Short on Time? 3 Days in London You Won't Forget!

If your next big adventure involves backpacking through Europe, you’ll probably visit London. As the UK’s capital city, there’s so much to do and landmarks to see. You might not have time to do everything, so what should you prioritize?

While extended visits can be nice, you might be planning just a quick weekend in London. If you’ve only got three days there, you’ll want to make the most of your time. Let’s dive into how to spend the best 3 days in London!

What to Do in 3 Days in London

With three days in London, you’ll want to ensure you hit all the must-sees. This includes classic sights like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, but also the museums and food. For some inspiration, check out these exciting things to do in London!

As someone who lives in London, I would propose the following itinerary if you only have 3 days to enjoy the city:

Day 1

Changing of the Guard

Start the day with an iconic British event by watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. This happens Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 11:00 am. You’ll want to get there early to get a good view. 

If you want to start your morning earlier than that, you can head down to Picadilly Circus to take in the sights there. Wander down Piccadilly until you reach Green Park. You can cut through the park to get to Buckingham Palace, and from there, watch the Changing of the Guard.

Helpful tip: The closest tube stations to Buckingham Palace are Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, and Green Park. If you decide on Piccadilly Circus first, then head to Piccadilly Circus station on the tube!

Take in Big Ben

Crossing over The Mall, you’ll find St. James’ Park. You might recognize this from some Good Omens scenes, but it’s another one of London’s many parks. As you wander through, you’ll come out into Westminster and see the iconic clock tower.

If you’re a historian or into war museums, you can check out the Churchill War Rooms outside St. James’ Park. It’s an incredibly insightful experience, but at $30+, it’s a less budget-friendly museum than others in London. 

Did you know that Big Ben is actually the bell’s name and not the clock tower? As you pass by, you might be lucky to hear Big Ben chime, but even if not, it’s worth a visit. 

Next to Big Ben, you’ll also find the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey is just across the way as well. You can book a self-guided tour of the Houses of Parliament, or wander around the outside.

From there, you have two options for your first day, depending on your budget and interests!

London Museums: Most Budget-Friendly Option

Once you’ve exhausted Westminster, walk up to Trafalgar Square. You can take in the famous square and head directly into the National Gallery. With European art spanning centuries, you can easily spend several hours roaming the corridors. 

The National Portrait Gallery is also next door, so you can see even more art. At the time of writing this article, the National Portrait Gallery is temporarily closed but will reopen in the future. 

The museums are just next door to Leicester Square, and from there, you can walk through Chinatown and up to Soho. Enjoy some dinner or go into the Lego Store for some fun Lego buildings of London landmarks before popping over to Covent Garden!

London History: Less Budget-Friendly Option

After Westminster, walk down to the Thames and cross over Westminster Bridge. From there, you can walk along the South Bank all the way to Tower Bridge. Once there, cross back over to the North side of the river, and check out the Tower of London. This does have an entry fee.

You can also skip the Tower of London and instead cross the Millenium Bridge (you’ll recognize it from the sixth Harry Potter film) to St. Paul’s Cathedral. You have to pay to enter the cathedral itself, but you can take in the exterior architecture free of charge.  

No matter which route you choose, consider finishing off the night with a West End show! Since most theatres are in the same area, you can still check off Covent Garden even if you went the historical route.

If that’s not a late enough evening for you, London has plenty of clubs to visit where you can get your party on for the night!

Day 2

If you aren’t museum-ed out from your first day, head down to South Kensington for some prime museum exploring. You have the Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Science Museum in one central area. You can pick one or do all three!

Personally, my favorite is the V&A—it has so many different items to explore and covers a lot of ground. The sculpture gallery is awe-inspiring, and I’m also partial to their scones in the cafe!

The closest tube station to the museums is South Kensington.

If you feel like getting some steps in, you can then walk through Kensington Gardens where Kensington Palace is situated. Even if you don’t go into the palace, the gardens are worth exploring for their sheer size. Kensington Gardens runs smoothly into Hyde Park as well.

From Hyde Park, head to Hyde Park Corner to catch the tube. Head Eastbound on the Piccadilly line, getting off at Holborn. You’re now ideally situated for a visit to the British Museum. 

After all the museum visits, head to the Sky Garden to get a beautiful view of the London skyline. Tickets are free, but you need to prebook them to guarantee entry. 

If a full day of museums isn’t enough for you, be sure not to miss the best free museums in London during the rest of your trip!

Day 3

To get a little bit out of central London, start your day off at Hampstead Heath. Not only does the green area go on forever, but you can climb Parliament Hill for a picturesque view of the city. You can also check out Kenwood House nearby.

From there, Camden Market is a short walk away, where you can wander along the canal and take in the food stalls. While there are plenty of options, Camden Market isn’t always the most budget-friendly, so do keep that in mind if you’re planning it for lunch!

From Camden, you can follow the canal all the way down to King’s Cross or further onto Angel.

For the rest of your day, consider joining a London Tour to learn about the history of London in a fun way. There are plenty of hidden-gem tours from which you can choose! For other tours in London, Viator is a great resource. 

Other notable sights you can check out include Regent’s Park or Borough Market. 

How to See London in 3 Days

The most important part of trying to see London in three days is being organized. You don’t have to follow the itinerary above, but if you can set one out for yourself, you’ll be sure to see it all. Check opening times in advance, and pre-buy tickets!

Where to Stay in London

If you’re only in London for three days, staying in zone 1 is a good idea, meaning you’ll be closer to the main sights. If you want to visit further out, make sure you’re near a tube station for easy commuting. Check out the guide to booking accommodation in London for area recommendations and more. 

For hostels, start with the 5 best hostels in London. 

Shopping Ideas!

While London has many sights to see, you can also hit up some nice shops! With three days, you can set aside some retail therapy. For shopping, be sure to check out the following:

• Oxford Street
• Regent’s Street
• Bloomsbury
• Sloane Square
• Harrods in Knightsbridge
• Fortnum & Mason 
• Any of London’s many popular markets

London Is Calling...

Now that you have an itinerary for your trip to London, you can start booking everything! With so many different things to manage, consider using Pilot to keep track of it all.