London wears its history openly—on palace gates, in riverside wharfs, and in museums that chart how a city survives, adapts, and leads. From the Thames lifeblood to cutting-edge galleries, you’ll trace stories of rescue, medicine, navigation, and everyday grit—and taste the city along the way.

Across seven days, you’ll explore the Churchill War Rooms, Medicine galleries at the Science Museum, the Old Operating Theatre, and Florence Nightingale Museum. You’ll sail through maritime lore in Greenwich and step aboard icons in Portsmouth. In between: markets, pubs, and neighborhood gems.

Practical notes: Use a contactless card for the Tube and buses (daily fare caps help your budget). London’s dining scene is busy—book dinners and popular exhibits where possible. Many museums are free; special exhibits may require timed tickets. Always confirm opening days for smaller museums.

London

London is a city of layers: Roman wall, Tudor courts, Blitz shelters, and glassy skyscrapers. Its neighborhoods reward curiosity—Shoreditch’s street art, Greenwich’s riverside lawns, Westminster’s grandeur. Food here runs from legendary curries and nose-to-tail dining to serious coffee and classic pie-and-mash.

• Top sights to anchor your week: Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Abbey, South Bank, Borough Market, Old Operating Theatre Museum, Florence Nightingale Museum, Science Museum (Medicine galleries), Royal Air Force Museum, Greenwich’s Cutty Sark & National Maritime Museum, Thames Path, West End.
• Where to stay: Base near Covent Garden or the South Bank for walkability and easy Tube access. Browse stays on Hotels.com (London) or apartment-style options via VRBO (London).
• Getting in and around: Book flights or trains on Omio (Flights to/from Europe) and Omio (Trains in Europe). From Heathrow, the Piccadilly Line takes ~45–60 minutes to central London at a low fare; the Heathrow Express is ~15 minutes to Paddington.

Day 1: Arrival, South Bank Walk, and a Cozy First Night

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Stretch your legs along the South Bank from the London Eye toward Tower Bridge. Grab a flat white at WatchHouse (Tower Bridge) and take in river views—a good first read of the city’s pulse.

Evening: Dinner at Dishoom Covent Garden for a celebratory first meal—black daal, okra fries, and house chai evoke Bombay café nostalgia with London flair. If you prefer modern Jerusalem-inspired small plates, The Palomar (Soho) is lively and shareable.

Night: Toast at Gordon’s Wine Bar, a candlelit vault under the Embankment, pouring fortified wines and pairing boards. It’s atmospheric, central, and unmistakably London.

Day 2: Westminster Icons and Britain’s Nerve Center

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Monmouth Coffee (Covent Garden). Walk to Westminster Abbey (poets, monarchs, and time-honored ceremony), then cross to St James’s Park for pelicans and palace views.

Afternoon: Dive into the Churchill War Rooms—cabinet maps, telex machines, and the underground warren that directed Britain’s WWII effort. Lunch before or after at Regency Café (art deco, hearty fry-ups; cash-friendly and cinematic) or simple, excellent fish & chips at The Laughing Halibut (Westminster).

Evening: West End show night. For pre-theatre, book J Sheekey (seafood stalwart) or The 10 Cases (small, seasonal plates and smart wines). After the curtain, grab a nightcap at Swift Soho—elegant martinis and sours in a relaxed setting.

Day 3: Medical History, Borough Market, and London Bridge

Morning: Step back at the Old Operating Theatre Museum, a preserved 19th-century surgical theatre in a church garret—sawdust, scalpels, and riveting storytelling. Wander to Southwark Cathedral’s quiet garden.

Afternoon: Lunch at Borough Market: consider Kappacasein’s toasted cheese sandwich, Bread Ahead doughnuts, or Brindisa’s chorizo roll. Then visit the Florence Nightingale Museum (check opening days) inside St Thomas’ Hospital—lamps, ledgers, and the founder of modern nursing in context.

Evening: Explore the Bermondsey Beer Mile (Kernel Brewery’s IPAs are a benchmark) or opt for cocktails at Nine Lives (tropical-accented, sustainable ethos). Dinner nearby at Hawksmoor Borough for British beef and sticky toffee pudding.

Day 4: Greenwich Maritime Day—Cutty Sark, Time, and the Barrier

Morning: Take a Thames river boat to Greenwich for a grand approach. Tour the Cutty Sark—once the fastest tea clipper—and then the National Maritime Museum’s galleries on navigation, exploration, and sea rescues.

Afternoon: Lunch at Goddards at Greenwich for classic pie, mash, and liquor, or graze Greenwich Market’s food stalls (try Ethiopian stews or Argentine empanadas). Stroll up to the Royal Observatory for Prime Meridian views, then ride to Thames Barrier Park for a look at London’s flood defense.

Evening: Back at North Greenwich, consider “Up at The O2” (a harnessed roof walk with skyline views). Dinner at Craft London (seasonal British menus) or casual noodles at nearby spots before returning to central London.

Day 5: Science, Flight, and Soho Flavor

Morning: South Kensington’s museum quarter: the Science Museum’s Medicine galleries vividly trace care, cures, and public health. Pop into the V&A for a quick design hit if you have time.

Afternoon: Lunch at CERU (bright Levantine plates) or Dishoom Kensington (bacon naan if you missed it). Then Northern line to Colindale for the Royal Air Force Museum—hangars full of aircraft, from Spitfires to rescue helicopters, with interpretive exhibits on air operations and life-saving missions.

Evening: Soho dinner at Kiln (Thai grill; counter seating, smoky, superb) or Hoppers (Sri Lankan hoppers, black pork curry, and sambols). Finish with dessert at Chin Chin Ice Cream (hot chocolate over torched marshmallow is a local favorite).

Day 6: Day Trip to Portsmouth—Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower

Travel (morning): Take a morning train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour (about 1h30–1h45; advance fares often $25–40). Book on Omio (Trains in Europe). Alternatively, coaches run ~2 hours; compare on Omio (Buses in Europe).

Day highlights: Explore Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: HMS Victory’s decks, the exquisitely conserved Mary Rose, and displays on seamanship and survival at sea. Break for lunch at The Still & West (harbor views and hearty pub plates) or head to Gunwharf Quays for quick options with waterfront seating.

Late afternoon: Ride the Spinnaker Tower for Solent panoramas. Return to London in the early evening.

Evening (London): Late dinner at The Oystermen (Covent Garden; stellar seafood) or Flat Iron (good-value steaks; walk-in list moves fast).

• Where to stay if you choose a Portsmouth overnight: Check Hotels.com (Portsmouth) or VRBO (Portsmouth).

Day 7: East End Resilience, Docklands, and a Farewell Feast

Morning: Breakfast at E. Pellicci (family-run Italian-inflected “caff” since 1900) or Beigel Bake on Brick Lane (24-hour salt beef bagels). Explore Shoreditch’s street art and Old Spitalfields Market’s indie stalls.

Afternoon: Head to Museum of London Docklands to trace the Thames’ trade, plagues, and port communities—vivid context for a river-shaped city. If time allows, detour for the London Transport Museum (Covent Garden) to see how the network moved and protected Londoners during crises.

Evening: Farewell dinner at St. John (Smithfield)—pioneers of nose-to-tail cooking and a lodestar of British cuisine—or Dishoom Shoreditch for a warm, convivial finale. Cap the night at The Gibson (martini temple) or The Harp (real-ale favorite near Trafalgar Square).

Getting There and Practical Transport

• Flights: Search and compare fares to Heathrow, Gatwick, or City Airport on Omio (Flights to/from Europe). Typical nonstop times: NYC ~7 hours, LAX ~10–11 hours.
• Trains (Europe): The Eurostar from Paris/Brussels to London takes ~2h16–2h30; book via Omio (Trains in Europe). Advance fares can be excellent value.
• Airport to city: Piccadilly Line from Heathrow is ~45–60 minutes and budget-friendly; Gatwick trains reach central stations in ~30 minutes. Contactless payment on all public transit with daily caps.

Where to Stay (Neighborhood Tips)

• Covent Garden/Soho: Walk to theatres, markets, and the river; great for first-time visitors.
• South Bank/London Bridge: Riverside paths, quick access to Borough Market, Tate Modern, and trains.
• South Kensington: Steps from major museums, handsome streets, easy Piccadilly/District lines.
• Shoreditch: Nightlife, street art, creative dining; slightly edgier, well connected.
• Browse options on Hotels.com (London) and VRBO (London).

In a week you’ve traced London’s deep currents—war rooms and ward rounds, clipper ships and commuter boats, markets and music halls—and added a coastal chapter in Portsmouth. This itinerary balances big hitters and local favorites so you leave with a story only a river city could write.