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Last updated: 02 March, 2023
Expert travel writer: Annabelle Thorpe

Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – a 9-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.

Note – London is a big place, and getting around London is both time-consuming and exhausting. Indeed, the secret to enjoying this incredible city is to minimise your travel, especially in cars, buses or trains.

Each of our itinerary days focuses on a different part of London, gathering the city’s bucket list attractions into smaller, more manageable areas that you can mostly navigate on foot. ‘Day 9’ is especially for families.

Editor note – Annabelle has not included specific recommendations of where to stay each day, as it’s best to base yourself in one place. See the ‘Where to stay’ section in our London destination guide.

Spend the morning with the Beefeaters seeing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. If you have time, take in spectacular views from the Tower Bridge Walkway.

After, head to the Sky Garden for lunch with a view, then wander along the road to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

After a few whispers in the whispering gallery, finish up with dinner at the Duck and Waffle or Sushi Samba (pre-book). It’s a short walk – and on the way pop into the magnificent Leadenhall Market.

Tower of London

London, United Kingdom (UK)

The world’s most notorious medieval fortress, rich in gruesome history dating back to the 11th century. Now home to the Crown Jewels and the enigmatic, colourful Beefeaters.

Best for ages: 4+ | £25

Spend the morning admiring world treasures at the British Museum. There are several good lunch options inside, including a pizzeria.

After lunch, stroll down to soak up the atmosphere of Covent Garden. Shop the boutiques and central market, watch the street performers and, if of interest, pop into the excellent Transport Museum.

For dinner, either book into Rules for British classics, or wander over to Chinatown, via Leicester Square, for Chinese street food. Finish the evening with a West End musical.

British Museum

London, United Kingdom (UK)

An awe-inspiring collection of more than seven million artefacts spanning two million years, from prehistory to the present day. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles and a granite head of King Rameses II.

Best for ages: 6+ | Free

London Transport Museum

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Fascinating museum offering an insight into the remarkable transport heritage of the city that pioneered the underground railway. Trains, iconic black cabs, scarlet double-decker buses and more.

Best for ages: 6+ | £20

A restaurant with empty red velvet seats
Experience

Rules

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Opened in 1798, this Covent Garden spot is London’s oldest restaurant, with red-velvet booths, olde-worlde pies and roast game.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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West End Musicals

London, United Kingdom (UK)

See the world’s best theatre and musical theatre, staged in 40 magnificent, history-laden venues known as the ‘West End’.

Best for ages: 8+ | £45 | 2-3 hours

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Rise early and head to Westminster Palace to see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey.

After, stop into Churchill’s War Rooms, also on Parliament Square, then walk through St James’ Park to Buckingham Palace. If you’re there 10.45am you’ll catch the Changing of the Guard.

Art lovers could stop by the Queen’s Gallery, either way wander through Green Park and stop for lunch (or afternoon tea) at either The Ritz or Fortnum & Mason.

Walk into Soho for dinner (many choices). Shoppers could detour to the uber-expensive streets around Bond Street, or the big flagship brands on Regent Street.

Churchill War Rooms

London, United Kingdom (UK)

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

Buckingham Palace

London, United Kingdom (UK)

The world’s most famous royal palace and home of the British monarchy since Queen Victoria, is a fairly bland affair. Go in summer months to see the State Rooms and gardens, and stay to see the Changing of the Guard with enjoyable, entertaining fanfare.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

Start the day feasting on some of the world’s best-loved works of art at the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, both in Trafalgar Square.

Art lovers could then head to the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House for more fine art, and afternoon tea at The Savoy Hotel.

Alternatively, walk across Waterloo Bridge to the ‘South Bank’ for a spin on the London Eye and the London Aquarium. Grab dinner at one of the many restaurants on the South Bank promenade.

Finish off with a play at the Brutalist National Theatre or a film at the IMAX.

National Gallery

London, United Kingdom (UK)

One of the world’s greatest collections of Western European paintings, with more than 2,300 works on display from Da Vinci to Monet.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Courtauld Gallery
Experience

Courtauld Gallery

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Located in the elegant surroundings of Somerset House, the Courtauld combines temporary exhibitions with a permanent collection including works by Manet and Van Gogh.

Best for ages: 18+ | £13

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8 best places for afternoon tea in London

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Introduced by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840 to stave off hunger until dinner, afternoon tea is one of England’s greatest traditions – and there is no better way to experience it than in one of London’s historic, grand dame hotels.

Best for ages: 13+ | £20 | 1-3 hours

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Start with an early morning stroll along the Thames Path alongside the river, then cross the Thames at the Millennium Bridge for entry into the Tate Modern.

Have lunch in their café, or wander over to Borough Market, London’s foodie central.

After lunch, either head to The Globe for an authentic Shakespeare Play (next door to the Tate Modern, but a short walk back from Borough Market). Book in for dinner at Oxo.

Or brave the original London Dungeons and the View the Shard. Book in for dinner at Oblix, in the Shard Tower.

Tate Modern

London, United Kingdom (UK)

This iconic, renovated power station on London’s South Bank showcases headline-grabbing Modern and contemporary art.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Borough Market

London, United Kingdom (UK)

London’s premier gastro hub, with over 100 stalls in a historic covered market, offering everything from artisan breads and cheeses to street food, hand-made chocolates and vegan cakes.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free

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

Take the tube to South Kensington, then it’s a few minutes’ walk to three world-class museums: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum – take your pick.

Jump in a cab and head up the road to Harrods for lunch in their excellent (but pricey) food court. Then head back for another of the museums, or spend the afternoon shopping with billionaires in Harrods or nearby Harvey Nichols.

Book in for a delicious home-cooked Italian dinner at Signor Sassi.

Natural History Museum

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Dinosaur skeletons, blue whales and chunks of meteorite set in a Romanesque, cathedral-like building – the world’s biggest and best such museum is a treasure trove of natural history.

Best for ages: 4+ | Free

Night time view of the department all lit up with lights
Experience

Harrods

London, United Kingdom (UK)

The world’s most famous department store – touristy, yes, but also glamorous, glitzy, and unmissable.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Take a cab or train to Kew Gardens and spend the morning enjoying the world’s first and largest botanical gardens.

Take a cab to the Richmond Harbour Hotel or Bingham River House for lunch, then catch a cab down the road to Hampton Court, for an afternoon touring the former home of Henry VIII.

Richmond Harbour Hotel

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A colourful and stylish ‘countryside retreat’ atop leafy Richmond Hill, overlooking the Thames and just 20 minutes from the city centre. Kew Gardens and Hampton Court are virtually next door.

Official star rating:

Bingham Riverhouse

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A lovely, tranquil retreat for those who want to dip in and out of central London. Richmond Park, Hampton Court and The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are on your doorstep.

Official star rating:

Take the Thames Clipper along the river to Greenwich, to visit the Royal Maritime Museums, the Greenwich Observatory and the Cutty Sark (all in close proximity). Have lunch at Greenwich Market.

Royal Observatory Greenwich

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren at the behest of Charles II back in 1675, this, the world’s oldest and most famous observatory, is where scientists pinned down the concept of time and space.

Best for ages: 10+ | £16

Many people enjoying the sun at the park
Experience

Greenwich Park

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Right on the Thames where the Cutty Sark museum ship is moored, you’ll find this grand royal park, home to 17th-century landscaping, the Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and one of London’s oldest deer enclosures.

Best for ages: Any | Free

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Cutty Sark

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Britain’s last surviving tea clipper, this beautifully-preserved vessel was the fastest and greatest ship of the late 1800s.

Best for ages: 4+ | £15

Hop on the train from Euston to Watford to visit the Harry Potter Experience.

On your return, fill young bellies as needed with a quick lunch at Nandos at Euston station, then hop on the tube (Victoria Line) a few stops to Oxford Circus. Walk down Regent’s Street to Hamley’s, the world’s most famous toy store.

Book in for dinner at the jungly-themed Rainforest Cafe, just further down the hill on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Harry Potter Studio Tour

WatfordLondon, United Kingdom (UK)

Tour the studios and see the real sets where it was filmed. Also now a Gringotts-worthy treasure trove of thousands of intricate artefacts, props, costumes, and sets used in the eight movies.

Best for ages: 4+ | £47

A street view with colourful awnings
Experience

Hamleys

London, United Kingdom (UK)

One of the oldest and best toy shops in the world, complete with costumed staff and huge-scale, techy toys, this is heaven for kids (grown-up ones too).

Best for ages: 4+ | Free

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