London rewards curiosity. Roman walls and Norman fortresses share corners with cutting-edge galleries, centuries-old pubs, and global kitchens turning out dazzling flavors. Over two millennia, the city has reinvented itself—from a bustling port of the British Empire to a multicultural capital of art, finance, music, and design—yet its icons still anchor every stroll: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the Tower Bridge that frames the Thames.

Past the postcard sights, London’s real magic shows up in neighborhoods. Watch shopfronts bloom in Notting Hill, smell coffee roasting in Shoreditch, and savor street food in Borough Market. Museums are world-class and mostly free; theatre is bold; football is religion. Even the commute becomes sightseeing—glide along the river, or dive into the Tube and pop up somewhere completely different.

Practical notes: contactless cards work like an Oyster on public transport, and Sunday roasts are a local ritual. Book timed-entry spots (Crown Jewels, special exhibits) and West End seats ahead. London weather changes quickly—pack layers and a compact umbrella—and comfortable shoes will be your best friends.

London

London is a city of villages stitched together by history and the Underground. Spend mornings with Rembrandt and Rosetta, afternoons browsing markets, and nights in candlelit basements where jazz croons and cocktails whisper stories. It’s easy to build days around neighborhoods so you can walk more and backtrack less.

• Top sights: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, St Paul’s, British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Covent Garden, Greenwich.
• Food and drink: Borough Market for artisan bites (Kappacasein grilled cheese, Bread Ahead doughnuts), Padella for hand-rolled pasta, Kiln’s wood-fired Thai, Hoppers’ Sri Lankan curries, St. JOHN Bread & Wine for nose-to-tail, and classic pubs like The Harp and The Churchill Arms.
• Fun facts: The ravens at the Tower of London are official residents; the city’s oldest wine bar (Gordon’s) dates to 1890; more than 300 languages are spoken here.

Where to stay (curated picks + search tools):

• Browse hotels in London on Hotels.com — filter by neighborhood and free cancellation.
• Explore London apartments and homes on VRBO — great for families or longer stays.

• The Savoy (heritage glamour on the Strand; iconic American Bar).
• Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (indoor pool, steps from Big Ben).
• Novotel London Tower Bridge (modern, minutes from the Tower and the City).
• Premier Inn London County Hall (value family rooms beside the London Eye).
• Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (budget smart, swift rail links).
• YHA London Central (social, central, great for solo travelers).
• YHA London St Pancras (Eurostar convenience; simple, clean rooms).

How to get to London (and around):

• Flights (global): For long-haul options, compare deals on Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Nonstops: NYC (~7–8 hrs), LA (~10–11 hrs), Dubai (~7 hrs).
• Flights & trains (within Europe): Check Omio flights and Omio trains. Eurostar: Paris–London in ~2h20 (typ. £60–£180), Brussels–London ~2h. Budget flights from major EU hubs often £40–£120.
• Airports to city: Heathrow to central London: Elizabeth line 28–35 min (~£13), Piccadilly line 45–55 min (~£5–£6 off-peak), Heathrow Express ~15 min (£25–£28). Gatwick Express ~30 min (£19–£21) or Thameslink ~35 min (~£12). Stansted Express ~47 min (~£21). Use contactless for the best fares.

Day 1: Arrival, the South Bank, and a Classic London Welcome

Afternoon: Land, check in, and loosen up with a Thames-side walk from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge. This stretch frames many first-look icons—Big Ben’s chimes, the London Eye, St Paul’s dome across the water, and the HMS Belfast moored midstream.

Evening: Start with proper British comfort. For Punjabi grills, head to Tayyabs in Whitechapel (legendary lamb chops since 1972). For fish and chips, The Golden Hind in Marylebone is a century-old stalwart; or try Poppies (Spitalfields) for retro vibes. Nightcap at Gordon’s Wine Bar near Embankment—candlelit vaults, sherries, and British cheeses—then amble along the river’s lit skyline.

Day 2: Big Sights by Bus, River, and West End Lights

Featured activity: Big Bus London Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Optional River Cruise

Morning: Coffee and a flaky pastry at Monmouth Coffee (Covent Garden) or Prufrock (Leather Lane) to fuel up. Ride the hop-on bus from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace; time the Changing of the Guard (most late mornings—check schedules) and stroll St James’s Park’s swan-lined lake.

Afternoon: Continue to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, then take the included river cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier. Disembark to gaze up at Tower Bridge, then cross the Millennium Bridge for modern masterpieces at Tate Modern and skyline views back to St Paul’s. Lunch at Borough Market: try Kappacasein’s famous cheese toastie, Brindisa’s chorizo roll, and Bread Ahead’s vanilla cream doughnut.

Evening: See a West End show—Les Misérables, Hamilton, or a buzzy new play. For pre-theatre dinner, book Bancone (silk handkerchief pasta with walnut butter), 10 Greek Street (seasonal small plates), or J Sheekey (classic seafood institution). Post-curtain cocktails at Swift Soho (fast, elegant, award-winning bar).

Day 3: Westminster Stories and the Crown Jewels

Featured activity: Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket

Morning: Begin at Westminster Abbey—1,000 years of kings, queens, poets, and scientists, with the Coronation Chair as centerpiece. Walk past the freshly restored Big Ben and into the Churchill War Rooms, the underground nerve center of WWII; the map room is eerily frozen in time.

Afternoon: Take the Tube to Tower Hill for the Tower of London. Join a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tour for tales of intrigue, then queue for the moving walkway past the Crown Jewels. Meet the resident ravens, step inside the White Tower’s Norman keep, and photograph Tower Bridge’s blue steel from the moat path.

Evening: Eat near the river: Gunpowder (spiced venison doughnuts; modern Indian small plates) or Bravas Tapas at St Katharine Docks (Spanish bites by the marina). For a sparkling view, time a free visit to Sky Garden (book ahead) and toast London’s lights before a riverside walk back.

Day 4: Museums, Markets, and Soho After Dark

Morning: Espresso at Store Street Espresso or Kaffeine, then the British Museum’s heavy hitters—Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Sutton Hoo treasures. Keep it to 90 minutes so it stays vivid, not overwhelming.

Afternoon: Wander Covent Garden’s arcades, street performers, and tiny galleries. Pop into the National Gallery for Van Gogh, Turner, and Caravaggio. Late lunch options: BAO (pillowy Taiwanese buns), Padella (cacio e pepe), or Din Tai Fung (xiao long bao) near Centre Point.

Evening: Dinner in Soho: Kiln (wood-fired Thai; counter seats by the action), Hoppers (dosas, bone marrow varuval), or Blacklock (expertly grilled chops; epic Sunday roast if timing fits). Finish with live jazz at Ronnie Scott’s—London’s most storied basement club.

Day 5: Full-Day Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, Bath (with Pub Lunch)

Featured activity (full-day tour): Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock

Depart central London around 8:00 a.m. for three classics in one day. Explore Windsor’s State Apartments and St George’s Chapel (site of royal weddings), contemplate the prehistoric puzzle of Stonehenge with its windswept Salisbury Plain setting, and admire Bath’s honey-colored crescents and Roman Baths. Break in the medieval village of Lacock for a proper pub lunch at The George Inn. Expect a 12–13 hour day with guided commentary and scenic coach travel; you’ll be dropped back in London early evening.

Late return eats: book a late table at Duck & Waffle (sky-high views, open late), or keep it cozy with pizzas at Homeslice (massive, thin-crust pies) and gelato from Gelupo after.

Day 6: East London Markets, Shoreditch Art, and Greenwich Views

Morning: Classic café breakfast at E. Pellicci (Bethnal Green; Art Deco caff with a warm welcome) or specialty brews at Ozone Coffee Roasters (Old Street). Browse Old Spitalfields Market (daily; indie designers and street food). If it’s Saturday, weave along Broadway Market by the canal; if Sunday, waltz through Columbia Road Flower Market’s fragrant chaos and grab a beigel on Brick Lane.

Afternoon: Take the DLR to Maritime Greenwich. Tour the Cutty Sark, stand on the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory, and soak up one of the city’s best panoramas over the Thames from Greenwich Park. Return by river boat for a scenic glide under London’s bridges.

Evening: If it’s the weekend, snack your way through Maltby Street Market (St. JOHN Bakery doughnuts, Bar Tozino’s jamón, Ethiopian coffee). Otherwise, dinner at Smokestak (smoked brisket buns) or Dishoom Shoreditch (black daal, bacon naan). For a final pint, the Trafalgar Tavern in Greenwich overlooks the water with naval memorabilia and atmospheric nooks.

Day 7: The Wizarding World, Kensington Culture, and a Grand Farewell

Featured activity: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transport from London

Morning: Join the included coach to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Walk the Great Hall, tiptoe down Diagon Alley, board the Hogwarts Express, and sip a Butterbeer. Film fans love the set design and creature effects; even non-Potter people admire the craftsmanship. Expect ~6–7 hours door-to-door.

Afternoon: Back in town, pick a museum near Kensington: the V&A (design and fashion) or the Natural History Museum (Victorian spectacle with a blue whale). Shoppers can browse Liberty’s Tudor-style emporium or the arcades of Mayfair.

Evening: Celebrate with afternoon tea or a final feast. Tea at Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon or at your hotel if you’re at The Savoy. Dinner ideas: The Palomar (Jerusalem kitchen with a lively counter), Blacklock Soho (sharing platters of chops and white chocolate cheesecake), or St. JOHN (if you didn’t make it earlier). Nightcap at the American Bar in The Savoy—one more classic stirred, not shaken.

Optional Add-Ons You Can Swap In

• Private black cab highlights tour: The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab for a guided, door-to-door overview on Day 1 or 2.
• Seasonal sparkle: If visiting in late Nov–Dec, swap an evening for the London by Night Christmas Lights open-top tour.

Daily eats and sips (quick cheat sheet): Coffee: Prufrock, Monmouth, Kaffeine, WatchHouse. Breakfast: Dishoom’s bacon naan, Riding House Café, E Pellicci. Lunch: Borough Market, Padella, Bao, Flat Iron (great-value steak). Pubs: The Harp (cask ales), The Churchill Arms (Thai menu + floral facade), The Grenadier (guarded by legends). Cocktails: Swift Soho, Bar Termini, Nightjar.

Transport tips: Use contactless for Tube/bus caps; avoid peak fares when possible. Black cabs are regulated and reliable; ride-hailing also abundant. Many central neighborhoods—Westminster, Soho, Covent Garden, South Bank—are most rewarding on foot.

With this week you’ve seen London’s royal core, its creative edges, and a sweep of English countryside. Keep this itinerary handy—there’s always another gallery wing, another market stall, another pub snug to discover. London promises return trips, and it remembers you when you do.