At present I need to convey you my 8-day London itinerary. Every week and a day is a perfect period of time to see the very best the UK capital has to supply and discover additional afield. Wherever your pursuits lie, you could find loads of methods to fill your time in London, see the very best of town, and expertise locations locals love.
8-Day London Itinerary
Some of the thrilling issues about being a journey blogger helps folks plan journeys. Whether or not it’s by way of my weblog posts or my journey planning companies, I at all times love serving to others take pleasure in a fuller expertise in London or overseas.
Individuals typically ask me find out how to spend 8 days in London, so I need to share the official A Woman in London itinerary for per week and a day within the UK capital with you in the present day.
In case you’re a daily reader, you’ll know I’ve shared many London itineraries on the weblog prior to now. I hope you’ll take pleasure in this one as a lot as you’ve appreciated the others.
You can even check out my 1-day, 36-hour, 2-day, 48-hour, 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, 1 week, and 10-day itinerary for extra concepts.
The benefit of visiting London is that there’s no proper or fallacious strategy to spend your time within the metropolis. There’s a lot to do and see right here that you may spend a lifetime exploring. There’s one thing for each style and curiosity, too.
My 8-day London itinerary incorporates a mix of the large sights and the locations native Londoners love.
Whether or not you need to see Huge Ben and the Tower of London, graze your manner by way of Borough Market, or delve into town’s Harry Potter websites, there’s one thing for everybody.
You possibly can tailor the itinerary to match your private pursuits and magnificence. Higher but, you should utilize my London journey information to search out issues to do in your particular passions and fill in any gaps.
In order for you extra inspiration, there’s much more concerning the metropolis in Secret London – An Uncommon Information. In case you’re within the UK, you possibly can get it right here. In case you’re within the US, you possibly can get it right here.
The place to Keep in London
There are many good choices for lodging in London. Whether or not you need to guide your self a keep at a lodge or in an residence, town has an abundance of locations to select from.
Given the large dimension of London, I like to recommend basing your self in or close to town middle. You possibly can see my weblog posts concerning the greatest space to remain in London and the greatest accommodations in your model to get concepts and suggestions.
In case you’re on the lookout for one thing enjoyable and strange, my guides to quirky accommodations in London and themed London accommodations have ideas, too.
If you wish to do a search, you possibly can discover offers and guide lodging in London right here. With so many choices, you’re certain to discover a place that matches your journey model and funds.
Day 1 in London: Buckingham Palace & Westminster
When you’ve arrived and settled into your lodge or residence, there’s no higher place to start out a visit to the UK capital than Buckingham Palace.
You possibly can time your go to so that you’ll get to observe the well-known Altering the Guard ceremony (it takes place a number of days per week), or simply admire the monarch’s London residence from the large gates.
In case you’re on the town through the palace’s seasonal opening, you may also take a tour of Buckingham Palace. It’s a enjoyable strategy to see the state rooms and gardens. You possibly can guide tickets right here (you’ll have to guide properly prematurely).
From Buckingham Palace you possibly can stroll by way of St James’s Park to get to Horse Guards Parade and Westminster. The latter is dwelling to a number of the most recognizable London landmarks. It’s what many individuals consider once they hear the phrase “London”.
Westminster Abbey is inspiring to see, the Homes of Parliament are lovely, and Huge Ben (Elizabeth Tower) is a should on any London itinerary. If in case you have time, you possibly can tour the abbey and parliament. You possibly can guide tickets right here.
If you wish to see extra of the world past the large points of interest, you may also do my free self-guided Westminster stroll. It can lead you to a number of the facet streets and hidden locations locals love within the space.
When night comes, I like to recommend having an off-the-cuff dinner close to the place you’re staying. In case you’re a bit jet lagged otherwise you needed to get up actually early to journey, you’re most likely going to be exhausted.
You possibly can see my suggestions for eating places in London in the event you need assistance discovering a spot to eat. My interactive London neighborhoods map can even present you my space guides, which have restaurant suggestions.
In case you’re operating on adrenaline or you may have power left, I like to recommend taking an open-top bus tour to get an summary of town. It’s a simple strategy to get a really feel for what London has to supply in the beginning of your journey. You possibly can guide your tickets right here.
Day 2 in London: South Financial institution & the Metropolis
On the second morning of your 8-day London itinerary, begin by exploring the South Financial institution.
Proper on the Thames, this space is simply the spot to soak up the views from the London Eye, take a look at the guide market, or absorb the scene alongside the river. You will get London Eye tickets right here (you’ll have to buy them properly prematurely).
There are at all times pop-ups, avenue performers, meals distributors, and different forms of leisure happening right here. You possibly can even take a river cruise from Westminster Pier if you wish to see town from the Thames. You possibly can guide tickets right here.
As you’re employed your manner from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, you’ll go by Tate Fashionable and Borough Market, two extra of essentially the most well-known locations within the metropolis.
The museum is world-class, and the truth that it’s free means you possibly can go in for as lengthy or little as you need. Even in the event you’re not into artwork, there are sweeping views from the highest of the Blavatnik Constructing.
Not far-off, Borough Market is a enjoyable place to channel your inside meals lover and eat one thing scrumptious for lunch. It’s nice to stroll round and absorb the scents and colours of the stalls earlier than deciding on one thing.
After Borough Market you possibly can head throughout London Bridge to get into the Metropolis of London. In case you stroll on the east facet, you possibly can take within the views of Tower Bridge as you go.
From the historic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the arches of Leadenhall Market, the Metropolis of London at all times awes me with its wealthy architectural historical past. You are able to do my self-guided Metropolis of London stroll if you wish to see the very best of the world.
If not, stroll or take the tube to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You possibly can tour the tower and the bridge if you wish to, or simply admire them from the Thames. You possibly can guide Tower of London tickets right here.
If in case you have time afterwards, you possibly can discover St Katharine Docks. This marina is among the most original locations in London, and it’s enjoyable to stroll round and take within the scene. There’s an incredible riverside pub right here, too.
For dinner, I like to recommend strolling throughout Tower Bridge and heading to Bermondsey Road. It is a favourite amongst locals, and there are many pubs and eating places right here. Whether or not you need tapas or fish and chips, you could find it.
Alternatively, Brick Lane isn’t removed from St Katharine Docks and the Tower of London. This well-known avenue in Spitalfields has numerous cool eating places, pubs, and bars. It’s a enjoyable place to spend an evening out within the metropolis.
Day 3 in London: Notting Hill & the West Finish
Begin the third morning of your 8-day London itinerary in Notting Hill. This west London neighborhood is among the most colourful locations within the metropolis. You’ll discover every thing from the retailers to the mews streets to your liking.
If it’s a Saturday, you’ll be capable to expertise the well-known Portobello Highway Market in all its glory. Simply attempt to arrive early to keep away from the crowds, particularly within the excessive season.
If it’s not a Saturday, you possibly can nonetheless head to Portobello Highway and take a look at the market stalls and retailers which might be open if you go to. There’s some type of market right here virtually day-after-day of the week.
Past the stalls and distributors, my free self-guided Notting Hill stroll is the right strategy to get an summary of the neighborhood. It can present you every thing from the excessive streets to the hidden lanes.
Whether or not you’re taking the stroll or not, you possibly can have lunch in Notting Hill earlier than heading down into Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
There’s a lot to see and do right here for a day, from paddle boating on the Serpentine to visiting the artwork galleries (free entry) and touring Kensington Palace.
As night approaches, take the tube or stroll by way of Mayfair to get to the West Finish’s Soho and Covent Backyard. They’re a number of the most fun locations in central London within the evenings.
There’s no scarcity of tempting choices for food and drinks round right here, and Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Sq., the Covent Backyard Piazza, and Leicester Sq. are at all times enjoyable locations to go in London at night time.
You possibly can have dinner within the West Finish earlier than going to a present. Whether or not you eat at a standard restaurant like Guidelines or at one of many many new ones opening on a regular basis, you possibly can’t go fallacious on this a part of London.
There are at all times loads of performs, musicals, and comedy exhibits on, and so they’re entertaining methods to cap off a day of discovering London. From dramas to farces, you may have a great deal of choices.
If you wish to exit after seeing a present, there’s any variety of bars, pubs, and golf equipment in Covent Backyard and Soho you possibly can select from. They’re nice methods to get into central London’s nightlife scene.
My favourite is Cahoots, a London Underground-themed speakeasy simply off Carnaby Road in Kingly Courtroom. It’s one in all my favourite travel-themed bars within the UK capital.
Day 4 in London: Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge & South Kensington
Kick off the fourth morning of your 8-day London itinerary in Belgravia. This luxury space is filled with cute cafes and candy boutiques, significantly these on and round Elizabeth Road.
You possibly can go on my free self-guided Belgravia strolling tour to see the very best of the neighborhood, or simply stroll across the squares and mews. Highlights embody Pimlico Highway, Motcomb Road, and Belgrave Sq..
From Belgravia, make your strategy to Sloane Sq. and the King’s Highway in Chelsea. That is the right place to buy and eat, and also you’ll discover a vary of eating places to select from for lunch right here.
If it’s a Saturday, don’t miss the scrumptious meals market in Duke of York Sq.. If it’s not, there’s nonetheless a lot to do right here. The King’s Highway is among the greatest buying streets in London, and it’s an incredible place to take pleasure in some retail remedy.
If you wish to, you possibly can go on my free self-guided Chelsea stroll to see the facet streets and riverfront space on this a part of west London. You possibly can even pop throughout the Thames to take a look at the retailers and eating places in Battersea Energy Station.
From Chelsea, you possibly can both head as much as Knightsbridge to buy at iconic London malls like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, or make your strategy to South Kensington to see the museums.
The Pure Historical past Museum, V&A, and Science Museum are proper subsequent to one another on and round Cromwell Highway. All of them supply free entry, so you possibly can spend as a lot or as little time seeing their collections and exhibitions as you’d wish to.
Whether or not you go to the retailers or the museums, within the night you possibly can have dinner at one of many eating places exterior the South Kensington tube station. There are many totally different cuisines to select from, and the world has nice ambiance.
If you wish to proceed your day in model, there’s enjoyable nightlife round Walton Road and the King’s Highway. From bars to pubs and golf equipment, you may have a number of choices.
Day 5 in London: Day Journey
On the fifth of your 8 days within the UK capital, I like to recommend taking a day journey from London. Whereas there’s a lot to maintain you busy within the metropolis, there are a number of wonderful locations to find round it.
In case you love the English countryside, my high decide is a day journey to the Cotswolds. You possibly can journey independently with or and not using a automotive, or take a day tour. You possibly can guide my favourite tour right here.
There are many fairly cities and villages to select from within the Cotswolds. My high picks are Painswick, Bibury, Burford, Kingham, and Higher Slaughter.
If historical past is your cup of tea, Winchester, Canterbury and Dover, Tub, Lewes, and Amersham are nice. Amersham is so shut you possibly can take the tube from central London to get there.
If college cities are your factor, Oxford and Cambridge are classics. They’re a few of my favourite quick jaunts from the UK capital, and I’ve been to each numerous instances.
In case you’re a fan of castles, you possibly can take a day journey to Windsor Fort, Hever Fort, Scotney Fort, Leeds Fort, Warwick Fort, Sissinghurst Fort, or any variety of different historic fortresses close to London.
In case you love the seaside, there are extra nice day journeys you possibly can take. Brighton, Deal, and Hastings are my favorites. Each has nice seashores and a great deal of retailers and eating places to take pleasure in.
If you wish to discover one other nation, you possibly can even take a day journey to Paris from London. There are different day journeys from London to Europe that make for enjoyable days out as properly.
In case you’re on the lookout for the very best journeys to take at a selected time of yr, my seasonal guides to spring, summer season, autumn, and winter day journeys from London can assist.
Once you get again to town, I like to recommend going to drinks or dinner (or each) at The Shard. This well-known skyscraper has a number of the greatest views of the UK capital, and taking them in from a desk by a window is a enjoyable strategy to finish a night.
Day 6 in London: Hampstead, Camden & King’s Cross
Start the sixth morning of your 8-day London itinerary in Hampstead. This north London neighborhood is one in all my favourite locations within the metropolis, largely owing to the truth that it seems like an enthralling nation village.
With fairly streets, nice pubs, and one of many metropolis’s largest parks, it’s the right place to discover. I lived right here for years and I nonetheless return any likelihood I get.
You possibly can stroll round this London village by yourself, or go on my free self-guided Hampstead stroll or one in all my Hampstead Heath walks to see better of the world.
Once you get hungry, you possibly can have lunch at one of many native pubs or a restaurant on Hampstead Excessive Road. My favorites are the Holly Bush, Jin Kichi, and Villa Bianca. The crepe stands are enjoyable, too, however the traces can transfer very slowly.
After lunch, you possibly can stroll or take the tube previous Belsize Park and Primrose Hill to get to Camden City. It’s dwelling to the well-known Camden Excessive Road and markets like Camden Market, Buck Road Market, and Hawley Wharf.
You possibly can spend time taking within the colourful facades and shopping the stalls when you’re right here. They’re ultimate spots to choose up items and enjoyable finds to take dwelling as souvenirs.
You possibly can keep in Camden till the solar goes down. The market has numerous meals stalls the place you could find dinner, and the world has nice nightlife. It’s significantly well-known for its dwell music scene.
From KOKO to the Roundhouse, there’s at all times a gig on. Well-known pubs like The World’s Finish have basement bars with dwell performances, too.
Alternatively, after exploring Camden you possibly can stroll alongside the Regent’s Canal towpath to get to King’s Cross. The world round Granary Sq. and Coal Drops Yard is full of retailers, eating places, bars, and cafes. It’s a great place to get dinner.
Earlier than or after you eat, you possibly can stroll right down to the world’s prepare stations. King’s Cross is legendary for its beautiful inside structure and Harry Potter connections.
Whilst you’re right here, you possibly can take an image on the Platform 9 3/4 signal and decide up a memento from the Harry Potter store subsequent to it.
St Pancras Worldwide is thought for its exterior structure and enjoyable retailers and eating places. Designed by designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, it’s one of the eye-catching historic buildings in London.
Coincidentally, it was additionally used as a filming location for one of many Harry Potter motion pictures. You could find out which one in my weblog put up a couple of Harry Potter strolling tour.
If you wish to exit afterwards, there are many bars and pubs within the space. From those on Regent’s Canal in King’s Cross to native spots in Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, you’re spoiled for selection.
Day 7 in London: Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Hackney
Spend the seventh of your 8 days in London exploring a number of extra enjoyable locations within the metropolis middle and the East Finish.
You can begin in Bloomsbury, the place you’ll be capable to go to the British Museum (free entry) or simply wander round to soak up the world’s many leafy squares. My free self-guided Bloomsbury stroll will present you the native highlights.
Afterwards it’s a simple stroll to Clerkenwell. Right here you possibly can uncover London’s design district and discover locations like St John Road or Exmouth Market. Each are good spots to have lunch at one of many neighborhood’s beloved eating places.
St John restaurant is a favourite of mine, as is the Fox & Anchor pub, which is true across the nook by Charterhouse Sq..
You are able to do my free self-guided Clerkenwell strolling tour in order for you, too. It can take you across the space and to locations like Holborn and Smithfield.
Clerkenwell is a simple stroll from Previous Road, the place you’ll end up in hip Shoreditch. This space is legendary for its nightlife scene, so in the event you can time your arrival for the onset of the night, you’ll get to see the neighborhood in its component.
If in case you have time or inclination, you possibly can go on one in all my free self-guided Shoreditch walks or stroll round to see the road artwork this east London neighborhood is thought for. My favourite place to see it right here is New Inn Yard.
You possibly can have dinner in Shoreditch earlier than heading to Hackney. This is among the coolest neighborhoods in London, and it has an incredible nightlife scene. The identical goes for close by Hackney Wick, which is among the most hipster locations within the metropolis.
Day 8 in London: St James’s, Mayfair & Marylebone
Begin the final morning of your 8-day London itinerary in St James’s. This conventional a part of the UK capital is legendary for its royal palace, males’s retailers, luxurious accommodations, and members’ golf equipment.
Once you arrive, you possibly can stroll down roads like Jermyn Road and Piccadilly, and store at iconic malls like Fortnum & Mason.
Once you’re carried out discovering St James’s, cross Piccadilly to get to Mayfair. This chi chi space is dwelling to luxurious items retailers, fine-dining eating places, and the attractive curving stretch of Regent Road.
You possibly can go on my free Mayfair stroll if you wish to see the highlights. It can take you round to hidden mews, fairly gardens, and delightful facet streets locals love.
Mayfair is a perfect place to cease for a meal or afternoon tea, too. Whether or not you eat at an off-the-cuff cafe on Heddon Road, dine at a tucked-away place in Shepherd Market, or go all-out on a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you possibly can’t go fallacious for lunch on this space.
In the case of tea, I really like Brown’s Resort afternoon tea and the jaw-dropping yellow room at Sketch. The previous is all British custom, whereas the latter is modern and classy.
After lunch or tea, cross Oxford Road to get to Marylebone. That is one other of my favourite London neighborhoods, not least as a result of it has top-of-the-line excessive streets in London.
There are many boutiques, eating places, pubs, cafes, and retailers on Marylebone Excessive Road. They’re nice locations to get into London’s culinary and retail remedy scenes.
From stylish boutiques to recognizable excessive avenue names, there’s one thing for everybody right here. My favourite place to store in Marylebone is Daunt Books. It’s one of many high (and most spectacular) impartial bookshops in London.
If you wish to, you possibly can go on my free self-guided Marylebone stroll to discover the neighborhood. It can take you round to some fairly mews and native gardens.
Once you’re carried out in Marylebone, head over to Regent’s Park. This is among the grandest inexperienced areas in London, and it’s a enjoyable place for a stroll. If it’s summer season, make sure that to take a look at the beautiful rose gardens.
When the day begins to fade, head again to Marylebone Excessive Road for dinner or go away by way of one of many different exits of the park and eat in fairly Primrose Hill, enjoyable Camden (in the event you didn’t spend a night right here earlier than), or basic Fitzrovia.
If in case you have further time in your final day in London, I like to recommend doing any last-minute buying you didn’t have time to do or filling in any gaps in your itinerary.
Likelihood is you’ll have heard about some extra locations when you’re on the town, and this can be a good alternative to go to them. Whether or not it’s a museum or a neighborhood market, there’s a lot to maintain you busy earlier than your departure.
8-Day London Itinerary
I hope you’ve loved my 8-day London itinerary. That is a tremendous metropolis, and there’s a lot to do and see right here. I’ve spent years residing within the UK capital, and I nonetheless don’t really feel like I’ve skilled every thing it has to supply. Joyful travels!
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