4 day London Itinerary From A local

London is one of the most famous and diverse city in the world, and I feel lucky to live nearby. You can spend so many days exploring the city, yet every time, you’ll find something new to explore in the city. But if you have just few days in hand, this 4 day London Itinerary will help you to plan your Perfect London trip.

London is very huge, and there is tons of things to do and see, so if this is your first time in the city, you’ll feel overwhelmed for sure. You’ll need to decide which attractions you really want to see and make the priority! And so this post will help you to decide!

I live near London, and frequently explore the nooks and corners of the city during weekends. I can say, 4 days in London is a great time to explore all the best attractions of the city. It gives you chance to see the best sights while also exploring the lesser known neighborhoods of the city, which I equally lover.

As a London local, history and culture lover, London is my favorite city in the world. I am exploring the city since 2 years, curating this 4 day itinerary — focusing on best landmarks of London, beautiful architecture, green spaces, world-class museums, independent shops, and local food markets as well as hidden gems and beautiful neighborhoods to visit along the way.

In this guide to planning your trip to London, you’ll find a detailed 4 day London Itinerary, with all the best things to do, see, eat, and drink, along with all the important details you need to know. I’ll also include how to get around London and some useful tips and tricks for visiting London.

So, let’s get you in how to spend 4 days in London.

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Resources for your 4 day London Itinerary Planning

Getting around London

London is a big city, but it’s surprisingly easy to get around. London’s public transport system is very easy to navigate and most reliable. Most of the time you’ll use underground trains (tube) to reach from A to B. You can also use double decker buses for short distances.

You can use your Phone or contactless card to tap in and out on the Tube, buses and trains makes it super convenient — No need to buy separate tickets. But make sure to use same Phone/Card throughout the day for maximum cap fare!

For shorter distances, walking is often the nicest way to spend some time soaking in the sunshine, and passing by beautiful neighborhoods. I love walking along the Thames South Bank, from London Eye to Tower Bridge!

You can also use Cabs and Ubers but it’s very expensive. It’s good option for short distances where using public transportation is very tricky. But be mindful about the traffic when using it! It can slow your travel time!

Another fun way to get around London is the Boat services on River Thames. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a good option if you want a different view of the city from the river.

If you feel confused for using underground or don’t want to walk a lot, you can check hop on hop off bus tours in the city. It includes guided Double Decker Bus Tour as well as River Cruise of the City.

Travel Tip: Don’t try to walk almost everywhere in the city! While most of the iconic sightseeing places in London are very nearby, you’ll end with 15K-20K steps daily! While it seems tempting but that can hurt your legs after one day! So, try to use combination of walking, buses and underground. Read more such insider tips in my London for First Timers Travel Guide.

Where to stay in London

London is very huge city and there are endless options to stay in the city! But where you stay in London can make or break your trip – especially if it’s your first time here! There are few central neighborhoods that offers best hotels as well as great Public transit connections, and its best for your stay in London for few days.

If you’re visiting London for the first time, Covent Garden area is best for your stay in London. It is centrally located as well as offers great public transit options. You can explore so many nearby places by walking or taking short public transit from here.

• Page8 Hotel: It is beautiful modern boutique hotel, located just few steps away from National Gallery. You can easily visit iconic landmarks such as the Royal Opera House, Oxford Street, and Big Ben by foot from here.
• Z Hotel Covent Garden: If looking for something more affordable.
• For luxurious option with best central location, Strand Palace is the best.

My another favorite area in London is South Bank, which offers beautiful river views, as well as very accessible with underground! You’ll find lots of hotels in this area from budget to luxury! Just make sure your stay is within short walking distance from nearby underground station.

Here are few of my suggested stay options which is near to undergrounds and Bus Stops:

• Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo
• IBIS London Blackfriars
• London Bridge Hotel
• Hilton London Tower Bridge

If you want to stay in quiet Part of the city, consider staying in the City of London, the most convenient location for accessing every part of the city! It is essentially London’s Financial District, and has great connections to most parts of the city (including London Heathrow).

• Citizen M Tower of London
• Club Quarters Hotel St Paul
• Tower Suites by Blue Orchid Hotels

4 Days in London: A Perfect Itinerary for First Timers

Now that I’ve covered some of the basics, and logistics to know before your trip, let’s get into exactly how to spend 4 days in London. There is so much to do and see in London. You can’t cover all the attractions of the city in few days, so be realistic and add the places which you really need to visit as first timers!

I am not including any day trip ideas from London as 4 days in London are perfect to explore the city only! If you have more time in hand, you can consider this option.

This 4 day London Itinerary will give you glimpse in London’s most popular landmarks, the museums, Buckingham Palace, etc as well as lesser known neighborhood visit! I really love exploring the city outside the Westminster and Covent Garden! And take this advice from a local to explore at least one neighborhood of London to know local culture!

Also, don’t forget taking guided tours to know the culture and history of the city! Just prioritize the tours that connect you with locals and allow you to know more about the history of the city! Also, make sure to visit museums of the city, but don’t try to visit all of them. You’ll be exhausted from visiting too many museums! Just visit one or two at max during your 4 days in London.

To make the most out of your trip to London, plan to do one or two major sights a day, and dedicate the rest to walking around the neighborhoods, soaking in the local culture, and having energy to go out for a drink and a show in the evenings. Summer in the city is very beautiful and you’ll see lots of happenings at the Pubs as well as in the city! Just enjoy your evenings as locals do!

Here’s an overview of the 4 day London Itinerary:

• Day 1: Westminster, Covent Garden, and West End Show
• Day 2: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s, Soho
• Day 3: Notting Hill, Kensington, Mayfair and Piccadilly
• Day 4: Richmond Riverside

Day 1 in London: Central London Landmarks

Start your London Itinerary with visiting historic part of London. London’s historic centre is packed with iconic landmarks, grand architecture, and plenty of green spaces to rest during the sightseeing. Start your day early and visit the most famous sights, with mix of great food stops along the way.

If you wan to minimize walking, Book this Open Top Sightseeing Bus Tour that will take you to most of the famous places I recommended in this itinerary.

Breakfast at Regency Café

Start your first day in the city of Westminster. This is most famous Part of the city and can get crowded later in the day. So I highly recommend arriving early.

But first, get some proper English breakfast at Regency Café, an iconic breakfast spot of the city! This spot has been around since 1946 and is known for its no-frills, old-school charm. It is very popular with tourists as well as locals. Just arrive early to get a table and order the Full English Breakfast.

If you don’t want to opt for breakfast, then go for Speciality Coffee near Westminster Abbey. I love Nostos Coffee and Formative Coffee in the area. They serve pour over coffee as well as regular one. And their coffee is really delicious!

Big Ben and Westminster Abbey

From Regency Café, walk down along Millbank to reach Big Ben. You’ll pass through beautiful Parliament building and views of Big Ben.

Arrive at the Parliament Street, across the Westminster Station to get the excellent views of the Big Ben. You can take fun photos with Red telephone box here.

The world famous tower, officially known as the “Elizabeth Tower”, houses the giant bell known as “Big Ben”, whose unmistakable chime has sounded across the city for over 150 years.

When you’re here take a short walk towards Westminster Bridge, to get the best Photos of Parliament Building, London Eye and Big Ben. You’ll get best photos from the south side of the bridge!

You can actually visit the Houses of Parliament via a guided tour that allows you to access parts of the complex you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to. If this sounds interesting to you, you can find more information here (it’s a 90 minute tour).

Westminster Abbey

Walk across the Parliament Square, and notice the statues of famous people as well as some of the world country flags when you walk towards the Westminster Abbey.

This iconic Gothic Cathedral was built in the 13th Century by Henry III as both a monument to Edward the Confessor, and as a final resting place for his own body. It’s history is very fascinating, and it has been the Prime site for kings and queens have been coronation ceremonies for centuries, Royal Weddings, as well as a burial ground for Britain’s famous People and Royals.

The interiors of the Abbey is very beautiful to have a look! Even if you don’t go inside, the exterior is worth a moment! But I highly recommend to visit inside and seeing this architecture masterpiece!

The Abbey opens at 9:30 AM (9:00 AM on Saturdays, closed on Sundays). I recommend trying to be one of the first people in the door. Buy online tickets in advance to save time!

St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace

From Westminster Abbey, turn left down St George’s Street and follow Birdcage Walk into St James’s Park. It’s one of London’s most picturesque Park, and it’s really a nice walk through St. James’s Park to get to Buckingham Palace. If you’re in London during Spring(March), you’ll find daffodils bloom. Take a leisure walk and get the excellent views of Buckingham Palace from here.

If you time your walk right, you can also catch the glimpse of Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It happens at 11 AM most days, but it’s best to check the schedule in advance. You can expect lots of crowd, but if you’re in London for the first time, it’s a classic things to do in London.

Also don’t miss to stop outside Buckingham Palace to view the grandeur of the royal residence. If you’re visiting in summer, the State Rooms are open for tours, but otherwise, this is more of a photo stop for you.

If you’re visiting London for the first time, I highly recommend booking a walking tour to learn more about the history of all these place! Book this 3 hour guided walking tour that includes entry to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and viewing of Changing of Guards Ceremony. This way you’ll absolutely enjoy the places you visit!

Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery

One of the most iconic square in London, Trafalgar Square is must visit in your 4 day London Itinerary. You’ll be right in the middle of all the actions. From Buckingham Palace, just Walk up “The Mall”, and you’ll land at the southern end of the square.

Trafalgar Square is home to Nelson’s Column, dedicated to the beloved naval hero of the same name who outwitted Napoleon multiple times. It also has famous stone lions, and often you’ll find some lively street performers here.

There’s also an excellent view of Big Ben from the south end of the square.

Lunch options

There are lots of great choices nearby for lunch, so here are my recommendations depending on the vibe you’re looking for:

• Cafe in the Crypt — Located opposite to National Gallery, this popular cafe has been located inside the iconic vaulted Crypt with original brick-vaulted ceilings and historic tombstones lining the floor. The atmosphere is very lovey and serves fresh food. You’ll also find vegetarian options.
• Ochre — A stylish spot inside the National Gallery, serving seasonal British dishes.
• Chinatown — A short walk away, with plenty of options for Asian food. You can have dumplings, noodle soups, and so much more. I love having Matcha Vanilla ice cream at Chinatown Bakery.
• The Clarence — A classic London Pub near Trafalgar Square for the lunch or Sunday roast.
• Seven Dials Market — One of my favorite part about London is its food markets. You can check out the Seven Dials Food market for Lunch. It has lots of options inside the market, as well as around the area. Seven Dials area is filled with beautiful cafes as well as boutique shops.

Choose the Museum or Art Gallery visit

I really love that London has so many Museums to visit, and most of them are free! But at the same time, it can be very crowded at PEAK times.

National Gallery

Right on the square, check out the National Gallery if you love the art. It is one of my favorite places to visit in London, not just for the art, but for the colorful architecture too! It’s not possible to visit all the floors, so make sure to see the major highlights.

You can grab the map at the entrance and see what interests you most. Don’t forget to check out an incredible collection, from Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and Turner’s glowing seascapes. And the best part the National Gallery is free to visit.

Option 2: National Portrait Gallery

Right behind the National Gallery, you can visit the National Portrait Gallery, that is. filled with portraits of various mediums and time periods that tell a story about the country’s history. 

It’s filled with fascinating faces, from the Tudors and Shakespeare to modern icons like David Bowie. It houses a vast number of paintings, sculptures, and photographs, spanning from the Tudor period to the present day. It is a great place to dip into British history through the people who shaped it.

They also have free tours of the gallery at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM that cover the highlights in 45 minutes. The gallery is also open late on Fridays and Saturdays, which would be a nice relatively quiet time to enjoy the museum. 

Option 3: The British Museum

If you love the world history, head over to the British Museum. The Museum also tells an important story about the history of the UK, London, and the British Empire!

The majority of artifacts here are some cultural treasures from India, China, and Egypt, along with a tiny collection of things from the British era. Spend One hour at the British Museum to check out the major highlights of the museum. It’s free to visit and can get crowded at times!

Covent Garden

After the galleries/Museum, head into Covent Garden, a very lively area of London filled with cafes, boutique shops, covered market, and street performers. Covent garden is major tourist spot in London, but it’s worth visiting!

After walking and exploring at the Museum, you will need some sweet treat for energy boost! I really love stopping at Arome Bakery, a French-Asian bakery, popular for its honey butter toast and Pastries.

Another hidden gem of Covent Garden is the rooftop bar above the Royal Opera House. It is usually pretty quiet, and offers a great view over the busy market.

Make sure to stop at the Apple Market, where you’ll find a bunch of luxury stores inside a historic produce market. Yes, Covent Garden was once busiest fruits and vegetable market for over 300 years, and played huge role in trading business!

Here are my Covent Garden recommendations:

• Choosing Keeping — A beautifully curated stationery shop with gorgeous notebooks, inks, and art supplies.
• Goodwin’s Court — A 17th-century alleyway with original bay windows.
• Broad Court — Beautiful lane near the Royal Opera House known for its ballerina statue and iconic red phone boxes. 
• Neal’s Yard — A hidden courtyard bursting with colors, home to organic beauty shops and cafes. Homeslice Pizza and St Johns Bakery are amazing.
• Bagariet — A Swedish bakery with amazing cinnamon and cardamom buns, perfect for an afternoon treat.
• Speciality Coffee Spots — Covent Garden has some of the best speciality coffee spots! My favorites are Abuelo, Watch House, and Qima Cafe.

There’s so much to do Covent Garden, and you can easily spend entire day in the area! So, I suggest to get some coffee and walk around the Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard and have fun exploring around!

Dinner in Covent Garden

After exploring the Covent Garden market and shops, end your day with dinner. There are so many dinner options in Covent Garden, but I recommend two places from my own experiences! Also, lots of great independent places will have pre-theatre deals as well.

• Mildred – A modern Korean Vegan restaurant known for its tea leaf salad, noodles, and Burgers.
• Dishoom – Bombay-inspired beautiful space in the heart of London. A very popular Indian place with several locations in London. You will need to queue, so arrive early. They don’t take reservations. It is a huge restaurant, so you will get in very quickly.

Late evening: Catch a Show

If you have time and energy, the catch a show at West End. It’s just near to Covent Garden with plenty of theatre options. From long-running classics to newer plays and musicals, it’s always worth checking last-minute ticket availability, or book something of your choice ahead of time!

Late Evening Optio 2: Walk along the Victoria Embankment

If show isn’t your thing, I suggest to have a good walk along the Thames. So, make your way towards Victoria Embankment Gardens. It’s easy 10 minutes walk from Covent Garden. Cross the road, and walk along the Thames river path (Victoria Embankment Road) to get beautiful glowing views of London Eye.

You can snap good photos with Red telephone boxes and London eye in background near Westminster Pier. You can walk further to see illuminated Parliament building from Westminster Bridge.

Day 2 in London: Tower of London & South Bank

On your second day in London, have very early start at the Tower of London, then make your way across the Tower Bridge to walk along the south bank to London eye, with plenty of stops along the way including a stop for Lunch at London’s famous Borough Market. 

Important Note: Borough Market remains closed Sunday and few holidays in the year. So make sure you don’t plan this day on Sunday! Make sure to visit on a weekday, because Borough Market on Saturday will be very crowded!

Tower of London

I suggest starting your day with a visit to Tower of London. Many people just pass from here, and don’t visit it from inside. The place is packed with history, and it’s really interesting place to visit as well as seeing crown jewels!

The tower as we know it today was built in the 11th Century by William the Conqueror as a fortress, and has served a wide variety of purposes since its construction, including as a Royal Palace and, probably most famously, as a Notorious Prison. The history of this place is very Dark!

Since its construction, it has been constantly expanded. Today, the main attractions you’ll see are Crown Jewels, The ramparts, and the White Tower – the big castle type structure in the middle of the complex!

To learn the history of this place make sure to take this Guided Tour of Tower of London at the Opening. This tour includes the Ceremony of the Keys where the Yeoman Warders unlock the Tower for the day, meaning you are the first to enter the Tower, will learn what you’re seeing inside the place and what is the significance!

The lines can be very LONG at PEAK times to enter the building, but if you book thi tour, you can be first to see Crown Jewels!

Even if you don’t book the tour, I HIGHLY recommend visiting the Tower of London first thing in the morning, and go straight to see the Crown Jewels.

It’s a popular tourist attraction, so make sure to book your tickets in Advance here.

Top Tip: I haven’t included any Breakfast option for this day, because you’ll need to start early! Just have a takeout and Coffee from your hotel or any nearby place from it, and arrive at the Tower of London when it open at 9 AM. After visiting Tower of London, you can have brunch at Coppa Club with tower Bridge views!

Tower Bridge

Next stop for the day is Tower Bridge — the most famous and iconic attraction of London! From Tower of London, walk north towards the entrance of Tower Bridge. Built in 19th century, Tower Bridge is the most iconic of London bridges.

Don’t get confuse it with London Bridge! London Bridge is located next to Tower Bridge on River Thames.

The Twin Towers, connected by a walkway, is one of the main elements of architecture. It also has small glass floor to cross over and see the views below the floor! It was built for pedestrians to cross when the bridge was up to let boats through, but today it is turned into one major tourist attraction!

From the glass walkway, you’ll get beautiful views of South Bank, and surrounding areas, as well as at the end you’ll see the Engine Rooms. You can skip visiting the tower from top if you want, but I really loved learning about the bridge construction details, its operation, and related history!

The Tour of Tower Bridge Engine Room isn’t just about seeing the views, its about learning its history, construction, and operation! Make sure you don’t skip this! It takes hardly 1 hour for the tour!

South Bank

Your Tower Bridge tour will end at Engine Rooms on South Bank Side. From the engine Rooms, head North towards the Queen’s Walk. This area is known as South Bank, and the views from here are great for Photos!

You can see the full glory of the Tower Bridge from here! And if you’re lucky, you can see the Tower Bridge Opening operations! You’ll also get one of the best views of the London’s skyline from the river from South Bank!

Walk along the river until you reach Hay’s Galleria. It is great spot to explore around with beautiful architecture, shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Borough Market

Now it’s time for the Lunch, so walk towards Borough Market, one of the best spots to eat in London. Borough Market, is operating since 12th Century, is one of the largest and oldest markets in London.

It is very crowded, touristy and hyped, but very much iconic and worth to stop! I always take my friends here whenever they visit me! Just don’t visit here on Saturday, because it can be WILD experience for you!

Borough Market is PERFECT Lunch destination because it closes in the late afternoon. And it’s closed all day on Sunday, so make sure you visit it on Weekday.

The market is split into two main sections: the ready-to-eat food section, and the gourmet food items section. I highly recommend first to wander through all the section of the market and, when you’re ready for food, head over to the section with all the food stalls for lunch!

Here are my best recommendations which are best for vegeterians as well:

• The Black Pig: Famous for its Pork sandwich, But I highly recommend their Vegetarian version as well. There will be queue here, but worth the wait!
• Horn OK Please: Vegetarian Indian street food, including dosas and amazing chai. I love their chaat, and Dosa. Fully vegan options available here.
• Humble Crumble: This place lives up to the hype. It’s one of the most viral food spots in London, and really worth to try!
• Tacos Padre: I had their Cauliflower Tacos, and it was spicy and delicious! But I find it a little pricey for the quantity they serving!
• Khanom Krok: Best place to have Pad Thai, with the mango sticky rice for dessert. Portions arre generous, and food was good!
• Bread Ahead: One of my favorite spot for creme Brule donuts.
• Monmouth Coffee: If looking for a great coffee, this place serves one of the best speciality coffee!

afternoon: The City of London

There are so many amazing things to see in the area, so depending on how much time you have, visit the attractions in the City of London.

This route gives you a glimpse of London’s oldest Part — where modern glass towers sit next to medieval ruins!

From Borough Market, walk towards Millennium Bridge. It is a Pedestrian Bridge that connects South Bank to St Paul’s Cathedral. You’ll get some of the best views of St Paul from the Bridge!

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Your next stop is St. Paul’s Cathedral. This iconic landmark of London is absolutely worth to see, whether you go inside or not!

St. Paul’s Cathedral has played important roles in the history of London, from great fire of London to World War 2! It stood strong every time the city has faced adversity. Built by Architect Sir Christopher Wren in the 17th Century, this majestic cathedral is truly masterpiece of architecture!

I highly recommend heading up to the dome of St. Paul’s, it’s a long climb up with a variety of different staircases to reach the top. 

There are three levels on the way up – the Whispering Gallery (the interior of the dome), the Stone Gallery (the exterior of the base of the dome), and the Golden Gallery (at the tippy top of the dome). Make sure to stop at all three, and definitely go all the way to the top, where the views are just breathtaking!

Also, make sure visit the crypt, where two important figures in British history are buried. Entry is a little pricey, but I think it’s worth the money!

St Paul’s is open from Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays for service. More information on hours, and costs, here. Make sure to enter before one hour of closing to fully explore this place!

If you want to skip the entrance fee, you can still admire its beauty from the outside and get a great view of the dome from the roof of One New Change, the shopping centre across the street.

Leadenhall Market

If you’re Harry Potter fan, you can’t miss Leadenhall Market. It is a a covered Victorian arcade with beautiful architecture. It served as a key filming location for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, representing Diagon Alley and the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron.

The market has been a site of commerce since Roman times, and used to serve as a meat and poultry market in 14th century. Today, it is prime meeting spot of London’s financial district as well as tourist attraction! You’ll find lovely Pubs, bakery, and cafes in the market!

Sky Garden

The Last stop of the day is Sky Garden, one of most popular attraction of London to get the beautiful views of City Skylines for FREE!

In fact, there are so many free rooftops in the area that offers similar views! But Sky Garden and Horizon 22 offers best views among all! Try to visit it in evening during sunset to get beautiful golden views over the city!

Though its free to visit, you’ll need to reserve your slot in advance! They also allows limited number of walk-ins but can’t guaranteed during Peak season/time!

If you’re unable to reserve tickets in advance for Sky Garden, you can reserve a table at any of their restaurants/Bar, and that covers your free entry to Observation deck.

Other Places you can visit nearby:

• Tate Modern: Former Bankside Power Station turned into Art Gallery with an an impressive selection of art forms like Picasso, Rothko and Monet. Head over to its 10th floor to see the fantastic views of St. Paul’s and the river side!
• St Dunstan-in-the-East: A beautiful Church Ruins turned into a Public Garden.
• Bank of England Museum: A small museum dedicated about the history of banking and money.
• Monument to the Great Fire of London: Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, this column stands exactly 202 feet from where the Great Fire began in Pudding Lane in late 17th Century! You can climb its 311 spiral steps for panoramic views of London. It costs just £6 and worth to see it for the views!
• Guildhall Art Gallery: Good spot for Victorian painting fans and a peek at Roman ruins underground.
• Host Café: Quick stop for a drink or food in a converted church, open on weekdays only!

I highly recommend to AVOID THE SHARD, it’s expensive as well as not worth the money because you’ll get similar views from the Horizon 22 or Sky Garden! But if you still want to visit go, book their afternoon tea with views!

Drinks & Dinner: Soho

For the dinner, choose to any restaurants you like in Mayfair or SoHo. Soho is famous for its night life scene, offering a huge range of options from intimate pubs, quirky cocktail bars to lively clubs, as well as LGBTQ friendly spots!

For a unique dining experience, head over to Cahoots Underground in Soho, built in 1940’s bomb shelter, with distinct vibes, great music, and drinks.

Day 3 of London Itinerary: Notting Hill & Mayfair

Day 3 in London is about the perfect mix of culture, and sights. You’ll wander through Notting Hill’s colorful streets, boutiques and shops visit, stopping at famous pub of London, have afternoon tea and visiting famous London Eye! I will also give ideas for few optional activities including museum visit and Garden galore!

Breakfast in Notting Hill

Start your day early with breakfast in Notting Hill at one of its beloved bakeries. Layla Bakery is known for its bow tie pastries and coffee! It’s very popular place, so arrive early for the pastries! If you’re late, you can check out Kuro Bakery. Their almond croissant is to die for!

Portobello Road

After good coffee, start your self guided walking tour of London’s most charming and colorful neighborhoods. You’ll essentially follow Portobello Road all the way through the neighborhood from north to south, which will take you to both highlights here – the Portobello Road Market, and the colorful houses of the neighborhood. 

You’ll first come across colorful Lancaster Road, and Pink alley St Luke’s Mews. The houses of Lancaster Road are somewhat like famous Victorian houses in San Francisco.

Continue your walk on Portobello Road, and explore Portobello Road Market, the vibrant London market street with famous for its antiques, and vintage finds!

While you’re here, pop into Notting Hill Bookshop, a charming bookshop famous from Notting Hill movie! You can shop homeware items at Ceramica Blue If you love cooking, Books for Cooks is where you can browse beautiful cookbooks while enjoying a meal made from the books on the shelf. My favorite stop is Alice’s Antique shop for all the retro colorful decor!

Lastly, end your walk at Notting Hill Gate, and take one more look at beautiful houses on Hillgate Street.

Lunch at Churchill Arms

Continue your walk south side, and arrive at the Churchill Arms — most famous and beautiful Pub in London. Built in 1750, the Pub was frequented by Churchill’s grandparents and today it’s known for serving real Ales and authentic Thai cuisine.

But it is most famous for its building’s front side flower displays! With more than 100 flower pots, and 48 window boxes, it showcases colorful display of flower decorations! As you enter, you’ll see all sort of Churchill memorabilia, with pictures, banners, and other things decorated all over the place!

I also love visiting the Churchill Arms during Christmas, when the exterior is covered in thousands of twinkling lights instead of flowers!

Most of people don’t know they serves amazing Thai cuisines. So, don’t miss having drinks and lunch at this historic Pub on your 4 day London itinerary!

Kensington Gardens

After the lunch, walk 10 minutes or take a bus to Kensington Gardens, for much needed relax walk through beautiful well manicured green spaces of London!

First, stop at Diana Princess of Wales Sunken Garden, and enjoy the peaceful walk around it! From here, walk towards the Albert Memorial to admire its grand and beautiful architecture! Continue your walk and enjoy the views along Serpentine Pond. You can also walk north towards Italian Gardens for Picture perfect Italian vibes!

Piccadilly Circus & Regent Street

After a relaxed visit to Kensington gardens, take a Bus from Royal Albert Hall, to Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly circus is heart of the London. I feel it is like Times Square, New York but will less chaos!

You’ll see LED billboards, and gigantic Anteros (Eros) Statue in the middle, making it a vibrant, bustling hub in London’s West End, as well as famous tourist hub in London! You’ll find lots of luxurious and branded shops, Pubs and street performers here! This is one of the most vibrant and busy area in London!

Few steps away from the square, you’ll see iconic curved Regent Street — the most famous historic street of London. Known for its regency style architecture, it features world class shopping stores like Burberry, Apple, and Hamleys toy store. If you’re in London during Christmas, you’ll see charming twinkling angles hanging above the street!

Afternoon Tea

No trip to London is complete without having an afternoon tea, an unique, quintessentially British experience! And when it come to options, there are so many choices you have! You can take afternoon tea in Gardens, Museums, in speciality tearooms, Cafes, even aboard moving buses while seeing monuments from your window!

For top tier classic tea experiences, you can choose The Ritz London, Claridge’s, and Fortnum and Mason for its timeless luxury! Fortnum is known for its Royal tea salon and traditionals!

If you’re looking for something modern, Sketch offers pink moody vibes and modern tea! The Library at county Hall afternoon tea offers most amazing views of Big Ben, and Parliament building!

If you’re looking for affordable options, check out the Liberty of London (Carnaby Street), Dalloway Terrace(Near British Museum), or Novotel London Bridge, and classic one The Wolseley.

If you want some fun experience, book Brigit’s Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in vintage double-decker bus and enjoy tea and treats as you admire the landmarks. See Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and more as well as hear the onboard commentary as you savor sandwiches, cakes, and quintessentially English cups of tea. I have personally done this tour and its really worth for the money!

Sunset from London Eye

Probably, most famous attraction of London, and few people find it overrated! But if this is your first trip to London, you should definitely ride the London Eye.

It’s a little expensive, the lines can be long but the views at sunset are amazing from the top. If you have kids, this is really a fun experience. Even if you’re not riding the eye, spend watching sunset at Westminster Bridge or nearby Jubilee Gardens with beautiful river views! Book your tickets to London eye online here.

I didn’t include this on first day along with Westminster Bridge, because this area is beautiful to explore during sunset!

Alternative Option 1:

If you don’t want to ride the London eye, I highly recommend taking a Thames River Cruise. This is one of the best ways to see the famous landmarks of London and skylines from the water.

This sightseeing cruise from Westminster to Greenwich is one of the best, with open air and indoor deck for the sitting! You can also spend some time in Greenwich if you want! This is perfect for the sunset seeing illuminated London Skylines!

You can also book Thames Dinner Cruise. It includes 3 course menu and desserts, including vegetarian options. You’ll cruise past all the landmarks of London, and it is the most magical during sunset! I have done the lunch cruise and it was absolutely worth it!

Alternative Option 2:

If you want to skip a visit to London Eye, you can spend more time in Kensington and then go for afternoon tea. You can check out the V&A Museum in Kensington. It is a great choice for anyone who love art, design, and fashion.

Alternatively, the Natural History Museum is also great choice to admire the architecture, and the exhibits! Don’t forget to see Hintze Hall architecture and its giant dinosaur skeleton! The architecture itself is worth visiting the museum!

Dinner at Mercato Metropolitano

End your day by heading out south of London Eye to Mercato Metropolitano. This place is really fantastic, a big food hall with indoor and outdoor seating, serving wide variety of cuisines from all over the world. It has has a beer garden!

From Italian, Indian, Asian to South American, there are lots of options available for everyone, and you’ll be spoiled for the choices.

This is very popular food spot, so make sure to arrive early.

Note: Sunsets in London happen late in summer between 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, so have early dinner, and then spend your time at South Bank near London Eye!

Day 4 in London: Richmond Riverside

Honestly, Richmond is my favorite places in all of London! It’s very quiet, beautiful, and away from all the hustle and bustle of the city! This neighborhoods offers so much to see from history, beautiful walks to nature, and gardens! There is so much to explore in the area!

I am sharing basic details about the things to do and places you must see in Richmond which you can easily cover in a day.

How to get to Richmond

Richmond is a bit further away from Central London. And can take a little longer to reach, but its easy, and there are lots of connections from Central London.

You can take the District Line on the Underground directly to Richmond Station, which takes around 40-45 minutes. Alternatively, there are South Western trains from London Waterloo to Richmond, with a journey time of about 30 minutes. But

Breakfast at Richmond Riverside

Start your day by taking a train around 9 AM to Richmond, and arrive at Richmond Station. From the Station, straight way make your way to Richmond Riverside.

As you arrive by river side, you’ll surely feel different vibes than London! I suggest straight way head to super cute Peggy Jean boat restaurant on Richmond Riverside for the Breakfast.

The boat cafe is absolutely beautiful, and their food is equally delicious. I love their Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, Charcoal Sourdough Avocado, and Shakshaouka! The food is good, and staff is very friendly!

Another famous place to have breakfast/brunch is Hollyhock Cafe at Terrace Gardens. The views from cafe are amazing!

Richmond Riverside

The riverside path in Richmond is one of my favourite Places for a slow walk along the river. It’s very peaceful, lined with pubs, and cafes. If the weather’s good, you can rent a rowboat or just sit on a bench and watch the boats go by.

You can spend your slow mornings with coffee, and people watching! Don’t miss to spot the famous White Swan Pub here.

Old Palace Lane & Richmond Green

After the hearty breakfast, start your walk behind the riverside. The Old Palace Lane is one of the cutest streets in Richmond. It connects riverside to Richmond Green. This lane has beautiful white cottages, and remains covered with wisteria during spring! I explored Richmond during the wisteria season, and was totally in love with the area!

You can stop at White Swan Pub, and then arrive at Richmond Green, a big open space, often filled with players, dog walkers, and people spending leisure time in the Garden.

Paved Court & Ted Lasso streets

From Richmond Green, walk toward Paved Court- a narrow lane filled with independent boutiques and old-fashioned shops. It’s incredibly beautiful, and fans of Ted Lasso will recognize it from the show!

You can explore small alleyways like this surrounding to it! Don’t miss drinks at The Prince’s Head Pub, another Ted Lasso hotspot!

Richmond Hill & Terrace Gardens

From Paved Court, come back to Riverside area (Mears Walk). You’ll see stunning views of the Thames and beautiful houses on the bank! After qo minutes, you’ll reach at Richmond Terrace Gardens.

Explore the Garden area, it was really pretty during spring with colorful Tulips, fountains, and seasonal flower blooms. Then take few steps up to arrive at the Richmond Hill Viewpoint. It’s a perfect viewpoint to admire most beautiful views of Thames river and surrounding hills. It looks like painting!

Options for the afternoon

There’s so much to do in Richmond area, so depending on how much time and energy you have, can choose from following options.

Explore Isabella Plantation and Richmond Park

If one place you must visit in Richmond, then it is the Richmond Park. The Park is very very huge and you can easily spend half day here!

You can rent bike to cover majority of the grounds. Walking is possible, but be prepared to walk a lot! I really love visiting Isabella Plantation during spring, with rhododendrons blooms and pretty corners like still ponds.

You can head to Pembroke Lodge for a coffee and one of the best views over the Thames Valley. Don’t miss spotting lots of deers roaming in the Park!

Ham House and Petersham Nurseries

Another favorite place of mine in Richmond – Ham House. Just walk along the Thames path to reach Ham House. It’s very scenic and full of charm. Ham House is a 17th-century mansion with beautifully restored interiors and a charming garden in all seasons. It’s managed by the National Trust and worth to visit inside for its architecture! I love visiting their cafe especially during wisteria season!

From there, continue on riverside to Petersham Nurseries. This is one of the most visited place during wisteria season! They have greenhouse filled with plants, a beautiful restaurant, and a tea room on site. The afternoon tea at Petersham is wonderful, and I highly recommend if you didn’t go for any afternoon tea in London!

Visit Kew Gardens

If you love flowers, plants, and gardens, then head back to Richmond station and take a bus to Kew Gardens. It’s one of the most impressive botanical gardens in the world—and definitely worth a visit! You’ll find everything from Victorian glass houses and waterlily ponds to contemporary art galleries and a treetop walkway. You can easily spend half day here.

If you opt for the Kew Garden visit on this day, I’d suggest visiting in the morning before heading into Richmond to maximize your time for the day!

What to Do if have more than 4 days in London

Here are a few things to add to your itinerary if you happen to have more than 4 days in London.

Take a Day Trip

UK is relatively very small country in terms of area, and majority of the places can be covered as a day trip from London, that too by Public transport. 

You can choose popular day trips from London: Oxford, Cambridge, and Bath. the former two are university towns, known for its architecture.

Bath is further away in north west, and it has really nice Georgian architecture, history related to Jane Austin, and there are the Roman baths that the city is named after. You can read my 2 day Bath Itinerary for more details.

What to Do with Less than 4 days in London

3 Days in London

I live near London, and feel grateful to frequently visit the city at leisure time! But if you’re in London with less time in hand, Read my epic 3 day London Itinerary to make most of your time in London. This can help you to get an idea about things to do and must visit places.

2 Days in London

With 2 days in London, you’ll need to skip some of the activities, but you can make most of your time around Central London.

Follow this itinerary for Day 1 (Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden, and London Eye), and the Day 2 (Tower of London, Tower Bridge, South bank, St Paul, and the City of London, Piccadilly, and dinner in Soho/Mayfair).

Final Thoughts on 4 Day London Itinerary

So, this is all about busy 4 days in London, and I hope this guide can help you plan your London trip with so many hidden gems as first time visitors! You can’t fit so many places in 4 days, but you can follow this 4 day London itinerary to make most of your time in the city! If you find this guide helpful, save and share it to read later!