5 Days in London: The Complete Itinerary for Americans

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Five days in London is when the city really opens up to you. You’ll see all the iconic landmarks, yes — but you’ll also have time to climb the dome of St Paul’s, explore Camden Market, wander through Kensington Palace gardens, and discover the East End’s street art and curry houses. As a born and raised Englishman, this is the itinerary I’d give a friend from the States who wants the full London experience without burning out by Day 3.

Days 1-3 below are condensed versions of our 3 Days in London itinerary — click through for the full hour-by-hour breakdown. Days 4 and 5 are entirely new.

At a Glance

Detail	Info
Duration	Five full days
Areas covered	Westminster, Tower of London, South Bank, Covent Garden, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Notting Hill, Greenwich, St Paul’s, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, East End, Camden, Kensington
Walking distance	~15-18 miles total over five days
Estimated cost	£350-£500 per person ($470-$670) including attractions, meals, and transport
Rain-friendly	Very — most paid attractions are indoors, plus three major free museums
Best for	First-time visitors who want a thorough, well-paced trip
Tube zones needed	Zones 1-2

Day 1: Westminster, Buckingham Palace & Tower of London

The classics. Start with Westminster Abbey (£31), walk through St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace (catch the Changing of the Guard if it’s scheduled — check householddivision.org.uk), then head to the Tower of London (£37) for the Crown Jewels and a free Beefeater tour. End with a pub dinner on the South Bank.

See our 3 Days in London guide for the full hour-by-hour breakdown, including lunch stops and rain alternatives.

Day 2: Sky Garden, Covent Garden & British Museum

Start with free panoramic views from the Sky Garden (book at skygarden.london — tickets release every Monday for the following three weeks and sell out fast). Wander through Covent Garden and Neal’s Yard, then spend the afternoon at the British Museum (free — Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Sculptures, Egyptian mummies). Dinner in Soho.

Full details in our 3 Days in London guide.

Day 3: Natural History Museum, Notting Hill & Greenwich

Morning at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington (free — dinosaurs, Blue Whale skeleton). Afternoon exploring Notting Hill’s Portobello Road Market, then a half-day trip to Greenwich: the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory (stand on the Prime Meridian Line), Greenwich Park, and Greenwich Market. Take the Thames Clipper riverboat back for sunset views along the river.

Full details in our 3 Days in London guide.

Day 4: St Paul’s, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe & the East End

Day 4 takes you across the Thames and into London’s creative heart — the City, the South Bank’s cultural corridor, and the East End’s street art and food scenes.

9:30 AM – St Paul’s Cathedral

Nearest Tube: St Paul’s (Central line) — 2-minute walk

Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, completed in 1710 after the Great Fire of London destroyed the original medieval cathedral. This is where Prince Charles married Lady Diana, where Queen Elizabeth’s funeral was held, and where you can climb 528 steps to the Golden Gallery for one of the best views in London.

What to see:

The Nave and Crypt — the cathedral floor is breathtaking, and the crypt holds the tombs of Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Christopher Wren himself
The Whispering Gallery (257 steps up) — a circular gallery where a whisper against the wall can be heard clearly on the opposite side, 100 feet away
The Stone Gallery (376 steps) — an outdoor gallery with panoramic views
The Golden Gallery (528 steps) — the top of the dome, 85 metres above the cathedral floor, with sweeping views across London
Ticket: £25 adult (~$34) when booked online in advance; £27 at the door. Summer savings (June 25 – September 1, 2026) brings online tickets to around £24. Book at stpauls.co.uk
Time needed: 2-3 hours (add 30 minutes if you do the full dome climb)
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (opens at 10 AM on Wednesdays). Sundays are for worship only — free to attend a service, but no sightseeing.
Free guided tours: Cathedral-led tours of the floor and crypt run at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM. Just turn up and join — no extra cost.
Tip: The dome climb is stairs only — no lift. It’s narrow and winding, but absolutely worth it. If you have mobility issues or claustrophobia, the cathedral floor and crypt alone are worth the ticket price.

12:00 PM – Cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern

Walk out of St Paul’s west front and cross the Millennium Bridge — a sleek pedestrian suspension bridge spanning the Thames. The view of St Paul’s dome from the bridge is one of the best photo spots in London.

On the south side, you’ll find Tate Modern — London’s foremost contemporary art gallery, housed in the cavernous Bankside Power Station.

Ticket: Free for permanent collections. Special exhibitions are ticketed (~£18-25).
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Sundays from 10:15 AM)
Must-see: The Turbine Hall (usually filled with a massive installation), the free viewing platform on Level 10, and works by Picasso, Warhol, Rothko, and Hockney.
Website: tate.org.uk

2:00 PM – Lunch at Borough Market

Walk east along the South Bank (15 minutes) to Borough Market. Grab lunch from the food stalls — wild mushroom risotto, salt beef bagels, fresh oysters, or sausage rolls from The Ginger Pig. Budget: £15-25 per person.

3:30 PM – Shakespeare’s Globe Tour

Nearest Tube: London Bridge (Northern, Jubilee lines)

Just a 5-minute walk from Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe is a faithful reconstruction of the original 1599 Elizabethan playhouse where Shakespeare’s works were first performed. The open-air, thatched-roof theatre is a working venue — you can see plays here from April to October — but even without a ticket to a show, the guided tour is excellent.

Ticket: £27-31 adult (~$36-42). Book at shakespearesglobe.com
Time needed: 1 hour (tours run every 30 minutes)
What you’ll see: The theatre itself (from the yard and the galleries), the exhibition on Shakespeare’s London, and behind-the-scenes stories from your guide
Tip: If you want to see a play instead of (or in addition to) the tour, standing tickets in the yard (called “groundlings”) start at just £6.25 (~$8.50) — the cheapest way to see world-class Shakespeare anywhere. Check shakespearesglobe.com for the current season.

5:00 PM – East End Street Art & Brick Lane

Nearest Tube: Take the Northern line from London Bridge to Shadwell, then walk, or take the East London line from Canada Water to Shadwell.

London’s East End — specifically Shoreditch and Brick Lane — is the city’s creative and culinary heartbeat. This is where you’ll find some of the world’s best street art (including works by Banksy, ROA, and Stik), vintage shops, and one of London’s most famous curry scenes.

Walking route: Start at Old Street station, walk down Rivington Street (look for the famous “I Love Soho” mural and various street art pieces), continue to Brick Lane.

What to see:

Street art along Rivington Street, Redchurch Street, and Brick Lane — it changes constantly, so you never know what you’ll find
Old Spitalfields Market — a covered Victorian market with food stalls, crafts, and antiques (daily 10 AM – 8 PM)
Brick Lane’s curry houses — this has been London’s curry capital since the 1970s

7:00 PM – Dinner on Brick Lane or in Shoreditch

Dinner recommendations:

Brick Lane Curry House — pick your curry from the menu, then choose your spice level (1-6). The phaal is genuinely dangerous. Budget: £15-22 per person.
Dishoom Shoreditch — the Bombay-style café chain, but the Shoreditch location has a different vibe from the Covent Garden branch. Budget: £18-25 per person.
Beigel Bake (Brick Lane) — not dinner, but a late-night salt beef bagel from this 24-hour Jewish bakery is an East End institution. Grab one on your way home. Budget: £5-8.

Day 5: Camden Market, Regent’s Canal & Kensington Palace

Your final day takes you north to Camden’s legendary market, along one of London’s most beautiful canal walks, and then west to royal Kensington — three very different sides of the city.

10:00 AM – Camden Market

Nearest Tube: Camden Town (Northern line) — 3-minute walk

Camden Market is London’s most famous alternative market — a maze of food stalls, vintage clothing, vinyl records, handmade crafts, and street food from every corner of the world, spread across several interconnected areas (Camden Lock, Stables Market, North Yard, and Buck Street).

Entry: Free — you pay only for what you buy
Hours: Daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (until 7:00 PM Fridays and Saturdays). New for 2026: Night Markets every Thursday until 9 PM through July and August.
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Best time to arrive: 10:00-11:30 AM, before the weekend crowds build. By noon on Saturdays, the main lanes are shoulder-to-shoulder.
Don’t miss: The Stables Market (vintage and alternative fashion, set in old horse stables), the street food hall in the North Yard (everything from Ethiopian injera to Korean fried chicken), and the Cyberdog shop (you’ll know it when you see it).
Website: camdenmarket.com

1:00 PM – Regent’s Canal Walk to Little Venice

Behind Camden Lock, the Regent’s Canal begins a winding path through northwest London. Walk the towpath west from Camden toward Little Venice — a 40-minute stroll along the water, passing through Regent’s Park (with views of London Zoo’s wild dogs enclosure from the canal) and arriving at the picturesque pool where the canal meets the Grand Union Canal.

Free — just walk the towpath
Distance: About 2 miles from Camden Lock to Little Venice
Time needed: 40-60 minutes at a leisurely pace
Tip: If you’d rather rest your legs, the London Waterbus Company runs narrowboat trips from Camden Lock to Little Venice through the canal (including a passage through the 250-metre Maida Hill tunnel). Check londonwaterbus.com for schedules and fares.

Grab lunch at one of the cafes near Little Venice or Warwick Avenue — The Bridge House pub or the Waterside Café are both lovely canal-side spots.

3:00 PM – Kensington Palace & Gardens

Nearest Tube: From Little Venice, take the 46 bus or walk to Warwick Avenue (Bakerloo line), then change at Paddington for the Circle/District line to High Street Kensington (about 30 minutes total).

Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for over 300 years — it’s where Queen Victoria was born and raised, and where the Prince and Princess of Wales currently live. The State Rooms are open to the public, and the surrounding Kensington Gardens are free to wander.

What to see:

King’s State Apartments — a stunning series of rooms decorated for George I and George II, including the Cupola Room and the King’s Gallery
Victoria: A Royal Childhood — an exhibition about Queen Victoria’s childhood at Kensington Palace
The Sunken Garden — a beautiful formal garden in the palace grounds (free, no ticket needed). This is where the Princess Diana memorial statue now stands.
Ticket: £24.70 adult (~$33) when booked online. Book at hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace
Time needed: 2-2.5 hours for the palace interior, plus 30-60 minutes for the gardens
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last admission 5:00 PM). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays — plan accordingly.
Free alternative: If you don’t want to pay for the palace interior, the Sunken Garden, Diana statue, and all 265 acres of Kensington Gardens are free to explore during park hours.

6:00 PM – Final Dinner in Kensington or Notting Hill

Walk 15 minutes north from Kensington Gardens to Notting Hill for your final London dinner. Options:

The Churchill Arms — a historic pub famous for its flower-covered exterior and excellent Thai food inside. Budget: £15-22 per person.
E&O (Notting Hill) — Pan-Asian restaurant, a local favourite. Budget: £25-35 per person. Book at eandorestaurant.com.
The Ledbury — if you want a truly special final night, this two-Michelin-star restaurant is one of London’s best. Budget: £80-120 per person. Book well in advance at theledbury.com.

American Traveler Tips

Topic	What You Need to Know
Currency	£1 ≈ $1.34 (July 2026). Check the current rate before your trip.
Tipping	10-12.5% service charge often added automatically. If not, 10% is standard. Don’t tip at the bar in pubs.
Plug adapters	UK uses Type G plugs (three rectangular pins). Bring a Type G adapter.
Tube payment	Tap contactless card or phone. Zone 1-2 daily cap: around £9.90-£10.60 (~$13-14). See tfl.gov.uk.
Booking ahead	Book Sky Garden (3 weeks ahead), St Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Palace, and Shakespeare’s Globe tours in advance. Free museums (British Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate Modern) also require free timed slots on weekends.
Kensington Palace days	Open Wednesday to Sunday only — closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Plan Day 5 accordingly.
East End safety	Shoreditch and Brick Lane are safe and well-policed, but as with any major city, keep valuatives secure and be aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
Canal walk safety	The Regent’s Canal towpath is safe during daylight hours. Don’t walk it after dark.

Rain Backup Plan

Day 1: Westminster Abbey and Tower of London are mostly indoors. See our 3 Days in London guide for details.
Day 2: Sky Garden and British Museum are both fully indoors.
Day 3: Natural History Museum is indoors. Greenwich’s Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum are covered.
Day 4: St Paul’s Cathedral and Tate Modern are both fully indoors. Shakespeare’s Globe tour runs in light rain (it’s open-air) — if it’s pouring, swap the Globe tour for more time at Tate Modern or head to the East End’s covered Old Spitalfields Market earlier.
Day 5: Camden Market is partially covered. If it’s raining hard, skip the canal walk and take the Tube from Camden to Kensington. Kensington Palace interiors are indoors; the gardens can wait for a break in the weather.

FAQ

Is five days enough for London?
Five days gives you a genuinely thorough trip — you’ll see the major landmarks, three world-class museums, four distinct neighborhoods, and take a day trip to Greenwich. You still won’t see everything (London has over 200 museums), but you’ll leave feeling like you’ve properly experienced the city. For even more depth, see our 7 Days in London guide.

What should I skip if I’m short on time?
If you need to cut a day, drop Day 5 (Camden, canal walk, and Kensington Palace) — the other four days cover more essential ground. Or skip Kensington Palace interior and just enjoy the free gardens, saving £24.70 and 2+ hours.

Can I see a play at Shakespeare’s Globe?
Yes — and you should if you can. The season runs April to October. Groundling (standing) tickets start at £6.25 (~$8.50), making it one of the cheapest world-class theatre experiences anywhere. Book at shakespearesglobe.com. Note that groundlings stand for the full 2-3 hour performance, rain or shine.

Is the St Paul’s dome climb worth it?
If you’re reasonably fit and not claustrophobic, absolutely. The Whispering Gallery is an acoustic marvel, and the Golden Gallery view at the top is one of the best in London. The stairs are narrow and winding (528 steps, no lift), but there are places to rest along the way. If you can’t manage the climb, the cathedral floor and crypt alone are worth the ticket price.

Is Camden Market better on weekdays or weekends?
Weekends are when Camden is at its most vibrant — every stall open, street performers out, maximum atmosphere. But it’s also extremely crowded by noon. If you go on a weekend, arrive at 10 AM when it opens. Weekdays are quieter but some stalls may not be open.

How much does the full five-day trip cost?
Budget roughly £350-£500 ($470-$670) per person. Breakdown: Westminster Abbey (£31), Tower of London (£37), St Paul’s Cathedral (£25), Shakespeare’s Globe tour (£27-31), Kensington Palace (£24.70), Sky Garden (free), British Museum (free), Natural History Museum (free), Tate Modern (free), Greenwich Day Pass (£38 optional), meals (£120-180 over five days), Tube fares (~£50 total for Zones 1-2).

Should I buy a London Pass?
The London Pass can be worth it if you’re hitting 3+ paid attractions per day. At roughly £89-129 for a 5-day pass, it would cover Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, St Paul’s, Kensington Palace, and Shakespeare’s Globe — which individually would cost around £145. However, it doesn’t include food or transport. Do the math based on your planned attractions before buying.

Looking for more London itineraries? Check out our 1 Day in London, 2 Days in London, 3 Days in London, 4 Days in London, and One Week in London guides.

First time visiting London? Read our complete first-timer’s guide for everything you need to know before you go.