Photo: Copernicus Sentinel-2, ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo on Wikimedia Commons
The 8-day plan, rearranged for 4 days: the best-ranked places stay, and each day keeps to one part of town.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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 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.
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.
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.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
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.
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.
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 4 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 3.3 to 52.5 miles between its stops, and 70.5 miles in all across 4 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: Øyvind Holmstad, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Robinson, Joseph Armitage… on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Saffron Blaze, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: [Duncan], CC BY 2.0 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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