Four days let you see the best-known sights without making every hour a race. We suggest spending the first three days in central London, then choosing museums and markets or a trip to Greenwich for the fourth. Swap stops to suit your interests, the weather and anyone travelling with children.
How we would use four days
The first day is for Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the London Eye and the West End. On the second, follow the Oxford Street, Hyde Park and Kensington walk below, or take a more central route through Regent Street, Carnaby Street, Soho, Seven Dials and Covent Garden. The third day belongs to the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, the South Bank and St Paul’s Cathedral. We have walked these areas many times with visiting family; grouping the stops this way leaves more time to actually go inside the places that interest you.
For day four, choose between two complete alternatives. The Greenwich day below is ideal if you want the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, riverside views and a boat journey. If your family prefers museums and parks, spend the morning at the Natural History Museum, Science Museum or V&A, then walk through Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park and finish around Knightsbridge and Harrods. A Warner Bros. Studio Tour can also fill day four, but treat it as a separate full-day trip with its own transport rather than trying to combine it with Greenwich.
Try to book just one or two major indoor attractions each day. Westminster Abbey and the Tower usually take around two hours each, while a museum can easily take the whole afternoon. Keep the markets on their actual trading days and use the Changing of the Guard calendar before fixing the order of your Westminster morning.
London in four days
A hop-on hop-off bus tour is one way to get your bearings on the first day. If a river cruise appeals to you, check whether it is included in the particular ticket you choose.
London in four days: Day 1 in London
We would start a first visit at Buckingham Palace, then walk through Westminster towards Big Ben and continue to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden. Check the Changing of the Guard schedule before planning your morning around the ceremony.
London in 4 days: Day 1 in London
> Changing of the guard
> Westminster Abbey
> Big Ben and London Eye
> Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus
> Regent Street and Carnaby street
> Leicester Square and Covent Garden
> Map: Route Day 1 in London
For this walking route I would probably allow in between 4 to 6 hours. It is approximately 4.5 miles long and it could easily take you all day, especially if you go on the London Eye or visit Westminster Abbey.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Our walking route that starts at Green Park Tube Station. From here, we´ll walk across Green Park to get to Buckingham Palace, where you’ll get a chance to watch the famous Ceremony of the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony takes place at 11 am, but we recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes in advance as it does get quite crowded. Make sure you check the dates too, as it does not take place every day during the year. We will then walk through the small but absolutely wonderful St James’s Park.
Westminster Abbey
If you want to go inside Westminster Abbey, check the current entry times and ticket options before setting out. Allow around two hours for a visit and remember that opening arrangements can change around services.
Big Ben and London Eye
Once we exit Westminster Abbey, we will walk past the Houses of Parliament and we´ll be able to admire the Big Ben, London´s most iconic landmark. We will then walk along Westminster Bridge and take the perfect photo from here of both the Big Ben and the London Eye.
We will then walk towards the London Eye, and this is the perfect opportunity to jump onto the London Eye and take in the fantastic views. Tickets for the London Eye are cheaper if bought in advance, and I would consider buying fast-track tickets to beat the queues.
We will then continue walking along the South Bank of the river Thames until we reach the Royal Festival Hall. This is the perfect place to stop for a coffee or a bite if we´re feeling a bit hungry, as there are plenty of restaurants and cafes. Just behind the Royal Festival Hall there is also a food market during the weekends, so that´s definitely worth a visit.
Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus
We will then head back to the north of the river Thames, crossing along the Golden Jubilee Bridge and head towards Trafalgar Square, the famous piazza with the 4 lions and Nelson’s statue. This is where you will find one of London´s most famous galleries, The National Gallery, which is free to enter. From here it´s only a short walk to another one of London´s famous landmarks, Piccadilly Circus.
Regent Street and Carnaby Street
Let’s now explore Regent Street, one of London’s most important shopping street, and make sure we spot the shop Hamleys’ on our right, London´s most famous and biggest toy store. We will then walk past Liberty, one of London’s most famous stores and discover Carnaby Street and London´s famous Soho. We will end our route through Soho exploring the infamous Chinatown of London.
Leicester Square and Covent Garden
Our next stop is Leicester Square, where you will bump into another two very famous shops – M&M’s and Lego Stores. Leicester Square is where London’s Film Premieres take place, so you might actually be lucky enough to bump into a famous actor! From Leicester Square it’s only a short walk to Covent Garden, one of the most beautiful places in London, and it’s definitely the perfect place to end your very busy first day of your trip to London. You will find lots of restaurants in this area, so it is also the perfect place to have something to eat or drink before heading back to your hotel, or before doing one of the best things you can do in London: Watch a famous musical in London.
Map: Route Day 1 London
Read more regarding this walking route here: Itinerary 1: Buckingham Palace to Covent Garden
London in four days: Day 2 in London
We will start our second day in London by walking along what is possibly London´s busiest and most popular street: Oxford Street, and then we´ll discover every secret that Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens have to offer before heading to explore at least one of London´s most famous museums. At the end of our route we will also go to Harrods, London´s most famous department store.
Day 2 in London
> Oxford Street and Marble Arch
> Hyde Park
> Kensington
> Route Map Day 2 in London
Oxford Street and Marble Arch
Our starting point for our second day in London is Oxford Street Tube Station. From here we´ll head west, discovering all the high street shops that Oxford Street has to offer. We will walk past John Lewis, Mark´s and Spencer´s, and Selfridges, being this last department store one that I would encourage you to enter. As you walk along Oxford Street keep an eye out for a little sign that indicates St Christopher´s Place, a little piazza with several restaurants and cafes that is hidden away and that definitely deserves a visit. Once you get to the end of Oxford Street you´ll find Marble Arch.
Hyde Park
As soon as you enter Hyde Park you´ll bump into Speaker´s Corner. From here we have designed a route through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for you to discover the most important sights of these two beautiful parks, including Peter´s Pan statue, the Italian Water Gardens, Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial. If you are visiting London with kids don´t forget to take them to Diana Princess of Wales´Memorial Playground.
Kensington
As we exit Hyde Park we´ll find ourselves in front of the beautiful Royal Albert Hall. You can also visit the Royal Albert Hall. We will then walk towards South Kensington, where we will find some of London’s most famous museums, such as the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, and walk along Kensington High Street and Brompton Road until we get to Harrods, the world’s most famous department store.
Map: Day 2 in London
London in four days: Day 3 in London
If you are planning on visiting London in four days, then one of the things that you definitely can’t miss is the famous Tower of London. From the Tower of London we would suggest that you walk across Tower Bridge and then walk along the South Bank of the river Thames, giving you the opportunity to also admire St Paul’s Cathedral.
Day 3 in London:
> Monument and North Bank of the River
> Tower of London and Tower Bridge
> Southbank
> Route Map Day 3 in London
Monument and North Bank of the river
This walking route starts at Monument Tube Station, from where we will start walking towards London Bridge. You will see The Monument to the Great Fire of London on your left hand side, which has a viewing platform reached by a narrow winding staircase of 311 steps. You can visit The Monument and it’s viewing platform. As you continue walking you will get to London Bridge, and you are then able to walk along the North Bank of the river. From here you will get some awesome views of Tower Bridge and The Shard, London’s tallest building.
Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Walking along the North Bank of Thames you will reach a point where you can no longer continue along the Bank of the river, and you just need to follow the road until you see one of London’s most important landmarks: The Tower of London. We highly recommend that you visit the Tower of London, as no one should visit London and miss the opportunity to see the Crown Jewels. It will take you about 2 hours to visit the Tower of London and it’s much better if you buy the tickets in advance or you can enter for free if you have a London Pass. Inside the Tower of London there is a wonderful cafe / restaurant where we’d recommend you to try an authentic British Pie and Mash or stop for tea and cake.
Our next stop will be Tower Bridge, and not only do you get to see it, but we will cross Tower Bridge on foot. Before we go up the steps to get to Tower Bridge though, I would recommend that you have a wonder around St Katharine’s Dock, as it’s one of London’s best kept secrets. There are numerous restaurants in this area, so it’s the ideal place if you are looking to have lunch somewhere. In St Katharine’s Dock is where we can find The Dicken’s Inn, a unique pub housed in a beautiful 18th century warehouse serving pub food as well as fine grill and pizzeria.
We continue to walk across Tower Bridge, admiring it’s beauty. Tower Bridge also has a viewing platform and an exhibition you can visit, and you can buy the tickets in advance or enter for free if you have a London Pass.
South Bank
Once we cross Tower Bridge, Butler’s Wharf is a lovely short detour to the east. Our main route then heads west along the South Bank of the river Thames, a very enjoyable walk that will allow you to get a proper feeling of what it means to visit London. You will first walk past the former City Hall building and the HMS Belfast, Europe’s only surviving second world war cruiser, a historic warship and museum where you will get the opportunity to explore what life was like at war at sea. You can buy tickets in advance to visit HMS Belfast or enter for free if you have a London Pass.
As we continue walking along the South Bank, we will come to Hay’s Galleria, one of my favourite places in London. Here you will find a selection of restaurants and cafes as well as a few shops and stalls. Our next stop will be Borough Market, one of the most spectacular markets in London. Make sure to visit during market opening days (normally Tuesday–Sunday, with additional Monday openings in December) as this area is definitely not the same if the market is closed.
Continue walking along the South Bank, passing Shakespeare’s Globe until you reach the Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge, with a perfect view of St Paul’s Cathedral on the other side of the river. You can then cross the Millennium Bridge to go and see St Paul’s Cathedral or continue walking along the South Bank, as you can walk all the way to the London Eye.
Map: Route Day 3 in London
London in four days: Day 4 in London
There are lots of ways to spend a fourth day in London, and we think that you should really choose the way you want to spend it.
London’s Markets and Museums
We have already discussed that London is famous for it’s wonderful markets, and you may want to explore some of London’s markets during your fourth day in the city. We would highly recommend a visit to Camden Market (any day of the week) or Portobello Road in Notting Hill (Saturdays). You could always go to one of these markets first thing in the morning and then spend the afternoon somewhere else. Another option is to spend the day visiting one (or several) London’s museums, such as the British Museum or Madame Tussauds. You may have had time to visit one of South Kensington’s Museums on day 3, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum, but if you didn’t have time then this is definitely another way of spending your fourth day in London. You could spend a whole day in some of these museums if you’re not careful, so it really depends on how much you want to see. You could always combine a market and a museum.
Visit Greenwich
If you are visiting London in four days, then we would highly recommend that you visit Greenwich. Not only will you be able to stand on the Prime Meridian, but you’ll get amazing views of London and be able to see London with a different view. It’s what we would recommend our friends did if they visited London in four days.
A river cruise from Westminster to Greenwich is one way to travel east while enjoying the Thames views. If you are also considering a sightseeing bus ticket, check whether the cruise you want is included before buying two separate tickets. In Greenwich, you could choose the Royal Observatory or Cutty Sark depending on your time and interests.
⇒ Check our walking route in detail here: Visit Greenwich
Best Travel Options when visiting London in four days
If you are visiting London in four days, the best way to get around the city is by using an oyster card or a visitor oyster card. You can also use a contactless debit or credit card, just make sure you check your bank’s commission charges if you are going to use a non-UK emitted bank card.
These are definitely the cheapest ways to get around London in four days, and you can use any of those cards to pay for any mean of public ransport in London as long as you stay within London’s Travel Zones.
Recommended hotels to spend four 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.