{"id":5480,"date":"2016-07-29T04:46:06","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T11:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=5480"},"modified":"2025-08-23T14:51:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T21:51:20","slug":"ultimate-london-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/ultimate-london-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"3 DAY LONDON TRAVEL ITINERARY AND GUIDE"},"content":{"rendered":"

London is a beautiful city and there is so much to do and see! After living in South Kensington the last four years, exploring the city and eating out 2-3 times per week, I have been able to create the Ultimate London Travel Guide<\/em> from an expat’s perspective. <\/p>\n

In this guide I share a 3 day itinerary to seeing London’s best attractions, where to stay in London, where to have afternoon tea in London and my favorite restaurants for every taste. <\/p>\n

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Day 1: Parliament, Abbey’s, Towers and Skyscrapers!<\/h3>\n

Houses Of Parliament<\/h4>\n

The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is one of the most  strikingly beautiful buildings in London, and  is the seat of the two parliamentary houses of the United Kingdom: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You can take the tube, a black cab, or an Uber to Westminster and from Westminster Bridge you can get great photos of Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye.<\/p>\n

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Westminster Abbey<\/h4>\n

Westminster Abbey<\/a> is a stunning Gothic church in the City of Westminster. It is one of the most notable religious buildings in the United Kingdom and has been the traditional place of coronation and the burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. If you are very pressed for time, or don\u2019t want to pay the \u00a330 entrance fee, at least take a few minutes to stroll around the outside and through the Dean\u2019s Yard.<\/p>\n

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Tower Of London<\/h4>\n

From Westminster Bridge, I recommend hopping on a City Cruises<\/a> Boat Tour down the River Thames and getting off at the Tower of London<\/a>. This historic castle is located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. Inside you will see the Crown Jewels and hear stories of the years when the castle was used as a prison!<\/p>\n

By this point you will probably be hungry for lunch. You can grab a quick fish and chips and a cider at Liberty Bounds, a large pub just up the street from the Tower of London but be back by 3:30 as the last Beefeater guided tour leaves then. The Beefeater guided tour is a must as they are very animated and entertaining!<\/p>\n

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The Shard<\/h4>\n

The Shard<\/a> is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London. Standing at 1,016 ft, it is the tallest building in Western Europe. The tower\u2019s privately owned observation deck, View From The Shard, is the perfect place to take in breathtaking views, especially after a long day of sightseeing.<\/p>\n

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Day 2: Cathedral, Palace and A Movie Set<\/h3>\n

St Paul’s Cathedral<\/h4>\n

No trip would be complete without seeing St Paul’s Cathedral<\/a>. St Paul’s is an Anglican cathedral, and the mother church of London. The interior is breathtaking and if you choose to take on the 500 stair climb to the very top of the dome you will be rewarded with an amazing view of London. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!<\/p>\n

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Buckingham Palace<\/h4>\n

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain\u2019s sovereigns since 1837, and today it is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. She is the world\u2019s oldest reigning Monarch (Feb 1952 \u2013 Present), as well as Britain\u2019s longest lived. (If you would like to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, it starts promptly at 11:30am so arrive early.)<\/p>\n

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Portobello Road<\/h4>\n

Portobello Road is a charming shopping street in the Notting Hill<\/a> district of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. On Saturdays, it is home to Portobello Road Market, one of London\u2019s notable street markets, known for its colorful buildings, second-hand clothes, and antiques. The antiques market usually gets into full swing around 9:00 am, on Saturday though some dealers may set up earlier. If you want to avoid the busiest crowds, it\u2019s best to arrive before 11:30 am.<\/p>\n

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Day 3: Museums, Galleries, Shopping and Parks<\/h3>\n

Natural History Museum + V&A Museum<\/h4>\n

You need not worry if you\u2019re sightseeing on a budget as plenty of London\u2019s top museums are free to explore. From Harrods just walk up Brompton Road and head to the Natural History Museum<\/a> to see amazing artifacts. This is also one of the prettiest buildings in the city, in my opinion.<\/p>\n

The V&A<\/a> (right next door) houses one of the world\u2019s greatest collections of decorative arts, in varied fields such as ceramics, sculpture, portrait miniatures and photography. If you are not into museums I suggest at least walking by and taking photos on your way to Harrods, which is just down the street.<\/p>\n

Harrods<\/h4>\n

Harrods is the world\u2019s most famous luxury department store with the latest men\u2019s and women\u2019s designer fashion, luxury gifts, food and accessories.  The upscale food court inside Harrods is a fabulous place to have lunch.<\/p>\n

Hyde Park + Kensington Garden<\/h4>\n

Hyde Park, along with Kensington Gardens, makes up my favorite place in all of London! Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in the city, covering over 350 acres and is home to famous landmarks such as Speakers\u2019 Corner, Serpentine Lake, and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.<\/p>\n

Kensington Gardens, lying immediately to the west of Hyde Park, was once the private garden of Kensington Palace. It is one of the capitals eight royal parks and is home to the Italian Gardens, Albert Memorial and Kensington Palace (which I recommend taking a tour of if you have time). Hyde Park is a very short walk from Harrods so after lunch go enjoy a fun afternoon outside in the park!<\/p>\n

Pay Less, Travel More eBook<\/h2>

Subscribe to get our FREE eBook with tips on saving money when you travel!<\/p>\n\t\t\t

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Where To Stay In London<\/h3>\n

There are so many different areas and neighbourhoods to explore in London and there is something to suit every taste. You could stay in chic Chelsea where you can stroll the Kings Road, or Kensington and be a stone’s throw from Harrods, or head to the east of the city and stay in trendy Shoreditch. In fact there are so many different options we rounded them up in our London Neighbourhoods and Hotels Guide<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Here are a few of our favorite hotels in the city:<\/p>\n