London 4 Day Itinerary – Best Routes from a Former Tour Guide

You can aim for an 11:00AM start if you are after the “full tourist” experience and want to see the Changing of the Guard. This is a good spectacle, but be warned there’ll be loads more people. The palace on it’s own and wide streets branching off in many directions offer great views on their own though.

Tip: I’d suggest picking up some breakfast-to-go from Victoria station – there’s a perfect place to stop and eat right after the Palace.

After taking the obligatory photos and selfies, you can get to your next point on our London itinerary by taking a glorious wander through St. James’ Park. 

This park provides a really nice route: you can either take the fastest route walking the path along the outside, or take the winding park bends and explore a little more greenery. 

St. James’ Park is also a great place to unpack and munch on that breakfast you might have brought along.

A 20 minute walk from Buckingham Palace through the park will lead you right to Trafalgar Square. Here you’ll find Nelson’s Column, fountains, lion statues, and LOTS of pigeons. There are also loads of cafés where you can grab a coffee, or a late snack.

The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are also right next door, and are both almost completely free. Even if you don’t have time to go inside though, you can admire the architecture of the square and Gallery. There are also usually street performances outside the National Gallery, which are always worth a watch.

Piccadilly Circus is like the English version of Times Square (but less impressive). You have huge advertising boards, and plenty of shopping and restaurant options nearby. There is also just a buzz around here from all the tourists and people. 

If you arrive earlier than lunchtime, you can explore the streets and shops to kill some time. If you’ve arrived hungry from the morning of walking then I’d suggest firing up the TripAdvisor app and seeing what you fancy. 

Some of our recommendations would be Nando’s or Viet Café (budget), and Dishoom or Ping Pong (mid-range).

With a belly that hopefully isn’t too full to walk, it’s time to crack on towards Covent Garden. The journey from Piccadilly Circus will take you through the famous Leicester Square, and feel free to stop and explore anything that piques your interest – no, the M&M store is honestly not worth your time, unless you love overpaying in a tourist trap.

Covent Garden is a pretty awesome place to spend your afternoon. There are plenty of chocolatiers and confectionaries for those with a sweet tooth, and just stopping to enjoy the various street performances can easily fill an hour. 

If you’re anything like us, by now your stomach is starting to rumble again. Our suggestion here is to stop in Chinatown to eat, but you can also find plenty of good options around Covent Garden if you aren’t in the mood for Asian cuisine. 

Assuming you are happy with Asian cuisine, we’d suggest Wan Chai Corner, Ping Pong or New Loon Fung to share some delicious dim sum, spring rolls and other deep-fried goodness. 

Chinatown is also one of THE best places in London for desserts. There are plenty of inspiring and creative options that put a flake to shame. 

Eating in Chinatown is one of our favourite areas to eat, and the colourful lanterns and interesting snack shops just add to the experience.

I’ve been on the London Eye about 8 times… and no, it’s not because I love it that much. As a tour guide, this was naturally a prime spot people wanted to visit. Despite the high ticket prices and large queues, the London Eye just seems like one of the quintessential things you must do in London. 

Don’t get me wrong, the view is quite something (on a clear day). If you have the time to spare and don’t mind the fee, then I’d recommend it. However, for those who prefer to save some money, I’d soak up the atmosphere on South Bank for some time, then move on to a undisputed iconic stop…

The spot on the riverbank across from the Houses of Parliament offers one of the best postcard-perfect pictures you’ll grab in London. The architecture and scale of these buildings is guaranteed to impress.

You can also battle your way through the crowds to explore the inside of Westminster Abbey, although definitely check the latest Covid news and tickets. 

Big Ben has been under construction since 2021 and the last time we went it was completely obscured by scaffolding. This work is due to finish in 2021, but just be mindful that postcard picture may not be available when you go.

This cruise to Greenwich is really worthwhile, and was one of my favourite activities in London as a tour guide, no matter how many times I went.

You get a fantastic view along the Thames, with some epic views and photo opportunities. The narration courtesy of the crew is also a big factor in what makes this experience so excellent.

Greenwich is such a great part of London. There’s greenery (true to its name) and open spaces everywhere. By far though, the best thing is…

The fish & chips!

One of the few culinary delights London can claim as its own, fish & chips in all its greasy glory is the perfect lunch. Greenwich is home to so many “chippies” that are super tasty, so I’d really advise you save some stomach space for here.

Afterwards, you can head towards the Cutty Sark Museum (be warned, it’s expensive), or even better, the Greenwich Observatory and park.

As long as your priority is to continue exploring London’s culture and history, then you’ll need to jump on a tube for the next step. 

Tower Bridge challenges the Houses of Parliament for the most famous London landmark, and is definitely worth seeing up close. Cross the bridge and head towards the dark and gloomy Tower of London. You can pay the entrance fee here, admire it from the outside, or just grab a coffee near the river.

If you are looking to catch a show, instead of going to Tower Bridge you can walk to the O2 in Greenwich. They often have fantastic performances on here, from concerts by Ed Sheeran and Queen to ATP Tennis and NBA basketball. 

The rest of this itinerary assumes however you are soldiering on through a sightseeing tour of London!

Hidden in the backstreets near the River Thames you’ll find the Monument to the Great Fire of London. 

There is some information near the Obelisk commemorating the terrible event here, but you can also check out this website for a more complete recollection of events.

If the Tower of London wasn’t dark enough for you, next you can pass through the hunting grounds of one of London’s most notorious serial killers.

Many companies run walking tours (like this one) that you can find online, taking up to 2 hours as they lead you on an enthralling historical journey. These tours are at different times, so you may need to come back after dinner (assuming you are totally fine with hearing in great detail about a serial killer as it gets dark…)

Aldgate itself is far from the prettiest area of London, but it’s also worth passing through for one of the best restaurant areas in London.

Spitalfields is home to a wonderfully charming market that has a deep history tracing back to Victorian times. 

Here you’ll find all sorts of clothes and trinkets for a reasonable price, as well as loads of restaurants and brunch places. 

I’d suggest you do some light browsing or shopping, to build up an appetite for what’s to come.

If you still have some energy, there are plenty of pubs and places to drink nearby in Spitalfields. 

None of them however, will provide the same experience as Sky Garden.

Known as the Walkie Talkie due to it’s strange shape, you can grab a cocktail on the top floor surrounded by greenery and spectacular views. 

After a long day of walking, cruising, learning and eating, why not end it with a cocktail (or mocktail) whilst you admire London’s skyline.

Look up as you walk outside of London Bridge station, and you’ll see this 72-storey ginormous building. It doesn’t quite have the same effect as say the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, but it is definitely impressive. 

The Shard does boast some quite expensive restaurants, but as you can imagine, the main pull factor is the view. 

You can ride the elevator to the top if you’d like, although the tickets are quite expensive.

Borough Market has an electricity about it that is really infectious. 

We always love wandering through the street food and artisanal stalls, and getting distracted by something new (and mostly delicious) every 5 seconds. 

This also makes Borough Market a perfect stop for an early lunch/ brunch, or even just a snack. Padella restaurant round the corner is also fantastic value, and if you go early you may be lucky enough to miss the big queues.

Next stop on this 4 day itinerary are two mini-landmarks: The Golden Hinde has a super interesting history as Sir Francis Drake’s ship, and Shakespeare’s Globe holds performances memorialising Shakespeare’s legendary work. 

They also provide a great backdrop as you wander along the river bank. If you didn’t see anything to eat in Borough Market (first-off, you missed out), but there are restaurants and pubs if you want to take an early pause.

Celebrated as one of the largest collections of modern art in the world, there’s plenty to see in the Tate Modern (and it’s almost all free). 

I imagine if you love masterpieces like these you could happily spend the entire day here, because trust me this place is huge.

I definitely haven’t done it justice (I’m sorry, modern art enthusiasts). Just check it out if you have the time!

Undoubtedly one of the most unique bridges you’ll see, it was comfortingly nicknamed the “Wobbly Bridge”  after it swayed on opening day. 

Luckily they’ve made it a touch more secure since then, and crossing on the way to St.Paul’s offers fantastic views of the River Thames and banks. 

You’ll also have a clear view as you get closer and closer to St.Paul’s.

If all that isn’t convincing enough… then too bad, as it’s obviously the quickest route to a landmark which can’t fail to impress even those with the highest standards.

Arguably the most impressive building in London, the architecture of St.Paul’s is a must-see on any itinerary in London. 

Paying to go inside is around £17 for an adult, and if you like opulent church structures is probably worth it. We are always content to just sit on the cathedral steps or in the small garden as a breather with a fantastic view.

You can also check out One New Change rooftop terrace for an even better view right in front of the structure.

Camden Market is both weird and wonderful in equal measure. 

You can easily spend an entire day here drinking coffee, eating street food, or browsing the seemingly endless range of stalls and shops.

One of the best things about Camden and Camden Market is the atmosphere. Pre-pandemic, you’d find people shoulder to shoulder and a frenzy of excited energy. 

The next best thing about Camden is the food – there are LOADS of excellent restaurants here, particular greek ones (I try not to be biased here, but fail every time). As we’ve detailed in our 9 best-value restaurants, Alexander the Great is a treasured favourite.

After dinner, shopping and exploring, you also have so much choice to grab a drink (or maybe something saucier like a Cabaret show).

Where will the night take you?

Few places in Europe, let alone London, can match Shoreditch for thrilling bars. 

Bar Kick (football), Bounce (ping-pong), Flight Club (darts), The Book Club (board games). The list goes on.

If you like fun activities with a side of heavy drinking, look no further than Shoreditch. Or if you just appreciate a good “sesh” with friends, Shoreditch is also very capable of scratching that itch –  after all, you are in London and British culture is 50% drinking.

The Boxpark food court also does a great job of summing Shoreditch up – it’s just a great place to hang out with friends, have a great time, and maybe drink a little too much.