London is impossibly vast. With three days you can't see all of it — but you can see the real essence: royal pageantry, world-class galleries, atmospheric pubs, layered history and the most diverse food scene in Europe. Here's exactly how to spend 72 perfect hours.
This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to see London's icons without feeling rushed, with detours into the unexpected. We've tested it three times in 2025 — adjusting for queue times, opening hours and the realities of Tube delays. Every recommendation has a real-world reason behind it.
Total walking distance: ~25km over three days (Tube and bus do the rest).
Estimated cost: £180–£250 per person for attractions and food (excludes accommodation).
Best time to follow this plan: April–June or September–October.
Day 1 — Royal & Iconic London
Start with the obvious — but do it right. The classic London icons are clustered remarkably close together, so day one is about ticking the bucket-list moments early before the crowds peak.
Morning 9:00am – 1:00pm
- 9:00am — Westminster Tube: Emerge from the station with the iconic view straight at Big Ben. The light is best between 9 and 10am.
- 9:15am — Houses of Parliament & Westminster Abbey: Walk the perimeter. Westminster Abbey opens at 9:30 (£27, pre-book). If short on time, the exterior alone is extraordinary.
- 11:00am — Walk through St James's Park: The most beautiful royal park, with pelicans and Buckingham Palace at the end.
- 11:30am — Buckingham Palace: Arrive in time for the Changing of the Guard at 11:00 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun).
Afternoon 1:00pm – 6:00pm
- 1:00pm — Lunch at Regency Cafe in Pimlico — the platonic ideal of a London "caff". Cash only, queue at the counter, sit where there's space.
- 2:30pm — Tate Britain: A 10-minute walk from lunch. The Turner collection is unmissable, and entry is free.
- 4:00pm — Take the Thames Clipper to Tower Bridge: The river boat is a London moment in itself. £9.50, 25 minutes, the best London view you'll get.
- 5:00pm — Tower Bridge & Tower of London: Time photos for the golden hour. The Tower itself takes 2–3 hours so save it for another time.
Evening 6:00pm – late
- 6:30pm — Borough Market (closes 6pm Tue–Thu, 5pm Fri/Sat — plan accordingly): Britain's best food market for grazing.
- 8:00pm — Dinner at Padella in Borough Market: hand-rolled pasta, no bookings, queue worth it.
- 10:00pm — Walk over Tower Bridge at night: Lit up beautifully, virtually empty, completely free.
Day 2 — Museums & Markets
London's free museums are genuinely world-class. Day two pairs cultural depth with the city's most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Start in the morning at the British Museum to beat the crowds.
Morning 9:30am – 1:00pm
- 9:30am — British Museum: Aim for opening time. Three hours covers the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Egyptian galleries and the Anglo-Saxon Sutton Hoo treasure. Free entry.
- 12:30pm — Walk through Bloomsbury to Russell Square: Quintessential Georgian London, surprisingly quiet streets with fascinating literary history.
- 1:00pm — Lunch at The Lamb on Lamb's Conduit Street: a perfect Victorian pub with above-average food.
Afternoon 1:30pm – 6:00pm
- 2:00pm — Covent Garden: 15 min walk. The Piazza is touristy but the side streets (Neal's Yard, Seven Dials) are full of independent shops.
- 3:30pm — National Gallery: 10 min walk via Trafalgar Square. Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Botticelli's Venus and Mars, Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks. Free.
- 5:30pm — Walk along the South Bank from Westminster Bridge to Tate Modern: The single best free walk in London.
Evening 6:00pm – late
- 6:30pm — Drinks at Sky Garden: Free entry (book online a week ahead) for the best free London skyline view.
- 8:30pm — Soho: Dinner at Barrafina (no bookings, great Spanish small plates) or Kiln (Thai grill, counter seating).
- 10:30pm — A West End show if you book in advance, or jazz at Ronnie Scott's.
Day 3 — Local London & East End
By day three you've earned a deeper, less-touristed look at London. East London is where the city's creative energy lives — markets, street art, vintage shops and some of the best food you'll eat anywhere.
Morning 10:00am – 1:00pm
- 10:00am — Brick Lane & Spitalfields Market (Sundays are best, but most days work). Vintage shops, street food, art galleries.
- 11:30am — Brick Lane Beigel Bake: Salt beef bagel for £6.50. Open 24 hours, has been since 1974.
- 12:30pm — Shoreditch & the street art tour: Walk Hanbury Street, Bacon Street, Sclater Street for the world's best changing street art.
Afternoon 1:00pm – 6:00pm
- 1:30pm — Columbia Road Flower Market (Sundays only): Even if you don't buy flowers, the atmosphere is genuinely magical.
- 3:00pm — Hop on the Overground to Hampstead Heath for fresh air and the best free London view from Parliament Hill.
- 4:30pm — A pint at The Spaniards Inn: 1585, Dickens drank here, Keats wrote a poem to a nightingale here.
Evening 6:30pm – late
- 7:00pm — Notting Hill or Camden: Either gives you a complete neighbourhood feel.
- 8:30pm — Dinner at Dishoom (book ahead): the city's most-loved restaurant for a reason. Bombay-style café food, perfect ending.
- 10:30pm — Last drink at The Blue Posts on Berwick Street, Soho — a perfect London pub.
Practical tips you'll thank us for
Get an Oyster card or use contactless: Daily caps mean you'll never overpay. Don't buy day passes — they cost more than capped contactless.
Walk between adjacent areas: Westminster to Buckingham Palace is shorter than the Tube. Covent Garden to the British Museum is 15 minutes on foot.
Pre-book major attractions: Westminster Abbey, Tower of London and the Shard sell out hours ahead in summer.
Free is free for a reason: London's free museums (British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, V&A, Natural History) are genuinely world-class. You don't need to spend money on culture.
"The truest, most useful thing about London is that you cannot see it all — but you can experience its essence in three perfect days." — Wander360° Editors
For more on London, see our complete London city guide with attractions, areas, food, transport and tips. Or browse all 127 city guides.