London Itinerary

Assuming day 1 is arrival day, try to stay outdoors in the daylight as much as possible. Depending on your arrival time and dropping your luggage, you might be able to make it to Horse Guard Parade just before 11 am to watch The Changing of the King's Life Guard. You get all the colorful pomp with horses without the massive crowds of the Buckingham Palace changing of the guards. Then walk through beautiful St. James Park to the Palace, stopping for the views from the Blue Bridge.

Day 2, if you're planning inside visits, you may run out of time. At Westminster Abbey the highly recommended Verger Tour takes about 90 minutes, as does the Audio Guide plus you'll need extra time to visit Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries.

Re Borough Market, the nicer the weather, the more uncomfortably crowded it gets, especially on the weekends.

Enjoy your planning.

For Day 2, that seems like a lot. For Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace do you mean just looking at the outside or tours? If just looking at the outside, then you might be fine to fit that all in. If you mean tours, I would spread those out more. If you want to tour inside Big Ben you need to book that as soon as tickets go on sale. However with 10-12 days, you have plenty of time for all of these activities. For the first day, I would suggest walking around somewhere you can get your bearings a bit, and maybe also see some sights from the outside, like South Bank. Good luck with the rest of your planning!

For the reason mentioned above, to stay outdoors on your arrival day, I suggest Tower of London that day.

Day 2 is very busy.

Consider a visit to the British Museum. If for nothing else, the Rosetta Stone. And the Parthenon Frieze.

How many folks are traveling?
Ages?
First time to London?

Thanks everyone this is so helpful! It would be my husband and I and 2 of our 5 kids. Young adult and college boy. I’m the only one that been before. I was not planning on touring Big Ben, but possibly touring Parliament. Love the suggestions about the first day.

The Churchill War Rooms can take over half a day for those really interested. Be advised that this is a combination site. First you have the war rooms. That section is crowded and visually underwhelming. The focus there is on being where key decisions were made. If that's all you're interested in, I contend the CWR are overpriced, but it's obvious many people disagree with me. Part 2 is the Churchill Museum, which is where you can spend a great deal of time. So it depends on the depth of your interest.

Saturday is the main day for the Portobello Road Market. It gets more crowded as the day goes on, so it's smart to head over there early. If Saturday doesn't work for you, I'd suggest choosing a different market--maybe Camden, but others will probably know better.

Borough Market is likely to be a zoo, but it does have some good food. If you're combining it with some places not too far away, it makes sense. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a trip all the way across London to go there.

travelling with the family? kiddoes? (ages?)

You said you'll be in London for 10 to 12 days. But you look like you're trying to do it all in Day 2 and Day 3. Are we missing something?

Your Day 2 is very very ambitious!! Westminster Abbey, House of Parliament in AM, Churchill War Rooms, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace in PM.

Figure 3 hours at Westminster Abbey (you pay quite a lot so get your money's worth and don't dash out in 20 minutes after waiting to get in), Houses of Parliament can either be a walk-by or on a tour which needs to be arranged, so 5 minutes or 3 hours. Which do you intend? Churchill War Rooms needs timed tickets, you need at least 2 or 3 hours, I know people who have happily spent 6 hours there. Big Ben (the bell in the Elizabeth Tower) and the clock, is a walk by when you are at the Houses of Parliament. Buckingham Palace is only open for visitors at particular times of the year - have you checked if you can get tickets for your day? Or are you just going for walk-by?

In any event, that's one busy day. Is there a reason you're doing it all in one day when you have a week and a half?

Last question - May has two Bank Holiday weekends - will you be here for either of those? If so things get even tighter.

I've been writing for a while - my vision isn't great today - so I didn't see your answer about the family. So actually 4 adults, right?

How long do you linger at Museums? I ask because Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London can eat up a lot of time. We arrived at the Tower of London at 10:30 and shut it down at 4:30. The Queen’s Galleries at Westminster Abbey is outstanding and I would have liked note time but was outfitted by the other 4 in our group. I think we were at Westminter for 3 hours but I cod have used a couple more.

I was underwhelmed by the Borough Market but it is a good place to grab a bite to eat. Or check out the Anchor for a meal. https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/anchor-bankside it is walkable from the Tower but a long one. But if you cross the Tower Bridge you can catch a bus.

Depending on where you're staying in London the first day may be best spent wandering outside. If you just plan on seeing the outside of Buckingham Palace and the Parliament Buildings then that might be a good first day.

You're right to NOT schedule anything on your first day. Don't do anything that is important to you, that you want to really enjoy and remember. Best to stay outside a lot, maybe walk around a park. I agree with the above poster who said you could put Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament on the first day, if you're just seeing them from the outside and not touring.

You have a lot scheduled for Day 2. I'd put Westminster Abbey first (get there as soon as it opens, be one of the first in line, immediately book a Verger tour (you will be able to go into the Shrine of St. Edward the Confessor and the tour is wonderful!) While you wait for the tour to start, you will have time to see the Abbey without crowds. See the Henry VII Lady Chapel, it's beautiful and there won't be many other people. Are you touring the Houses of Parliament, or just getting a good look? I wouldn't try to do tours of both Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament in the morning. I think you may have to pick either Parliament (if you're actually touring) or Churchill War Rooms for afternoon. I'm assuming you're just seeing Big Ben and Buckingham Palace from the outside.

I think Day 3 is probably okay. A little packed, but you can probably do it.

Portobello Rd Market is best on Saturdays.

Have a great trip!

hey hey kel.mel
since you ask my own opinion is you are over planning, 10-12 days but cramming activities/attractions into 2 days. you are traveling during high season (USA spring breaks, graduation gifts, summer vacations starting, many traveling last minute haha. read an article "is europe drowning in travel/tourism?"
how early is arrival & can you get early check in? drop luggage if in a hotel or rent a day ahead and let then know your plans.
too too much, enjoy your time, roam around, sit outside, see some crazy stuff, have lunch, people watch. london is a big, busy, expensive, crowded city. you really have no clue how long it will take you to get to places, (bus, tube, taxis, cars, lots of walking). the sites you mentioned will take time to get in with lines, get tickets ahead of time direct (some are day/time stamped), have lots of patience.

westminster abbey: book tickets early at website. several years ago we went and it was so crowded. people were crowding, poushing, pulling, shoving in front of you to get to fence, climbing up it. did it once won't do it again.
go to the afternoon changing of the guards at whitehall/birdcage walk, guards will have parade of the horses, check days/times
discoverwalks.com london
click the headers what is available for fun thins to see and do, maybe bike tours for your kids
big ben, tower of london, crown jewels, beefeater tour, we were there when they did the red poppies in the moat
airbnb.com/experiences/london
shoreditch street art tour, go to a tea party, a old pub to drink some beer/ale, jack the ripper tour or harry potter tour, british royalty walking tour, london castles and bridges, rock & roll music tour, thamesrockets.com (boat rides), jason.co.uk (boat ride thru regent's canal to camden lock from little venice, we took taxi to abbey road for photo op, officiallondontheatre.com discount tickets
wowcher.co.uk
free registration. lots of things to see and do, some are 2 for 1 specials.
harrods store, piccadilly & trafalger square for "free street entertainment" (bring small cash pounds)
londonxlondon.com markets you may want to visit. stop and have lunch, don't forget fish & chips.
timeout.com london
b-bakery.com
something different. the big red bus afternoon tea, a sightseeing tour of main attractions in london. check the bus route.
since i like gin, we did a gin tour going to 6 pubs that distill their own gin and made a special cocktail of their gin with about 10 people. it was so much fun
have your sons do some research of things they think they will like and bookmark it. london is a fun/crazy city with lots to do and you spending lots of time to check it out. long novel but just some ideas. have a great time
aloha

Since you will be there for 10-12 days other places to add would be the London Eye, tea at the Library County Hall, and Amorino Gelato. We enjoyed a partial day trip to Hampton Court Palace as well. On your first day depending on where you are staying you could walk in Kensington Gardens. I think you will love London!

So i am kind of redoing the itinerary, so please let me know if this makes more sense?
Day 1-Arrive. Easy day and trying to do activities outside. Buckingham Palace, St James Park perhaps.
Day 2-Tower of London/London Bridge, Skygarden
Day 3-Westminister Abbey first thing in AM,Churchill War Rooms in afternoon. Lunch in between and maybe walk to see Big Ben, London Eye. NOT a tour
Day 4-Bath for the day
Day 5-St Pauls Cathedral, Globe Theatre(not a show), Tate Modern?
Day 6-Saturday- Portabello Mkt early, Notting Hill
Day 7-Free-
Day 8-Visit to Wimbledon. Would imagine we could do some more things this day to fill in.
Day 9-Free
Day 10-?
Day 11-?
My husband would like to take the train to Cambridge one day perhaps to see an old friend. Im hoping this looks somewhat better than the original one. I know when we went to Italy( 7 of us) my kids did say afterwards, they wished we hadn't done as much. We were there for 2 weeks and pretty non stop. I really appreciate the input!

Day 2 should be Tower Bridge, not London Bridge.

Don't forget to throw in some pub stops for meals or drinks and a rest. Choose some that have historical or architectural interest. Here are just a few ideas

On Day 3 The Two Chairmen is about a 5 minute walk from the Abbey. While you can book a table in the upstairs dining room, the main floor is livelier.

Day 5 The historic Blackfriar Pub is about a 5 minute walk from St. Paul's towards the river. A few minutes from the Globe Theater is the Anchor Bankside, a pub from the 1600s with outdoor seating and great views. Another 2 minutes and you'll see the ruins of Winchester Palace. You'll then be 2 minutes from Borough Market (enter at your own risk). Or head on to The George, London's last remaining coaching inn from the 1600s.

Thank you! great suggestions. Putting on the list.

do you have a handle on your Cambridge trip, transportation wise?

For your day in Wimbledon, some ideas:

-be sure and pre-book the tour/tickets for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, if that is your main reason for going
-I've had lovely walks in Wimbledon Common/Putney Heath. If the Windmill museum is open, the tea rooms have always been nice when I've been!
-just to the southwest of the common is Cannizaro Park--some lovely gardens and a cafe

Don't know if you are looking to "fill" your free days, but some ideas:

Train/tube to Richmond (Especially if you have any Ted Lasso fans in the family)
Hampton Court Palace
Show on the West End
Greenwich -town, park, Royal Observatory--we also enjoyed walking under the Thames to the Isle of Dogs from just near the Cutty Sark

I think this itinerary looks much better!

There are lots of day trips you could do on your free days. Consider Greenwich, Stonehenge/Salisbury, Oxford. You could even do an overnight in York.

There's also the British Museum, British library, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, etc.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

This itinerary looks much more relaxed, giving you time to enjoy London. You have already received great advice from the folks in the forum. Here are some things to consider based on my recent trip to London and Bath in December. We are back in May to attend some concerts.

• Westminster: check the website to see if Westminster is open in the morning on the day you have planned. If so, go first thing. If not and it is closed until the afternoon, choose another day. I unfortunately booked tickets for other sites prior to checking the schedule and was forced to go in the afternoon. It was miserable, not my first time, but my nieces and I wished I had skipped it. Also, we did find a nice gem at Westminster itself, Cellarium Café and Terrace at Westminster Abbey. It is in Dean's Yard, right next to the abbey and it is a lovely and peaceful place for lunch. We had the afternoon tea (this was my nieces favorite on the trip), not fancy, but absolutely delicious.
• Tower of London: going early, head straight to the Crown Jewels and then take a Beefeaters tour. There is so much to do at the Tower. Don't miss the Ravens, they are so smart and so entertaining.
• Tate Modern: one of my favorite museums and since you are in the area, you can pop in for as long as you like. The restaurant has wonderful food and a great view of the Thames. Also, they are doing a restrospective of Tracey Emin one of the most important contemporary artists of her generation. She was catapulted into the public eye in the 1990s with iconic works like her Turner Prize nominated My Bed, which sparked fierce critical and public debate, challenging what art could be. Emin’s disregard for any separation of the personal and the public, along with her commitment to unapologetic self-expression, came to define a historic moment in British culture and global art history.
• Concerts: check out the concert schedule for May, there are a lot of great artists performing, especially in the 2nd week of May.
• Gardens: if you are in London the 19-23 the Chelsea Garden Show is on. I got tickets last week for the Members day on the 20th. It is a fantastic event. If you are not in London those days, then others have recommended Kew Gardens.
• East London: You have some time and touring East London is a blast. You may want to take a food tour. The Eating Europe East London Food tour is awesome, mixing great food with history and street art. You can then plan on staying after the tour and shopping at vintage stores, Spitalfields market.

Enjoy.