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5 days in London

5 days · 29 stops · UK

London is one of those cities that feels endlessly browseable: you can spend the morning in a world-class museum, the afternoon wandering a street market, and the evening settling into a pub near the Thames. It rewards both big sightseeing days and slow neighbourhood exploring, from historic streets to lively pockets full of cafés, restaurants, and independent shops. Whatever the season, it shines when you mix iconic landmarks with everyday local life.

€1,512estimated for two — on-the-ground estimate, flights not included.

AI-estimated prices · Day 1 starts on a Wednesday · Check opening hours and closing days before you go

The 5-day plan, day by day

Day 1 · Wednesday — Westminster and the South Bank
Classic London landmarks, royal streets and a riverfront evening
6 stops€112 in stops, for two
Morning
1. 09:00
  Settle into central London
  Head to your hotel area, drop bags if needed and get oriented around the nearest Tube station before starting the day.
  €8 per person
  TIPAn Oyster or contactless card is the simplest way to pay for Tube and bus rides.
2. 10:15
  Walk Whitehall to Parliament Square
  Start with one of London’s most ceremonial streets, lined with government buildings, memorials and broad views toward the heart of Westminster. The walk builds naturally toward the city’s best-known skyline of clocktower, abbey and parliament.
  Free
  TIPStand on the Parliament Square side for the widest view of the Palace of Westminster.
3. 11:45
  St James’s Park stroll
  This royal park offers a softer side of central London with water, bridges, lawns and long views toward grand buildings. It is an easy, scenic pause between Westminster and Buckingham Palace with plenty of benches and photo spots.
  Free
  TIPThe bridge over the lake gives one of the best broad views back toward government buildings.
Afternoon
1. 13:15
  Lunch around Victoria Street
  This busy central stretch has pubs, casual cafés and quick lunch spots used by both office workers and visitors. It is a practical place to eat near Westminster before continuing on foot through royal London.
  €20 per person
  TIPMany pubs serve food at the counter; ordering there is often faster than waiting for table service.
2. 14:30
  Buckingham Palace and The Mall
  Walk the formal route from the palace down The Mall to experience London’s grand ceremonial axis. The broad avenue, gates and royal parkland create one of the capital’s most recognizable city walks.
  Free
  TIPThe forecourt gets crowded; better palace photos often come from slightly back along the railings or from The Mall.
3. 16:30
  South Bank evening walk
  Cross to the riverside for a lively walk with wide views of the Thames, bridges and floodlit landmarks. Street performers, book stalls and river activity give this stretch a classic big-city atmosphere into the evening.
  Free
  TIPAround sunset, start near Westminster Bridge and walk east for the best sequence of river views.
Evening
1. 18:30
  Dinner in Covent Garden
  Covent Garden is packed with restaurants, old market architecture and lively pedestrian lanes that stay animated after dark. It is an easy place to end a first day with plenty of choice and a classic central-London feel.
  €28 per person
  TIPThe side streets around the main piazza usually have more options and shorter waits than the square itself.
Day 2 · Thursday — Museums and Kensington
Masterpieces, elegant streets and parkland in West London
6 stops€96 in stops, for two
Morning
1. 09:30
  Explore South Kensington
  Begin in one of London’s grand museum districts, where broad streets and terraces lead into a cluster of major cultural institutions. The neighborhood itself is part of the appeal, with stately architecture and an easy walking layout.
  Free
  TIPArriving before late morning helps you enjoy the area before the museum zone gets busier.
2. 10:30
  Museum time along Exhibition Road
  Exhibition Road is the heart of London’s museum quarter, with world-class collections gathered within a short walk of each other. It works well for a flexible visit, letting you choose the museum that best fits your pace and interests.
  Free
  TIPSome special exhibitions are ticketed even when main collections are free, so check posted signs on arrival.
Afternoon
1. 13:15
  Lunch around Gloucester Road
  This nearby stretch has cafés, bakeries and relaxed lunch spots convenient for a museum break. It is a good reset point before continuing into Kensington’s greener, more residential side.
  €18 per person
  TIPIf museum cafés look busy, Gloucester Road is usually a smoother option within walking distance.
2. 14:45
  Kensington Gardens walk
  The gardens open up into broad lawns, tree-lined paths and formal avenues that feel spacious even in the middle of the city. It is a calm contrast to the museums and a fine place for an unhurried afternoon stroll.
  Free
  TIPPaths are extensive, so use the Round Pond or the Italian Gardens as simple reference points.
3. 16:45
  Stroll Kensington High Street and side streets
  This part of Kensington blends handsome residential lanes with one of west London’s main shopping streets. Wandering here gives a sense of daily London life alongside polished storefronts and elegant façades.
  Free
  TIPThe quieter residential streets just off the main road are the best part for architecture and a slower walk.
Evening
1. 19:00
  Dinner in Soho
  Soho’s compact grid of streets is one of central London’s best evening dining areas, full of energy and choice. The atmosphere stays lively, making it ideal for a relaxed meal after a museum-heavy day.
  €30 per person
  TIPShort streets between Shaftesbury Avenue and Old Compton Street often have the widest range of casual options.
Day 3 · Friday — The City and East End
Historic London, market streets and contemporary river views
6 stops€100 in stops, for two
Morning
1. 09:00
  Walk St Paul's area and nearby lanes
  Start in one of London’s oldest urban landscapes, where broad ceremonial spaces meet narrow lanes and churchyard corners. The area reveals the layered character of the City, with historic street patterns sitting beside modern office towers.
  Free
  TIPWeekday mornings are lively here, so it is a good time to feel the City at full pace.
2. 10:45
  Explore Leadenhall Market and surrounding streets
  This covered market area mixes ornate architecture, passageways and City bustle in a compact walkable section. It is a memorable stop for the atmosphere as much as the shopping, especially when paired with nearby historic lanes.
  Free
  TIPCome before lunchtime if you want the arcades and details without the biggest office-worker crowds.
Afternoon
1. 12:15
  Lunch around Spitalfields
  The streets around Spitalfields offer a broad mix of market food, bakeries and casual sit-down spots. It is one of the easiest areas in East London for a flexible lunch with plenty of atmosphere.
  €20 per person
  TIPThe market and surrounding streets give you the most choice, so walk one full loop before picking a place.
2. 13:45
  Browse Brick Lane and side streets
  Brick Lane is one of London’s best-known East End walks, known for layered immigrant history, street art and a mix of old industrial buildings and creative spaces. The side streets reward slow wandering, with markets, murals and independent shops changing from block to block.
  Free
  TIPLook into the side streets as well as the main road; some of the strongest street art is off the main stretch.
3. 16:00
  Tower Bridge and riverside walk
  Head back toward the Thames for one of London’s most striking river scenes, where historic masonry and modern skyline views meet. The riverside paths here are broad and rewarding, especially for photographs toward the bridge and the City.
  Free
  TIPFor the fullest bridge view, walk a little west and look back rather than stopping only at the bridge approach.
Evening
1. 18:15
  Dinner near Borough Market and London Bridge
  This riverside district stays busy into the evening and has a good mix of pubs, modern dining rooms and casual spots in surrounding streets. It is a strong finish to a day that links the City, East End and Thames.
  €30 per person
  TIPMarket stalls wind down later in the day, but the surrounding streets remain a reliable place for dinner.
Day 4 · Saturday — Markets, the West End and Covent Garden
Lively streets, shopping and a classic central London evening
6 stops€104 in stops, for two
Morning
1. 09:30
  Browse Portobello Road Market
  On Saturday, Portobello Road is at its fullest, with antiques, fashion, food and a constantly changing street scene. The long market walk also reveals the character of Notting Hill, from colorful terraces to busy cross-streets.
  Free
  TIPGo in the morning for the strongest market atmosphere and the fullest set of stalls.
Afternoon
1. 12:00
  Lunch in Notting Hill
  The neighborhood around the market has plenty of cafés, pubs and bakery-style lunch options tucked into side streets. It is a pleasant place to slow down before heading back into the busier center.
  €22 per person
  TIPA street or two off Portobello Road is usually calmer and easier for finding a table.
2. 13:45
  Regent Street to Carnaby walk
  This central route combines grand shopping architecture with smaller lanes full of independent style and city energy. It is one of the best walks for experiencing the West End’s mix of elegance, movement and people-watching.
  Free
  TIPCarnaby’s smaller surrounding lanes are often more enjoyable to browse than the busiest main stretch.
3. 15:45
  Leicester Square to Chinatown stroll
  This compact part of the West End is bright, crowded and unmistakably theatrical, with cinemas, side streets and dense foot traffic. The short walk into Chinatown adds a different rhythm, marked by gateways, bakeries and restaurant windows.
  Free
  TIPThese streets are busiest in late afternoon and evening, so keep valuables secure in the densest crowds.
Evening
1. 17:30
  Covent Garden piazza and arcades
  Late afternoon into early evening is a great time to enjoy Covent Garden’s market buildings, performers and surrounding pedestrian lanes. The area feels festive and walkable, with plenty to see in a compact footprint.
  Free
  TIPCheck both the main piazza and the smaller covered passages nearby for shops and performers.
2. 19:15
  Dinner in Seven Dials
  Seven Dials gathers several small streets into one easy evening neighborhood filled with restaurants and bars. It keeps the central location of Covent Garden but feels a little more tucked-in and leisurely for dinner.
  €30 per person
  TIPWalk the full cluster of streets first; there is a dense concentration of options within a few minutes’ walk.
Day 5 · Sunday — Bloomsbury and Marylebone
A slower final day of elegant streets, bookstores and village-like London
5 stops€60 in stops, for two
Morning
1. 09:30
  Morning in Bloomsbury
  Bloomsbury’s garden squares and literary streets offer a more reflective side of central London. The neighborhood is ideal for an easy walk, with a sense of calm that still keeps you close to major sights.
  Free
  TIPUse the garden squares as anchors and wander the connecting streets between them rather than sticking to main roads.
2. 11:00
  Browse bookshops around Charing Cross Road
  This long-established bookselling area is one of the city’s classic browsing districts, with a mix of specialist shelves and general-interest shops. Even a short wander here captures a distinctly London kind of urban culture.
  Free
  TIPIndependent and second-hand shops are easiest to enjoy if you take time to dip into several rather than aiming for one big stop.
Afternoon
1. 12:45
  Lunch in Marylebone
  Marylebone is a polished but relaxed central neighborhood with cafés, bakeries and comfortable lunch spots along its village-like high street. It makes a pleasant midday stop before one last neighborhood walk.
  €22 per person
  TIPThe blocks just off the high street often feel quieter while staying close to the same cluster of options.
2. 14:15
  Stroll Marylebone High Street and side lanes
  This area balances handsome Georgian streets, local-feeling shops and an easy residential rhythm that contrasts with the busiest parts of the West End. It is a rewarding place to wander slowly and pick up final gifts or snacks.
  Free
  TIPTake at least one turn onto the side streets to enjoy the architecture as much as the shops.
3. 16:15
  Hyde Park edge walk
  Finish with a broad, open London parkland walk that gives the day a spacious final chapter. The paths along the park edge connect city views, tree-lined avenues and a sense of scale that many central streets do not show.
  Free
  TIPEnter from the Marble Arch side if you want an easy transition back toward central transport links afterward.
Evening
1. 18:15
  Wrap up and head onward
  Return to your accommodation, collect luggage if needed and make your way on for the evening departure.
  €8 per person
  TIPAllow extra time on Sunday evening if you need to cross central London by Tube.

Where to stay

Covent Garden / Soho / Holborn · about €260 a night Find a hotel here →

How many days do you need in London?

5 days is the right length for a first trip to London. That covers Westminster and the South Bank, the British Museum, the Tower and the City, and a market morning in Borough or Camden. With fewer days you see the highlights at a brisk pace; with more, add a day trip to Windsor or Oxford.

London, in a few questions

Is 5 days enough for London?

5 days in London gets you the headline sights without rushing, plus a neighbourhood most visitors skip. The plan below spends every one of them, morning to evening, with what each stop costs.

When is the best time to visit London?

Late spring through early autumn is the most comfortable time for long walks, riverfront wandering, and market-hopping. That said, London works year-round, and cooler months can be great for museums, pubs, and indoor attractions.

Is London expensive to visit?

London can be costly, especially for hotels and transport, but it also has plenty of free or low-cost things to do, including major museums and parks. You can manage your budget by mixing splurges with casual meals, pub stops, and self-guided exploring.

How do I get around London?

The city is easy to navigate with the Underground, buses, trains, and plenty of walkable areas. For short distances, walking is often one of the best ways to see the neighbourhood feel of the city.

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The 5-day plan, day by day

Day 1 · Wednesday — Westminster and the South Bank

Settle into central London

Walk Whitehall to Parliament Square

St James’s Park stroll

Lunch around Victoria Street

Buckingham Palace and The Mall

South Bank evening walk

Dinner in Covent Garden

Day 2 · Thursday — Museums and Kensington

Explore South Kensington

Museum time along Exhibition Road

Lunch around Gloucester Road

Kensington Gardens walk

Stroll Kensington High Street and side streets

Dinner in Soho

Day 3 · Friday — The City and East End

Walk St Paul's area and nearby lanes

Explore Leadenhall Market and surrounding streets

Lunch around Spitalfields

Browse Brick Lane and side streets

Tower Bridge and riverside walk

Dinner near Borough Market and London Bridge

Day 4 · Saturday — Markets, the West End and Covent Garden

Browse Portobello Road Market

Lunch in Notting Hill

Regent Street to Carnaby walk

Leicester Square to Chinatown stroll

Covent Garden piazza and arcades

Dinner in Seven Dials

Day 5 · Sunday — Bloomsbury and Marylebone

Morning in Bloomsbury

Browse bookshops around Charing Cross Road

Lunch in Marylebone

Stroll Marylebone High Street and side lanes

Hyde Park edge walk

Wrap up and head onward

Where to stay

How many days do you need in London?

London, in a few questions

More London

Make this London plan yours.