United Kingdom · First visit
London in 4 days
Royal landmarks. Riverside walks. A night at the theatre.
Four days organised by area: Westminster, the City and South Bank, the West End, then Greenwich. Mix a few booked highlights with the freedom to stop at a market or stay longer in a museum.
Use this itineraryAn editable starting point for your own trip.
Your four-day route.
Choose a day · suggested times
Day 1 · A classic first day, mostly outdoors
Royal London & the South Bank
Buckingham Palace → Westminster → South Bank
Buckingham Palace, from outside
Begin with the palace frontage, then leave time to enjoy the surrounding streets and park.
St James's Park
Take the park route towards Westminster rather than adding another transfer.
Westminster & Big Ben
See Parliament Square and the river. Choose an Abbey interior visit only if you have allowed for its ticket slot.
Lunch & a South Bank stroll
Cross Westminster Bridge, then make the afternoon a relaxed walk with places to sit along the river.
Dinner around Waterloo or Covent Garden
Pick the area that suits your hotel and energy rather than another attraction-heavy evening.
Eat nearby.
A café breakfast and a South Bank lunch keep the route simple. For dinner, choose a pub meal or one of Covent Garden's many cuisines.
Good to know today
Buckingham Palace is an exterior stop here. Book separately for any palace interior or Abbey visit, checking the dates and service schedule.
If plans change
Book an indoor Westminster visit or spend longer in an indoor gallery; leave the riverside walk for a clearer spell.
Day 2 · One major ticket, then a riverside afternoon
The Tower, the bridge & Bankside
Tower Hill → Tower Bridge → Borough → Bankside
Tower of London
Give the fortress and Crown Jewels a proper morning; queues can change the pace.
Tower Bridge
Walk across for the river views. Add the exhibition only if you want a longer stop.
Lunch around Borough Market
Browse before choosing lunch, and check the market calendar for the day of your visit.
Bankside & Tate Modern
Keep walking by the river or choose a gallery visit that matches your interests.
Eat nearby.
Make Borough your food stop, with something from a market trader or a nearby seated restaurant. Dinner can stay around Bankside or your hotel.
Good to know today
Reserve the Tower of London and leave a substantial morning for it. Tower Bridge's exterior and paid exhibition are different experiences.
If plans change
Keep the Tower and Tate, connecting by public transport if the long river walk is unappealing in the rain.
Day 3 · Culture with a proper break before the show
Museum morning, West End evening
Bloomsbury → Covent Garden → Soho → Theatreland
British Museum
Choose a few galleries before arriving. Two focused hours are more enjoyable than trying to see everything.
Lunch in Covent Garden
Wander through the area, then stop for lunch away from your museum visit.
Soho & a free afternoon
Browse, take a café break or head back to rest before the evening.
Early dinner, then your West End show
Choose a nearby pre-theatre meal and arrive for the time printed on your ticket.
Eat nearby.
Pick a Covent Garden lunch, then choose a pre-theatre menu or an early meal in Soho. Keep time for the walk to the correct theatre.
Good to know today
The British Museum recommends booking ahead; its general collection is free, while some exhibitions charge. Confirm the actual performance time for your chosen show.
If plans change
This is already an indoor-friendly day. Replace the shopping wander with an extra gallery or a longer café break.
Day 4 · An easy final day, shortened for departure
A slower day in Greenwich
Greenwich town centre → park → river
Arrive in Greenwich
Use a river boat if the journey appeals, or rail and the DLR if that suits your route better.
National Maritime Museum or Queen's House
Choose one indoor visit rather than trying to complete every Greenwich attraction.
Greenwich lunch
Browse the market area and choose lunch according to the day's opening stalls.
Greenwich Park & the view
Walk uphill only if it suits your group; leave a generous margin for bags and your onward journey.
Eat nearby.
Choose a market lunch or a café meal in Greenwich. If you have an early departure, move this whole day earlier in the trip.
Good to know today
The Royal Observatory has announced renovation closure from 2 November 2026; this route uses the park and other museums instead. Check current museum and boat schedules, and shorten the day for departure.
If plans change
Choose the museums and a seated lunch. Use rail for the return if weather or schedules make the boat inconvenient.
Showing day 1: Royal London & the South Bank
A little local direction.
Where to stay
Look near a useful Tube station in Bloomsbury, Covent Garden or Southwark. Compare the actual route to your first stop rather than hotel distance from a single landmark.
Getting around
Use the Tube between neighbourhood clusters, walk within each area, and consider a river boat for Greenwich. Check TfL for your dates and use the same payment method consistently.
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes, a waterproof layer and something warmer for the river. Keep an indoor alternative ready for changeable weather.
Same starting point. Your own trip.
Sign in, choose your dates and save an editable copy to My trips.
Can I edit this itinerary?
Yes. Save a copy to edit all days manually. Standard includes 2 AI-planned days. Premium unlocks additional AI and group tools for $15 per trip, for everyone. Compare plans.
Should I follow these days in this exact order?
Suggested sightseeing times, not opening hours or confirmed reservations. Reorder days for closures, weather and arrival or departure times. Add an arrival night if you need four full sightseeing days.
Are tickets or reservations included?
No. This is a starting plan. Use the operator links to check current schedules, prices and availability, then reserve separately.
Official references & photo credit
- Visit London · first-time visitor itinerary
- Historic Royal Palaces · Tower of London
- British Museum · visit
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- TfL journey planning
- Royal Observatory · renovation notice
Photograph: Unsplash · Unsplash License. Reference check: 27 October 2026.