Four days cover the essentials; with five you can add Windsor, Oxford or the Harry Potter studios. It is an expensive city: booking paid attractions ahead and making the most of the free museums helps your budget a lot.
What to see in London: top sights
Tower of London and the Crown Jewels
The Norman fortress by the Thames has been a palace, a prison and a place of execution. Today it guards the Crown Jewels, and its Beefeaters tell its story on witty guided tours.
Recommended time: 3 h
Tip: Arrive at opening time and head straight for the Crown Jewels, before the queue builds.
Tower Bridge
Hotels near Tower Bridge · 257 properties
The world’s most famous bascule bridge, in neo-Gothic style. Inside, you can walk along its high-level walkways, with glass floors, and visit the Victorian engine rooms.
Recommended time: 1 h
Westminster: the Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament
Hotels near Westminster: the Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament · 392 properties
The Gothic abbey where monarchs have been crowned since 1066 and where Newton and Darwin are buried, opposite the Palace of Westminster and its clock tower, Big Ben. Across the river, the classic view from Westminster Bridge.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
The King’s official London residence. The Changing of the Guard, with its band and red uniforms, is one of the city’s most famous spectacles. In summer some State Rooms open to visitors.
Recommended time: 1–2 h
Tip: The ceremony does not take place every day: check the official calendar and arrive early to get a spot by the railings.
Hotels near Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard · 407 propertiesBritish Museum
Hotels near British Museum · 482 properties
Two million years of human history under one roof: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies and the great glass-roofed court. The permanent collection is free.
Recommended time: 3 h
National Gallery and Trafalgar Square
One of the world’s finest art galleries, free to enter: Van Eyck, Leonardo, Velázquez, Turner and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, facing Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column.
Recommended time: 2 h
South Bank and the London Eye
The riverside walk on the south bank of the Thames links the London Eye, the wheel overlooking Westminster, with Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market.
Recommended time: Half a day
Tip: For the London Eye, a timed ticket skips much of the queue.
Hotels near South Bank and the London Eye · 161 propertiesCovent Garden and the West End
The former flower market, with street performers, shops and restaurants, at the heart of theatreland, where the big musicals play every night.
Recommended time: 2 h (plus a show)
Tip: West End box offices sell good-value last-minute tickets for some same-day performances.
Hotels near Covent Garden and the West End · 311 propertiesCamden Market
Markets in former warehouses and stables by the canal, with stalls of clothes, music, vintage and food from all over the world. The quintessential alternative neighbourhood.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Notting Hill and Portobello Road
Hotels near Notting Hill and Portobello Road · 150 properties
Colourful houses, quiet streets and the Portobello Road market, famous for its antiques on Saturdays. The setting of the film Notting Hill.
Recommended time: 2 h
South Kensington museums
Hotels near South Kensington museums · 599 properties
Three great free museums side by side: the Natural History Museum, with its blue whale skeleton; the Victoria and Albert, for decorative arts and design; and the Science Museum. Next door, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Recommended time: Half a day
Day trips from London
Harry Potter studios
About 20 min by train to Watford Junction plus a shuttle bus
The real sets from the films: the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, Platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express. Tickets sell out weeks ahead.
Windsor
About 1 h by train
The oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, the King’s weekend residence, with St George’s Chapel and a charming town by the Thames.
Stonehenge
About 2 h by car or on an organised tour
The world’s most famous prehistoric stone circle, on Salisbury Plain. It is often combined with Bath or Windsor.
Oxford
About 1 h by train
The city of dreaming spires: its colleges, the Bodleian Library and corners that appear in the Harry Potter films.
Bath
About 1 h 30 min by train
Roman baths, a Gothic abbey and streets of golden Georgian stone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
London in 4 days
Day 1
The Tower of London at opening time, Tower Bridge and a walk along the South Bank to the London Eye, via Borough Market and Tate Modern.
Day 2
Westminster: the Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament. Then the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and a stroll through St James’s Park to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. A West End musical in the evening.
Day 3
The British Museum in the morning, Covent Garden for lunch and an afternoon at Camden Market.
Day 4
The South Kensington museums, Hyde Park and Notting Hill. Or a day trip to Windsor or the Harry Potter studios.
London with kids
- The Natural History Museum, with dinosaurs and the blue whale, and the Science Museum.
- The Harry Potter studios in Leavesden.
- London Zoo in Regent’s Park.
- The Changing of the Guard and a boat trip down the Thames to Greenwich.
Free things to do in London
- The great museums: the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History, Victoria and Albert and Science Museum (permanent collections).
- The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
- The royal parks: Hyde Park, St James’s Park, Regent’s Park and Greenwich.
- The Sky Garden, a garden at the top of a City skyscraper, with advance booking.
- Browsing Borough, Camden and Portobello Road markets.
Where to stay in London
London is huge but the Tube brings everything close. Staying in zone 1 or near a good station saves time every day.
Covent Garden and the West End
Right in the centre, among theatres, restaurants and museums. Very practical, though one of the most expensive areas.
Places to stay in Covent Garden and the West End · 311 propertiesSouth Bank
By the river and the London Eye, with views of Westminster and good connections. Lively by day and quiet at night.
Places to stay in South Bank · 161 propertiesKensington
Elegant and quiet, next to Hyde Park and the free museums. Ideal for families.
Places to stay in Kensington · 599 propertiesShoreditch
The creative East End, with street art, bars and markets. For a more alternative London.
Places to stay in Shoreditch · 472 properties
When to go to London
From May to September the days are long and the parks are at their best, although it is high season. Spring and early autumn offer a good balance of weather and prices.
In December, London fills with lights and Christmas markets. It rains in every season, so always carry an umbrella or a raincoat.
Book activities in London
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Frequently asked questions about London
How many days do you need in London?
Four days let you see the major monuments and museums and explore several neighbourhoods. With five or six you can add Windsor, Oxford or the Harry Potter studios.
Which London museums are free?
The permanent collections of the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert and the Science Museum are free. Temporary exhibitions are usually paid.
How do you pay for the London Underground?
With a contactless bank card or your phone at the gates, just like an Oyster card. A daily cap applies, so you never pay more than the equivalent of a day pass.
Do I need to book the Harry Potter studios?
Yes, entry is always timed and sells out weeks ahead, especially during school holidays. No tickets are sold on the door.
What is the best area to stay in London?
Covent Garden and the West End to be in the middle of everything; the South Bank for the river and good connections; Kensington for somewhere quieter and family-friendly; Shoreditch for a younger vibe.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
Photo credits
London: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tower of London and the Crown Jewels: Carlos Cunha, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tower Bridge: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Westminster: the Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament: Alicank, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard: bortescristian, CC BY 2.0 · British Museum: Diliff, CC BY 2.5 · National Gallery and Trafalgar Square: brian gillman, CC BY 3.0 · South Bank and the London Eye: Peter Smyly, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Covent Garden and the West End: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Camden Market: Kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Notting Hill and Portobello Road: Papertree at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · South Kensington museums: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
