Before heading to Paris, we spent four days in London, and it was the perfect introduction to the city. We based ourselves at the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars, which ended up being a great home base for exploring many of London’s top attractions.
We packed a lot into a relatively short visit, from iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to afternoons wandering through markets and lively neighborhoods.
Four days wasn’t enough to see everything, but it was enough to leave us wanting to come back.
If you’re planning your first trip to London, here’s the itinerary we followed.
London Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Afternoon Tea & the Tower of London
- Afternoon tea
- Tower Bridge views
- Tower of London
- Crown Jewels
- Leadenhall Market
Day 2: Black Cab Tour, Covent Garden & the London Eye
- Private black cab sightseeing tour
- Covent Garden
- Jubilee Market
- London Eye
Day 3: Westminster, Buckingham Palace & the West End
- Westminster Abbey
- Big Ben
- Buckingham Palace
- Hyde Park
- West End performance
Day 4: St. Paul’s Cathedral & Borough Market
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Millennium Bridge
- Borough Market
Where We Stayed in London
Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars
We stayed at the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars for our entire visit and would happily stay there again. The location was ideal for exploring central London, with easy access to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tube, and several major attractions.
- Excellent central location
- Walking distance to St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Thames
- Convenient Tube connections
- Comfortable rooms
Things to Know Before Visiting London
A few things we learned that made our trip easier:
- Bring a UK outlet adapter. The UK uses Type G plugs, which are different from those used in the United States. We like this universal adapter.
- London is largely cash-free. We used credit cards almost everywhere.
- Tap water is safe to drink. Bring a reusable water bottle to refill throughout the day. We love the Brita water bottles with a filter in the straw, so we can drink tap water from nearly anywhere, without worrying about taste.
- No need to tip at most restaurants. Service charges are often included in the bill.
- Black cabs are incredibly convenient. They can use routes and lanes unavailable to regular vehicles, making them one of the fastest ways to get around central London.
- Download the Citymapper app. It’s one of the easiest ways to navigate London’s public transportation system.
- Emergency services number: 999
Day 1: Afternoon Tea and the Tower of London
After dropping off our bags and freshening up at the hotel, we started our trip with one of the city’s classic experiences: afternoon tea.
We had reservations at Vu from the Tower, which had amazing views of Tower bridge. We enjoyed delicious tea, cakes, and finger sandwiches. It was a wonderful way to start the trip.
After finishing our tea, we walked across the street to the Tower of London, one of the city’s most important historic sites. The highlight here is seeing the Crown Jewels, but the entire fortress is worth exploring.
From there, we took a short walk to Leadenhall Market. The architecture alone makes it worth a visit, but Harry Potter fans will probably recognize it as the filming location for Diagon Alley. We grabbed dinner here and then headed back to our hotel for the night.
Highlights
- Afternoon tea
- Tower Bridge views
- Tower of London
- Crown Jewels
- Leadenhall Market
Day 2: A Black Cab Tour, Covent Garden, and the London Eye
This ended up being one of our favorite days in London.
We started with a private black cab tour, which turned out to be an excellent introduction to the city. Our driver shared stories and historical details we would never have learned on our own, and the private format allowed us to tailor the stops to our interests.
After the tour, we headed to Covent Garden. We spent a couple hours wandering around the shops, watching street performers, and exploring the surrounding streets. We were here on a Sunday, so we enjoyed a delicious Sunday roast at Blacklock Covent Garden, but there’s plenty of other great food options in the area as well.
Later in the day, we made our way across the Golden Jubilee Bridge to the London Eye. Normally we’re not huge Ferris wheel people (and we think this experience can be skipped if it’s not a must-do for you), but the views were pretty impressive.
Highlights
- Black cab sightseeing tour
- Covent Garden
- Jubilee Market
- London Eye
Day 3: Westminster and Buckingham Palace
This day was all about London’s royal and historic center.
We began the day with a walking tour that includes Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace. These are some of the most iconic sights in London and are must-sees for first-time visitors.
We loved doing a tour of these locations to hear about some of the history and details that we would have otherwise missed. Our tour guide even timed it so we made it to Buckingham palace in time to see the changing of the guard.
The tour ended at Buckingham palace, so from there, we walked through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
We ended our day by seeing a show in London’s West End, which was wonderful.
Highlights
- Westminster Abbey
- Big Ben
- Buckingham Palace
- Hyde Park
- A West End performance
Day 4: St. Paul’s Cathedral and Borough Market
Our final day in London was intentionally slower.
After packing up and leaving our bags at the hotel, we walked over to St. Paul’s Cathedral (which is only a short walk away if you’re staying at the Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars like we did). The cathedral is beautiful from the outside, but the interior is even more impressive. If you have the energy, climbing to the top of the dome is worth it for the views across the city.
We then walked across Millennium Bridge (another London landmark featured in the Harry Potter films) to Borough Market, which quickly became one of our favorite spots in London.
Even if you’re not a big foodie, it’s hard not to enjoy walking through the market. We sampled a little bit of everything and quickly learned that arriving early is a good idea if you want to avoid the crowds.
The market typically opens at 10am, so it may even make sense to head here before St. Paul’s Cathedral, depending on how much time you have on your final day.
Highlights
- St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Millennium Bridge
- Borough Market
Is 4 Days Enough in London?
For a first visit, we think four days is a great amount of time. It gave us enough time to see many of London’s major landmarks, explore several neighborhoods, and enjoy a mix of history, food, and classic London experiences without feeling rushed.
There’s still plenty we’d love to see on a future trip (Notting Hill, Greenwich, Camden Market, and museums) but this itinerary felt like a strong introduction to the city.