The Perfect 3-Day London Getaway Plan

Explore London's best sights with our 3-day itinerary.

Published: April 10, 2025
The Perfect 3-Day London Getaway Plan

In just three days, you can explore both iconic landmarks and hidden gems in London. We’re here to make your planning effortless. From historic abbeys to mesmerizing views, this itinerary ensures you won’t miss a beat. Let’s dive into London’s heart and soul with a journey packed with adventure, culture, and the city’s best bites. 

Day 1 

Start with the Big Bus Tour 

Hop on the Big Bus Tour for an unbeatable introduction to the city, thanks to your guide's fascinating anecdotes. Choose from multiple routes and hop off at landmarks that pique your interest. It’s the perfect way to breeze through must-sees like Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. 

Westminster Abbey Exploration 

Hop off at Westminster Abbey, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture teeming with history. As you explore, immerse yourself in stories of royal coronations and notable burials. The intricate details and magnificent stained glass are ripe for some social snaps. 

Lunch at Borough Market 

Feeling peckish? Head to Borough Market, just a quick ride on the Jubilee Line from Westminster to London Bridge. With stalls offering global cuisines, it’s a foodie paradise. Try a classic fish and chips or an artisanal pie—pair it with a fresh-pressed juice for that perfect lunch combo. 

The Tower of London 

After lunch, take the Tube to Tower Hill. The Tower of London invites you inside its ancient walls to uncover tales of intrigue and power. Marvel at the Crown Jewels and walk through the White Tower—each corner tells a compelling story of Britain’s history. 

Elevated Views at The London Eye

Elevated Views at The London Eye

Cap off your day with a ride on The London Eye, accessible by the Jubilee Line to Waterloo. As it lifts you high above the city, soak in sweeping vistas of the River Thames and beyond. Snap photos as the city lights begin to twinkle, casting a magical glow over London town. 

Dinner at Skylon 

End your evening at Skylon, located on the Southbank. With floor-to-ceiling windows, marvel at the views while savouring dishes like roasted lamb or fresh seafood. Wind down with a cocktail, and you're nearly ready for bed. 

Day 2 

Morning on the Thames with Uber Boat 

Kickstart your day with a scenic ride on the Uber Boat by Thames Clipper. Glide down the river, enjoying the cityscape from a whole new angle. Disembark at Greenwich Pier ready for a day filled with discoveries. 

Into the Stars at the Royal Observatory Greenwich 

Step into the Royal Observatory, home to the Prime Meridian Line. Discover the wonders of space and time, and enjoy stunning views over Greenwich Park. The planetarium show offers a cosmic journey you won’t soon forget. 

Lunch at Greenwich Market 

Satisfy your hunger at Greenwich Market, a short stroll away. Dive into a smorgasbord of flavours—find gourmet burgers, exotic kebabs, and vegan delights. Don’t miss the freshly baked pastries for a sweet treat. 

Sail Through History on the Cutty Sark 

Sail Through History on the Cutty Sark 

Next, visit the Cutty Sark, the world’s sole-surviving tea clipper. Experience life aboard this 19th-century ship, walk on deck, and delve into interactive exhibits. Feel the salty breeze as you look out to the Thames from her mighty decks. 

Dinner at The Gun 

After your nautical adventure, settle in for dinner at The Gun, an elegant riverside pub. Known for its cozy fireplaces and phenomenal views, it’s perfect for relishing British classics like steak and ale pie or a hearty Sunday roast. 

Day 3 

Meet the Stars at Madame Tussauds 

Your final day begins at Madame Tussauds, just a Bakerloo Line ride to Baker Street. Rub shoulders with lifelike figures of global celebrities and historical icons. The interactive experiences, like the Star Wars exhibit, add a playful touch. 

Lunch at Camden Market 

Head to Camden Market next, teeming with eclectic stalls and vibrant street food. Relish a handmade bagel or vegan taco, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Take time to browse unique crafts and vintage treasures. 

Wild Encounters at London Zoo 

Wild Encounters at London Zoo 

Just a short walk from Camden, London Zoo awaits with its splendid array of creatures. Explore Penguin Beach, Tiger Territory, and the Gorilla Kingdom. The Rainforest Life exhibit brings you face-to-face with fascinating tropical species. 

Regal Afternoon at Kensington Palace 

Conclude your journey at Kensington Palace, a Tube ride to High Street Kensington. Wander through opulent chambers and the stunning Sunken Garden. The palace offers a glimpse into royal life, with exhibits detailing the fascinating history of its residents. 

Dinner at Dishoom 

End your London escapade at Dishoom in South Kensington. This bustling Bombay-style cafe offers a warm ambiance and dishes that burst with flavour. Try the signature black dal or chicken ruby, and enjoy the experience of one last culinary delight in this enchanting city. 

With a blend of history, culture, and culinary delights, this 3-day itinerary ensures you make the most of your London visit. Enjoy every moment of your adventure, knowing this extraordinary city has so much more to offer whenever you return. 

 

For more, check out the city’s best immersive experiences, and stretch your legs around London’s top parks. 

Step up your sightseeing with The London Pass®.   

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems, and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  

See more, do more, and experience more with The London Pass® - just choose a pass to get started! 

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Famous London Film Locations: A Movie-Lover's Guide

Lights, camera, action! Trace your way around the capital with these famous London film locations. London is an iconic city for its architecture, culture and general ‘vibe’. What’s more though is that the capital has been immortalised on screen throughout the years and portrayed in many different lights from the mystical and magical, to the nail-biting and thrilling. The city itself has a variety of personas to be discovered on a film tour of London. Let’s take a look at the changing landscapes of London and the iconic scenes from some of our best loved films that have captured London at its best. James Bond James Bond: the world's favourite action hero and Mi6 spy. Okay, we'll give you this as perhaps a bit of an obvious connection London. With offices based on the banks of the Thames, his HQ is frequently featured in the popular series Fleming created so many decades ago. A memorable moment was Pierce Brosnan’s speedboat chase along the Thames in The World is Not Enough. Later, in Skyfall, Daniel Craig symbolically stands on a rooftop in central London with some of the most iconic sights on the horizon, including Big Ben and the tops of the houses of Parliament, with bronze topped domes of local churches in the foreground. Spot some of London's iconic "Bond spots" with a trip down the Thames on a Hop On Hop Off Thames River Cruise - you'll even spot the famous MI6 and MI5 buildings on the rivers-edge to leave you shaken and a bit stirred... with awe. Notting Hill Probably one of the best pop-culture films of the 1990s, Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, takes you on a tour of London like a local, as lived by a group of thirty-somethings. Grant’s iconic tiny house with the blue door can be found at 280 Westbourne Park Road. Although be warned, you ardent 'grammers, the owners of this house have since painted and changed the façade. His travel bookshop lives at 13-15 Blenheim Crescent. It’s even been renamed Notting Hill Bookshop in homage to the film. While you're wandering around the area, why not check out some of our neighbourhood hot spots courtesy of our Notting Hill area guide. Bridget Jones This much-loved protagonist will always have a soft spot in hearts all of the world, even those who found her antics a bit on the ridiculous side. With an objectively hilarious life and full of love dramas, she was the lovable character of Helen Fielding’s creation. Her quirky flat moved South of the river for the film, from its original location in Holland Park in the books. For those with a keen eye who’ve visited Borough Market, you’ll recognise her black front door beside The Globe pub on Bedale Street. That's a DARN good beady eye for London film locations, well spotted! And those of us with colossally powerful memories might even remember the scene where Darcy and Daniel have their bare-fisted battle and smash through the Greek restaurant. Well, that's now a wine merchant called Bedales, just around the corner in the popular marketplace. Only steps away from this iconic market area, you'll see The Shard soaring into the air, casting a pointy shadow over Bridget's flat. Harry Potter Do you like magic? Do you like train stations that are missing a quarter? Then you'll love Harry Potter and his magical world, based in London. Fans of the books might recognise some architecture featured heavily in the film. The Ministry of Magic was filmed outside Scotland Yard and the street shots (you’ll remember from Diagon Alley) combined Borough Market and Leadenhall Market. Even though they’re not even remotely nearby... And who can forget platform 9 3⁄4 in Kings Cross. The station represents the portal into the magic world to catch the Hogwarts Express train, which is signposted in the actual Kings Cross station. You can even go and get your photo taken there. There's a number of wizarding places scattered across London, from dedicated Harry Potter fan stores to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour where the magic happens to the shaky bridge Voldemort destroys in the last film. Check out our master Harry Potter guide to London - and don't forget to bring a Potterhead or two. Paddington Bear Now a Hollywood Blockbuster, Paddington Bear is one of London’s most famous mascots. This fictional character has been around since 1958 when Michael Bond’s series of books plucked him from the depths of the Peruvian jungle. And placed him into the home of the Browns. Those travelling in and out of Paddington station will be able to purchase a small bear as a memorabilia at this iconic London film location. Make sure you don't feed it marmalade sandwiches unless you like your stuffed bears fossilised, though. Les Miserables (2013) As the film reaches its revolutionary peak, the cast of Les Miserables takes to the barricades. This, shockingly, wasn't set in Paris but in Greenwich nearby the Old Naval College. According to The Telegraph, the set designers spent a month scouring the city for period furniture before knitting it altogether to form the impressive wall at which Enjolras and the revolutionaries make their impressive last stand. The buildings surrounding the college also played a part in the film. It's all down to Greenwich's quaint charm, so pat yourself on the back Greenwich. While it's not entirely relevant to Les Miserables, a stroll through the park and a visit to the Royal Observatory is always a great shout, with its breathtaking view over the Thames river. Hugh Jackman would absolutely approve. Elsewhere in this lovely corner of London, where the narrow and windy streets seem to resemble and English fishing village, you'll find the 19th century ship Cutty Sark and the fantastic National Maritime Museum that overlooks the Thames. Wimbledon Fun fact, the film Wimbledon was actually shot at The Queen's Club, out in South Kensington. This grand club actually hosts an impressive tennis tournament of their own called The Queen's Club Championships. Despite its pretty unambitious name is one of the big qualifiers leading up to Wimbledon. However if you're looking to really get into the technical nitty gritty behind the Kirsten Dunst romcom, it's worth jumping over to Wimbledon itself where you can tour the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum. Want to get a truly behind-the-scenes look at some of the top London film locations? Join a Brit Movie Tour, included with your London Pass. Pick up a London Pass® and set foot exploring your favourite movie locations in our awesome city. You'll make great savings vs. paying at the gate on the best London attractions around!
Suz Pathmanathan
Paddington Unpacked: Discover London's Charming Hideaway
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Paddington Unpacked: Discover London's Charming Hideaway

From historic sites to culinary gems, explore the best of Paddington today.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour
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Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour: FAQs

So, what is Shakespeare’s Globe? Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the 1599 Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse where many of William Shakespeare’s plays had their debuts. And now you can find out all about it on the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour. Is it the original? No, that was demolished in 1644. This reconstruction stands just 230m from the original site. It is designed to be as faithful to the original as possible and is based on lots of academic research into the features, size, materials and shape of the original. Is it simply an attraction, then? No. Shakespeare’s Globe, like the original, is a working theatre. It is open-air, with an authentic thrust stage that leans out into the audience. The building provides cover for three tiers of seating, but most audience members stand, entirely unprotected from the elements. As such, the theatre puts on performances during the summer only.  There’s a self-guided exhibition area too, which you’re free to take a look at afterwards, or beforehand whilst you wait for your allocated tour time slot. Do the tours run year-round? They are indeed. So whenever you’re looking to come to London, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to see the building from the inside and dip your toe into a little London and Shakespeare history. Tours finish at midday during the performance season, which runs from April to October. But no tour is called off due to inclement weather. Because of the open-air nature of the yard, bring appropriate clothing if you think it’s going to rain. What does the tour include? Visitors are taken into the theatre to see the thrust stage and the covered seating of the ‘Wooden O’. You’ll discover how plays were performed in Shakespeare’s time, and how the modern theatre tries to carry on the theatrical legacy of the Elizabethan stage. It’s particularly enlightening to consider the practical problems and considerations that affected the way Shakespeare developed his most famous works. You’ll be guided through the history of the original building and its modern reconstruction, getting introduced to fascinating real-life characters who made the theatre what it was then, and what it is now. Can I stand on the stage? Unfortunately not. It’s for safety reasons though, so fair enough. If you come as part of an educational group, you might be able to during one of the workshops. But for ordinary entry, nope. You do get incredibly close to it though. Just one tiny step and a giant leap from stardom.  Do I get to go backstage then? There isn’t really much to see backstage at Shakespeare’s Globe. So, no. Does it last as long as the Bard's longest play, Hamlet? Blessedly, no. The tour lasts around 40 minutes. Can I book in advance? You can book advance tickets online. If you’re turning up on the day, get there early or else tickets may sell out. The quietest tour is the first one of the day, which runs at 9.30am. I’m bringing my whole crew with me. Can we just turn up? First up, congratulations on having so many friends.  But no, you can’t just turn up if you’re bringing a large number of people. You’ll need to book in advance. What are the opening times? Tours run every 30 minutes from 9.30am until 5pm year-round, apart from April to October when performances are on. During this time, tours end at midday. It’s also during the performance period (when the weather’s nicer, really) that tours get busier. It’s best to turn up as early as you can during the summer months so that tickets don’t sell out on you. Are tours in any languages other than English? No, all tours are conducted in the language of Shakespeare. Although the dialogue is usually not so flowery or hard to follow. However, there are free information sheets available on the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour. They come in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Greek and Hungarian. Is the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour fully accessible? Yes, it is. Ask at the ticket office for more details if visiting with someone with hearing or sight difficulties. How do I get to Shakespeare’s Globe? Shakespeare’s Globe is positioned on the Southbank, right by the River Thames. It’s in an enviable position, right in the heart of London, just as the original 1599 Globe Theatre was. This means that it is easy to get to from a number of London locations. Take an easy stroll along the Thames from a nearby attraction. It’s a lovely way to arrive at this centre of theatrical history. You’ll also find it easily accessible by a number of cycle routes. The closest tube stations are Blackfriars and Mansion House, which are both a 10-minute walk away. MBNA Thames Clipper services drop you off at Bankside Pier, which is right by the theatre. There’s some limited parking for blue badge holders on New Globe Walk. If you’re on the train, Blackfriars Station is 10 minutes walk away, while London Bridge is 15. And for all your bussers out there, you can get the 45, 63 or 100 to Blackfriars, the 15 and 17 to Cannon Street; and the 11, 15, 17, 23, 26 and 76 to Mansion House. How much does it cost to go on the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour? Entry to the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour costs from £17 for standard tickets. Children get in for £10, and Seniors (60 years and over) for £15.50. Bring your ID if you’re a student, and you can get in for £13.50. Family tickets are £46. But as you know, entry is included with your London Pass.  Experience everything London has to offer with The London Pass® Planning your London trip? With The London Pass®, you can explore big-name landmarks, local hotspots and epic tours, all on one pass, all for one price. Not only that, but you'll enjoy savings of up to 50%, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. ✈️ Buy The London Pass® ✈️
Matthew Pearson

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