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:
Tate Modern
Credit: Kamira / Shutterstock.com
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Like MoMA in New York or the Pompidou Centre in Paris, London’s Tate Modern is an energetic and uniquely site-specific art space. This former power station beside the Thames houses a permanent and rotating exhibition of contemporary art that gets London talking and walking around its inventive exhibition spaces.
From Damien Hirst to Monet, Rothko to Miro, Lichtenstein to Warhol, the treasures in this 1940s industrial construction are legendary. The main galleries feature a rotating selection of the 60,000-piece permanent collection.
But the big buzz is usually about its colossal Turbine Hall, which hosts temporary, site-specific installations from big names like Louise de Bourgeois, Anish Kapoor and Bruce Nauman.
Don't miss
Look for highlights: Hirst’s Mother and Child Divided, Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych and the jewel of the Tate Modern – the brooding, Mark Rothko room of wine-red. paintings.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
London 5-day Itinerary
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Overview >Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is Southwark (Jubilee Line). Alternatively, get off at St Paul’s (Central Line) and enjoy the views as you cross the Millennium Bridge to the gallery.
These days, ticket must be booked in advance online so check before you go. You’ll definitely need to book ahead for the big exhibitions. Expect crowds if an installation has just opened in the Turbine Hall or temporary galleries – however, this is also the most exciting time to visit.
Free 45-minute guided tours run daily at 11am and 12pm. No booking is required.
When to do it
The gallery is open all year round, seven days a week.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
The Tate Modern London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour
London
Modern art lover or not, no traveler’s trip to London is complete without a visit to the iconic Tate Modern. On this 2 hour exclusive guided...
€80 | Rating 5 / 5 [8 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
The Tate Modern London Guided Museum Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl Max
London
Modern art lover or not, no traveler’s trip to London is complete without a visit to the iconic Tate Modern. On this 2 hour semi-private (8 ...
€94 | Rating 5 / 5 [11 ratings]
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Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
Right on the Thames, with views of St Pauls across the water, this cleverly-converted former shipping office has become one of the capital’s grandest and most glam hotels.
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Shangri-La at the Shard
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
Housed in London’s newest landmark, the Shangri-La offers the best views in town, along with fine dining, innovative cocktails and a lofty infinity pool.
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The Savoy Hotel
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]
This opulent Art Deco hotel, right in the buzzing West End, is discreet, elegant, and full of A-list stories.
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Marriott County Hall
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.6 miles]
Get a front-row seat for the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and a sparkling stretch of the River Thames, at this Grade-II listed Westminster waterfront address. Right in the city center, it’s walking distance to the major sites.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 miles]
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The London Eye
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]
Sky-scraping observation wheel taking passengers on a stately ride, 450 feet above the Thames.
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SEA LIFE London Aquarium
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Round-ups that include this experience
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Multiple countries
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