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 sit it rush 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 fur 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!