Photo: Copernicus Sentinel-2, ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo on Wikimedia Commons
A week and a day with London as the base: four days on foot and by Tube with the abbey, the museums, the river and Greenwich, then Oxford by train, two days in the Cotswolds by car, and Windsor Castle by train to finish. One big sight a day, and a pub lunch most days.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
A day of big names, close together. Start at the abbey, walk past Parliament to the palace, then finish with a great square and a great gallery.
The great church where kings and queens are crowned and where many famous people are buried. Walk the nave slowly and look for Poets’ Corner.
Go when Morning, as early as you can.
Local tip Check ahead, as the abbey closes for services and special events. Look for the small corner of the poets, which is easy to miss.
The long Gothic building on the river, with the clock tower at one end. Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the tower. Look at it from Westminster Bridge.
Go when Morning, from Westminster Bridge.
Local tip The best view of the whole building is from the middle of the bridge, with the river in front. Tours inside are arranged ahead, so check first.
The home of the royal family in London, at the end of a wide tree-lined road. Look at it from the gates and the memorial in front. Check ahead for the Changing of the Guard and for what is open.
Go when Late morning, if the Changing of the Guard is on.
Local tip Walk to the palace through the park rather than along the road. The Changing of the Guard is not held every day, so check ahead.
A traditional pub serves a pie, a sandwich or a plate of cheese and bread with a pint or a pot of tea. Choose an old pub with wood and brass inside.
Local tip Order at the bar, and you usually find your own table.
The great open square with the tall column for Admiral Nelson, four stone lions and two fountains. A place to sit and watch London go by.
Go when Afternoon, between the gallery and dinner.
Local tip Sit on the steps at the north end beside the gallery, where you can see the whole square, the column and the fountains.
A museum of European painting on the north side of the square, from the Middle Ages to the 1800s. Choose a few rooms and take your time.
Go when Afternoon, then rest in the square outside.
Local tip Choose a century and stay in it. The small rooms of the early Italian painters are quieter than the great halls.
A British pie is a pastry case filled with slow-cooked meat in gravy, served with mashed potato and peas. A warm, filling dinner after a day of walking.
Local tip Look for the pies with a lid on top, and order mash and gravy on the side.
A day that runs west to east, from a great museum to the old city and its fortress. Plenty of walking, a good place for the Tube in between.
One of the great museums of the world, with treasures from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and the Rosetta Stone. Choose two or three rooms and stay with them.
Go when Morning, as soon as it opens.
Local tip Go straight to the Rosetta Stone and the Egyptian rooms before the crowds build, then wander. No one sees it all in a day.
The grand domed church designed by Christopher Wren. Look at the dome from outside, step in and look up, then decide if you want to climb. Check ahead for visiting.
Go when Midday, after the museum.
Local tip Look at the dome from the steps first. If you climb, the Whispering Gallery lets you hear a voice from the far side. Check ahead for the climb.
Crisp battered fish and thick chips, with salt and vinegar and sometimes mushy peas. A classic that has been a London meal for generations.
Local tip Take it out and eat it on a bench by the river if the weather is kind.
A fortress and palace on the river, home of the Crown Jewels and of the guards called Yeoman Warders. Allow a good part of the afternoon.
Go when Afternoon, with plenty of time to spare.
Local tip Join a talk by one of the guards, called Yeoman Warders, who tell the history with a lot of humor. Look for the ravens on the lawn.
The famous bridge with two stone towers and blue steel. Walk across it, then look back from the riverbank. It still lifts for tall ships, so check ahead for a lift.
Go when Around sunset (about 9:19 PM), when the lights come on.
Local tip Cross on foot, then walk a short way along the north bank and look back. That is the view people photograph.
Brick Lane in the East End has been known for its curry houses for years. Choose one that is busy and share a few dishes.
Local tip Walk the street first and look at the menus in the windows before you sit down.
A long, flat walk along the south side of the Thames, with a market, a theater, an art museum and a big wheel. Easy and lively.
Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, grilled tomato and toast, with a mug of tea. A big, traditional start to a long walking day.
Local tip Share one if you do not want a heavy morning.
One of the oldest food markets in London, in the railway arches near London Bridge. Check which days it trades, and come hungry.
Go when Late morning, before the lunch crowds.
Local tip Walk the whole market once before you buy anything, then go back to the stall that looked best.
The market has stalls selling food from around the world as well as British cheese and pies. Walk the aisles and graze on a few things.
Local tip Walk the whole market once before you buy, and eat on the steps nearby if it is crowded.
A rebuilding of the open-air theater where Shakespeare’s plays were staged, on the river. Visit the building, or see a play if the season suits. Check ahead.
Go when Midday, on a walk along the river.
Local tip The theater is open to the sky, so a play there is a different thing from an indoor one. Check ahead if you want to see a show.
A museum of modern and contemporary art inside a huge old power station. Walk through the great hall and pick one or two floors.
Go when Afternoon, then walk out along the river.
Local tip Go up to the viewing level at the top for a wide look over the city before you leave.
The big wheel on the river, with a slow turn and a view over Parliament and the city. Book a time ahead.
Go when Early evening, around sunset (about 9:19 PM), with a time booked ahead.
Local tip Choose a clear evening. The slow turn takes you high over Parliament and the river.
A strip of restaurants and food stalls along the river. A good place to eat and watch the lights come up across the water.
Local tip Book ahead for a table with a river view, or walk a few streets back for a quieter one.
A day downriver in a village of ships and observatories. Take the train or a river boat from the center and make the day slow.
A fast tea clipper from the 1800s, saved and raised up on a dry dock. Walk underneath it and look at the hull from below.
Go when Morning, when the village is quiet.
Local tip Walk underneath the hull to see the copper plates and the sweep of the ship from below.
A grand group of stone buildings by the river, designed by Christopher Wren. Walk through the courtyards, and look in at the Painted Hall if you have time.
Go when Midday, when the stone is warm.
Local tip Stand between the two matching buildings and look through to the Queen’s House beyond. It is a view people stop for.
A British custom of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and small cakes, served with a pot of tea. A slow, sweet pause in the day.
Local tip Book a table ahead, and go a little hungry, since the cakes keep coming.
A covered market of crafts, snacks and small stalls in the middle of the village. Check which days it is busiest.
Go when Early afternoon, once the day is warm.
Local tip Walk the stalls and the lanes around them, which hold small shops and cafes. Check which days it is busiest.
The covered market has food stalls with something for everyone, from pies to noodles. Take a plate to a bench in the lanes around it.
Local tip Look at the side lanes around the market for quieter small cafes.
The old observatory on the hill, where the Prime Meridian is marked on the ground. Stand with a foot on each side, then look over the river and the skyline.
Go when Late afternoon, with the light low over the river.
Local tip Take the path up through the park. Walk back down in the evening for the view of the skyline.
Greenwich has old pubs by the river, some with a table outside. A pie or a fish dish and a drink as the light falls is a good end to the day.
Local tip Sit outside if the evening is mild, and take a jumper because the river breeze cools.
A day trip by train to the university town of old stone colleges. Everything is within an easy walk of the center.
One of the oldest museums in the country, with art and archaeology from around the world. Pick a floor and enjoy it.
Go when Morning, as soon as you arrive.
Local tip Choose one floor and stay there. The rooms of Egyptian and Greek pieces are a good start.
One of the oldest libraries in Europe, around a stone courtyard. Walk into the quad and look at the carved doors. Check ahead for tours.
Go when Midday, on the way to the next stop.
Local tip Walk into the old courtyard and look at the tower with the painted doors. Check ahead if you want a guided tour.
Oxford’s old covered market is a maze of small shops, cafes and food counters. A pie, a sandwich or a pastry is an easy lunch between the colleges.
Local tip Take your lunch to a college lawn or a bench by the river if the weather is fine.
The round, domed library on the square, one of the best-known sights in Oxford. Look at it from the square, as the building itself is a reading room.
Go when Afternoon, in the soft light.
Local tip Stand in the middle of the square and turn around slowly. You can see the college towers all around.
A grand college with a cathedral inside it and a great staircase you may know from the Harry Potter films. Check ahead for how visits are arranged.
Go when Afternoon, then walk down to the meadow beside it.
Local tip Check ahead, since the college and its cathedral close for events. The meadow behind it is free to walk and quiet.
The streets around the center hold many small restaurants and old pubs that suit students and visitors. Choose by the menu in the window.
Local tip Eat early if you want a quiet table, because the town fills up in the evening.
A day by car through small honey-stone villages. Three stops, slow roads and no need to hurry. The villages are small, so plan to park at the edge and walk.
A row of old stone cottages by a stream, once homes for weavers. A much-visited lane, so come early.
Go when Early morning, before the visitors arrive.
Local tip Park at the edge of the village. The lane is narrow and the cottages are private homes, so look and do not linger.
A warm scone with jam and clotted cream, served with a pot of tea. Many village tea rooms serve it in the afternoon.
Local tip Split the scone, add jam and then a spoonful of cream, and eat it with your hands.
A village with a shallow river running through the middle, crossed by low stone bridges. Walk beside the water and sit on the grass.
Go when Midday, with a pub lunch beside the water.
Local tip Walk away from the main street to the quieter bank, where there is room to sit and the bridges look best.
A stone pub with a fire and low beams, serving a pie, a pot of soup or a plate of local cheese. Many have a garden by the river.
Local tip Book ahead on a weekend, because the villages fill up.
A hilltop market town around a big square, with old inns and antique shops on the streets. A good stop for a late afternoon tea.
Go when Late afternoon, when the square turns gold.
Local tip Look for the narrow alleys that run off the square, with doors low enough to bump your head. They were made for sheep.
The Cotswolds are full of old coaching inns that serve a short menu of local meat and vegetables. Pick one with a fire and linger over dinner.
Local tip Book ahead, and plan who drives afterward, as the roads are dark and narrow.
A second day by car, on the northern edge of the hills: a tower on a ridge, a handsome high street and a famous garden.
A tower folly on a hilltop above the village of Broadway, with views across the countryside on a clear day. Walk around it and look out.
Go when Morning, on a clear day.
Local tip It sits on a hilltop, so expect a walk up. On a clear day the view is far, so check the weather before you go.
A market town with a curving high street of golden stone houses and an old market hall. A good town for a slow stroll.
Go when Afternoon, with no plan and a cream tea.
Local tip Walk the whole curve of the high street, then look up at the roofs. The honey-colored stone is the point.
A traditional pub lunch of cheese, crusty bread, pickle, an apple and a salad. Simple, filling and very English.
Local tip Ask for the local cheese, and a small pickle to go with it.
A famous garden made of linked outdoor rooms, hedges and long views. Check ahead for the season and for how visits work.
Go when Late afternoon, when the light is soft.
Local tip Check ahead for the season and visits. The garden is made of small rooms, so go through them one by one.
After the garden, eat in a village on your route back toward Oxford or London, rather than rushing the drive. A pub supper is easy and warm.
Local tip Fill the tank before dinner, and leave time to return the car calmly.
A last day by train, west of London: a royal castle on a hill, a famous school across the river and a very long avenue of trees.
The oldest castle in the world that is still lived in. Walk the grounds and the state rooms. Check ahead for what is open, because it is a working royal home.
Go when Morning, once the train arrives.
Local tip Check ahead for what is open, because it is a working royal home. Walk around the outside of the walls to take in the size.
A Gothic chapel inside the castle walls, where many kings and queens are buried and royal weddings are held. Check ahead for visiting, as services take place.
Go when Morning, as part of the castle visit.
Local tip Look up at the carved stone ceiling and the banners along the sides. Check ahead, as services affect visits.
Roast beef or chicken with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy is the traditional Sunday meal. It is best on a Sunday, so on another day choose a pub lunch.
Local tip Order a roast with all the trimmings, and share a pudding after.
The famous school across the river, founded in the 1400s. Walk over the bridge and along the high street, and look at the old buildings from the street.
Go when Afternoon, after the castle.
Local tip Walk over the footbridge and along the high street. Look at the old school buildings from the street, as the school is private.
A very long avenue of trees that runs south from the castle gates into the great park. Walk as far as you like and turn back.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 9:19 PM), when the light is gold on the trees.
Local tip Walk as far as the avenue lets you, then turn around. The castle looks best from the far end.
Back in the city, choose a favorite from the week, a pub, a pie or a curry, and have a last relaxed dinner.
Local tip Pack before you go out, so the last morning is easy.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to September are the most comfortable months for walking around London. This plan is built for early June, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 8 days in London, planned for early June. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 0.5 to 19.3 miles between its stops, and 35.8 miles in all across 8 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
5 days in the CotswoldsAbout 90 km awayAn easy add-on
4 days in Manchester and LiverpoolAbout 240 km away
6 days in Normandy by carAbout 260 km awayMore Culture & Discovery trips ›More trips in United Kingdom ›
Other guides with a page about London. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageLondon, the free travel guideCondé Nast TravelerLondon travel guideTime OutThings to do in LondonThe GuardianLondon travel featuresEaterWhere to eat in LondonThe InfatuationRestaurant guide to LondonPhoto: Robinson, Joseph Armitage… on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Joadl, CC BY-SA 3.0 at on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
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