Your 3-Day London Itinerary: How To Get Around, Where To Go, & More

Home to iconic spots and attractions like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey, it’s no surprise that London is a must-visit destination for many. Since London is famous, travelers tend to flock to the city all year round.

With that, you must be prepared before flying — from where to stay, where to go, and how to get around. London is the biggest city in England and the United Kingdom, so navigating your way around might not be so easy. But hey, we’ve prepared this handy 3-day London itinerary that will be your best guide before and during your trip! Remember to take down notes to experience the best of London.

Before anything else, secure this top essential before flying: an eSIM with high-speed and stable Internet to make sure that you stay connected during your trip. 

First things first, there are six major international airports in London: Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, London Luton, London Stansted, and London Southend. While there are many possible airports where you’ll be coming from, the transportation options for each are more or less just the same. In a nutshell, you can go from any of the airports to the city center or your hotel via train, bus, taxi, car charter, and car rental. The only difference really is the train that is linked to the specific airport.

But since the main international airport in London is Heathrow, we’ll be getting into detail on the different transfer options available for you to get to London fuss-free! 

The Heathrow Express Train is probably your fastest way to Central London with only 15 minutes of travel time! From Heathrow Airport’s Terminals 2, 3, and 5, you’ll be dropped off at Paddington Station. During your journey to the city center, you’ll get to rest on comfortable seats after your flight and charge up your mobile phone with the available power sockets. While resting, don’t forget to connect to the free 4G WiFi onboard to catch up on your socials.

If you’re not exactly in a rush on your first day in London and want to experience the city in a different light, then feel free to take the subway! The travel time is much longer compared to the Heathrow Express Train — it will take about 50 minutes to get to the city center through the Tube. This option is also more affordable, so this is perfect for those traveling on a budget. 

As for the rates, it will depend on where you’re headed and the time of day you onboarded the subway.

You can also take the bus from Heathrow Airport to the city center! The National Express bus has bigger luggage space compared to that of trains. Here, you get comfortable seats, free WiFi, power sockets, and limitless views of the city. From the airport, the National Express bus will take you to London Victoria Coach Station.

You’re in London, you deserve royal treatment! Pre-booking a car charter allows you to enjoy a door-to-door service between your hotel and Heathrow Airport. There will be no waiting time and absolutely no queueing involved here, all you have to do is plot the pick-up point and time that you want to be fetched by our driver. Since you have the car all for yourself, you won’t have to worry about luggage and seat space — just sit back and relax while you wait to get to your destination. 

And hey, you get to pick your preferred car too, depending on the number of people and the amount of baggage you have. Klook’s private airport transfers offer sedans, SUVs, vans, and even buses!

If your flight is late or you just need personal space for your luggage and yourself, then getting a taxi is the most ideal transfer option for you. Taxi fares are pretty pricey, but nothing beats being dropped off at your hotel door! If convenience, maximum comfort, and 24-hour availability are what you’re looking for, then you should definitely go on a taxi ride instead. The trip will take about 45 minutes from the airport to London. Expect your travel time to be longer though, depending on the location of your hotel.

This last transfer option is the most fun and adventurous one on the list! Getting a car rental might just be your best way to explore the beautiful city of London. Apart from the big space for your bags and souvenirs you’ll buy, you also get to enjoy going around London at your own time and pace. Remember to have the staff’s number saved on your mobile so you can easily pick up and return your rented car.

See the best of London fuss-free with this handy Eurail Global Pass — perfect for travelers who want to explore not just England, but other countries in Europe too! Instead of purchasing and holding onto numerous single tickets as you go around London and beyond, you just have to keep this one pass safe and sound and use it to board major trains in Europe like Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, and Trenitalia.

Just choose your seat and pass type, and then you’re good to go! For the pass types, there are two: Flexible and Continuous. The Flexible Pass allows you to go on unlimited rides around Europe for a certain number of days, ranging from 4 days in 1 month to 15 days in 2 months. On the other hand, the Continuous Pass gives you unlimited rides for the consecutive number of days you selected, from 15 days to 3 months.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to activate your Eurail Global Pass.

One of the most important parts of any trip is finding the best hotel. There are just so many factors to consider, such as comfort and proximity to attractions and train stations, to name a few.

To help you out in deciding where to stay in London, here are some hotels that we would recommend:

Located close to Heathrow Airport, DoubleTree by Hilton promises a satisfying stay in terms of comfortability and proximity. Apart from the airport, you’ll also be close to some metro stations like Hatton Cross Underground Station and Hounslow West Underground Station. Staying here is especially convenient for those who plan to take the train to explore some attractions in the city without spending hours on travel time.

Prices start at: USD$ 104.48

Address: 745 Bath Rd, Cranford, Hounslow

The Clermont London, Charing Cross is located near London City Airport. Here, you’ll also be close to attractions in London like The National Gallery, Leicester Square, and the Royal Opera House. There are train stations conveniently located near the hotel, too: Covent Garden Underground Station and Charing Cross Station. 

Prices start at: USD$ 321.03

Address: Strand, London

There’s no better way to start your London trip than with Harry Potter! Begin your day with this 3-hour Harry Potter walking tour, where you’ll get to visit some Harry Potter film locations such as the Millennium Bridge (destroyed in the film by Death Eaters), Cecil Court (Diagon Alley), and Kings Cross Station (Platform 9¾). This walking tour is a must-experience for Potterheads who want to return to the wizarding world all over again.

After your walking tour, spend the rest of your day at Warner Bros. Studio! Inside are sets, costumes, props, and more from the Harry Potter franchise. The Warner Bros. Studio tour will take you to the films through well-put sets like the Great Hall, Forbidden Forest, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Professor Sprout’s Greenhouse, and Diagon Alley.

They also house some authentic props that will leave you in awe — hundreds of potions in the Potions Classroom, hundreds of memory vials in the Memory Cabinet, and magical items sold by Fred and George at Puking Pastilles. And to make your visit even better, don’t miss out on exploring the many original costumes like the Quidditch uniforms, Yule Ball formal wear, and the clothes worn by the characters in the last film, during the ‘19 Years Later’ scene.

If you don’t know yet, London is home to breathtaking castles and palaces that travelers can venture to! After all, London is the capital of England, the country with the most prominent royal family. With that, your trip will not be complete without a visit to these historical and architectural marvels:

Apart from the ones above, one particular castle that you should not miss out on is the iconic and remarkable Windsor Castle! Windsor Castle is known to be the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite weekend retreat. 

To make your Windsor Castle journey even better, consider getting guided tours so you’ll really get deep into the culture and history of one of London’s must-see attractions. 

After immersing yourself in London’s royalty and architecture, cap off your second day with the Phantom of the Opera Show, the most famous musical in the city! It’s even a dream for some travelers to see this musical that portrays dark romance mixed with jealousy and murder, so make sure to catch it during your London trip.

Before heading on to Greenwich (which we’ll talk about later on), there’s just one more must-visit attraction and activity you should take while in London — a day trip to Stonehenge! One of the reasons why it’s famous in pop culture is that it used to be one of the free wallpapers on new computers and even some laptops. Apart from that, Stonehenge is well-known for the history it holds and its endless theories of how it came to be, even after so many years, many are still trying to understand the long-standing structure. 

If you book on Klook, you can choose among the many Stonehenge tours available, some combined with other famous attractions like the Roman Baths, Windsor Castle, and Oxford. The tour will take about seven hours, so expect to return to the city center by late afternoon.

Now if you want to do something that not most travelers do, you can go to one of London’s boroughs — Greenwich! Famous for being the birthplace of many Tudors like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the town also houses a royal Palace, the Palace of Placentia. Make sure not to miss out on the Queen’s House too, another historic monument in Greenwich built between 1616 and 1635. 

Some sites to visit here are the Greenwich Market for local street food and handmade products, the Cutty Sark, which is a ship that was restored to become a museum, and the O2 Arena for fun activities like bowling, riding the IFS Cloud Cable Car, and taking on a 52-meter above ground level walkway called Up at the O2.  

For those who have more time to explore Greenwich, here are more experiences that you can add to your Greenwich trip:

While you’re in Europe, it’s best to visit as many countries and cities as possible. One city that most travelers love is Paris, the City of Love and home to the Eiffel Tower. After your London adventure, head to Paris via train — the most convenient way to get there!

And hey, we’ve got you covered with some guides to help you kickstart your Paris trip:

Additionally, here are some more experiences in Paris that we highly recommend for those coming from London:

With that, you’re all set for London! Remember to keep this 3-day London itinerary handy during your trip so you can easily explore the city.