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.
Bucket list experience:
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
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.
United Kingdom (UK)
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United Kingdom (UK)
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
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This opulent Art Deco hotel, right in the buzzing West End, is discreet, elegant, and full of A-list stories.
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Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.2 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
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London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]
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Round-ups that include this experience
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.