3 Days in London: The Perfect Long Weekend Itinerary

Looking for the perfect 3-day in London itinerary? Here’s exactly how I would spend 72 hours in the city if I were visiting for the first time. 

People often say that you can’t go wrong with Paris – I say the exact same about London. There’s something about the city that always intrigues me and no matter how many times I visit (and it must be into the hundreds by now), there’s always something new to see. 

London is such a dynamic city. It’s full of cultures from all over the world, has a fantastic history, and classic attractions that England is famous for. Every time I’ve visited London I’ve had the best time. 

So, if you’re planning on spending a long weekend in the English capital, here’s the perfect 72-hour London itinerary.

Day 1: Classic London Sights

For the first day in London, it’s time to tick all of the classic sights from London off of your bucket list. If this is your first time in London, you’re going to love this day! But, I’ve also thrown in a little hidden gem in there, so you’ll have the best of both worlds.

9:00 – Visit Buckingham Palace

Cost – £32 in advance and £35 on the day for State Room entry. £75 per person for a guided tour. Changing of the guard is free.

Start your day at one of the most magnificent buildings in England. Buckingham Palace is a must-visit on any London itinerary and whether you choose to go inside or stay outside and watch the changing of the guard, I can almost guarantee you’ll have a good time here.

As you may have guessed, there are two ways you can see Buckingham Palace – from the outside, or you can book a guided tour during the summer months and visit the palace rooms. If you don’t want to do the tour, you can just book entry to the State Rooms.

The tour is a fantastic way to gain insight into the British monarchy. Plus, the rooms are pretty spectacular, with lavish decorations, glittering chandeliers, and deep red carpets. 

If you’d rather not do the guided tour, you can also just admire the palace from the grounds. Be sure to go for a walk around the gardens. You can also see the Wellington Arch, and the Victoria Memorial, and go for a walk in St James’s Park as well.

✅This is one of the most impressive places in London.

11:00 – Explore Westminster Abbey

Cost – £29 per person

From Buckingham Palace, walk to Westminster. The walk will take around 15 minutes. This part of London is famous for its beautiful buildings and the abbey is definitely on that list! 

I always admire the view from the front but also be sure to walk around the back and see the gardens as well. 

To enter the Abbey is pretty expensive, but I recommend it because it’s such an essential part of British history. Countless Royal Weddings and ceremonies have taken place here and the inside is insanely beautiful. 

If you do decide to go into the Abbey, I recommend booking tickets in advance because they can sell out, especially in peak seasons.

✅To see Westminster Abbey, you’ll need to book tickets in advance.

12:00 – Admire Big Ben

Cost – Free

From here, you’ll reach possibly the most famous sight in London – Big Ben.

Located at the north of the Palace of Westminster, whilst you can’t climb the tower, this is definitely one photo that you’re going to want to take during your 3 days in London. 

12:30 – Walk Across Westminster Bridge

Cost – Free

From there, cross over Westminster Bridge. This part of London will be quite busy. The Bridge is one of the most photographed spots in the city and you’ll find the famous black cabs, double-decker buses, and views of the magnificent Big Ben. 

You can also see views of the London Eye on the other side of the Bridge and many top London attractions along the waterfront like the London Dungeons and the Aquarium. 

Top Tip: If you head across the bridge and down the stairs opposite St Thomas Hospital Garden, you’ll find one of the most beautiful places to photograph Big Ben.

13:00 – Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel

Cost – Free

This is one of the best hidden gems in London and probably something you don’t often see on a London itinerary. But if you love funky street art and don’t mind a little 10-minute walk, I recommend a quick stop here. 

Located beneath Waterloo, the tunnel is entirely covered in graffiti. It’s a wonderful photography spot and definitely something your average tourist in London misses. It’s also known as the ‘Banksy Tunnel’ and stretches for nearly 300 meters. 

It’s basically a free art gallery in London and a great way to experience the city’s street art culture.

13:30 – Ride the London Eye

Cost – £32 per person for the regular ticket, £44 per person for the fast track ticket, or £59 for the champagne experience.

You can’t spend three days in London and not go on the London Eye. The magnificent Ferris Wheel is located on the south bank of the Thames. It used to be the tallest wheel in the world and stands at an impressive height of 443 feet.

From the top, you can see panoramic views over London. You can also see many of the city’s great landmarks including St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. 

A ride on the London Eye will take around 30 minutes, but you’ll usually need much longer than that here as the queues can be pretty long. You can end up waiting around an hour here sometimes before you even get in the capsule. 

As such, I seriously recommend buying tickets in advance. At least then you’ll be in the skip-the-line queue instead of the buy-on-the-day one! 

If you want to upgrade your experience on the London Eye, you can also buy a champagne ride with a glass of bubbly and a carriage to yourself. Perfect for a special occasion! 

✅This is one London attraction you won’t want to miss!

15:30 – Explore Trafalgar Square

Cost – Free

After your ride on the London Eye, head 17 minutes across the Thames to Trafalgar Square.

Located in the heart of London, this is a very vibrant part of the city. It’s also pretty historic with the dominating Nelson’s Column in the centre and the grand National Gallery building right next to it. 

You’ll also find a few curious attractions here like the smallest police station in the UK and the four majestic lion statues and the iconic fountains add to the vibe of the square. 

You’ll quite often find things going on here from the Christmas markets in the winter months to performances in the summer. It’s a great place to explore or just hang out for a while.

16:15 – Visit Picadilly Circus

Cost – Free

From Trafalgar, the walk to Picadilly Circus is just 10 minutes and this is another of the classic squares to visit in London. It’s London’s version of Times Square in New York with its neon billboards, flashing lights, and iconic Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain.

This bustling junction is located in London’s West End and the surrounding area is always super busy. You’ll find black cabs whizzing by along with double-decker buses, theatres, shops, restaurants, and crowds during the day or the night.

It’s a really vibrant place to visit and an essential spot to see during 3 days in London. From here, you can easily access some of the city’s most famous attractions, such as Regent Street, Leicester Square, and the lively Soho district. Or catch a West End show!

17:00 – Leicester Square

Cost – Free

From Picadilly, head to Leicester Square, just a short 4-minute walk from Picadilly.

The thing I most remember from visiting Leicester Square as a child is the M&M World, which I used to absolutely love. However, there’s much more to this iconic square than chocolates!

Also located in the heart of the West End, Leicester Square is mostly known as the city’s best theatre and cinema spot. It’s surrounded by grand cinemas, and historic theatres and often hosts film premiers and fantastic performances.

The atmosphere is always buzzing and you’ll often find street performers and various acts going on as well. If you fancy a bite to eat, Leicester Square is surrounded by some pretty nice restaurants (I love the LSQ Rooftop restaurant).

You’ll also find some of the best Christmas Markets in England here in the winter months.

17:45 – Covent Garden

Cost – Free

Next on this London itinerary is Covent Garden. Just 6 minutes on foot from Leicester Square, this is such a beautiful part of London. It used to be a fruit and veg market and you can kind of tell by the structure of the buildings here, especially the covered section. 

These days, you’ll find a selection of restaurants, boutique shops selling quirky, homemade goods, and cute cafes. Outside, there’s always an array of street performers and Covent Garden is gorgeous during the winter months too. 

Don’t forget to admire the gorgeous glass ceiling while you’re there!

18:30 – Evening Entertainment

Cost – Depends how many drinks you have! 🙂

There are so many great places you can go during the evening in London, so I’m going to leave this section a little open-ended so you can decide for yourself. 

From Covent Garden, I recommend walking through Neal’s Yard. This is a cute and colourful area of London with narrow alleyways and multi-coloured buildings. 

From there, head into Soho, where you’ll find a really great selection of things to do. There are some great restaurants here, and a range of bars and clubs if you fancy a night out in the city. 

For dinner, you could head to Chinatown, where you’ll find a huge selection of restaurants. I also really love Kingly Court, a quirky food court with a mixture of restaurants and bars and an open food-court-style dining area on the ground floor.

Also in Soho, you can explore the Crystal Maze, wander down Carnaby Street, or walk to Swingers Crazy Golf (which is so much fun!). There’s loads to do in this part of London and I’m pretty sure you’re going to have a super fun evening.

Day 1 total activities cost – From £93 – £163 depending on which options you choose.

Day 2: The Tower of London and Surrounding Area

For the second day of your 3 days in London, we’re going to head a bit further down the Thames. This is still a super popular part of London, but we’re going to combine some of the popular attractions with more of those lesser-known gems.

9:00 – Explore the Tower of London

Cost – £35 per person

I recommend getting to the Tower of London first thing in the morning because the queues can be pretty massive. However, you can’t go to London and not see this famous spot. 

This fantastic fortress is located on the north bank of the River Thames. Originally constructed by William the Conquerer, it has had many different roles over the centuries. This includes a royal palace, a treasury, a prison, and even an execution site!

As well as learning all of the curious and sometimes pretty gruesome history of the tower, you can also admire the spectacular Crown Jewels, see centuries-old armour and weaponry, and climb up the White Tower, the oldest part of the building. 

Tickets here are £35, so definitely not the cheapest thing to do in London, and I recommend booking in advance again. However, it’s well worth a visit and you won’t regret doing this.

✅This is the only way to see the Crown Jewels in London.

12:00 – Walk Across Tower Bridge

Cost – £13.40 per person

Once you’ve left the Tower of London, head back along the waterfront to Tower Bridge. Often mistaken for London Bridge, this iconic drawbridge is one of the most photographed places in London. 

Once again, if you want to go inside, I recommend booking tickets in advance. We made the mistake of thinking this wouldn’t be too busy. We were wrong and ended up waiting in queue for at least 40 minutes. But, at least we managed to get inside in the end!

Once you’re inside, you can explore the rooms, read all about the history of the bridge and how it was built, and also walk across the glass floor and see all the cars and double-decker buses whizzing by underneath. 

Top Tip: If you head to the left of the bridge, find the Girl with the Dolphin Statue, for one of the most iconic photo spots in London. There are also several restaurants around here where you can grab lunch.

13:30 – Wander Around St Dunstan’s Church

Cost – Free

From Tower Bridge, this next stop is only a 7-minute walk. It’s a gorgeous place tucked down an alleyway in central London. It’s also a photographer’s paradise. 

St Dunstan’s used to be a church but is now a crumbling ruin that’s been turned into a beautiful garden. You can still see where the church used to be and wander around the walls, climb the stone steps and look through the dramatic arched windows. 

14:15 – Admire the Views from Sky Garden

Cost – Free

This next spot is also a garden, but it’s slightly different from St Dunstan’s because it’s located 160 meters in the air! Sky Garden used to be London’s best-kept secret, but these days it’s become pretty popular and I recommend booking tickets in advance.

Tickets are completely free, but they only let so many people in at a time, so you’ll end up waiting in a long line if you don’t book (another mistake I made when visiting London!). 

Once you reach the top, you’ll find a tropical garden, a couple of bars, seating areas, and a great viewpoint over the city. You can see across the Thames, the Shard, and Tower Bridge from the top. So, grab a glass of wine and admire the views!

15:30 – Visit St Paul’s Cathedral

Cost – £25 per person

Next, head to St Paul’s Cathedral, which is around a 15-minute walk from Sky Garden. This magnificent building is completely beautiful with its domed roof which rises above the London skyline, it’s another symbol of the city. 

Built after the Great Fire of London, there’s a lot of history in the Cathedral. The interior is very impressive with Baroque architecture, sculptures, marble columns, and beautiful mosaics. 

Of course, the best views are from the top and you can see panoramic views across London. However, this is the first cathedral I encountered in Europe that I had to pay to enter. 

Tickets cost £25 per person and will get you access to the Cathedral Floor, the Crypt and the Dome Galleries and also come with an audio guide. If you want to avoid the queues, I recommend booking in advance.

✅This is one of the most beautiful buildings in London.

18:00 – Cross Millenium Bridge

Cost – Free

Harry Potter fans will love this place! It’s one of the most famous bridges in London, made even more famous by its inclusion in the Half-Blood Prince where the Death Eaters crashed it into the Thames in the opening scenes of the film.

You’re not likely to get toppled into the river when you walk across this, but it’s certainly an interesting thought! 

Whether you’re a Potterhead or not, this bridge offers great views of London. You can see the Tate Modern on one side and, once you reach the other bank, look back, and you’ll see fantastic views of St Paul’s Cathedral in the distance. 

19:00 – Enjoy Cocktails at The Shard

Cost – £28.50 per person or £45 per person for the champagne package.

Last but not least, head to the Shard for the end of the second day on this itinerary. This is such a fantastic place to watch the sunset in London. 

I remember coming here for my birthday once, hoping to get a good sunset. Unfortunately, I was born in January, so all I got was rain and clouds, but fingers crossed it isn’t raining when you visit because the views are truly beautiful. 

Day 2 total activities cost – £102 – £118, depending on which Shard package you pick.

Day 3: The London Boroughs

On the final day of this London itinerary, we’re going to head a little outside of the main city centre to some of the surrounding boroughs.

This is much more of a green day and also more of a romantic place to visit in England. We’ll also be exploring a few of the city’s gorgeous parks and gardens.

9:00 – Climb to the Top of Primrose Hill

Cost – Free

Start your morning up on Primrose Hill. This is one of the prettiest spots for panoramic views over the London skyline, plus, it’s nice to get out of the city centre and explore the park. 

From the top of the hill, you can see many of the iconic buildings that dot London’s skyline including the London Eye, the Gherkin, and the Shard. There’s also a plaque at the top which tells you exactly what you’re looking at.

You’ll often see locals out here walking their dogs, sitting on the benches and enjoying their morning before the mad rush to the office. It’s a great spot to relax and take in the views and it’s also very pretty in autumn when the leaves change colour. 

10:00 – Explore Camden Lock and Market

Cost – Free

Next, head down Primrose Hill to Camden. This is one of my favourite areas of London and is such a stark contrast to the peaceful vibes of the previous stop. 

In Camden, you’ll find busy streets, brightly coloured buildings covered with artwork and sculptures, lots of shops, and so many street food stalls. These will all lead to the market, one of the best cheap places to eat in London. 

I used to come here with my mother when I was little. I remember sitting by the river with my big box of Chinese food, watching the boats go by. And it hasn’t changed much!

There is so much great food here. You can find noodles, pizza, sushi boxes, southern fried chicken, juicy burgers, smoothies, churros, and so much more. As well as the food market, you can also find jewellery, clothing, household items, ornaments, and a little bit of everything!

12:30 – Visit Notting Hill

Cost – Free

From Camden, head to Notting Hill, another of the most beautiful areas of London. I recommend taking the tube to get here as the walk is over an hour long. The train will still take a good 30 minutes, but it’ll get you there quicker than on foot. 

You’ll need to take the train from Candem Town to King’s Cross. From there, take the Circle Line to Ladbrook Grove and Notting Hil is around a 4-minute walk. Once you arrive, there are several places I recommend visiting. 

Stop at St Lukes Mews to see the colourful pink and blue houses, wander through Portobello Road to see yet more colourful houses, browse the stalls at Portobello Road Market, and see the iconic Alice’s Antique Shop. Lancaster Road is also very pretty.

You’ll probably need around an hour to explore the streets of Notting Hill. You could also grab a coffee at Farm Girl.

14:00 – Wander Around Kyoto Garden

Cost – Free

Next head to one of the prettiest parks in London. Kyoto Garden is around a 20-minute walk from Notting Hill. The tube actually makes it longer, so it’s better to go on foot.

It’s a truly beautiful place inspired by Japanese gardens and you can easily see this in the design. You’ll find a pretty carp pond, stepping stones, and little wooden bridges. There’s also ornamental decoration, colourful trees, and a small waterfall. 

When I visited here, I really didn’t feel like I was still in a big city!

14:45 – See the Churchill Arms

Cost – Free to view!

Once you’ve explored the beautiful garden, head to the prettiest pub in London. The Churchill Arms is such an iconic spot and a great place to grab a drink in London.

The pub is mostly famous for being decked out in flowers and flags from head to toe most of the year. It honestly looks more like a decoration than a pub. Even in the winter months, you’ll find it elaborately decorated.

It’s a great place for a little pit stop and a pint!

15:30 – Visit the Natural History Museum

Cost – Free

This final stop in London is going to take up the rest of the day, but it’s one of the best places to visit – plus, it’s completely free. To get there, take the Circle Line from Notting Hill Gate to South Kensington – the journey should only take around 15 minutes. 

Despite being a completely free attraction, I once again recommend booking tickets to this museum. The queues can get quite long, especially on weekends, and you may not have time to see everything if you have to queue. 

Once you’re inside, there’s a lot to see starting with the giant whale sculpture when you enter the museum. There are all sorts of exhibits from British wildlife to dinosaurs to human evolution and even outer space! It’s fascinating.

I think we spent around 2 hours in the Natural History Museum exploring all the exhibits and wandering around, so this should take you to closing time.

And that’s the end of your 3 days in London! 

Day 3 total activities cost – £0! Plus spending money for the markets!

How to get around London

For most of this itinerary, you’ll be able to walk as I’ve deliberately designed it to be done on foot.

However, depending on which hotel in London you’re staying at, you may have to get the tube to the start of each day, particularly on day 3 which is the furthest from the city centre.

Is 3 days in London expensive?

While it can be made affordable by the amount of free attractions, London is definitely not the cheapest city to visit.

At the end of each day here, I’ve outlined exactly how much it will cost to do everything on this itinerary. You can, of course, skip some of the more expensive things if you’d rather save the cash.

Overall, I’d recommend budgeting around £100 per day.

Is three days in London enough?

Yes, 3 days is enough to get a taste of what London has to offer. You can see all of the city’s iconic attractions in 3 days plus squeeze in a few hidden gems as well.

Nonetheless, will you see everything in the city? I’ll be honest, no. You’ll need around 4 days in London, or even 5-6 days in London to come close to this and even then, there will be more secret spots to discover and some great day trips close to the city.

London is vast and there is just too much to do to squeeze it all in a long weekend. 

But, if you only have a limited time in London, or you are just spending a few days in the city before exploring other cities in England, this will give you a great taster for the English capital. And, it will almost definitely make you want to come back for more!

👉 Need somewhere to stay? Check out my 9 favourite places to stay in London!