We not too long ago spent one week in London and, as you possibly can think about from a journey planner, I spent loads of time interested by our London itinerary earlier than we left. One factor that at all times surprises me about planning a visit to London is simply how a lot there’s to do within the metropolis. While 7 days in London looks as if a very long time, you may be shocked by how rapidly your time fills up.
With 5 days in London, you should have sufficient time to hit the entire highlights if you’re good about the way you manage your time. However, I’d suggest planning every week in London to go away a while for day journeys or specialty excursions as effectively. Based on our personal journey, and my expertise planning a number of London journeys for different households, I’ve put collectively this 7 day London itinerary as your very personal cheat sheet to planning an superior journey.
Wondering how a lot a 7-day journey to London prices? Check out my London journey funds information.
7 Day London Itinerary with Family
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I’ve created this 7-day itinerary with London for households in thoughts, taking care to not overstuff the times racing from attraction to attraction. Trust me, it’s simple to fill each second of the day and nonetheless not see all the pieces in London. But since that may make most children depressing, I’ve tried to steadiness out sightseeing with some downtime and included the must-see points of interest which can be interesting to households with kids of all ages.
We visited London with our teen (see extra issues to do in London with teenagers), however this can be a journey that may attraction to school-age kids and tweens as effectively. If you do plan on visiting lots of the points of interest and historic sights listed on this London itinerary, chances are you’ll wish to have a look at investing within the London Pass.
Day One – Arrival
If you’re coming from the United States, you’ll probably arrive fairly early and have loads of time to kill on not a lot sleep earlier than you’ll be able to examine into your resort. Ideally, you possibly can guide a room for the night time earlier than so as to examine in as quickly as you arrive, however at a minimal attempt to request early check-in.
We stayed in two totally different places in central London, which I’ll clarify extra about later. The first, the Royal Garden Hotel, was close to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, with quick access to the Tube. The second, the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, was inside simple strolling distance to most of central London in Mayfair. For extra choices, additionally try the prime family-friendly inns in London on TripAdvisor.
If you determine on an house rental, be sure you work out baggage storage with the property managers so that you don’t must lug your luggage round till check-in time.
If you do must kill a while, a hop-on hop-off bus tour is an effective option to get a way of the town with out expending an excessive amount of vitality.
You can even spend a while enjoyable in Hyde Park. In good climate, you possibly can hire a pedal boat on the Serpentine. Young kids will love the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, or you possibly can take a tour of Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens.
We beloved staying on the Royal Garden Hotel, simply steps away from Kensington Palace. We spent our time till our room was prepared taking within the Princess Diana exhibit at Kensington Palace. That night time we took benefit of the resort’s meals and flicks package deal to look at a film and order up a room service buffet of enjoyable treats.
Whatever you do, don’t overdo it in your first day since you wish to save your vitality for the remainder of the journey. This is your day to get acclimated and hunt down these basic British experiences (like a household picture in a crimson phone sales space!)
Day Two – Royal London
If you begin your day early, you possibly can slot in a lot of London’s most recognizable points of interest for a giant “wow” issue in your first full day. Start off at Westminster Abbey, the coronation church since 1066 and the burial spot for a lot of of England’s most well-known authors, poets, and royalty, together with 17 monarchs. With over 1,000 years of historical past, this has been an vital historic landmark for hundreds of years.
It is extremely really helpful to guide on-line tickets and ticket gross sales open up two months upfront. If you aren’t taking a formal tour, not less than hire an audio information so you possibly can perceive what you’re looking at.
Depending on how a lot time you spend in Westminster Abbey (allot not less than one hour) and if you began, you might be able to catch the Royal Horse Guard Parade. This generally is a good various or complement to the extra well-known Changing of the Guard (and it’s a lot simpler to get a greater viewing spot.)
The Queen’s Life Guard modifications every day through the Horse Guards Parade at 11:00 on weekdays and 10:00 on Sundays. The Horse Guards depart Hyde Park Barracks at 10:30 on weekdays and 9:30 on Sundays to experience to Horse Guards Parade through Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill, and The Mall on their option to the guard change ceremony.
The New Guard arrives at Horse Guards Parade at 11:00 am and the ceremony lasts about half an hour. The Old Guard leaves Horse Guards Parade at 11:30 and passes Buckingham Palace at 11:45 am. Just be sure you examine the schedules upfront as they will fluctuate by season and depend upon any royal appearances.
From there, stroll right down to the River Thames for a boat journey right down to the Tower of London. The London Pass will get you into Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and features a Thames River Cruise, or you possibly can simply purchase a hop-on, hop-off boat tour ticket.
Or, you possibly can take a quicker water taxi utilizing your Oyster Card. An Oyster Card is a transportation move for the Underground Metro. You can get a Visitor Pass and cargo it up relying on how a lot you suppose you’ll use the Tube throughout your keep. Either manner, arriving on the Tower of London through the Thames is harking back to how prisoners or guests have been delivered to the Tower again within the day and it’s a cool option to cruise by the town.
I might extremely suggest a tour of the Tower of London. I do know the primary time I visited, we primarily went to see the Crown Jewels and nothing else actually caught with me, however there’s a lot historical past there to take in. The Tower of London was constructed within the 1070s by William the Conqueror and has been a jail, royal armory, royal mint, and even a zoo.
For 500 years, the Tower was utilized by monarchs as an opulent palace, however right now it’s extra well-known for a few of its most notorious prisoners and the mysteries surrounding a few of them. With all of the historical past, you possibly can see why I like to recommend visiting with a information. Walking round by yourself is ok when you simply wish to see the Crown Jewels or the Ravens, however the rooms are reasonably naked with out the tales that fill them.
You can at all times take one of many public Yeoman Warder excursions, however chances are you’ll find yourself with a gaggle of 40 folks. We noticed these across the grounds and I think about it could be very laborious to listen to and see in a gaggle that giant, not to mention ask questions.
What we did was take a half-day tour that included Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, which labored out nice. If you’re visiting London round Christmas, like we did, you possibly can count on actually lengthy traces to get in. Luckily your information can navigate traces and get you fast-tracked.
If you want lunch beforehand, take a stroll over to Leadenhall Market. This coated market is stuffed with boutiques, retailers, eating places, and bars, and was even utilized in filming Harry Potter as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley.
If you don’t wish to exit of your manner, there’s additionally a small cafe on-site on the Tower of London that serves meat pies and small snacks.
After spending a few hours exploring the Tower of London, I might suggest strolling throughout the Tower Bridge and visiting the Tower Bridge Exhibition. Tower Bridge is the long-lasting bridge that many people consider as “London Bridge.” Today you possibly can stroll throughout the Bridge on high-level glass walkways for gorgeous panoramic views.
You can even go into the magnificent Victorian Engine Rooms and see the engineering magic behind this landmark.
Day Three – City of London
If you didn’t catch the Horse Guard Parade yesterday, ensure you get to Buckingham Palace early for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Be positive to plan forward and examine the schedule, particularly if you’re visiting within the winter because the ceremony doesn’t occur every single day within the winter.
If the ceremony is going down at 11 am, I might suggest arriving on the Palace NO LATER than 10:30 am (10:15 and even 10 am can be higher to get primo spots by the fence.) Expect large crowds so control your kids and your purses/luggage.
You could wish to deliver a selfie stick with take footage above the crowds. You can even collect by the monument throughout from the palace and nonetheless get a great view of the guards as they march in.
After the parade, stroll by the Mall over to Trafalgar Square. It is at all times enjoyable to pose with the lions in entrance of Nelson’s Column. You can even cease on the National Gallery within the Square (admission is free!)
From right here, stroll by Leicester Square (chances are you’ll wish to try the enormous Lego Store) and over to Covent Garden for lunch and a few buying. Try Chez Antionette for contemporary soup, tartine, and charcuterie, or make a reservation at Dishoom for some glorious Indian meals (you MUST strive the Black Daal!)
If you aren’t too drained, proceed on to St. Paul’s Cathedral. You can go to and see the place Prince Charles and Princess Diana have been married. St. Paul’s is open to guests Monday by Saturday. It opens for guests at 8:30 am on most days and 10:00 am on Wednesdays and the final guests can enter at 4:00 pm.
You can purchase tickets proper up till the time of entry, however it is suggested that you just buy them upfront. You may even climb to the highest of the Dome for views over London.
Day Four – South Bank
Start your day at both Westminster or Waterloo station and get some good views from the South Bank facet of the Westminster Bridge of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
After catching your picture alternative, head over to the London Eye. I’d extremely suggest reserving upfront so you possibly can skip the road if you arrive.
If you don’t wish to fear about arriving at a sure time, you possibly can at all times purchase a Flex ticket that permits you to skip the road at any level through the day that you just reserved.
This could possibly be a good suggestion to offer you extra flexibility to work across the climate. When we visited we booked a timed-entry ticket and it was nice to skip the road, however there wasn’t a really large line anyway as a result of it was wet. The rain positively impeded our views from the highest, nevertheless it was nonetheless a enjoyable expertise.
Stop for lunch at Black & Blue close to Waterloo or Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe. If you possibly can proceed to stroll alongside the waterfront, you’ll move the Millennium Bridge and arrive at Shakespeare’s Globe.
You can cease in for a guided tour of this reconstructed theater or go to the Tate Modern museum.
End your exploration of the South Bank on the incredible Borough Market. Just ensure you avoid wasting room after lunch to pattern among the tasty meals stalls and retailers. Borough Market is the oldest and largest meals market in London, with a give attention to high quality meals, sustainable manufacturing, and social interplay. Nearby, you possibly can see filming websites for each Harry Potter and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
There are additionally loads of different issues to do on the South Bank, however some are actually touristy (e.g. SEA Life Aquarium) and these offers you a extra genuine expertise. If you might have some further time, chances are you’ll wish to attempt to catch the sundown from the viewing gallery at The Shard, a skyscraper comprised of workplace area, residences, and eating places and bars. The viewing platform is on flooring 68, 69, and 72, nearly twice the peak of every other viewing platform in London, providing 360-degree views for as much as 40 miles.
Day Five – Museums and extra
There are many museums in London (and so many are free!) however one you can’t miss is the immense British Museum. There are eight million artifacts to see, so it’s best to discover the museum with a information. I ought to acknowledge that many of those artifacts have been taken from their native properties and that’s one thing to discover as you discuss to the children about colonialism (and rewatch the museum scene within the Black Panther.)
If you’re visiting London with youngsters, be sure that to discover a family-friendly information that may orient the excursions to seize the imaginations and spark the curiosity of children of all ages.
Set apart not less than half a day to discover the museum. Afterward, cease into Hamley’s, the world’s largest toy retailer, to thrill the children. Or, take pleasure in some ice cream sundaes on the Fortnum & Mason division retailer.
Today might also be a great day to schedule an afternoon tea. After all, that could be a must-do when in London and there are such a lot of choices which can be kid-friendly. There is the science-themed afternoon tea on the Ampersand Hotel, the Arcane Wizard’s afternoon tea on the Wands and Wizards Exploratorium, and the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea at One Aldwych, together with many others.
Day Six – Shopping and Special Interests
You received’t run out of issues to do with 1 week in London, however ensure you depart time for the stuff you actually take pleasure in. As main Harry Potter followers, we loved a day trip on the Warner Bros. Studio Making of Harry Potter tour. Between transportation and time on web site, this actually finally ends up taking almost an entire day out of your London itinerary.
Just be sure that when you plan on doing this that you just guide your tickets months upfront as a result of they promote out actually early!
We additionally spent a part of one in all our days taking a Harry Potter Black Cab driving tour to see all of the Harry Potter points of interest in London. See my publish about Harry Potter websites in London for my full assessment of each the Studio Tour (spoiler alert: completely a must-do for Harry Potter followers) and the Black Cab Tour (spoiler: just for true die-hards.)
If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan, I’ve to say I discovered that museum fairly disappointing. There are so many choices relying in your pursuits from a Beatles strolling tour, Dr. Who strolling tour, ghost excursions, a road artwork tour, and even a Paddington bear tour.
You might also wish to go to among the basic London shops like Harrod’s or Claridges. And take time to go to the theater. This may be a great day to go to another London points of interest like Churchill’s War Rooms, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Kew Gardens, or Nottinghill.
If you take pleasure in foods and drinks (who doesn’t?), chances are you’ll wish to have a look at a gin tasting tour or an night SoHo meals tour.
Day Seven – Day Trip
If you might have one week in London, you must have sufficient time to plan not less than someday journey. Popular day journeys embrace Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Oxford, or Bath. You can go to Oxford or Bath as a day journey by practice by yourself, or guide a guided Stonehenge and Bath day journey.
We needed to do one thing on our personal however didn’t wish to drive. So we took a customized day journey with British Tours to Stonehenge and Oxford. Our driver-guide Michael did a wonderful job explaining Stonehenge’s fascinating historical past and confirmed us all of the Harry Potter tie-ins at Oxford.
Stonehenge
Located about 1.5 hours from London, a Stonehenge day journey is likely one of the hottest for households. There is simply one thing about these mysterious prehistoric stones that fascinates youngsters and adults alike — particularly households like ours which have a particular curiosity in sci-fi and fantasy. After all, isn’t it enjoyable to think about that these stones have been positioned there by aliens? (But don’t fear, they weren’t.)If you’re visiting Stonehenge by yourself, it would be best to spend a while within the customer heart to know its historical past. You will park on the customer heart up the highway after which take a shuttle over to the stone circle. You can now not stroll proper up and contact the stones, as limitations have been erected to protect this historic web site.
Our driver-guide Michael from British Tours stuffed us in on the historical past of Stonehenge on the experience up from London. We don’t actually know the aim of the stones, since they’re 5100 years previous (constructed across the identical time because the pyramids) and pre-date written historical past.
We don’t know what’s particular in regards to the space, however we have now to imagine that the entire space was thought of sacred as there’s additionally one other mini Stonehenge close by. The smaller stones are 5,000 lbs. and so they got here from Wales 125 miles away. It is mind-boggling to contemplate how the traditional Druids crafted and moved these stones when the wheel hadn’t even been invented but and there was no steel but to make use of to form the stones. The bigger stones got here from solely 25 miles away however they’re tens of hundreds of kilos!
Oxford
Oxford is one other nice day journey choose for households. There is sufficient to see that you possibly can spend a weekend in Oxford. This college city is each quaint and wealthy in historical past. In hotter climate, households can take pleasure in taking a punting boat out on the river. But one of many most important attracts for us (and different households) is that it was the filming web site for a lot of scenes within the Harry Potter motion pictures. If you go to by yourself, you possibly can be part of a Harry Potter strolling tour. But since I informed British Tours that this was vital to us, our driver information Michael was in a position to focus a lot of our go to on seeing these websites.
Oxford was known as Oxenford (the place oxen crossed or forded the Thames to be delivered to market), nevertheless it grew to become a spot for examine after college students have been thrown out of the Sorbonne in France due to a warfare within the 1200s. They got here to Oxford to review and it grew till it was granted standing as a University. Today, the University of Oxford has 38 particular person schools.
There is a lot to see in Oxford you possibly can actually spend not less than a full day however our Oxford tour began off at New College, the place Michael identified the Cloisters, which have been used for a lot of hallway scenes within the Harry Potter motion pictures. You can even see the tree the place Draco Malfoy was became a ferret.
After lunch we visiting the Great Hall at Christchurch College, which was the place they filmed scenes for the eating corridor at Hogwarts. And the staircase was the place McGonagall greeted all the primary 12 months college students within the first film. Something about it simply makes you wish to placed on a gown, head into the library and begin finding out (magic or one thing else!)
Oxford is such an exquisite place to go to for these with a literary bent. Famous authors like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, Lewis Carroll and others have hung out in Oxford and it’s enjoyable to comply with of their footsteps.
Visiting each locations was a full day, departing at 8am and returning to our central London resort by 6pm. In the summer time, it could be mild longer and points of interest would keep open later. If that was the case, we’d have included a cease within the village of Lacock within the Cotswolds, one other Harry Potter filming web site.
So there you might have it, a London itinerary with 7 days jam-packed full (however not too full) of enjoyable!
Getting to and round London
Most airways from the USA will fly into London Heathrow (LHR) airport, though chances are you’ll discover some that go into London Gatwick (LGW.) If you’re searching for low cost flights to London, chances are you’ll wish to have a look at low cost airways like Play Airlines by Iceland, or use miles and factors on JetBlue or American Airlines (or different OneWorld Alliance Members.)
We truly discovered low cost flights (beneath $500 per individual simply earlier than Christmas) on Aer Lingus by Dublin. While it took a bit longer, it was value the fee financial savings and when you’ve got extra time, you possibly can at all times mix a visit to London with 3 days in Dublin.
If you fly into Heathrow, the quickest option to get to Central London is on the Heathrow Express practice. This high-frequency practice service offers a 15-minute journey from London Paddington Station to Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3, with an additional six minutes to Terminal 5. A free switch is out there to Terminal 4.
Alternatively, the typical value of a cab from Heathrow to central London is £90. If you wish to organize a personal switch as an alternative of ready in line for a cab, it’ll solely price a bit bit extra.
Once you arrive in London, it would be best to learn to use the Underground metro to get round. The “Tube” as it’s known as in London is simple to navigate. The Underground is split into 9 zones and all of central London is roofed by zone 1. There are 11 Tube traces in all, so that you simply must establish the road you wish to take, the endpoint of the path by which you’re touring, and the station you wish to get off at.
The Tube fare is dependent upon how far you journey, the time of day, and the way you pay. The Oyster card or contactless funds are the most cost effective option to pay for single fares. An grownup money fare on the London metro for a single journey in zone 1 is £5.50. The identical Tube fare with a Visitor Oyster card, Oyster card or contactless cost card is £2.40.
A Visitor Oyster Card is a smartcard that permits you to pay for journeys on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail, River Bus, and most National Rail companies in London. You put cash in your Visitor Oyster card and use it to pay as you go. You can buy the Visitor Oyster Card earlier than you journey and it is going to be delivered to your property and able to use if you arrive.
Where to Stay in London with Kids
Note: We acquired a media package deal on the Royal Garden Hotel and hosted keep on the Athenaeum, all opinions are my very own.
Royal Garden Hotel
The Royal Garden Hotel is situated simply outdoors of Kensington Gardens, nestled between Hyde Park and Millionaires Row on a sought-after piece of actual property on Kensington Road. With some rooms overlooking the park, the placement actually gives the most effective of each worlds.
It is handy to all main points of interest (Tower of London, London Eye, and many others.) with the Kensington High Street tube station only a five-minute stroll from the resort. Yet you even have the peaceable views of the park with quick access to enjoyable and play. It is a five-minute stroll to Kensington Palace and simply 10 minutes to the Princess Diana Memorial playground. The Royal Garden resort even gives loaner scooters to households that wish to spend time having fun with the park!
The Royal Garden Hotel décor has the texture of an upscale enterprise resort – clear and fashionable and not using a ton of persona. We stayed in an Executive Room and it was surprisingly spacious for the three of us. I didn’t have an opportunity to tour different rooms however the Executive Room with a king-sized mattress and full pullout couch mattress is loads of room for a household of 4 with two young children or a household of three with a teen.
The lavatory was additionally fairly massive with each a bathtub and stand-up bathe. Of course, it at all times makes me pleased when a resort gives a heated towel rack, robes, and slippers – particularly after I wish to heat up after a cold, moist day exploring London. Some of the opposite luxe perks that I appreciated have been the turndown service with complimentary bottled water, complimentary shoe shine, and no further cost for breakfast room service – this actually helped us get out the door on time within the mornings!
Since we stayed for 4 nights, we had time to take pleasure in all three of the Royal Garden Hotel’s eating places. The kid-friendly Park Terrace restaurant gives fairly views and a beneficiant breakfast buffet (so it pays to guide a package deal that features free breakfast), in addition to choices for lunch and tea. Bertie’s Bar gives mild bites, excellent for if you want just a bit snack after indulging at excessive tea. For a splurge, the Min Jiang restaurant on the tenth ground gives genuine Chinese delicacies with lovely views over Hyde Park.
Athenaeum Hotel & Residences
For the latter a part of our keep, we converted to the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, on Piccadilly within the Mayfair neighborhood. This is a superb location within the coronary heart of London, simply a few minutes’ stroll to the Green Park tube station. Buckingham Palace, Fortnum & Mason division retailer, Hamley’s toy retailer, and Trafalgar Square are all inside a five-to-ten-minute stroll.
The Athenaeum actually prides itself on making you are feeling at residence. Every time we walked in, it was “Welcome home Mrs. Gruber” and once we left “Have a good day Mrs. Gruber.” The deluxe rooms are a bit tight for a household of three when you deliver within the rollaway mattress, however the Athenaeum additionally gives household rooms and luxurious serviced flats with fully-equipped kitchenettes.
The design and decor are luxurious and trendy, whereas nonetheless feeling comfy and child-friendly. The foyer is small however a comfy spot to take pleasure in a cup of tea and watch the foot visitors alongside Piccadilly. It was particularly lovely all decked out in its Christmas finery.
Just off the foyer is 116 on the Athenaeum, that includes native produce from unbiased farmers throughout the United Kingdom for a contemporary tackle basic British dishes. We had dinner on the restaurant on our second night time and loved the braised venison shoulder, Dingley Dell bacon chop with bubble and squeak, and the parsnip and cider soup. For pickier eaters, there’s additionally a kids’s menu.
Upstairs, it was all about consolation. Our deluxe room was cozy and the lavatory was additionally a lot smaller than the family-sized lavatory on the Royal Garden, however the decor and touches have been all about fashionable luxurious. You couldn’t beat our views over Green Park and, for overlooking Piccadilly, the room was surprisingly quiet.
The Athenaeum additionally offers the facilities you’d count on from a luxurious resort — robes, slippers, turn-down service, a espresso maker, and a mini-fridge with free espresso, tea, milk, juice, and water. With such luxurious comforts, stand-out service, and a handy location, I might have beloved to remain even longer on the Athenaeum.
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