Experiencing London in just 3 days is no easy task. That is exactly why we've charted out the best possible itinerary to experience London in 3 days. This 3-day London itinerary has crafted covering attractions, essential experiences, and leisure in mind. Highlights and essential tips have also been provided for each halt that you make. You're free to use this 3-day London itinerary however you like. At the end of it all, you can thank us for offering a wholesome experience of London in 3 days!
3 Days in London - How To Spend Your Time
London In 3 Days - Detailed Itinerary
A Quintessential Slice of London
Tower of London
Borough Market
St. Paul's Cathedral
Thames Dinner Cruise
The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of river Thames. The striking castle will be your first pitstop for the day and you'll have plenty to explore and discover in this 900-year-old castle! Inside the castle, feast your eyes on over 23,000 gems that the British Empire has accumulated over the years. While exploring the Tower of London, remember to visit the iconic White Tower. The White Tower was the first castle built by William the Conqueror and houses artifacts from the Royal Armouries. While there's something special about just wandering about a historic place like the Tower of London, we would recommend opting for a guided tour to better acquaint yourself with the landmark.
- The Tower of London gets insanely crowded during public holidays in the UK; so plan your trip keeping that in mind. As a rule of thumb, visit the attraction early in the morning on a weekday for a peaceful experience.
- There's no restriction on the amount of time you spend inside, so you're free to take your sweet time exploring the Tower of London.
- Try and visit the Crown Jewels exhibit first thing upon entry to avoid the crowd that flocks the place later in the day.
After a great trip to the Tower of London, make your way to the bustling Borough Market located on Southwark Street and Borough High Street. Officially London's oldest food market, the Borough Market has been around for over a thousand years! The Borough Market is truly expansive and you get to buy everything from top-notch English cheese to black truffle oil, all locally grown, of course. After spending a couple of hours exploring and shopping at the market, you can sit down for a scrumptious lunch at one of the many restaurants that crowd the market. Do not miss out on Turnips: Speciality fruits and vegetables, Spice Mountain: Spices and herbs, Bread Ahead: Bakery and cookery school, Monmouth Coffee Company: Roasted beans and coffee & Pieminister: British meat and vegetable pies.
- Mondays and Tuesdays have a limited market and Wednesdays to Saturdays feature the full market. Plan accordingly.
- Try and avoid visiting the Borough Market around 12 noon on most days since that's generally considered peak hour.
- Bring your own cloth shopping bag to carry your purchases.
- Borough Market is just 1.5 miles from the Tower of London, which is around 10 minutes of walking.
- Do ample research before visiting the market so that you don't end up wasting time on shops you don't want to buy anything from. You can ideally spend around two hours at the Borough Market.
Borough Market & Gin Distillery Small Group Tour
Headout Price: GBP 51
Located on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London, St. Paul's Cathedral London is the primary church or ‘mother church’ of the Diocese of London, catering to 413 parishes and 484 different churches around London and its 17 boroughs. This historic monument has survived various reconstructions, renovations, and disasters like the Great Fire of London, as well as the Blitz during World War 2. Its astoundingly beautiful architecture and connections to heroic and important figures of the past and leaders of the present have given St. Paul’s Cathedral London a special place in the heart of British society, making it a must-visit for those who want a real taste of British history and culture.
- You may want to check the official website before your visit to take note of last-minute changes in timings.
- You don't want to miss the choral evensong at 5 PM on weekdays.
- We recommend you visit St. Paul's when it's quiet. After all, the cathedral is famous for its accoustics.
- Photography and filming are not permitted in the cathedral.
It's time for some old-school pampering with a soothing Thames River Cruises at nightfall. The river flows through Oxford, Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor. Your dinner cruise on River Thames will begin at the Westminster Pier and take you on a tour of iconic London sights including Churchill Museum, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and others! Your cruise includes a decadent four-course meal that begins with a glass of sparkling wine. Add some excitement to your first night in London with an exceptional tour of the glorious city from the waters and make memories of a lifetime with your loved ones.
- Live performances
- ½ bottle of wine
- 3-hour cruise on River Thames
- Four-course meal prepared by a masterful chef
- Dancing area where you can let loose with your partner under the beautiful London sky
Bateaux London: Dinner Cruise on River Thames
Headout Price: GBP 77
A Blast of Culture
The View From The Shard
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
A West End Show
Explore the fantastical world of Harry Potter at a place where it all came to life. The Warner Bros Studio Tour takes you an exhilarating tour of the world of Harry Potter. Explore the sets and locations where the 8 Harry Potter movies were filmed. Walk across the Great Hall or make your way to Hagrid's Hut or Ollivanders. You'll also get to visit the iconic Platform 9 ¾ and visit the original Hogwarts Express that was used during the first movie. The best part? You can take your own sweet time exploring the magical world of Harry Potter with this studio tour and explore iconic landmarks from the movies including Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank, Gryffindor Common Room, the Potion's classroom and many others!
- Harry Potter is a very popular property and tickets for the studio tour sell out pretty fast. Book your tickets well in advance to avoid facing the disappointment of a sold-out day.
- Please note that the studio tour is located around 45 minutes from central London. Take that into account when planning your day.
- If you're visiting with kids, plan your trip around their birthdays since kids who have their birthday on the day of the tour get to open the doors of the Great Hall.
- There are a lot of free activities available inside the studio lot including a broomstick ride, wand training session, and others. Make sure to ask your guide about these during your tour.
Officially the tallest building in Western Europe (at 1016 feet) The View from The Shard offers you a bird's eye view of the sprawling yet majestic city of London. The supertall skyscraper, also referred to as the Shard of Glass and Shard London Bridge, was designed by Renzo Piano, an Italian architect. The Shard completed construction on 30 March 2012 and achieved practical completion in November of the same year. The tower's observation deck, The View from The Shard opened for the general public on 1 February 2013. The View features two viewing platforms, the first one being a triple level indoor gallery on the 69th floor and the second one, a partly outdoor gallery on the 72th floor. If you're visiting London with your partner, the View from the Shard is the perfect place for a romantic getaway.
- Try and visit the Shard during sunrise or sunset to get a breathtaking view of the sun casting its magic on the city of London.
- Since you'll be on the 72nd floor of the building, bring a jacket along even if you're in London during the summer season.
Tickets for The View from The Shard
Headout Price: GBP 32
End your second day in London with an activity that has become synonymous with the city - West End Theatre. Just like its New York City counterpart, the West End also features a collection of century old theatres that host a bunch of plays, ballets, and musicals. Watching a West End show is a very common tourist activity and one you must definitely experience especially if you haven't watched a big-scale play or musical previously. Some theatres in West End have hosted the same show since the 90’s and these shows still play to a houseful audience.
Popular shows
• The Lion King • Mamma Mia! • The Book of Mormon • Aladdin • The Phantom of the Opera
• Wicked • Les Miserables • The Mousetrap • Motown the Musical • Company • School of Rock
- Most West End theatres were constructed by different teams and feature a completely different layout. When booking your tickets for a particular show, carefully study the theatre seating chart to identify which seat offers the best view.
- The shows listed above are amongst the most popular and tend to sell out whenever a new set of tickets is released. If you're planning to catch a West End show, plan in advance and book your tickets as soon as possible.
- Each show has a different runtime so make sure you're aware of how long you'll be spending inside the theatre and plan the rest of your day accordingly.
- Book your West End tickets online to get the best discounts and cashback deals.
The Classics of London
Kensington Palace
Wembley Stadium Tour
SEA LIFE London
London Eye
Begin your third day in London with a fabulous trip to the enchanting Kensington Palace. Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Kensington Palace has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century. During your tour of the Kensington Palace, you'll get to walk through the King's State Apartments, the Queen's State Apartments and the lush Kensington Gardens. A trip to the breezy Kensington Palace is the perfect way to begin your third day in London since this particular tour of the palace doesn't involve a lot of walking around.
- Explore the life and times of Queen Victoria with a special exhibition dedicated to her, titled Victoria Revealed. The Fashion Rules Restyled is another exhibition you should not miss.
- Walk around the set of rooms inside the King's State Apartments and marvel at the grandeur on display.
One of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, the Wembley Stadium is definitely worth your time. After a pleasant time exploring the royal Kensington Palace, head over to the Wembley Stadium for an authentic peek at the now legendary stadium. With a capacity of 90,000, the Wembley is one of the largest stadiums in England and plays host to the England Football Team's matches as well as the FA Cup Final. Apart from football and other sports, the Wembley also doubles as a performance venue, having hosted spectacular music concerts by artists, such as Madonna, AC/DC, Metallica, Adele, Elton John, Green Day and countless others.
- Follow along as a knowledgeable guide keeps you educated about the stadium and its vast history.
- Explore the stadium in detail with visits to the Press Room, Dressing Room, Players’ Tunnel and Royal Box.
- Witness mesmerising panoramic views of the entire stadium from several vantage points on this tour.
- This tour can be possible only on weekdays with the last one starting at 4 PM.
Wembley Stadium Guided Tour
Headout Price: GBP 25
Dive deep into the world underwater at SEA LIFE London for a sparkly adventure. Wave at the friendly and ferocious marine animals that call this aquarium their home. With 8 zones, there is plenty of walking to follow. Before making your way through a rainforest, you'll have to brave the depths of the Pacific. Meet the Common Octopus, curious ray, Betty the Bowmouth Guitarfish, the adorable Gentoo Penguins, and more- adventure awaits you at every corner at London's SEA LIFE Aquarium.
- Book your tickets online in advance, as these tickets tend to sell out quickly.
- There are no lockers at the SEA LIFE to store your personal items, so travel light.
- Consider booking the "Behind the Scenes Tour" for a peek at the juvenile rays, the weedy sea dragons and the Fire Bellied Newt!
Do not miss out on the iconic London Eye- London's 443 feet high observation wheel. It is the second highest observation point in London, right after The Shard. Board one of the 32 capsules (fully sealed and climate-controlled) and enjoy the breathtaking view. Catch views as far as the Windsor Castle, including the Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, the Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Kennington Oval, and more- all in the lit-up London night sky.
- The London Eye in the evening can get crowded- so we recommend booking fast-track tickets to the attraction.
- If you wish to park your car at a discounted rate at the Q-Park Westminster, contact the London Eye office.
- You can find out more about the many attractions you'll see from up in the sky using the touchscreen tablets in the capsules.
3 Days in London Under GBP 300
Day 1 - Tower of London, Borough Market, St. Paul's Cathedral & Thames Dinner Cruise
GBP 125
Day 2 - Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The View from the Shard & West End Show
GBP 65
Day 3 - Kensington Palace, Wembley Stadium Tour, SEA LIFE London & London Eye
GBP 96
Total
GBP 286
Book your London Attractions tickets on Headout, and spend under GBP 300 on your 3-day vacation in London! Hit up all the prime attractions in the city and save more while you explore more. Read on to see our detailed 3 day London Itinerary and learn more about visiting each of these attractions.
More London Itinerary Options?
Don't have 3 whole days to spare in London? Check out our 1 day in London itinerary for further inspiration.
London Essentials
Here are a few detailed guides on London that will help you plan your trip well. Have a fantastic time exploring London in 3 days!
