London wears its history in spectacular layers—Roman walls beneath glass towers, Tudor timber framing around Georgian squares, and Victorian feats of engineering over the sinuous Thames. From Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London, each landmark anchors a story that changed the world. Yet the city is equally about people: markets, music, football, and food from everywhere.

For a budget-minded adventurer, London is gold: most major museums are free, parks are plentiful, and world-famous sights can be enjoyed from the street. Pair that with steaming flat whites from best-in-class roasters, street art in Shoreditch, and neighborhood bakeries that rival Paris, and you’ll cover miles—by foot, Tube, and river boat—with a grin.

Practical notes: tap contactless or Oyster on buses, Tube, and the Elizabeth line; daily caps keep fares sensible. Many restaurants add a 12.5% service charge. Book free timed tickets for popular museums and viewpoints in advance where possible. Weather changes fast—pack a light layer and keep going.

London

London rewards curiosity. Start with the Parliament-and-palaces skyline, then dive into markets, canals, and cafés in neighborhoods like Shoreditch, Soho, Greenwich, and Camden. The city’s food scene is thrilling at every price point—from £4 salt-beef bagels to hand-rolled pasta and South Asian classics.

Top sights include the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the British Museum, the Tower of London, St Paul’s, Tate Modern, and the London Eye. Don’t miss Leadenhall Market, Postman’s Park, Sir John Soane’s Museum (free), and the Sky Garden (free ticket required).

Where to stay (budget to mid):

• Hostel/budget favorite: YHA London St Pancras (clean, social; steps from King’s Cross/St Pancras; dorms and privates).
• Central hostel: YHA London Central (walkable to Soho and Oxford Circus).
• Value hotel: Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (compact rooms, excellent transport links).
• Reliable midrange: Premier Inn London County Hall (next to the London Eye; quiet rooms).
• Comfort with views: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (handy for Westminster and South Bank).

Browse more options: VRBO London apartments and Hotels.com London stays.

Getting in: From Europe, compare flights, Eurostar, and buses on Omio flights (Europe), Omio trains (Europe), and Omio buses (Europe). From outside Europe, check Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.

Airport to city (approx): Heathrow via Piccadilly line (~50–60 min, ~£6) or Elizabeth line (~35–45 min, ~£13); Heathrow Express to Paddington (~15 min, ~£25). Gatwick Express to Victoria (~30 min, ~£20–23) or Thameslink to London Bridge/St Pancras (~35–45 min, ~£11–13). Stansted Express to Liverpool Street (~50 min, ~£21–25). Luton to St Pancras via Thameslink (~35–45 min, ~£12–15). Use contactless/Oyster; daily caps keep costs low.

Day 1: South Bank Welcome, Skyline Views, and Comfort Food

Afternoon: Arrive, drop bags, and stretch your legs along the South Bank from Waterloo toward Tower Bridge. Snack your way through Borough Market (Kappacasein’s toasted cheese sandwich; Bread Ahead doughnuts; Gujarati Rasoi veg plates). Grab a flat white at Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market) or Origin Southwark.

Evening: Ride the London Eye at golden hour for a first sweep of the skyline. Book standard entry via The London Eye Entry Ticket.

After, head to Flat Iron (Covent Garden) for £14–£16 steak with house salad, or Franco Manca for budget sourdough pizza. Nightcap by the river at Understudy (National Theatre) with Thames views.

Day 2: Westminster Icons, Royal Pageantry, and Classic Cafés

Morning: Start with coffee at Kaffeine (Fitzrovia) or WatchHouse Somerset House. Walk Parliament Square: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Churchill statue. Time your stroll to watch the Changing of the Guard near Buckingham Palace (check the day’s schedule). For deeper context, join a guided walk: Westminster, Big Ben & Changing of the Guard Tour (optional).

Afternoon: Lunch at the retro Regency Café (Art Deco, great value fry-up) or Bao Soho (fluffy Taiwanese buns). Explore Trafalgar Square and the free National Gallery (seek out Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Turner’s seascapes). Coffee break at Flat White (Soho) or Bar Italia for old-school espresso.

Evening: Wander Covent Garden’s street performers and colonnades. Dinner at Bancone (silk handkerchief pasta) or Hoppers (Sri Lankan hoppers and short eats). Consider £5–£10 standing tickets at Shakespeare’s Globe in season or same-day theatre rush tickets in the West End.

Day 3: The City, Tower of London, and East End After Dark

Morning: Fuel at Rosslyn Coffee (City) or Association Coffee. Then meet a Yeoman Warder and see the Crown Jewels on a guided visit: Tower of London Guided Tour with Beefeater & Crown Jewels.

Stroll to Leadenhall Market (Victorian ironwork, Harry Potter film location) and the free Sky Garden (book a timed slot ahead).

Afternoon: Street-food lunch at Old Spitalfields Market (Rasa Sayang Malaysian, Dumpling Shack) or classic salt-beef at Beigel Bake on Brick Lane. Explore Shoreditch murals around Hanbury Street and Fashion Street; pop into Boxpark for indie stalls.

Evening: Embrace the macabre with a guided walk: The Original Jack the Ripper: Guided Tour.

Afterward, feast at Tayyabs (legendary Punjabi grills; book or go early) or Dishoom Shoreditch (Bombay comfort food; breakfast naan also great another day).

Day 4: Museum Mile—Natural History, V&A, and Hyde Park

Morning: South Kensington is museum paradise—and free. Start at the Natural History Museum (Hintze Hall’s blue whale) then cross to the V&A (design, fashion, Islamic art). Coffee at The Gentlemen Baristas (South Ken) or Brompton Food Market.

Afternoon: Picnic in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens (look for the Peter Pan statue). If rain hits, duck into the Science Museum for hands-on galleries. Late lunch options: Comptoir Libanais (Lebanese plates) or budget-friendly Roti King (Euston; flaky roti canai).

Evening: Meander Notting Hill’s pastel streets around Colville Terrace. Dinner at Gold (shareable plates) or keep it thrifty with Padella (Borough or Shoreditch; £7–£15 handmade pasta). Gelato at Chin Chin (nitro ice cream) or Gelupo.

Day 5: Day Trip Adventure—Stonehenge and Bath

Make this your big out-of-town adventure. Sit back on a coach to the prehistoric stones and the honey-colored Georgian city: Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London.

Expect an early start and a full day. In Bath, roam the Crescent and Circus, then refuel with a Bath bun at Sally Lunn’s or a pie at The Raven. Budget tip: if you’d prefer a shorter, cheaper option, consider a half-day Stonehenge tour or save it for next time and spend the day exploring Greenwich by river.

Day 6: Canals, Camden, Hampstead Heath, and Market Grazing

Morning: Coffee at Ozone Coffee Roasters (Shoreditch) or Prufrock (Holborn). Stroll the Regent’s Canal from Little Venice to Camden (or the reverse), watching narrowboats and murals glide by. Dive into Camden Market for global street food (Arepazo, Prawnography, or Yorkshire Wraps).

Afternoon: Head up to Primrose Hill for a free skyline view, then Tube to Hampstead Heath for wild meadows. On weekends, swap in markets: Saturday at Broadway Market (Hackney) or Sunday at Columbia Road Flower Market (arrive early). Coffee stops: Café Kitsuné (Pavilion Road) or Climpson & Sons (Broadway Market).

Evening: Casual dinner at Mildreds (vegetarian crowd-pleaser), Mangal 2 (Dalston; modern Turkish), or back toward Soho for Hoppers if you missed it. Pub lovers might trace literary haunts around Fitzrovia or the City; teetotalers can sample inventive alcohol-free options showing up on many menus.

Day 7: Maritime Greenwich, Last Museums, and Departure

Morning: Take the DLR to Greenwich for the Cutty Sark, the Old Royal Naval College (film-famous Painted Hall), and the hilltop Royal Observatory with the Prime Meridian. Grab coffee and pastries at Paul Rhodes Bakery or Boulangerie Jade.

Afternoon: Ride the river back toward Westminster on the Thames clipper for scenic fare. If time remains, dip into Tate Modern (free) or Sir John Soane’s Museum (free; a cabinet of wonders). Lunch at Padella (if you didn’t go earlier) or Borough Market for one last graze.

Evening: Depart for the airport. With contactless/Oyster, you’ll buzz through gates quickly. If you have a late flight and a spare hour, stroll the illuminated South Bank one last time and wave at the skyline you’ve come to know.

Where to Book and How to Save

• Accommodation deals: Compare Hotels.com London and VRBO London and book early for the best budget rooms.
• Flights and trains: In Europe, search Omio flights, Omio trains, or Omio buses. From elsewhere, check Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Local transport: Use contactless/Oyster; buses are a flat fare and cap daily. The Thames clipper doubles as a budget-friendly sightseeing boat.

Included Viator Activities in This Itinerary (4)

• The London Eye Entry Ticket

  

• Tower of London Guided Tour with Beefeater & Crown Jewels

  

• The Original Jack the Ripper: Guided Tour

  

• Stonehenge and Bath Tour from London

  

Seven days in London gives you the greatest hits and the neighborhood texture—royal pomp, medieval fortresses, free museums, canals, street art, and a coffee scene that will spoil you. With smart transit and plenty of free sights, you’ll keep costs under control while packing in adventure.

Bookmark this plan, lace up your trainers, and let London’s energy carry you from sunrise espressos to late-night riverside strolls.