See London in three days 

Day one

What you will see: The most important political sights, the most important royal sights, three London parks

> Talk about days out in London

We will start all three days off in the centre of the city – once heading west, then north and finally east.

Trafalgar Square is home to Nelson’s Column and two huge galleries – the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery. We heartily recommend that you spend an hour whiling around the National. Opening times: Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sat–Thu), 10 AM to 9 PM (Fri); Tours: 11.30 AM, 2.30 PM (daily) and 7 PM (Fri) . Cost: Free. 

Head down Whitehall to Parliament Square. This will take you through the heart of British government. Some of the sites along the way include Banqueting House, the Cenotaph and Downing Street.

At the end of Whitehall you’ll find Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Once you have taken a reel of photos, walk across the square to Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey is London’s most prestigious religious building – the setting for coronations, state funerals, and the burial place of some of our greatest kings and queens. Opening times: 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri), 9.30 PM to 7 PM (Wed), 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Sat); Last admission 1 hour before closing time. Cost: Adults £16.00; Children £6.00 (11–16); Infants free (under-16); Family ticket £32.00. 

Now head northeast towards St. James’s Park, where you’ll come across the Cabinet War Rooms – home to Winston Churchill during World War II.

Skirt the southside of the lake until you come across the bridge in the middle. This will give you one of the most celebrated views of Buckingham Palace. As you walk towards the Queen’s residence keep an eye out for St. James’s Palace.

We then suggest you take a stroll up Constitution Hill to Wellington Arch. This commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s victories in the Napoleonic wars. His impressive mansion is just across road – Apsley House.

Walk east towards Knightsbridge until you get to the Brompton Road. This will lead you to the world’s most famous department store – Harrods. No trip would be complete without a browse through the aisles. Opening times: 10 AM to 8 PM (Mon–Sat), noon to 6 PM (Sun).  

If you carry on down the Brompton Road you’ll come across three world-class museums – the V&A  Opening times: 10 AM to 5.45 PM (Sat–Thu), 10 AM to 10 PM (Fri). Cost: Free. , the Natural History Museum  Opening times: 10 AM to 5.50 PM (daily); Last admission 5.30 PM. Cost: Free.  and the Science Museum  Opening times: 10 AM to 6 PM (daily); Last admission 5.30 PM. Cost: Free. .

A walk up Exhibition Road will take you past another famous landmark – Royal Albert Hall. Head north into the park and you’ll come across the Albert Memorial.

A short stroll through Kensington Gardens will take you to the Round Lake and Kensington Palace – a great place to end the day. Opening times: 10 AM to 6 PM (daily); Last admission 5 PM. Cost: Adults £12.50; Children £6.25 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £34.00. 

Day two

What you will see: The best of central London – Soho, Mayfair, Marylebone, Bloomsbury and Covent Garden

Starting off in Trafalgar Square again, this time we will head north to Leicester Square and London’s West End district.

Keep going past the square until you get to Gerrard Street and Chinatown, then head east down Shaftesury Avenue. This will bring you out to Piccadilly Circus – a favourite photospot for tourists.

A stroll down Piccadilly will take you past the Royal Academy of Arts and some famous names for shopping – Burlington Arcade and Fortnum & Mason.

When you get to the edge of Green Park head north into Mayfair. This is home to the US Embassy at Grosvenor Square. Keep heading northeast towards Speaker’s Corner.

Marble Arch is not as impressive as it sounds, so head west down Oxford Street for a spot of shopping. Keep going past the department stores until you come out at Tottenham Court Road. We will now head north to Bloomsbury.

Bloomsbury is famous for the British Museum. You could easily spend a whole day exploring its six million exhibits from ancient Egypt, Greece, Italy, Africa and the Orient. Opening times: Galleries: 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Sat to Wed), 10 AM to 8:30 (Thu, Fri); Last admission 10 minutes before closing time. Cost: Free. 

From there, head south down Drury Lane towards Covent Garden. The piazza is home to a host of street entertainers and great attractions too, like the Royal Opera House and London Transport Museum.

Cross over the Strand until you get to the river, then head east along Victoria Embankment. This will take you past the oldest monument in London – Cleopatra’s Needle.

When you get to Northumberland Avenue, head west, and this will take you back to Trafalgar Square again.

Day three

What you will see: The ancient heart of the city, the financial district, the theatres and galleries on Southbank

Starting off in Trafalgar Square again, this time we will head east up the Strand towards the Square Mile.

Some of the sights along the way include Somerset House and St. Clement Danes. When you get to the Royal Courts of Justice keep an eye out for Temple Bar – the old entrance to the city.

Look out for the way in to Temple Church on the right. This is one of London’s most historic sights and well worth a visit – home to the Knights Templar. Cost: Adults £3.00. 

Keep on walking up Fleet Street and Ludgate Hill until you get to St. Paul’s Cathedral. No trip would be complete without looking around Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. Opening times: 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon–Sat); Last admission 4 PM; Galleries open from 9.30 AM; Last admission to the galleries 4.15 PM. Cost: Adults £15.00; Children £6.00 (6–17); Infants free (5 and under); Family ticket £36.00. 

A walk up Cheapside will take you into the heart of the financial district. Some of the sights include the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and Lord Mayor’s home – Mansion House

Head south down King William Street until you get to the Monument, and then walk down Eastcheap. If you look to the right then you can smake out Pudding Lane – where the Great Fire of London began in 1666. Keep heading eastwards.

The Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th-century and is now one of London’s two World Heritage Sites. If you have the time, then we thoroughly recommend a visit. Opening times: 9 AM to 5.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Mar–Oct), 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Mar–Oct), 9 AM to 4.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Nov–Feb), 10 AM to 4.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Nov–Feb); Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Cost: Adults £19.80; Children £10.45 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £55.00. 

Cross the river on one of London’s best-loved landmarks, Tower Bridge, and then head back down the other bank. Along the way you’ll see City Hall, HMS Belfast and Southwark Cathedral.

Before long you’ll reach the celebrated Globe Theatre and Tate Modern art gallery. We thoroughly recommend a look around the Tate, as the views from the roof are worth admission alone. Opening times: Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sun–Thu), 10 AM to 10 PM (Fri, Sat); Last admission 45 minutes before closing time; Tours: 11 AM, noon, 2 PM, 3 PM (daily). Cost: Free. 

Keep walking down the river until you get to the Southbank Centre (now called BFI Southbank). This is home to the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall.

The tour ends a little further down the river at the world-famous London Eye. This is the largest observation wheel in the world and takes about 30 minutes to revolve. It is well worth the wait if the queues aren’t too heavy. Opening times: 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Jan–Mar), 10 AM to 9 PM (Apr–Jun), 10 AM to 9.30 PM (Jul–Aug), 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Sep–Dec). Cost: Adults £18.60; Children £9.54 (4–15); Infants free (under-4); Family ticket £56.28.