5 Days in London Itinerary: Explore the Best of the City, Area by Area

Planning a trip to London and wondering how to make the most of just five days? You’re in the right place.

As someone who used to live in this vibrant, historic city, I’ve crafted a 5-day London itinerary that combines iconic landmarks with lots of different options- so you can see what you want to see— Perfect for first-time visitors or anyone wanting to experience the best of London in under a week.

Each day in this itinerary focuses on a different part of the city, giving you the chance to explore London’s diverse neighbourhoods—from Westminster and Soho and strolling down the South Bank to exploring quaint villages like Belgravia. Whether you’re here for the classic sights like Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace, or looking to discover hidden corners and local favourites, this itinerary is designed to help you experience it all—without backtracking all across the city each day.

If you’re in London for more or less days, you can check out my 3 day London itinerary and my 7 day London itinerary too. If you’re heading over to London in Winter be sure to check out my Best things to do in London in Winter post. 

Get ready to explore London like a local while hitting all the major highlights. Let’s dive in!

Day 1 – Westminster and Central London

Morning

Start your morning at Westminster tube station on the district and Circle lines (Yellow and Green lines)  from here you can see the famous Big Ben and houses of Parliament.

There is a also a large square where you can see statues of many famous people and in this area are plenty of red phone boxes so you can get your classic London photo Op!  If you start crossing Westminster bridge you can get some great photos of them of big ben and the houses of Parliament.

Options

There are a few options in this area that you can visit:

• Westminster Abbey- One of the most famous cathedrals in the world, Westminster has been home of the Royal families Coronations, weddings and funerals for almost 1000 years!
• The Churchill War rooms- A fantastic museum showcasing where UK prime minister Winston Churchill co-ordinated and led the Allies forces and ran the government during WWII. I highly recommend getting the audio guide. 
• See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace at 11am. I recommend getting there 20 minutes before to get a spot to see as it can get really busy with lots of people.
• During the Summer months you can visit inside Buckingham Palace. You can buy tickets Here.

If you choose one of the first 2 options, after this head down Whitehall (if you go to the changing of the guard, you will also go this way) and you will pass the Cenotaph memorial from WWI where they hold memorial days, Downing Street (where the UK Prime Minister resides) and the Household Cavalry Museum.

Past these you will find the Admiralty Arch which is the entrance to the Mall. 

The Mall is the famous parade road that leads to Buckingham Palace. After a visit to Buckingham palace you can head back down the Mall, under Admiralty arch and head into Trafalgar Square.

Head around the right side of the square up Charing cross road. As you head up the road, on the right side of the road is Covent garden.

Full of alleys and hidden courtyards Covent garden is a great place to wander around and get lost in for a while- you never know what you will find!

From specialty Tea shops, Fromagerie’s, Stationery stores, bookshops and boutique clothing, there is so much to explore here Some not to miss places include:

• Neals yard, just off seven Dials-  small courtyard with colourful buildings and artisanal shops and cafes. If your a cheese lover make sure you stop by Neals yard Dairy for some cheese!
• Cecil court- full of old bookshops
• Goodwin’s court- small old fashioned alleyway
• Add a little bit of Paris into your day by heading to one of the French patisseries to pick up some Macaroons from Pierre Hermé or Ladurée (highly recommend trying the Marie-Antoinette tea macaroon from Ladurée- its delicious!)
• Stanfords bookstore (a bookshop full of just travel books! And maps!)

Afternoon

Lunch Suggestions

• Lamb and Flag Pub- a famous pub that has been here since the 1600s, known for bare knuckle fighting and a local haunt of Charles dickens, the Lamb and Flag do a great pub meal.
• The Pickle and cheese bar
• Apple butter cafe (cute little cafe with delicious food) 
• Wild food cafe (a Raw and organic cafe)
• nat.ive- Neals yard
• Arome Bakery
• Champagne and fromage 
• Chai guys

After exploring Covent garden, you can head over to Leicester Square via Coventry Street (don’t miss all the cartoon statues in the Square- can you find Wonder woman? Hint: Look up!) and walk up towards the giant screen in Piccadilly Circus. From Piccadilly you can walk up  Regents street, famous for its Georgian Architecture and Luxury stores and just off the side of Regents street is the beautiful Tudor style department store Liberty’s.

Just a little further and you will reach the fabulous Carnaby street. This street will be decorated throughout the year for different occasions or have a theme. I highly recommend coming back at night to see this street all lit up!

Continue walking and you will find yourself on the famous Oxford Street. Once ready head down New Bond street, just off oxford street and head into the richest part of London- Mayfair. Walk along Piccadilly road in Mayfair and along the way check out the Burlington Arcade and Savile Row.

Afternoon is a Classic British tradition and an experience definitely worth having. Some great places to experience this are at the classics in Mayfair:

• Fortum and Mason 
• The Ritz Hotel
• The Wolseley Hotel
• The Dorchester Hotel
• The Connaught Hotel

Afternoon tea needs to be pre-booked, but some places may accept walk- ins.

Evening

Head back into Leicester Square, to the West end for a theatre Show.

Day 2 The City of London

This area known as the city of London is the oldest part of London, built by the Romans and once called Londinium.

This area is now largely a business district, but it has plenty of hidden in plain sight goodies to offer, from sections of the Roman wall that once enclosed the city and some of the oldest buildings and establishments in the city.

Morning

Start your morning with a delicious breakfast at White Mulberries, one of my favourite cafes at St Katherine Docks.

Afterwards, you can cross over the street and spend the morning at the Tower of London, where you can learn some of  the 1,000 years of English and Royal history in a few hours. Take a tour with a Beefeater or grab an audio guide to learn about one of the most infamous places in England.

Built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and added to over the centuries it has been used as many things over the years, such as a fortress, a Royal Palace, Prison, Zoo, Bank and Royal Mint. Some of the highlights to see are:

• Beefeater walking tour, starting every 30 minutes at the main entrance (this tour is included in your ticket).
• The White Tower
• The Royal Jewels
• Traitors gate
• The Bloody tower
• The tower wall

Make sure to prebook tickets so you can skip the line Here.

 Tickets are £34.80 per adult. Tickets are time slotted, so make sure you arrive in your time slot.

Afternoon

As this is the oldest part of London there are so many nooks and crannies in this part of the city that you can easily spend some time wandering the streets and seeing what you find!

From church ruins like St Dunstan in the east gardens and the Billingsgate Roman house and Baths to some of the oldest English pubs in London. You can even head all the way up to Fleet street and have a pint at the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub or a bit closer is the Ye Olde Wattling  pub from the 17th Century.

If you’re after something a bit more sophisticated with a view head to Sabine Rooftop bar with a great view of St Pauls Cathedral.

Afternoon Options

• Visit St Pauls Cathedral
• See London from above at the Skygarden or the garden at 120 (Fenchurch street)  both are free, but you still need to prebook a ticket for the Skygarden –  you can Here.
• Head up to Leadenhall Market (a beautiful old victorian Market, also used in the Harry Potter films)
• Learn about the history of Banking and how it evolved into the systems we have today at the Bank Museum.
• See the Roman ruins in the basement of the Guildhall
• The London Monument, located next to Monument tube station, was built by Christopher Wren a famous Architect as a tribute to those who died in the great fire of London in 1666. A fire that engulfed over half of the city of London of that time.

Evening

Head up to the Spitalfields Markets where you can browse the markets and have dinner at one of the many food vendors or restaurants around the markets.

Day 3 – Explore West London

Morning

Today will require catching a few buses so make sure you have a Oyster card (the London Transport card) or a contactless card so you can tap onto the bus (you don’t need to tap off).

You can also walk between all these places if you want to, depending on if you have time, but if you prefer to kick back and relax, whilst enjoying the scenery, the double decker buses are the best option! 

Begin your day at South Kensington Tube Station and head over for breakfast at Farm girl cafe, Glamarama Green or Hummingbird Bakery and pick up some yummy biscuits from Ben’s Cookies! After breakfast head around the corner for a quick photo Op at the famous Thin House. 

After breakfast head to one of the Museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum or the Science Museum. 

After the Museum, catch a double decker bus to Harrods. From Stop E at South Kensington Station on Cromwell Place catch the No. 74, 14 or C1 bus to Knightsbridge station stop KD.

Alternatively you can also walk 18 minutes, or catch the Piccadilly line tube from South Kensington to Knightsbridge station (this does take the same amount of time as the bus though – 13 minutes). Explore Harrods and do some shopping, be sure to check out the Harrods Food Hall!

After exploring Harrods, hop back on the same bus you arrived on (Stop KD) and catch the C1 bus to Eaton Square (Stop J), which drops you right near Elizabeth Street in Belgravia.

The ride takes about 20 minutes, so try to grab a seat on the top deck, preferably at the front, some for beautiful views. This route winds through some of London’s most elegant and exclusive residential streets.

Belgravia is often regarded as one of the most beautiful and affluent areas in London and at its centre is Elizabeth street.

Spend some time walking down the beautiful, instagramable streets including Motcomb and Ebury streets and Pimlico road as well. Stop and grab a coffee at Tom Tom’s coffee House or a cake at the famous Peggy Porshen’s cakes.

Explore Eccleston yards and the Fine Cheese Company. This is also a great place to stop and have some lunch.

Afternoon

Walk to the end of Ebury street and catch the bus No. 52  from Grosvenor Gardens (stop Q) to Kensington Palace. Get off the bus at Palace gate (stop RE) and head up to Kensington Palace through Kensington gardens.

Kensington Palace has been home to some of the most well-known royals, including Queen Victoria, Princess Diana, and today, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Wander through the State Rooms home to Queen Victoria as a child, and where you’ll find exhibitions about past monarchs like King George I and II. One of the highlights? The incredible displays of royal fashion – think iconic outfits from Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. 

Evening

In Summer with the long daylight hours you spend some time in the evening exploring Hyde park by renting a bike with sanfords or Lime bikes (available to hire at most entrances to the park) in the Park. Don’t forget to check out:

• The Serpentine
• The Italian gardens
• Princess Diana Memorial
• The Albert Memorial
• The Round pond

After Head to the Famous Churchill Arms Pub for a pint on Kensington Church street. This beautiful pub covered in flowers all year round is full of 1940s and World War II memorabilia.

Day 4  Explore Southbank and Greenwich

Today’s adventure takes you to the south side of the Thames, following one of London’s most scenic walking routes — the Queen’s Walk.

Stretching roughly 3.5 km, this riverside footpath runs from Lambeth Bridge in the west to Tower Bridge in the east, offering incredible views, cultural stops, and plenty of photo-worthy moments along the way.

Start your walk at Westminster Bridge (the nearest Tube stop is Westminster Station). Cross over to the South Bank, and head east — you’re now on the Queen’s Walk!

Here are some highlights to look out for as you go:

• The London Eye – One of London’s most iconic landmarks
  
•  Jubilee Gardens – A lovely green space perfect for a break or picnic
  
• The Southbank Book Market – A charming second-hand market under Waterloo Bridge.
  
•  Hayward Gallery – A modern art lover’s stop
•  Shakespeare’s Globe – A stunning reconstruction of the Bard’s original theatre.
  
•  The Tate Modern – World-class contemporary art in a converted power station
  
•  The Clink Prison Museum – Dive into London’s darker past
  
•  Southwark Cathedral – A peaceful, historic church tucked away from the crowds
  
•  Winchester Palace Ruins – Hidden remains of a 12th-century bishop’s palace
  
•  Original Site of Shakespeare’s Globe – Marked and explained with historical signage
• The Shard- Another great view of London from  the observatory deck.
• Borough Market- A foodie’s heaven! A famous food market is a perfect stop for Lunch 
• The Golden Hinde (a replicate of Sir Francis Drake’s Ship from the 1600’s)
• HMAS Belfast (WWII ship museum)
• Tower bridge engine rooms (showing the Victorian technology behind this famous bridge).

*Side note* if you would like to go up the London Eye, pre-booking is essential and it can be expensive. If you would like to explore some views of London that are cheaper or free, that aren’t the Eye, check out my post London views on a budget.

Afternoon

Hop on a ferry from London Bridge Pier and cruise down the Thames to Greenwich Pier — it’s a relaxing and scenic way to see the city from the water.

The ride takes about 30 minutes, and since it’s part of the London transport system, you can use a Oyster card or contactless payment. Catch the RB1 (purple) or RB6 (yellow) ferry routes — both will take you straight to Greenwich.

Once you arrive, you’ll find yourself in a charming pocket of London that feels more like a quaint village than part of the capital. Take your time wandering the streets, pop into cozy cafés, lively pubs, or enjoy a classic cream tea at one of the local tea houses.

Things to see in Greenwich:

•  Greenwich Market – Great for local crafts, street food, and unique finds
  
•  Cutty Sark – Step aboard this historic 19th-century tea clipper
  
• National Maritime Museum – A must-see if you’re into naval history; Britain once ruled the seas!
  
•  Old Royal Naval College – Stunning baroque architecture and riverfront views
• Located on the Greenwich Peninsula, Catch the IFS cloud cable car across the Thames and back for a unique view of London. This is used as part of the London Transport System so you can use your Oystercard or Contactless Payment.
• Walk the Line- A  1.6 mile Art walk featuring Sculptures from different artists around the Greenwich Peninsula. Find out more about the trail and the artists here.

Evening

After spending the Afternoon exploring Greenwich, head back by Ferry to Bankside Pier and Immerse yourself in some Shakespeare by seeing a show at the Globe theatre.

As a replica you can experience what it used to be like in the Elizabethan times, with wooden benches to sit on or purchase a standing ticket from £5.00.

You can buy tickets here.

Day 5-  Go for a Day Trip

Enjoy a day further out of central London by doing a day trip. Some great suggestions that are still close into London and only a hour or less away from central London are:

Windsor Castle

Built over 900 years ago by William the Conqueror (who also built the tower of London) Windsor castle is  a 50 minute train ride on Great western (GWR) rail from Paddington Station.

Windsor castle is the oldest occupied castle in the world and a favourite of the Royal family, especially the late Queen Elizabeth II and her final resting place along with Prince Phillip. Make sure you check out the state rooms and St George’s chapel where Prince Harry and Megan got married too.

In the afternoon you can spend some time exploring the cute little village of Windsor before hopping back on the train to London.

Please note that Windsor castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so you may have to change your itinerary days around if day 5 lands on one of these days.

 You can pre-book your ticket and it will be a couple of £ cheaper than if you buy it on the day at the castle. Prices start from £31.00. You can prebook here.

Hampton Court Palace

Famous at the home of King Henry VIII, this Tudor Palace was built in the 1500’s and is packed with history! From the original Tudor kitchens to the Baroque style apartments added by later monarchs like William III and Mary II.

Make sure you visit the Great Hall, with its soaring ceilings and stained glass windows, where Henry VIII dined and entertained. Outside, the gardens are stunning — be sure to check out the oldest grape vine in the country! 

You can also see the gates on to the river Thames where Henry would have gotten on his barge when he made his way into London. 

It’s an easy 40 minute day trip from central London, from Waterloo train Station via South western railway (SWR) to Hampton court station. Open from 10 am, tickets are £27.20 and you can prebook here.

Please note that Hampton court palace is closed on Monday and Tuesdays during Winter.

The making of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros Studio

 A must see for any Harry Potter fan! A great day trip and a less than a hours train ride from central London.

Catch the train from Euston train station to Watford Junction where you can be picked up by the Warner bros bus if purchased in your ticket. Tickets start from £53.50 with multiple packages available. Book tickets here.

 Visit one of Britain’s best kept secrets at Bletchley Park

Just north of London lies Bletchley Park, once one of Britain’s best-kept secrets. Most people first heard about it thanks to the film The Imitation Game, which told the story of Alan Turing and the incredible team of codebreakers who worked here during World War II.

Today, the site is a fascinating museum that brings their story to life. You’ll learn how these brilliant minds cracked the Nazi’s Enigma code, built the groundbreaking Bombe machine, and helped shorten the war by years. Yes — you can actually see one of the Bombe machines in action!

Whether you’re into history, tech, or just love a good spy story, Bletchley Park is a unique and unforgettable day trip.

Tickets start from £25.50 per adult and can be sold out 2-3 weeks or more in advance, so book early! You can buy tickets here.

You can catch the train from Euston station on the West Midland railway to Bletchley station, which takes 45 minutes- 1 hour. 

Other places to visit

Some other places that are not in this itinerary that are definitely worth checking out if you have some extra time include:

• Kew gardens
• Richmond Park
• Hampstead heath and High gate Cemetery
• Warner bros Harry potter studio
• British museum
• The British Library
• Camden market
• Explore Nottinghill, Portobello markets and Holland park
• Visit platform 9 ¾ at Kings cross Station 

   Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth going to London for 5 days?

Yes, 5 days in London is absolutely worth it. In fact, it’s the perfect amount of time to experience the best the city has to offer without feeling rushed.

With a good itinerary, you can explore a different part of London each day in your own time. London is packed with world-famous landmarks, rich history, diverse neighbourhoods, and endless cultural experiences—and five days gives you just enough time to get a true taste of it all.

How to get around London?

London has excellent public transport! Between the Tube, the overground, the trains and the buses it is very easy to get around London at a reasonable price.

You can use a debit/credit card on all public transport options, but if your card charges you international transactions, I highly recommend buying an Oyster card (available at most tube stations)  that you can preload money onto and be used on the tube, buses and overground.

The Oyster card can only be used on the London Transport, so if your heading out of London by train you will still need to buy a separate ticket. The trainline app is a great option to buy tickets.

Walking- London is an extremely easy city to walk. A lot of attractions are actually a lot closer than they appear on the map and very easy to walk between.

Even some tube stations are very close together such as Piccadilly square and Leicester square stations which are about 200 metres apart, but many people will catch the tube between these.  I highly recommend walking as much as possible or catching a bus as you see so much more.

Download the App Citymapper, which you can use to get around. It will give you the fastest options for the tube, buses and walking.

How to get from the Airport to Central London?

London has 5 airports, all on the outskirts (except 1) of London, Most international flights (that aren’t coming from Europe or are budget airlines) will arrive at Heathrow airport in London’s West. The others include, Luton, Stanstead, City and Gatwick.

Heathrow

If you’re coming from Heathrow airport, you have a few different options to get into London.

• Heathrow Express- Takes roughly 20 minutes from the airport into Paddington station, where it arrives and departs from, this is the most expensive public transport option costing about £25. From Paddington you can connect to the Tube through the Elizabeth (Purple), District (green), circle (yellow) Bakerloo (Brown) and Hammersmith (pink) Lines.
• Piccadilly (Navy) and Elizabeth (purple) Lines both run frequently to and from the airport. The Piccadilly doesn’t start until approximately 5 am and 7 am on Sundays so beware if your travelling early morning. (If you choose this route, be aware that not all stations have lifts or escalators, so make sure you can carry your suitcase if needed).
• Buses- there are a few buses that run from the airport. The National Express, Flix bus and Mega buses leave from the Heathrow bus station and go to the Victoria Coach station that is just next to Victoria train and tube Station.

Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport is approximately 30 minutes south of central London by train. There are two train services that you can catch from Gatwick Airport which both arrive at Victoria Station.

The Gatwick Express which leaves every 15-30 minutes. This just goes to the airport and takes about 30 minutes. If you have a lot of luggage, i would recommend this as it has luggage storage space and will have less people on it.

It is however the most expensive option.  The other train is the Southern service train, which will have regular commuters and more train stops along the way, so will take up to 10 minutes longer however it is the cheaper option.

Stanstead Airport

The Stanstead express train travels between Stanstead Airport in London’s North east and arrives at Liverpool street Station in Central London.

The trip takes about 50 minutes and trains leave every 15 minutes.

Luton Airport

Luton Airport located in the north also has a Express train into Central London arriving at St Pancras Station. There is a shuttle (Luton DART) from Luton airport to Luton train Station about a 5 minute ride away.

From there you can catch the train that leaves from Luton airport Parkway station and takes about 30 minutes.

London City Airport

It is unlikely you will fly into London city airport located in east London and the only airport actually in London as it is mainly British airlines and private jets. But if you do, you can easily catch the DLR line (part of the tube network) from the London City Airport straight into Bank station in the city.

When is the best time to visit London?

The best time of year to visit London is in the shoulder seasons such as Spring (March to May) and in Autumn (September to November) as there are less crowds, and you are more likely to be able to go to attractions without everything being booked out so far in advance.

 While summer is warmer, on hot days the weather can become very humid and as this is a mostly cold country, many places do not have air conditioning, but it is also peak season and it can become very crowded very fast.

Winter is a fabulous time to visit London and one of my favourite times, with all the Christmas lights, markets and festivities happening. Check out my London in Winter Post for a perfect Winter London Stay.

                     Do I need to prebook attractions?

London is a very busy place with lots of tourists, especially in the summer months (peak season), to avoid disappointment on missing out on an attraction, I would advise booking ahead and especially if it is on a weekend.

Many free attractions like museums, still have pre-booked timed slots to prevent crowding.

Alternatively the London Pass covers over 90 attractions and you can choose how many days to cover from a 1 day pass up to a 10 day pass.

Although it looks expensive to buy at first, it can save so much money for you over your trip.

The average price for attractions is around £30.00 or more.

The more days that you add for the pass the cheaper it becomes. The only downside is the days are consecutive, so deciding what you want to do each day is a must as you will still need to book a slot online.

Other London Blog Posts

Ultimate 3 Day London Itinerary: Best things to see and do

London in 7 Days: The Perfect One- Week Itinerary for First Time Visitors 

Best things to do in London in Winter

Best Views of London on a Budget