In the present day I wish to carry you my London itinerary for 3 days. Spending 72 hours within the UK capital will mean you can get a really feel for the highlights of the town and offer you an excellent overview of what London has to supply. From the primary sights to the native areas, London has no scarcity of issues to entertain guests. Learn on for the official A Woman in London itinerary.
London Itinerary for 3 Days
Lots of people ask me to advocate issues to do in London. To assist them, I’ve been sharing totally different London itineraries on my weblog. The posts have been so widespread that as we speak I wish to add my 3 day London itinerary to the combo. I hope you discover inspiration in it.
72 hours in London is an effective period of time to see the foremost sights and dig a bit deeper into the native aspect of the town. Should you’ve seen my 2-day London itinerary you’ll have already gotten a glimpse.
Whether or not you wish to uncover the town’s iconic landmarks, discover the finest buying streets in London, eat on the high eating places, or delve into the metropolis’s historical past, you’ll discover quite a bit to get enthusiastic about whilst you’re visiting London.
My 3 day itinerary covers quite a lot of issues to do and see within the UK capital. It’s very best for first-time guests and those that haven’t traveled to London shortly.
It offers you an excellent introduction to the primary issues to do and see within the metropolis and tempt you to come back again and discover extra of London on a future journey.
The place to Keep in London
On the subject of lodging in London, you haven’t any scarcity of choices. Whether or not you wish to keep in a lodge or hire an condo, the town has quite a lot of nice locations to select from.
Given the dimensions and scope of the UK capital, basing your self in or close to the town middle is an effective factor to do. You possibly can see my weblog posts concerning the finest space to remain in London, the finest accommodations on your fashion, and quirky accommodations for extra concepts.
I’ve even revealed a weblog submit about the perfect pubs with rooms in London. It’s an excellent one to take a look at in case you’re searching for one thing distinctive and totally different.
It’s also possible to discover offers and e book lodging in London right here. With so many choices, you’re certain to discover a place that ticks all of your containers.
The way to Pack for 3 Days in London
When you’ve determined when to go to the town, you’ll have to pack for London. Relying while you come, that can imply various things.
I’ve drawn up packing lists for winter, summer time, autumn, and spring that may aid you resolve what to put on in London. I’ve additionally created a information to the best way to pack for London all 12 months.
Should you’re flying to the UK, you possibly can take a look at my long-haul packing record and my information to the best way to pack with only a carry-on (I used to be interviewed by The New York Instances concerning the latter).
Day 1 in London
You possibly can kick off the primary morning of your 3 day London itinerary by getting espresso and meals. Whether or not you select one of many finest espresso retailers in London or one of many high locations for breakfast, you possibly can’t go mistaken.
When you’ve eaten, you’ll be prepared to start out an enormous day of discovering the town. My favourite place to do it’s Westminster.
I like to recommend going to Buckingham Palace first. This well-known royal palace attracts guests from all around the world, and it’s a should on any first-time London itinerary.
You possibly can time your journey to observe the Altering the Guard ceremony (it occurs a number of days per week), or simply admire the monarch’s London residence from outdoors the gates.
Should you occur to be right here throughout the seasonal opening, you may as well take a tour of Buckingham Palace. It should mean you can see the state rooms and gardens whilst you’re visiting. You possibly can e book tickets right here.
From the palace you can also make your approach by means of St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade and Westminster. This space is house to a number of the metropolis’s most iconic landmarks. It’s what many individuals consider after they hear the phrase “London”.
Westminster Abbey is superb to see up shut, Large Ben (Elizabeth Tower) is gorgeous, and the Homes of Parliament are awe-inspiring. When you have time, you possibly can tour the abbey and parliament. You possibly can e book tickets right here.
It’s also possible to go on my free self-guided stroll in Westminster if you wish to see the realm past the huge sights. The route will present you the aspect streets and hidden areas locals love right here.
From Westminster, you possibly can stroll throughout the River Thames to get to the South Financial institution. It’s the perfect space for admiring the views from the London Eye, exploring the e book market, or taking within the scene alongside the river.
You possibly can e book London Eye tickets right here (you’ll have to e book effectively upfront, because it sells out).
There are all the time road performers, pop-ups, meals vans, festivals, and different leisure happening right here, so it’s enjoyable to wander round and see what’s occurring.
From the South Financial institution, it’s an entertaining stroll alongside the river to Tate Fashionable and Borough Market. They’re two extra of the town’s most well-known landmarks.
Tate Fashionable is a world-class artwork museum, and the truth that it’s free means it’s straightforward to go inside for as a lot (or as little) time as you wish to. There are panoramic views from the highest flooring, too.
Borough Market is simply the spot to seek out culinary inspiration and have one thing scrumptious for lunch. It’s price spending a little bit of time wandering round to absorb the colours and smells of the stalls.
From Borough Market you possibly can cross London Bridge to achieve the Metropolis of London, absorbing the views of Tower Bridge as you go.
From the towering dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the hulking type of the Tower of London, this a part of the UK capital accommodates quite a lot of architectural historical past. You possibly can take my self-guided stroll within the Metropolis of London if you wish to see the highlights.
After leaving the Metropolis, you will get on the tube and journey the Central line from Financial institution to Notting Hill Gate.
Notting Hill is understood for its vibrant colours, and every part from Portobello Highway Market to the retailers, eating places, and mews is pleasant.
My free self-guided stroll in Notting Hill is an effective way to get an summary of the realm, from the highlights to the quiet streets.
When the solar begins to set, take the tube to the West Finish. You possibly can have dinner in Soho or Covent Backyard while you arrive.
There are a great deal of locations to eat and drink in these areas, and Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Sq. and are all the time thrilling within the evenings.
You possibly can see my suggestions for eating places in London in case you need assistance discovering a spot to go for dinner.
If you wish to finish your night in fashion, take the London Underground to South Kensington and take a look at the nightlife scene round Walton Avenue and the King’s Highway in Chelsea.
Alternatively, you possibly can take an open-top bus tour to get extra of an summary of the town. It’s a simple approach to uncover what London has to supply in a brief period of time. You possibly can e book tickets right here.
Day 2 in London
You possibly can start the second morning of your itinerary for 3 days in London with espresso or breakfast in Fitzrovia or Bloomsbury.
After consuming you possibly can stroll over to the British Museum. It’s a treasure trove of antiquities from all around the world, and it’s nice to go to within the morning when there are fewer crowds.
The British Museum is sufficiently big to take up a complete day of sightseeing, so that you’ll wish to stick with the highlights (the Egyptian rooms and Rosetta Stone are musts for first-time guests). There’s free entry, so you possibly can keep for as little or so long as you’d prefer to.
Whenever you’ve completed going by means of the gathering, you can also make your approach into the museum’s Nice Courtroom for a light-weight lunch within the cafe or restaurant.
Alternatively, Charlotte Avenue is a brief stroll away and there are nice eating places on it. It’s one of many finest locations to eat close to London’s high sights.
After lunch, proceed the second of your 3 days in London by boarding the tube and taking it to South Kensington. There are three main museums right here, and I normally select one.
I like the V&A for its world-class artwork and design (and its superb cafe), the Pure Historical past Museum for its beautiful structure, and the Science Museum for its stimulating displays.
After exploring a museum, you possibly can stroll as much as Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The formal backyard by Kensington Palace is one among my favourite inexperienced areas within the UK capital, and with 3 days in London, meandering by means of its vine arches is a should.
The Serpentine lake in Hyde Park is all the time enjoyable to wander round, and the Diana Memorial Fountain is price seeing as effectively.
Whenever you attain Hyde Park Nook, you’ll be able to relaxation your toes. There’s no higher approach to do it than by indulging in afternoon tea. There are many good choices within the space, so that you’re spoiled for alternative (simply make sure that to e book effectively upfront).
From The Dorchester to The Lanesborough, The Berkeley to the Mandarin Oriental, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to Claridge’s, The Goring to The Halkin, The Ritz, Brown’s, and Fortnum & Mason, this a part of London is full of afternoon tea choices.
Because the solar begins to set, proceed the second of your 3 days in London by strolling or taking the tube to the West Finish to observe a present. There are many musicals, performs, and comedy acts you possibly can see on any given evening in London.
Town has a world-class theater scene, so whether or not you’re considering going to a musical in Soho or a drama in Covent Backyard, there’s all the time one thing thrilling to see.
Should you’re hungry after the present, you possibly can benefit from the late opening hours of lots of the West Finish’s eating places.
Should you’re within the temper for nightlife in a while, there’s no scarcity of choices on this a part of the town. My favourite is Cahoots, a travel-themed bar in Kingly Courtroom. It’s a enjoyable spot to finish your day.
Day 3 in London
The ultimate day of my 3 day London itinerary begins with a visit to Covent Backyard. You possibly can stroll by means of the well-known piazza to see what’s on within the markets and retailers.
Afterwards you possibly can discover the realm round Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard, and St Martin’s Courtyard. There are all the time loads of locations to duck into and vivid colours to thrill the senses.
Not one of the streets are at proper angles right here, so you possibly can have enjoyable letting your self get misplaced for some time, too.
Whenever you’re accomplished exploring, you possibly can proceed the final of your 3 days in London by meandering by means of Bloomsbury and Holborn (or taking the tube) to get to Clerkenwell and Smithfield.
This a part of the town is house to a few of London’s most fascinating historical past and noteworthy eating places. If you wish to see it in-depth, you possibly can go on my free self-guided Clerkenwell stroll.
In any other case you can begin by wandering by means of Smithfield Market, the biggest wholesale meat market within the UK. With its colourful gates, purple cellphone containers, and ghosts of the morning’s busy commerce, it’s a lovely place.
Outdoors in Smithfield is the location the place William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was executed again when the realm was house to one of many metropolis’s most well-known gallows.
In the present day it’s higher identified for the eating places that circle it, and for close by Charterhouse Sq. and the gorgeous little churchyard of St Bartholomew the Nice.
From Smithfield you possibly can proceed the ultimate day of your 3 day London itinerary by strolling up St John Avenue, the place you’re certain to discover a good lunch at one of many many award-winning eating places lining its pavements.
Across the road are little alleys like Peter Lane and St John’s Lane that can make you’re feeling such as you’ve traveled again in time.
After exploring the realm, you possibly can stroll down Outdated Avenue to get to Shoreditch and soak up east London’s fashionable hub.
From the excessive road and Nice Japanese Avenue to Redchurch Avenue and Rivington Avenue, there’s all the time one thing new to find on this hipster neighborhood.
When you have time, head to Spitalfields to browse the wares within the lined market, see what’s on across the Outdated Truman Brewery, and stroll down the historic lanes close to Industrial Avenue.
If it’s a weekend (and particularly if it’s a Sunday in London), you possibly can hit the markets that spill out into Brick Lane. You possibly can even do my free self-guided road artwork tour or my Spitalfields stroll.
As night approaches you’ll be in the precise place. East London is without doubt one of the metropolis’s finest nightlife areas, and there’s no scarcity of eating places, bars, pubs, speakeasies, and pop-ups to select from.
You possibly can proceed the ultimate day of your 3 day London itinerary by settling in at one. Whether or not you select to go to Hackney, Bethnal Inexperienced, Hackney Wick, or one other hip a part of the East Finish, you possibly can’t go mistaken.
When you have vitality for going out afterwards, there are nice bars and golf equipment on this a part of the town. They’re thrilling locations to finish your journey to London.
3 Days in London
I hope you’ve loved this London itinerary and that it’s given you good concepts for issues to do within the UK capital. If you would like extra, you possibly can learn concerning the metropolis in Lonely Planet London. You possibly can get it right here.
I’ve revealed loads of different London itineraries, too. You possibly can check out my 1-day, 36-hour, 48-hour, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, 1 week, 8-day, 9-day, and 10-day itineraries for extra inspiration.
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