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London in 5 Days: Itinerary & Day-by-Day Plan

5 days in London are enough for 20 of the city's top-rated sights, with a lunch stop every day. Day 1: Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Borough Market. Day 2: St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and London Eye. Day 3: Big Ben & Parliament, British Museum and National Gallery. Day 4: Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum and V&A Museum. Day 5: Camden Market, Soho walk and Notting Hill & Portobello.

Days
5
Sights
20
Lunch stops
5
On foot
9.5 km in total
Every day
09:00–21:00
Start and end
City centre
Plan your own London trip

London in 5 days, day by day

Day 1: Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Borough Market

  1. 09:30

    Tower of London · 2h30

    Medieval fortress with the Crown Jewels and the Beefeaters.

  2. 12:15

    Tower Bridge · 30m

    Victorian bascule bridge with a glass walkway 42 m above the Thames — and a 1976 steam engine room.

  3. 13:15

    Lunch — Borough Market · 1h

    Pick from 100+ stalls of British and global street food.

  4. 14:30

    Borough Market · 1h15

    London's oldest food market — small producers, deep counters (closed Sundays).

  5. 16:00

    Tate Modern · 2h

    Modern & contemporary art in a former power station.

  6. 18:30

    The Shard viewpoint · 1h

    310 m tall — the highest panorama in the city.

Day 2: St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and London Eye

  1. 09:15

    St Paul's Cathedral · 1h30

    Wren's domed cathedral with sweeping views from the gallery (closed Sundays for tourists).

  2. 11:30

    Westminster Abbey · 1h30

    Gothic abbey of British coronations and royal weddings (closed Sundays).

  3. 13:45

    Lunch — Borough Market · 1h

    Pick from 100+ stalls of British and global street food.

  4. 15:30

    London Eye · 1h

    Giant ferris wheel over the South Bank.

  5. 17:15

    Hyde Park · 1h30

    London's grand royal park with the Serpentine lake.

Day 3: Big Ben & Parliament, British Museum and National Gallery

  1. 09:15

    Big Ben & Parliament · 30m

    Westminster's iconic clock tower and Houses of Parliament.

  2. 10:15

    British Museum · 3h

    World-class encyclopedic museum — Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles.

  3. 13:45

    Lunch — Soho · 1h

    Quick bistro in Soho.

  4. 15:00

    National Gallery · 2h

    Vast Western painting collection on Trafalgar Square.

  5. 17:15

    Covent Garden · 1h

    Restored piazza with shops, street performers and the Royal Opera House.

Day 4: Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum and V&A Museum

  1. 09:15

    Buckingham Palace · 45m

    The monarch's London residence — Changing of the Guard at 11:00.

  2. 10:45

    Natural History Museum · 2h

    Dinosaurs, blue whale, and a Romanesque palace of natural science.

  3. 13:00

    V&A Museum · 2h

    World-class decorative arts & design collection.

  4. 15:30

    Afternoon tea — Mayfair · 1h30

    Classic afternoon tea — scones, finger sandwiches, three-tier stand.

  5. 17:45

    British Library · 1h

    Magna Carta, Beatles lyrics, Shakespeare first folio — all on display.

Day 5: Camden Market, Soho walk and Notting Hill & Portobello

  1. 10:00

    Camden Market · 1h30

    Eccentric canalside market — vintage, street food, music.

  2. 12:15

    Soho walk · 1h

    Bars, theatres and old jazz dens between Oxford Street and Leicester Square.

  3. 13:30

    Lunch — Soho · 1h

    Quick bistro in Soho.

  4. 15:15

    Notting Hill & Portobello · 1h30

    Pastel terraces and the Saturday antiques market on Portobello Road.

Planned for a trip starting on a Friday, because opening hours depend on the weekday. Your own dates, hotel and flights can give a different plan.

London in 5 days: questions and answers

Is 5 days enough for London?

We recommend 3–5 days for London. This 5-day plan covers 20 top sights, from Tower of London to Notting Hill & Portobello.

What should I see in London in 5 days?

The highest-rated sights in this plan are Tower of London, British Museum, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern and St Paul's Cathedral. Each one links to opening hours, prices and tips.

Where can I eat lunch in London?

This plan stops for lunch at Lunch — Borough Market, Lunch — Soho and Afternoon tea — Mayfair. They are on the route, so you don't lose time getting there.

How much walking is the 5-day London itinerary?

About 9.5 km on foot in total, around 1.9 km a day. For longer distances the plan uses public transport or a taxi.

Where does each day start?

Every day starts and ends in the centre of London and runs from 09:00 to 21:00. A hotel near the centre fits this plan best.

Can I change this itinerary?

Yes. Enter your dates, hotel and flights in the Travita planner and pick your must-sees. It builds a new plan around opening hours and travel times.

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