London is one of the most popular cities in the world, so here’s our tried and tested 4 Day London Itinerary to help you plan your route efficiently.
Getting Around London + Tips
Getting around London couldn’t be easier. There are generally 3 options:
By London Underground (Tube):
With the London Underground being the easiest way to jump on and off between tourist spots, we highly recommend using the tube system to get around.
Zones 1-2 contain all the central London districts, and most of the major tourist attractions. The daily cap for travelling in Zones 1-2 is £7.00 when using a contactless bank card.
If you don’t have a contactless card that works in London, the best option is to purchase a 1-Day Unlimited Travel Card.
These can be used on the tubes, buses, trams and Docklands Light Railway.
Most of the gaps between destinations are walkable, depending on how much ground you wish to cover and how much time you have.
By Hop On Hop Off Bus:
Standard buses are available within your daily travel card.
However, there is also of course the famous Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour.
This is always popular among tourists and a is great way to see many famous landmarks around the capital at ease.
All whilst travelling around on a traditional big red London bus!
By Tour:
Some of the best days out we’ve had in London have been on private tours.
So for those short on time, or those that prefer everything to be organised for them, there are some awesome tours on Get Your Guide available to book in advance.
From food tours, to canal rides and pub crawls, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the UK’s capital!
What To Pack
Day 1 Of Your 4 Day London Itinerary
Tower Bridge
Where better to start on your 4 day London itinerary?
Simply jump off the tube at either London Bridge or Tower Hill, depending on which side you wish to view the bridge from.
We would recommend getting off at London Bridge, that way you can actually walk over the bridge itself. This will also lead you straight onto your next stop – the Tower Of London.
Alternatively, if you prefer everything to be organised for you then the Tower of London and Tower Bridge Early-Access Tour is highly recommended.
Tower Bridge has become an iconic symbol of London, and one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. Because of this, Tower Bridge is sometimes confused with London Bridge, which is just half a mile upriver.
If you want to get a close view of the bridge from the River Thames the Westminster to Greenwich River Thames Cruise is a great option.
If you only have 1 day in London, this is definitely where you’ll want to start!
Tower Of London
The Tower Of London is a historic castle situated on the North side of Tower Bridge.
Easiest access from Tower Hill Underground Station, the Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history.
For any history lovers, this is a natural second stop on your 4 day London itinerary.
Open daily from 10am – 5.30pm (with last admissions at 5pm) tickets are not cheap starting at £24.70 per adult.
Tickets are best booked in advance via the Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket.
Alternatively the Tower of London and Tower Bridge Early-Access Tour is highly recommended.
Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley
Leadenhall Market is just a 10 minute walk from the Tower Of London. A Harry Potter fans ‘must’ visit!
A popular thing for any tourist to do in London, is to hunt out Harry Potter filming locations around the capital.
Leadenhall Market, which first appears in the film Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, is the most popular though and is where Diagon Alley was transformed.
The place that gave Harry his first look into the world of wizardry!
This is also one of the destinations visited on the popular Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour.
The covered market in London, is home to high end fashion brands and cosy restaurants scattered among the cobblestones.
Another popular Harry Potter spot is of course Platform 9 3/4, which is located at King’s Cross Station.
St Paul’s Cathedral
After taking photos of all the famous London landmarks, you’ll probably want to tick this one off your list.
From Leadenhall Market you can either walk to the cathedral, (15 minutes) or jump on the underground one stop from Bank to St Paul’s.
One of the most famous and recognisable sights of London, St Paul’s Cathedral is most commonly known for its intricate dome.
Standing at 111 metres high, it was once the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967, and the dome is still among the highest in the world.
A beautiful building, you can tour the inside of St Paul’s Cathedral for £20 per adult.
However, prices are a little cheaper when you book your St Paul’s Cathedral Entry Ticket in advance.
The Shard For Dinner
Why not make it a first night to remember on your 4 day London itinerary?
Although still in the same proximity, you may want to save some energy or even go home and freshen up before heading out for dinner.
You can actually see the Shard whilst crossing over Tower Bridge and London’s highest and best viewpoint is situated at the top of The Shard.
Access to the 244m high observatories on floors 68, 69 and 72 will cost you around £32 per adult. If you really want to make an evening of it you can try one of their six restaurants and bars.
Make sure to book your Shard Entry Ticket in advance though, because, as you can imagine, these are incredibly popular spots.
Also a great Fun Date Idea In London.
Day 2 Of Your 4 Day London Itinerary
The London Eye
First stop on day 2 of your 4 day London itinerary, and you’ll probably be eager to see the giant wheel!
Start the day by jumping off the tube at Waterloo station, which is just a 5 minute walk to the bottom of the wheel.
Standing at roughly 135 metres in height, the London Eye receives more visitors per year than the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids of Giza combined.
The famous ferris wheel is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, with over 3.75 million visitors annually – each one adding a big tick to their London bucket list.
With a variety of tickets and experiences available, the most simple being The London Eye: Standard or Fast-Track Entry Ticket it’s best to book in advance.
You can also find combo’s such as the London Eye and Madame Tussauds Combo Ticket or the Madame Tussauds, London Eye & SEA LIFE Combo Ticket.
Big Ben & Westminster
From the London Eye it leads nicely onto Westminster Bridge and of course Big Ben.
Sadly for now Big Ben is under reconstruction until 2021. However, Westminster is the bustling government area near Buckingham Palace – so where to start?
Westminster Abbey, The Houses Of Parliament and Parliament Square are all popular destinations on people’s London bucket list! Also it’s an ideal spot for touristy photos with phone boxes and the city backdrop from the bridge.
Don’t forget the Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour will take you to all these touristy places.
Also, the London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour is highly recommended as it takes in all these iconic places at night and some people say they look even more spectacular lit up!
Of course, don’t forget to listen out for the chime of Big Ben as it rings out from the iconic clock tower every hour, on the hour!
Trafalgar Square
Just a 10 minute walk, via the Embankment, will lead you to another huge bucket list attraction!
Most recognisable for its famous bronze lions, Trafalgar Square is on the 4 day London itinerary for variety of reasons.
Some visit for the architecture of The National Gallery (art museum) and the surrounding fountains. Others pay their respects to Nelson’s Column which stands tall as it commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar.
Either way, if you don’t take a selfie with the Trafalgar Square lions, have you even been to London?
The Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour is a great way to take in all these touristy places.
Again, London: London by Night Sightseeing Open-Top Bus Tour will take you via this iconic spot when it is all lit up for a different perspective.
Buckingham Palace
Next up, from the importance of Parliament, to the royalty herself! Because who doesn’t want to visit the Queen on their 4 day London itinerary?
The walk from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace via The Mall is one of the most iconic in the city.
Home to Her Majesty The Queen, Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom.
Tourists flock daily to take photos from outside the royal walls, and it’s in fact only possible to get inside Buckingham Palace for a couple of months per year.
Between July – September each year the State Rooms are opened to the public and you can book your Buckingham Palace: The State Rooms Entrance Tickets in advance.
Guided tours include London: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour. Take in the highlights of this world famous ceremony and follow the guards journey to Buckingham Palace whilst also learning about the British royal family.
Day 3 Of Your 4 Day London Itinerary
Covent Garden
Day 3 of your 4 day London itinerary, and it’s time to slow things down a little with some retail therapy.
Jump on the underground and get off at Covent Garden, London’s main theatre and entertainment area.
Home to fashion stores, crafts and the Royal Opera House, tourists flock to Covent Garden to watch street entertainers or West End shows. You can spend hours just walking around embracing the old cobbled streets.
Once home to the world-famous fruit and vegetable market, Covent Garden’s Apple Market continues to support local market traders. So here could be the perfect opportunity to pick up some unique souvenirs!
Fun Fact: Covent Garden is the only district in London to have a license for street performers and entertainers.
Piccadilly Circus
From Covent Garden simply jump on the Piccadilly line two stops West and get off at Piccadilly Station. Alternatively, if you’re still full of energy, you can walk the short 10 minute journey.
Piccadilly Circus is most commonly known for its iconic Coca Cola sign who started advertising on their billboards in 1954.
The road junction and public space, located in London’s West End, was built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly.
Although since the circus is close to major shopping and entertainment areas in the West End, its status as a major traffic junction has made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting place and a tourist attraction in its own right.
For great views of all the best spots in London including Piccadilly, why not take a Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with audio guide included.
You’ll also find one of the world famous Hard Rock Cafes in Piccadilly Circus. So if you’re looking for somewhere to eat Piccadilly Circus: Hard Rock Cafe Skip-the-Line and Set Menu is worth booking in advance.
Regent Street & Oxford Street
Regent Street is one of the main streets leading off from Piccadilly Circus and also one of the most famous shopping roads in London.
Here you’ll find the standard big brand names such as Apple, Calvin Klein. And if you follow it all the way until you hit Nike Town you’ll find yourself at the crossing of Oxford Street.
Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street with around half a million visitors daily, ramping up to way more at certain times of the year like Christmas.
With the majority of tourists in the capital on the hunt for either high-end London fashion, or typical UK souvenirs, Oxford Street is high on most peoples London itinerary.
Don’t forget you can take the Big Bus Open-Top Hop-on, Hop-off Sightseeing Tour to get to all these places.
West End Show
There’s no better way to wind down after a long day of shopping in London, than to enjoy a traditional West End show!
West End show is a common term for mainstream professional show, staged in the large theatres in and around the West End of London.
Along with New York City’s Broadway theatre, West End theatres are usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.
With plenty of shows and theatres to choose from, as well as billboards plastered all over London’s underground, simply find a show that you fancy and pre-order some tickets!
The best place for cheap tickets can be found at TodayTix here.
A few of our favourites are the long running Lion King, Wicked and Disney’s Aladdin!
Day 4 Of Your 4 Day London Itinerary
Camden
If you want to see the ‘edgy’ side of London, then Camden is definitely your spot.
A little venture out, but still only 20 minutes from central, Camden is definitely worth a place on your 4 day London itinerary.
Best described as the ‘alternative’ area of London. Camden is a place where everyone is accepted and nobody is stared at.
You’ll see all sorts of quirky characters walking around the streets of Camden. It also hosts street markets and music venues daily.
Camden Town is famed for its market, a warren of fashion and curiosities by the Regent’s Canal.
In fact, a popular way to travel to Camden is via Little Venice: Regent’s Canal Waterbus Boat Trip to Camden. Enjoy a leisurely, one-way guided boat trip, passing by sights such as London Zoo.
London Markets
Speaking of markets, who doesn’t love a market?
With so many to choose from in London, Camden Market, Borough Market and Brick Lane Market are a few of our personal favourites. Although we’ll leave you to decide which one to add to your 4 day London itinerary.
From Camden you’ll be heading back towards central, so it’s pretty open to where to get the tube to.
If you’re looking for a detailed guide, Time Out has a great article on the best markets in London.
Hyde Park
After shopping the markets, you can get the tube to Marble Arch. It will drop you directly on the corner of Hyde Park.
Hyde Park is the most famous park in London, if not one of the most famous parks in the world.
It’s a great place to take a walk or a picnic and also catch your breath amongst the city bustle on your 4 day London itinerary.
Also, be sure to check what events are on at Hyde Park before visiting here.
Although it’s not the only beautiful green spot in the capital! Regent’s Park, Finsbury Park and St. James’s Park are just a few others if you have time to take a break while exploring London.
Natural History Museum
The best part about walking through Hyde Park is that it leads directly to the Natural History Museum.
One of the most interesting things to do in London, is to educate yourselves at the museums!
With so many to choose from, the British Museum, National History Museum and Science Museum are a few of our favourites. We’ll leave you to decide which to add to your 4 day London itinerary.
If you’re looking for a detailed guide, Visit London has a great article on the top 23 free museums in London.
Eat At An English Pub
Last but not least, and a great way to end your 4 day London itinerary, is to have traditional fish & chips or pie & mash at a pub.
Famous for its beer drinking and pub grub culture, a visit to England wouldn’t be complete without having a pint at a local boozer.
There are old English pubs on nearly every corner in London, making it easy to tick off on your London bucket list.
If unsure where to start, there are some great pub tours including London: Historical Pub Walking Tour where you can explore some of the city’s most historic pubs and even follow in the footsteps of Dickens!
Be sure to grab a packet of pork scratchings and watch a football match while you’re there too!
Where To Stay In London
Luxury – The London EDITION
The London EDITION is located in central London’s Fitzrovia district, with Oxford Street, Theatreland and Piccadilly Circus all within a 10-minute walk.
Inside, there is a Michelin star restaurant, 2 cocktail bars, a 24-hour front desk, free WiFi and free use of the on-site fitness centre for all guests.
With a view of the vibrant city, each en suite room come with a flat-screen TV and air-conditioning. An iPod docking station, bathrobes and a mini-bar are also provided.
Each evening, the restaurant offers a contemporary British menu using fresh, British produce.
Mid-Budget – Corus Hotel Hyde Park
Set within a 20-minute walk from and boasting a stylish, lounge , Corus Hotel Hyde Park features modern rooms with free WiFi.
The hotel is just a 10-minute walk from Paddington Station, offering a direct train link to Heathrow Airport.
The cosy, air-conditioned bedrooms at Corus Hotel have private en-suite bathrooms and satellite TVs with on-demand movies. Rooms also feature work desks, tea/coffee facilities, iron and ironing boards.
The conservatory brasserie serves a modern European menu using seasonal produce.
Olio Bar offers light snacks and beverages, and overlooks Hyde Park.
Budget – The Queens Hostel
Featuring free WiFi, The Queens Hostel offers accommodation in London, just a 2-minute walk to Queens Park Rangers football stadium.
Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Rooms come with a shared bathroom.
You can play tennis at this hostel, and the area is popular for golfing.
For more places to stay in London, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
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mylondonchauffeurs
Thursday 24th of December 2020
I have a flight with my wife to London next year. Knowing this will help us a lot to decide where to go. Thank you so much!
Charlie Pauly
Thursday 28th of January 2021
Ah best of luck with it! Hopefully this will come in handy!