5-day itinerary
5 Days in London
The ultimate London itinerary
London is a city where centuries-old history collides with cutting-edge culture, offering first-timers an intoxicating mix of royal palaces, world-class museums, and vibrant street markets. From the fog-kissed Thames to the neon-lit streets of Soho, this ultimate itinerary ensures you experience the very best of one of the world's greatest cities.
Morning: Arrive, check into your hotel near Southwark, then walk across Tower Bridge to the Tower of London for a Yeoman Warder tour and a jaw-dropping look at the Crown Jewels.
Afternoon: Stroll along the South Bank riverside promenade, grab a salt-beef bagel from a riverside stall, and ride the London Eye for sweeping views over the city skyline and Parliament.
Evening: Settle into a candlelit booth at Borough Market's nearby Flat Iron Square for craft beers and street food, soaking up the electric after-work London atmosphere.
Morning: Head to Buckingham Palace by 10:30am to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, then walk through St James's Park admiring the pelicans on the lake.
Afternoon: Cross Westminster Bridge for close-up photos of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, tour Westminster Abbey's Gothic interior, and duck into Churchill War Rooms for a vivid WWII history hit.
Evening: Take the Tube to Leicester Square, wander through the buzzing streets of Soho for dinner at Bao on Lexington Street — their pork belly buns are legendary — then catch live jazz at Ronnie Scott's.
Morning: Spend the morning completely free at the British Museum in Bloomsbury — beeline for the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles on the ground floor before the crowds thicken.
Afternoon: Take the Central Line to South Kensington and explore the spectacular Victoria & Albert Museum, then stroll through Hyde Park to the Diana Memorial Fountain and rent a rowboat on the Serpentine.
Evening: Dine at Dishoom Kensington for their famous black dal and ruby chicken tikka, then walk the lantern-lit streets of Chelsea finishing with a nightcap at The Anglesea Arms pub.
Morning: Take the Overground to Shoreditch and explore the ever-changing Brick Lane Street Art trail, then dive into the Sunday-style Spitalfields Market for vintage finds and artisan pastries from 10am.
Afternoon: Walk ten minutes to Columbia Road Flower Market for wildly photogenic colour and a £5 bunch of fresh blooms, then explore Boxpark Shoreditch's pop-up container restaurants for a street-food lunch.
Evening: Join a two-hour craft beer tour of Hackney Wick's independent breweries — Crate Brewery's canalside terrace makes the perfect final stop — for an authentic taste of modern East London.
Morning: Take the Circle Line to Notting Hill Gate and explore the pastel-painted townhouses of Portobello Road, browsing antiques and vintage stalls while fuelling up on a flat white from Electric Coffee Co.
Afternoon: Head north to Camden Market for a final blowout of global street food — Korean bao, Ethiopian injera, and authentic Jamaican jerk chicken all under one roof — then explore the Lock's eclectic boutiques.
Evening: Walk along Primrose Hill for the most romantic free panoramic sunset view in London, then close out your trip with a classic fish-and-chip supper at the Sea Shell of Lisson Grove before heading to your departure hotel.
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