How many days · London · United Kingdom
How many days do you need in London?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for London, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three full days covers Westminster, the Tower, the British Museum and a South Bank walk. Five days adds South Kensington's museums, Greenwich and a market or two at a gentler pace; a week leaves room for Windsor, Oxford or Bath by train.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 8
- Daylight
- 7.9 h (Dec) to 16.6 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | British Museum, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament and Big Ben |
| 2 days | Rushed | Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard and National Gallery |
| 3 days | Good | St Paul's Cathedral, London Eye and Natural History Museum |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Windsor Castle |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in London add up to roughly 20–26 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are British Museum (2–3 hours), Tower of London (3 hours) and Natural History Museum (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| British Museum | 2–3 hours | Bloomsbury |
| Tower of London | 3 hours | Tower Hill |
| Westminster Abbey | 1.5–2 hours | Westminster |
| Houses of Parliament and Big Ben | 1–2 hours with a tour | Westminster |
| Buckingham Palace and Changing the Guard | 1–2 hours | St James's |
| National Gallery | 2 hours | Trafalgar Square |
| St Paul's Cathedral | 1.5–2 hours | City of London |
| London Eye | 1 hour including queues | South Bank |
| Natural History Museum | 2–3 hours | South Kensington |
| Tower Bridge | 1–1.5 hours | Tower Hill |
| Tate Modern | 2 hours | Bankside |
| Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) | 2 hours | South Kensington |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on British Museum and Tower of London |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Natural History Museum |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 7.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 16.6 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining London with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in London?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three full days covers Westminster, the Tower, the British Museum and a South Bank walk. Five days adds South Kensington's museums, Greenwich and a market or two at a gentler pace; a week leaves room for Windsor, Oxford or Bath by train.
+Is a week too long in London?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace.