London 3-day Itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
British Museum
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
A must-do on every London visitor’s itinerary, the imposing, colonnaded British Museum truly lives up to the hype. One of the oldest museums in the world (established 1753), its enormously rich collection of more than seven million artefacts, many collected and brought back to London from across the world by British explorers and archaeologists during the days of the British Empire.
The ethics may be questionable, but it has ensured thousands of ancient relics that may otherwise have been lost have been safeguarded. Discussions go on about the rights of returning many of these artefacts to their original countries, but for the moment they are still on display to be enjoyed and marvelled at.
The addition in 2000 of a soaring, glass-domed atrium – the Great Court, designed by Norman Foster – brought a dash of contemporary cool to a historic landmark.
Don’t miss
The Rosetta Stone
Dating back to 196 BC, this unique stelae (a slab or column bearing an inscription) gave the first possibility of deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, as the inscription repeated the same words in Ancient Greek, which scholars could understand.
The Elgin Marbles
A spectacular collection of Greek panels and sculptures dating back to 450 BC. Removed from the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens in 1801 by Scottish nobleman, Lord Elgin, ownership of the marbles remains a vexed issue between the UK and Greece.
The Egyptian Galleries
The seven galleries hold a selection of the Museum’s mummies and coffins – the largest collection outside of Cairo. Highlights include the colossal granite head of King Rameses II and the exquisite, gold-lined sarcophagi.
Sutton Hoo collection
Housed in room 41, the artefacts and remains of the Sutton Hoo ship burial date back to Anglo-Saxon times. The Sutton Hoo helmet is one of only four remaining in the world.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
London 5-day Itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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London 9-day Itinerary
United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – 9 brilliant, bucket list-packed days recommended by destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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Overview >Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 6+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines). Entry is free. The scale and variety of the collections can be overwhelming: see the museum website for suggested one-hour and three-hour routes around it, or highlights for children.
Interactive audio guides bring colour to the main exhibits and tell you the stories behind them. The museum is well equipped for making its exhibits fascinating to children and families, with activity trails, backpacks and multimedia guides.
The Great Court Restaurant, high up beneath the spectacular glass dome, is a treat for lunch or afternoon tea, with set menus inspired by the museum’s exhibitions.
When to do it
The museum is open all year round, daily, usually with later opening hours on Fridays. This is the most visited attraction in the UK, so go at the start of the day, or late on a weekday to avoid the crush.
Late openings on Fridays give you more breathing space. Christmas, Easter and July-August are especially crowded.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Treasure Hunt at the British Museum
London
Who doesn’t want to have some maverick museum fun? Bonus points in our treasure hunts range from scrutiny to silliness: Will your team be wi...
£25 | Rating 4.72 / 5 [11 ratings]
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The British Museum London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour
London
On this 2.5 hour exclusive guided museum tour, visit one of the world’s largest collections of artifacts at the British Museum. Our engaging...
€94 | Rating 4.95 / 5 [180 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
The British Museum London Guided Museum Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl Max
London
On this 2.5 hour semi-private (8 Guest Maximum) guided museum tour visit one of the world’s largest collections of artifacts at the British ...
€94 | Rating 4.96 / 5 [163 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
British Museum Highlights Private Tour in London including the Rosetta Stone
London
See human history and culture brought to life on a 2.5-hour tour of the British Museum in London! With millions of artifacts spread over 70 ...
£134 | Rating 4.27 / 5 [97 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Hazlitt’s Hotel
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
One among a smart terrace of Victorian townhouses, set back from the central Soho hustle. It’s a historic, romantic hideaway with heaps of character, right in the heart of Lond’s West End.
Official star rating:
Mimi’s Hotel Soho
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
A vibrant, affordable Soho base, with a lively bar that’s ideal for first-timers to the capital, who want to be in the heart of everything.
Official star rating:
The Soho Hotel
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.8 miles]
Glamorous, sexy, and slick design hotel, with a buzzing bar, private cinema, and celebrity clientele.
Official star rating:
Z Hotel Covent Garden
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
A sleek, streamlined budget option with an exclusive edge, accessed via a ‘secret’ courtyard just behind Covent Garden Piazza.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
London
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination.
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Overview >Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Covent Garden
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
This iconic and atmospheric West End square has a historic Victorian market building, street performers, restaurants and boutiques.
Best for ages: Any | Free
Royal Opera House
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.8 miles]
This grand setting in Covent Garden is home to both the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet companies, and the place for lavish, spectacular performances by the world’s leading singers and dancers.
Best for ages: 18+ | £45 | 1-3 hours
London Transport Museum
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
Fascinating museum offering an insight into the remarkable transport heritage of the city that pioneered the underground railway. Trains, iconic black cabs, scarlet double-decker buses and more.
Best for ages: 6+ | £20
National Portrait Gallery
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]
A pictorial ‘who’s who’ of British culture past and present, from royals to pop icons, showcasing hundreds of years of history.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
Somerset House
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Overview >
Experience
British Library
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
One of the largest libraries in the world, containing an estimated 170-200 million items. Priceless exhibits include the Magna Carta, Beowulf, Captain Cook’s journal, and the Lindisfarne Gospels.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
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Overview >
Royal Academy of Arts
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
The London Eye
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.9 miles]
Sky-scraping observation wheel taking passengers on a stately ride, 450 feet above the Thames.
Best for ages: Any | £31 | 30 minutes
