Katie and Pierce
London is one of those cities that gets better the longer you stay. With just a few days, you’ll barely scratch the surface. But spend one week in London, and you’ll get a real taste of what makes this city so special. From royal palaces to hidden pubs, world-class museums to bustling markets, this 7-day London itinerary covers all the must-see spots while giving you time to soak up the local atmosphere.
This guide takes you through seven amazing days in Britain’s capital. You’ll see famous landmarks like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, but you’ll also wander through charming neighborhoods and eat at places where locals actually go. Whether this is your first visit or you’re coming back for more, this itinerary gives you the perfect mix of tourist favorites and authentic London experiences.
The best part? This 7-day itinerary is flexible. If it’s raining, there are indoor backup plans. If you love museums, there are ways to spend more time in them. If you’re traveling with kids, there are family-friendly swaps. London has something for everyone, and this guide helps you find what you’ll love most.
Day 1: Classic London Landmarks
Start your one week in London adventure with the biggest hits. These are the sights you’ve seen in movies and on postcards, and they’re famous for good reason.
Morning: Westminster and Royal London
Begin at Westminster Abbey around 9 AM when it opens. This is where kings and queens have been crowned for nearly 1,000 years. The audio guide is worth it, especially for the Poets’ Corner where famous writers are buried. Plan to spend about 90 minutes here.
Walk outside and you’re facing the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The tower is covered in scaffolding for repairs, but it’s still impressive. Cross the street to get the best photos with Westminster Bridge in the background.
Take a 10-minute walk through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace. The park is beautiful and you might spot some pelicans by the lake. If you time it right, you can catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 11:30 AM (happens most days from May to July, then every other day the rest of the year).
Afternoon: Culture and Shopping
Head to Trafalgar Square after lunch. The National Gallery here has some of the world’s best paintings, and it’s completely free. You could spend hours here, but give yourself at least one hour to see the highlights like Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
Walk 10 minutes to Covent Garden, one of London’s liveliest neighborhoods. Street performers entertain crowds while you browse shops and markets. The covered market building is beautiful, and there are tons of restaurants if you need a break.
Evening: Traditional London
End your first day with dinner at a traditional pub. Try fish and chips or a Sunday roast (available most days of the week). Some great options near Covent Garden include The Lamb & Flag or Rules, London’s oldest restaurant.
If you have energy left, catch a West End show. You can often get same-day tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, though popular shows sell out quickly.
Day 2: South Bank Adventure
Day two takes you across the Thames to the South Bank, where modern London meets historic charm. This area has some of the city’s best views and most interesting attractions.
Morning: London Eye and River Views
Start early at the London Eye. Book tickets online to skip the lines. The 30-minute ride gives you incredible views over the whole city. On a clear day, you can see for miles in every direction.
Walk east along the Thames Path toward Tower Bridge. This riverside walk is one of London’s most scenic routes. You’ll pass street performers, food stalls, and great views of the city across the river.
Stop at the Tate Modern, housed in a former power station. This free museum has amazing contemporary art. Even if you’re not big on modern art, the building itself is worth seeing, and the views from the top floor are fantastic.
Afternoon: Markets and History
Continue walking to Borough Market, London’s most famous food market. This is lunch paradise. Try everything from gourmet sandwiches to international street food. The chorizo sandwich from Brindisa is legendary, and the cheese toasties from Kappacasein are perfect comfort food.
After lunch, walk to Tower Bridge. You can cross for free, or pay to go up into the towers and walk on the glass floor. The views are great either way.
End the afternoon at the Tower of London. This 1,000-year-old fortress houses the Crown Jewels and has enough history to fill several books. The Beefeater tours are entertaining and educational. Plan for at least two hours here.
Evening: Riverside Dining
Stay in the area for dinner. The George Inn near Borough Market is one of London’s oldest pubs and has a great atmosphere. For something fancier, the restaurants around Borough Market serve excellent food with local ingredients.
Day 3: Museums and Royal Parks
London has some of the world’s best museums, and many are completely free. Today focuses on culture and green spaces.
Morning: British Museum
The British Museum is huge and houses treasures from around the world. You could spend days here, but focus on the highlights: the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and the Elgin Marbles. The free museum map helps you plan your route. Give yourself at least three hours.
Grab coffee in nearby Bloomsbury, a charming neighborhood with garden squares and independent shops.
Afternoon: Hyde Park and Kensington
Take the Tube to Hyde Park Corner and enter London’s most famous park. Hyde Park is massive and perfect for a relaxing walk. Check out Speakers’ Corner where people give impromptu speeches, then walk to the Serpentine Lake.
Continue to Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana lived and where Prince William grew up. The palace tour shows you royal apartments and tells the story of the monarchy. The gardens are beautiful too.
If you have time, pop into Harrods department store. Even if you don’t buy anything, the food halls are like a museum of luxury goods.
Evening: South Kensington
The South Kensington area has great restaurants and a more upscale vibe. Try The Natural History Museum Café if it’s still open, or head to one of the many restaurants on Exhibition Road.
For a special treat, book afternoon tea at a traditional hotel. Fortnum & Mason, The Wolseley, or Brown’s Hotel all serve the full experience with sandwiches, scones, and fancy cakes.
Day 4: Markets and Neighborhoods
Today takes you to some of London’s most character-filled neighborhoods. This is where you’ll get a feel for how locals actually live.
Morning: Camden Market and Alternative London
Head north to Camden Market, one of London’s most famous alternative markets. This sprawling complex sells everything from vintage clothes to handmade crafts. The food court has cuisine from around the world.
Camden Lock is right on the canal, and you can take a boat ride to Little Venice or Regent’s Park. The area has a rock and punk vibe that’s totally different from central London.
Walk through Regent’s Park if the weather’s nice. The zoo is here if you’re traveling with kids, and the park itself has beautiful rose gardens and wide open spaces.
Afternoon: East London Cool
Take the Tube east to Shoreditch, London’s hipster headquarters. This area is covered in amazing street art, including works by famous artists like Banksy. Just walking around is like visiting an outdoor art gallery.
Brick Lane is the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community and has some of the city’s best curry houses. Even if you’re not eating here, the colorful street art and vintage shops make it worth a visit.
Spitalfields Market is more upscale than Camden, with independent designers and artisan food stalls. The Victorian market building is beautiful, and there are lots of good coffee shops nearby.
Evening: East London Nightlife
East London has some of the city’s most creative restaurants and bars. Try Dishoom for excellent Indian food, or head to one of the many gastropubs in the area. The nightlife here is younger and more alternative than central London.
Day 5: Day Trip Adventures
After four days in the city, it’s time to venture outside London. All these destinations are easy day trips that show you different sides of English history and culture.
Option A: Windsor Castle
Take the train from London Paddington to Windsor (about 1 hour). Windsor Castle is the Queen’s weekend home and the oldest occupied castle in the world. The State Apartments are incredibly grand, and St. George’s Chapel is where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married.
The town of Windsor is charming too, with shops and restaurants along the High Street. Windsor Great Park is perfect for a walk if the weather’s nice.
Trains back to London run frequently, so you can return whenever you’re ready.
Option B: Bath and Stonehenge
This is a longer day but covers two of England’s most famous sites. Many companies run coach tours that include both destinations.
Stonehenge is one of the world’s most mysterious ancient sites. The stone circle is 5,000 years old, and nobody knows exactly why it was built. The visitor center has excellent exhibits and an audio guide for the stones themselves.
Bath is a beautiful Georgian city built around natural hot springs. The Roman Baths show how people bathed here 2,000 years ago, and the city center is full of honey-colored stone buildings that look like movie sets.
Most tours return to London by early evening.
Option C: Oxford University
Take the train from London Paddington to Oxford (1 hour). This famous university town has been educating students for over 900 years. Many of the college buildings are open to visitors, including Christ Church College where parts of Harry Potter were filmed.
The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and absolutely beautiful. Walking tours of the university are available, or you can just wander around the historic center.
Oxford has excellent pubs and restaurants, many of which have been serving students for centuries. The Eagle and Child pub is where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to meet and discuss their writing.
Day 6: Greenwich and the Thames
Your second-to-last day takes you southeast to Greenwich, a borough with amazing maritime history and great views back to London.
Morning: River Cruise to Greenwich
Take a Thames Clipper boat from Westminster Pier to Greenwich. The journey takes about an hour and gives you a totally different perspective on London. You’ll pass many famous landmarks and see how the city looks from the water.
Greenwich has been important to British maritime history for centuries. The National Maritime Museum tells the story of Britain’s relationship with the sea, from exploration to naval battles.
The Royal Observatory is where time begins. You can stand on the Prime Meridian Line where east meets west, and the planetarium shows are fascinating.
Afternoon: Markets and Ships
Greenwich Market is smaller than Camden or Borough but has high-quality crafts and food. It’s covered, so it’s perfect if the weather turns bad.
The Cutty Sark is a restored 19th-century ship that used to carry tea from China. You can go aboard and see what life was like for sailors on these long voyages.
Climb Greenwich Park for amazing views over London. On a clear day, you can see all the way to central London and beyond.
Evening: Canary Wharf
Take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) back toward central London, but stop at Canary Wharf. This modern financial district is full of skyscrapers and feels completely different from historic Greenwich.
There are lots of restaurants here, many with great views. It’s especially impressive at night when all the buildings are lit up.
Day 7: Final Favorites and Farewells
Your last day should be about revisiting favorites and catching anything you missed. This is also your best shopping day if you want to take home souvenirs.
Morning: Personal Choices
Think about what you loved most during your one week in London. Want to spend more time at a particular museum? Go back and see the sections you missed. Loved a certain neighborhood? Take a longer walk and find new streets to wander.
If you haven’t done much shopping, Oxford Street and Regent Street have all the major British brands. For something more unique, go back to Borough Market, Covent Garden, or one of the smaller markets you visited earlier.
Afternoon: Last Museums and Parks
The Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington is perfect if you love design, fashion, or decorative arts. It’s free and has everything from ancient sculptures to modern furniture.
The Natural History Museum next door is great for families and has one of the world’s best dinosaur collections. The building itself is like a cathedral.
Hyde Park is perfect for a final London walk. Speaker’s Corner, the Diana Memorial, and the Serpentine Lake are all worth seeing if you missed them earlier.
Evening: Farewell Dinner
Your last night deserves a special meal. London has restaurants for every budget, from traditional pubs to Michelin-starred dining rooms.
For a truly British experience, try a gastropub that serves elevated versions of classic dishes. Many serve excellent Sunday roast even on weekdays.
If you want to splurge, London has some of the world’s best restaurants. Book ahead for popular places, or try your luck walking into smaller neighborhood spots.
End your week with a walk along the Thames or a final pint in a cozy pub. Seven days in London gives you a real taste of the city, but it will definitely leave you planning your next visit.
Alternative Ways to Spend Your Week
This 7-day itinerary works well for most people, but London is flexible enough to adapt to any travel style.
Family-Friendly Changes
If you’re traveling with kids, swap some museums for more hands-on experiences. The London Zoo in Regent’s Park, the Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park, and the HMS Belfast warship are all big hits with children.
Many museums have special children’s areas and activities. The Natural History Museum and Science Museum are particularly good for families.
Thames river cruises are fun for all ages, and the hop-on-hop-off buses let kids see the city while resting their feet.
Budget Travel Tips
London can be expensive, but there are ways to save money during your one week in London. Many of the city’s best museums are completely free, including the British Museum, Tate Modern, and National Gallery.
Pack picnics for the parks instead of eating out for every meal. London’s supermarkets have good prepared food sections, and eating in the parks is part of the local experience.
Walk when you can instead of taking the Tube for short distances. Central London is quite compact, and walking lets you see more of the city.
Rainy Day Backup Plans
London weather can be unpredictable, so it’s good to have indoor alternatives ready. Spend extra time in the covered markets like Borough, Camden, or Leadenhall Market (which was used as Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films).
The city’s museums and galleries can easily fill rainy days. Many have cafes where you can warm up with tea and cake.
Shopping centers like Oxford Street or the ones in Canary Wharf are perfect for staying dry while still being active.
Extended Stay Options
If you have more than one week in London, there are plenty of ways to expand this itinerary. Brighton is an hour away by train and has a beautiful seaside atmosphere with pebble beaches and a famous pier.
Canterbury has one of England’s most important cathedrals and charming medieval streets. It’s also about an hour from London.
Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare’s hometown and has beautiful Tudor buildings. You can see plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company and visit the house where he was born.
Making Your London Week Perfect
The key to a great one week in London is balancing must-see sights with spontaneous moments. This 7-day itinerary gives you a solid framework, but don’t be afraid to change plans if something interesting catches your eye.
London is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own personality. While this itinerary covers the main areas, there are dozens of other neighborhoods worth visiting if you have extra time or want to focus on specific interests.
The weather will probably change during your week, so pack layers and a good umbrella. Londoners are used to variable weather and just carry on regardless. Do the same and you’ll fit right in.
Most importantly, London is best experienced at a relaxed pace. Yes, there’s a lot to see, but rushing from sight to sight means you’ll miss the small moments that make travel memorable. Stop for tea when you’re tired, chat with locals in pubs, and take time to people-watch in the parks.
This one week in London will give you a fantastic introduction to one of the world’s great cities. By the end of your 7-day itinerary, you’ll understand why millions of people choose to call London home, and you’ll definitely be planning your return visit before you even leave.
