{"id":6017,"date":"2024-12-12T18:25:24","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T18:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/events.loopla.com\/?p=6017"},"modified":"2026-03-18T23:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T23:32:27","slug":"5-day-london-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loopla.com\/blog\/5-day-london-itinerary","title":{"rendered":"5-day London Itinerary – Discover the Best Things to See"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Planning five days in London is exciting, but it\u2019s also easy to get wrong. London is a big city, the options are endless, and it\u2019s 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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each day groups nearby attractions together, builds in realistic lunch breaks, and mixes paid highlights with free ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The days can be rearranged to suit you, but the order below is designed to avoid the busiest crowds at the most popular spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London travel: Your best options for a five-day trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

London is best explored on foot where possible, as you get to see the city while you go from place to place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For everything you need to know about fares, Oyster cards, Thames Clippers and travelling with kids, see our full guide to getting around London.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

London Itinerary Day 1: Westminster, Southbank and the West End<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Morning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> takes around three hours and includes the history behind each landmark.

Either way, aim to arrive before 11am and head to Horse Guards Parade<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afternoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrek’s Adventure<\/a> is an immersive walkthrough for fans of the films. SEA LIFE London Aquarium<\/a> takes you through coral reefs, open oceans, and an underwater tunnel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The London Eye<\/a> 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<\/a> saves up to 50%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Head back over the Golden Jubilee Bridge to Covent Garden for dinner.

Japanese restaurant In<\/a>a<\/a>mo<\/a> has interactive tables built into the dining surface, which works well with children. Honest Burgers<\/a> and Frankie & Benny’s<\/a> are both nearby if you want something more straightforward. If you\u2019re planning to see a show, choose a restaurant close to the theatre.

For families, Matilda the Musical<\/a> and The Lion King<\/a> are the two most reliable choices in the West End.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London Itinerary Day 2: Tower of London, Borough Market and Greenwich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5-day<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book the Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afternoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Walk along the river to Borough Market<\/a> for lunch. It\u2019s one of London\u2019s most famous food markets and a genuine favourite with locals. Many stalls offer free samples, which makes choosing easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From London Bridge City Pier, take an Uber Boat<\/a> Thames Clipper to Greenwich. The RB1 service runs regularly and the journey takes around 30 minutes along the Thames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Greenwich, the Royal Observatory<\/a> sits on the Meridian Line, so you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere. There\u2019s a Planetarium on site covering space and astrophysics, and the views across the river from the hill are some of the best in London. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Royal Naval College is a few minutes\u2019 walk away and has been used as a filming location for Bridgerton. Entry to the grounds is free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The One Tree Hill viewpoint in Greenwich Park<\/a> looks out over the Old Royal Naval College and Canary Wharf, and it\u2019s one of the better views in London. It\u2019s also a good spot for a takeaway dinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack the Chipper <\/a>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London Itinerary Day 3: Harry Potter Studio Tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Morning and afternoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original sets, costumes, props, and special effects are all on show. There are seasonal events throughout the year, so check what\u2019s on before you book. It sells out well in advance, so plan ahead. Tickets that include return transport from London are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Back in central London, Soho is a good base for dinner. Heddon Street Kitchen, from Gordon Ramsay, serves European food and offers free kids\u2019 meals on weekdays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London Itinerary Day 4: South Kensington museums and Notting Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5-day<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

South Kensington has three of London\u2019s best museums within a few minutes of each other: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All three are free to enter and open at 10am. We\u2019d recommend picking one and spending proper time there rather than rushing through two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Natural History Museum<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Science Museum<\/a> is more interactive, with exhibits aimed at sparking curiosity, and a dedicated Wonderlab space for children that costs \u00a315.00 to enter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The V&A<\/a> is better suited to older children and adults. Its cafe is the world\u2019s oldest museum restaurant and usually quieter than the options at the other two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afternoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The neighbourhood also has several filming locations from the 1999 Richard Curtis film, if that\u2019s of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the summer months Hyde Park can be a good option after an early dinner. The Serpentine boating lake<\/a> is open until 8.00pm, and the playground and rose garden stay open later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the weather is poor, Frameless<\/a> is a large-scale immersive art exhibition close to the park, with late openings on Fridays and Saturdays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re visiting in the weeks before Christmas, Hyde Park\u2019s Winter Wonderland<\/a> is a great option for the evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London Itinerary Day 5: British Museum, Regent\u2019s Park and Primrose Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5-day<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Morning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The British Museum<\/a> is London\u2019s most visited free attraction, and the collection is genuinely vast: Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and British history are all covered across hundreds of rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arrive with a shortlist of what you want to see, as it\u2019s easy to spend half a day here without covering everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Afternoon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Regent\u2019s Park is around 25 minutes from the British Museum on foot. It\u2019s one of London\u2019s largest parks, with gardens, a boating lake, and several cafes for lunch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madame Tussauds<\/a> is a short walk from the park. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

End the trip with a walk up to Primrose Hill through Regent\u2019s Park. The viewpoint at the top has one of the best panoramas of the London skyline, and it\u2019s particularly good at sunset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a relaxed way to finish five days in the city. If the weather isn\u2019t on your side, Bill\u2019s near Madame Tussauds is a family-friendly restaurant that often runs a kids eat-free deal during school holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to make the most out of your five days in London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sign up to the Loopla newsletter for a weekly roundup of events, deals, and discounts on London attractions, sent straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n