4 Days in London for First-Timers
A London plan that splits the city's essentials across 4 days without burning out — with Oyster card strategy, theatre tips, and neighborhood pacing.
London is huge. 4 days is tight but doable with the right plan.
Day 1: Westminster
Big Ben, Westminster Abbey (£29), Churchill War Rooms (£32), St. James's Park. Buckingham Palace exterior. Changing of the Guard is at 11 AM on specific days — check the schedule.
Lunch near Victoria. Afternoon: walk across Westminster Bridge, South Bank, London Eye (£40+ — skip unless you love ferris wheels; the Sky Garden is free and has better views).
Dinner in Soho, then a West End show. Book via official theatre websites or TodayTix for same-day discounts.
Day 2: City + Tower
Tower of London (£35.80, book online). Allow 3 hours. Tower Bridge exterior (paid interior is meh).
Lunch at Borough Market (closed Sundays). Eat AT the market — this isn't a browsing stop.
Afternoon: Shakespeare's Globe (£26 for Exhibition + tour, tours on production days only), Tate Modern (free), Millennium Bridge walk.
Day 3: Museums + Kensington
Natural History Museum (free) OR Victoria & Albert (free). Both are overwhelming in different ways.
Afternoon: Hyde Park walk, Kensington Palace grounds, Notting Hill walk (Portobello Road).
Evening: dinner in Marylebone or Fitzrovia.
Day 4: Your preference
Option A: Harry Potter Studios (£54 + train ~£15). Full day. Mandatory if you care about HP. Option B: Greenwich — Royal Observatory (£20), the Meridian Line, Cutty Sark (£18). Half day, boat back along the Thames. Option C: British Museum (free) + Covent Garden + Chinatown + last show.
Transport hacks
- Oyster Card or contactless card — tap to pay. Daily cap is £8.10 for zones 1-2. A single ride is £2.80.
- Skip black cabs unless it's late at night. £20+ for short rides. Buses are £1.75 with hourly transfers.
- Use the Elizabeth Line — new, fast, clean. Heathrow to central is 39 minutes for £12.80 (vs £25+ Heathrow Express).
Cost (2 people, 4 days)
- Hotel (central 3-star): £200-280/night × 3 = £720
- Oyster: £50 for 2
- Sights: £300 for 2
- Theatre: £150 for 2
- Food: £80/day × 4 = £320
Total: ~£1,540 before flights. London is the 2nd most expensive major city in Europe after Zurich.
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