London Itinerary Planner
How to Plan a London Trip
London is the most visited city in Europe, and one of the most consistently overwhelming to plan. Not because there is too little to do — the opposite is the problem. A first-time visitor with five days could fill a reasonable itinerary three times over with world-class attractions and still leave with a list of things they wish they'd seen. The challenge is not finding things to do. The challenge is choosing, sequencing, and pacing them intelligently.
The single most important planning principle for London is to group attractions geographically. London is a large city — it takes 45 minutes on the Tube to cross it — and a poorly sequenced itinerary will mean that you will spend a significant portion of each day underground rather than at the sights. The planner below helps you solve this by letting you see what you're planning across each day before you commit.
⭐ Prepared Traveller Tip: The biggest and most common mistake people make when visiting London is under-estimating how much walking will be involved. At the airport, at train and tube stations, at sights and between sights, you'll be needing your best walking shoes - not new ones. You'll be walking several miles a day.
How Long Do You Need in London?
Most first-time, able-bodied visitors need four to five days to cover the major attractions at a pace that doesn't feel punishing. Three days is achievable but tight — you'll see the headline sights without much time to breathe. Five days gives you room for one longer excursion (Hampton Court, Greenwich, or Kew Gardens) alongside the central London highlights. A week or more suits anyone who wants to explore beyond the obvious, take a day trip to Windsor, Bath, or Stonehenge, or simply move at a slower and more enjoyable pace.
A practical planning rule: allow no more than two major paid attractions per day. The Tower of London alone absorbs three to four hours. The British Museum can consume a full morning without trying. Stacking three big sites in a day produces exhaustion rather than memories. Use the free afternoon when you've finished a major attraction to walk a neighbourhood, visit one of London's many world-class free museums, or simply sit in a park.
Grouping Attractions by Area
Building your days around geographic clusters is the difference between an enjoyable trip and an exhausting one. The natural groupings are:
Westminster & South Bank
Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market. Walkable with one river crossing.
The City & East
Tower of London, Sky Garden, Thames River Cruise, St Paul's Cathedral. Plan a full morning here — the Tower alone needs three hours minimum.
South Kensington
Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum — three world-class free museums within five minutes' walk of each other. One of the best days possible in London.
Bloomsbury & Covent Garden
British Museum, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London Transport Museum. Central and walkable, best mid-week when school groups are lighter.
North London
Camden Market, ZSL London Zoo. A full afternoon at Camden works well after a morning at the zoo.
Out of Centre
Greenwich (Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory), Hampton Court Palace, Kew Gardens, Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Each deserves a dedicated day.
How This Planner Works
The planner contains 29 of London's most visited, notable attractions in the left menu, each with realistic time estimates, current entry costs, the nearest Tube stop, and a practical insider tip. Drag any attraction from the left panel into one of the seven day boxes on the right. The day total updates automatically to show you how many hours you're committing and what it will cost. Reorder within days by dragging. Click Show Tips on any attraction for practical visitor advice.
The time estimates are honest rather than optimistic. A busy visitor who books everything in advance and moves efficiently can push them down slightly. A first-time visitor who lingers, gets lost, or wants to revisit parts of the British Museum should plan for the upper end of each range.
When your plan is ready, click Email My Plan to receive a PDF version in your inbox — useful for sharing with your travel companion(s), or for when travelling without mobile data or printing off before your trip.
Popular Attractions
Area
29 attractions
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🏰 Tower of LondonLandmarkBook tickets online in advance — queues at the door can be very long. The Beefeater tours (included) run throughout the day and are outstanding; don't miss the last one at 15:30. Avoid Saturdays in summer if you dislike crowds.
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🏛️ British MuseumMuseumNo booking required for free galleries — just turn up. Arrive at 10:00 when doors open to beat school groups. The Great Court café is expensive; better to eat before you arrive or bring a packed lunch for the courtyard.
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🎡 London EyeViewpointAlways book online — walk-up prices are significantly higher and timed slots sell out. Fast Track tickets cost more but skip the boarding queue entirely. Best visited at dusk for spectacular city lights. Avoid midday on weekends in summer.
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🎨 Tate ModernMuseumTake the lift to the 10th-floor viewing platform for one of the best free views in London — St Paul's Cathedral directly opposite is spectacular. The Turbine Hall always has a large-scale free installation. Combine with a walk across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's.
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⛪ Westminster AbbeyLandmarkBook online to guarantee entry — it can sell out during peak season. The Abbey is closed to tourists on Sundays (services only), so plan accordingly. The multimedia audio guide is included and excellent. Avoid visiting at the same time as school groups (mid-morning weekdays).
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🖼️ National GalleryMuseumNo booking required. Pick up a free floor plan at the entrance and focus on 2–3 rooms you most want to see — trying to see everything leads to fatigue. The café on the lower ground floor is good value. Trafalgar Square outside makes a great break between galleries.
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🦕 Natural History MuseumMuseumOne of the most popular free attractions in the world — arrive at opening (10:00) especially on weekends or school holidays. The Human Evolution gallery and Vault (gemstones) can get very crowded. The ice rink in the courtyard is a winter highlight (Nov–Jan). V&A and Science Museum are 5 minutes' walk away — consider combining.
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🔭 The Shard — View from the ShardViewpointBook the last entry slot (1–2 hours before closing) to arrive in daylight and stay for the full city lights experience — far more dramatic than a daytime visit. Online prices are cheaper and include a timed slot. Sky Garden (free, booking required) is a good alternative if budget is a concern.
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🏰 Hampton Court PalaceLandmarkAllow a full half-day — there is far more to see than most visitors expect. The maze is included in the ticket and delightful. Visit midweek to avoid weekend family crowds. The train from Waterloo is the easiest route; check National Rail for timetables. Gardens are spectacular in spring and summer.
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🧙 Warner Bros. Studio Tour — Harry PotterCultureThis is a timed-entry attraction — book tickets weeks ahead as it routinely sells out, especially on weekends and school holidays. The shuttle bus from Watford Junction is timed to match trains; check the schedule. Butterbeer is included in your visit. Budget 4 hours comfortably. Not accessible by Tube.
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🧀 Borough MarketMarketOpen Wed–Sat; busiest and best on Thursday–Saturday when all traders are present. Arrive at 10:00 on a weekday to browse without crowds; by noon on Saturday it becomes very congested. Combine with a walk along the South Bank to Tate Modern or Tower Bridge — all within easy walking distance.
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🎭 Shakespeare's Globe — Tour & ExhibitionCultureTours run throughout the day but check times online as the theatre itself may be in use for rehearsals or performances. Evening performances are excellent value (standing/yard tickets from £5). The on-site restaurant has a brilliant view of the Thames. Located steps from Tate Modern — easy to combine.
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⛴️ Thames River CruiseLandmarkA hop-on hop-off River Pass offers good value if you plan to use river transport across multiple days. Sit on the top deck even in light rain — the views are worth it and covered seating is available below. The westbound route (Westminster to Kew or Greenwich) is particularly scenic. Book online for modest savings.
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🌿 Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens)ParkStunning in spring (cherry blossom, bluebells) and summer (roses, lily ponds). The Treetop Walkway and Princess of Wales Conservatory are highlights year-round. Wear comfortable shoes — the gardens are large. The Kew Gardens Tube station puts you at the gates in minutes. Book online to save on walk-up prices.
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🏺 Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)MuseumThe Cast Courts (Room 46a) containing monumental plaster casts of Michelangelo's David and Trajan's Column are unmissable and almost always uncrowded. The V&A café in the ornate Victorian dining rooms is beautiful and reasonably priced. The museum is vast — pick one or two areas of interest rather than attempting an overview.
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👑 Buckingham Palace — State RoomsLandmarkState Rooms are open approximately late July–late September only, when the Royal Family is not in residence. Book online well ahead — it's consistently popular. The Changing of the Guard (free, check schedule online) happens nearby and is worth coordinating. Even outside summer, the exterior and Victoria Memorial are worth a visit.
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🪖 Churchill War RoomsLandmarkBook timed entry online to avoid the door queue, especially on weekends. The Churchill Museum within the rooms is detailed and adds significant depth to the visit. The rooms themselves are remarkably well preserved — you feel genuinely transported to 1940. Allow 2.5 hours minimum to do it justice. Located steps from St James's Park.
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🎸 Camden MarketMarketBusiest on weekends but most atmospheric on Saturdays. The covered Stables Market section is the most interesting. Street food here is genuinely excellent and diverse — budget £10–15 for lunch. Camden Lock itself is the original heart of the market and less touristy than the surrounding shops. Go in the afternoon for a more relaxed experience.
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🐠 SEA LIFE London AquariumLandmarkAlways book online — walk-up prices are substantially higher and the morning queues at the door are long. Weekday mornings at 10:00 opening are significantly quieter than weekends. The shark tunnel is the highlight; position yourself at the start of it for the best view. Excellent for young children and babies — dark, calm, and full of slow-moving colour.
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🏴☠️ Diana Memorial PlaygroundParkOpens at 10:00 daily. Go on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds — children genuinely do not want to leave, which is the correct problem to have. Adults must be accompanied by a child under 12 to enter. Located in Kensington Gardens, a short walk from the Round Pond and the Serpentine Gallery. Combine with a walk through the park to Hyde Park Corner.
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🚌 London Transport MuseumMuseumBook online. The All Aboard zone in the basement is specifically designed for under-5s and is excellent. Older children enjoy sitting in the cab of real historic vehicles. The museum is louder and more interactive than a conventional gallery — this is a feature, not a problem. Covent Garden piazza is immediately outside; allow time for street performers. The ticket is valid for a year, so you can return.
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🦁 ZSL London ZooParkBook online well in advance — gate prices are higher and the ticket queue in summer wastes your best morning hours. Arrive at 10:00 opening to see the animals at their most active before the afternoon heat. The new Monkey Valley walkthrough gives children a genuine sense of being inside the habitat. Located in Regent's Park; combine with a walk through the park or visit the nearby canal boats at Camden if energy allows.
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🔬 Science MuseumMuseumThe Wonderlab interactive gallery is outstanding — live science demonstrations and experiments children can participate in. Book Wonderlab timed slots online as they sell out. The permanent collection including the Apollo 10 capsule, early computers, and steam engines is entirely free. Natural History Museum and V&A are both a 5-minute walk — consider combining on a South Kensington day. Allow a full half-day minimum; a curious child can easily fill a whole day here.
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⚓ Cutty Sark & GreenwichLandmarkTake the Thames Clipper river bus both ways — it passes Tower Bridge, the Shard, and Canary Wharf and is dramatically more enjoyable than the Tube for this journey. Book Cutty Sark and Observatory online. The Prime Meridian line at the Observatory (one foot in each hemisphere) is a genuine crowd-pleaser for children of all ages. Greenwich Park has a long, steep hill perfect for rolling down. The National Maritime Museum is free and excellent — particularly good for pre-teens interested in exploration and naval history.
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🌇 Sky GardenViewpointBook at skygarden.london — free slots sometimes open weeks ahead and go quickly; check regularly for cancellations if your preferred dates are full. Government-issued photo ID required for entry. The lunchtime slots offer great views in daylight; the evening slots (from 18:00) offer spectacular city lights — the superior choice. A genuinely excellent free alternative to the Shard for views. The bar inside is open but priced at City of London restaurant rates — you are not obliged to buy anything.
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🎭 West End ShowCultureThe TKTS official booth on Leicester Square sells same-day and advance tickets at up to 50% discount — go in person from 10:00. Many shows also release a limited number of day seats online at 10:00 on the day of performance; check the show's own website. Restricted-view seats are often excellent value — check seating plans carefully. For teenagers, let them choose the show from a curated shortlist. Book official channels only — avoid third-party resellers who charge large fees for tickets available at face value.
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⛪ St Paul's CathedralLandmarkBook online. The dome climb is 528 steps and worth every one — the Golden Gallery at the top offers magnificent views in every direction. The Whispering Gallery on the first dome level is a genuinely surprising piece of physics: a whisper against the wall carries clearly to the opposite side. Closed to tourists on Sunday mornings during services. Free Choral Evensong runs Mon–Sat at 5pm — the finest free experience in the building.
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🗽 Trafalgar SquareLandmarkBest used as a natural pivot point between the National Gallery (immediately behind), the South Bank (walk over Waterloo Bridge), and Westminster (15-minute walk down Whitehall). The Fourth Plinth in the northwest corner rotates annually with commissioned contemporary artwork — worth checking what's currently displayed. Look west down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace — a view most visitors miss. Free events and concerts run here regularly throughout the year.
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🌳 Hyde ParkParkSpeakers' Corner at the Marble Arch end operates on Sunday mornings — the tradition of public oratory here dates to 1872 and is a uniquely London spectacle. Hire a deck chair by the Serpentine in summer or rent a rowing boat on the lake. The park connects directly to Kensington Gardens to the west, giving unbroken green space from Hyde Park Corner all the way to Kensington Palace. The Diana Memorial Fountain is nearby in Kensington Gardens.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in London?
Most first-time visitors need four to five days to cover London's major highlights at a comfortable pace. Three days is the realistic minimum if your time is limited — enough for the Tower of London, British Museum, Westminster, the South Bank, and one or two other priorities. Five days adds room for a longer excursion such as Greenwich, Hampton Court, or Kew Gardens. A week suits anyone who wants to explore further, move at a slower pace, or take a day trip to Windsor, Bath, or Stonehenge. London rewards more time — repeat visitors consistently say they could spend another week.
What is the best way to plan a London itinerary?
The single most effective approach is to group attractions by area rather than by category. London is large and poorly sequenced days will waste hours in transit. Westminster, the Churchill War Rooms, and Buckingham Palace are all walkable from each other. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are clustered in South Kensington. The Tower of London and Borough Market are both close to London Bridge. Planning geographically — as this planner is designed to help you do — maximises your time at the sights rather than in the Tube. Beyond geography, book major paid attractions online in advance: it's cheaper, avoids queues, and guarantees entry on busy days.
What are the must-see attractions in London?
For first-time visitors, the genuinely unmissable sights are the Tower of London, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, and the South Kensington museum cluster (Natural History Museum, V&A, Science Museum — all free). The Tower of London is the most historically rich paid attraction in the country. The British Museum is one of the greatest collections of human civilisation ever assembled under one roof. Beyond those, the right answer depends on your interests: the Churchill War Rooms for history, Tate Modern for contemporary art, the Shard or Sky Garden for views, West End theatre for culture, Borough Market or Camden for food and atmosphere.
Which London attractions are free?
London has more outstanding free museums than any other city on earth. The British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, and Sky Garden all have free entry (Sky Garden requires a free timed booking). Most require timed entry reservations in peak season — free does not mean walk-in. Book online before you visit. The major parks — Hyde Park, St James's Park, Regent's Park, Greenwich Park — are also completely free and worth building into your days as breathing space between paid attractions.
How do I avoid the biggest crowds at London attractions?
Arrive early — most major attractions open at 10:00 and the first 90 minutes are significantly calmer than mid-morning. For the Tower of London, go straight to the Crown Jewels queue on arrival before it builds up. The British Museum is best on weekday mornings before school groups arrive. Avoid Saturday afternoons at any popular central London attraction between June and August. Book timed entry online wherever possible — it eliminates the entrance queue entirely and is nearly always cheaper than the door price. Westminster Abbey and Hampton Court are both meaningfully less crowded on weekday mornings than on weekends.
Is the London Eye worth it?
The London Eye offers genuinely excellent 360° views and the slow rotation gives you time to identify landmarks across the city. At roughly £33 per adult booked online, it is more expensive than some comparable viewpoints — the Sky Garden is free with a timed booking and offers similar views from a different angle, and the Tate Modern's 10th floor viewing platform is completely free. The Eye is worth it if panoramic views are a priority and you book the dusk or early evening slot, when the city lights are at their best. Avoid mid-morning on summer weekends when the queuing experience, despite advance booking, becomes congested.
What is the least sensible tourist attraction in London?
Madame Tussauds. A waxwork museum charging upwards of £40 per adult — more with any of its aggressively marketed add-ons — to queue for the privilege of standing next to a mannequin that looks approximately like a famous person, in a building that smells of school trips and damp coats. The figures are technically impressive in the way that all wax figures are technically impressive, which is to say they are uncanny rather than lifelike, and the experience of being photographed beside them produces a photo that requires explaining to anyone who wasn't there. The money spent here would buy entry to the Tower of London with change left over for lunch, or a standing ticket to a West End show, or two visits to the Churchill War Rooms. London has more genuinely world-class attractions per square mile than almost any city on earth. Madame Tussauds is not among them.
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