The Best 4-Day London Itinerary for First-Timers
London is one of the most beautiful cities in the United Kingdom, in my opinion! The 607 square miles of London have incredible historic buildings, architecture, tours, and food, offering something for everyone to enjoy!
We fell in love with London when we visited because the city is stunning. We enjoyed walking around, visiting museums, and exploring its parks. London truly has something for everyone and is a fun destination for the entire family!
Even though you could spend weeks exploring everything it offers, you can see most must-see attractions in four days. I created this guide to have everything you need to know about creating the best 4-day London itinerary.
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Tips for Visiting London
London is one of my favorite cities because the architecture, history, food, and everything in between is amazing. And the best part? It is pretty easy to create a fun itinerary because it is easy to get around the city.
Here are some things to keep in mind when planning your trip:
Pack warm layers and a rain jacket. London’s weather is known to be moody and rainy, so I recommend bringing a rain jacket and insulated jacket, depending on the time of year you visit. We visited in October and were glad to have layers to keep us warm on some on the chillier days!
Wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking through the city. Walking is one of the best ways to explore London, so it is important to have comfortable and supportive shoes. I always recommend wearing comfortable sneakers, which is what we did, and trust me, our feet were happy!
Book your tickets in advance. If you are visiting an attraction that requires tickets, I recommend buying them beforehand to save time. And you are likely to get a better price if you book online! You can also buy a Go City Pass to get discounts on must-see London attractions!
Buy a pass to get into attractions at discounted prices. Your trip to London does not have to be expensive if you want to see many attractions. Many passes give you discounted rates, like the London Pass.
How to Get Around London
London has a great public transportation system, making it easy to get around London! The public transportation goes to and from the airport as well, which made it easy for us to get into the city once we arrived.
Airports
There are two airports near London that you can fly into for your trip:
- Heathrow Airport is west of London and about a 15-minute ride into the city on the Piccadilly line of the tube.
- Gatwick Airport is south of London and about a 30-minute ride into the city on an express train.
Both are large airports, and most airlines fly into them, so you will not have a problem finding a flight to London.
We flew into Gatwick because it had the cheaper flight options, and the train ride to get into the city was quick and easy.
The Tube
Even though I think the best way to get around London is to walk, you can also use its public transportation system.
London has a great public transportation system, including the tube. The tube can bring you almost anywhere you need to go in London, and it is easy to follow if you have a map.
We took a photo of the tube map to make it easier to know where we needed to go. You can also use Google Maps to figure out which lines you need to take to get where you need to do.
We also bought an Oyster Card, which is cheaper than single-ride tickets for the tube. I highly recommend doing the same to save some money, especially since you will be in London for a few days!
Where to Stay in London
London has many neighborhoods that are great places to stay, with the best being Covent Garden, the West End, Westminster, South Bank, Kensington, and Soho.
These neighborhoods are near downtown London and are close to many must-see attractions. Where you decide to stay is up to your personal preference!
London Hotels:
Best Things to Do in London
Before we jump into the in-depth itinerary, let’s talk about some of the best things to do in London!
Although everyone will want to experience London in different ways, I think everyone should visit at least a few of these attractions. These are iconic places in London that have historical significance, beautiful architecture, or fun activities.
Buckingham Palace
Big Ben
Westminster Abbey
The London Eye
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The Shard
Tower Bridge
The Tower of London
Kensington Palace
Regent Street and Park
Camden Market
Itinerary for 4 Days in London
London is an incredible city that you will quickly fall in love with! Your 4 days in London include a lot of history, architecture, and fun attractions.
I created this itinerary based on ours which I thought was almost perfect! This itinerary is also flexible, and you can rearrange these days to best fit your wants.
Get ready for a fun-filled city adventure.
Day 1: Iconic London Attractions
The first day in London explores some of the most popular attractions! These attractions are some of my favorites in the city, so I know you will enjoy your first day in the city.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic places in London because it is the residence of the royal family! The palace has stunning architecture you can experience from a distance outside the gate. There are also ten weeks in the summer when visitors are allowed to explore the beautiful staterooms.
You can also witness the Changing of the Guard, which is a traditional ceremony and a cool thing to see! The ceremony occurs on specific dates throughout the year around 10:45 AM and lasts for about 45 minutes. The best part is it is free to watch.
Buckingham Palace was one of the first places we visited when we arrived in London, and it was the perfect way to start off our trip! We loved going in the morning, too, because it had fewer crowds.
Churchill War Rooms
Churchill War Rooms is a short walk from Buckingham Palace through the beautiful St James’s Park. The museum gives you a glimpse into the World War II underground headquarters where Prime Minister Winston Churchill lived.
You can explore the museum to learn more about the secret underground headquarters, World War II, and Churchill’s life. We added this to our itinerary at the last-minute, and it did not disappoint!
Big Ben
One of the first places we wanted to visit was Big Ben because it is a classic London attraction!
Big Ben is a beautiful clock tower on the Palace of Westminster, and the name Big Ben is a nickname for the Great Bell, although many people do not know that.
The best way to view Big Ben is by walking around its grounds to see how beautiful the building and clock tower are. We were in awe when we saw Big Ben in person! We have seen it many times in photos, but they do not do is justice!
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a short walk from Big Ben and will quickly leave you in awe of its stunning architecture. The royal church is over 750 years old and has been the home of many royal weddings.
The church is active, and it is free to explore the inside. Although, I think the best way to experience the church is from the outside. The architecture is incredible and will blow you away with its beauty!
The London Eye
The London Eye is the iconic scenic ferris wheel in London! Some people told us it was overrated, but we decided to figure that out for ourselves, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
If you want to enjoy London from a unique perspective, the London Eye is perfect! The views of London are incredible, and it is a fun experience!
Day 2: London Markets, Bridges, and beautiful architecture
The second day in London has more iconic London attractions and fun markets! We explored some of our favorite places this day, so I know you will it!
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral has stunning architecture that will leave you in awe. I actually did a project about this building in college, so I was so excited to see it in person! And it did not disappoint!
You can enjoy the beautiful cathedral by walking its grounds outside, exploring the inside, or walking around its dome. If you have time, I highly recommend walking to the top of the dome because it has stunning views and is one of the largest in the world!
Borough Market
Borough Market is one of the best places in London for people who love food (aka us, haha!).
The historic market is one of the largest and oldest markets in London and has a variety of food. It is the perfect place to grab lunch in one of its many restaurants, cafes, or pubs.
Trust me, you will want to come here on an empty stomach to enjoy as much food as you can!
The Shard
The Shard is one of the newer buildings in London and is a stark contrast to the old architecture in most of the city! The 72-story skyscraper was built in 2013, and it is the tallest building in the UK!
And the best part? It has one of the highest viewpoints of the London skyline! You can enjoy a fun ride to the top and enjoy 360-degree views of the city.
The wait to go to the top was incredibly long when we visited, but my sister told us the views are spectacular. If we had more time, we would have waited!
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge was another one of the first attractions we put on our itinerary because it is iconic! The 800-foot-long bridge has stunning architecture and offers a beautiful view of London.
You can enjoy the bridge from various viewpoints along the river, walk across it, or enjoy a thrilling walk along the top with glass floors.
We decided to walk along the river to view it, and it did not disappoint! The bridge is stunning.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is across Tower Bridge and is another stunning building.
The historic castle is considered one of the most secure castles in London and guards royal possessions such as the Crown Jewels.
You can enjoy a walk around its grounds or explore the beauty inside of the castle. If you decide to explore the inside, you can view the Crown Jewels, museums, exhibitions, and beautiful rooms. The Tower of London holds a lot of history and is a fun place to visit!
The Sky Garden
The Sky Garden is one of the most unique attractions in London because it is the highest public garden in the city. You can walk through the beautiful garden while enjoying breathtaking 360-degree views of London.
And the best part? Admission is free! Every Monday, the Sky Garden releases free tickets, so I recommend buying them as soon as they are released!
The Leadenhall Market
The Leadenhall Market is the perfect place to wind down at the end of the day and enjoy shopping and delicious food. We ate dinner here, and it did not disappoint!
The covered market is a hidden gem in the city and the perfect place to grab dinner and drinks while taking in the surrounding architecture.
Day 3: Kensington to SOHO
The third day in London explores beautiful parks, museums, and fun nightlife activities. My sister brought us around on this day to explore some of her favorite areas, which was so much fun!
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of the best museums in London, with preserved animals and plant species. The collection of artifacts grows yearly and now includes over 80 million items!
And the best part? The museum is free! You only need tickets for specific exhibitions and events. We loved that this was free and had fun spending an hour or so exploring it.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a stunning building and home to royal residences, the birthplace of Queen Victoria, and the Kensington Gardens.
You can explore the inside of Kensington Palace for a fee or walk through Kensington Gardens for free. We took a morning stroll through the gardens, and it was a great start to the day.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a beautiful 350-acre park and the largest of the four Royal Parks. It connects to the Kensington Gardens, so your morning stroll can explore two beautiful parks in London.
Hyde Park has flowers, ponds, fountains, and sitting areas to enjoy. We stopped at a cute little cafe in the park before relaxing on the grass and enjoying the beautiful day.
Regent Street
Regent Street is not too far of a walk from Hyde Park and is a major shopping center in London. Not only does the area have great stores for shopping, but it also has stunning architecture.
The buildings on Regent Street are beautiful, so you will enjoy a walk down it even if you do not want to shop. We walked along Regent Street as we made our way to Regent’s Park!
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park is another stunning park in London with beautiful flowerbeds, pathways, and fountains through its 410 acres. I hope you are not done exploring parks because Regent’s Park is the perfect addition to the itinerary.
It is great for a quick walk before getting ready for dinner and a fun nightlife scene in London!
Soho
Soho is one of the best areas in London for nightlife fun! It has many restaurants with delicious food and bars with great drinks. We enjoyed many dinners in Soho, and they did not disappoint. If you are looking for a fun area to enjoy a night out in London, Soho is perfect!
Day 4: Fun London Tours
The final day in this London itinerary is flexible, depending on what you want to do! You can visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour with Harry Potter, ride the iconic double-decker bus tour, or enjoy some museums and markets.
No matter how you decide to enjoy your last day in London, you will enjoy your final explorations of the city.
Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
If you are a Harry Potter fan, The Warner Bros Studio Tour is the perfect place to visit on your final day in London! The studio allows you to go behind the scenes of the marking of the Harry Potter movies and explore movie sets.
It is a fun experience to see where they filmed some of the movies! We loved visiting because we grew up watching Harry Potter, and it was fun seeing the sets in person.
There is also a store where you can purchase wands or make your own! And yes, we did get wands to take home with us!
London Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
If you want to enjoy your last day on an iconic tour, you can ride a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. These tours let you ride on the iconic double-decker busses and bring you around London to its famous attractions.
You can pick from three routes that each have different attractions. The tour is a fun way to experience London and see some attractions you may have missed during your first few days!
If you want to spend 4 days in London, this guide is the perfect starting point for planning your trip! We loved spending a week in the city, so I know you will fall in love with London. I created this guide to have everything you need to know about creating the best 4-day London itinerary.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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