United Kingdom · 3-day itinerary
3 days in London
Free museums, royal parks and a pub on every corner. Here's a 3-day plan that clusters each day by neighbourhood, with real times, so you walk less and see more.
Day 1
Arrive & settle into London
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Arrive in London
Check in at your stay in South Bank / Southwark.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. · South Bank
Tate Modern and South Bank
Modern art in a power station, then a riverside stroll.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Sunday roast at a gastropub
Day 2
Layers of history
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Bloomsbury
British Museum
The Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. · Shoreditch · ~$14
Shoreditch street art and Brick Lane
Murals, vintage markets and bagels.
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner · Borough Market grazing
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. · The City · ~$57
Historic pubs of the City
Seventeenth-century taverns and Fleet Street lore.
Day 3
Farewell, London
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. · Westminster
Westminster walk
Big Ben, the Abbey and Buckingham Palace, through St James's Park.
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Depart London
Check out and head to the airport or station, allowing plenty of time.
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner · Curry on Brick Lane
Where to stay in London
Shoestring
King's Cross
Excellent transport links and a regenerated canal-side quarter.
Hotels in King's CrossComfort
South Bank / Southwark
Riverside walks, Borough Market and Tate Modern nearby.
Hotels in South Bank / SouthwarkLuxury
Mayfair
Grand hotels between Hyde Park and the West End.
Hotels in Mayfair
What to eat in London
Fish and chips
Battered cod or haddock, chips, mushy peas and vinegar.
Full English breakfast
Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms and toast.
Sunday roast
Roast meat, Yorkshire pudding and gravy in a pub on Sunday.
Pie and mash
East End pie with mash and parsley 'liquor'.
Afternoon tea
Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and cakes.
Sticky toffee pudding
Date sponge drowned in toffee sauce.
Where locals send visitors
Dishoom $$
Bombay café · Covent Garden · Best for breakfast
Bacon naan rolls and chai in a homage to Bombay's Irani cafés. Book or queue.
ReviewsBorough Market $
Food market · Southwark · Best for lunch
London's oldest food market: graze stalls for cheese, oysters and pies.
ReviewsPadella $$
Fresh pasta · Borough · Best for lunch
Hand-rolled pasta at friendly prices. Expect a queue.
ReviewsSt. John $$$
British, nose to tail · Smithfield · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
Fergus Henderson's landmark: bone-marrow toast and Eccles cake.
ReviewsRules $$$$
Classic British · Covent Garden · Best for dinner · Reserve ahead
London's oldest restaurant (1798), known for game and puddings.
ReviewsPoppies $$
Fish and chips · Spitalfields · Best for lunch
Retro chippy serving fish and chips the traditional way.
Reviews
Heads-up: what to steer clear of
- Scam: The "cup and ball" shell game on Westminster Bridge is rigged, with planted "winners". Don't play.
- Getting around: Only use black cabs or minicabs booked through a licensed operator or app. Unbooked minicabs picking people up on the street are illegal and unsafe.
- Pickpockets: Phone snatching by people on bikes and scooters is common. Step back from the kerb when using your phone.
Giro's notes, reviewed October 2026. Things change, so check current advice before you go: Government of Canada travel advisories .
Good to know
- Tap a contactless card or phone on the Tube; daily fares are capped automatically.
- Most major museums are free.
- Stand on the right on escalators.
Daily budget per person
| Shoestring | ~$174 |
| Comfort | ~$349 |
| Luxury | ~$967 |
A shared double room, meals and local transport. Flights and tickets not included.
Make this London trip yours
Giro rebuilds this plan for your dates, your group and your budget. Swap stops, drag them between days, add your flights and hotel, and share it with everyone coming.
Plan this tripTimes and prices are estimates (prices in CAD at the latest ECB rate). Check opening hours before you go. Place descriptions and photos from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, credited on each photo. Giro may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.