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:
Westminster Abbey
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Despite religious wars and changing affiliations through the centuries, Westminster Abbey has been the traditional place of royal coronations, and the resting place of monarchs – since William the Conqueror arrived in 1066. In recent times, the Abbey has hosted the funeral of Princess Diana and the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.
The current building was built on the orders of King Henry III in 1245. It has also become a final resting place for prominent citizens – poets, actors, scientists and military leaders. It contains the remains of 3,300 notables, including 16 monarchs and 8 Prime Ministers.
Today, you can see the Coronation Chair, a throne where all British monarchs (bar two) have been crowned since 1066, Henry VII’s chapel, and towers built by Sir Christopher Wren and his protege, Nicholas Hawksmoor. You can pay your respects to the British pillar of science, Sir Isaac Newton. Poets’ Corner, in the South Transept, is a shrine to Britain’s most famous poets and writers, many of whom are buried or commemorated here. The tradition started when Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English Literature, was interred here.
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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: 18+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee Lines). Visiting the abbey to pray or attend a service is free, but you’ll need a ticket to see its museum, cloisters, gardens and St Margaret’s Church annexe.
Tickets come with an excellent free audio tour. Verger-led tours are also possible, covering the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the Royal Tombs, Poets’ Corner, the Cloisters and Nave.
When to do it
The abbey is open all year round, seven days a week. Sunday is open for worship only. One of the most memorable times to visit is during a service, notably evensong, when you can see how the building’s acoustics help inspire religious epiphanies.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Westminster Abbey Tour and optional visit to Houses of Parliament in London
London
Get to grips with Britain’s royal and political history on this tour of Westminster Abbey and if you select the option, to the Houses of Par...
£39 | Rating 4.07 / 5 [238 ratings]
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Westminster Walking Tour & Westminster Abbey Entry
London
Explore London’s famous Westminster Area (Buckingham Palace, Westminster & Big Ben & 20 other top sights!) on a 3 hour walking tour.
Then ...
£59 | Rating 4.65 / 5 [252 ratings]
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Skip the Line into Houses of Parliament & Westminster Abbey Fully-Guided Tour
London
Step into the heart of the British democracy with the only fully-guided visit through Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. With a...
£109 | Rating 4.61 / 5 [59 ratings]
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London In a Day: Tower of London, Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard
London
Immerse yourself in the quintessential sights of London on this comprehensive, fully-guided walking tour of the city’s most popular attracti...
£136 | Rating 4.80 / 5 [138 ratings]
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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)[0.6 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.
Official star rating:
The Hub Covent Garden
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
A super-affordable, tech-savvy stay in very centre of the capital between The Strand and Covent Garden, with a buzzy café, popular with locals.
Official star rating:
The Resident Covent Garden
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
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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The Savoy Hotel
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.3 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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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
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.2 miles]
Watch Prime Minister’s Questions and tour the House of Lords within these neo-Gothic buildings by the Thames.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Churchill War Rooms
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]
A secret subterranean bunker from which Churchill directed operations during WWII – exactly as it was during the blitz of 1945 – offering a fascinating historical insight to the war and Churchill himself.
Best for ages: 8+ | £25
Trooping the Colour
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
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
The London Dungeon
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
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
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Experience
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
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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The London Eye
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
Sky-scraping observation wheel taking passengers on a stately ride, 450 feet above the Thames.
Best for ages: Any | £31 | 30 minutes
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
Experience
Somerset House
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 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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Round-ups that include this experience
101 World’s greatest historic buildings
Multiple countries
The great civilisations of the past have left a legacy of constructions that still stand out and inspire. Built without the wonders of 20th-century technology, many are also monumental feats of engineering; others offer such grace and beauty, that they’ll literally take your breath away.
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