London has been reinventing itself for nearly 2,000 years—from Roman Londinium to the world city you’ll explore today. Kings and queens, wartime resilience, and waves of immigration have produced a layered capital where over 300 languages are spoken. You’ll see medieval castles and cutting-edge galleries in the same afternoon.

Expect grand icons—Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London—alongside gourmet food halls, indie coffee, and leafy parks. London’s museums are cultural heavyweights, many with free entry. Its theatre scene rivals Broadway, and the Thames is both backdrop and thoroughfare for ferries and dinner cruises.

Practical notes: Use contactless payment or an Oyster card on buses and the Tube (daily cap around £8–9 in Zones 1–2). The Elizabeth line speeds you across the city and to Heathrow. Tipping is appreciated (10–12.5% in restaurants if not included). Pack layers; London weather can be four seasons in a day.

London

London is a patchwork of villages: regal Westminster, historic City, bohemian Notting Hill, creative Shoreditch, maritime Greenwich. The best week here balances headliners with neighborhood time. You’ll walk along the South Bank, sample Borough Market, pause for pub sessions, and catch a West End show.

Top highlights include the Tower of London and Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, British Museum, Tate Modern, and the riverside path from the London Eye to Tower Bridge. Add a boat to Greenwich, mews and markets in Notting Hill, and a Harry Potter studio day for magic beyond central London.

• Stay: Search a wide range of stays on VRBO London or Hotels.com London. Handpicked picks:
  • Iconic: The Savoy (Edwardian grandeur on the Strand; classic afternoon tea, on-site theatre bar).
  • Views and value: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (steps from Big Ben, family-friendly rooms).
  • Central, modern: Novotel London Tower Bridge (walk to Tower of London and the City).
  • Budget-smart: Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (efficient rooms near Eurostar/Tube).
  • Hostel social: YHA London St Pancras and YHA London Central.
  • Reliable midrange: Premier Inn London County Hall (by the London Eye, spacious family rooms).
• Getting in: Compare flights on Trip.com and Kiwi.com (best for long-haul). Within Europe, check flights, trains, and buses via Omio flights, Omio trains, and Omio buses. Eurostar times: Paris–London ~2h15, Brussels–London ~2h, often $80–$180.
• Getting around: Tube and buses are frequent; most rides in Zone 1–2 are 10–25 minutes. Thames Clippers are a fun river alternative. Black cabs and rideshares fill the gaps.

Day 1: South Bank Welcome, River Walk, and Pub Classics

Morning: Fly or train into London. If arriving from Europe, the Eurostar pulls into St Pancras; if flying, the Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express gets you central in ~30–40 minutes. Drop bags and freshen up.

Afternoon: Stretch your legs along the South Bank from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. Photo stops: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, and Tate Modern. Coffee at WatchHouse on the Thames or Notes Trafalgar Square if you detour.

Evening: Dinner near Borough Market: try Padella for hand-rolled pappardelle with beef shin ragu (walk-in list) or Wright Brothers for oysters and fish pie. For a classic riverside pint, head to The Anchor Bankside or Doggett’s Coat & Badge. Early night to reset your body clock.

Day 2: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and a Big-Bus Overview

Morning: Breakfast by the marina at White Mulberries in St Katharine Docks (granola bowls, great flat whites). Then dive into 1,000 years of intrigue with the Yeoman Warders and Crown Jewels at the Tower.

Book: Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket (from approx $40).

Afternoon: Walk across glass-floored Tower Bridge and graze Borough Market: grilled cheese at Kappacasein, Ethiopian platters at Ethiopian Flavours, doughnuts at Bread Ahead. Then let an open-top bus orient you across Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and Mayfair.

Ride: Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour (24-hour ticket from approx $50).

Evening: Pre-theatre dinner in Covent Garden: Dishoom (black daal, bacon naan), The Ivy Market Grill (brasserie staples), or 10 Cases (boutique wines). Catch a West End show (musicals cluster around Shaftesbury Avenue). Nightcap at Gordon’s Wine Bar—candlelit arches and sherries by the glass.

Day 3: Royal London, Galleries, and a Soho Food Crawl

Morning: Classic breakfast at Regency Café (art deco, film-famous) or The Wolseley on Piccadilly (silver service, pastries). Tour Westminster Abbey’s Poets’ Corner and Coronation Chair, then stroll St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard on scheduled days.

Afternoon: Choose a masterpiece hit: National Gallery (da Vinci to Van Gogh) or the British Museum (Rosetta Stone, Parthenon marbles). Break for tea at Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon or the more whimsical afternoon tea at sketch (book ahead).

Evening: Soho flavors: Bao for Taiwanese gua bao, Kiln for Northern Thai clay-pot glass noodles, and Hoppers for Sri Lankan hoppers and karis. Cocktails at Swift (aperitivo upstairs, classics downstairs) or The French House for a storied literary pub vibe.

Day 4: Notting Hill Color, Kensington Museums, and Hyde Park

Morning: Coffee and ricotta hotcakes at Granger & Co. in Notting Hill. Wander pastel townhouses, hidden mews, and on Saturdays dive into Portobello Road Market for antiques, vintage, and street snacks.

Afternoon: Head to South Kensington for the V&A (design and fashion) and the Natural History Museum’s soaring Hintze Hall. Lunch at Brompton Food Market (garden seating) or CERU for zesty Levantine plates.

Evening: Pint amid flower-bedecked splendor at The Churchill Arms, then dinner at The Ledbury (two Michelin stars; book early) or neighborhood-favorite Dishoom Kensington. Stroll through Hyde Park at golden hour toward the Serpentine.

Day 5: Greenwich by River, Observatory Views, and Dinner on the Thames

Morning: Grab Monmouth Coffee near Borough and hop a Thames Clipper to Greenwich (river views, tap in/out with contactless). Tour the Cutty Sark tea clipper, stand astride the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, and gaze over London from Greenwich Park.

Afternoon: Lunch at Goddards at Greenwich (traditional pie, mash, liquor) or sample Greenwich Market: Venezuelan arepas, Portuguese pasteis, handmade brownies. If you like heights, ride the IFS Cloud Cable Car to the Docklands for skyline shots; otherwise explore the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College.

Evening: Celebrate with a candlelit river dinner—live music, city lights, and passes by St Paul’s and Tower Bridge.

Cruise: London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River (from approx $105).

Day 6: The Wizarding World—Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Step onto the Great Hall set, peek into Dumbledore’s office, and wander Diagon Alley on a dedicated studio day. Round-trip transport takes the stress out of reaching Leavesden, and you’ll have ample time for butterbeer and photo stops.

Book: Warner Bros. Studio Harry Potter Tour with Superior Transport from London (about 6.5–7.5 hours, from approx $135).

On return, dine around King’s Cross: Dishoom King’s Cross (industrial-chic in a former transit shed), Lina Stores (fresh pasta), or German Gymnasium (grand Mittel-European brasserie). For a nightcap, try The Lighterman overlooking Regent’s Canal in Coal Drops Yard.

Day 7: East London Markets, Street Art, and Farewell

Morning: Fuel up at E. Pellicci (Bethnal Green caff since 1900) or Beigel Bake on Brick Lane (warm salt beef bagel, 24/7). Wander Shoreditch for street art around Redchurch Street and Great Eastern Street, and browse Old Spitalfields Market for indie designers.

Afternoon: Lunch at St. John Bread & Wine (Welsh rarebit, seasonal British small plates) or Dumpling Shack (pan-fried soup dumplings) in Spitalfields. Pick up last-minute gifts at Labour and Wait or Dark Sugars, then collect bags.

Evening: Departure day. To Heathrow: Elizabeth line (~35–45 minutes from Tottenham Court Road) or Heathrow Express from Paddington (~15 minutes). To Gatwick: Thameslink from London Bridge/Blackfriars or the Gatwick Express from Victoria. Safe travels—see you next time!

Optional Seasonal Add-on

Visiting late November–December? Consider a festive lights tour by open-top bus after dark.

Seasonal: London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide (90 minutes; operates holiday season).

Booking & Logistics Cheat Sheet

• Flights/Trains: Compare on Trip.com, Kiwi.com, and Omio trains.
• Hotels/Apartments: Browse Hotels.com London and VRBO London.
• Featured activities: Tower of London, Big Bus, Thames Dinner Cruise, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour (see links in the daily plan).

In a week you’ve traced royal pageantry, delved into world-class museums, wandered colorful neighborhoods, and sailed the Thames by night. London rewards curiosity—there’s always another market to nibble through, a pub to duck into, and a hidden mews to discover.