3 days in London
A realistic day-by-day plan with start times, how long to allow, and travel estimates between stops.
This 3-day plan covers Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition, Thames River Cruise, London Eye and more. It starts around 9am, keeps two main things per day with a proper lunch, and leaves the evening for food or a show. Travel times are estimates from the distance between stops.
Day 1
Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition & more
- 09:00
Tower of London
2 h
Go for the first entry slot. Join one of the free Beefeater tours that run through the day – they are excellent.
- 12:30
Lunch
Walk a couple of streets away from the main sight – prices drop and quality rises.
- 14:00
↓ About 3 min on foot
- 19:00
↓ About 10 min by metro or taxi
Thames River Cruise
1 h 30 min
Commuter river buses are cheaper than sightseeing cruises if you just want to travel on the water.
Day 2
London Eye, Westminster & more
- 09:00
London Eye
2 h
Fast Track tickets shorten the wait. Sunset slots in clear weather are the most popular.
- 12:30
Lunch
Walk a couple of streets away from the main sight – prices drop and quality rises.
- 14:00
↓ About 7 min on foot
Westminster & Royal London
2 h 30 min
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place on selected days – check the schedule and arrive early for a view.
- 19:00
West End Theatre Show
3 h
Booking directly or through approved sellers is safest. Check the seat view before buying.
Day 3
Day trip: Stonehenge
- 08:30
Stonehenge & Bath Day Trip
Full day
Stonehenge is viewed from a path around the stones; special 'inner circle' access visits are limited.
- 19:00
Evening back in London
Dinner near your hotel. After a full day out, keep the evening easy.
The route on a map
Pins follow the order of the plan. Click a pin for details.
Best time to visit London
Pick the month that suits your weather and crowd tolerance. These are broad seasonal patterns, not forecasts.
- JanColdCrowds: quiet
- FebColdCrowds: quiet
- MarCoolCrowds: busy
- AprCoolCrowds: busy
- MayMildCrowds: peak
- JunWarmCrowds: peak
- JulWarmCrowds: peak
- AugWarmCrowds: peak
- SepMildCrowds: peak
- OctCoolCrowds: busy
- NovCoolCrowds: busy
- DecColdCrowds: quiet
Best months Peak crowds and harsh weatherBars show how busy it is: taller means more visitors.
3-day London questions
Is 3 days enough for London?
Four days for the main sights; a week adds day trips. This plan fits the main sights into 3 days at a comfortable pace, with a lunch break each day.
Can I change the order of the days?
Yes. Group days by neighbourhood if your hotel is far from a sight, and swap any day if opening hours (many museums close one day a week) or the weather requires it.
What should I book before I go?
Book Tower of London, Tower Bridge Exhibition, London Eye first – they use timed entry or sell out.