4 days in London: itinerary for first-timers (2026)

This plan groups sights by area: Westminster and South Kensington, the City and East End, Bloomsbury and Greenwich, then Windsor. Check closing days before you go, because Westminster Abbey is closed for sightseeing on Sundays, Borough Market on Mondays and Windsor Castle on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Day 1: Westminster and South Kensington

Morning: Start at Westminster Abbey when it opens (Monday to Saturday only), entering from Westminster station.
Afternoon: Take the District or Circle line to South Kensington for the Natural History Museum. Book a free timed ticket and allow a few hours.
Evening: Head back toward Westminster for an evening walk along the river by the Houses of Parliament.
Getting around: Tap a contactless bank card or Oyster on the Tube; daily fare capping limits what you pay.

Tours for day 1 ↗

Day 2: Tower of London, Borough Market and Whitechapel

Morning: Be at the Tower of London for opening (9:00 Tue/Wed/Sat, 10:00 other days) to see the Crown Jewels before the crowds.
Afternoon: Walk across the river to Borough Market by London Bridge for lunch (closed Mondays; closes at 17:00, 16:00 on Sundays).
Evening: Take the Tube to Aldgate East or Whitechapel for the East London Mosque and the Whitechapel Road area.
Getting around: Tower Hill, London Bridge and Whitechapel are close together; walk or take short Tube hops.

Tours for day 2 ↗

Day 3: Greenwich and the British Museum

Morning: Take the DLR to Cutty Sark and walk up through Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory for the 10:00 opening.
Afternoon: Return to central London for the British Museum in Bloomsbury (open until 17:00; book a free timed ticket).
Evening: Have a relaxed evening near Holborn or Tottenham Court Road after a long day of walking.
Getting around: DLR to Greenwich (or a river boat one way), then the Tube to Holborn, Tottenham Court Road or Russell Square.

Tours for day 3 ↗

Day 4: Day trip to Windsor Castle

Morning: Take a train from Paddington or Waterloo to Windsor and arrive near the 10:00 opening (Thursday to Monday only).
Afternoon: Tour the castle (allow two to three hours). If it's a guard-change day, the Changing the Guard starts at 11:00.
Evening: Take the train back to London for a final dinner.
Getting around: Book castle tickets online (£32 vs £36 on the day). Trains run from London Paddington or London Waterloo.

Tours for day 4 ↗

Go deeper

Details for every stop

Things to do in LondonHours, prices and how to get to each sightSee the sights → Tours in LondonGuided tours and tickets on GetYourGuideBrowse ↗

Plan the rest

More for your trip to London

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Sources

Checked October 1, 2026. Prices, rules and fees change, so confirm before you travel.

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