London 3-Day Itinerary — Day by Day
Day 1: Royal London — Westminster, Tower of London & Thames Cruise
Start at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard at 11am (free, arrive by 10:30). Walk through St James's Park to Westminster Abbey — book tickets online to skip the queue. See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from Westminster Bridge. Board a Thames Clipper river cruise to the Tower of London. Spend the afternoon with the Crown Jewels and 900 years of royal history. Book timed entry to avoid 1–2h queues in summer.
Day 2: Museums & Markets — British Museum, Covent Garden & West End
The British Museum is entirely free — dedicate your morning to the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and Elgin Marbles. Head to Covent Garden for lunch among street performers. Walk to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery (also free). Book a West End show for the evening — Hamilton, Les Misérables, The Lion King. TKTS booth at Leicester Square offers same-day discounts from 10am.
Day 3: East London & Sky Garden — Borough Market, Shoreditch & Sunset Views
Borough Market opens Thursday–Saturday — best street food in London. Walk to Tower Bridge for the glass walkway. Head east to Shoreditch for world-class street art and independent shops on Brick Lane. End at the Sky Garden — panoramic 360° views, completely free but must be booked weeks ahead at skygarden.london.
London Free Attractions
British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Sky Garden (free ticket required), Hyde Park, St James's Park, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Shoreditch Street Art, Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel, Columbia Road Flower Market (Sundays).
London Budget Tips
Never buy paper Tube tickets — tap your contactless bank card, daily cap of £8.10 for Zones 1–2. The British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern and Natural History Museum are all completely free. Borough Market is open Thursday to Saturday. Meal deals from major supermarkets cost £3–4 and are a great budget lunch option.
Best Areas to Stay in London
Westminster and Victoria for walkability to royal sights (€150–280/night). South Bank and Waterloo for the best balance of location and price (€120–180/night). Shoreditch and Bethnal Green for trendy areas and lower prices (€80–130/night). Earl's Court and Kensington for budget-friendly Zone 1 access (€100–160/night).