4 Days in London – Best Itinerary for Visiting the UK Capital & Map

Today I want to bring you my itinerary for 4 days in London. Spending several days in the UK capital will allow you to see the highlights of the city and give you a good overview of what London has to offer. From the big attractions to the local areas, London has a lot that will entertain visitors. Read on for the official A Lady in London itinerary. I’ve included a map, too.

4 Days in London

A lot of people ask me to recommend things to do in London. As a result, I’ve been publishing a range of London itineraries on my blog. The posts have been so popular that today I want to add my 4-day London itinerary to the mix. I hope you find inspiration in it.

4 days is a great amount of time to see the iconic landmarks and experience the local side of the city. If you’ve seen my 3-day London itinerary you’ll have already gotten an idea of what you can do.

Whether you want to discover the city’s attractions, find the best shopping streets in London, eat at the most delicious restaurants, or delve into the UK capital’s history, you’ll find a lot to get excited about during your time here.

My itinerary for 4 days in London is ideal for first-time visitors and those who haven’t traveled to London in a while. It will show you the highlights and tempt you to come back and explore more of London on a future visit.

Where to Stay in London

When it comes to accommodation in London, you have no shortage of options. Whether you want to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, the city has plenty of good places to choose from.

Given the size and scope of London, choosing somewhere in or near the city center is a wise plan. You can see my blog posts about the best area to stay in London and the best hotels for your style for more ideas.

I’ve even published blog posts about the best quirky hotels in London and the top pubs with rooms in London. They’re great if you’re looking for something unique and different.

Additionally, I’ve written about the best hotels near London’s top attractions if there’s a landmark you want to be close to. From the London Eye to the Covent Garden Piazza, it covers a range of iconic sites.

You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here. With so many options, you’re bound to find somewhere perfect for you.

How to Pack for 4 Days in London

Once you’ve decided on a time to visit, you have to pack for London. Depending on what part of the year you’re here, that will mean different things.

I’ve written packing lists for winter, spring, summer, and autumn that can help you decide what to wear in London. I’ve even created a general London packing list with a free downloadable checklist.

If you’re flying to the UK, you can check out my long-haul packing list and my guide to how to pack with just a carry-on for more help (I was interviewed by The New York Times about the latter).

Day 1

I recommend starting the first morning of your 4-day London itinerary by going for coffee and food. Whether you choose one of the best coffee shops in London or one of the top places for breakfast, you’ll find somewhere you love.

Once you’ve satisfied your appetite, you’ll be set to kick off a big day of discovering the UK capital. My recommendation for where to start is Westminster.

I’d begin with Buckingham Palace. This iconic royal palace draws visitors from all across the globe, and it’s a must on any first-time London itinerary.

You can time your trip to watch the famous Changing the Guard ceremony (it happens several days a week), or just admire the monarch’s London residence from outside the gates.

If your visit coincides with the annual seasonal opening, you can also tour Buckingham Palace. You’ll get a chance to walk through the state rooms and gardens, not to mention the special exhibition. You can book tickets here.

From the palace you can stroll around St James’s Park and over to Horse Guards Parade and Westminster. This area is home to some of the city’s most important landmarks. It’s what a lot of people think of when they hear the word “London”.

Westminster Abbey is a treat to see up close, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) is stunning, and the Houses of Parliament are beautiful. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament. You can book tickets here.

You can also go on my free self-guided Westminster walk if you want to discover the area beyond the main attractions. The route will show you the side streets and hidden spaces locals frequent here.

From Westminster, it’s fun to walk across the River Thames to reach the South Bank. This is an ideal area to take in the views from the London Eye, browse the book market, or soak up the scene along the river.

You can book London Eye tickets here (you’ll need to book well in advance, as it sells out).

There are always street performers, pop-ups, festivals, food trucks, and other entertainment going on here, so it’s fun to wander around and see what’s happening while you’re in town.

From the South Bank, it’s a great walk along the river to Tate Modern and Borough Market. They’re two more of the city’s best-known landmarks.

Tate Modern is a world-famous art museum. It offers free entry, so it’s easy to go inside for as much (or as little) time as you want to. There are sweeping views from the top floors as well.

Borough Market is the ideal place to find culinary inspiration and eat something delicious for lunch. It’s worth taking the time to wander around and soak up the colors and scents of the stalls, too.

From Borough Market you can cross London Bridge en route to the City of London, admiring the views of Tower Bridge as you go.

From the towering dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the hulking form of the Tower of London, this part of the UK capital contains a lot of architectural history. My self-guided walk in the City of London is helpful if you want to discover the highlights.

When evening approaches, you can make your way to the West End. There are plenty of places where you can find dinner in Soho or Covent Garden when you arrive.

You can see my recommendations for restaurants in London if you need help choosing somewhere to eat. From casual spots to fine dining establishments, it has a range of options to choose from.

Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square are always exciting in the evenings, too. It’s worth wandering through one or both before or after you eat.

If you want to end your day in style, it’s fun to take the tube to South Kensington to experience the nightlife scene around Walton Street and the King’s Road in Chelsea.

Alternatively, you can take an open-top bus tour to get more of an overview of the city. It’s an easy way to discover what London has to offer in a short amount of time. You can book tickets here.

Day 2

You can kick off the second morning of your 4-day London itinerary with coffee or breakfast in Bloomsbury or Fitzrovia. From Store Street to Lamb’s Conduit Street, there are fun local places to choose from.

After eating you can walk over to the British Museum. It’s a treasure trove of antiquities from all over the world, and morning is an ideal time to visit because there are fewer crowds.

The British Museum is big enough to take up an entire day of sightseeing in London, so you’ll want to stick to the highlights. The Egyptian rooms and Rosetta Stone are musts for first-time visitors. There’s free entry, so you can stay for as long as you feel like.

When you’ve finished seeing the parts of the collection you’re interested in, you can head to the museum’s stunning Great Court for a light lunch in the cafe or restaurant.

Alternatively, Charlotte Street has fun places to eat and it’s in easy walking distance of the museum. In fact, it’s one of the best places to eat near London’s top attractions.

After lunch, continue the second of your 4 days in London by boarding the Central line of the tube and taking it to Notting Hill Gate.

Notting Hill is known for its vibrant colors, and everything from Portobello Road Market to the restaurants, shops, and mews is delightful.

My free self-guided Notting Hill walk is a great way to get an overview of the area, from the highlights to the local streets.

After exploring the neighborhood, you can walk to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. The formal garden by Kensington Palace is one of my favorite green spaces in the city, and with 4 days in London, walking under its vine arches is a must.

The Serpentine water feature in Hyde Park is always fun to wander around, and the Diana Memorial Fountain is worth seeing as well.

After exploring the park, you’ll probably be ready to rest your feet. There’s no better way to do it than by indulging in afternoon tea.

There are lots of delicious offerings in the area, so you’ll have no problem finding one that appeals (just make sure to book well in advance).

From The Dorchester to The Lanesborough, The Berkeley to the Mandarin Oriental, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to Claridge’s, The Goring to The Halkin, The Ritz, Brown’s, and Fortnum & Mason, this part of London is replete with options for afternoon tea.

After tea, continue the second of your 4 days in London by walking or taking the tube to the West End to go to a show. There are plenty of musicals, plays, and comedy acts you can attend on any given night in London.

The city has a world-class theater scene, so whether you’re interested in going to a musical in Soho or a drama in Covent Garden, there’s always something exciting to see.

If you’re hungry after the show, you can take advantage of the late opening hours of many of the West End’s best restaurants.

If you’re in the mood for nightlife, there are plenty of places you can find it in this part of the city. My favorite is Cahoots, a travel-themed bar in Kingly Court.

Other fun places include Ronnie Scott’s jazz club, the pubs dotted throughout the West End, and bars like Mr Fogg’s Tavern.

Day 3

Start the next morning of your 4-day London itinerary with a trip to Covent Garden. You can walk through the famous piazza to see what’s on in the markets and shops.

Afterwards you can explore the area around Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials, Mercer Walk, and St Martin’s Courtyard. There are always plenty of places to duck into and bright colors to spark the senses.

None of the streets are at right angles here, so you can enjoy letting yourself get lost for a while, too.

When you’re done exploring, you can continue your day by heading to Piccadilly and Mayfair. These chi chi areas are home to luxury goods shops, famous department stores, fine-dining restaurants, and the beautiful curving stretch of Regent Street.

You can go on my free Mayfair walk if you want to see the highlights. It will take you around to hidden mews, pretty gardens, and beautiful side streets locals love.

Mayfair is an ideal place to stop for lunch, too. Whether you eat at a casual cafe on Heddon Street, dine at a tucked-away place in Shepherd Market, or go all-out on a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you can’t go wrong for lunch in this area.

After lunch, cross Oxford Street to get to Marylebone. This is another of my favorite London neighborhoods, not least because it has one of the best high streets in London.

There are loads of boutiques, pubs, cafes, and shops on Marylebone High Street. They’re great places to get into London’s culinary and retail scenes.

From chic boutiques to recognizable high street names, there’s something for everyone here. My favorite place to shop in Marylebone is Daunt Books. It’s one of the top (and most impressive) independent bookshops in London.

If you want to, you can go on my free self-guided Marylebone walk to explore the neighborhood. It will take you around to some pretty mews and local gardens.

When you’re done in Marylebone, head over to Regent’s Park. This is one of the grandest green spaces in London, and it’s a fun place for a stroll. If it’s summer, make sure to check out the stunning rose gardens.

After walking around the park you can head north to get to Camden. This area is home to fun markets and great restaurants, pubs, and bars.

You can continue your 4-day London itinerary by browsing the wares in Camden Market. This place is a great spot to pick up souvenirs and gifts. There are lots of restaurants and food stalls, too, so it’s a great spot to get dinner.

If you have energy for going out afterwards, there are famous bars and clubs on and around Camden High Street. They’re exciting places to end the third night of your trip to London.

Day 4

On the last day of your 4-day London itinerary, I recommend exploring one of the city’s beloved local neighborhoods.

Whether you love village-like atmosphere, big parks, riverfront scenery, or rich history, there’s a place for you. I’ve listed some of my favorites below to give you ideas.

You can read about additional under-the-radar places in the city in Secret London – An Unusual Guide. You can get the book here.

Hampstead

Hampstead is my favorite London neighborhood. I spent years living here and I still go back every chance I get. Up in north London, it’s easily accessible by tube and it has enough to see and do for a full day in the city.

Hampstead is right for you if you love the idea of an English village conveniently located in London. The streets are full of picturesque houses and the neighborhood has one of the city’s wildest parks.

You can start your day in Hampstead with breakfast on or around Hampstead High Street. There are cute cafes on Perrin’s Court and Flask Walk.

After breakfast you can browse the shops. There are plenty of great boutiques on the high street and Heath Street. You can find everything from kitchenware to clothing and accessories here.

When you’re done shopping, it’s fun to meander around the area. Church Row, Holly Walk, Flask Walk, and Mansfield Place are local favorites, but it’s hard to go wrong in Hampstead.

My free self-guided Hampstead walk has a route and map that can help you find the best places.

When you’re hungry for lunch, beat a path to the Holly Bush, my favorite pub in London. It’s tucked away on a side street, and it has a warren of rooms that will transport you back in time.

When you’re finished, it’s off to Hampstead Heath for a walk with great views of London from Parliament Hill. Kenwood House, a stately home in London, is fun to explore as well.

In the late afternoon you can head to South End Green to shop at Daunt Books and have a drink at one of the many pubs with beer gardens in the area.

When you’re done exploring, you can stroll back up to Hampstead High Street for dinner at a local restaurant. Whether you choose a classic Italian place like Villa Bianca or a beloved Japanese restaurant like Jin Kichi, you can’t go wrong.

Greenwich

Greenwich is another of the loveliest London neighborhoods, and it’s a great place to spend the last day of your 4-day London itinerary.

Located in the southeast of the city, it’s best reached by boat from central London. The ride is one of the highlights of spending a day here, and it’s great to take in the views of London from the Thames. You can book tickets here.

Greenwich is perfect for history lovers and stargazers. It has more museums per square foot than seemingly any other part of London, and it’s home to the Royal Observatory of Greenwich Mean Time fame.

This is a great place to add to your itinerary for 4 days in London if you love digging into the past, staring at the night sky, or enjoying good views.

The shopping is good, too. Whether you’re into high street shops or historic markets, Greenwich has you covered.

If that all appeals, you can start your day in Greenwich with the aforementioned boat ride. It will drop you off right in the heart of Maritime Greenwich.

From the waterfront you can take in the Cutty Sark, a 19th-century British clipper ship. You can tour it if you want to, or just admire it from the outside.

From the ship you can head to the National Maritime Museum. This place is packed with all things British history, and its wealth of treasures and interactive exhibits make it fun for all ages. It offers free entry, so you can stay for as long as you’d like.

Afterwards you can duck into the chapel of the Old Royal Naval College to see the amazing painted ceiling. This place has been used as a filming location for many movies and TV shows, so you might recognize it.

The same goes for the buildings that make up the Old Royal Naval College. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, they’re not only beautiful to see, but also popular places to film.

From the college it’s a short walk to the 17th-century Queen’s House. It’s a stunning example of Palladian architecture with an amazing spiral staircase. It offers free entry, too, so it’s easy to pop in and explore for a bit.

From the Queen’s House you can head to lunch at the famous covered market in Greenwich. This place has a range of stalls selling all kinds of prepared foods, so you’re bound to find something that appeals. There are sweet treats, too.

After lunch, you can walk into Greenwich Park and up the hill to the Royal Observatory. This place is a fun one to explore, especially if you’re interested in all things astronomy. You can book tickets here.

It’s fun to stand with one foot on either side of the Prime Meridian and soak up the spectacular views of London from the top of the hill in Greenwich Park.

When you’ve finished taking in the views, you can walk back down into Greenwich and explore the side streets and their colorful doors. There are lots of pretty streets and lanes around here, and they’re worth discovering.

If you want to see the best of the neighborhood, my free self-guided Greenwich walk will take you to all the places I mentioned above.

When it’s time for dinner, you have lots of options. The area has great pubs, including the famous Trafalgar Tavern. You can watch the waves splash against the outer walls here when it’s high tide on the Thames.

After dinner you can end your day with a boat trip back into central London. It’s a fun way to see the sights at night.

Richmond

In the southwest, Richmond is a third London neighborhood that’s worth a special trip. It’s easy to get to by tube or train from central London, and it makes a great destination for the last day of your 4-day London itinerary.

Home to a lovely riverfront area, a park filled with deer, and great shops and restaurants, Richmond is perfect if you like being outdoors and you want to feel like a local in London.

You can start your day out in Richmond with breakfast at one of the area’s many cafes. Whether you choose a familiar chain or an independent number, there are lots of good options.

When you’re done eating, you can explore the side streets. The lanes, walks, and courts that radiate from the high street are full of sweet surprises (not to mention Ted Lasso filming locations).

Richmond Green is idyllic, too. If you’re lucky, you might see a local cricket match going on while you’re walking around. If you need some direction, my free self-guided Richmond walk can help.

When you’re done exploring, you can browse the shops on the high street. There are all kinds of recognizable names and fun boutiques on and around the area’s main thoroughfare.

After shopping, it’s fun to head to lunch at a riverside pub. They’re great places to soak up the sun and watch the boats go by on the Thames.

You can take a walk along the river afterwards. Whether you want a short stroll or a longer one, the Thames Path will give you options. You can even walk all the way to Ham House, a National Trust property in London. It’s worth touring if you like history.

After your walk you can head up the hill to Richmond Park. Like Hampstead Heath, it’s one of the city’s largest and most beautiful green spaces.

Richmond Park is famous for its deer, too, so make sure to have your camera ready as you’re meandering. They’re amazing to see up close.

If you want some direction, you can see some routes for free self-guided walks on my blog post about park walks in London.

When the sun starts to sink, head back into the neighborhood for dinner at one of the restaurants or pubs near the high street, then hop on the tube or a train back to central London.

Belgravia, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge

If you want to stay closer to central London on the last day of your trip, I recommend exploring Belgravia, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge. These areas in central and west London are some of my favorite places in the city.

From pretty shops to famous streets and leafy squares, the neighborhoods have a lot to offer. Whether you want to go shopping, have a leisurely lunch, find a hidden pub, or just get to know local areas, there’s plenty to do here.

You can start your day with breakfast at one of the cafes on Elizabeth Street in Belgravia. Afterwards you can admire the floral facades the area is famous for.

When you’re done, it’s a short walk to Sloane Square. Here you’ll find yourself at the west end of the King’s Road in Chelsea. It’s one of the most famous shopping streets in the city, and it’s a great place to browse and buy. If it’s a Saturday, don’t miss the food market in Duke of York Square.

If not, there are plenty of places to find lunch as you go. The restaurants on Pavilion Road are excellent, and tucked-away pubs like The Phene, The Phoenix, and The Surprise are fun places to lunch like a local. And that’s to say nothing of No. 50 Cheyne. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants in London.

After eating you can make your way up Sloane Street to get to Knightsbridge. This area is famous for its department stores. Harrods and Harvey Nichols are musts if you love shopping.

When you’re done, you can walk or take the tube down Brompton Road to South Kensington. When you arrive, you can have dinner at one of the many restaurants around the station. It’s a fun place to cap off your last night in London.

Itinerary Map

4 Days in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed this 4-day London itinerary and that it’s given you good ideas for things to do in the city. If you want more, you can take a look at my themed itineraries for London.

I’ve published plenty of other day-by-day London itineraries, too. You can take a look at my 1-day, 36-hour, 2-day, 48-hour, 3-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, 1 week, 8-day, 9-day, and 10-day itineraries for more inspiration.

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