Today I want to bring you my travel itinerary for 10 days in London. This is a great amount of time to see the highlights of the UK capital and explore places further afield. Whatever your interests, you can find plenty of ways to fill your time in London and experience places locals love.
10 Days in London
One of the things I like most about being a travel blogger is helping people plan trips. Whether it’s through my blog posts or my travel planning services, I always enjoy helping my readers have a richer experience in London or abroad.
I often get asked how to spend 10 days in London, and today I want to share the official A Lady in London itinerary for 1 week and 3 days in the UK capital.
I’ve shared lots of London itineraries before, and I hope you’ll like this one as much as you’ve enjoyed the rest. You can also take a look at my 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, and 1 week itineraries for more inspiration.
There’s no right or wrong way to spend your time here. This itinerary has a mix of the big sights and the local places Londoners love.
You can tweak it to fit your personal style and interests, but I hope it gives you a good overview of what the city has to offer. You can use my London travel guide to find things for your specific interests and fill in any gaps, too.
Where to Stay in London
There are plenty of options for accommodation in London. Whether you want to stay in a hotel or apartment, the city has an abundance of places to choose from.
Given the UK capital is huge, basing yourself in or near the city center is a good idea. You can see my blog posts about the best area to stay in London and the best hotels for your style for more ideas.
You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here. With so many options, you’re bound to find a place you love.
Day 1 in London: Westminster and Buckingham Palace
After you’ve arrived and settled into your hotel, there’s no better place to start a trip than Buckingham Palace. You can time your visit to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony, or just admire the monarch’s London residence from the gates.
If your trip coincides with the seasonal opening, you can also take a tour of Buckingham Palace. It’s a fun way to see the state rooms and gardens while you’re in town. You can book tickets here.
From the palace you can walk through St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade and Westminster. This area is home to some of the most iconic London landmarks, and it’s what many people think of when they hear the word “London”.
Westminster Abbey is lovely to behold, Big Ben is a must on any London itinerary, and the Houses of Parliament are stunning. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament. You can book tickets here.
You can also do my self-guided Westminster walk if you want to see more of the area beyond the big attractions. It will take you to some of the side streets and hidden spaces locals love.
In the evening, I recommend having a casual dinner near where you’re staying. If you’re feeling jet lagged or you had to wake up early to travel, you’re probably going to be tired.
You can see my recommendations for restaurants in London if you need help finding a place.
If you do have energy left, I recommend taking an open-top bus tour to get a feel for the city. It’s a great way to get an overview of what London has to offer at the start of your trip. You can book tickets here.
Day 2 in London: South Bank and the City
Start the second of your 10 days in London by exploring the South Bank. Right on the Thames, it’s the perfect place to soak up the views from the London Eye or just wander through the book market or along the river. You can book London Eye tickets here.
There are always pop-ups, street performers, and other entertainment, so it’s fun to wander along the Thames and see what’s on.
As you make your way from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, you’ll pass Tate Modern and Borough Market, two more of the city’s most beloved landmarks.
The museum is an amazing place to visit, and the fact that it’s free means it’s easy to go in for as long or little as you want. There are great views from the top of the Blavatnik Building as well.
Borough Market is the ideal place to find foodie inspiration and grab something delicious for lunch. I always enjoy wandering around to soak up the colors and scents of the stalls.
After visiting the market you can cross London Bridge to get into the City of London, admiring the views of Tower Bridge on the way.
From the iconic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the hidden lanes around Bank station, this part of London always awes me with its abundance of architectural history. You can do my self-guided City of London walk if you want to see the highlights.
If not, make your way over to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You can tour the tower and the bridge if you want to, or just admire them from the outside. You can book Tower of London tickets here.
For dinner, I recommend walking across Tower Bridge and going to Bermondsey Street. This is a local favorite, and there are lots of great pubs and restaurants to choose from. Whether you want tapas or fish and chips, you can find it here.
Day 3 in London: Notting Hill and the West End
I recommend starting the third of your 10 days in London in Notting Hill. This west London neighborhood is brimming with color. You’ll find everything from the shops to the mews streets delightful.
If it’s a Saturday, you’ll be able to experience the famous Portobello Road Market in its full glory. I recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds.
If it’s not a Saturday, I still recommend going and checking out the market stalls and shops that are open when you visit. There’s some form of market on here almost every day.
Beyond the market, my self-guided Notting Hill walk is a great way to see the highlights of the neighborhood. It will show you everything from the high streets to the hidden corners.
You can have lunch in Notting Hill, then walk down into Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park for the afternoon. There’s plenty to see and do here, from the Serpentine lake to the art galleries and Kensington Palace.
When the sun starts to go down, I recommend taking the tube or walking through Mayfair to get to Soho and Covent Garden. They’re some of the most exciting places in central London.
There are plenty of good options for eating and drinking around here, and Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Covent Garden Piazza, and Leicester Square are always fun places to be in London at night.
You can have dinner in the West End before going to see a show. Whether you eat at a classic restaurant like Rules or one of the many new ones opening all the time, you can’t go wrong in this part of the city.
There are always plenty of plays and musicals on, and they’re a great way to cap off a day of exploring London. From dramas to comedies and farces, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to options.
If you’re still up for going out after a show, there’s any number of bars and pubs in Soho and Covent Garden you can enjoy. They’re great ways to get into London’s nightlife scene.
My favorite is Cahoots, a London Underground-themed speakeasy just off Carnaby Street. It’s one of my favorite travel-themed bars in the city.
Day 4 in London: Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and South Kensington
Start the fourth of your 10 days in London in Belgravia. This upscale area is full of cute cafes and shops, particularly those on Elizabeth Street.
You can do my self-guided Belgravia walking tour to see the highlights of the area, or just stroll around the leafy squares and hidden mews. Highlights include Motcomb Street, Pimlico Road, and Belgrave Square.
From Belgravia, make your way to Sloane Square and the King’s Road in Chelsea. This is a great place to shop and dine, and you can find lunch at any number of restaurants here.
If it’s a Saturday, don’t miss the food market in Duke of York Square. If it’s not, there’s still plenty to do here. The King’s Road is one of the best shopping streets in London, after all.
If you want to, you can do my self-guided Chelsea walk to see more of the area’s side streets and riverfront.
From Chelsea, you can make your way up to Knightsbridge for some shopping at famous department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols, or walk over to South Kensington to explore the museums.
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are right next to each other. They all offer free entry, so you can spend as much or as little time exploring them as you want to.
In the evening you can have dinner at one of the restaurants outside the South Kensington tube station. There are plenty of different cuisines to choose from.
If you want to end your evening in style, there’s great nightlife around Walton Street and the King’s Road. From pubs to bars and clubs, you have a lot of options.
Day 5 in London: Hampstead, Camden, and King’s Cross
Start the fifth of your 10 days in London in Hampstead. This north London neighborhood is one of my favorite places in the city, not least because it feels like a country village.
With charming streets, cozy pubs, and one of the city’s biggest parks, it’s a great place to explore. I lived here for years and I still go back as often as I can.
You can walk around the village on your own, or do my self-guided Hampstead walk or one of my Hampstead Heath walks to see the area.
I recommend having lunch at one of the local pubs or a restaurant on Hampstead High Street. My favorites include the Holly Bush, Jin Kichi, and Villa Bianca. The crepe stands are fun, too.
After lunch, you can walk or take the tube down the hill to Camden. This place is home to a number of markets, including Camden Market, Buck Street Market, and Hawley Wharf.
You can spend some time browsing the stalls while you’re here. Don’t miss To Home From London’s shops, where you can get items from the A Lady in London collection to take home as souvenirs.
After the market, walk along Regent’s Canal to get to King’s Cross. The area around Granary Square is packed with great shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. It’s a good place to get dinner.
Day 6 in London: Day Trip
I recommend taking a day trip from London on the sixth of your 10 days in London. As much as there is to do in the city, there are a lot of great places to discover around it.
If you love the English countryside, my top pick is a day trip to the Cotswolds. You can go independently with or without a car, or on a day tour. You can book a tour here.
There are lots of pretty towns and villages in the Cotswolds to choose from. Some of my favorites include Painswick, Bibury, and Upper Slaughter.
If you love the seaside, Brighton, Hastings, and Deal are my favorites. They all have great beaches and plenty of shops and restaurants to discover.
If history is your cup of tea, Winchester, Bath, Canterbury and Dover, Lewes, and Amersham are great. Amersham is so close you can even take the tube.
And if you love university cities, look no further than Oxford and Cambridge. These iconic places are some of my favorite escapes from the UK capital.
If you want to go further afield, you can even take a day trip to Paris from London. There are other day trips from London to Europe that make for fun adventues, too.
If you’re looking for seasonal trips, you can take a look at my guides to spring, summer, autumn, and winter day trips from London for ideas.
Day 7 in London: Bloomsbury, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, and Hackney
Back in London, I recommend spending the seventh of your 10 days in the UK capital exploring more of the city center and the East End.
Start in Bloomsbury, where you can go to the British Museum or just walk around taking in the leafy squares. My self-guided Bloomsbury walk can help you see the best of the area.
From there it’s a short walk to Clerkenwell. Here you can discover London’s design district and walk over to places like Exmouth Market or St John Street for lunch at one of the many good restaurants.
St John restaurant is a favorite of mine, as is the Fox & Anchor pub, which is right around the corner.
You can do my Clerkenwell walking tour if you want to, too. It will take you around the neighborhood and to places like Smithfield and Holborn.
Clerkenwell is a short walk from Old Street, where you can explore Shoreditch. This hip area is famous for its nightlife scene, so if you can time your arrival for dinner-and-drinks o’clock, you’ll get to see the neighborhood at its best.
If you have time beforehand, you can do one of my self-guided Shoreditch walks or check out the street art the area is known for. My favorite is on New Inn Yard.
If you have energy left later in the night, head to Hackney. This is one of the coolest neighborhoods in London, and it has a great nightlife scene. The same goes for nearby Hackney Wick, which is one of the most hipster areas in the city.
Day 8 in London: St James’s, Mayfair, and Marylebone
Start the eighth of your 10 days in London in St James’s. This elegant part of the city is known for its royal palace, men’s shops, luxury hotels, and members’ clubs.
You can walk down Jermyn Street and Piccadilly, and pop into famous department stores like Fortnum & Mason.
When you’re done exploring, walk across Piccadilly to Mayfair. This luxurious area is home to luxury goods shops, high-end restaurants, and the famous curving stretch of Regent Street. You can do my Mayfair walk if you want to explore the area in depth.
Mayfair is a great place to have a meal or afternoon tea. Whether you go to a casual place on Heddon Street or spring for a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you can’t go wrong for lunch.
When it comes to tea, I love Brown’s Hotel afternoon tea and the jaw-dropping yellow room at Sketch.
After lunch or tea, walk across Oxford Street 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 lots of great restaurants and shops on Marylebone High Street, and they’re great places to get into London’s retail therapy scene.
From boutiques to high street names, you’re spoiled for choice. My favorite place to shop in Marylebone is Daunt Books. It’s one of the best (and most beautiful) independent bookshops in London.
If you want to, you can use my self-guided Marylebone walk to discover more of the area. It will take you around to some hidden mews and gardens.
After you’ve gotten your Marylebone fix, walk north to Regent’s Park. This is one of the best green spaces in London, and it’s a fun place to walk around. If it’s summer, don’t miss the stunning rose gardens.
When the sun starts to go down, you can head back to Marylebone High Street for dinner, or leave via one of the other exits of the park and have dinner in pretty Primrose Hill, fun Camden, or classic Fitzrovia.
Day 9 in London: Greenwich or Day Trip
On the ninth of your 10 days in London I recommend either taking the boat to Greenwich or going on another day trip.
If you choose the former, you can book boat tickets here. You’ll be able to dive into London’s maritime past, see a historic royal residence, take in famous filming locations, and discover the home of Greenwich Mean Time.
You’ll also be able to enjoy great shops, cafes, and restaurants. Greenwich Market has fun souvenirs and delicious food, too. And that’s to say nothing of the riverfront pubs in the area. The Trafalgar Tavern gets splashed with waves at high tide.
Greenwich is home to the National Maritime Museum the Queen’s House, both of which offer free entry. The former has great exhibits and exhibitions, and the latter is a former royal residence with a good art collection.
Greenwich Park has one of the best views in London, not least because you can see through the two towers of the Old Royal Naval College to the skyscrapers in Canary Wharf on the other side of the river.
The park is not only a great place to walk, but also the location of two important landmarks. The first is the Royal Observatory, which you can tour. You can even stand with one foot on either side of the Prime Meridian. You can book tickets here.
The second is Ranger’s House, an English Heritage site and museum that’s known for being a filming location for the TV show Bridgerton (it’s used as the front of the Bridgerton family’s house).
If you want to see the side streets and hidden lanes, you can do my self-guided Greenwich walk. It will take you around to the highlights of the area.
In the evening, you can have dinner at one of the many restaurants and pubs in the neighborhood before heading back to central London on the train, DLR, or boat.
Day 10 in London: Departure
If you have time on your 10th day in London, I recommend spending the morning doing any last-minute shopping you didn’t have time to do or filling in any gaps in your itinerary.
Chances are you’ll have heard about some additional places while you’re in town, so this is a good opportunity to visit them. Whether it’s a local market or a museum, there’s plenty to keep you busy before you have to leave.
10 Days in London
I hope you’ve enjoyed my 10-day London itinerary. This is a great city, and there’s so much to discover here. I’ve spent years living in the UK capital, and I still don’t feel like I’ve seen it all.
If you want additional inspiration, there’s a lot more about things to do in the city in Secret London – An Unusual Guide. If you’re in the UK, you can get it here. If you’re in the US, you can get it here. Happy travels!
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