London 4-Day Itinerary

Four days is where London stops feeling like a checklist and starts feeling like somewhere you actually know. The first two days cover the ground every first-timer needs — Westminster, the British Museum, the West End — but by day three you're walking across Tower Bridge and looking up at St. Paul's dome, and the last morning is a slow wander through Notting Hill before an evening flight. It's the difference between visiting London and getting a proper feel for it. Shorter on time? The London 3-day itinerary cuts straight to the essentials. Planning a full week? The London 5-day itinerary adds Kensington and the V&A.

London skyline with Tower Bridge and the Thames

Route at a glance

Four days based in central London, covering Westminster and the South Bank on arrival, the museum district and West End on the full cultural day, the City's historic east on day three (Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, and a Thames cruise), and a final morning in Notting Hill before the evening flight out.

Select a day to explore its route

  • 1Westminster & South BankDay 1
  • 2British Museum, Covent Garden, Soho & West End TheatreDay 2
  • 3Tower of London, Tower Bridge & St. Paul's CathedralDay 3
  • 4Notting Hill & Portobello RoadDay 4

Where this trip comes to life

A quick visual preview of the city base and the places you will actually visit.

Day-by-day plan

Click a day to view the details

Planning tips for this London itinerary

Practical tips for London

Book your West End show before you leave home

Popular musicals sell out weeks in advance. Booking directly through the theatre website is usually the safest option. TKTS at Leicester Square does same-day discounts, but you're gambling on what's left — for a specific show, don't rely on it.

Give St. Paul's two full hours

The dome climb alone — 528 steps to the Golden Gallery — takes 30–40 minutes each way. The Whispering Gallery at 257 steps is the famous acoustic trick, but the view from the top is worth pushing on. Book online to skip the ticket queue at the entrance.

Thames Clipper vs. tourist cruise

The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs the same route as the tourist boats but at commuter prices — useful if you want river views without paying for a commentary track. This itinerary uses the dedicated cruise on Day 3 for the experience; the Clipper is the practical fallback.

Tap in and out, every time

Contactless bank cards work exactly like Oyster on the Tube, buses, and Overground. The system automatically applies the daily cap, so you won't overpay no matter how many journeys you take in a day.

Portobello Road is best on Saturdays

The antiques section at the northern end of Portobello Road only runs on Saturdays — the rest of the week it's quiet up there. If your Day 4 falls on a Saturday, you'll get the full market. Any other morning, the painted houses, coffee spots, and street atmosphere are still worth an hour or two.

Day 3 is a long one — pace yourself

Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, and a river cruise is a genuinely full day. Don't try to rush the Tower in under two hours; the Crown Jewels queue alone can take 30–40 minutes on busy days. Comfortable shoes and an early start make the difference.

Where to stay for this itinerary

  • Soho / Covent Garden The most convenient base for this itinerary — five minutes' walk to the West End theatres on Day 2, easy Tube access to the Tower on Day 3, and a straight shot to Paddington for the Notting Hill walk on Day 4.
    Most practical
  • Westminster / Victoria Excellent transport links in every direction, including direct access to Heathrow. Quieter than Soho in the evenings, which is either a plus or a minus depending on what you're after after a long day.
    Best connections
  • Notting Hill / Bayswater An unusual choice that works well if you prioritise the Day 4 morning — you're already there. Slightly further from the museum and theatre areas but a completely different feel from central London, and often better value per room.
    Most residential

All four nights are in London, so there's no hotel switch during this trip. Pick your area based on which days matter most to you.

Best time to visit London

A quick seasonal view to help you choose the best months for this route.

Jan
Cold · Quiet
Feb
Cold · Low crowds
Mar
Mild · Parks bloom
Apr
Best
May
Best
Jun
Long days · Warm
Jul
Peak summer
Aug
Busy · Carnival
Sep
Best
Oct
Autumn · Cooler
Nov
Gray · Rainy
Dec
Festive · Cold

May, early June, and September are usually the strongest months for this kind of itinerary — long enough days for the Thames cruise to feel worthwhile, mild enough that the dome climb isn't brutal, and crowds are manageable at the Tower. July is warm but loud at major sites. If you're visiting in late August, the Notting Hill Carnival takes over the W11 area on the bank holiday weekend — a genuine spectacle, but it does mean Portobello Road is inaccessible and the streets are packed. December is cold and short on daylight but the West End shows are in full swing and the theatre mood across the city is excellent.

Details

London 4-day itinerary overview

This itinerary is built around the idea that four days in London should feel unhurried. Day 1 is a gentle arrival into Westminster with a riverside walk and dinner with views of the Thames. Day 2 goes deep into the museum district — the British Museum in the morning, Dishoom for lunch, Covent Garden in the afternoon, then Soho and a West End show in the evening. Day 3 is the most historically dense: the Tower of London, a walk across Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral including the dome, and a river cruise back towards Westminster. Day 4 keeps things light — Notting Hill, Portobello Road, brunch at Granger & Co., and an afternoon transfer to Heathrow for the evening flight.

Route at a glance

  • London base in central London for all 4 nights
  • Arrival afternoon in Westminster with South Bank walk and riverside dinner
  • British Museum, Covent Garden, Soho, and a West End theatre evening on the main cultural day
  • Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Thames river cruise on the historic east day
  • Slow morning in Notting Hill and Portobello Road before the departure transfer

Day-by-day highlights

  1. Day 1 (London arrival): Tube from Heathrow, Westminster area walk, South Bank stroll, dinner at Gillray's Steakhouse with Thames views
  2. Day 2 (Museums and theatre district): British Museum, Dishoom Covent Garden, Covent Garden Piazza, Soho and Carnaby Street, dinner at Palomar, West End show
  3. Day 3 (Historic east London): Tower of London, Coppa Club lunch, Tower Bridge walk, St. Paul's Cathedral and dome climb, Thames river cruise, dinner at Hawksmoor Guildhall
  4. Day 4 (Notting Hill and departure): Notting Hill walk, Portobello Road Market, brunch at Granger & Co., Heathrow Express from Paddington

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Complete 4-day London itinerary (day-by-day plan)

Full written version of the 4-day London itinerary, with the main stops, transfers, meals, and highlights for each day.

Looking for a shorter trip? See the London 3-day itinerary. Planning a longer European route? London pairs well with Paris or Barcelona as part of a wider trip.

Day 1: Arrival in London and Westminster

A relaxed arrival day — Tube from Heathrow, check in near Westminster, and a gentle afternoon walking the riverbank. No need to cram anything in; the point is to get your bearings and eat well.

  • 10:00 — Arrive at London Heathrow Airport
  • 11:00 — Piccadilly Line to Green Park, Jubilee Line to Westminster (~50 min)
  • 12:00 — Check-in near Westminster
  • 13:00 — Lunch at The Red Lion Pub near Westminster
  • 14:30 — Walk around Westminster, Big Ben, and Houses of Parliament exterior
  • 15:30 — Westminster Abbey exterior and Parliament Square
  • 16:30 — South Bank stroll towards the London Eye
  • 17:15 — Rest in Jubilee Gardens with views of the river
  • 19:00 — Dinner at Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar, County Hall

Transport: London Underground from Heathrow to Westminster, walking in Westminster and South Bank.

Day 2: British Museum, Covent Garden, Soho, and West End

The longest day on paper, but it flows naturally — museum in the morning, market district after lunch, Soho in the late afternoon, and the theatre in the evening. Give yourself permission to skip things if the museum runs long.

  • 09:00 — Breakfast at The Breakfast Club Soho
  • 10:00 — Visit the British Museum (Rosetta Stone, Egyptian collection, Lewis Chessmen)
  • 13:00 — Lunch at Dishoom Covent Garden
  • 14:30 — Explore Covent Garden Market and Piazza
  • 16:00 — Walk through Soho and Carnaby Street
  • 18:30 — Dinner at Palomar, Soho
  • 20:00 — West End theatre show

Transport: Mostly on foot between the British Museum, Covent Garden, and Soho — they're all within a 15-minute walk of each other.

Day 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, and Thames cruise

The most historically loaded day. Start early at the Tower to beat the worst of the Crown Jewels queue, cross Tower Bridge on foot, push on to St. Paul's for the dome climb, then let the river do the work back towards Westminster.

  • 08:30 — Breakfast at Regency Café, Pimlico
  • 09:30 — Visit Tower of London (Crown Jewels, White Tower, Beefeater tour)
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Coppa Club Tower Bridge
  • 14:00 — Walk across Tower Bridge and along the Thames Path
  • 15:00 — Visit St. Paul's Cathedral and climb to the Golden Gallery
  • 17:00 — Thames river cruise from St. Paul's Pier back towards Westminster
  • 19:30 — Dinner at Hawksmoor Guildhall

Transport: Underground to Tower Hill, walking between Tower Bridge and St. Paul's, river cruise back to Westminster.

Day 4: Notting Hill, Portobello Road, and departure

An unhurried final morning. Notting Hill is at its best before noon — the market fills up, the café queues are still reasonable, and the side streets around Lansdowne Road are genuinely beautiful. Brunch, then Paddington for the Heathrow Express.

  • 08:30 — Check-out and leave luggage at hotel
  • 09:00 — Walk around Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market
  • 11:00 — Brunch at Granger & Co. Notting Hill
  • 12:30 — Return to hotel to collect luggage
  • 13:00 — Heathrow Express from Paddington to Heathrow (~15 min)
  • 14:00 — Arrive at Heathrow, check-in for evening departure

Transport: Walking in Notting Hill, Underground or taxi to Paddington, Heathrow Express to the airport.

FAQ

Is 4 days in London enough?

Four days is a genuinely comfortable amount of time in London. You'll cover the major landmarks without feeling rushed, have an evening free for a West End show, and still fit in a quieter neighbourhood like Notting Hill on the last morning. It's noticeably more relaxed than three days, where you're essentially running a highlights reel.

How much do West End theatre tickets cost?

West End tickets typically range from £30–90 for most shows, with premium seats and major musicals going higher. TKTS at Leicester Square sells same-day discounted tickets, though popular shows often sell out before the booth opens. Booking direct through the theatre website at least two to three weeks ahead usually gets you better seats for the same price.

Is the St. Paul's Cathedral dome climb worth it?

Yes, for most visitors it's worth the effort. The Whispering Gallery at 257 steps is where you can hear the acoustic trick of whispering along the curved wall. The Golden Gallery at the top — 528 steps total — gives a 360° view across London that you won't get from ground level. Allow two hours minimum inside; entrance is around £20–23 and booking online skips the ticket queue.

Is Portobello Road Market open every day?

Most of Portobello Road is open Monday to Saturday, but the famous antiques section (north of Chepstow Villas) only runs on Saturdays. If your Day 4 falls on a Saturday, you get the full experience. Any other morning, the neighbourhood itself — the painted houses around Lansdowne Road, the cafés on Westbourne Grove — is still worth an hour or two.

Can I use the Thames river boat as transport between sights?

Yes — the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers runs a commuter service between piers from Putney to Woolwich, stopping at Embankment, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Bankside, London Bridge, and Tower Pier among others. It's faster and cheaper than the tourist cruise boats and has the same river views. The Day 3 section of this itinerary uses the dedicated cruise specifically for the experience; the Clipper is the practical option for future crossings.