First Time In London | 4 Days Sightseeing Itinerary
Your first time in London can be a little bit daunting, especially if you only have a few days to see the most popular spots. Making sure you see everything in the most logical order so you aren't running back and forth across the city is essential to making your time count. When I first visited, I planned it all out, exactly like you will see below and I found it actually worked really well, letting me make the most of my time while hitting up all the best places. So, here is my tried and tested guide to making the most of your four days in London.
— Day One —
Morning | Arrival. Check in to your accommodation, grab some lunch & make your way to the nearest tube station.
Afternoon | Natural History Museum & Harrods. Navigate your way to the must-see Natural History Museum on the tube. It's free to enter and it's so huge you'll spend a few hours here. Pick up a map and head to the areas you are most interested in. If you have time in the late afternoon, walk to London's most iconic department store Harrods for a nosy at some luxury shopping.
Evening | Kensington Palace & Notting Hill. Walk through Kensington Gardens and see Kensington Palace before heading to Notting Hill for an evening meal.
≫ Oyster cards are available at all central London tube stations - simply find an oyster card machine and select from the options.
— Day Two —
Morning | Buckingham Palace & St James Park. Walking to Buckingham Palace and through St James Park, enjoy the wonderful gardens London has to offer - don't forget to watch the changing of the guard which takes place at 11 am daily over the summer - check out the schedule for up to date information. Carry on walking towards Trafalgar Square and stop at one of the many cafes for lunch.
Afternoon | Visit A Museum. Choose one of the many museums to spend the afternoon. The British Museum and the National Gallery are the most popular choices but there are also many smaller museums including The Science Museum, The Charles Dickens Museum, or even the Museum of Happiness!
Evening | The West End. Return to your accommodation and your glad rags on because tonight you’re going to the Theater! Get some tickets to one of the many West End productions, sit back and enjoy an amazing show.
≫ Book your Theater tickets well in advance if you want to see a particular show as many of the popular shows do get booked out. If you don't mind what you see, there are many places to get discounted tickets on the day of the show like the TKTS booth in Leicester Square or online.
— Day Three —
Morning | Here, there & everywhere! Today you will spend the day hopping around the smaller attractions in the city. Make your way to see St Paul’s Cathedral, walk across Millennium Bridge and see Shakespeare’s Globe Theater before walking across the iconic Tower Bridge. From there hop on a river cruise to Greenwich and learn a little bit of London's history along the way. Once there, head up to the Royal Observatory and meander around Greenwich market, which is filled with small artisan crafts and food stalls.
Afternoon | Tower Of London & Westminster. Taking the return ferry back into Central London, either hop off at Tower Bridge so you can visit The Tower of London, or stay on the ferry up to Westminster Pier and spend the afternoon on the London Eye and take a tour around Westminster Palace.
Evening | Dine At A Local Pub. Find a local open mic or comedy night at a nearby pub for dinner and a pint for an authentic British experience.
— Day Four —
Morning | Choose Your Day Trip. Your final morning can be spent at one of the many larger attractions London has to offer. Potterheads will love visiting the Warner Bros Studio, animal lovers can head over to the ZSL London Zoo or take a long stroll around Kew Botanical Gardens or football fans can take a tour around Wembley Stadium. There are so many places to choose from and all are a short train ride away from Central London.
Afternoon | Wander The Markets. If you aren't leaving London until later in the evening, opt to spend the afternoon at Camden Markets or Covent Gardens and enjoy your last afternoon wandering the market stalls and shops.