Three days is enough to understand London - not all of it, but the part that matters most. This itinerary is built around geography (so you're not zigzagging across the city), real eating (no tourist traps), and pacing that leaves room for the unexpected. Read our guide to the ultimate 2-day London itinerary for US visitors.

Day 1 - The Historic Core

Morning: Tower of London & Borough Market

Start at the Tower of London when it opens at 9am. Book tickets in advance. Allow 90 minutes. Walk across Tower Bridge, then head west along the South Bank towards London Bridge.

Breakfast/Brunch: Borough Market. Monmouth Coffee for the best flat white in London. A toasted cheese sandwich from Neal's Yard Dairy.

Afternoon: South Bank Walk to Tate Modern

Walk west along the river. Pass Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe, the Tate Modern (free entry). Cross the Millennium Bridge to reach St Paul's Cathedral.

Lunch: Padella on Borough High Street for fresh pasta at extraordinary value. Arrive at 12pm to beat the queue.

Evening: Soho

Take the Tube to Tottenham Court Road. Walk south through Soho. Bao on Windmill Street for steamed buns (queue outside from around 5:30pm).

Day 2 - Museums, Parks & West London

Morning: Kensington Museum Quarter

Natural History Museum opens at 10am - arrive early for the Dinosaur Gallery. Allow 2 hours. Cross the road to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Afternoon: Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park

Walk through Kensington Gardens to Kensington Palace. Cross into Hyde Park. In summer, rent a deck chair by the Serpentine.

Evening: Notting Hill & Portobello

Walk from Hyde Park to Notting Hill Gate. The Electric Cinema on Portobello Road is the most beautiful cinema in London. Dinner on Ledbury Road.

Day 3 - East London & Greenwich

Morning: Shoreditch

Start at Beigel Bake on Brick Lane (salt beef bagel, cash only, 24 hours). Walk north through Brick Lane, then west through Shoreditch street art.

Afternoon: Greenwich

Take the DLR from Bank to Cutty Sark station, or take the Thames Clipper. Greenwich is a half-day destination: the Cutty Sark, the Royal Naval College (free), and the Royal Observatory.

Evening: Back to Central London

Take the Thames Clipper back to Westminster. Have a drink at the Rooftop Bar at OXO Tower on the South Bank - the view of St Paul's is worth the price of a cocktail.

Getting Around

  • Oyster card or contactless bank card for all public transport. Never buy paper tickets.
  • Walk when you can. The distances between these areas are shorter than the map suggests.