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:
Tower of London
Last updated: 02 March, 2023
The Tower of London is one of the UK’s most iconic and impressive historical attractions. Yes, it’s stuffed with tourists but for good reason: inside, you’ll get up close to the Crown Jewels, including the Queen’s crown and the armour of the great Tudor King, Henry VIII. Its White Tower is the oldest intact building in London, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
The resident Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) give excellent free tours of the various wings, uncovering some gruesome stories from the Tower’s role as a prison in the Middle Ages. This is where ‘traitors’ were executed – the water gate entrance, built by Edward I, witnessed a stream of prisoners enter the Tower for execution, including Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More and Catherine Howard. The unfortunate’s head would be displayed on a spike at London Bridge afterwards.
Look out for the resident ravens – legend has it that if they desert the tower, the kingdom will fall.
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Overview >Price from: £25
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is Tower Hill (District & Circle line). If you’re coming by river bus, get off at Millennium Tower Pier.
Save a spot and avoid the entry queues by booking tickets in advance on the Tower of London website. The Beefeaters (more politely called Yeoman Warders) are integral to any Tower visit; their free tours begin at the gates every half hour. There is no formal ticking in or out: just join a group.
When to do it
It’s open all year round, seven days a week.
Summer holiday season (July to August) can be unbearably packed, as are weekends. Go during the week if possible, and arrive before 9am to watch as the military guards and Yeoman Warders unlock and open the hefty wooden doors. You’ll also score the best viewing spots of the Crown Jewels.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
CitizenM Tower of London
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.2 miles]
An affordable design hotel overlooking the Tower of London, with pod-style rooms and a hip bar and restaurant.
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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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Batty Langley’s
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
An elegantly eccentric Georgian period piece on the edge of the City of London, with decadent rooms and an under-the-radar vibe.
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Boundary London
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.8 miles]
See and be seen at Terence Conran’s ambitious but intimate design hotel in fashionable Shoreditch, in the heartland of exciting street markets, galleries and bars.
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