Three Perfect Days in London

London calls to mind posh British accents, pubs, the Tube and modern-day royalty. The city is the heart of England, although its diversity includes many other cultures.

It’s one of the most iconic and must-see cities in the world.

You’ll love the history, majesty and beauty of London. Just don’t forget to mind the gap! Here’s your itinerary for three perfect days in London.

Getting Ready for Your Trip

A few things you should know about London: it’s easy for Americans to visit, expensive, and enormous! Of course, you’ll understand the language, although you should brush up on a few local words like cashpoint (ATM), quid (money), chips (fries), and crisps (potato chips).

But our cultures are quite similar, and it’s an easy start for those new to international travel.

London is very expensive, though, ranking as one of the higher-priced cities for tourists year after year. However, for three days, you can cut a few costs and still enjoy this can’t-miss destination. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it.

Lastly, the city is huge! But your main sightseeing will be in a smaller area, and you should plan on taking the Tube as much as possible to avoid walking your poor feet to death. If you’re absolutely pooped, feel free to hop in one of their famous black cabs. It’s like the luxury version of a taxi.

Also, note: this itinerary is adventurous. If you want to take it down a notch, drop one sight each day, and stay four days instead of three.

Three Perfect Days in London

Here’s a quick overview:

Day One– Tower of London, Thames Boat Cruise, Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament

Day Two– Sightseeing Bus Tour, Changing of the Guard, St. James’s Park, Churchill War Rooms, National Art Gallery/Trafalgar Square, West End Performance

Day Three– Wallace Collection, British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, London Eye, Piccadilly Circus

Day One

1^st Stop: Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the oldest structures in the city, dating back 1,000 years. It’s served as a castle, royal residence, and a prison. Many people were also executed here. Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous prisoners.

Arrive early, before 10 a.m., and head straight for the crown jewels. You will be amazed by the glittering gems displayed, which is probably the most important and valuable collection of jewelry in the world. Unfortunately, strict security measures ban any photos.

Next, take a tour of the tower with one of the snazzily-dressed Yeoman Warders. Also known as Beefeaters, they traditionally guarded the area, but now present informative and entertaining insights into the history of the tower. Tours are included with your admission.

Be sure to take some photos of the Tower Bridge that crosses the Thames near the Tower of London. It has a drawbridge that will lift if tall ships pass. Don’t call it the London Bridge, which, incidentally, resides in Arizona now!

Buy your Tower of London tickets here.

2^nd Stop: Thames Boat Cruise

After you visit to the tower, grab a picnic and enjoy your lunch on an open-air boat cruise down the Thames to Westminster Pier. There are a few eateries right outside the Tower of London, including Paul, a delicious French sandwich shop (I know it’s not British but it’s SO good!). Either eat at Paul or take a to-go lunch and head to the nearby Tower Pier.

One-way tickets are about 11£ ($14.22 but check current rates), and boats leave twice per hour. Enjoy a scenic ride through London while relaxing with lunch.

3^rd Stop: Westminster Abbey

After arriving at the Westminster pier, head straight for Westminster Abbey. Sign up for a tour, and consider staying for the daily evensong service at 3 or 5 p.m. The church has been the site of royal weddings, coronations and funerals since 1066. It houses 3,000 tombs, including 29 kings and queens.

An audio tour is included in your admission, but we chose to take a guided tour. It was well worth it!

The evensong service is about an hour of heavenly (pun intended) choir and organ music, along with prayer and scripture readings. The Choir of Westminster Abbey is a prestigious group of boys and a few adults who are gifted musicians and performers. The service is free and a moment to remember.

4^th Stop: Parliament

If you still have some juice left, and Parliament is in session, walk a short distance to the House of Commons to see democracy in action. Parliament is generally in session Oct-July, Monday-Thursday. It’s free to get in, although there may be a long security line.

But definitely take lots of photos of Big Ben, the famous clock tower connected to Parliament. Technically, the bell is called Big Ben, and the structure is named the Elizabeth Tower. A quick video of its “bong….bong…bong” is a fun remembrance of London. Due to restoration projects, it is currently only chiming for important national events. It should resume its regular schedule in 2021.

Day Two

1^st Stop: Sightseeing Bus Tour

I love getting a feel for a city by taking an open-top bus tour. London has a few options, but we took the Big Bus tour. It has more interesting guides than the other options and more frequent routes (which means less waiting).

Buy your ticket and board the hop-on, hop-off tour from Marble Arch or Victoria Stand. Enjoy the top-notch views of London and hop off for the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Book your Big Bus Tour here.

2^nd Stop: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

The Changing of the Guard is a complicated ceremony among several locations around Buckingham Palace each day. But the main stage action happens at 11:30 a.m., directly in front of the Queen’s house.

Crowds show up an hour early to get a spot along the iron fence, but you can arrive at 11:00 and still get a great view on the Victoria monument or the low wall to the west of the palace. You can’t see up close, but you’ll have an overview of the parade of soldiers and hear the band just fine.

I expected the band to play God Save the Queen (we know it as My Country, ‘Tis of Thee), but I cracked up when they played the theme to Star Wars. The whole ceremony is kind of overdone, but a fun spectacle to see once. I do love those bearskin hats!

3^rd Stop: St. James’s Park

After the show at the palace, spend some time in St. James’s Park. We had a light lunch at a hot dog stand and admired the lush ponds and trees in the heart of the bustling city. There were nice lawn chairs to sit on, but you had to pay to use them.

We also liked seeing a few school groups come through the park, with kids dressed up in uniforms with hats like the little French girl Madeline. So adorable!

4^th Stop: Churchill War Rooms

Those interested in the incredible stories surrounding World War 2 will enjoy a visit to the Churchill War Rooms. A fixture in British politics for over five decades, Winston Churchill famously served as Prime Minister during WW2.

The attraction includes the secret underground bunker where Churchill met with his War Cabinet and led the country as the Allies tried to defeat Hitler and the Nazis. The map room is left exactly as it was on the last day of the war in 1945. The museum also includes exhibits on Churchill’s life as a whole. Tickets can be purchased on their website.

5^th Stop: National Gallery/Trafalgar Square

The National Gallery is a fantastic collection of art from 1250 to 1900. It’s totally worth it to pop in for an hour or so to view some Turner, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and da Vinci. Did I mention it’s free?

The gallery is located on Trafalgar Square, London’s grandest square and meeting place. The area features the gallery’s enormous steps, St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, a reflection pond, and the tall monument to Lord Nelson, which is flanked by four huge lions. (Be sure to take a photo with the lions!)

6^th Stop: West End Show

Fans of Broadway musicals MUST take in a show on the West End, London’s equivalent of The Great White Way. Britain seems to have more than its fair share of talented performers. See a show you’ve been looking forward to or try something new.

We saw Wicked, and it was superb. This is the crème de la crème of musical performances, matching NYC any day. Thankfully, the dress code is fairly casual. I wore dark pants and a top (not a T-shirt), after a day of sightseeing and it was fine.

Day Three

1^st Stop: Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is a gorgeous assembly of 18th-century art, French furniture, Medieval armor, home décor, and other objects inside a mansion built in 1776. It’s free and a fun peek into the life of the upper crust when Britain ruled the world.

2^nd Stop: British Museum

I love the British Museum! It may be the world’s best collection documenting the rise of world civilizations. You’ll see priceless artifacts such as sculptures from the Parthenon in Greece, Easter Island statues, and the Rosetta Stone, which was the key to deciphering hieroglyphics.

My favorite area is the Egyptian Gallery. There are mummies and sarcophagi-among lots of other important and historical artifacts. Admission is free, but you must reserve online here.

3^rd Stop: St. Paul’s Cathedral

London’s lovely white-domed cathedral was built in the late 1600s, but a church has been located here since 604 A.D. Well known for its iconic dome, famed British architect Christopher Wren designed it. The cathedral didn’t survive the Great Fire of 1666, but it made it through World War 2 unscathed.

The cathedral is the final resting place of many acclaimed Brits, such as the Duke of Wellington. It has also hosted major events, including the funeral of Queen Victoria and the wedding of Princess Diana.

You’ll receive a free audio guide with admission, although we used our favorite Rick Steves audio tour. After you get a feel for the history of the cathedral, head upstairs to climb the 365-ft. dome for stellar views of London.

Get your tickets for admission online.

4^th Stop: Tate Modern

When you’re done with St. Paul’s, cross over the Millennium Bridge and visit the Tate Modern Art Gallery. It’s free, but there is a requested donation. Even those who don’t love modern art can enjoy works by Picasso, Dali, Matisse, and more.

Many up and coming artists have exhibitions that will challenge your perception of art. Even though it’s free to visit, you must currently reserve your entrance time beforehand. Do that here.

5^th Stop: London Eye

Is the London Eye (an enormous Ferris wheel with gorgeous views of the city) touristy? Expensive? Unnecessary? Yes. But it’s still fun. And I would recommend you do it!

The London Eye, opened in 2000, was initially intended to be a temporary attraction. But its explosive popularity has made it a permanent fixture on the city’s must-see list. Views are gorgeous at any time of the day, but sunset is stunning.

It is popular, and you need to pre-book your ticket. Reserve your time on their website.

6^th Stop: Piccadilly Circus

We found ourselves with extra time on our last day and a hankering to see one more sight. So, we visited Piccadilly Circus. The intersection is famous for its Times Square-style billboards, enormous and bright screens that showcase the latest soda offering or clothing ad. It’s pretty touristy, but still fun to see.

The crowd is as interesting as the location. The center of the intersection is circular (circus means circle in Latin) and features a tall statue of Eros. All around the statue are locals meeting friends, tourists taking photos and people passing to and fro. It’s a huge cross-section of people, and the scene is worth a few minutes of your time.

What do you love about London? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I hope you have a chance to make it to this incredible city soon!

 

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