London wears its history openly: Roman walls meet glassy skyscrapers, and free national museums hold treasures from every era. Founded by the Romans as Londinium, the city has been rebuilt time and again—through fires, plagues, and wars—emerging as a vibrant capital of art, science, theater, and ideas. For museum lovers, it’s a dream: the British Museum, V&A, Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, and more—all within an easy ride on the Underground.

Expect an energizing rhythm. Mornings immerse you in galleries and palaces; afternoons bring riverside walks, food markets, and hidden-house museums; evenings trade big sights for cozy pubs or a West End show. With a midrange budget, you’ll maximize London’s many free museums and parks, splurge for a few unforgettable tickets, and eat brilliantly at affordable spots locals love.

Practical notes: Tap water is safe; contactless payments (phones/cards) are the fastest way to ride buses and the Tube, with daily fare caps that keep costs reasonable. National museums are free to enter (special exhibitions cost extra). For popular attractions, timed entry helps—arrive right at opening or late afternoon to avoid crowds.

London

London’s neighborhoods read like chapters: Westminster for state pageantry; the City for medieval power; South Kensington for grand museums; South Bank for skyline strolls; Bloomsbury for scholarship; Greenwich for maritime history. Each day below connects the dots with short journeys and plenty of time to linger.

• Top sights for museum-goers: British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Imperial War Museum, Sir John Soane’s Museum, Wallace Collection.
• Food highlights nearby: Borough Market for artisanal bites; Soho for late-night eats; Covent Garden for pre-theatre dining; Marylebone for elegant cafés; Greenwich Market for street-food gems.
• Fun fact: The V&A’s cast courts preserve full-scale replicas of European masterpieces—Victorian 3D copying at its best—so you can stand beneath “Michelangelo’s” David without leaving South Kensington.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• Best-value by Big Ben (great for walkers): Premier Inn London County Hall — steps from the Thames and the London Eye.
• Reliable midrange with pool and views: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London — large rooms, excellent location for South Bank strolls.
• City-side comfort: Novotel London Tower Bridge — ideal for Tower/City sights.
• Budget-modern near St Pancras: Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras
• Hostel favorites (clean, social): YHA London St Pancras and YHA London Central
• Classic splurge: The Savoy — Art Deco glamour on the Strand.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com London or VRBO London

Getting to London (time and cost estimates):

• Flights (global): London is served by Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City airports. From North America, typical nonstop flight times are ~7–10 hours; from the Middle East/Asia ~6–12 hours; prices vary widely by season. Search on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.
• Eurostar (from Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam): 2h15–4h to St Pancras; fares from about $60–$180 one way. Compare on Omio trains in Europe.
• European buses: Often the cheapest; 7–12 hours from nearby capitals. Check Omio buses.
• UK domestic trains: e.g., Manchester–London 2h10; Edinburgh–London ~4h30–5h; advance fares from ~$30–$80. See Omio trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Covent Garden, and the South Bank

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs in Covent Garden—peek into the covered market’s craft stalls, watch the street performers in the piazza, and slip into color-splashed Neal’s Yard for a quick photo. For coffee, try Monmouth Coffee (expert roasters) or % Arabica on the piazza.

Evening: Early dinner in the area: Dishoom (Bombay comfort; bacon naan and black daal are hits), Flat Iron (great-value steak; free popcorn while you wait), or Bancone (silky fresh pasta—try the silk handkerchiefs). Stroll the South Bank from the Jubilee Gardens to the Millennium Bridge for golden-hour views of Big Ben and St Paul’s dome.

Night: If energy allows, a gentle riverside loop: the lit arches of the Golden Jubilee Bridges, the book market under Waterloo Bridge, and street musicians near the Royal Festival Hall. Turn in early—tomorrow is all about Westminster and Churchill.

Day 2: Westminster Icons and the Churchill War Rooms (tour included)

Morning: Start at Westminster Abbey (royal weddings and coronations since 1066), then circle Parliament Square for Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. Coffee and a classic English breakfast at Regency Café (art deco, cash-like vibe) or The Wolseley (grand café elegance on Piccadilly, reserve if possible). Wander St James’s Park; if timing fits, see the Changing of the Guard near Buckingham Palace (check schedule).

Afternoon (featured activity): WW2 London Walking Tour & Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket — trace blitz-era stories through Westminster and descend into the Cabinet War Rooms, preserved as they were during the war. Book here: WW2 London Walking Tour & Churchill War Rooms Entrance Ticket

Refuel with a sandwich and a slice at Café in the Crypt (Trafalgar Square) or grab Lebanese wraps at Shawarma Bar near Piccadilly.

Evening: Pre-theatre bites in Soho: BAO (Taiwanese buns; classic pork or fried chicken), Kiln (Northern Thai grills and clay-pot curries), or The Palomar (Jerusalem kitchen; kubaneh bread is essential). Catch a West End show, or settle into The Harp (a beloved cask-ale pub near Covent Garden) for a low-key pint.

Day 3: British Museum, Bloomsbury Townhouses, and Literary London

Morning: The British Museum opens a portal to the ancient world. Go early and focus: the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian sculpture, Assyrian lion hunt reliefs, the Parthenon marbles, and the Enlightenment Gallery. Coffee and pastries at Kaffeine (Fitzrovia) or Half Cup (Bloomsbury) beforehand.

Afternoon: Walk 10 minutes to the Sir John Soane’s Museum—Soane hoarded light, space, and antiquities in an exquisite labyrinth of skylights and mirrors. Pair it with the Charles Dickens Museum for Victorian domestic life. Lunch options: Honey & Co. Daily (Middle Eastern salads, bakes), Roti King Euston (Malaysian roti canai), or The Lamb (proper pie and mash in a wood-paneled pub).

Evening: Explore Soho/Fitzrovia dining: Hoppers (Sri Lankan hoppers and black pork curry), Circolo Popolare (lavish Sicilian trattoria), or Mildreds (vegetarian institution). For gelato, Ruby Violet in Bloomsbury; for a late espresso, Bar Italia on Frith Street.

Day 4: Tower of London, the City, and Tate Modern (tour included)

Morning (featured activity): Enter the medieval world at the Tower of London—see the Crown Jewels, walk the battlements, and hear Yeoman Warder tales. Book the standard ticket here: Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket

Grab coffee at Rosslyn Coffee (excellent filter) or WatchHouse Tower Bridge.

Afternoon: Cross Tower Bridge and follow the Thames Path to Borough Market for lunch: Kappacasein (molten raclette), Brindisa (grilled chorizo roll), or Padella (tagliarini with nduja, if the queue is sane). Walk the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s for a quick look under the soaring dome, then over to Tate Modern for modern and contemporary art (the Turbine Hall installations are free to enjoy).

Evening: Dinner near the river: Wright Brothers (oysters and seafood), El Pastor (mezcals and tacos), or Arabica (Levantine small plates). If you’re keen on theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe offers candlelit or open-air productions in season—otherwise, a calm pint at The George Inn, a 17th-century coaching pub tucked behind Borough High Street.

Day 5: South Kensington’s “Albertopolis” — V&A, Natural History, Science

Morning: Start at the Natural History Museum—T. rex roars, blue whale majesty, and a Victorian cathedral to science. Then the V&A: fashion, Islamic art, Japanese netsuke, and those dazzling Cast Courts. Coffee and cannoli at Brompton Food Market or pastries at GAIL’s South Kensington.

Afternoon: The Science Museum is next—space exploration, the Making the Modern World gallery, and hands-on Wonderlab (if traveling with kids). Lunch choices: V&A Café (ornate refreshment rooms designed by William Morris), CERU (bright Levantine flavors), or The Kensington Creperie (savory galettes, sweet crêpes).

Evening: Window-shop Knightsbridge (Harrods’ food halls are a spectacle) or stroll quiet museum lanes toward Chelsea. Dinner: Dishoom Kensington (calmer than Covent Garden; try the house black daal and chicken ruby), Da Mario (retro Italian comfort), or The Admiral Codrington (solid gastropub classics).

Day 6: Greenwich by River and Skyline Views on the London Eye (ticket included)

Morning: Ride a Thames boat to Greenwich for big-sky views of Canary Wharf and the Docklands. Tour the Royal Observatory (Prime Meridian line) and the National Maritime Museum (Nelson and exploration). Coffee at Heap’s Sausages (excellent baps) or Black Sheep Coffee by the market.

Afternoon: Visit the Cutty Sark tea clipper, then browse Greenwich Market (crafts and global street food: Venezuelan arepas, Burmese noodles, Ethiopian stews). Return by river; if time allows, detour through the pedestrian foot tunnel under the Thames for a quirky slice of engineering history.

Evening (featured activity): Cap the day with a flight on the London Eye—sunset or night rides are especially photogenic. Book: The London Eye Entry Ticket

Dinner on the South Bank: Pizza Pilgrims (Neapolitan pies), Wahaca (Mexican street food in a recycled shipping-container space), or Tas (Turkish grills and meze).

Day 7: The Wallace Collection, Marylebone, and Farewell

Morning: The Wallace Collection is an elegant finale—Old Masters, armor, and rococo interiors in a townhouse setting. Coffee and a light breakfast at The Monocle Café (matcha cakes, meticulous espresso) or La Fromagerie (toasties and seasonal produce). Stroll Marylebone High Street for bookshops and boutiques, or walk along Regent’s Canal toward Little Venice if time allows.

Afternoon (departure): Pick up picnic supplies at Selfridges Foodhall or a quick lunch at Fischer’s (Viennese plates) before heading to your airport or station. Allow generous time for transfers; the Tube and rail are usually the most predictable way out during the day.

Evening: Fly home with a head full of Turner skies, Tudor towers, and the hush of gallery floors.

Budget-savvy tips: Many headline museums are free—budget your paid tickets for the Tower, Churchill War Rooms tour, and London Eye. Use contactless on the Tube/buses for daily caps; eat brilliantly without overspending at Borough Market, Padella, Flat Iron, Bao, and pub specials. Time your big sights for early mornings or late afternoons to trim queues.

Optional Add-Ons (if you have extra time)

• Imperial War Museum (free entry; powerful WW1/WW2 galleries).
• Design Museum (Kensington) for contemporary design and architecture.
• Hampstead Heath + Kenwood House for art in a stately home and sweeping city views.

Need transport within Europe? Compare and book trains, flights, and buses on Omio (trains), Omio (flights), and Omio (buses). For long-haul flights, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Seven days in London gives you time to revel in the museums, trace royal and wartime history, and eat your way through markets and neighborhoods that locals adore. You’ll depart with a richer sense of the city’s layers—and a shortlist of galleries you’ll want to return to next time.