Heading to London, England for the first time? Dive into London’s culture, history, and charm with this ultimate 4 days in London itinerary.
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London is a truly wonderful city located in England in the United Kingdom. It has so much to see and do. From its royal history to its wonderful charm, one-of-a-kind culture, afternoon teas, culinary delights, and everything in between.
London has many famous attractions and also many hidden gems that you have to check out including Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminister Abbey, the Borough Market, the SkyGarden, the London Eye, and so much more.
This 4-day London itinerary will take you day by day through all of London and everything there is to see. You will also see the best things to do in London in four days, the ultimate London travel guide for four days, the best four-day London sightseeing plan, the best attractions in London for a four-day trip, and more.
This post is all about the best 4 days in London itinerary.
There are many ways to get around London. London is a big city and offers many different modes of transportation. The best is the London Underground System known as the Tube. It is the fastest way of getting around in London since you won’t hit any traffic.
Another great option would be the bus system. London has many buses and bus routes that operate 24 hours a day and offer contactless payment with the Oyster Card. Also fairly easy to navigate.
Trains are also popular in London, they can get you to key points like King’s Cross, Paddington, Victoria, Liverpool, etc quickly.
A lot of people also bike around London, and many areas do have designated bike paths for cyclists to safely travel along the roads. And many people simply walk all over especially if they are tourists that way you can truly enjoy the city.
Another popular option is the Big Bus Tour. The Big Bus Tour is great. It is a double-decker bus that takes you through the entire city and all the hotspots where you can hop on and off as you please and enjoy the attractions. Along with the hop on hop off option, there are headphones provided where you can listen along the ride and hear all of London’s history of every place you pass. If you get the pass for a few days then my recommendation would be to do the entire tour without getting off that way you can plan out where you want to go for the most time-efficient plan and to be able to see everything on your itinerary.
Start your 4 days in London itinerary by heading to one of the best-known attractions in London and that is the Parliament Building and the famous Big Ben Clock. The Parliament Building in London is also known as the Palace of Westminister. It is located on the north part of the Thames River that runs through London.
The iconic clock tower is known as the Big Ben and it is attached to the northern part of the Palace of Westminster. The Big Ben is actually the name for the Great Bell located within the tower and the clock.
After touring around the London Parliament Building and Big Ben head to Westminister Abbey. Westminister Abbey is one of the most famous churches located in London and it is known as the royal church. Westminister Abbey is known for its royal weddings, coronations, and burials, and has so much history within these walls. Definitely worth a visit.
Head across the Thames River to explore the Tower of London. It is located on the north part of the Thames River and it is a historic fortress. The Tower has served various purposes throughout the years of history including a prison, a royal palace, a treasury, and even an armory. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts many tourists from all over. The Tower also holds the famous Crown Jewels which are on display in the Jewel House. You can take a tour through the buildings and see all the architecture and exhibits that the Tower of London has to offer.
After checking out the Tower Of London you need to see the amazing Tower Bridge. It is located just outside of the Tower of London along the Thames River. The Tower Bridge is often mistaken for the London Bridge which is located just a short distance away but not as impressive as the Tower Bridge.
The Tower Bridge today is a functional bridge that tourists can visit and walk along to see the stunning views of London, and even see it being raised for ships to flow through. This is truly a one-of-a-kind bridge with the two towers and blue steel walkways connecting them. An iconic part of London.
Start your day 2 of your 4 days in London by heading to St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is an iconic historic church where you can find beautiful architecture, intricate design, and the famous Dome designed by Sir Christopher Wren. You can all see the tombs of prominent figures from British history. Take a walk up to the Dome to see panoramic views of London.
After visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral head to see the Thames River. The Thames River is the longest river in England. The Thames River Cruise is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can enjoy a sightseeing tour with the riverboat. Some of the things that you can see from the Cruise include the Tower Bridge, the House of Parliament, the London Eye, the Sky Garden, and much more. Some of the tours do have commentary explaining all the sights and some cruises even offer dining options making it a memorable way to explore London.
Once you’ve enjoyed the Thames River Cruise and got to see London from down below, head to the London Eye to see London from a bird’s eye view. The London Eye is a Ferris Wheel located on the South Bank of the Thames River. It has giant glass pods that allow you to get the best views of London from all angles. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions since it offers stunning views of London’s best attractions like Big Ben, the House of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, the Tower Bridge, and more. Each rotation takes about 30 minutes and allows you to get some great photos from all angles.
Once you’ve enjoyed a view from above on the London Eye you need to check out the Borough Market one of London’s oldest and best food markets. It is located near the London Bridge and it offers a diverse range of artisanal food, fresh produce, gourmet ingredients, international cuisine, and more. You can walk through and sample delicious food and see some unique ingredients to make one-of-a-kind delicious delights.
Once you explored the Borough Marketing you need to end the evening by going to the Sky Garden for a fancy dinner and drinks. The Sky Garden is a public space located at the top of the unique tall building known as the “Walkie Talkie” building. It offers panoramic views of the city skyline, including landmarks such as the Tower Bridge, Thames River, Tower of London, and more.
The Sky Garden has stunning lush gardens inside, an observation deck, a restaurant, and bars at the top providing a unique experience in the center of London. The Sky Garden is one of my favorite places to visit when in London and I would recommend booking tickets in advance as soon as you know when you want to check it out. The tickets sell out fast and there is very limited availability especially to get a spot right by the window.
Start your day 3 of your 4 days in London by going on a nice relaxing walk in Hyde Park. Hyde Park is one of London’s largest and most famous parks. It is over 350 acres of greenery which offers recreational activities, and attractions too. The park has lots of lush green spaces, tree-lined avenues, beautiful lakes, and stunning landscaped gardens. The park also holds events and concerts year-round and there is always something going on here.
After enjoying a beautiful walk in Hyde Park, it’s time to do some luxury shopping at Harrods. Harrods is a luxury department store in London. It is one of the largest and most famous department stores in the world. Harrods offers lots of luxury goods including luxury clothing, accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, HomeGoods, gourmet food, and much much more. Harrods is known for having exceptional customer service and is great for luxury shopping or even a great cultural experience.
After doing some luxury shopping head to Buckingham Palace to see some history. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British monarch in London. It is an administrative headquarters and the primary residence of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Buckingham Palace has impressive architecture, and stunning gardens, and is the place where some royal ceremonies are held.
Another thing to check out when at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony. This takes place quite often and it is a very popular tourist attraction.
After visiting the Royal Buckingham Palace, check out another Royal residence known as Kensington Palace. Kensington Palace is the official residence of several members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family.
Kensington Palace also holds various exhibitions and collections in the museum that are open to the public and offer lots of history about the royals. You can explore the State Apartments, check out the beautiful gardens, learn about Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, and see the actual personal items they wore. The collections are a huge part of British royal history.
Start the last day of your 4 days in London itinerary by checking out King’s Cross. King’s Cross is a major railway and underground station located in Central London. It is the hub for domestic and international travel.
If you are a Harry Potter fan then this is for you. King’s Cross has a platform 9 3/4 with a luggage trolley embedded into the wall and visitors can take pictures with it or buy souvenirs at the gift shop. This is a fictional platform from the Harry Potter series, where students from Hogwarts catch the Hogwarts Express train to go to school.
If you have more time in London you need to do a day trip to Warner Bros Studios Tour that takes you through the making of Harry Potter and all the behind-the-scenes looks. The tour takes you through the sets, props costumes, and even special effects. You can also explore some iconic locations from Harry Potter like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, and much more.
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio that is best known for its association with The Beatles. The Beatles recorded many albums there including the iconic “Abbey Road“. This studio also has hosted many famous artists throughout the years. Surrounding the studio there is a wall covered in signatures from visitors.
The Abbey Road crosswalk is located just outside Abbey Road Studios and is a popular tourist attraction because of the cover of the Beatles’ album “Abbey Road“. The members of the band are walking along the crosswalk in the photo and now many tourists recreate that iconic picture.
Afternoon Tea is a popular tradition in England. It typically takes place during the late afternoon and it consists of different types of teas with sweet and savory snacks. Afternoon tea is normally enjoyed in elegant rooms like tea rooms, hotels, or historic venues. This is a great time for friends and family to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
After enjoying some afternoon tea, go over to the Piccadilly Circus. The Piccadilly Circus is a famous public square and traffic intersection located in London’s West End. It has many illuminated billboards and neon lights on the buildings all over the square. Piccadilly Circus is a hub of activity with lots of shops, restaurants, theatres, bars, and entertainment venues. This popular attraction is a great spot for tourists to visit especially if you are looking for some lively nightlife. Piccadilly Circus is also surrounded by famous landmarks such as the Criterion Theatre, the Statue of Eros, and more.
End your 4 days in London by visiting Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the original which was an iconic playhouser that was associated with William Shakespeare. It is located on the South Bank of the River Thames. The theatre now holds Shakespeare’s plays in open-air and indoor theatres. There are also guided tours, workshops, and other cultural events that are held there.
A great place to stay when in London is The Park City Grand Plaza Kensington Hotel. This hotel is located in the Kensington and Chelsea area. The rooms have modern decor and the hotel has a fitness center, restaurant, terrace, and breakfast and is within walking distance of many attractions.
Another great place to stay in London is The BoTree – Preferred Hotels and Resorts. Located in Westminister Borough, the hotel is located close to Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. The hotel also has wonderful city views, breakfast, a restaurant, and stylish and comfortable rooms.
Stay at The Park Tower Knightsbridge, a Luxury Collection Hotel, London. This luxury hotel has so much to offer from luxury rooms to skyline views of London and more. Located in Westminister Borough the hotel is close to Hyde Park, Harrods, and more. The hotel also has a fitness center, 3 restaurants, and a bar on site.
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