London in 3 days: itinerary with walking times
Spending 3 days in London? This plan fits 15 sights into 3 relaxed days, ordered so you walk as little as possible. Highlights include Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and St James's Park. Every stop lists opening hours, prices, the walk to the next one and good places to eat nearby.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
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Day 1 Westminster & St James's · West End
Photo: Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament
The Elizabeth Tower and the Gothic Houses of Parliament, best seen from Westminster Bridge; guided tours can be booked.
Opening hours: Always open (view from outside)
Price: FreeEat nearby: St Stephen's Tavern (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 2 min walk
The Red Lion (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 3 min walk- 🚶 0.4 km · 5 min walk → Westminster Abbey
Photo: Antiquary · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia
Westminster Abbey
The coronation church of English monarchs, with royal tombs, Poets' Corner and a multimedia guide.
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 09:30–16:30, Sat 09:00–16:00 (last entry 1 h before closing); Sun services only; hours change for services
Price: £32Eat nearby: The Cellarium Café (British · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 1 min walk
The Westminster Arms (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 4 min walk- 🚶 0.8 km · 10 min walk → St James's Park
Photo: Colin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia
St James's Park
The oldest Royal Park, with a lake, pelicans and views to Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards.
Opening hours: Daily 05:00–24:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: The Two Chairmen (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 5 min walk
Old Queen Street Café (British · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 6 min walk- 🚶 1.0 km · 12 min walk → Buckingham Palace
Photo: Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia
Buckingham Palace
The King's London residence, seen from the Victoria Memorial, with the Changing of the Guard on set days.
Opening hours: Always open (outside view); Changing of the Guard Mon, Wed and Fri 11:00
Price: Free (outside view)Eat nearby: The Cask & Glass (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 6 min walk
Bag O'Nails (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 6 min walk- 🚶 1.6 km · 20 min walk → Trafalgar Square
- Lunch suggestion The Cask & Glass (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's)
near Buckingham Palace · 🚶 0.5 km · 6 min walk Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia
Trafalgar Square
London's grand square with Nelson's Column, the fountains and the lions, right next to the National Gallery.
Opening hours: Always open
Price: FreeEat nearby: Café in the Crypt (British · £ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 1 min walk
Old Shades (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 3 min walk- 🚶 0.2 km · 3 min walk → The National Gallery
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia
The National Gallery
Western European painting from Van Eyck to Van Gogh, with Turner, Constable and Monet; free entry.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00–18:00, Fri until 21:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Café in the Crypt (British · £ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 3 min walk
The Chandos (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 3 min walk- 🚶 0.7 km · 9 min walk → Covent Garden
Photo: Diliff derivative work: SilkTork (talk) · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia
Covent Garden
A historic piazza with street performers, covered market stalls, shops and the London Transport Museum nearby.
Opening hours: Piazza always open; market and shops daily about 10:00–20:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Rules (British · £££ · West End) · 🚶 3 min walk
Dishoom Covent Garden (Indian · ££ · West End) · 🚶 5 min walk- Dinner suggestion Rules (British · £££ · West End)
near Covent Garden · 🚶 0.2 km · 3 min walk
Day 2 The City & East · South Bank & Bankside
Photo: [Duncan] from Nottingham, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia
Tower of London
A 900-year-old fortress with the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and free Yeoman Warder tours.
Opening hours: Tue–Sat 09:00–17:30, Sun–Mon 10:00–17:30 (last entry 16:30)
Price: £38Eat nearby: Bravas Tapas (European · ££ · The City & East) · 🚶 6 min walk
The Hung, Drawn and Quartered (British · ££ · The City & East) · 🚶 6 min walk- 🚶 0.4 km · 6 min walk → Tower Bridge
Photo: Fuzzypiggy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia
Tower Bridge
The Victorian bascule bridge, best seen from the walkway or the river path; the Exhibition has glass-floor walkways.
Opening hours: Bridge always open; Exhibition daily 09:30–17:30
Price: FreeEat nearby: Butlers Wharf Chop House (British · £££ · The City & East) · 🚶 4 min walk
Le Pont de la Tour (European · £££ · The City & East) · 🚶 5 min walk- 🚶 1.3 km · 17 min walk → Borough Market
- Lunch suggestion Butlers Wharf Chop House (British · £££ · The City & East)
near Tower Bridge · 🚶 0.4 km · 4 min walk Photo: Øyvind Holmstad · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia
Borough Market
London's best-known food market under the railway arches, with fresh produce, cheese and hot street food.
Opening hours: Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat 09:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–16:00; closed Mon
Price: FreeEat nearby: Roast (British · £££ · South Bank & Bankside) · 🚶 2 min walk
Padella (Italian · ££ · South Bank & Bankside) · 🚶 2 min walk- 🚶 0.9 km · 11 min walk → Tate Modern
Photo: Acabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia
Tate Modern
Modern and contemporary art in a former power station on the Thames, with a viewing terrace on the Blavatnik Building.
Opening hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–18:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–21:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Tonkotsu Bankside (Asian · £ · South Bank & Bankside) · 🚶 3 min walk
The Swan at Shakespeare's Globe (British · ££ · South Bank & Bankside) · 🚶 3 min walk- 🚶 1.9 km · 23 min walk → London Eye
Photo: Khamtran · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia
London Eye
A 30-minute ride in a glass pod on the giant observation wheel, with views over the Thames and Parliament.
Opening hours: Daily, usually 11:00–18:00 (varies by date; closed for maintenance in January)
Price: from £29Eat nearby: Wahaca Southbank Experience (World · ££ · South Bank & Bankside) · 🚶 6 min walk
The Red Lion (Pub · ££ · Westminster & St James's) · 🚶 8 min walk- Dinner suggestion Wahaca Southbank Experience (World · ££ · South Bank & Bankside)
near London Eye · 🚶 0.5 km · 6 min walk
Day 3 Bloomsbury & Camden · Kensington & Chelsea
Photo: Ham · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia
The British Museum
A vast museum of world history with the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and the Parthenon sculptures; free entry.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00–17:00, Fri until 20:30
Price: FreeEat nearby: Museum Tavern (Pub · ££ · Bloomsbury & Camden) · 🚶 3 min walk
Rock & Sole Plaice (Seafood · £ · West End) · 🚶 9 min walk- 🚇 20 min by Tube (line Piccadilly: King's Cross St Pancras / Russell Square → South Kensington) · 5.3 km · 66 min walk → Natural History Museum
- Lunch suggestion Museum Tavern (Pub · ££ · Bloomsbury & Camden)
near The British Museum · 🚶 0.2 km · 3 min walk Photo: Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, a blue whale skeleton and gems in a Romanesque palace; a favourite with children and free to enter.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00–17:50 (last entry 17:30)
Price: FreeEat nearby: Casa Brindisa (European · ££ · Kensington & Chelsea) · 🚶 5 min walk
Daquise (European · ££ · Kensington & Chelsea) · 🚶 5 min walk- 🚶 2.0 km · 25 min walk → Hyde Park
Photo: @LondonNPC #NationalParkCity · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia
Hyde Park
London's great Royal Park, with the Serpentine lake, rowing boats and Speakers' Corner.
Opening hours: Daily 05:00–24:00
Price: FreeEat nearby: Serpentine Bar & Kitchen (Café · ££ · Kensington & Chelsea) · 🚶 6 min walk
Serpentine Lido Café (Café · £ · Kensington & Chelsea) · 🚶 9 min walk- Dinner suggestion Serpentine Bar & Kitchen (Café · ££ · Kensington & Chelsea)
near Hyde Park · 🚶 0.5 km · 6 min walk
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