London in 3 Days

Before You Arrive

• Airport to London: Heathrow → Elizabeth Line £12.80 (35 min) or Heathrow Express £25 (15 min). Gatwick → Gatwick Express £20 (30 min).
• Oyster vs contactless: contactless debit/credit card works identically. No need for a physical Oyster.
• Book ahead: Tower of London (£34), Westminster Abbey (£29), a West End show (£30-70). Borough Market is free.
• Download: Citymapper app (best for Tube), Uber.

Day 1: Westminster & Southbank

A walking-heavy day hitting the iconic sights along the Thames.

Morning

• 9:00am — Westminster station, photos at Big Ben + Parliament
• 9:30am — Westminster Abbey (£29, allow 2 hrs). Kings and queens crowned here since 1066.
• Walk to St James's Park, coffee at the park café
• 12:00pm — Buckingham Palace exterior, Changing of the Guard 11am summer (check schedule — it doesn't run every day)

Afternoon

• 1:00pm — Walk across Westminster Bridge to the Southbank
• Lunch at a Southbank food stall or café (avoid Garfunkel's)
• 2:30pm — London Eye (£32 fast-track, skip if you can see it from Westminster Bridge — the view from ground level is arguably better)
• 3:30pm — Walk riverside path: Southbank → Tate Modern → Shakespeare's Globe
• 5:30pm — Drinks at The Anchor pub (riverside, since 1615)

Evening

• 7:00pm — Pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden or Soho
• 7:30pm — West End show (Les Mis, Hamilton, Phantom, Wicked)
• Late drink at a Soho pub (The Dog & Duck, The Coach & Horses)

Day 2: Museums & Tower

Morning

• 9:30am — British Museum (FREE). Aim for 2 hrs. Must-sees: Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Egyptian mummies.
• 11:30am — Walk to Covent Garden (10 min). Street performers, shops, coffee.
• 12:30pm — Lunch at Seven Dials Market or a Covent Garden gastro-pub

Afternoon

• 2:00pm — Underground to Tower Hill
• 2:15pm — Tower of London (£34, 2.5 hrs). Crown Jewels, Beefeater tour, ravens.
• 4:45pm — Cross Tower Bridge (walk across — free)
• 5:15pm — Walk along south bank to Borough Market

Evening

• 6:00pm — Borough Market food crawl: Kappacasein cheese toastie (£8.50), salt beef bagel (£7), oysters at Wright Brothers
• 7:30pm — Drinks at The George Inn (Shakespeare's favourite pub)
• 9:00pm — Back to hotel via London Bridge Underground

Day 3: East End & Camden

Morning

• 9:30am — Full English breakfast at a Shoreditch café (The Breakfast Club, Beigel Bake for a salt beef bagel)
• 10:30am — Street art walk: Brick Lane → Old Truman Brewery → Hanbury Street (famous murals)
• 12:00pm — Old Spitalfields Market (Sunday is best)
• 1:00pm — Curry lunch on Brick Lane (Tayyabs in Whitechapel, Dishoom Shoreditch — book ahead)

Afternoon

• 2:30pm — Underground to Camden Town
• 3:00pm — Camden Market (food stalls, vintage, Amy Winehouse statue)
• 4:30pm — Walk along Regent's Canal to Little Venice (45 min)
• OR take a narrowboat cruise (£15)

Evening

• 6:30pm — Dinner at a Camden gastro-pub (The Elephant's Head, The Dublin Castle)
• 8:00pm — Live music at Jazz Café or Electric Ballroom
• OR rooftop drinks at Madison (St Paul's) for goodbye city views

Where to Stay