What your quote can include
- Round-trip flightsFrom your home airport in the US
- 3 nights of lodgingCovent Garden or Westminster
- Airport transfersArranged to match your flight times
- Tours & reservationsFor the activities in this plan
- Your day-by-day planPlus a book-ahead checklist
Pick only what you need. Each part is quoted with current prices before anything is booked.
Trip overview
London's essentials grouped by area, with free museums and a West End show. When to go: May through September brings the longest days and warmest weather. For seasonal details, see our best time to visit London guide.
- Suggested base
- Covent Garden or Westminster
- Fly into
- Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW)
- Trip style
- City & culture
Day-by-day itinerary
A sample plan. We adjust the days, pace and activities to fit your trip.
Westminster and the South Bank
Abbey, Big Ben and a show.
- Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. See the coronation church and the Houses of Parliament with Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben). Book Abbey tickets ahead; it's closed to sightseers on Sundays.
- London Eye. A slow rotation for views across the city. Sunset slots are popular.
- West End show. Musicals and plays in historic theaters. Check official box offices and the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for same-day deals.
Tower and the City
Crown Jewels, market lunch and a historic pub.
- Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The Crown Jewels, Beefeater tours and 1,000 years of history, next to Tower Bridge's high-level walkways.
- Borough Market food stroll. One of London's oldest food markets, full of street food, cheese, baked goods and produce.
- Historic pub evening. Fish and chips or a Sunday roast in a centuries-old pub in the City or Covent Garden.
Museums
Free world-class collections.
- British Museum. The Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies. Free entry; booking a time slot is recommended.
- Natural History Museum and V&A. Two free museums side by side in South Kensington: dinosaurs and the blue whale, and the world's leading museum of art and design.
Palace and parks
Changing of the Guard and Tate Modern.
- Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard. Watch the ceremony (check the official schedule; it doesn't run every day) and walk through St. James's Park. The State Rooms open in summer.
- South Bank walk and Tate Modern. Riverside walk from the London Eye past Shakespeare's Globe to Tate Modern (free) and Borough Market.
Choose your comfort level
The same itinerary works at different budgets. Pick the level that fits, and we'll quote it for your dates.
Essential
- A comfortable, well-reviewed 3-star hotel
- Economy flights at sensible times
- Shared airport transfers
- The plan's must-do tours, the rest at your own pace
Area to consider: Bloomsbury & King's Cross
Choose EssentialSignature
- A 4-star hotel in a well-located area
- Economy or premium economy, best-timed flights
- Private airport transfers
- Guided tours and reservations for the key days
Area to consider: Westminster & South Bank
Choose SignatureLuxury
- A 5-star hotel, with room upgrades where available
- Premium cabins where available
- Private transfers and guides
- Spa, dining and special-occasion reservations
Area to consider: Westminster & South Bank
Choose LuxuryPrices depend on your dates, departure city and hotel, so we quote each comfort level on request. You can mix and match, for example a Signature hotel with Essential transfers.
Where to stay
Westminster & South Bank
Walk to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and riverside theaters.
Covent Garden & the West End
The theater district, restaurants and shopping, with lively evenings.
Book these ahead
These parts of the trip need reservations or timed tickets that can sell out:
- Westminster Abbey and Big Ben
Pricing and policies, up front
Your quote shows the total trip price, per person and for your group, with taxes and the mandatory fees we can see included. Anything paid separately, such as some resort fees collected at check-in, local tourist taxes or checked bags on some fares, is listed clearly.
Many hotels, resorts, cruise lines and tour operators offer a deposit with the balance due before departure. Options vary by supplier, and we confirm them before you book.
Policies depend on the supplier and fare. We tell you the exact cancellation deadlines and any fees in writing before you commit.
Fares and rates change until they're booked. Some suppliers let us hold a rate briefly and many airfares can't be held, so we'll tell you what's possible for your trip.
You pay the travel provider directly, and RoamPlanned never takes payment for travel. How booking works.
Similar trips
Prefer a different pace? Try the 5-Day London Family Itinerary with Greenwich & Windsor, read the full London travel guide, or build your own London plan.
