute rotation over the floodlit city (open later in summer).
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7:25 PM – 7:30 PM· Walk to Skylon ·0.3 km ·5m
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1h 45mSkylon 🍴 Food7:30 PM – 9:15 PM📍 South Bank, LondonModern British dining on the third floor of the Royal Festival Hall, with floor-to-ceiling Thames views.
2
The City, Tower & Bankside
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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45mThe Wren Coffee at St Nicholas Cole Abbey 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 8:45 AM📍 City of London, LondonBreakfast of pastries and coffee inside a restored Christopher Wren church between St Paul's and the river (Mon-Fri from 07:00).
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Walk to St Paul's Cathedral ·0.3 km ·5m
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1h 30mSt Paul's Cathedral ⛪ Religious site8:45 AM – 10:15 AM📍 City of London, LondonWren's baroque masterpiece with its iconic dome, Whispering Gallery and sweeping city views (sightseeing Mon-Sat from 08:30).
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10:16 AM – 10:30 AM· Walk to Sky Garden ·1.0 km ·14m
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1h 15mSky Garden 🌄 Viewpoint10:30 AM – 11:45 AM📍 City of London, LondonFree three-storey indoor garden atop the 'Walkie-Talkie' with 360 views over the Thames; book a free timed slot in advance.
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12:03 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to Padella ·0.9 km ·12m
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1h 15mPadella 🍴 Food12:15 PM – 1:30 PM📍 Borough, LondonBeloved Borough Market pasta bar serving hand-rolled tagliarini and pici cacio e pepe at the counter.
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1:31 PM – 1:45 PM· Walk to Tower Bridge Exhibition ·1.0 km ·14m
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1h 15mTower Bridge Exhibition 🏛️ Landmark1:45 PM – 3:00 PM📍 Tower Hamlets, LondonClimb the Victorian towers for high-level glass-floor walkways 42m above the Thames.
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3:10 PM – 3:15 PM· Walk to Tower of London ·0.3 km ·5m
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1h 30mTower of London 🏛️ Landmark3:15 PM – 4:45 PM📍 Tower Hamlets, LondonHistoric royal fortress home to the Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders and centuries of history (last admission 15:30).
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4:55 PM – 5:00 PM· Travel to Tate Modern ·1.6 km ·5m
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1hTate Modern 🖼️ Museum5:00 PM – 6:00 PM📍 Bankside, LondonWorld-class free modern art gallery in a converted Bankside power station, with the soaring Turbine Hall.
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6:10 PM – 6:15 PM· Walk to Millennium Bridge & Riverside Walk ·0.2 km ·5m
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45mMillennium Bridge & Riverside Walk 🌄 Viewpoint6:15 PM – 7:00 PM📍 Bankside, LondonStroll the sleek pedestrian bridge for postcard views of St Paul's and the river as the light softens.
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7:25 PM – 7:30 PM· Walk to The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe ·0.2 km ·5m
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1h 45mThe Swan at Shakespeare's Globe 🍴 Food7:30 PM – 9:15 PM📍 Bankside, LondonModern British dining beside the reconstructed Globe Theatre, with river-facing windows toward St Paul's.
3
West End, Bloomsbury & Covent Garden
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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45mMonmouth Coffee Company 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 8:45 AM📍 Covent Garden, LondonCult Covent Garden coffee roaster on Monmouth Street serving expertly brewed filter and espresso with pastries (Mon-Sat from 08:00).
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50mSeven Dials & Neal's Yard 🛍️ Shopping9:00 AM – 9:50 AM📍 Covent Garden, LondonSeven cobbled streets meeting at a sundial pillar, hiding the rainbow-coloured courtyard of Neal's Yard.
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9:53 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to British Museum ·0.5 km ·7m
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2hBritish Museum 🖼️ Museum10:00 AM – 12:00 PM📍 Bloomsbury, LondonWorld-spanning free museum housing the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures under a glass-roofed court (opens 10:00).
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12:19 PM – 12:30 PM· Walk to Dishoom Covent Garden ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 30mDishoom Covent Garden 🍴 Food12:30 PM – 2:00 PM📍 Covent Garden, LondonBeloved Bombay-style cafe in a former warehouse, famed for its bacon naan and black daal.
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2:10 PM – 2:15 PM· Walk to Covent Garden Piazza & Apple Market ·0.3 km ·5m
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1h 15mCovent Garden Piazza & Apple Market 🛍️ Shopping2:15 PM – 3:30 PM📍 Covent Garden, LondonHistoric covered piazza buzzing with craft stalls, street performers and the old market halls.
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3:37 PM – 3:45 PM· Walk to Trafalgar Square ·0.6 km ·8m
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45mTrafalgar Square 🏛️ Landmark3:45 PM – 4:30 PM📍 Westminster, LondonLondon's grand civic square anchored by Nelson's Column, bronze lions and fountains.
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4:40 PM – 4:45 PM· Walk to National Gallery ·0.1 km ·5m
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1h 30mNational Gallery 🖼️ Museum4:45 PM – 6:15 PM📍 Westminster, LondonFree national art collection spanning Van Eyck, Turner and Van Gogh in a Trafalgar Square palace (daily to 18:00, Fri to 21:00).
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6:23 PM – 6:30 PM· Walk to Kricket Soho ·0.5 km ·7m
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1h 15mKricket Soho 🍴 Food6:30 PM – 7:45 PM📍 Soho, LondonBuzzy modern-Indian small-plates restaurant on Denman Street near Piccadilly, ideal for a pre-theatre dinner.
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Walk to West End Theatre Show ·0.3 km ·5m
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2h 30mWest End Theatre Show 🎭 Entertainment7:45 PM – 10:15 PM📍 Soho, LondonCatch a long-running West End musical or play in Theatreland, with most evening performances at 7:30pm.
🏨 Where to stay
Real, vetted stays near your route — check the reviews, then book.
Premier Inn London County Hall★★★
South Bank
Reliable budget hotel in the historic County Hall building beside the London Eye and Westminster Bridge.
The Z Hotel Shoreditch★★★★
Shoreditch
Compact, stylish boutique hotel in a converted office building near the bars of Shoreditch.
The Hoxton, Holborn★★★★
Holborn
Trendy design hotel in a Grade II-listed former telephone exchange, walkable to Covent Garden and Soho.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in London?
3 days are a great amount of time to explore London. This itinerary covers 18 sights and 9 food & drink stops across 3 days, giving you a thorough introduction to the city.
What are the best things to do in London?
Some of the best things to do in London include Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Household Cavalry Museum. London blends two millennia of history with a relentlessly modern energy, from royal palaces and world-class free museums to the river-spanning skyline of the City. Three busy days take you from Westminster's royal heart to the medieval Tower and the buzzing West End. Expect grand landmarks, iconic markets and some of Europe's best dining packed into walkable clusters.
Where should I stay in London?
Popular options in London include Premier Inn London County Hall and The Z Hotel Shoreditch. The city centre also has a range of hotels for every budget — book in advance for the best rates.
What's the best time to visit London?
Much of this itinerary is indoors — 8 of its 18 sights are museums, entertainment venues, or shopping stops — so London holds up outside peak season too. Book the popular indoor attractions ahead in busy months, and check the seasonal climate for United Kingdom before you go.