Days Out Now · Your first London trip
First Time in London: What to See, Trip Costs & Where to Stay
See London. Leave time to enjoy it.
Tower Bridge in your camera roll, a proper lunch, a museum you actually want to visit and a hotel that makes getting around easier. A good London trip needs room for all four.
Decide how many days you have, choose the sights that matter to you, work out your budget and find a useful place to stay. The accommodation map below lets you compare your dates once you have chosen an area.
Four decisions, made simpler
Planning your first trip to London
Start with Westminster, Tower Bridge and the Thames, then add one museum or paid attraction you care about. You do not need to enter every landmark.
Our recommendation: three full sightseeing days for a focused introduction, or five for more breaks and a separate walking day. International travel days are extra.
Price your room first, then add meals, transport and selected tickets. Below is a clearly labelled worked example, so you can see the whole calculation.
Compare Waterloo/South Bank, Bloomsbury, the West End and King’s Cross against your arrival point and plans. The right connection matters more than a hotel’s postcode alone.
How many days do you need in London?
Choose three full sightseeing days for a focused first visit, or five if you want more time between outings. Five gives you more freedom to linger, recover from a long journey and spend a day beyond the busiest central streets.
The essentials
Day 1: Westminster, St James’s Park and one afternoon choice.
Day 2: the riverside plan, with lunch and photographs.
Leave out the canal day. If departure is early, shorten the river walk.
A fuller introduction
Days 1–2: the same plan, with proper breaks.
Day 3: choose the British Museum or the Little Venice walk.
Choose one main outing each day. Keep arrival and departure time separate.
Room to linger
Days 1–2: Westminster and the riverside.
Day 3: your museum choice. Day 4: a canal walk. Day 5: shopping, another interest or a deliberately light day.
Use the extra time for a gentler pace, not five packed schedules.
A plan with breathing space
What should you visit on your first London trip?
Day 1: Westminster, a park and your choice of afternoon
Begin at Parliament Square for Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. See Westminster Abbey from outside, or make a booked visit your main morning activity. Continue through St James’s Park towards Buckingham Palace for an exterior view.
Pause for lunch for at least an hour. Afterwards, choose either Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, or Covent Garden. There is no need to fit a full gallery visit, shopping and a West End show into the same afternoon.
The National Gallery’s general admission is free; selected exhibitions charge. Book a free ticket ahead if you want priority entry. If you have an evening show booked, allow time to return to your hotel or eat near the theatre.
Day 2: Tower Bridge to Westminster, with lunch and photo stops
This is the day for riverside photographs. Start on the south side of Tower Bridge at Potters Fields Park and work west towards Westminster. London Bridge station is a practical arrival option; use your map for the walk to the start.
Allow roughly five to six hours including stops, rather than treating this as a brisk walk. That allowance includes lunch, a drink break and time for photographs. Crowds, diversions and your pace can change the day.
A stop-order diagram, not a navigation map. Use current pedestrian directions and signs between stops.
- 10.30 · Tower Bridge photographs
Give yourselves about 30 minutes around Potters Fields and the riverside. Then head west towards London Bridge. You are photographing the bridge from outside; its paid high-level walkways are a different visit.
- 11.45–13.00 · Borough Market and lunch
Leave the riverside for Borough Market, beside London Bridge station. Allow time to choose food, queue and actually eat. If you need a guaranteed seated meal, book a nearby restaurant rather than relying on finding a market seat.
- 13.00–14.15 · Bankside and the St Paul’s view
Return towards the river and continue past the Globe towards Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge. Stop for photographs looking across towards St Paul’s. You can stay on the south bank; crossing the bridge is optional.
- 14.15–15.00 · Coffee, toilets and a proper rest
Continue west to the Southbank Centre. The Ballroom Cafe is inside the Royal Festival Hall. Check opening arrangements before your visit; the centre also permits your own food and soft drinks in its public foyer spaces.
- 15.00–16.00 · London Eye and Westminster
Continue past the London Eye towards Westminster Bridge. Take your photographs, then finish. A ride on the Eye or a long attraction visit would need extra time and a booking where appropriate.
Monday adjustment: Borough Market is normally closed on Mondays. Its usual hours are Tuesday–Friday 10am–5pm, Saturday 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–4pm; holiday arrangements vary. Choose a restaurant lunch on Monday and check the market’s current opening details. The market has accessible toilets during trading hours, but busy passages and uneven surfaces can make movement slower.
Shorter version: finish around Bankside and use a current journey planner for your return. You do not have to reach Westminster for this to have been a good day.
Day 3: one museum, or London beside the canals
For a museum day, choose the British Museum and a few galleries that interest you. The permanent collection is free; book a free entry slot, and check paid exhibitions separately. Large luggage and wheeled cases are not allowed, so arrange storage if this is departure day.
For an outdoor alternative, choose one of our London walks below. Make it your main outing, with time for lunch, rather than adding it after the museum.
Bring home the moments
Where can you take memorable London photographs?
These outdoor viewpoints fit the days above. They need no attraction ticket, although access can be affected by events or works. The suggestions are for casual handheld photographs; professional shoots and equipment can have separate rules.
Tower Bridge from Potters Fields
Photograph the bridge from the south-bank riverside. Leave some river in the frame and take a second photograph with your companion off-centre. You do not need a special lens to make the bridge recognisable.
Fits day 2 · allow 20–30 minutes
St Paul’s from Millennium Bridge’s south approach
Look towards the dome with the bridge drawing your eye into the photograph. Take a wide view, then a closer composition. Step aside between shots so the crossing stays clear.
Fits day 2 · allow 10–15 minutes
The London Eye from the South Bank
Try a wider view that includes people and the river, rather than standing immediately underneath the wheel. It gives the picture a sense of the day as well as the landmark.
Fits day 2 · allow 10–15 minutes
Big Ben from Westminster Bridge
Use the pedestrian pavement and keep clear of the road and cycle space. If it is crowded, take the view first and save a portrait for a less congested spot. Never step backwards towards traffic for a photograph.
Fits day 1 or 2 · allow 10–15 minutes
How much does a London trip cost?
There is no honest single price without dates, room requirements and a departure point. Start with an actual accommodation quote, then add the costs below. Flights, airport transfers and entry paperwork belong in the budget too, but vary by traveller.
A worked example for two adults
This example assumes three nights and three sightseeing days, two adults sharing one room, no hotel breakfast included, and one paid attraction each. The room, food and attraction figures are chosen planning inputs, not current quotes or claims about average prices. Replace them with your own findings.
| Item | Assumption | For two |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | £150 per room × 3 nights | £450 |
| Food and drinks | £35 per person × 3 days | £210 |
| Local travel | £8.90 × 2 adults × 3 days | £53.40 |
| One paid attraction | £40 allowance per person | £80 |
Illustrative total for two
£793.40£396.70 per person sharing · before the exclusions below
Local travel uses the adult Zones 1–2 daily pay-as-you-go cap currently shown by TfL Visitor Shop, checked 29 September 2026. It assumes eligible travel in those zones using the same payment card or device. Fewer journeys can cost less. Airport trips, other zones and services outside the cap need separate checks.
Not included: travel to the UK, airport transfers, visa/ETA costs where applicable, insurance, shopping, theatre tickets, extra meals on travel days or optional upgrades. Keep a separate allowance for unexpected costs.
For a five- or seven-day trip, multiply food and daily travel by the days you will use them, and accommodation by the nights you will actually book. Do not multiply the whole three-day total: a one-off attraction does not automatically repeat each day.
If you are budgeting in rupees, Singapore dollars, yen or another currency: convert the final GBP total using your payment provider’s current rate and fees. A fixed conversion in an article can become misleading quickly.
Find accommodation prices for your dates →
Spend on the things you will remember
Keep the free exterior sights, choose one paid visit you genuinely want, and compare the full cost of a sightseeing pass against your actual plan. Factor in food, luggage storage and the extra journeys from a cheaper room further out. A low nightly headline price is only part of the decision.
Where should you stay in London for a first visit?
For the riverside day in this guide, start by comparing Waterloo and the South Bank. Then compare a hotel near your arrival station. Staying somewhere that simplifies your journeys can matter more than squeezing a few pounds off the room.
| Area to compare | Why consider it? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo / South Bank | Access to the river, London Eye and Westminster part of the plan. | Actual walking distance, room price and any noise mentioned in recent reviews. |
| Bloomsbury | A useful starting point for a museum-led visit. | Nearest suitable station and the journey from your airport or arrival station. |
| Covent Garden / West End | Convenient to investigate for theatre, dining and evening plans. | Street noise, room size and whether you are paying for a location you will use. |
| King’s Cross / St Pancras | Worth comparing for arrivals here and a separate canal-walking day. | The exact address, station exit and luggage-friendly route to the hotel. |
These are areas to investigate, not blanket hotel endorsements. Confirm the room fits your whole party, check lift access if needed and compare cancellation terms. A “double room” does not automatically mean two separate beds.
Hotel, hostel or apartment?
Hotel
A straightforward option when you want a private room and on-site help. Check whether breakfast, luggage storage and the bed arrangement you need are included.
Hostel
Compare a dorm bed with a private room carefully. Check bathroom arrangements, age rules, lockers and whether you are comfortable sharing a sleeping space.
Apartment or aparthotel
Worth comparing when cooking facilities or extra space matter. Check the full total, cleaning charges, check-in process and exactly which facilities are private.
Find your London stay
Use the Stay22 map below to compare accommodation. Enter your dates and the number of guests, explore your preferred area, then open a suitable property to check its rooms and final booking terms.
- Choose the area: compare its location with the days you have planned.
- Set dates and guests: compare the total for your whole stay, not just a nightly headline.
- Check before booking: room occupancy, bed type, cancellation, extra charges and recent reviews.
Affiliate disclosure: eligible bookings through our accommodation and activity partners may earn Days Out Now a commission at no extra cost to you. Check the provider’s final price and terms before booking.
Change the dates and guest numbers before comparing. The cheapest result may have different room arrangements or cancellation conditions.
Want to add one booked experience?
Choose an activity that replaces part of a day, rather than filling every gap. Check duration, meeting point, language, accessibility and cancellation terms before paying.
Practical tips for tourists visiting London
Arrival, transport and travel documents
- Keep your first morning realistic. Jet lag, breakfast, luggage and unfamiliar transport all take time. Start later if you need to.
- Use one payment method consistently on transport. Touch in and out on rail with the same card or device. On buses, touch in only. A phone and its linked physical bank card are not interchangeable for a journey. Check TfL’s current payment guidance and arrangements for children separately.
- Plan the airport journey separately. London’s airports have different connections. Compare the whole route to your accommodation, including changes and luggage, rather than choosing by the advertised train time alone.
- Check entry requirements for your own circumstances. Use the official UK ETA checker and linked visa guidance. Do not assume another visitor’s nationality or permission applies to you.
Food, comfort, photographs and accessibility
- Save addresses and tickets offline. Keep your accommodation address, booking confirmations and return travel details accessible if mobile data fails. A charged power bank is useful on a photo-heavy day.
- Check food needs before ordering. Confirm allergies or dietary requirements directly with the business. For a guaranteed seated lunch, reserve a table; a food market is not a seating reservation.
- Read the bill. Check whether a service charge is already included before adding a tip. Review the total and currency before confirming a card payment.
- Build in toilets and rest. Borough Market facilities depend on trading hours. Royal Festival Hall offers accessible toilets and indoor public spaces during opening; check current access information.
- Protect your belongings while taking photos. Keep bags closed and your phone secure. Stop somewhere out of the pedestrian flow before checking directions.
- Do not assume the whole walk is step-free. This suggested itinerary has not been audited as an accessible route. Check station lifts and individual venues; cobbles, crowds and temporary diversions may affect your day.
A few final planning questions
Can you enjoy London without paying for attractions?
Yes. The outdoor landmark viewpoints in this guide need no admission ticket, and the National Gallery and British Museum have free general collections. Transport, meals and some exhibitions still cost money. Book free museum slots where recommended.
What should we do if it rains?
Move your museum day to the wettest forecast and check entry availability. Keep the riverside outing shorter or use it another day. Wet weather is a reason to change the plan, not push through every stop.
Is this suitable for children?
Use shorter sections and one main attraction rather than the full adult schedule. Plan meals and toilets around your family. Check age restrictions, family tickets and access with individual venues.
Can we see everything in three days?
No. Three days is enough for a satisfying introduction. Decide what matters to you and leave the rest for another visit; London will still be here.
Keep planning your London trip
Use our London holidays and weekend breaks guide for the wider choice of walks and stays. For a longer holiday, our first-time UK travel guide helps connect London with other places. The London to the Cotswolds road trip is a separate countryside extension, with its own travel time.
Planning information checked 29 September 2026. This is an independently assembled planning guide, not a report of a personally completed walk. Suggested stop times are flexible allowances. Check opening, entry and transport details for your date.
Useful official checks: Borough Market · Southbank Centre cafés · National Gallery · British Museum · TfL.
