Hey there, rookie London explorer!
So, you’ve landed in this vibrant, bustling metropolis for the first time, ready to soak it all in. But where to start?
With so much to see and do, crafting the perfect itinerary can feel like trying to solve a maze blindfolded.
Well you have landed at the right place. Over the next three days, I’ll show you the ropes, from must-see landmarks to hidden gems in this Capital. But hey, we’re not stopping there. I’ll also spill the beans on how to navigate London’s crazy transportation system like a pro.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN LONDON
London is best explored either on foot or by public transportation.
“The Tube” is the most efficient way to get around, and usually the best choice. Tube stations are easily recognisable with the distinctive London Underground logo, a red circle with the text “underground” in a blue box.
Oh, the iconic red doubledeckers. Buses are usually a bit slower than the railway because they have to deal with traffic jams (which is pretty horrible in London) – but it’s cheap and often get you closer to your destination.
The Hopper fare initiative makes it better and more affordable to travel by bus! You will be able to switch between as many buses as you like within 1 hour without being charged more than the initial £1.75 fare.
Out of the iconic modes of transportation in England like the tube and red double deck buses – perhaps the most famous is the black cab. London’s Hackney Carriages is definitely an experience, though they are more expensive than any of the other forms of transport.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
Tube stations have barriers for entry and exit while the bus and trams just have check-in screens. You can purchase tickets from machines at the station, or use a contactless card directly on the gates/screens. If you have Google Pay or Apple Pay on your smartphone or smartwatch, then you don’t need to buy an Oyster card, or any travel card, at all!
These two payment methods will get you the exact same rates, and price cappings.
For example, the most you will ever spend in one day when traveling within zones 1 & 2 is £8.10.
Buses also cap out at £5.25 per day (with each ride costing £1.75).
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT LONDON?
The busiest time to visit London are July and August, as well as European bank holidays and school breaks. So try to visit in april/may or september to avoid the crowds but still have the warm weather.
Christmas is widely celebrated and decorated for in London – so if you’re in the spirit, December is also a good time to visit (but be aware there’s A LOT of people visiting around this time).
THE PERFECT 72 HOURS IN LONDON
Day 1 – West London:
9am: Explore Big Ben and Parliament Square
The Houses of Parliament, is probably best known for its famous Big Ben bell which sits within the iconic golden Elizabeth Tower.
Around the Parliment square you’ll also find the statues of a number of famous people, including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Robert Peel, and Gandhi.
9.30am: Westminster Abbey
One of the most famous and impressive churches in England. It dates back to 1245 and was mostly built in the Gothic style.
The church is open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, Monday through Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturdays. Because of its fame, it’s best to visit in the morning, when there are few people.
Explore over a thousand years of history and marvel at breathtaking gothic architecture.
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
11am: Churchill War rooms museum
During World War II, Winston Churchill and his staff hunkered down under the streets of London, and now you can visit it.
The War Rooms are open daily from 9.30 am to 6 pm. An adult ticket is £30, half price for children and £27 for students. Every ticket includes a free audio guide.
Psst you can only get tickets through the Imperial War Museums website – get yours HERE
12.30pm: Lunch at Four Corners Café
2pm: Stroll the Mall and see the royal residence – Buckingham Palace
The Mall is a wide, tree-lined street leading up to Buckingham Palace. Since 1837, this palace is what the British monarchs have called home.
3.30pm: Kensington Palace
As well as being a popular visitor destination, Kensington Palace is the official London residence of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
The price for visiting the official rooms of the palace is £20 for an adult.
Opening hours are: wednesday to sunday 10am to 4pm
4.30pm: Have a drink at Churchill Arms Pub
Spend the rest of the day in Notting Hill exploring and Portobello Road Market.
Day 2 – City of London & Southwark
9am: The tower of London
This historic castle is located on the Banks of the River Thames and dates back to 1066. It has been used as a prison, a royal residence and now houses the crown jewels (the collections includes the regalia used during coronations).
Tickets are £33.60 for adults and children up to 15 years £16.80
The Tower of London, along with the nearby Tower Bridge, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Absorb over 1000 years of history at the Tower of London, and see the Crown Jewels.
Included are tickets to the Yeoman Warders tour, where the guardians of the Tower, tell you their stories from the Tower.
10.30am: Snacks at Borough Market
A street food market which is open all year. With small restaurants and food shops from every corner of the world. Borough Market also hosts events like cooking classes, tastings, and food-related festivals.
The market is open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays).
12pm: The Lookout
This FREE Panoramic view of London is from the 50th floor.
Open every day:
monday+friday: 12pm to 9pm
Tuesday-thursday: 10.30am to 5.30pm
Saturdays: 11am to 6pm
sundays: 10am to 5pm
You have to book a timeslot HERE
1pm: Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral
Constructed between 1087 and 1314 and devoted to Saint Paul, the ancient Cathedral was destroyed in the London Great Fire in 1666. A new construction started in 1675, and the rebuilding was completed in 1697. Up until 1963, this was also the tallest structure in London.
You can see the magnificent interior of the cathedral, the crypt, and climb the 528 steps to the dome for panoramic views of London.
Tickets are £25 for adults and £10 for children up to 17 years.
St Paul's Cathedral Entry Ticket
"Explore the cathedral floor and crypt, climb its 3 galleries and view panoramic London from the top of the dome."
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2.30pm: Late lunch at The Old Bank of England.
Spend the afternoon in London city centre and explore areas like
Trafalgar square, Soho, Chinatown, Covent garden & more
8pm: see a West End musical
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Day 3 – Greenwich & Camden
10am: Marvel at the old Naval College
Once it served as a naval hospital, but now it’s used as a filming prop (some of the movies/series which has had a scene here are The Crown, The Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, Thor: the dark world, pirates of the caribbean, 007 Octopussy, 4 weddings and a funeral and many more).
The Old Royal Naval College is renowned for its stunning architecture, and is part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House. A general ticket is £15 and the admission ticket includes tours, entry to the Painted Hall, the Skittle Alley and much more.
Walk through nearly 100 years of filming on this 1 hour guided tour of the iconic riverside grounds of the Old Royal Naval College and inside the Painted Hall. Spot locations from Bridgerton, The Crown, Thor, and more.
The tour includes a Guided tour including Visitor Centre and Chapel, entry to Painted Hall and Nelson Room and entry to Victorian Skittle Alley.
11am: Visit the Royal Observatory
The prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude) passes through the observatory, making it a significant location for measurement of time and navigation. The concept of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is used as the baseline for time zones around the world.
The Observatory is open daily from 10am to 5pm – and you must have a timed entry ticket.
An adult ticket is £18 and £9 for children.
12pm: Lunch
Walk under the Thames River and take the tube to Canary Wharf. Have lunch here.
2pm: Highgate Cemetery
Some of the most famous people who are buried here are the philosopher and economist, famous for his theories about capitalism, socialism, and communism Karl Marx and One of the best-selling musicians of all time George Michael.
From March-October the cemetery is open from 10am-5pm and until 4pm the rest of the year.
A ticket to see both sides of the cemetery is £10. The East cemetery on its own is £6. You can also join a guided tour lasting about 75 min. For £15 – where you gain access to the entire cemetery and the Terrace Catacombs are opened exclusively for tour participants.
4pm: Camden Market
One of London’s best places to go shopping. This large market contains small shops, stalls, and restaurants. You can find everything there.
The Market is open from 10am to 6pm.
6pm: Sunset at Primrose hill
This park has a panoramic view of London City Centre and is a great area to sit and relax.
Open every day 5am to dusk
DOWNLOAD A COPY of this 3 day London itinerary HERE
