3 Days in London Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from Westminster Bridge

London was the first stop on our 10-day trip through England and Ireland, and we packed an incredible amount into three full days. We stayed for four nights, which gave us time to recover after our overnight flight before beginning three busy days of sightseeing.

This itinerary is best for first-time adult visitors who want to see many of London’s iconic landmarks while still making room for experiences such as afternoon tea, a football match, and a few memorable meals. We walked nearly everywhere that made sense and used the Tube when the distance was too far—which added up to close to 30 miles on foot during our first three days.

It was a full itinerary, but it never felt like we were simply racing from one attraction to the next. Some of our favorite moments came from walking between landmarks, stopping at cafés, and seeing parts of the city we would have missed if we had relied entirely on transportation.

After London, we took the train from King’s Cross to York, followed by Liverpool and Dublin. You can find the entire route in our 10-Day England and Ireland Itinerary.

If you are curious how we booked our business-class flights and luxury hotels with points and miles, I also shared every redemption in our England and Ireland Points and Miles Breakdown.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book or purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share places, experiences and products I genuinely used or recommend.

Our London Itinerary at a Glance

Our London Itinerary at a Glance
Day	Highlights
Arrival Day	Hotel check-in, a walk around the neighborhood, our first London pub stop and dinner at The Ship & Shovell
Day 1	Whitehall, Big Ben, the Queen’s Walk, Waterloo Bridge, afternoon tea and an Arsenal football match
Day 2	Terry’s Café, Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, Hay’s Galleria, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and F1 Arcade
Day 3	St. James’s Park, Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Notting Hill, Abbey Road and dinner at YORI
Next Stop	Breakfast at King’s Cross followed by a morning LNER train from London to York

Where We Stayed in London

Great Scotland Yard Hotel

We stayed at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel for four nights. We LOVED this hotel. For a first visit to London, the location was difficult to beat. The hotel sits near Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, so we could easily walk to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. James’s Park, the River Thames and several other major sights. Being able to leave the hotel and immediately start exploring saved us a surprising amount of time.

We booked all four nights for 100,000 World of Hyatt points. The cash price for our stay would have been approximately $1,948, making this one of our most valuable hotel redemptions of the trip.

The property also gave us a quieter, comfortable place to return to after some very long sightseeing days. We had afternoon tea at the hotel on our first full day, which made the stay feel even more special without requiring us to travel to another part of London.

Check current rates and availability at Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Getting Around London

Walking

Walking was our primary way of exploring London. Many of the sights on this itinerary naturally connect, particularly around Westminster, the South Bank, Borough Market and the Tower of London. We walked close to 30 miles during our first three days, so comfortable shoes are essential. I wore white tennis shoes almost every day, including with my black dress when I wanted something that could work for sightseeing and a nicer stop later. You do not have to walk as much as we did. The Tube makes it easy to shorten several portions of the itinerary, and you could also use a taxi when everyone has reached their limit.

Shop the white walking shoes I wore in London

The London Underground

We used the Underground whenever walking was impractical, including traveling to the Arsenal match, Notting Hill and Abbey Road. The Tube felt intimidating before we used it, but it quickly became one of the easiest parts of getting around London. We relied heavily on Citymapper to determine which station and line we needed, where to transfer and which exit to use.

Our biggest advice is to plan each day by neighborhood. London’s attractions may look close together on a map, but crossing back and forth across the city wastes limited time.

Getting from Heathrow Airport to Central London

After landing at Heathrow, we used a private transfer arranged through Great Scotland Yard Hotel. This was our first time using a luxury airport transfer. It was not the least expensive option, but after an overnight business-class flight and a connection in Zurich, having someone waiting to take us directly to the hotel was incredibly easy. We would consider doing it again for a major international arrival, particularly when jet lag is involved.

Travelers following this itinerary can also reach central London by train or Underground, depending on their hotel location, budget and amount of luggage.

Day 1: Big Ben, Afternoon Tea and an Arsenal Match

After going to bed around 8:00 p.m. on our arrival night, we slept for nearly 12 hours and woke up around 8:00 feeling like entirely different people. I had barely slept during our flights, so that first full night was exactly what I needed.

We started with breakfast outside at Breadline Café, drinking coffee and watching London come alive around us. From there, we set off on foot with a general route in mind but without every minute scheduled.

Walking Whitehall to Big Ben

We walked along Whitehall toward Bridge Street, where Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament finally came into view.

Big Ben is one of those landmarks you have seen so many times in photographs that you wonder whether seeing it in person will feel any different. For me, it did. That was the moment it truly registered that we were in London.

We crossed Westminster Bridge and continued along the Queen’s Walk beside the Thames. From across the river, we had some of our favorite views of Big Ben, Parliament and the London Eye.

We followed the river toward Waterloo Bridge, crossed back over the Thames and eventually stopped to rest in Victoria Embankment Gardens. By that point, we had already done a substantial amount of walking, but this entire route felt like part of the experience rather than transportation between attractions.

We were not rushing inside every building or trying to check off every landmark. We were simply walking through London for the first time and stopping whenever something caught our attention.

Our First Formal Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea at The Parlour inside Great Scotland Yard Hotel

After returning to Great Scotland Yard Hotel, we had a reservation for afternoon tea at The Parlour.

This was one of the quintessential London experiences I wanted to include—and it was also slightly more formal than either of us naturally is. My husband does not drink tea, and neither of us really knew how we were supposed to order or what the proper afternoon-tea etiquette was. We definitely felt a little out of place at first, which ultimately became part of the fun. We laughed at ourselves, enjoyed the sandwiches, scones and pastries, and treated it as a light lunch before heading out again.

Having tea at our hotel was especially convenient because we could return to our room, freshen up and rest for a few minutes without crossing the city for another reservation.

I would absolutely include afternoon tea again. Just know that if you are not naturally a formal-tea person, you may feel slightly awkward at first—and that is completely okay.

Browse London afternoon-tea experiences

Learning to Use the Tube

That evening, we used the London Underground for the first time. Our hotel had recommended downloading Citymapper, and that app made everything much easier than we expected. It showed us which station to use, which line to take and where we needed to transfer.

We took the Piccadilly line toward Arsenal Station, and I was amazed by how efficiently we could move across such a large city. Coming from an area where we drive almost everywhere, London’s public transportation initially seemed intimidating. By the end of the trip, it had become one of my favorite things about the city.

Arsenal vs. Villarreal at Emirates Stadium

We ended our first full day at Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal played Villarreal in a preseason match. We had beers and sausages for dinner before watching Arsenal lose 3–2. The loss did not take away from the experience at all. The chants, the crowd and the sense of community inside the stadium made the match one of the most memorable parts of London for me. I am not someone who structures trips around football, but attending the match gave us a completely different experience from simply visiting landmarks. It was also one of the moments that made me want to bring our kids back to London someday.

Check Arsenal fixtures and official ticket information

Our Honest Day 1 Verdict

We walked approximately 10 miles, and it was the perfect first day in London. On paper, it sounds like a lot: a long sightseeing walk, formal afternoon tea and a football match. In reality, the day worked because we did not fill the morning with timed tickets. We could walk at our own pace before returning to the hotel for tea and then using the Tube for our evening plans.

Day 2: Borough Market, HMS Belfast, Tower of London, & F1 Arcade

We began our second full day with an approximately two-mile walk to Terry’s Café. That may sound like a long way to walk for breakfast, but it gave us another opportunity to see the city on foot—and Terry’s ended up serving our favorite English breakfast of the trip. Had we realized it was so far, however, we definitely would have picked up coffee first!

Breakfast at Terry’s Café

Terry’s is a traditional, family-run London café that has been serving British food from this location since 1982. It felt casual and local rather than designed specifically for tourists. After so much walking the previous day, a full English breakfast was exactly what we wanted. It was filling, comforting and one of the meals I would actively recommend repeating.

Borough Market

A food market has existed near London Bridge for approximately 1,000 years, and today Borough Market is filled with food stalls, bakeries and specialty vendors. I love exploring local markets when traveling but, unfortunately, we arrived after our large breakfast at Terry’s and were not hungry enough to enjoy it properly.

I still liked walking through and seeing everything, but if eating your way through Borough Market is high on your list, do not schedule it immediately after a full English breakfast. I would either split Terry’s and Borough Market between different days or plan to reach the market closer to lunch. If going over lunch time, however, prepare for longer lines and allow adequate time.

Walking Through Hay’s Galleria

From Borough Market, we walked through Hay’s Galleria, a glass-covered riverside space filled with restaurants and shops. It was once part of Hay’s Wharf, an important shipping and trade center of London. The maritime history makes more sense when you see its location directly beside the Thames. This was a quick stop for us rather than a destination requiring a large block of time, but it connected our route from Borough Market to HMS Belfast.

Touring HMS Belfast

We purchased tickets to tour HMS Belfast, and it became one of the highlights of the entire day. The ship served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War and the Korean War. Rather than viewing it only from the riverfront, we boarded and were able to move through nine decks and see where the crew worked, ate and slept. Being aboard the actual ship made the history feel far more real than simply reading about it. There was much more to explore than we expected, and this was not a stop I would rush through. The ship includes narrow passageways, steep stairs and ladders between some areas, so consider that before booking. For us, it was absolutely worth paying to go aboard.

Check HMS Belfast tickets

Walking Across Tower Bridge

We continued along the Thames and crossed Tower Bridge on foot. Walking across at street level is free, and it led us directly toward the Tower of London. There is a separate paid Tower Bridge Exhibition with elevated walkways, glass floors and access to the Victorian engine rooms. We did not add it because we had already toured HMS Belfast and still had the Tower of London ahead of us.

Check Tower Bridge Experiences

The Tower of London and Crown Jewels

The Tower of London was our other major ticketed attraction of the day. The complex has served as a royal palace, fortress, prison and treasury during its long history. Today, one of its biggest draws is the Crown Jewels, which remain a working collection used for coronations and important state occasions.

Seeing the Crown Jewels was a priority for us, but we underestimated how much more there was to explore around the Tower. This is not a quick museum stop. The grounds, towers and exhibitions can easily fill several hours. If the Crown Jewels are most important to you, I recommend seeing them early in your visit and then exploring the rest of the complex. Do not schedule another timed attraction immediately afterward.

Tower of London tickets and guided tours

F1 Arcade

We kept dinner casual and ate from a food truck before visiting F1 Arcade.

My husband is the Formula 1 fan in our family. He raced while I had a drink and watched, which worked perfectly for us. I did not need to use a simulator to enjoy the atmosphere or appreciate how much fun he was having. After spending most of the day surrounded by centuries of military and royal history, F1 Arcade was a fun change of pace. If you want to race, reserve a simulator in advance.

Reserve an F1 Arcade racing experience

Our Honest Day 2 Verdict

I would keep the overall route exactly as it was. Terry’s Cafe, Borough Market, Hay’s Galleria, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London all connected naturally on foot.

The one thing I would change is the food timing. Terry’s was our favorite English breakfast, so I would not skip it—but I would avoid pairing such a large breakfast with Borough Market if trying several market foods is a priority. I also would not treat HMS Belfast as a minor stop. Touring the ship was an unexpected highlight and deserved the time we gave it.

Day 3: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Notting Hill and Abbey Road

Our final full day began with breakfast in St. James’s Park before continuing to Buckingham Palace and several of Westminster’s major landmarks. Later, we used the Tube to reach Notting Hill and Abbey Road. Dividing the day into Westminster in the morning and West London in the afternoon kept us from traveling back and forth unnecessarily.

Breakfast in St. James’s Park

We started at a café inside St. James’s Park, with views over the park and lake. After two extremely busy days, it was a peaceful way to begin the morning. St. James’s is London’s oldest Royal Park and sits between several of the city’s ceremonial landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and Westminster. Our primary goal of the morning was Buckingham Palace and this was perfectly on route.

Buckingham Palace

Seeing the palace is one of those first-time London experiences that feels necessary, even without an interior tour. We stopped outside to see the gates, guards, palace façade and Victoria Memorial. Seasonal tours of the State Rooms require separate tickets, but our visit focused on seeing the exterior.

Unexpectedly Seeing the Guards Practice

Near the Guards Museum, we unexpectedly saw members of the guards practicing outside.

This was not the formal Changing of the Guard ceremony, and it was not something we had planned. That made it feel like one of those lucky travel moments that happens simply because you are walking through the right place at the right time. It gave us a glimpse behind the ceremony without needing to organize the entire morning around an official schedule.

If you;re hoping to see the formal Changing of the Guard, check the current schedule and arrive early. What we saw was training, so it is not something I would promise you will encounter.

Check Changing of the Guard Tickets

Visiting Westminster Abbey during our three-day London itinerary

Westminster Cathedral

We continued to Westminster Cathedral, which is easy to confuse with Westminster Abbey. Westminster Cathedral is the principal Catholic cathedral in England and Wales. Although it looks historic, it’s striped brick exterior is completely different from the Gothic design of Westminster Abbey. Seeing the two churches so close together made their differences much more noticeable. Westminster Cathedral remains an active place of worship, so restrictions on entry are possible.

Touring Westminster Abbey

We had reserved tickets in advance for Westminster Abbey, the major scheduled attraction of our day. Westminster Abbey serves as Britain’s coronation church, and has hosted royal weddings, funerals and other major national events. It also contains the tombs and memorials of monarchs, writers, scientists and other significant historical figures. It is incredible.

This was one attraction where having some historical context genuinely made the experience more meaningful. Nearly every section of the Abbey connects to a person or event we had heard about throughout our lives. It is also much larger and more detailed than it appears from outside. I would not rush it or try to squeeze it between multiple timed reservations. Booking ahead gave our morning structure while still allowing us to remain flexible before and after the visit.

Compare Westminster Abbey tickets and guided tours

Taking the Tube to Notting Hill

After Westminster Abbey, we took the Tube to Notting Hill. By this point in the trip, using London’s public transportation no longer felt intimidating. Notting Hill felt completely different from Westminster. Instead of grand monuments and royal history, we found colorful homes, residential streets and the area surrounding Portobello Road. Our visit focused on walking through the neighborhood rather than spending hours shopping. Those who specifically want to experience Portobello Road Market should check its schedule and give the area more time than we did.

Abbey Road

From Notting Hill, we continued to Abbey Road to see the crossing made famous by the Beatles’ 1969 album cover. The crossing remains part of a busy public road directly outside Abbey Road Studios. Recreating the photograph sounds simple until you realize you are trying to coordinate it around actual London traffic and other visitors attempting to do the same thing. It was slightly awkward, a little chaotic and still completely worth doing.

Dinner at YORI

We ended our final full day with Korean barbecue at YORI near Piccadilly Circus. After several days of English breakfasts, pub food and casual sightseeing meals, Korean barbecue was a welcome change. More importantly, it gave us a chance to sit down and relax after another day spent almost entirely on our feet. It was exactly the kind of final evening we needed before checking out and traveling to York the next morning.

Our Honest Day 3 Verdict

This day worked because we divided it into two geographic sections: Buckingham Palace and Westminster in the morning, followed by Notting Hill and Abbey Road in the afternoon. I would keep Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey together because seeing both made their differences more interesting. Notting Hill and Abbey Road also paired naturally once we used the Tube to reach West London. We could have added a West End show that evening, but by the end of three full days, a relaxed dinner felt far more appealing than another scheduled activity.

Optional Additions and Substitutions

We could not fit everything into three days. These are options readers could add or substitute, but they were not part of our exact itinerary.

Changing of the Guard

We unexpectedly saw guards training near the Guards Museum, but we did not plan our morning around the formal Changing of the Guard ceremony. If this is a priority, verify the schedule and arrive early.

The London Eye

We saw the London Eye while walking along the Thames but did not ride it. It could be added to Day 1, although doing so would create a more scheduled morning.

A West End Show

A performance would be an excellent substitute for the Arsenal match or F1 Arcade. We did not include one because our evenings were already full.

A Thames Cruise

A river cruise could replace part of the walking on Day 1 or Day 2. This may be especially helpful for those who want to see the riverfront landmarks with less time on their feet.

The British Museum

The British Museum was not included in our route. Those especially interested in art, archaeology or world history could substitute it for Notting Hill and Abbey Road on Day 3.

Inside Tower Bridge

Walking across Tower Bridge at street level is free, which is what we did. A separate paid exhibition provides access to the elevated walkways, glass floors and Victorian engine rooms. Because we toured HMS Belfast and the Tower of London that day, adding another paid attraction would have made the schedule too rushed.

What to Reserve Before Visiting London

You can leave room for spontaneous walks and casual meals, but several experiences on this itinerary should be booked in advance. We intentionally avoided scheduling every hour. One major reservation in the morning and another later in the day gave us structure while preserving time to walk, eat and make unplanned stops.

Book London Tours and Attraction Tickets

Use the links below to check current availability:

Practical Tips for Following This London Itinerary

Organize each day by location

Tower Bridge from Tower of London grounds, London, UK

London is much larger than it appears on a sightseeing map. Grouping nearby attractions prevented us from wasting time traveling back and forth across the city.

Wear comfortable shoes

This itinerary includes a significant amount of walking. I wore white tennis shoes almost every day, including with my black dress when I wanted an outfit that could work for sightseeing and a nicer experience later.

Use the Tube when it makes sense

We enjoyed walking, but there is no prize for exhausting yourself unnecessarily. The Underground made it much easier to reach Arsenal, Notting Hill and Abbey Road.

How to Get a Visitor Tube Pass

For a trip lasting five days or longer, you can order a Visitor Oyster card through the official TfL Visitor Shop before leaving home. The prepaid card is mailed to you, so it is ready to use when you arrive. Add travel credit, then tap in and out at the yellow readers throughout each journey; daily fare caps are applied automatically. Adults can also skip the physical card and tap the same contactless credit card or mobile device for every journey. Each traveler needs an individual card or device and make sure to use a credit card with no international transaction fees.

Download Citymapper

Citymapper helped us select Tube lines, understand transfers and find the correct exits. It made London’s public transportation system much less intimidating.

Is Three Days in London Enough?

Three days is enough to experience many of London’s major landmarks, but it is not enough to see the entire city. Our itinerary worked because we accepted that this would be an introduction rather than a complete London trip. We prioritized the places that mattered most to us, grouped them geographically and saved several attractions for a future visit. If you prefer slower mornings, longer meals or multiple museums, I would recommend four or five full days. If you enjoy active trips and do not mind walking, this three-day itinerary provides a strong first look at the city.

Final Thoughts on Our First Visit to London

London was busy, enormous and occasionally overwhelming—but it was also one of the easiest cities to fill with memorable experiences. We were consistently amazed by how easy it was to get around, the people were fabulous, and the city was beautiful and full of life. I have never heard of anyone say they didn’t love London, and I can now see why.

Would I spend more time in London on a future trip? Absolutely. But for a first visit before continuing to York, Liverpool and Dublin, these three days gave us the introduction we wanted.

Ready to continue the trip?

3 Days in London: A First-Time Visitor’s Itinerary