London is a palimpsest of empires and ideas, a city where Roman walls, medieval towers, Georgian squares, and glassy skyscrapers converse across the Thames. It’s the capital of Shakespeare and Stormzy, of the Crown and the Premier League, of ritual and reinvention. Spend a week here and you’ll taste its layers: royal pageantry at Westminster, radical art at Tate Modern, market snacks that map the world, and pubs that remember it all.

Beyond the postcard views—Big Ben, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s—you’ll find parks for picnics, mews streets made for photos, and neighborhoods with distinct rhythms: theater-goers swirling through Soho, antique hunters in Notting Hill, curry pilgrims on Brick Lane. London rewards walkers and curious eaters. Bring comfortable shoes and an appetite.

Practical notes: contactless cards and Apple/Google Pay work as Oyster on the Tube and buses; tipping is 10–12.5% if service isn’t included. Weather changes fast—pack layers and a light rain jacket. Book West End shows and popular attractions in advance, especially during summer and December lights season.

London

Here is your home base for the week: a city of royal rituals, blockbuster museums, and irresistible markets. Watch the Changing of the Guard in the morning, then eat Sri Lankan hopper pancakes at night. Between, browse the National Gallery, wander the South Bank, climb St Paul’s dome, and end with a pint in a wood-paneled pub.

Top highlights include Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace (and its surrounding parks), the Tower of London, the British Museum, Tate Modern, Covent Garden’s arcaded streets, and Greenwich’s maritime quarter. Food fans, don’t miss Borough Market, Maltby Street Market (weekends), and Spitalfields.

How to get to London

• Flights from Europe: compare fares on Omio (flights); many low-cost options into Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton.
• Flights from beyond Europe: search global fares on Trip.com (flights) and Kiwi.com. Typical nonstops from the US East Coast take ~7 hours; West Coast ~10–11 hours.
• Trains in Europe (e.g., Paris–London via Eurostar ~2h15 to St Pancras): check times and tickets on Omio (trains).

Airport to city: Heathrow’s Elizabeth line (~35 min to central London) or Piccadilly line (~50 min); Gatwick Express (~30 min to Victoria) or Thameslink (~30–40 min to London Bridge/St Pancras); Stansted Express (~45 min to Liverpool Street); Luton Airport Express/Thameslink (~35–45 min).

Where to stay (book with our partners):

• Browse apartments and townhouses on VRBO London or hotels on Hotels.com London.
• The Savoy (art deco icon on the Strand): Book The Savoy.
• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge (pool; views near the London Eye): Book Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London.
• Novotel London Tower Bridge (walk to Tower and the City): Book Novotel London Tower Bridge.
• Premier Inn London County Hall (value stays by the South Bank): Book Premier Inn County Hall.
• Point A Hotel Kings Cross – St Pancras (budget, steps from Eurostar): Book Point A Kings Cross.
• YHA London Central (clean, social hostel near Oxford Circus): Book YHA London Central.
• YHA London St Pancras (ideal for early trains): Book YHA London St Pancras.

Day 1: South Bank Welcome, River Walk, and First Bites

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs with a Thames-side walk along the South Bank from the London Eye toward Tower Bridge. Grab a flat white at WatchHouse Tower Bridge or Monmouth Coffee (Borough) and soak in skyline views of St Paul’s, the Shard, and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Evening: Dinner near Borough Market. Try Padella for silky hand-rolled pappardelle with beef shin ragu; Wright Brothers for oysters and fish pie; or El Pastor for al pastor tacos with house-made corn tortillas. Post-dinner, stroll across the Millennium Bridge for a twilight view of St Paul’s, then a pint at The Anchor Bankside, a riverside pub with 17th-century roots.

Day 2: Royal London, Trafalgar Square, and West End Night

Morning: Breakfast at the Regency Café (an Art Deco local favorite) or Dishoom Covent Garden (try the bacon naan roll and house chai). Walk St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace; if it’s a Changing of the Guard day (typically Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun at 11:00, check schedule), arrive 30–40 minutes early. Continue to Westminster Abbey’s exterior and Big Ben for photos.

Afternoon: Orient yourself with the city’s highlights on the Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. Hop off at key stops—Trafalgar Square for the National Gallery (free), Covent Garden for street performers, and the Tower stop to preview tomorrow’s area. Many tickets include a Thames cruise segment—use it from Westminster to Tower Pier for scenic history from the water.

Evening: Pre-theatre dinner in Soho: Kiln (Thai clay-pot cookery), Hoppers (Sri Lankan hoppers and karis), or Barrafina (Spanish tapas perched at a marble bar). Catch a West End show—Les Misérables, Hamilton, Six, or a new comedy—then a nightcap at Swift (Soho) for impeccable martinis.

Day 3: St Paul’s, The City, and the Tower of London

Morning: Coffee at Rosslyn or WatchHouse (City). Climb St Paul’s Cathedral’s dome for 360° views, then wander the financial district’s lanes to Leadenhall Market, a Victorian arcade that inspired Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Architecture fans: peek at the “Cheesegrater” (Leadenhall Building) and “Gherkin.”

Afternoon: Delve into 1,000 years of intrigue with the Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket. Arrive early afternoon for Yeoman Warder tales, the glitter of regalia, and the medieval White Tower. Allow 2–3 hours.

Evening: Cross Tower Bridge for sunset photos, then ascend to Sky Garden (free but timed tickets recommended) for a garden-in-the-sky cocktail. Dinner options nearby: Gunpowder (bold Indian small plates), Brat x Climpson’s Arch pop-ups seasonally, or Hawksmoor Guildhall for dry-aged British steak.

Day 4: Museum Mile—South Kensington and Knightsbridge

Morning: Start at Gail’s Bakery (South Kensington) for a cardamom bun and coffee. Choose your museum: the Natural History Museum (dinosaurs and the Hintze Hall blue whale), the V&A (design and fashion), or the Science Museum (hands-on galleries). They’re neighbors, so you can mix and match.

Afternoon: Lunch at CERU (vibrant Eastern Mediterranean mezze) or Honest Burgers (British beef with rosemary chips). Shop Knightsbridge (Harrods food halls are a spectacle). For a refined pause, book afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon or The Orangery at Kensington Palace (seasonal).

Evening: Wander Kensington Gardens to the Italian Gardens and the Albert Memorial. Dine near Covent Garden: Bancone (silk handkerchief pasta), Flat Iron (great-value steaks), or The Oystermen (seafood). If you didn’t see a show last night, tonight’s your chance.

Day 5: The Wizarding World at Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Day plan: Dive into the making of the films on the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London. Coaches whisk you to Leavesden; expect ~1 hour each way and 3–4 hours in the studios. Walk the Great Hall, sip Butterbeer, see Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts model—pure movie magic.

Evening: Back in town, wander Covent Garden’s market halls and side streets. Classic British dinner at Rules (London’s oldest restaurant; game in season), fish and chips at The Fryer’s Delight (Holborn), or modern British at St. JOHN Bread and Wine (Spitalfields). Pubs: The Lamb & Flag (historic), The Harp (real ale), or The Porterhouse (multi-level stout heaven).

Day 6: Day Trip—Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath

Trade city streets for rolling hills on the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London full-day tour. Start with royal Windsor (State Apartments and St George’s Chapel when open), then the ancient enigma of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, and finish in honey-stoned Bath to see the Roman Baths and Georgian crescents. Expect ~12 hours round-trip, with time for lunch in Bath or a countryside pub en route.

Day 7: Markets, East London, and Greenwich Finale

Morning: If it’s Sunday, head to Columbia Road Flower Market for blooms and buskers, plus coffee at Lily Vanilli’s bakery courtyard. Saturday? Try Broadway Market by London Fields for artisan stalls. Any day: Borough Market is a sure bet—snack on Kappacasein’s raclette, Brindisa’s chorizo roll, Bread Ahead doughnuts, and oysters at Richard Haward’s.

Afternoon: Ride the Thames Clipper to Greenwich. Tour Cutty Sark, browse Greenwich Market’s crafts and bites, then hike up to the Royal Observatory for the Prime Meridian and sweeping views back to the City. If time allows, pop into the National Maritime Museum (free).

Evening: Farewell dinner options: The Palomar (Jerusalem-inspired small plates; order the polenta Jerusalem style), Hoppers (again, because it’s that good), or Brat (wood-fired fish and heritage meats). End at Gordon’s Wine Bar (candlelit cellar since 1890) or a high-rise toast at Duck & Waffle (24/7) with London glittering below.

Getting around: Use contactless/Oyster on the Tube and buses; daily caps keep fares sensible. Black cabs are iconic; Uber/Bolt are plentiful. Walk whenever you can—London’s neighborhoods reveal themselves best on foot.

Food and coffee shortlist (pin these): Monmouth Coffee, Rosslyn, WatchHouse, Kaffeine; Dishoom, Padella, Kiln, Hoppers, Barrafina, The Oystermen, Bancone, The Palomar, St. JOHN Bread and Wine, Hawksmoor, Flat Iron; markets—Borough, Maltby Street (weekends), Broadway, Spitalfields.

In one week, you’ll trace royal footsteps, marvel at world treasures, and eat your way through markets and modern kitchens—then step into England’s green countryside for ancient stones and Georgian elegance. London lingers: its skyline, its stories, and the convivial hum of a good pub at dusk. Keep your Oyster card—you’ll be back.