Grab a bagel for Primrose Hill, stroll across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern, and end your evening at a fine restaurant in Soho. With three days in London, you can see quite a bit. Just plan wisely, as distances are further than they appear on your phone.
For this itinerary, I’ve spread my favorite neighborhoods and addresses over three days. You’ll start with the well-known highlights, but also leave time for shopping, a museum, and leisurely lunches. The latter is essential, in my opinion.
The itinerary assumes three full days in London, excluding your travel times. You'll walk a lot and on the second day take the tube from west to east. Think of the restaurants as options: you don't have to dine everywhere.
London in 3 Days: Here's the Route
On the first day, get an overview of the city with a bike tour. Then head through Westminster and Covent Garden to Soho, where you’ll stay for dinner.
Day two begins in Notting Hill. After lunch, take the tube to St Paul’s and walk across the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern. Spend the evening on Bermondsey Street.
On the third day, stick to the north and west of the center. Start at Primrose Hill, walk through Regent’s Park to Marylebone, and finish in Mayfair.
If you want to linger longer, it's better to skip a part than to be constantly checking the time. Especially day two is quite packed.
Day 1: Biking the Highlights, Covent Garden, and Soho
Start with a Bike Tour of London
A bike tour is a great way to spend your first morning. In a few hours, you’ll get an overview of the city and hear the stories behind buildings and places you might otherwise pass by.
There are tours with Dutch and English-speaking guides. Choose a route along the central highlights and check the starting point, endpoint, and duration before booking. Not every tour ends at Westminster, so consider moving to your lunch spot. Last time, I went with Baja Bikes and we started at Waterloo Station. Check out this tour here.
Plan nothing further. A tour running over and a lunch reservation on the other side of the city aren’t a happy combination.
Lunch in Westminster
After the bike tour, head towards Westminster. For lunch, I’d choose between the French bistro vibe of Chez Antoinette Victoria or the Indian cuisine of The Cinnamon Club.
The Cinnamon Club is located in the former Westminster Library on Great Smith Street. The interior with bookshelves makes this a special place for a leisurely lunch. Be sure to book ahead if you want to dine here.
Also, see my Google Maps map with all my favorite lunch and dinner spots in London.
Through Covent Garden to Soho
After lunch, walk towards Covent Garden. From Westminster, you can walk along Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, catching more highlights.
Around Covent Garden’s covered market, it’s often busy. Also, explore the surrounding streets and head via Seven Dials towards Soho. Everything is quite close by. Take your time to shop if you enjoy that.
In Soho, choose whatever you’re in the mood for. Shops around Carnaby Street, pop into Liberty, or settle down for a glass of wine. Reserve some energy for the evening, as dining here is a treat.
Find more addresses for this area in my article about Soho.
Dinner at The Palomar or Lina Stores
The Palomar, at 34 Rupert Street, is my pick for an evening of sharing dishes. The cuisine is Middle Eastern and the space is cozy. You must book in advance, as it’s certainly full otherwise.
Prefer Italian? Then choose Lina Stores on Greek Street for the tastiest pasta. Don’t confuse it with Bar Lina: that’s downstairs from the deli on Brewer Street and is more suited for an aperitivo or cocktail. In Soho, there’s no shortage of fun bars for a drink.
Day 2: Notting Hill, the Tate Modern, and Bermondsey
Morning in Notting Hill
Begin the second day around Portobello Road. Walk past the shops and market stalls, and especially explore the side streets. That’s where you’ll see more of the neighborhood than sticking to the busiest shopping street.
The market on Portobello Road isn’t the same every day. Check the market days if you’re specifically coming for antiques or certain stalls. Keep your morning focused on Notting Hill. There’s no need to cramp Kensington and an extensive museum visit in as it’s enjoyable enough here.
Early Lunch on Portobello Road
For lunch, Farm Girl or Gold are on my list. Farm Girl is for a easy, lighter lunch. Gold is a choice if you want to sit down more extensively.
As you’ll be heading to the other side of the center this afternoon, have an early lunch here. Want to linger and see more of Notting Hill? Skip the museum later. The route is still worthwhile without an extensive museum visit.
Take the Tube to St Paul’s
After lunch, walk to Notting Hill Gate and take the Central line towards St Paul’s. For the whole journey, including walking to the station and waiting, allow more time than just the tube ride. Check the current connection on the day.
At St Paul’s Cathedral, you can view the cathedral from the outside before walking across the Millennium Bridge. Want to go inside? Check tickets in advance and entrance details.
From the pedestrian bridge (Millennium Bridge), you can look back at the dome of St Paul’s. On the other side is the Tate Modern, so the bridge almost connects them, making it easily walkable.
Choose What to See in the Tate Modern
The Tate Modern museum is large enough to fill much of your day. For this three-day itinerary, decide in advance: view part of the collection or visit a specific exhibition.
The collection is free to access; separate tickets might be needed for temporary exhibits. Check what’s on and whether you need reservations.
Even if you don’t want to spend hours among art, you can enter the building and see the Turbine Hall. Then it’s time for a break, before you continue your walk, there’s a delightful bar on the roof for a tea or drink with a view.
Along Bankside to Bermondsey Street
From the Tate Modern, walk east along Bankside, towards London Bridge and then to Bermondsey Street. This walk takes about half an hour.
Bermondsey Street is one of my favorite streets in London. It's precisely why I don’t end this day with famous attractions.
For dinner, choose between Pizarro, at 194 Bermondsey Street, or The Garrison, at 99–101 Bermondsey Street. Pizarro is the Spanish spot in this itinerary; The Garrison suits an evening with a British menu.
Day 3: Primrose Hill, Marylebone, and Mayfair
A Bagel and a View from Primrose Hill
Get your breakfast at It’s Bagels on Regent’s Park Road and take it to Primrose Hill. From the hill, you can overlook London’s skyline. This is a wonderful start to the day if the weather is dry. Also, stroll through the streets around Regent’s Park Road before moving on.
Through Regent’s Park to Marylebone
Walk south from Primrose Hill through Regent’s Park towards Marylebone. Choose a route through the park rather than just walking along the edge.
Then continue to Marylebone High Street. Here you can browse shops and pop into the bookstore Daunt Books. A good spot to deviate from your route, even just because a bookstore rarely remains a quick stop.
For lunch, you can book at Carlotta on Marylebone High Street. Italian, with a distinct interior and delicious pasta.
Art Viewing at the Wallace Collection
From Marylebone High Street, walk to the Wallace Collection in Hertford House, at Manchester Square. You'll find paintings, furniture, porcelain, and other artifacts in the rooms of a former residence.
As a result, the museum has a different atmosphere than the Tate Modern. Even if you don’t usually dedicate an entire afternoon to art, you can view a selection of the rooms here.
The permanent collection is free to access. Different conditions may apply for temporary exhibitions. Check the opening hours before visiting.
End in Mayfair
Then walk through to Mayfair. You come for the streets, shops, and a nice dinner.
For pizza, head to Crisp in The Marlborough, at 24 North Audley Street. That is the Mayfair location, so double-check when booking that you choose the right location. It's really busy here, and reservations are tricky.
Prefer a British conclusion? Consider The Mayfair Chippy for fish-and-chips or The Masons Arms on Maddox Street for a pub evening.
Practical Tips for 3 Days in London
Three Full Days or a Long Weekend?
This itinerary assumes three full days on site. If you arrive Friday afternoon and leave Sunday afternoon, you won’t have room for all this.
In that case, choose the afternoon and evening in Soho, one more expansive day, and a final morning in a neighborhood conveniently located relative to your departure point.
When to Take the Tube?
Within the individual neighborhoods, you’ll walk a lot. The major journey in this itinerary is from Notting Hill to St Paul’s on day two.
Consider the distance between your hotel and the start or endpoint of each day. London is vast, and a hotel outside the center might add extra travel time. Check your route just before setting out, especially on weekends when works can alter connections.
What to Book in Advance?
Book the bike tour as soon as your travel dates are set. Also, reserve the restaurants where you really want to eat, especially when traveling with multiple people.
For a paid exhibition or visit to St Paul’s, check the tickets in advance. Allow enough time between these fixed moments for walking, breaks, and delays.
You don’t need to book every breakfast and every glass of wine. One or two reservations a day usually provide enough structure.
Where to Stay for This Itinerary?
Soho and Covent Garden are worth considering if you prefer walking a lot and having restaurants nearby in the evening. Keep in mind lively streets and potential noise, though.
Still looking for a hotel for your 3 days in London? Locke at Broken Wharf is along the Thames by the Millennium Bridge, with studios featuring their own kitchenette. You have Thames-facing rooms, and it’s not very expensive.
In my article about Soho, you'll find more hotels and an apartment where I stayed. When booking, check the proximity to a tube station.
My London Addresses at Hand
This itinerary gives you a plan for three days. If you want more options along the way, like a lunch spot closer to your hotel or another pub for the evening, my London Google Maps map with e-book lists my selected addresses together.
This way, you can look per neighborhood to see what’s around and adapt your day without having to figure everything out again. You’ll find the London map in my shop.
