First Time Trip to London Advice

Look at the suggested itineraries available on this website:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/england/london-itinerary

Watch a few videos, either from the collection available here on the website, and/or YouTube. Then buy a good guidebook, read through it, and decide which attractions appeal to you. Finally, don't plan too much - allow a fair amount of time to just walk around and take it all in.

You, meaning Mr Steves?

Doubt Rick ever replies to the help line but other Forum readers like me do so.

Been visiting and staying in London for 50 years.

Are you there now? Going this year? Next ?

Are you walkers? History fanatics? Shoppers?
Enjoy theatre? Foodies?

FYI London can be exhausting and invades you senses. My favorite city on the planet!

Happy to make suggestions for first timers but do share a bit more about your interests.

My favorites are guided tours with London Walks, the Tower of London with a Yeoman Warder tour (included with your ticket), Borough Market, a guided tour of Westminster Abbey and the Wallace Collection for lunch and one hour guided tour of the museum highlights at 2:30pm.

You could group the Tower of London (morning) followed by a walk across a bridge to the Borough Market for lunch.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/yeoman-warder-tours/

Link to verger-guided tours of Westminster Abbey: https://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/guided-tours

We were there in November and brought relatives with us that had never been and were depending on me to introduce them to a London. I thought it was important to show them the Tower of London and Westminister Abbey including the Queen's Galleries and then branch out from there. The Tower was a full day for us, we got there at 10:30 and stayed until 4:30. London Walks as mentioned by someone else is also a good idea.

My strategy for London is always to plan two major sites a day, keeping geographically close sites one after another, and then filling in other places as time and energy allow. So start by looking at the major sites and ranking them in importance for you and your travel party (each person ranks separately and then compare).

Carol’s advice is spot on. I think first time visitors (we did this, too, first time) really underestimate how much time is needed to fully enjoy these iconic sites. Choosing two in close proximity is a great way to organize. If by chance you’re faster through on them, you can pick an additional place from a list of a possible “bonus spots” that again are nearby. But using Carol’s suggestion gives you a way to realistically whittle it down.

I really enjoyed musicals on West End when I was there a few weeks ago. If you like art and museums they have a lot of museums without entry fees. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the British Museum or Tower of London for sure. Westminster Abbey verger tour was really special, too.

I agree with planning one big site for morning and one per afternoon- that is normally how I plan in general. For London, my personal very top sites are: Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum. If you are interested in art, then National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, or Tate Modern. If you don't mind travelling a bit to Kensington, the V&A is one of my other favourite museums (focussed on design/decoration). If you don't mind travelling a bit further, a very nice day is taking the boat back and forth to Greenwich and visiting one of the museums there (Maritime Museum or Royal Observatory) and having a walk around. If it's nice weather I would spend some time walking thru one of the big parks (Hyde Park or Regent's Park) or along the Southbank. Good luck with your planning.

Rick Steves’ London and Great Britain guidebooks, which you can purchase or possibly borrow from your library, list his top London sight recommendations, in order of importance. He doesn’t list every great thing you could see, but for three days, it would more than fill your schedule. Make your own list, then determine the days and times each is open, then determine how much time transportation will require. A “leisurely” pace will limit how many things you can see, compared to doing hit-and-run sightseeing, but you’ll see them better, and more thoroughly, by allowing more time at a place.

The Underground (aka The Tube) can whisk you from station to station, arriving near many major sights. Iconic Double-decker buses and also “Black Cab” taxis let you see things above ground as you travel, but can be slower. Download the TfL (Transport for London) App for help navigating the Tube and buses. Buses are cheaper than Tube. Allow time for walking to sights, once you’re off the Tube or bus. Taxis, more expensive, can deliver you directly to your destination.

I agree with Catvh about the top 3 sights. You should also look at what London Walks offer. A day trip to Windsor might also be a top sight and easily done.

OP you are welcome.