4 Days in London: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for four days of royal pageantry, thousand-year-old towers, world-class museums and riverside walks that never get old. This plan suits first-time visitors who want the big London icons without rushing between them. The last day is a relaxed one in Greenwich, for when your feet need a change of pace.

The pace is moderate: two or three main stops a day, grouped by neighbourhood. That way you spend more time looking up at landmarks and less time underground. Evenings are kept light, so you can add a West End show, a pub dinner or a slow walk along the Thames.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Westminster and St James’s	Changing the Guard, St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, Soho
2	The City and Bankside	St Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Borough Market, Tower of London, Tower Bridge
3	Bloomsbury, South Kensington, Covent Garden	British Museum, South Kensington museums, Hyde Park, Covent Garden
4	Greenwich and the South Bank	Cutty Sark area, Greenwich Park, Royal Observatory, South Bank evening

A quick note on days of the week: Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral are open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday only. If Day 1 or Day 2 falls on a Sunday, swap it with Day 3 or Day 4.

Day 1: Royal Westminster

Morning

This is the day for pomp, palaces and postcard views. Start at Buckingham Palace for Changing the Guard. The Household Division says the ceremony takes place in front of the palace at 10:45 and lasts about 45 minutes. Soldiers start gathering at St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks from 10:00 and march to the palace with a band. It doesn’t happen every day: the official page lists Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the King’s Guard. It can also be changed or cancelled at short notice, especially in wet weather. Check the official schedule the evening before and arrive early for a good view.

Afterwards, walk east through St James’s Park towards Westminster. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and the bridge over the lake has views back to the palace.

Afternoon

Have lunch near Victoria Street or Westminster, then head into Westminster Abbey, where monarchs are crowned and many monarchs, poets and scientists are buried. The Abbey’s official price list gives these ticket prices:

• Adults: £32
• Over-65s and students: £29
• Children aged 6-17: £14
• Under 6: free

Opening hours change from day to day and are sometimes shortened for services. Check the calendar on the official site and book a timed ticket online.

Parliament Square is a few minutes’ walk from the Abbey. Take photos of the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower (home of Big Ben). Then cross Westminster Bridge for the classic postcard view from the south bank, and walk back.

Evening

Walk up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, about 10 to 15 minutes on foot. The National Gallery is on the square: check its official site for evening hours. Then head into Soho or Chinatown for dinner, both a short walk away.

Day 2: St Paul’s, Bankside and the Tower

Morning

Get ready for domes, bridges and a royal fortress. Take the Tube to St Paul’s station and get to the cathedral early. St Paul’s says doors open at 8:30 on most days, Monday to Saturday, and last entry for sightseeing is usually 16:00. Sightseeing tickets cost £27 for adults and £10.50 for children. They cover the cathedral floor, the crypt and the Dome Galleries, and they’re sold for a set date and time, so book on the official site. Climbing to the galleries is a fantastic way to see the whole city spread out below you.

Walk down to the Millennium Bridge (around 5 minutes) and cross the river to Bankside. Tate Modern is right at the end of the bridge. Check the Tate’s official site for hours if you want to pop in.

Afternoon

Follow the riverside path east past Shakespeare’s Globe to Borough Market for lunch, about 15 minutes on foot. Market days and hours vary, so check the market’s official site before you go.

Then cross London Bridge and walk east along the river to the Tower of London, around 15 to 20 minutes. Historic Royal Palaces, which runs the Tower, says it’s quieter after midday and suggests allowing two to three hours.

• Ticket: an adult ticket is £38 without the optional donation. It includes the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and a Yeoman Warder tour (if spaces are available).
• Hours: in late October 2026 the official calendar shows 09:00 to 17:30 on most days. Last entry is 16:30 and the last Yeoman Warder tour is at 15:15.
• Before you go: hours change by season, so check the opening times page for your date and book online.

Evening

Walk across Tower Bridge as the lights come on. Then follow the south bank to Shad Thames, or back to London Bridge, for dinner. It’s one of the loveliest evening walks in the city.

Day 3: Museums, Parks and Covent Garden

Morning

Museum lovers, this one’s for you. The British Museum is free to enter and open daily 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:45. On Fridays it stays open until 20:30. The museum advises booking a free ticket online in advance, which gets you priority entry at busy times. Pick a few highlights rather than trying to see everything: two million years of human history is a lot for one morning.

Afternoon

Walk to Russell Square or Holborn station and take the Piccadilly line straight to South Kensington. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A are all here, side by side. Choose one, and check its official site for hours and whether you need to book a time slot.

Afterwards, walk north into Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, about 10 to 15 minutes from the museums, for a leafy late-afternoon walk.

Evening

Take the Piccadilly line back east to Covent Garden for street performers, the old market hall and plenty of restaurants. If you want to see a West End show, book on the theatre’s official site rather than buying from street sellers.

Tip: if Day 3 is a Friday, swap the morning and afternoon and visit the British Museum during its late opening.

Day 4: Greenwich and the South Bank

Morning

Save today for big skyline views and a slower, sunnier pace. Head to Greenwich on the DLR (get off at Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich) or by river boat from a central pier. Use the TfL Journey Planner for journey times. Greenwich is on the edge of zone 2, so check TfL’s single fare finder: any journey beyond zone 2 raises your daily cap.

Climb the hill in Greenwich Park for one of the best skyline views in London. Then visit the Royal Observatory, home of the Prime Meridian. Check the Royal Museums Greenwich official site for ticket prices and opening times, and book ahead on busy days.

Afternoon

Explore Greenwich town centre and its market, and admire the Cutty Sark from outside. For a quirky detour, walk through the foot tunnel under the Thames. Head back towards central London in the mid-afternoon.

Evening

Finish on the South Bank between Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge. The riverside walkways, the Southbank Centre and the London Eye make a cheerful send-off. If you want to ride the Eye, check prices and book on its official site.

Getting there and getting around

From Heathrow

• Heathrow Express: non-stop to London Paddington in 15 minutes, with trains every 15 minutes, according to Heathrow Airport. A standard single costs £26. Advance Discounted Singles start from £10 if you book ahead on the official site.
• Elizabeth line: Heathrow Airport says it reaches central London in under 45 minutes. Since 1 March 2026, TfL’s pay as you go anytime fare between Heathrow and Zone 1 is £15.50. Pay with a contactless card or Oyster.
• Piccadilly line (Tube): the slowest rail option, but usually the cheapest. Heathrow Airport says it reaches central London in under an hour, with trains about every 10 minutes. Check the exact fare with TfL’s single fare finder.
• Taxis: black cabs wait outside the terminals. If you’d rather arrange a car in advance, book a licensed minicab (see Heads-up below).

Flying into Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or London City? Check the rail operator’s official site for current fares and times.

Getting around London

Contactless bank cards, phones and Oyster cards all work on the Tube, buses, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most rail services in London.

• Daily cap: TfL’s current daily cap for zones 1-2 is £8.90, for both anytime and off-peak travel. You’ll never pay more than that in a day within those zones.
• Tube singles: a pay as you go journey in Zone 1 costs £3.10 at peak times or £3.00 off-peak.
• Buses: the Hopper fare lets you make unlimited bus and tram journeys within one hour for £1.75. TfL says that price is frozen until 1 November 2026, so check TfL for any change after that. The bus and tram daily cap is £5.25.

Use the same card or phone all day so the cap works. TfL’s Visitor Shop says some bank cards issued outside the UK might not be accepted on TfL services. That’s one reason to think about a Visitor Oyster card, sold on the official TfL Visitor Shop.

Where to stay

• Bloomsbury and King’s Cross: central, well connected and on the Piccadilly line from Heathrow. Great for museum lovers and anyone travelling on by train.
• South Bank and Southwark: riverside walks, food markets and easy access to both Westminster and the City. Lovely for couples and first-timers.
• South Kensington: elegant streets near the big museums and Hyde Park, also on the Piccadilly line. Good for families.
• Paddington: practical if you’re using the Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth line, with Hyde Park close by.

Budget

These are the checked costs for transport and the paid sights in this plan, for one adult.

Item	Typical cost
Tube and rail, daily cap zones 1-2	£8.90
Tube single, Zone 1 (pay as you go)	£3.10 peak, £3.00 off-peak
Bus Hopper fare / bus daily cap	£1.75 / £5.25
Heathrow Express standard single	£26 (advance from £10)
Elizabeth line Heathrow to Zone 1	£15.50
Westminster Abbey, adult	£32
St Paul’s Cathedral, adult	£27
Tower of London, adult (no donation)	£38
British Museum	Free

That comes to roughly £9 to £74 per day for transport and the main sights. Day 2 costs the most. This budget doesn’t include:

• Accommodation and meals
• Shows
• The Royal Observatory, the London Eye and river boats
• Travel beyond zones 1-2

Prices for these change often, so check the official sites.

Practical tips

• Book ahead: Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s and the Tower all sell tickets online for a set date or time. The British Museum’s free advance ticket gets you priority entry at busy times.
• Closing days: the Abbey and St Paul’s are open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday, because Sunday is for worship. The British Museum closes 24 to 26 December.
• Dress respectfully: the Abbey and St Paul’s are working churches, so keep your voice down. Check the official sites for service times that affect visiting.
• Money: contactless payment is widely accepted. TfL says every licensed black taxi has a card machine. Ask your bank about overseas transaction fees before you travel.
• SIM and eSIM: check roaming with your home mobile provider, or set up an eSIM before you fly so you can use maps from the moment you land.
• Entry: many visitors who don’t need a visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. Others need a visa. The rules depend on your nationality, so check the official GOV.UK tool at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa well before you book.

Heads-up

London is a joy to explore, and a little know-how keeps it that way:

• Never use an unbooked minicab. TfL is clear that unbooked minicabs are dangerous and illegal, even if the driver approaches you or the car has a licence sticker. Only black taxis with the orange TAXI light can be hailed on the street or taken from a rank. If you book a minicab, check that the car and driver match your booking confirmation. If they don’t match, don’t get in.
• Watch your belongings at Changing the Guard. The Household Division warns that pickpockets have been known to work the crowds around Buckingham Palace. Keep phones and wallets zipped away.
• The ceremony can be cancelled. Changing the Guard can be changed at very short notice, especially in wet weather. Treat it as a bonus rather than the main event of your day.
• Don’t get caught out on Sundays. Two of the biggest paid sights in this plan are closed for sightseeing on Sundays, so plan your days around that.
• Late-night travel: TfL says London buses run 24 hours a day and every bus has CCTV, so a bus is a safe way home after a show.
• Emergencies: dial 999 in an emergency, or 101 for non-urgent police matters.

FAQ

Is 4 days enough for London?

Yes, for a first visit. Four days covers the essential sights, at least one major museum and a relaxed day out in Greenwich. Add a fifth day if you want day trips or more museums.

Should I buy an Oyster card or use contactless?

Contactless is simplest if your card works on TfL, and the daily cap (£8.90 in zones 1-2) keeps costs predictable. If you’re not sure your overseas card will be accepted, a Visitor Oyster card from the TfL Visitor Shop is a reliable backup.

What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to central London?

The Piccadilly line is usually the cheapest rail option, but it’s slower. The Elizabeth line (£15.50 pay as you go to Zone 1) is quicker. The Heathrow Express is the fastest way to Paddington, at £26 for a standard single or from £10 if you book in advance.

Which London museums are free?

The British Museum is free, and booking a free ticket is recommended. For the Natural History Museum, V&A, National Gallery and Tate Modern, check each official site for entry and any paid exhibitions.

Do I need a visa or ETA?

It depends on your nationality. Use the official GOV.UK checker at https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa before booking flights.

When is Changing the Guard?

On days when it takes place at Buckingham Palace, it starts at 10:45 and lasts about 45 minutes. The dates vary and it can be cancelled in bad weather, so check the Household Division schedule.