Few cities pack as much story into their streets as London. Founded by the Romans and reshaped by kings, merchants, and artists, the city balances royal pageantry with creative grit. From the Gothic splendor of Westminster Abbey to modern riverfront architecture on the South Bank, you’ll move through centuries in a single afternoon.

London is made for wandering and grazing: world-class museums, leafy parks, timeworn pubs, and markets that spill over with cheese, curry, pies, and pastries. The Underground and buses make it effortless to bounce between neighborhoods—think stately St. James’s in the morning, Shoreditch street art by noon, and a West End curtain call at night.

Expect eclectic dining, a superb café scene, and enough culture to fill weeks. This 7-day London itinerary layers can’t-miss highlights with local favorites, plus one magical Harry Potter day and a countryside escape to Stonehenge and Bath. Bring comfy shoes, a contactless card for transport, and an appetite.

London

London’s greatest hits are rightly famous—Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Tower Bridge—but the fun begins in its neighborhoods. Sip flat whites in Fitzrovia, hunt vintage in Notting Hill, and taste your way through Borough Market. Evenings shine along the Thames embankments and the theater-lit lanes of Covent Garden and Soho.

• Top sights: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Covent Garden, the British Museum, National Gallery, Notting Hill, Greenwich.
• Why visit now: Year-round festivals, seasonal markets, and evolving food halls keep the city fresh. Major museums remain free, and contactless fares cap daily on public transport.
• Fun fact: Beneath the Tower of London’s medieval walls sit Roman remains; above, the Crown Jewels sparkle behind ultra-modern security.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• The Savoy (classic glamour on the Strand): Check availability
• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (steps from Big Ben, family-friendly rooms): Check availability
• Novotel London Tower Bridge (great for Tower of London access): Check availability
• Premier Inn London County Hall (solid value on the South Bank): Check availability
• Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (budget-friendly, compact rooms): Check availability
• YHA London St Pancras (hostel with private rooms opposite St Pancras): Check availability
• YHA London Central (Marylebone/Fitzrovia base): Check availability

Browse more stays: VRBO London | Hotels.com London

Getting there and around:

• Flights: For transatlantic or long-haul options into Heathrow/Gatwick, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: ~7 hours from NYC, ~10–11 hours from LAX.
• Within Europe: Check Omio for flights and Omio trains (Eurostar Paris/Brussels to London in ~2–2.5 hours). Advance fares often run ~$75–$200 one way.
• Airport to city: Heathrow Express (~15 min) or the Piccadilly Line (~50–55 min). Contactless/Oyster daily caps across Zones 1–2 hover roughly around £8–£9 as of 2025; tap in/out on Tube and buses.

Day 1: Arrival, South Bank Stroll, and London Eye Views

Morning: Travel day. If arriving from Europe by train, St Pancras makes an elegant entrance—grab a quick espresso at the concourse before heading to your hotel.

Afternoon: Check in and shake off the flight with a gentle South Bank walk. Start by the London Eye and wander past the street performers and bookstalls toward the Tate Modern. Snack stops: gelato from La Gelatiera or a coffee at WatchHouse on the riverfront.

Evening: Cross the Golden Jubilee Bridges for postcard views of Big Ben and Westminster. Dinner near Borough Market: try Padella for silky cacio e pepe, Wright Brothers for oysters and fish pie, or El Pastor for al pastor tacos. Nightcap at a riverside pub like The Anchor Bankside.

Day 2: Royal London, Westminster Abbey, and the West End

Morning: Be at Buckingham Palace forecourt by 10:15am for the Changing of the Guard (on scheduled days). Then tour Westminster Abbey for coronation history, Poets’ Corner, and Henry VII’s Lady Chapel. Quick bite options nearby: Regency Café (art deco, full English) or The Cinnamon Club for a refined Indian-spiced brunch.

Afternoon: Stroll St James’s Park toward Whitehall. Peek at Downing Street and the Guards Museums, then explore Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery’s masterworks (free entry). Pause for afternoon tea: Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon or The Wolseley on Piccadilly.

Evening: See a West End show in Covent Garden or Soho. Pre-theater eats: Dishoom (Bombay comfort classics—order the black daal), Barrafina (counter-seat tapas; get the tortilla and croquetas), or Flat Iron (excellent steaks; no-frills). Celebrate after with a classic martini at The American Bar at The Savoy.

Day 3: Tower of London, Borough Market, and St Paul’s

Morning: Enter the medieval fortress early to beat crowds with this reserved ticket: Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket.

Join a Yeoman Warder talk for stories of traitors and ravens, then marvel at the Crown Jewels’ regalia. Walk across Tower Bridge for Thames panoramas.

Afternoon: Lunch at Borough Market. Don’t miss Kappacasein’s toasted cheese sandwich, Gujarati Rasoi’s vegetarian thali, Pieminister pies, and Bread Ahead doughnuts. Wander the Bankside to Shakespeare’s Globe and cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s—climb the dome if you’ve got the legs.

Evening: Golden-hour views at the Sky Garden (free tickets released in advance) or the Garden at 120. Dinner in the City: Blacklock (lamb chops and Sunday roast if it’s the right day), Brat (wood-fired seafood), or Hawksmoor Guildhall for prime British beef.

Day 4: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour (with Transport)

Spend a spellbinding day at the sets and soundstages where the films came to life—great for fans and film lovers alike. Book this coach-included experience from central London: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London.

Walk the Great Hall, sip butterbeer, see Diagon Alley, and learn how creatures and broomsticks were made movie-real. Expect 6–7 hours door-to-door.

Optional evening: Back in town, celebrate in Soho with ramen at Kanada-Ya, Sri Lankan plates at Hoppers, or the ever-reliable Franco Manca sourdough pizzas. For cocktails, try a themed speakeasy like Cahoots.

Day 5: Kensington Museums, Hyde Park, and Notting Hill

Morning: Start with coffee and a flaky pastry at The Muffin Man Tea Shop near High Street Kensington. Choose your museum: the V&A (design), Natural History (dinosaurs and minerals), or Science Museum (hands-on galleries). All are free to enter with special paid exhibitions.

Afternoon: Picnic or paddle boats in Hyde Park, then wander Kensington Gardens toward the Italian Gardens fountains. Continue to Notting Hill: pastel mews, vintage shops, and Portobello Road. Coffee at Farm Girl or a pastel de nata at Lisboa Patisserie; book lovers can detour to Daunt Books (Marylebone) later.

Evening: Classic pub supper at The Churchill Arms (Thai menu in a flower-laden pub), seafood at Notting Hill Fish + Meat, or modern British at Hereford Road. If you’re celebrating, The Ledbury is one of London’s finest dining rooms—reserve well ahead.

Day 6: Day Trip—Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath (with Pub Lunch)

Trade city streets for green hills and Georgian crescents on a guided countryside escape. This well-paced favorite covers the big three with time to soak in the stories: Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock.

Expect an early start, priority entry at Windsor (when open), an atmospheric Stonehenge visit, and time in Bath’s honey-colored streets—plus a proper pub lunch. Return to London in the evening pleasantly tired and full of pictures.

Day 7: East London Markets, Shoreditch Art, and a Thames Dinner Cruise

Morning: Old-school London breakfast at E. Pellicci (East End “caff” institution). If it’s Sunday, hit Columbia Road Flower Market for petals and buskers; otherwise explore Brick Lane’s street art alleys and bagel shops (salt beef from Beigel Bake is a rite of passage).

Afternoon: Shop and snack at Old Spitalfields Market—try Dumpling Shack’s pan-fried soup dumplings, Lahpet’s Burmese tea leaf salad, or Pleasant Lady’s jianbing. Browse Redchurch Street boutiques, then consider a DLR hop to Greenwich for the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, and hilltop views back to the City skyline.

Evening: Toast your trip on the water with a candlelit glide past Big Ben, St Paul’s, and the Shard: London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River.

Prefer to stay on land? Book a table at Kiln (northern Thai grill), St. JOHN Bread and Wine (nose-to-tail British), or Brat (Basque-inflected, wood-fired cooking) and then bar-hop through Shoreditch.

Practical tips: Reserve major attractions and restaurants in advance, especially on weekends. Carry a compact umbrella, wear layers, and use contactless tap for Tube/bus payments (daily caps save money). London’s black cabs are iconic; rideshare is plentiful; walking often becomes the highlight between stops.

Transport booking quick links: Omio flights (within Europe) | Omio trains (Eurostar and UK rail) | Omio buses | Trip.com long-haul flights | Kiwi.com flights

Summary: In one week, you’ll trace royal footsteps in Westminster, unlock the Tower’s secrets, feast through markets, and see London glow from the river. A magical studio day and a Stonehenge–Bath countryside loop add depth and wonder. You’ll leave with a camera roll full of icons—and a shortlist of neighborhoods you’ll want to return to.