Six days in London: our route at a glance
Days 1–3: Keep Westminster and the West End together on day one; enjoy Hyde Park, Oxford Street, Kensington or a museum on day two; and spend day three around the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, the South Bank and St Paul’s Cathedral. The maps and full walking directions below give you several stops for each day, but we would make time to go inside the places that matter most to you.
Day 4: Greenwich is our favourite choice when you want a different side of London. Travel by boat if you would like Thames views, then see Cutty Sark, Greenwich Market, the Royal Observatory and the free National Maritime Museum or Queen’s House. If you have time after Greenwich, a DLR ride to Canary Wharf adds a contrast between maritime London and the modern skyline. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is an alternative full-day outing, with a train to Watford Junction and a shuttle to the studios; you cannot reasonably fit it into the same day as Greenwich.
Day 5: Begin at Paddington or Warwick Avenue, walk by the canal through Little Venice and Regent’s Park towards Camden Lock, and spend the afternoon around Camden Market. This quieter morning and livelier market afternoon work especially well after several days of big attractions.
Day 6: The Hampton Court and Windsor ideas below are excellent if you want a palace outside central London. You can also keep your last day local: choose the Natural History Museum, Science Museum or V&A in South Kensington, then walk to Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge. Alternatively visit Notting Hill and Portobello Road on a Friday or Saturday, or pick a London neighbourhood that you did not reach earlier. This way there is a good six-day plan even if you do not want another train journey.
Six days give you room to see central London and add a couple of places further afield. Our first three days group the main sights by area; after that, choose the experiences that appeal to you. A studio tour, Greenwich, Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle each need their own travel and visiting time, so treat them as alternatives rather than a checklist.
For the first three days in London I would suggest that you follow our Three Day London Itinerary. We will outline in this article what we have planned for the first three days of your six days in London, but you will find more detailed information here: Three Day London Itinerary
London in six days: Day 1 in London
Begin near St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace. If seeing the Changing of the Guard matters to you, check the official schedule and plan the morning around it. You can also choose one nearby visit, such as the Churchill War Rooms, the Royal Mews or The King’s Gallery; allow time for entry rather than expecting to fit them all in. Check any sightseeing pass inclusions before booking.
Our next stop is the magnificent and historic Westminster Abbey. This is definitely a must-see attraction in London, and one that you don’t really want to miss! After visiting Westminster Abbey we will admire the Big Ben and cross Westminster Bridge, to reach the London Eye. A very short walk along the South Bank will take you to the area of the Royal Festival Hall, where you will find several restaurants as well as a food market some days. This is probably the perfect spot to grab something to eat if you are feeling peckish, before crossing the river Thames again.
Now we are going to explore Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and the famous Carnaby Street. We’ll stroll through Soho, then continue to Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
The London Transport Museum is located in Covent Garden. It is one of the few museums in London that charge an entry fee (adults, children under 18 can enter free with a child ticket) but in my opinion it’s well worth a visit.
And you are actually in London’s West End, so this may be the perfect opportunity to watch one of London’s Top Musicals, such as the Lion King or Mamma Mia.
Map: Day 1 of 6 Days in London
London in six days: Day 2 in London
On Day 2 of our Six Days in London we are going to explore Oxford Street, one of London’s most important shopping districts, and discover St Christopher’s Place, a hidden gem. We will then walk towards Marble Arch, and from here we can enter London’s famous Hyde Park. We have included a walking route for you to see Hyde Park, and you could either walk this route or consider hiring bikes.
After exploring Hyde Park, we’ll then make our way towards Kensington Gardens, where we will have the chance to visit Kensington Palace.
From here we will make our way towards the Royal Albert Hall, which can also be visited. Walking towards South Kensington you will now come across some very important museums in London: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. You won’t have time to visit all of them, but I highly recommend that you go in at least one of them even if it’s only briefly! The Natural History Museum has to be my favourite!
Walking up Brompton Road we will reach another one of London’s iconic landmarks: Harrods. Harrods is normally open until late, so you should have time to explore this magnificent place!
From Harrods we can then continue our route along Sloane Street, where some of London’s most luxurious shops are. We then get to Sloane Square and Duke of York Square, where we’ll find the Saatchi Gallery (free entry).
Map: Day 2 of six days in London
London in six days: Day 3 in London
On day three, start at The Monument to the Great Fire of London, then walk along the north bank of the Thames towards the Tower. Across the river you can see The Shard; allow time to stop along the way rather than rushing between landmarks.
We will then get to the Tower of London and famous Tower Bridge. Afterwards, we will cross Tower Bridge on foot to get to the south bank of the river, and walk along the promenade. We will walk past the former City Hall building and HMS Belfast, which I highly recommend visiting. Following on from here, we will eventually reach London Bridge and explore this area – including the wonderful Borough Market.
We will then continue our walk along the South Bank, going past the Golden Hinde. We will eventually get to Shakespeare’s Globe and the Millennium Bridge. The idea is that from here we will cross the Millennium Bridge, to get to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Map: Day 3 in London
London in six days: Day 4 in London
We are now going to give you some options so that you can choose what you want to do on your fourth day during a six day trip in London. You could either choose:
Option 1: Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
If you are a Harry Potter fan, then you will not want to miss this opportunity to visit the famous Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour. Tickets sell out very quickly, so make sure you book your tickets well in advance to avoid any disappointments.
⇒ Check out our Harry Potter in London Guide
Option 2: Greenwich
Greenwich not only offers you the opportunity of visiting the Royal Observatory, but it also offers breath-taking views of London’s skyline. It is well worth a visit, and one that I would highly recommend if you are planning to visit London in six days. I would suggest that you get to Greenwich by boat from Westminster as the experience is amazing, and it will make your day more spectacular.
We have designed a walking tour around Greenwich, and here you will be able to visit the following attractions:
- Greenwich Market (free to browse; check current trading times)
- Cutty Sark (free with London Pass)
- Painted Hall (ticketed entry for adults; check current prices)
- Old Royal Naval College (free entry)
- Queen’s House (free entry)
- National Maritime Museum (free entry)
- Royal Observatory (free with London Pass)
In order to get to Greenwich by boat, there are several options. You can hop on a river cruise from Westminster to Greenwich and the London Pass includes a separate City Cruises 24-hour river ticket, subject to its current conditions; the separately linked cruise above is a different booking. You can also get a river cruise from Westminster to Greenwich if your chosen ticket includes it for the sightseeing bus tour in London. Other options include buying combined tickets for the river cruise + Cutty Sark or River Cruise + entry to Royal Observatory.
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 or Kew Gardens (entry included with London Pass) 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 six days: Day 5 in London
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.
London in six days: Day 6 in London
And for your last day in London, I really think we need to consider visiting either Hampton Court Palace or Windsor Castle. Both of these places are included for free with The London Pass.
Option 1: Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is the former home of King Henry VIII. It is set in 60 acres of formal gardens, which includes the famous maze and Great Vine. King Henry VIII acquired this magnificent palace in the 1520s, which he then extended and developed. Decadent tapestries and paintings were used throughout the centuries to decorate this palace.
How to get there:
Although Hampton Court Palace is in London Travel Zone 6, there is no underground station nearby. But luckily, there is a train from Waterloo to Hampton Court Palace, making this journey quite easy. You will be able to use an oyster card or a visitor oyster card for this journey with no problems (as well as contactless card payment – just check bank commission charges). If you have chosen to buy a travelcard, please note that you need to get to zone 6 to visit Hampton Court Palace.
Tickets for Hampton Court Palace:
- Entry included with The London Pass
- Tickets for Hampton Court Palace in advance : Tickets Hampton Court Palace.
Option 2: Windsor Castle
Windsor is another very popular option, an ideal day trip from for tourists that are planning on spending six days in London. Windsor is a beautiful historic town, and its home to Windsor Castle, a residence of the Royal British family which can be visited.
How to get there:
Windsor Castle is outside London Travel Zones, The London Pass can cover admission to Windsor Castle, but it does not include the train journey from London. Buy a separate train ticket and check the castle’s opening days and pass entry conditions before travelling.
Tickets for Windsor Castle:
- Entry included with The London Pass
- Tickets for Windsor Castle in advance : Tickets Windsor Castle
Guided tours from London to Windsor:
Guided tours from London to Windsor are also available, and you can either choose from a coach tour to Windsor with food included, or making the most of the day by visiting another place on the same day, such as:
Planning for 6 days in London
Best Travel Options when visiting London in six days
The best way to get around London is by using an oyster card or a visitor oyster card. You can also use a contactless debit or credit card on London’s public transport system, but check any bank commission charges if it’s a non UK card.
For most journeys, you can pay as you go using either a contactless card or device, or an Oyster card. Check TfL’s current advice and any overseas card charges before you travel. A Travelcard may suit some plans, but compare its coverage and price with your expected journeys first.
Where to Stay
London is a huge city, so choosing where to stay whilst you are visiting London is a very important task! The closer you are to the city centre, the less you will spend on public transport – and the quicker you will get to the important tourist spots in London. But, as always, the closer you are to the city centre… the more expensive it can become… So choosing a hotel may seem a bit overwhelming!
To make this easier for you, we have created a useful guide regarding where to stay in London. We have also shortlisted a few hotels for you, based on price and location. You can find this information by clicking on this button:
How to save Money on a six day trip to London
One of the most important ways of saving money when you visit London, is by:
London Transport Card
Making sure you are using a London Transport Card and not buying individual tickets as you travel. This is why we have recommended you use an oyster card, but as mentioned above, you may want to find out if a Travelcard suits your needs better.
Saving money when visiting attractions in London
You will probably find that your money is mainly going to be spent on visiting London’s attractions. You will want to make the most of your trip by visiting as many attractions as possible. Buying tickets at the entrance of each attraction is the most expensive way of doing it.
So, my recommendation is to make a list of the attractions you want to visit, and then either:
- Buy tickets online in advance if you are only visiting one or two attractions
- Take a look at the combined ticket options which can save you some money.
- Buy a sightseeing pass, such as The London Pass. If you decide to follow our six day London itinerary as described above in this article and are planning on visiting at least half of the attractions mentioned – a London Pass is probably your best option. It won’t include entry to the London Eye but it will pretty much get you in everywhere else, including Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace.
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.