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:
The London Eye
Credit: Photos BrianScantlebury / Shutterstock.com
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
One of the world’s highest observation wheels, the Eye gives you a gentle, rotating ride 450ft above the London skyline. On a clear day, the glass capsules have views stretching 25 miles across the capital, with iconic London architecture – from Big Ben to the Tower of London – laid out directly underneath.
This iconic bit of engineering and its dazzling views has charmed even hard-to-please Londoners. There’s no better way to get acquainted with the lie of the land.
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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 from: £31
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: +
When: All year around
Duration: 30 minutes
Getting there & doing it
The Eye is open all year round, seven days a week, with later opening hours in July and August. Dusk is a magical time to board, for sunsets and sparkling city lights. School holidays, particularly July to August, bring big queues (peaking around 11am-3pm).
When to do it
The nearest Underground stop is Waterloo (Northern, Jubilee, and Bakerloo lines).
It’s possible to buy tickets on the day, but booking online is strongly recommended. Several ticket types allow you to jump the queues, which can be formidable. Book a ‘guided tour’ to get commentary on the landmarks and priority boarding. ‘Flexi’ tickets are pricier but mean a shorter wait time, and they don’t tie you to timed boarding.
Private capsule hire comes with Champagne and canapés, wine tastings and other optional goodies, including a full three-course meal. Each ‘flight’ time lasts about 30 minutes.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
London Eye River Cruise
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London Eye Standard Ticket
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Fast Track for a perfect London Eye experience! With fast track entry for your flight in a shared capsule, you get to skip the majority of t...
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Best of London Including Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, with a Cream Tea or London Eye Upgrade
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See the best that England’s capital has to offer on a full-day city tour of London! Explore St Paul’s Cathedral with a guide, then make a ph...
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Marriott County Hall
London, United Kingdom (UK)
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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The Savoy Hotel
London, United Kingdom (UK)
This opulent Art Deco hotel, right in the buzzing West End, is discreet, elegant, and full of A-list stories.
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The Resident Covent Garden
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Low prices without sacrificing style or comfort are the order of the day at The Resident’s smart Covent Garden address.
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Henrietta Hotel London
London, United Kingdom (UK)
A stylish boutique hotel with a standout bar, superb London Eye views and Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House right outside the door.
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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
The London Dungeon
London, United Kingdom (UK)
A gallows humour romp through London’s most gruesome periods of history, encountering its shadiest characters, via live action, rides and special effects.
Best for ages: 12+ | £27
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Watch Prime Minister’s Questions and tour the House of Lords within these neo-Gothic buildings by the Thames.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
National Theatre
London, United Kingdom (UK)
From classic drama to musical comedy, the National’s three stages (the Olivier, Lyttleton and Dorfman) epitomise the best of British theatre. Boundary-pushing, and world-class quality.
Best for ages: 13+ | £45
Trooping the Colour
London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-famous, incomparable military parade dating back to the 17th century, involving thousands of soldiers, horses and musicians in full regalia, occurs each June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 2.5 hours
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Experience
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
London, United Kingdom (UK)
London’s impressive aquarium, set on the South Bank, home to hundreds of species of fish and a selection of sharks.
Best for ages: Any | £27
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Somerset House
London, United Kingdom (UK)
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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Royal Academy of Arts
London, United Kingdom (UK)
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 View From The Shard
London, United Kingdom (UK)
Step into Renzo Piano’s iconic Shard, and ride up to the 72nd floor, to stand 800ft above London for the loftiest views in the capital.
Best for ages: 10+ | £25