Today I want to bring you my London itinerary for 3 days. Spending 72 hours in the UK capital will allow you to get a feel for the highlights of the city and give you a good overview of what London has to offer. From the main attractions to the local areas, London has no shortage of things to entertain visitors. Read on for the official A Lady in London itinerary.
London Itinerary for 3 Days
A lot of people ask me to recommend things to do in London. To help them, I’ve been sharing different London itineraries on my blog. The posts have been so popular that today I want to add my 3 day London itinerary to the mix. I hope you find inspiration in it.
72 hours in London is a good amount of time to see the major attractions and dig a bit deeper into the local side of the city. If you’ve seen my 2-day London itinerary you’ll have already gotten a glimpse.
Whether you want to discover the city’s iconic landmarks, find the best shopping streets in London, eat at the top restaurants, or delve into the city’s history, you’ll find a lot to get excited about while you’re visiting London.
My 3 day itinerary covers a variety of things to do and see in the UK capital. It’s ideal for first-time visitors and those who haven’t traveled to London in a while.
It will give you a good introduction to the main things to do and see in the city and tempt you to come back and explore more of London on a future trip.
Where to Stay in London
When it comes to accommodation in London, you have no shortage of options. Whether you want to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, the city has a lot of great places to choose from.
Given the size and scope of the UK capital, basing yourself in or near the city center is a good thing to do. You can see my blog posts about the best area to stay in London, the best hotels for your style, and quirky hotels for more ideas.
I’ve even published a blog post about the best pubs with rooms in London. It’s a good one to check out if you’re looking for something unique and different.
You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here. With so many options, you’re sure to find a place that ticks all your boxes.
How to Pack for 3 Days in London
Once you’ve decided when to visit the city, you’ll need to pack for London. Depending when you come, that will mean different things.
I’ve drawn up packing lists for winter, summer, autumn, and spring that can help you decide what to wear in London. I’ve also created a guide to how to pack for London all year.
If you’re flying to the United Kingdom, you can look at my long-haul packing list and my guide to how to pack with just a carry-on (I was interviewed by The New York Times about the latter).
Day 1 in London
You can kick off the first morning of your 3 day London itinerary by getting coffee and food. Whether you choose one of the best coffee shops in London or one of the top places for breakfast, you can’t go wrong.
Once you’ve eaten, you’ll be ready to start a big day of discovering the city. My favorite place to do it is Westminster.
I recommend going to Buckingham Palace first. This famous royal palace draws visitors from all over the world, and it’s a must on any first-time London itinerary.
You can time your trip to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony (it happens several days a week), or just admire the monarch’s London residence from outside the gates.
If you happen to be here during the seasonal opening, you can also take a tour of Buckingham Palace. It will allow you to see the state rooms and gardens while you’re visiting. You can book tickets here.
From the palace you can make your way through St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade and Westminster. This area is home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It’s what many people think of when they hear the word “London”.
Westminster Abbey is amazing to see up close, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) is beautiful, and the Houses of Parliament are awe-inspiring. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament. You can book tickets here.
You can also go on my free self-guided walk in Westminster if you want to see the area beyond the big attractions. The route will show you the side streets and hidden spaces locals love here.
From Westminster, you can walk across the River Thames to get to the South Bank. It’s the ideal area for admiring the views from the London Eye, exploring the book market, or taking in the scene along the river.
You can book London Eye tickets here (you’ll need to book well in advance, as it sells out).
There are always street performers, pop-ups, food trucks, festivals, and other entertainment going on here, so it’s fun to wander around and see what’s happening.
From the South Bank, it’s an entertaining walk along the river to Tate Modern and Borough Market. They’re two more of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Tate Modern is a world-class art museum, and the fact that it’s free means it’s easy to go inside for as much (or as little) time as you want to. There are panoramic views from the top floors, too.
Borough Market is just the spot to find culinary inspiration and have something delicious for lunch. It’s worth spending a bit of time wandering around to take in the colors and scents of the stalls.
From Borough Market you can cross London Bridge to reach the City of London, soaking up the views of Tower Bridge as you go.
From the towering dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the hulking form of the Tower of London, this part of the UK capital contains a lot of architectural history. You can take my self-guided walk in the City of London if you want to see the highlights.
After leaving the City, you can get on the tube and ride the Central line from Bank to Notting Hill Gate.
Notting Hill is known for its vibrant colors, and everything from Portobello Road Market to the shops, restaurants, and mews is delightful.
My free self-guided walk in Notting Hill is a great way to get an overview of the area, from the highlights to the quiet streets.
When the sun starts to set, take the tube to the West End. You can have dinner in Soho or Covent Garden when you arrive.
There are loads of places to eat and drink in these areas, and Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square and are always exciting in the evenings.
You can see my recommendations for restaurants in London if you need help finding a place to go for dinner.
If you want to end your evening in style, take the London Underground to South Kensington and check out the nightlife scene around Walton Street and the King’s Road in Chelsea.
Alternatively, you can take an open-top bus tour to get more of an overview of the city. It’s an easy way to discover what London has to offer in a short amount of time. You can book tickets here.
Day 2 in London
You can begin the second morning of your itinerary for 3 days in London with coffee or breakfast in Fitzrovia or Bloomsbury.
After eating you can walk over to the British Museum. It’s a treasure trove of antiquities from all over the world, and it’s great to visit in the morning when there are fewer crowds.
The British Museum is big enough to take up an entire day of sightseeing, so you’ll want to stick to the highlights (the Egyptian rooms and Rosetta Stone are musts for first-time visitors). There’s free entry, so you can stay for as little or as long as you’d like to.
When you’ve finished going through the collection, you can make your way into the museum’s Great Court for a light lunch in the cafe or restaurant.
Alternatively, Charlotte Street is a short walk away and there are great restaurants on it. It’s one of the best places to eat near London’s top attractions.
After lunch, continue the second of your 3 days in London by boarding the tube and taking it to South Kensington. There are three major museums here, and I usually choose one.
I love the V&A for its world-class art and design (and its amazing cafe), the Natural History Museum for its stunning architecture, and the Science Museum for its stimulating exhibits.
After exploring a museum, you can walk up to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The formal garden by Kensington Palace is one of my favorite green spaces in the UK capital, and with 3 days in London, meandering through its vine arches is a must.
The Serpentine lake in Hyde Park is always fun to wander around, and the Diana Memorial Fountain is worth seeing as well.
When you reach Hyde Park Corner, you’ll be ready to rest your feet. There’s no better way to do it than by indulging in afternoon tea. There are lots of good offerings in the area, so you’re spoiled for choice (just make sure to book well in advance).
From The Dorchester to The Lanesborough, The Berkeley to the Mandarin Oriental, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to Claridge’s, The Goring to The Halkin, The Ritz, Brown’s, and Fortnum & Mason, this part of London is packed with afternoon tea options.
As the sun starts to set, continue the second of your 3 days in London by walking or taking the tube to the West End to watch a show. There are plenty of musicals, plays, and comedy acts you can see on any given night in London.
The city has a world-class theater scene, so whether you’re interested in going to a musical in Soho or a drama in Covent Garden, there’s always something exciting to see.
If you’re hungry after the show, you can take advantage of the late opening hours of many of the West End’s restaurants.
If you’re in the mood for nightlife later on, there’s no shortage of options in this part of the city. My favorite is Cahoots, a travel-themed bar in Kingly Court. It’s a fun spot to end your day.
Day 3 in London
The final day of my 3 day London itinerary starts with a trip to Covent Garden. You can walk through the famous piazza to see what’s on in the markets and shops.
Afterwards you can explore the area around Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard, and St Martin’s Courtyard. There are always plenty of places to duck into and bright colors to delight the senses.
None of the streets are at right angles here, so you can have fun letting yourself get lost for a while, too.
When you’re done exploring, you can continue the last of your 3 days in London by meandering through Bloomsbury and Holborn (or taking the tube) to get to Clerkenwell and Smithfield.
This part of the city is home to some of London’s most fascinating history and noteworthy restaurants. If you want to see it in-depth, you can go on my free self-guided Clerkenwell walk.
Otherwise you can start by wandering through Smithfield Market, the largest wholesale meat market in the UK. With its colorful gates, red phone boxes, and ghosts of the morning’s busy trade, it’s a beautiful place.
Outside in Smithfield is the site where William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was executed back when the area was home to one of the city’s most famous gallows.
Today it’s better known for the restaurants that circle it, and for nearby Charterhouse Square and the beautiful little churchyard of St Bartholomew the Great.
From Smithfield you can continue the final day of your 3 day London itinerary by walking up St John Street, where you’re sure to find a good lunch at one of the many award-winning restaurants lining its pavements.
Around the street are little alleys like Peter Lane and St John’s Lane that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time.
After exploring the area, you can walk down Old Street to get to Shoreditch and take in east London’s trendy hub.
From the high street and Great Eastern Street to Redchurch Street and Rivington Street, there’s always something new to discover in this hipster neighborhood.
If you have time, head to Spitalfields to browse the wares in the covered market, see what’s on around the Old Truman Brewery, and stroll down the historic lanes near Commercial Street.
If it’s a weekend (and especially if it’s a Sunday in London), you can hit the markets that spill out into Brick Lane. You can even do my free self-guided street art tour or my Spitalfields walk.
As evening approaches you’ll be in the right place. East London is one of the city’s best nightlife areas, and there’s no shortage of restaurants, bars, pubs, speakeasies, and pop-ups to choose from.
You can continue the final day of your 3 day London itinerary by settling in at one. Whether you choose to go to Hackney, Bethnal Green, Hackney Wick, or another hip part of the East End, you can’t go wrong.
If you have energy for going out afterwards, there are great bars and clubs in this part of the city. They’re exciting places to end your trip to London.
3 Days in London
I hope you’ve enjoyed this London itinerary and that it’s given you good ideas for things to do in the UK capital. If you want more, you can read about the city in Lonely Planet London. You can get it here.
I’ve published plenty of other London itineraries, too. You can take a look at my 1-day, 36-hour, 48-hour, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, 1 week, 8-day, 9-day, and 10-day itineraries for more inspiration.
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