Three days is enough to see the core of central London if each day stays in one part of town. This plan does that. Day 1 covers Westminster, the South Bank and Covent Garden. Day 2 runs along the river from the Tower of London to St Paul’s. Day 3 is for the big free museums and Hyde Park.
Treat the clock times as a rough guide. Opening hours below were checked on each attraction’s own website in late October 2026. Hours change with the seasons and for special events, so check again the week you travel.
Your three days at a glance
| Day | Area | Main stops | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Westminster, South Bank, Covent Garden | Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Covent Garden, an evening comedy show | Abbey, London Eye, show tickets |
| Day 2 | Tower Hill, Bankside, the City | Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St Paul’s, Sky Garden | Tower, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, Sky Garden (free) |
| Day 3 | Bloomsbury, South Kensington, Hyde Park | British Museum, Natural History Museum or V&A, Hyde Park, dinner near Notting Hill Gate | Free museum tickets are recommended |
Which day goes where. Do Day 2 on a Tuesday to Saturday: Borough Market is closed on Mondays, and St Paul’s opens for sightseeing Monday to Saturday only. Avoid Day 1 on a Sunday, when Westminster Abbey is open for services rather than sightseeing. Day 3 works on any day, so it is the one to put on a Sunday.
Before you go: transport, tickets and where to stay
Getting around
You do not need to buy a ticket for the Tube or buses. Touch in and out with a contactless bank card, a phone or watch wallet, or an Oyster card, and TfL charges the right fare. Pay-as-you-go fares are capped per day and per week (Monday to Sunday), so a busy sightseeing day costs no more than the cap. Check current fares and caps on the TfL website.
Two habits save money. Use the same card or device for every tap, because touching in with a phone and out with a watch counts as two incomplete journeys. Keep your other cards away from the reader to avoid card clash.
From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line runs to Paddington, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road without changing. The Heathrow Express runs non-stop to Paddington every 15 minutes, in about 15 minutes.
Most walks in this plan are 10 to 20 minutes. The walking times below come from the TfL journey planner and are rounded.
Where to stay for a short trip
- Covent Garden and Soho: the most central choice for this plan. You can walk home from the theatres and the Day 1 comedy show, and Leicester Square station has the Northern and Piccadilly lines.
- South Bank and Waterloo: close to the London Eye and the riverside walk. Waterloo has the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines.
- Bloomsbury: quieter streets beside the British Museum, with Russell Square and Holborn on the Piccadilly line.
- South Kensington: next to the Day 3 museums, on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines.
- Paddington: handy for Heathrow on the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express, though further from the evening plans.
What to book before you travel
- Book ahead: Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and any evening show.
- Free, but book a slot: Sky Garden. Tickets are released up to three weeks in advance.
- Free, booking recommended: the British Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. A free ticket guarantees entry when it is busy.
- Walk up: Tate Modern’s collection, the National Gallery, Borough Market and the parks.
We have left prices out because they change often. Check current prices on each official site when you book.
Day 1: Westminster, the South Bank and Covent Garden
Route: Green Park station → Buckingham Palace → St James’s Park → Westminster Abbey → Westminster Bridge → London Eye → Waterloo Bridge → Covent Garden.
Morning: Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park (10:00–11:45, free)
Take the Tube to Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines) and walk through the park to Buckingham Palace. The Changing of the Guard starts at 11:00 on scheduled days. On the Household Division calendar for autumn 2026 it runs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so check the calendar for your dates. Watching from outside the palace is free. Arrive early if you want a place at the front.
Afterwards, walk east through St James’s Park. Pelicans have lived in the park since 1664, and they often sit on the benches by the lake.
Late morning: Westminster Abbey (12:00–13:30, paid, book ahead)
The walk from the palace to the Abbey through the park takes about 20 minutes. The Abbey is open for sightseeing from 9:30 to 16:30 on weekdays, with last entry at 15:30. On Saturdays it opens 9:00 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:00. On Sundays it is open for services only. The Abbey recommends booking online in busy periods. Its daily services are free to attend if you would rather see the building that way.
Outside, cross the road to see the Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben. Westminster station (Jubilee, District and Circle lines) is about four minutes away.
Lunch: the South Bank (13:30)
Walk over Westminster Bridge to the South Bank. The riverside path between the bridge and the London Eye has cafés and plenty of benches with a view of Parliament. Keep lunch light if you are going on the Eye straight after.
Afternoon: the London Eye (14:30, paid, book ahead)
A London Eye rotation lasts about 30 minutes. The operator says tickets bought online in advance are cheaper than at the attraction, and prices can rise at busy times. Opening hours vary through the year. On the day we checked it was open from 10:00 to 20:30.
From the Eye, follow the river path east and cross Waterloo Bridge. Covent Garden is about 20 minutes on foot from the Eye.
Late afternoon: Covent Garden (16:00–18:30, free to wander)
Covent Garden is the area around the historic Market Building and its piazza, with shops, cafés and street performers. Spend an hour walking the Market Building and the side streets around it. If you are in London in mid-November, the Christmas lights switch-on in Covent Garden is on Thursday 12 November 2026.
Eat in Covent Garden or Chinatown, both a short walk from the evening plan. Book a table if you are eating at a fixed time before a show.
Evening: stand-up in Covent Garden (20:00)
For an evening that needs no planning beyond a ticket, we run stand-up at JK Comedy Club Covent Garden. Shows are at Arboretum, 2A Charing Cross Road, about six minutes’ walk from the piazza and two minutes from Leicester Square station.
There is a show at 20:00 every evening. Fridays also have 19:00 and 21:00 shows, and Saturdays add 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00. Doors open an hour before (30 minutes before the 21:00 shows). Each show has a host and a lineup of professional comedians and runs for about 90 minutes. Shows are for ages 18 and over. Seating is unreserved, so arriving when doors open gives you more choice. There is a full bar.
Check what’s on for dates and times during your trip and book ahead, as popular nights sell out.
If it rains on Day 1
The Abbey is indoors, so keep the morning and drop the London Eye and the river walk. Go to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square instead. It is free, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and until 21:00 on Fridays, and walk-up entry is available. It is about five minutes on foot from the comedy venue, so it fits neatly before an evening show.
Day 2: the Tower of London, Borough Market and St Paul’s
Route: Tower Hill station → Tower of London → Tower Bridge → riverside walk → Borough Market → Bankside → Tate Modern → Millennium Bridge → St Paul’s → Sky Garden → the West End.
This is the longest day, but almost all of it is on foot along one side of the river and back.
Morning: the Tower of London (09:00–11:45, paid, book ahead)
Take the District or Circle line to Tower Hill. The Tower opens at 9:00 from Tuesday to Saturday and at 10:00 on Sundays and Mondays. On the October 2026 timetable it closed at 17:30, with last entry at 16:30. Go early to see the Crown Jewels before the queue builds. Yeoman Warder guided tours are included in the ticket. The last one on that timetable started at 15:15. The ground is old, uneven and can be slippery, so wear comfortable shoes.
Late morning: Tower Bridge (12:00–12:45, paid, book ahead)
Tower Bridge is about ten minutes’ walk from the Tower. The exhibition is open daily from 9:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. A ticket covers the North and South Towers, the high-level walkways with their glass floors and the Victorian engine rooms. Tickets can be booked up to six weeks ahead.
Lunch: Borough Market (13:00, closed Mondays)
Leave the bridge on the south side and walk west along the river to Borough Market, about 20 minutes. The market is next to London Bridge station (Jubilee and Northern lines). It opens 10:00 to 17:00 Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sunday. It is closed on Mondays, and hours change over Christmas and bank holidays.
Current traders include Kappacasein, known for raclette and cheese toasties, and Padella, which rolls fresh pasta by hand in its window. Brindisa is on Stoney Street. Humble Crumble serves hot fruit crumbles, and Monmouth Coffee Company is there for coffee.
Afternoon: Bankside, Tate Modern and St Paul’s (14:15–16:30)
Walk west along Bankside. You pass Shakespeare’s Globe at 21 New Globe Walk, which runs guided tours of the theatre. Tate Modern is about 12 minutes from the market. Entry to the collection is free. It is open 10:00 to 18:00 Sunday to Thursday and until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Booked exhibitions are charged separately.
Watch the time here. St Paul’s is open for sightseeing from 8:30 Monday to Saturday, and last entry is usually 16:00. Leave Tate Modern by about 15:15 and cross the Millennium Bridge, which takes you straight to the cathedral. That walk is about 13 minutes. The Dome Galleries close to new visitors at 16:15. Sightseeing tickets are sold online, and the daily services are free.
Early evening: Sky Garden (17:00, free, book a slot)
Sky Garden is at 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF, about 20 minutes’ walk east from St Paul’s. The nearest stations are Monument (District and Circle) and Bank. Entry is free with a booked ticket. Free visits run from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 11:00 to 21:00 at weekends, and tickets are released three weeks ahead. Walk-ins may be let in when there is space, but not after 17:00 on weekdays. Anyone who looks under 25 may be asked for photo ID.
When we checked, one visitor lift was out of service and some ticket holders could not enter at their booked time. Check the Sky Garden website for notices on the day. If you cannot get a slot, the Dome Galleries at St Paul’s are the view to choose instead.
Evening: the West End
From Bank, the Central line reaches Tottenham Court Road in about six minutes. From there you can walk into Soho and the theatre district for dinner and a show. Our guide to the best entertainment places in London covers theatres and other evening options.
On a Tuesday, the JK Comedy Club Soho show starts at 21:00, downstairs at The Spice of Life, 6 Moor Street. It is about three minutes from Leicester Square station, and doors open 15 minutes before the show.
If it rains on Day 2
Most of the day is already indoors. Shorten the outdoor walking by taking the Jubilee line from London Bridge to Southwark, the next stop and the nearest station to Tate Modern. Give Tate Modern more time and keep the Sky Garden slot, which is under glass.
Day 3: the British Museum, South Kensington and Hyde Park
Route: British Museum → Holborn station → Piccadilly line to South Kensington → Natural History Museum or V&A → Exhibition Road → Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens → Notting Hill Gate.
All three museums on this day are free, so the day’s main costs are food and the Tube.
Morning: the British Museum (10:00–12:00, free, booking recommended)
The British Museum is on Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG, a short walk from Holborn, Russell Square and Tottenham Court Road stations. It opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00 and until 20:30 on Fridays. Entry to the permanent collection is free, and the museum recommends booking a free ticket in advance. Some special exhibitions are charged.
Two hours is enough for a first visit if you pick a few galleries rather than trying to see everything.
Lunch: South Kensington (12:30)
Walk to Holborn and take the Piccadilly line direct to South Kensington, about 12 minutes. Eat near the station before the afternoon museum.
Afternoon: the Natural History Museum or the V&A (13:30–15:30, free)
Pick one museum. Both are on Cromwell Road, a minute apart, and trying to do both in an afternoon is rushed.
- Natural History Museum: open daily from 10:00 to 17:50, with last entry at 17:30. The galleries are free. It gets busy at weekends and in school holidays, so book a free entry ticket to avoid queueing.
- V&A South Kensington: open daily from 10:00 to 17:45 and until 22:00 on Fridays, though some galleries close at 17:45. Admission is free, and some exhibitions are charged. This is the better choice for art, design and fashion.
Late afternoon: Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (15:45–17:30, free)
Walk up Exhibition Road into the park. It is about 18 minutes from the Natural History Museum to the Serpentine. The lake has waterside paths and cafés. Some pedestrian gates open from 5:00 to midnight, but in autumn and winter it gets dark early, so go to the park straight after your museum.
Evening: dinner near Notting Hill Gate (from 18:00)
Cross Kensington Gardens to Kensington Church Street, about 20 to 25 minutes on foot. The Churchill Arms at 119 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LN, is a flower-covered pub built in 1750 with a Thai kitchen. Food is served from 12:00 to 21:30 Monday to Saturday and until 21:00 on Sunday. Notting Hill Gate station (Central, Circle and District lines) is close by.
If your last night is a Friday or Saturday, you can still make a 21:00 show in Covent Garden. Take the Central line to Tottenham Court Road and change to the Northern line for Leicester Square, about 20 minutes in total. Check what’s on for that night.
If it rains on Day 3
Swap the park walk for the Science Museum on Exhibition Road, next to the Natural History Museum. It is free and open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:15. You can book a free ticket in advance. Afterwards, take the Circle or District line from South Kensington to Notting Hill Gate for dinner.
If your trip includes a Saturday
A Saturday changes the evening options. JK runs a 16:00 show in Soho, then 17:00 shows in Covent Garden and Leicester Square, as well as the Covent Garden evening shows. An afternoon show leaves the evening free for dinner. Our Saturday date day in Soho plans a full afternoon around the Soho show. For an overview of every room, see JK Comedy Club in London.
More ideas and keeping costs down
If you have time left or want to swap a stop, our guide to things to do in London covers more sights, markets and neighbourhoods. Several of the biggest stops in this plan are free: the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern’s collection, the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum, Sky Garden and the parks. For evenings on a budget, see our guide to a cheap night out in London.