After spending a great deal of time in London, it’s become one of my all-time favorite places to visit. This London itinerary 5 days covers everything you must do, see, and eat in the city!
Since London is so big and spread-out, each day of this itinerary is structured by area. The attractions within that day are close to one another. Keep in mind that when changing activities, you may have to take a long train or taxi ride between locations.
Read til the end of the itinerary for my absolute FAVORITE activity in London, as well as where/what to eat while in the city!
Last Updated: January 11th, 2024
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General Tips for London Itinerary 5 Days
- London is an expensive city, but many museums and attractions are free. Take advantage of this when planning.
- On Sundays, most stores close at around 5-6 pm. Plan around this if you’re having a full shopping day.
- Restaurants typically include a 13-15% tip on the bill. If you dislike the service, you can ask to have it removed. (Read til the end for my London restaurant guide)
Getting Around London
As a tourist, you’re best off taking public transportation to one area and then walking between attractions. Public transportation includes the famed double-decker bus and the Underground Tube (subway).
Public transportation is split up into Zones 1-6. The further you travel, the more expensive each ride will be. As a tourist, you’ll only be spending time in Zone 1 and maybe Zone 2.
Each ride will be around £2.80 with an Oyster Card, which can be bought at the station, or by tapping your phone at the turnstile. It’s the cheapest way to travel — a single travel ticket is already £6.70 otherwise.
DON’T rent a car unless you know you’ll be hanging around the outskirts of the city. Parking is hard to find and expensive!
Where to Stay in London
I’ve stayed in a few neighborhoods in London and found the Picadilly & Convent Garden area to be the most convenient for a London itinerary 5 days. They’re both in Central London, with extensive public transportation across the city.
Top-Rated London Tours & Experiences
- London Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour (4.4 stars, 1.9K+ Reviews)
- From London: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour (4.7 stars, 13K+ Reviews). The tour includes bus tickets to and from London & entry
- London Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Boat Cruise (4.5 stars, 9K+ Reviews)
- Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour (4.7 stars, 15K+ Reviews)
- London: Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour (4.8 stars, 3K+ Reviews)
Day 1 of London Itinerary 5 Days
Day 1 of this London itinerary 5 days is focused on many of the iconic London landmarks.
Trafalgar Square
Start your sightseeing day by passing through Trafalgar Square, named after Britain’s victory in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. The giant monument in the middle of the square is named after Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who was killed during the battle. It’s now one of the most well-known public squares and is the setting for protests, celebrations, and festivals.
Time to spend here: 15 minutes
Price: Free
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Next, take a stroll down the mall (or a brisk walk if you’re running late), to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guards. It starts at 10:45 am-11 am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday in summer. The 45-minute ceremony marks the time when the soldiers who are on duty switch.
During the first portion of the ceremony, some guards form a band to play music. While they primarily play military march songs, they sometimes also play fun and modern pop songs. When I went, they played the Lion King and Mamma Mia soundtracks!
I recommend getting there around 30 minutes before the ceremony to secure a good viewing spot. The ceremony takes place behind the gates and it gets CROWDED, especially on weekends.
Travel Tip: This activity is completely FREE! Anyone who tries to sell you a ticket to this is trying to scam you.
Time to spend here: 1 hour
Another cool activity at Buckingham Palace is to see the Royal Mews, which houses the historic royal carriages and working stables.
Westminster Abbey
After the Buckingham Palace, walk only 15 minutes to Westminster Abbey. The grand church has been the place for coronations and other royal events since 1066. It is also the burial site for 18 Britain, Scottish, and English monarchs.
With a ticket for Westminster Abbey Entry, you can see the grand interior of the church, the coronation chair for previous monarchs, the tombs of those buried inside the church, and more.
Time to spend here: 15 minutes-1.5 hours
Price: £27
Big Ben
Just steps away from Westminster Abbey is the grand Big Ben clock tower! It stands at 11 stories tall and has Gothic Revival architecture. You can also go inside and tour the tower from the inside.
For the PERFECT London tourist picture, cross the street from Westminster Abbey to the red telephone booths. You’ll get a shot of the telephone booth with Big Ben in the background (pictured above). It’s one of my top must-do activities in this London itinerary 5 days.
Time to spend here: 15 minutes
Price: Free, unless you go inside
Optional: London Eye
Walk over the Westminster Bridge to the iconic London Eye. You can purchase a London Eye Entry Ticket (16K+ Reviews) to ride. Although the price is on the higher end, the complete rotation time is 30 minutes and there are 360-degree views of the city. There’s a maximum of 25 people per capsule.
Time to spend here: 45 minutes
Price: Free, unless you go inside
Borough Market (Closed Mondays)
You’ll be hungry after a full morning of sightseeing. Take the Jubilee Line on the Tube two stops to the London Bridge station. The Borough market is only a 4-minute walk from there.
The historic market has been a hub for retail and wholesale food shopping for the last 1,000 years! The market is split up between fresh produce and cooked food stalls. They have food stalls from all over the world, so there’s something for everyone. It’s an absolute must-see on your London itinerary 5 days.
One of the popular stands at the Borough Market are the TikTok-famous chocolate strawberry stand (£5 for regular strawberries, and £7 for the chocolate ones). The strawberries are fresh and sweet.
The Black Pig is another popular stand that sells sandwiches. The top one is appropriately named “The Best One”, and comes with slow-roasted pork, honey truffle mayo, salsa verde, fennel, and apple slaw.
For more spots to hit, LondonCityCalling wrote a helpful Borough Market guide.
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Price: Free
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater
Pass by the Shakespeare Globe Theater near the market. It’s a realistic, reconstructed version of the original Globe Theater built in 1599. The Globe Theatre website lists out upcoming tours and shows.
Tate Modern Art Museum
Admire contemporary art for free at the Tate Modern, just a 13-minute walk from the Borough Market. The collection of sculptures, paintings, videos, etc., spans from the 1900s to now. The museum has works from famous artists across the world, like Pablo Picasso and Jenny Holzer.
Tate has two main buildings connected by an indoor bridge. Depending on the time of year, there may be events or special exhibits that require a paid entry to book ahead. For instance, right now is the Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms. Check out the Tate Modern website for full details!
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Dinner & Pubs
Did you know that there are over 3,500 pubs across London? End your day 1 of the London itinerary 5 days by drinking at the top pubs in the city!
Although there are many pub options, I don’t recommend just walking into any place you see — not all of them are good. Listed are some of the better and well-known pubs around London:
- Churchill Arms in Kensington – adorned with hundreds of flowers on the outside, Churchill Arms is impossible to miss.
- The Harp in Covent Garden
- Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn – located in a small alleyway, this 1547 real ale pub is a hidden gem
Day 2 of London Itinerary 5 Days
Leicester Square & Picadilly Circus
Start your morning in Leicester Square and Picadilly Circus. Leicester Square is located in the West End neighborhood that’s famous for Broadway shows and musicals. The square has discount ticket booths for various shows, so get in line at the box office early to see what deals are happening!
Picadilly Circus is essentially the NYC Times Square of London. There are lit-up advertisements across the square and live performances throughout the day. It’s pretty touristy, but I’ve seen some good singers while there!
Time to spend here: 15 minutes-1 hour. You can simply walk through this, or stop into the stores along the way.
Price: Free
National Portrait Gallery
Right behind Picadilly Circus is this free museum dedicated to portraits. The extensive collection has over 220,000 pieces of artwork that span from the 8th century to the modern day.
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Chinatown
Head over a block away from Leicester Square to London’s Chinatown! The neighborhood spans a few blocks – you can’t miss the hundreds of red lanterns hanging above the streets. The streets are lined with Chinese restaurants, bakeries, boba shops, and other small businesses like hairdressers.
The food here is a hit or miss, so here are my top Chinatown recommendations:
- Good Friend for Taiwanese popcorn chicken as a snack
- Cuppacha & Yunique for bubble tea (£5-7 for each)
- Bunsik for Korean corndogs and tteokbokki
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 2 hours depending on if you eat
Price: Free
Oxford Street & Regent Street
Just a block away from Picadilly Circus is the famous shopping area home to Regent Street and Oxford Street. You’ll find everything from huge retail chains to niche, artisan stores. If you like shopping, allocate a LOT of your time here in your London itinerary 5 days.
Soho
Dedicate a few hours of your day to getting lost in the streets of Soho. The neighborhood is a top destination for the arts, shopping, and nightlife. Must-see streets include Carnaby Street, spanning 14 streets of independent stores and international flagship brands.
Other interesting Soho stores to check out:
- Minalima –> MinaLima was the design studio behind the Harry Potter & Fantastic Beast films. The store sells prints, collectibles, stationery, and more by the company.
- Liberty –> A Carnaby Street luxury department store that is famous for its bold, floral fabrics. However, you can find everything fashion, homeware, fragrances, etc.
- Hamleys –> A 7-store toy store with over 35,000 toys. There’s everything from Paddington Bear to Legos to Peppa Pig.
Time to spend here: 2-5 hours
Price: Free, unless you buy something obviously
Covent Garden
The pedestrian-friendly Covent Garden neighborhood is filled with bars, restaurants, and shops. The quaint, cobblestone streets lead to a shopping plaza with fresh produce, homemade goods, lifestyle stores, and fashion stores.
Covent Garden is also home to the Royal Opera House and picturesque Neal’s Yard (as shown above).
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Dishoom
While in Covent Garden, make sure to have your breakfast or lunch at Dishoom! The Bombay-inspired restaurant chain is famous across the UK. It’s my favorite meal in this London itinerary 5 days.
The restaurant has a large menu of curries, rice dishes, and grilled meats. I recommend their Chicken Ruby curry, naan, and biryani from the lunch menu, and Bacon naan roll and Big Bombay (an Indian take on traditional British breakfast) on the breakfast menu.
All the food is flavorful, and service is friendly. There can sometimes be long waits since it is a popular restaurant, but if you go at off-peak lunch and dinner hours, you’ll be fine.
See a West End Show
End your night at a West End Broadway show! To save money, buy the discount tickets at the box office in Leicester Square beforehand. The shows running include everything from the big Broadway hits like Mamma Mia and Les Miserables, to smaller, lesser-known ones.
Since most Broadway shows run every day, I found the seats to be cheaper compared to those in the States. I watched The Phantom of the Opera for £76 in the box seats right in front!
Time to spend here: 2-4 hours
Price: dependent on the musical, but 2.5 hours typically
Day 3 of London Itinerary 5 Days
Day 3 of this London itinerary 5 days is to check out East London, visit a free observatory with panoramic views of the city, and spend time at the market. After you arrive at Spitalfields by Tube or taxi, you can easily walk the neighborhood for the rest of the day.
Old Spitalfields Market
Start your day off at Spitalfield’s Market, a neighborhood market with plenty of character. There are independent stalls selling handcrafted goods, art, jewelry, and fashion pieces. On the other side of the market are rows of international food stalls and bench seating. My top recommendations here are Dumpling Shack and Humble Crumble for dessert. Best of all, the market is covered with a ceiling. Perfect area to wander while it rains!
Brick Lane Vintage Market is located just a block away. It’s a HUGE underground vintage store.
Time To Spend Here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Lunch at Brick Lane
Besides vintage shopping and bars, Brick Lane is also known for its selection of Indian food. Top curry restaurants include Sheba Restaurant (voted the best curry in the UK), Brick-Lane Brasserie, and the Famous Curry Bazaar.
Leadenhall Market
This is more of a tourist attraction rather than an actual market. The Victorian-designed alleyways have been a filming location for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter.
I think that the market is still worth a visit for non-Harry Potter fans just because of its cool, 17th-century Dutch-style architecture. It’s located in the business district of London, so it doesn’t get as much foot traffic as other London tourist spots. However, it’s not far from Brick Lane, making it a low effort addition to your London itinerary 5 days. Check out LondonxLondon’s Leadenhall market guide for more.
Time to spend here: 15 minutes
Price: Free
Sky Garden
Located at the top of a skyscraper and nicknamed the “walkie-talkie” due to its interesting shape, the Sky Garden is the highest public garden in London. The glass room and outdoor observation deck boast panoramic 360 degree-views of London.
There’s couch and table seating, a bar, and even a restaurant within the 3-story glass observation deck. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and decompress after sightseeing.
Entrance to the garden is free. You’ll see many blogs say you HAVE to book a reservation to enter online, but I got in easily despite not having one. I suggest booking a time slot online if it’s available, but even if it’s full, go anyway! They accept walk-ins when it isn’t too busy.
If the garden is truly booked, don’t worry. Garden 120 is another free rooftop garden viewpoint blocks away. While it’s less grand and only 15 stories up, it still has decent views.
Time to spend here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Optional: St Dunstan in-the-East Church Garden
A great photo opportunity is the St Dunstan in the East Church garden. The garden is pretty hidden and its lush greenery against the stone walls makes it a hotspot for photographers.
Time To Spend Here: 15 minutes
Price: Free
The London Bridge & Tower Bridge
Cross over the London Bridge (typically mistaken with the Tower Bridge) to the other side of the river. From there, you can stroll the Queen’s Walk until you encounter the Tower Bridge.
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Price: Free
Day 4 of London Itinerary
There are a few ways you can go about day 4 on the London itinerary 5 days. I first include a few optional day trips outside of London.
Optional: Harry Potter Studios Tour
For Harry Potter fanatics, the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour should be at the top of your London itinerary 5 days! It’s located in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England, about 1.5 hours from London.
The self-guided tour is 3.5 hours long. You get to see up-close the sets, props, and costumes from the films. You also see the behind-the-scenes movie magic of how green screens and special effects were used in the movies.
Time to spend here: Half the day
Price: £50-130 per person
Optional: Stonehenge
Another popular day trip from London is the Stonehenge, a monument in Wiltshire, England, two miles west of Amesbury. The first monument of Stonehenge was raised 4,5000 years ago!
The Stonehenge Half-Day Morning or Afternoon Tour (1.8K+) includes a bus there and back from London, as well as entry. It’s not a guided tour, so you can go at your own pace.
Note that you can’t get TOO close to Stonehenge, meaning you can’t touch or lean against it. The closest you can get to the historical monument is about 15 yards away.
Time to spend here: Half-day trip
Price: around £70
The British Museum
Start your day by exploring one of London’s most infamous museums. The British Museum in Bloomsbury has a collection of over 8 million pieces from around the world! While there is controversy surrounding the British Museum’s refusal to give back stolen artifacts, it’s a must-see tourist spot nonetheless.
Time to spend here: 1-3 hours, depending on how in-depth you want to walk around. I’m not really a history or museum person, so I only spent about 45 minutes here.
Price: Free
Afternoon Tea
What’s a London trip without afternoon tea? Afternoon tea has been a long-time tradition of light sweet and savory bites to keep high-society Londoners satiated between lunch and dinner. Now, it’s a popular tourist attraction and a must for a London itinerary 5 days.
Harrods
Located in Knightsbridge, Harrods is the largest and most well-known luxury department store in London. With over 330 retailers selling luxury goods, electronics, clothing, jewelry, bridalwear, etc., shopaholics can spend hours browsing each floor. You can even take a shopping break at the Harrods food hall with chocolates, baked goods, pasta, meats, etc.
For those on a budget, there’s a reasonably-priced Harrods gift shop on the ground floor.
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Price: Free
Hyde Park & Kensington Palace
Located just a few streets away from Harrods is the largest of the Royal Parks. Hyde Park is home to iconic sights like the Marble Arch and Kensington Gardens. Within the park is the Kensington Palace, the official residence of The Prince & Princess of Wales and their family.
The Victoria & Albert Museum is nearby, a gallery perfect for fashion lovers. It’s completely free, making it a cost efficient option for your London itinerary 5 days.
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Price: Free
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a trendy, vibrant neighborhood a bit further out from Central London.
I LOVE cool and unique architecture, so checking out the colorful houses in Notting Hill is a top-of-the-list activity for me. The top streets to view include Lancaster Road and Westbourne Grove.
Time To Spend Here: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Cost: Free
Portobello Market
Deeper into the neighborhood is the Portobello Street Market. With over 1,000 dealers selling antiques and collectibles, it’s a paradise for vintage collectors and shoppers. Hours vary by day and holidays, so make sure to check the Portobello Market website for more information.
Time to spend here: 30 minutes -2 hours
Price: Free
Day 5 of London Itinerary 5 Days
Camden Market
Camden is my favorite area of London, so I’m especially excited to share this day of the London itinerary 5 days. The Camden Lock area of Camden has OVER 1,000 shops, food stalls with international cuisines, and dance spots. There’s a large vintage and antique section, and many stores dedicated to counter-culture. You can easily spend the entire day shopping and eating here (I did, and I don’t even like shopping).
One of the coolest stores in the market was Cyberdog. It’s a retail chain selling bright-colored clothing and rave accessories. Whether you’re interested in raves or not, it’s a fun store to go into as there’s loud music, bright neon lights, and interesting fashion pieces.
Time to spend here: 2-5 hours
Price: Free
Primrose Hill
The second half of day 5 is away from the hustle and bustle of Camden Market and more into London’s spectacular royal parks. First, take a quick walk over to Primrose Hill. The hilltop viewpoint provides stellar views of the London skyline and is a destination for picnics and warmer weather. This is my favorite viewpoint in this London itinerary 5 days.
The walk up the hill is just as lovely as the view. Chic boutiques, cafes, and restaurants line the streets. Step into the residential side streets to take a look at the pastel-colored townhouses. Chalcot Crescent is a quiet street to see these houses, but be respectful when taking pictures – people live there!
Time to spend here: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Price: Free
Regent’s Park
Before you leave the Camden neighborhood, stop at Regent’s Park near the station. It occupies 410 acres of ground with many activities including tennis courts, a lake, and two well-kept gardens.
I recommend visiting the Queen Gardens. In the summer, there was a rose garden perfect to relax and take pictures.
Time To Spend Here: 1-2 hours
Price: Free
Other Activities for Your London Itinerary 5 Days
There’s SO much to do in London that I could not have fit it into a London itinerary 5 days! Here are some other top things to do that you can fit into your itinerary:
- Natural History Museum –> a free museum in South Kensington showcasing 4.6 billion years of our planet’s history
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
- Platform 9 and 3/4 –> This is a fun thing to add to your London itinerary 5 days if you’re a Harry Potter fan! You can snap a picture at the iconic train platform at King’s Cross Station. There is a cart halfway through the wall already set up for the perfect photo op. Best of all, it’s free to visit!
- Hampstead –> a residential neighborhood of London
- The Shard –> a view deck that’s 72 stories up!
- Abbey Road –> as seen on the Beatles album cover
- Hampton Court Palace –> the home of Henry VIII
- Churchhill War Rooms –> a museum with a glimpse of life of the Second World War
- Little Venice –> a residential district with canals and boats running through it. It’s perfect for a stroll!
Foods to Eat During Your London Itinerary 5 Days
Although British food is notorious for being “bad”, there are some must-try famous foods:
- Full English Breakfast – complete with eggs, bacon, baked beans, fried mushroom, black pudding, and toasted bread
- Fish & Chips – battered fish with chips (or in the U.S known as french fries) on the side
- Chicken Tikka Masala – England’s national dish!
- Sunday Roast – roast meat, potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and veggies.
- Afternoon Tea
- A Scotch Egg – a boiled egg in sausage meat that is then covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried
Best Restaurants for London Itinerary 5 Days
I’ve had a mix of amazing and horrible meals while in London. Honestly, I found most of the ethnic food to be better tasting than the British food. Here’s my list of the BEST restaurants around London for you to try:
- Bao in Soho –> a Taiwanese-inspired restaurant that’s been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for 8 years in a row. I recommend their classic pork and fried chicken Bao sandwich
- Koya in Soho –> popular udon noodle shop. Prepare to wait in line at peak times!
- Hopper’s in Soho –> Sri Lankan spot serving curries, dosas, & “hoppers”, which is a flatbread for curries.
- Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar in West End –> A no-frills hand-pulled noodle shop that’s open late. I recommend the stewed beef noodle soup.
Wrapping up: London Itinerary 5 Days
That concludes my London itinerary 5 days! Although London is such a big city that it feels nearly impossible to complete everything you want within such a short time frame, this guide hits all the top spots.
Traveling to Paris, too? Check out my Paris Itinerary 5 Days guide!
Did I miss your favorite spot? Either leave a comment or send a message and I’ll check it out!
After reading through this London itinerary 5 days, check out my travel page for other itineraries and guides.
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