Planning five days in London is exciting, but it’s also easy to get wrong. London is a big city, the options are endless, and it’s surprisingly simple to spend precious time doubling back across town or queuing for the wrong things.
This guide takes care of all that. Below you’ll find a day-by-day itinerary covering the best of London, with activities grouped by area to keep travel time short and the experience long.
Each day groups nearby attractions together, builds in realistic lunch breaks, and mixes paid highlights with free ones.
The days can be rearranged to suit you, but the order below is designed to avoid the busiest crowds at the most popular spots.
London travel: Your best options for a five-day trip
London is best explored on foot where possible, as you get to see the city while you go from place to place.
Buses are a good option if you can plan the route easily, otherwise hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses can be an efficient way to get between the main sights.
For everything you need to know about fares, Oyster cards, Thames Clippers and travelling with kids, see our full guide to getting around London.
London Itinerary Day 1: Westminster, Southbank and the West End
Morning
Westminster is where most people start their London visit. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben are all within easy walking distance of each other, but trying to go inside all of them in a morning is a stretch.
Pick one or two to explore properly and take in the others from the outside as you walk between them. If you want to cover everything, a guided Westminster tour takes around three hours and includes the history behind each landmark.
Either way, aim to arrive before 11am and head to Horse Guards Parade first to catch the daily Changing of the King’s Life Guard ceremony. It features mounted soldiers and is usually quieter than the Buckingham Palace version.
Afternoon
Cross the river to the Southbank for the afternoon. If you’re visiting on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the Southbank Centre food market is worth a stop for lunch. It has a wide range of street food stalls and usually something for everyone, including fussy eaters.
On other days, there are cafes and restaurants along the riverbank to try instead. After lunch, the Southbank has some of London’s best family attractions close together.
Shrek’s Adventure is an immersive walkthrough for fans of the films. SEA LIFE London Aquarium takes you through coral reefs, open oceans, and an underwater tunnel.
The London Eye is just along the riverbank. If you’re planning on visiting more than one of these, then booking Shrek’s Adventure, SEA LIFE, and the London Eye together with a multi-attraction ticket saves up to 50%.
Evening
Head back over the Golden Jubilee Bridge to Covent Garden for dinner.
Japanese restaurant Inamo has interactive tables built into the dining surface, which works well with children. Honest Burgers and Frankie & Benny’s are both nearby if you want something more straightforward. If you’re planning to see a show, choose a restaurant close to the theatre.
For families, Matilda the Musical and The Lion King are the two most reliable choices in the West End.
London Itinerary Day 2: Tower of London, Borough Market and Greenwich
Morning
The Tower of London packs 900 years of history into one site: the Crown Jewels, the stories of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Guy Fawkes, and the fortress walls themselves.
Book in advance and arrive close to the 10am opening time to beat the queues at the Crown Jewels. After the Tower, cross Tower Bridge and take a moment to look up and down the river.
Book the Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition
After visiting the Tower of London, you can cross over the Thames via the famous Tower Bridge. Be sure to get some pictures and enjoy the views up the river.
Afternoon
Walk along the river to Borough Market for lunch. It’s one of London’s most famous food markets and a genuine favourite with locals. Many stalls offer free samples, which makes choosing easier.
From London Bridge City Pier, take an Uber Boat Thames Clipper to Greenwich. The RB1 service runs regularly and the journey takes around 30 minutes along the Thames.
In Greenwich, the Royal Observatory sits on the Meridian Line, so you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere. There’s a Planetarium on site covering space and astrophysics, and the views across the river from the hill are some of the best in London.
The Old Royal Naval College is a few minutes’ walk away and has been used as a filming location for Bridgerton. Entry to the grounds is free.
Evening
The One Tree Hill viewpoint in Greenwich Park looks out over the Old Royal Naval College and Canary Wharf, and it’s one of the better views in London. It’s also a good spot for a takeaway dinner.
Jack the Chipper is a short walk from the park and does solid fish and chips. Greenwich Park has a rose garden, a playground, and a 750-year-old oak associated with Elizabeth I, worth a wander after eating. If the weather turns, the Greenwich Picturehouse is close by.
London Itinerary Day 3: Harry Potter Studio Tour
Morning and afternoon
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a full day out, around 20 miles north-west of central London, and consistently one of the most popular family days out in the country.
The original sets, costumes, props, and special effects are all on show. There are seasonal events throughout the year, so check what’s on before you book. It sells out well in advance, so plan ahead. Tickets that include return transport from London are available.
Lunch is available on site at the Backlot Cafe, which sits roughly halfway through the tour. Butterbeer is available here too, in hot, cold, and ice cream versions.
Evening
Back in central London, Soho is a good base for dinner. Heddon Street Kitchen, from Gordon Ramsay, serves European food and offers free kids’ meals on weekdays.
If you have energy left, many shops around Oxford Circus stay open late. Hamleys on Regent Street spans several floors and has live demos and interactive displays, which tends to go down well with children.
London Itinerary Day 4: South Kensington museums and Notting Hill
Morning
South Kensington has three of London’s best museums within a few minutes of each other: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A.
All three are free to enter and open at 10am. We’d recommend picking one and spending proper time there rather than rushing through two.
The Natural History Museum covers 4.6 billion years of natural history, with popular galleries on dinosaurs, volcanoes, and mammals, plus a new mixed reality experience and garden area.
The Science Museum is more interactive, with exhibits aimed at sparking curiosity, and a dedicated Wonderlab space for children that costs £15.00 to enter.
The V&A is better suited to older children and adults. Its cafe is the world’s oldest museum restaurant and usually quieter than the options at the other two.
Afternoon
Take the Circle Line one stop to Notting Hill Gate for the afternoon. Portobello Road Market runs through the neighbourhood and sells antiques, fashion, and farm produce.
On Fridays and Saturdays it also serves food, so it doubles as a lunch stop. On other days, Farm Girl, Bluebelles of Portobello, Flying Horse Coffee, and Lowry and Baker are all good options nearby.
The neighbourhood also has several filming locations from the 1999 Richard Curtis film, if that’s of interest.
Evening
Walk or take a bus back toward Kensington for a pub dinner. The Bayswater Arms and the Old Swan both welcome children and serve pub classics.
In the summer months Hyde Park can be a good option after an early dinner. The Serpentine boating lake is open until 8.00pm, and the playground and rose garden stay open later.
If the weather is poor, Frameless is a large-scale immersive art exhibition close to the park, with late openings on Fridays and Saturdays.
If you’re visiting in the weeks before Christmas, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is a great option for the evening.
London Itinerary Day 5: British Museum, Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill
Morning
The British Museum is London’s most visited free attraction, and the collection is genuinely vast: Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and British history are all covered across hundreds of rooms.
Arrive with a shortlist of what you want to see, as it’s easy to spend half a day here without covering everything.
Children can pick up explorer backpacks and follow family trails around the galleries. Guided tours are available if you want more context on specific collections.
Afternoon
Regent’s Park is around 25 minutes from the British Museum on foot. It’s one of London’s largest parks, with gardens, a boating lake, and several cafes for lunch.
Madame Tussauds is a short walk from the park. It’s been a London attraction since 1835 and covers royalty, film, music, and sport, as well as Marvel and Star Wars exhibits and a 4D experience.
Evening
End the trip with a walk up to Primrose Hill through Regent’s Park. The viewpoint at the top has one of the best panoramas of the London skyline, and it’s particularly good at sunset.
It’s a relaxed way to finish five days in the city. If the weather isn’t on your side, Bill’s near Madame Tussauds is a family-friendly restaurant that often runs a kids eat-free deal during school holidays.
How to make the most out of your five days in London
London has something on every week, and knowing about it in advance makes a difference, especially when popular attractions and shows need to be booked ahead.
Sign up to the Loopla newsletter for a weekly roundup of events, deals, and discounts on London attractions, sent straight to your inbox.
How to save money in London
London can be expensive, but there are a few ways to bring the cost down without compromising on what you see.
If you’re planning to visit several Southbank attractions, a multi-attraction ticket covering the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and Shrek’s Adventure can save up to 50% on the individual prices. Several of these are included in this itinerary, so it’s worth checking the combined price before you book each one separately.
The London Pass gives free entry or discounts across a wide range of London attractions and is worth considering if you’re planning a longer stay or visiting a lot of paid sites in one trip. For most five-day visitors, the multi-attraction ticket will cover more of what’s in this guide.
If you’re travelling to London by train, the National Rail 2-for-1 scheme includes discounts on many London attractions when you arrive by rail. It’s free to use and covers a good number of the sites in this itinerary.
Trainline is generally the best place to find and book train tickets to London at the lowest price.
How to travel around London with kids
To travel around London with kids, you can take the Uber Thames Clipper boats up and down the River Thames for a fun and fast way to travel.
With many sights and attractions close to each other, you can often walk between destinations. Check routes and times with Google Maps or CityMapper.
You can also use the public transport links with the Underground, buses, and trains. On these Transport for London services, those under 5 travel free. With a Zip Oyster photo card, children aged 5+ can get free or discounted travel.
FAQs to help you build your five day London itinerary
What are the best things to do in London?
Based on reviews, the best thing to do in London is the Tower of London. It averages 4.6 stars from 69k+ Tripadvisor reviews. The site’s top five London attractions are:
- Tower of London, 4.6 (69k+)
- The British Museum, 4.6 (74k+)
- Sky Garden, 4.5 (17k+)
- Natural History Museum, 4.5 (38k+)
- Borough Market 4.5 (14k+)
In 2024, the Tower of London was also the most visited paid attraction in England.
What is the best way to get around London on a five-day trip?
Walking and buses cover more of London than most visitors expect. The city ranks as one of the world’s most walkable, with flat central areas and plenty of green space between the main sights. (3)
The Underground is the fastest option and covers the whole city, though not every stop is step-free. In 2025, London was named the best European city for public transport. (4)
Not every stop is particularly wheelchair- or buggy-friendly. However, 90 of them have step-free access. The TfL tube map shows which ones are best for those travelling with luggage or buggies, and those with mobility issues. It even tells you the size of the gap between trains and platforms at each stop. The TfL Go app’s step-free mode can also help you plan journeys across London.
Is it worth getting an Oyster card for 5 days in London?
It’s usually more convenient to use contactless payment when travelling by tube or bus.
The main reason not to use one is if you’re affected by overseas charges. If that’s the case, TfL does special Visitor Oyster cards for tourists. You can purchase them preloaded with pay-as-you-go credit to help budget and avoid queuing to top up or buy tickets.
Based on TfL guidance, £40 – 50 credit is a good place to start for those visiting London for five days.
Those travelling with kids might like to consider Zip Oyster photo cards. Here’s what children pay on London public transport:
- Children under 5: Always travel for free with fare-paying adults.
- Children under 10: Travel free on buses, and also on the Tube with a Zip Oyster photocard.
- Children aged 11-15: Travel free on buses with a Zip Oyster photocard and pay child rates on the Tube, DLR and London Overground.
For more information, see TfL’s page on free and discounted travel page.
Is 5 days enough to explore London?
A five-day trip is enough to see over 20 iconic London attractions, as the five-day itinerary above shows.[1]
If five days leaves you wanting more, we have guides for longer visits below.
- One day in London
- A two-day itinerary for your London trip
- 3-Day London itinerary
- 7-Day London Itinerary
Where to stay in London for 5 days?
There are lots of places to stay in London for 5 days, such as the Corinthia Hotel or the InterContinental Hotel. London has a range of brilliant, family-friendly hotels.
For a luxurious visit, check out The Lanesborough, which has an excellent kids’ programme and extras. For attractions, see the Park Plaza at County Hall, which offers a 30% discount on top London attractions.
If the budget is tight, the Premier Inn at County Hall or the Youth Hostel Association’s private rooms are great options.
Search for London hotels.
International travel to London
International travel to London is effortless, thanks to the city’s multiple international airports.
There are excellent connections between Central London and Gatwick or Heathrow airports. Search for flights to these destinations on Skyscanner to compare prices.
References
1. ‘London Tourism Statistics’, Road Genius
2. ‘How many theatres are in the West End?’, Carly Clements-Yu – London Theatre Direct