Three days in London: a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood itinerary
Three days is enough for a focused London visit if you group the stops: Westminster and the South Bank, then Greenwich by river, then Covent Garden and the West End. Reserve afternoon tea, the London Eye and a show ahead of the trip; leave some space between them.
The Ritz’s weekend tea can book months ahead, and men are expected to wear a jacket and tie. The Goring serves tea on the Veranda overlooking its garden, a few minutes from Buckingham Palace. Choose one. For the timed London Eye ticket, sunset ranges from late evening in June to mid-afternoon in December. Keep the show for day three.
Covent Garden, St James’s or Westminster keeps the plan fairly compact. An apartment within five minutes of a station, especially on the Circle line, gives you useful connections for Westminster, Embankment and the South Bank.
Day one: Westminster, the South Bank and the Eye
Begin at Parliament Square and cross Westminster Bridge. The flat South Bank route passes the Eye, Southbank Centre and National Theatre in about 25 minutes, away from road traffic. Put tea in the middle of the afternoon, then return for an Eye slot around dusk. A rotation lasts about half an hour.
Leave dinner flexible after the journey. Some serviced apartments can arrange a private chef if you would rather eat in.
Day two: Greenwich by boat
For Greenwich, board Uber Boat by Thames Clippers at Westminster or Embankment pier. This is a commuter boat, without tour narration. The river route takes you past the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf, and accepts Oyster and contactless payment.
The Cutty Sark is beside the Greenwich landing. From there, go through Greenwich Park and uphill to the Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian. Both the Cutty Sark and Observatory require tickets; Royal Museums Greenwich offers a combined day pass for the pair. The National Maritime Museum below the hill is free.
Return to central London by mid-afternoon for the shops. Liberty on Great Marlborough Street has a building worth seeing; Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly is the stop for its food hall and hampers. Harrods in Knightsbridge offers a much larger shopping circuit.
Sabor on Heddon Street is one option without a dinner reservation: the ground-floor counter takes walk-ins. Nieves Barragán’s Spanish menu is the draw. Aim for its 5.30pm opening, while allowing for the possibility of a wait.
Day three: Covent Garden and a cheese crawl
Use the final day for a route from Paxton & Whitfield on Jermyn Street, trading in St James’s since the 18th century, through Piccadilly Circus to Covent Garden. Stop at Neal’s Yard Dairy on Shorts Gardens for seasonal cheese and the chance to request a taste.
The painted shopfronts in Neal’s Yard make a five-minute detour. Ballet and opera enthusiasts can also look for a Royal Opera House backstage tour, offered on selected days.
The September Theatre Tickets Direct listings showed cheap seats for The Book of Mormon, Matilda and Les Misérables from roughly £25, with Hamilton nearer £50. Those are dated examples. A day-three matinee can fit a departure day; an evening performance needs more room before your flight.
Food hygiene ratings for the places in this guide
Official fact Food Standards Agency Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, checked 23 September 2026. 5 is the top rating.
| Name | Registered address | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ritz London | The Ritz, 150-156 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR | 5 | Feb 2026 |
| The Goring | 15 Beeston Place, SW1W 0JW | 5 | Mar 2025 |
| Harrods | 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL | 5 | Jul 2025 |
| Sabor | 35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR | 5 | Sep 2025 |
| Paxton & Whitfield | 93 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6JE | 5 | Oct 2025 |
| Neal's Yard Dairy | 17 Shorts Gardens, WC2H 9AT | 5 | Oct 2023 |