My friends and I spent one week in London last spring and had an amazing time. Before our trip, we mapped out our London itinerary and while many things went as planned – there were definitely things we’d do differently next time! Here’s a breakdown of our 1-week London itinerary and key takeaways to help you plan your own adventure.
(This post may contain affiliate links in which I receive a small commission if you use them at no extra cost to you.)
DAY 1: Arrival & Settling In
- Flew into Heathrow airport
- Bought an Oyster card to ride the Tube from Heathrow to our Airbnb
- Checked into Airbnb in Holland Park, Zone 2 (1-minute walk to Tube station)
- Ate dinner at Da Mario Pizzeria – a favorite of Princess Diana
- Stopped at Marks and Spencer to buy a few groceries for breakfast at our flat
What we did right:
♥ I purchased a new neck pillow for the trip (kind of big and bulky, but highly-rated) and was finally able to sleep on a plane.
♥ Riding the Tube from Heathrow to London was easy, convenient, and cheaper than other modes of transportation.
♥ We rented an Airbnb just outside of central London in Zone 2. It was slightly more affordable, but still super convenient – the Tube easily connects places all over town.
♥ We made reservations at Da Mario in advance of our trip to save us the hassle of figuring out a place to eat after just arriving.
♥ Stocking up on groceries for our Airbnb meant we could enjoy breakfast in each day – saving money and starting the day on a healthier note, which made it easier to splurge later on.
What we would change:
Χ To ride the Tube, we bought an Oyster card for £7 and then had to figure out how much money to pre-load onto it. Turns out, most locals just use a credit card or other contactless payment (Apple Pay, etc.) which seems like an easier and more convenient way to pay.
DAY 2: Classic London Sights
- Out the door by 9 a.m. and rode Tube to Westminster station
- Walked by Big Ben
- Toured Westminster Abbey (2 hours)
- Ate lunch in Westminster Abbey at the Cellarium Café
- Walked through St. James’s Park
- Took pictures by Buckingham Palace
- Walked to Piccadilly Circus
- Enjoyed dinner at The Churchill Arms
- Stopped for a drink at Ruby Zoe hotel bar
What we did right:
♥ We got an early-ish start to the day. London attractions get busy, so it’s best to be there before the crowds.
♥ Our first stop was Westminster station. Immediately upon walking out of the Westminster tube station you see Big Ben towering over you – an impressive sight and start to the day.
♥ Westminster Abbey is a great addition to even a short London itinerary. Steeped in history, this church is the site of royal weddings and coronations. TIP: Be sure not to miss the coronation chair located at the very end of the tour. This chair has been used for coronations for more than 700 years!
♥ The walk from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace through St. James’s Park is beautiful! Exploring on foot is often the best way to get from one place to another.
♥ Dinner at The Churchill Arms in Kensington included delicious Thai food in beautiful, cozy surroundings. This is a popular place and you’ll want to make reservations.
What we would change:
Χ We could have skipped Piccadilly Circus. (It’s not an actual circus – it’s a famous public space and road junction known for its bright lights, traffic, and crowds – basically London’s version of Times Square.) If you have time in your London itinerary and want to sit on some steps and people-watch, include this stop – otherwise, it’s not a must-do.
DAY 3: Market & Theatre
- Spent 4 hours browsing the Portobello Market in Notting Hill
- Grabbed lunch “to go” from Buns From Home near our Airbnb
- Ate dinner at Bella Italia
- Briefly walked through Apple Market in Covent Garden
- Watched the musical “Mamma Mia” in London’s West End
- Stopped for beer at The Mitre on way home
What we did right:
♥ Grabbing a “to go” lunch of meat and cheese croissants to eat back at our place saved time and allowed us to rest at home for a bit after a long morning of shopping.
♥ Seeing a show in London is one of my favorite things to do. There’s a wide range of performances at various price points, and many offer matinees – perfect if that fits better into your London itinerary. TIP: When you arrive, place a drink order at the bar to have it ready for you at intermission. It saves you from waiting in a long line later!
What we would change:
Χ We love exploring markets, but Portobello on a Saturday was very busy. We spent too much time battling the crowds, getting separated, and then waiting around to regroup. While the market had a fun mix of vintage clothes, artwork, purses, watches, jewelry, and plenty of food carts, I found myself wishing for fewer trinkets and more high-quality fashion and goods – like what you’ll find at some of London’s other markets.
DAY 4: Brighton Day Trip
- Took train to Brighton for a day trip
- Ate fish and chips for lunch
- Strolled along Brighton pier
- Explored the town
- Took train back to London
- Stopped for gelato and ate supper back at our place
- Visited the Sky Garden during the evening sunset
- Walked across Tower Bridge at night and posed for pictures
What we did right:
♥ Gelato is always a good idea!
♥ London’s Sky Garden in the evening is stunning! At more than 500 feet high, the 360-degree view of the skyline wows visitors as the lights come on over the city. Plan this into your week in London.
♥ We walked to Tower Bridge after visiting Sky Garden and it was beautiful. The illuminated bridge provides an even better backdrop for photos than during the day. Check out our guide to Tower Bridge at Night for some helpful tips.
What we would change:
Χ Next time, I’d choose a different day trip destination than Brighton. The town was cute, but there wasn’t much to do. Maybe it would have left a better impression with nicer weather – it was mid-April, cloudy, and cool during our visit. On past trips, I’ve taken day trips to Cambridge and Stratford, and both would be more enjoyable options for springtime.
Χ We wanted to try a traditional British meal of fish and chips for lunch, but I found it a bit too greasy and not all that tasty. Next time, I won’t feel compelled to have it just because I’m in England.
(Heading to London in the spring? Check out our London Spring Packing List!)
DAY 5: Tower of London & Windsor
- Toured Tower of London (10:30 a.m. reservations)
- Left at 1 p.m. to catch the train to Windsor
- Toured Windsor Castle
- Strolled through town of Windsor
- Ate dinner at The Carpenter’s Arms
- Left Windsor
- Made last-minute decision to stop in Richmond to see the Ted Lasso filming sites
What we did right:
♥ Richmond was such a fun last-minute detour on our way home from Windsor. It would have been nice to be there with more daylight, but it worked out. Check out my guide to easily locate the Ted Lasso filming sites in Richmond – just a half-hour outside of London.
What we would change:
Χ Major fail: We didn’t allow enough time for either of our two planned activities: Tower of London and Windsor! It left us wanting more at both places. It was a good idea to include them in our London itinerary – and on paper it looked like we could fit them into one day – but everything took longer than expected.
At the Tower of London, we spent way too long viewing the Crown Jewels and only had time for a quick Yeoman tour before needing to rush off to catch our train to Windsor.
The Windsor Castle tour is great, but since we got there later in the afternoon, most of the shops in town were already closing by the time we finished.
I’d recommend setting aside 3-4 hours at Tower of London and another 3-4 hours for Windsor. And don’t forget to factor in plenty of time for travel – getting between the two isn’t quick, and with transfers, walking, and the general pace of London, everything just takes longer than you think.
Χ I forgot to bring an external phone charger on the trip and almost ran out of power. I was always monitoring how much juice I had left, and needed to turn my phone off for part of the time, relying on my friends to take and share photos.
DAY 6: Exploring London
- Strolled through Kyoto Garden
- Explored Notting Hill, with mini photo shoot
- Visited our old stomping grounds in Bayswater
- Browsed Harrods
- Lunch “to go” from Pret a Manger
- Short rest at airbnb
- Tube out to Spitalfields – shopped at market as it was closing
- Drinks at The Culpeper
- Dinner at Ottolenghi in Spitalfields
What we did right:
♥ Kyoto Garden is not a London must-do, but it was a nice stroll on our way to Notting Hill. Plus, we had fun creating cool waterfall effects on our photos! See below:
TIP: To create the silky waterfall effect on your iPhone, turn on Live Photo mode, take a picture, and then open the photo in the Photos app. Swipe up on the photo to get the “effects” panel and select “long exposure.”
♥ Notting Hill is such a cute area with pastel colored houses and many Instagrammable spots. We had fun taking pictures and exploring this beautiful part of London.
♥ My friend and I lived in London after college, so we visited our old neighborhood – Bayswater.
♥ Pret a Manger (Pret, for short) is a very tasty and convenient option for lunch serving croissants, baguettes, wraps, melts, soups, salads, and more. Wherever you find yourself in London there is sure to be a Pret nearby – with more than 270 locations throughout the city!
What we would change:
Χ Visiting Harrods isn’t necessary if you’re short on time. With all the time I’ve spent in London, I had never been inside this luxury department store so I thought it would be fun to see what it’s like. Turns out, I wasn’t missing much. However, it was interesting to see their enormous food hall and taste one of their beautifully decorated cupcakes – especially since my friends and I were all celebrating milestone birthdays.
Χ Spitalfields Market looked superior to other markets, but we got there just when vendors were closing. We were bummed as we would have liked to spend more time there. If you can, fit this into your London itinerary.
Χ Although highly rated, Ottolenghi was pricey and the food just okay. With so many great restaurants serving a variety of international cuisines in and around London I’d probably pick something different next time.
DAY 7: Flying Home
- We caught our flights back home, promising to visit this wonderful city again!
Final Thoughts
With so many beautiful, historical, and exciting places to explore in and around London, one week in London isn’t enough time to see it all – heck, even a 1-month visit wouldn’t be enough! With more time we would have added these things into our week-long London itinerary:
- a river cruise on the Thames
- riding a double-decker bus
- visiting Platform 9 ¾ (One of my friends is a Harry Potter fan)
- afternoon tea (not a huge priority for us, but still a classic London experience)
One thing I’m really glad we planned ahead was our dinner most nights. We got recommendations from friends and family and made reservations in advance saving us time and hassle.
TIP: Before your trip, check the calendar of events going on in London for the dates you’re going to be there in order to avoid them, plan around them, or participate in them. We weren’t able to access Trafalgar Square or the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace due to the London Marathon.
No trip ever goes perfectly no matter how much you plan, but we were very happy with how our week in London turned out. We’re grateful for the research we did ahead of time and we hope our tips and lessons learned will help you plan a fabulous London itinerary.
Have you been to London? What are your thoughts on our 1-week London itinerary? Have any do’s or don’ts to add? Tell us in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
Leave a Reply