London: Budget itineraries for 1, 2 & 3 days
London is huge! Even Londoners can feel they’ve barely scratched the surface of the city, so what’s the poor visitor with limited time and budget to do?
Fear not, you can tackle most of the big sights – and some interesting extras – over the course of just a few days. We’ve created three suggested itineraries, based on 1, 2 or 3 days in London, which will give you a proper flavor of the city.
They’ll be busy days however, and require a lot of walking – the best and cheapest way to get around London – so bring some comfy shoes! Ready? Let’s go!
Related: Top budget hotels in London
One Day In London
Just one day in the big smoke? Phew! There’s a lot to pack in. You may think you need to spend lots of cash to manage to go from Tate Modern to the London Eye, and a squeeze in Big Ben and Buckingham all in one day, but our one-day itinerary proves that it’s possible without that.
We even fit in a visit to the theater, and some budget eating options! It’s a great basis for beginning to explore the city, even if you have longer in London – although you might want to take it at a slightly more leisured pace!
Two Days In London
You’ll have ticked off many of the “must-dos” on your first day. Our suggested itinerary for a second day in London helps you get a flavor of how London changes from neighborhood to neighborhood. Fortify yourself with a hearty hotel breakfast (like a free one from Celtic Hotel), and get ready to start strolling.
British Museum
Spend some time meandering through the leafy streets and squares of Bloomsbury. The area is known historically as the intellectual heart of London – it’s certainly got some good bookshops! Your destination, however, is the British Museum, a treasure trove of artifacts from all over the world, which is completely free to enter. It’s also more enjoyable if you can get around it before the hoards of other tourists descend – we’ve pulled together tips to get the most from your visit to the British Museum.
Refreshments: Depending on the amount of time spent in the museum, you may want to take a small detour back towards Holborn to check out the gorgeous, traditional Victorian interior of the Princess Louise pub. The pub is known for its good value too. And, if it’s not quite time for alcohol yet, you can always have a refreshing lemonade instead!
King’s Cross
From Bloomsbury, it’s just a short walk up to King’s Cross. There’s more free culture to be found around here too, in the fascinating medical and anthropological exhibits of the Wellcome Collection and the imposing British Library, home to around 14 million books. However, King’s Cross Station has another very important literary claim to fame, as home to Harry Potter’s Platform 9 3/4. You’ll need to queue to get your picture snapped, but it’s free if you take it yourself – and then you’ll be able to show your friends how your trip to London also included a day trip to Hogwart’s, right?
Refreshments: King’s Cross Station has a wide selection of fairly well priced chains, but head out to Granary Square behind the station for more. Kerb Street Food market is well worth seeking out, for adventurous and quality cheap eats from local traders. You’ll find them here every weekday.
A stroll along Regent’s Canal is a nice break from the city streets. Photo: Craig Nelson
The Regent’s Canal
The area around King’s Cross once had a bit of dodgy reputation, but it’s really cleaned up its act in recent years. Walking along the Regent’s Canal is a great way to experience this changing area and its peace and quiet makes a change from from the busy main streets. Created in the 19th century, the canal once carried heavy goods and food in and out of the city, although it’s a lot quieter today! Keep a look out for the charming Word on the Water, a bookshop barge.
Camden Market
A mile west along the towpath and you’ll find yourself at Camden Lock, right next to the legendary Camden Market. Camden still attracts punks and rockers and there’s plenty to see here, from colorful shops to colorful characters! Bargain hunters are sure to unearth something in the market itself, which sells everything from cheap noodles to vintage clothing. It’s just one of many great markets in London.
Take a well-deserved break on Primrose Hill. Photo: Ellen Munro
Primrose Hill
Depending on your feet, you could walk or get the bus northwards towards Primrose Hill. Once there, you’ll have to gather your energy to climb Primrose Hill itself – it’s worth it, honest, for one of the best free views of London. Energy recovered, and head back down the hill for the evening’s entertainment.
Refreshments: The Parkway road in Camden has a good choice of budget dinner options. Try Hook – fish and chips but not as you know it, served in Panko crusted breadcrumbs – or Masala Zone – a stylish and authentic Indian.
A Camden night out
It’s always worth checking out what gigs are going on in Camden’s bars and pubs – there are always bands playing, and fun nights out to be had. Our tip is to catch and up and coming comics in the intimate surrounds of the Camden Comedy Club. Lots of shows are free, and you’ll rarely pay more than £5 for entrance, a real bargain for London.
Three Days In London
Still here? Well, you’re lucky as you can spend a day really getting the measure of London, from old to new, from classic to up-to-the-minute fashionable.
Brick Lane
Street art and street style central, a walk down Brick Lane shows contemporary, multi-cultural London at its buzziest. There are tons of independent shops to browse, events and markets to check out, and always people to watch. We love it so much, it’s one of our top 10 free things to see in London. If you happen to visiting on a Sunday, make the short walk to Columbia Road Flower Market. It’s a blooming scene where you can browse colorful flowers and enjoy a tasty bite to eat as hawkers call out as you walk by.
Refreshments: You’ll be spoiled for choice for street food but a local institution and still something of a bargain is the Brick Lane Beigel Bake. Open 24 hours a day, the queue can wind out the door for their salt beef bagels.
The City
From there, it’s hard to believe you’re just a short walk away from “the Square Mile”, more commonly – and slightly confusingly – known as “the City”, which is the financial hub of London, and the UK. On weekdays it’s packed with suited workers; on the weekend it’s almost deserted. An area with centuries of history, older building such as the Bank of England and St. Paul’s Cathedral are now overshadowed by the idiosyncratic new breed of tall buildings that dominate the skyline. Love them or loathe them, there’s no denying these buildings will provide spectacular views. See for yourself at the Sky Garden – a public garden at the very top of 20 Fenchurch Street (otherwise known as the “Walkie Talkie”), it’s free to visit but you’ll need to book in advance.
Greenwich
You’ll definitely be getting tired now, after almost three days of full-on sightseeing, so it’s time to head to one of London’s many green spaces to restore your spirits. You’re actually spoilt for choice – Hyde Park, Green Park, Regent’ Park – would all do the job nicely, and that’s just for starters. For greenery coupled with history, we’d recommend taking a journey to Greenwich.
Hop on the Dockland Light Railway (DLR) at Bank station and for £2.30 (off-peak), you’ll be whisked over to Greenwich in around 20 minutes. There are loads of historical attractions to be explored here – it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site after all – and whether the imposing Cutty Sark ship or the grand promenades of the Royal Naval College, it really is stunning. The large park is also the perfect spot for weary travelers to rest awhile. If you can summon the energy to climb to the Royal Observatory, perched on top of the hill in the park, you’ll be rewarded with another amazing view (but, if you can’t, we really won’t mind at this stage!)
Refreshments: What better way to finish off a London trip than in a traditional pub? The Cutty Sark pub is slightly off the main tourist drag, but well worth a visit for its Georgian exterior and riverside views. Although definitely on the treat yourself end of the budget scale, it’s hard to think of a better way to end your visit than feasting on traditional pub food and toasting your London experience with a local ale. Cheers!
And, if you’re in London for even longer, why not use it as a base to explore some more areas of the UK? Read our guides on daytrips to Stonehenge, Bath, Oxford or Brighton for some inspiration.
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Hi there,
May I know if I have only one day in London and I want to visit some famous attractions like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminters Bridge and another few, DO I need to take 1 day pass to go to the city centre or to the Hyde park where I can board the Hop on Hop off bus? Im thinking of keeping my luggage at Heathrow airport then comeback in the evening to take bus to Paris. Would you please tell me how do I go about it as Im on budget travel.
Thank you.