With five days, you can follow our central London routes for the first three, choose Greenwich or another day out for the fourth, then walk from Little Venice towards Camden on the fifth. These are flexible routes, so take more time at the places you most want to see.
A five-day route with room for the London you came to see
Day 1: Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye and a walk through Trafalgar Square to Piccadilly Circus. Day 2: Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Kensington, then Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Soho, Neal’s Yard and Covent Garden if you want a longer walk. Day 3: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market and a riverside walk past Shakespeare’s Globe to St Paul’s Cathedral. These first three days are set out in detail, with maps, in our three-day London itinerary.
Day 4: Pick Greenwich for Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, the market and perhaps the Thames boat journey, or use the entire day for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. We would only add Canary Wharf after Greenwich if everyone still has energy; it is easy to reach by DLR, but both Cutty Sark and the Observatory reward a proper visit. The Royal Museums Greenwich day pass can combine the ship and observatory, while the free National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House make a low-cost alternative.
Day 5: Follow the canal from Little Venice to Camden for lunch and market browsing. You can start at Warwick Avenue or leave Paddington via its Grand Union Canal exit. Walk beside Regent’s Canal towards Regent’s Park and Camden Lock, stopping for photographs at the houseboats; this last day feels different from the big landmarks of your first three. Camden Market is open most days, while a Saturday traveller who loves antiques could swap this day for Notting Hill and Portobello Road, then use our Notting Hill route.
A five-day trip is long enough to justify comparing a sightseeing pass with individual attraction tickets if you plan several paid visits. Make the comparison using the attractions you will actually enter, rather than counting everything visible from the pavement. The London Eye and some other pass attractions require an advance reservation.
London in five days
If you enjoy sightseeing from a bus, a hop-on hop-off tour can be a useful first-day option. Check the current ticket before booking: a river cruise is included with some packages but not all.
One more thing you should probably consider if you are spending 5 days in London, is a London Tourist Pass. If you are planning on visiting a few of London’s attractions it will most likely be worth considering a London Sightseeing Pass. The current Go City London attraction list includes a two-day hop-on hop-off bus tour and a City Cruises Thames pass; check the particular pass you choose and reserve timed attractions where required.
London in five days: Days 1, 2 and 3 in London
For the first three days in London I would suggest that you follow our Three Day London Itinerary.
Following our three day itinerary will enable you to see the following attractions and must-sees of London during the first three days:
- Changing of the Guard
- Buckingham Palace
- Westminster Abbey
- Big Ben
- London Eye
- Trafalgar Square
- Regent Street
- Carnaby Street
- Covent Garden
- Oxford Street
- Hyde Park
- Kensington Gardens
- Harrods
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Tower of London
- Tower Bridge
- London Bridge
- Borough Market
- The View from the Shard
- Southbank
There is also time during these first three days in London to visit one of London’s top museums or to watch one of London’s top musicals one evening.
London in five days: Day 4 in London – Greenwich / Harry Potter Studio Tour / Other Day Tour
For your fourth day in London, we are going to suggest that you head out of central London. You could either choose:
> Option 1: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
This is your perfect chance to visit the famous Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour if you’re a fan. Don’t forget to book as soon as possible though, as tickets sell out very quickly.
Check out our Harry Potter in London Guide
> Option 2: Greenwich
visit the magnificent area of Greenwich in the morning, and to make the day even more spectacular we would suggest that you get to Greenwich by boat from Westminster as the views are amazing.
Once you arrive at Greenwich, you will be able to visit the following attractions:
- Greenwich Market (free entry, open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm)
- Cutty Sark
- Painted Hall (free entry)
- Old Royal Naval College (free entry)
- Queen’s House (free entry)
- National Maritime Museum (free entry)
- Royal Observatory
To reach Greenwich by boat, compare the timetable and price of a Westminster to Greenwich cruise with any river trip included in a sightseeing ticket you already plan to buy. Check the arrival pier and leave enough time to explore Greenwich once you get there.
> Option 3: Other Day Tour
Other cities: Maybe you would like to visit Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, Stratford Upon Avon or Stonehenge for example. All these places can be easily reached from London, and they make wonderful day trips from London. You can either choose to organize everything yourself, by getting to these places by public transport or you could join an organized tour to make your life easier.
Inside London: You could also consider visiting Richmond Upon Thames, Hampton Court Palace or Kew Gardens for example.
If you still have time afterwards, you may be able explore more of London in the afternoon or evening. You can head over to one of London’s Top Museums, or, depending on what you are doing, this may be a good day to see one of London’s Top Musicals, like the Lion King, Mamma Mia, Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera.
London in five days: Day 5 in London – Little Venice and Camden Market
On day 5 we are going to visit the area of Little Venice in London. This oasis of tranquility is nestled in central London. From here, we can walk along Regent’s Canal (or take a boat trip) to Camden Lock. We will then have the opportunity of visiting Camden Town and the famous Camden Market.
Map of this walking route:
Best Travel Options when visiting London in five days
For journeys around London, you can usually use either a contactless card or device, or an Oyster card, to pay as you go. Use the same card or device when you touch in and out, and check any overseas transaction charges with your bank. See TfL’s current guidance before deciding which option suits you.
Recommended hotels for five days in London
We have shortlisted a few hotels for you, based on price and location.
Check them out here: Recommended hotels in London.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.