LONDON 4 DAY ITINERARY: FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS
London has been on my travel buckle list since my freshman year of college. I’ve even considered moving there for a year on a work visa! So when I finally got the opportunity to go, I made sure that I was able to pack a lot into my four day trip. I made sure to keep everything I did each day within walking distance to save on travel expenses. Here is my 4 day London itinerary, a simple guide for first time visitors.
What To Pack For London
- Washcloths / Loufer: Only one hotel during our trip to both Paris and London had a washcloth. A towel and hand towel was provided.
- Outlet Converter: Some hotel had USB plugs, but I wouldn’t depend on it.
- Rain jacket: It would be sunny outside, and then the rain would come. Rain jackets are way more convenient than an umbrella. Roll it up and place in a bag for emergencies.
- Comfortable Shoes: There is a lot of walking involved! Also, bring shoes that you don’t mind getting scuffed.
- Allergy Medication: We all started sneezing after walking to Buckingham Palace. Good thing we had non-drowsy Benedryl.
- Small Compact Bag/purse: You have to keep your belongings close to you, especially on the metro. A small bag that doesn’t pull on your shoulder and can fit your essentials is a must.
Transporation Advice
During our trip to London, we mostly walked and used Uber when the destination was out of walking distance. We didn’t take the subway at all. It was more expensive than other metros we have encountered. We determined that it was more cost-effective to take Uber and split it than each of us paying for metro trips.
DAY 1 LONDON EYE TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE
| The London Eye
Walk 5 Mins Westminster Bridge Walk 6 mins Big Ben Walk 3 mins Parliament Square Walk 13 mins Buckingham Palace |
- How could I go to London without seeing the London Eye? There are passes that you can purchase if you also want to visit the Tower of London, do a river cruise, Madame Tussaud’s, etc.
- Westminster Bridge was beautiful to walk across. It has a gorgeous view of the river.
- Big Ben was just as important as seeing the London Eye. It was under construction when we went so I wasn’t able to check that off my list.
- Parliament Square is where you can find the British Parliament, London Supreme Court, the Abbey, and statues of some of the worlds most influential leaders and people.
- The walk from Parliament Square to Buckingham palace is about a 13 min walk, but it is well worth it. The view on the way was beautiful, especially on a beautiful day.
DAY 2 TOWER OF LONDON TO ST PAUL CATHEDRAL
| Tower Of London
Walk 5 mins Tower Bridge Walk 13 mins Sky Garden Observation Deck Walk 15 mins St Paul Cathedral |
- Tower of London is a historic castle and home to the Crown Jewels. It’s well worth the trip.
- Tower Bridge is what most people think is the London bridge (Thanks Fergie). We stood on the London bride to take pictures of the Tower Bridge.
- Sky Garden Observation Deck is a glass dome with amazing views of the city. Grab a drink and enjoy a break from all the walking.
- St Paul Cathedral is still a working church and is deemed by some as being one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
DAY 3 SHAKESPEAR’S GLOBE TO THE SHARD
| Shakespeare’s Globe
Walk 8 mins Borough Market Walk 6 mins The Shard Drive 15 mins Covent Garden |
- Shakespeare’s Globe is a performing art theater reconstructed after the original Shakespeare Globe theater. You can get a guided tour for 17 pounds or watch a show for a little as 5 pounds(Standing). Make sure to book shows in advance because the standing tickets can sell out well before the show.
- If I had to have picked the highlight of my entire trip, it would be Borough Market. We went during lunchtime, and I’m not sure if that was a good or bad thing. We had everything from Malaysian Curry to Fresh Donuts and Cookies. I even tried Ethiopian coffee, which was delicious!
- The Shard has London’s highest viewing platform. Tickets to the viewing platform range anywhere from 25 – 41 pounds.
- Covent Garden was on all the must-see neighborhood lists. It’s a gorgeous area!
Borough Market
DAY 4 MADAME TUSSAUDS TO CHINA TOWN
| Madame Tussauds Museum
Walk 19 mins Oxford Street Walk 14 mins China Town Walk 5 mins Piccadilly Circus |
- The Madame Tussauds Museum is probably the most iconic wax museum there is. They have wax figures of everyone from different celebrities to world leaders. It can be super busy, making it difficult to get around and see every wax figure.
- Oxford Street is any shopping lover’s dream! It has every store that you need.
- China Town is a must-see, even if it’s just for the food! They have a lot of different Asian cuisines and its home to the trendy Bubblewrap Waffle.
- Piccadilly Circus is to London as Time Square is to NewYork! Bright lights and big screens!
