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london itinerary three days work
Earlier this year I visited London for work (FINALLY) and wanted to be able to see the sights between work meetings. I’d been to London before, most notably in 2018 when I took a solo trip to then meet up with friends. I worked at our office for one day, and then was out in the suburbs for two more days. Essentially I had three days to enjoy London. Maybe you are traveling for work, and want to know what the highlights are so you, too, can visit between work meetings. Or maybe you just want to see how I spent my time.
The below is an expanded itinerary of how I spent my time, optimized for proximity and time, with some additional must-sees layered in. The British Museum, for example, is a must-see although I somehow skipped it on this trip.
My actual itinerary was:
Day 1: Land at Heathrow, exhaustedly make way to hotel, lose cell phone immediately and spend 90 minutes finding it, go see the Bake-Off Musical.
Day 2-4: Work
Day 5: Take the train back to London to stay at the Montague. Go to V&A, walk around, Dishoom
Day 6: Hampton Court Palace and Tower of London, fall asleep because you are coming down with something but don’t realize it.
London 3 Day Itinerary: Overview
For only three days in London, you should focus your activities based on what you absolutely have to see, and plan your days by proximity. When I visited London in April, I … did not do this. I took the train all the way out to Hampton Court before swinging to the complete opposite side of London to see the Tower. This is a terrible waste of time! I spent so much time on trains that day. I also stayed right next to the British Museum without actually visiting it. But that’s the fun of traveling! Planning an itinerary but leaving some things to chance.
Day 1: V&A Museum, Walking or Food tour, Afternoon Tea
Day 2: Sky Garden, Tower of London, Thames Ferry, Westminster, dinner at Dishoom
Day 3: Option 1: Windsor Castle OR Hampton Court Palace, Shopping, Theatre
Option 2: British Museum, Churchill War Rooms, Theatre
Day 1 on a Three Day Itinerary in London for work
Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world, although you could also fly into Stansted or Luton airports. If you’re flying into Heathrow, I recommend pre-purchasing your Heathrow Express round trip ticket. You’ll be able to lock in a lower price (I paid £37 rt in April 2023) and not have to wait in line. Pro tip: save your QR code on your phone or print the email so you don’t have to get on to data immediately once you land. You can also take the Elizabeth Line directly from Heathrow through Paddington and to many other stations. In comparison, the Underground cost me £13 in May 2024.
If you land in the afternoon or evening, from Paddington Station head to your accommodations to drop off your things. If you land in the morning, read on…
Morning: V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum)
The V&A museum is a perfect place to begin your three day trip to London because it has free bag and luggage storage! Since many hotels or VRBOs won’t let you check in until 3pm, you can head straight to this amazing and FREE museum to kick off your three day trip to London. (Unless you have to head straight to work, and then….well I’m sorry. I flew in a day early to adjust to the time change for this reason)
The V&A museum is very easily reached from Paddington Station via the Circle Line, at South Kensington station. Walk ten or so minutes via the underground passages and you will enter directly into the galleries. The V&A is free, seven days a week and you do not need to pre-book timed entry. Head directly to the Cloak Room to check your bags, at £5-7 each.
I was stunned by how vast and varied the collections in the V&A were. One of my favorite galleries were the Cast Courts, displaying the plaster casts of famous sculptures and monuments. Apparently this was the thing to do during Victorian times, when regular folks like you and I couldn’t travel the world to see, say, The David, in Florence. Many of these casts were destroyed when it was no longer fashionable, but those in the Cast Courts live on.
Afternoon: Walking Tour of London
One of my favorite ways to get out and see a city while shaking off jet lag is a walking tour of the city. First, I love being able to orient myself to where everything in the city is. Second, I love hearing from local guides and getting their perspective on history. Especially if I’m traveling for work, I like to get out and stretch those legs while exploring in the city.
Personally I’ve done a Harry Potter walking tour and a nighttime Jack the Ripper walking tour (both via London Walks walks.com, £15), although there are dozens online and free ones you can do yourself (this one from Richard online is legit the best HP self-guided tour I’ve seen). I know a lot of folks love true crime these days, but for me the Jack the Ripper tour was TOO MUCH and too gruesome. I had to take a cab home instead of the subway because I was freaked out.
Some ideas for walking tours:
- Walking tour of “royal London” – I’m an Anglophile and followed Wills and Kate, and Harry and Meghan for years (2.5 hours). This tour also includes the royals favorite stores, which is intriguing!
- Magical London of Harry Potter-inspired sites (2.5 hours)
- Agatha Christie tour of London, which is right up my alley!!
If walking around London isn’t quite your cup of tea, you could instead do a food tour around London to stop for fish & chips, a sausage roll, and a pint.
Some ideas for foodie tours:
- Flavors of London’s East End including a curry house and beigel
- Three hour secret British food tour that includes cheese and a pint
- London’s historic pubs, which includes a pint at each of four historic pubs
Evening: Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is usually a fairly substantial meal full of tea sandwiches, scones, cookies, and more. Plus, you’re probably fairly zonked from jet lag so we’ll call it an early night. There are so many places in London that offer tea, including the Montague Hotel, Harrods, Kensington Palace, and more.
On my most recent trip, we had afternoon tea at The Ham Yard Hotel. The price was £45 for scones, finger sandwiches, pastries, and tea. The decor was absolutely charming, with custom designed Wedgwood teaware.
Prices can vary quite a bit, from slightly expensive to inordinately expensive. Find a tea that is close to your hotel or fits your budget, and then pretend like you’re Mary from Downton Abbey while you sip some Darjeeling with your scone.
Day 2 on a Three Day Itinerary in London for work
Today we’re going to start on the east end of London and work our way back west. You don’t have to hit every location below if you don’t want to. A reminder that I’m the opposite of a foodie. I’m as fine grabbing a to-go sandwich from Tesco as I am eating in a five star restaurant.
Morning: Sky Garden & The Tower of London
Today we’re going to my most favoritest activity in London, the Tower of London. When I visited the Tower in 2018, I joined a Yeoman Warder’s guided tour that has become one of my top travel experiences ever.
But first, we’ll visit the Sky Garden to get a coffee and a scone, while checking out stellar views of the city. While I have not visited the Sky Garden myself, many, many people recommended it to me. It’s a public garden, so it’s free to enter although timed entries are suggested. The Sky Garden opens at 8am with coffee, pastries, and what looks like a full bar. You could also end your night here, as it has restaurants and a nightclub atmosphere.
The Tower of London began as just the White Tower in 1078, when William the Conqueror came and, well, I assume conquered what is now London from whatever locals happened to be around. Over time, the Tower became a jail, rather than a palace like Hampton Court or Windsor Castle. The Tower was where the two young sons of Richard II were allegedly kidnapped to, where Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, and Catherine Howard all lost their heads, and today where the Crown Jewels are kept.
The Tower of London is still guarded by the King’s men and women (although when I visited it was still the Queen’s men and women) known as the Yeoman Warders. Yeoman Warders, dressed in their instantly recognizable red uniforms with black hats, have served honorably in the military before taking this post, where they act as King’s protection and tour guide of this historic location. If you fancy a Tiktok, Honourable Tom Houghton on the socials (@honourabletom) is a comedian who shared his experiences living as an adult with his father, who was the head of the British armed forces and served at the Tower.
My favorite part of the Tower is the guided tour by the Yeoman Warders, which is entirely free. You will laugh and cry as they guide you through the history of the Tower. Get up front, if you can, and bring a tissue. Truly, I was blown away by the content and performance of our Warder, and how they bring the very tragic history of the Tower into the forefront.
If you cannot make the Yeoman’s Warder tour, which lasts about an hour, there is an excellent audio guide of the Tower. You KNOW I love an audio guide.
My least favorite part is the Crown Jewels, as the line will wind around the entire interior of the Tower, and you’re still hustled through.
The Tower is also part of the Historic Royal Palaces group, so if you are planning on visiting Kensington Palace and/or Hampton Court, purchase a membership to save money and get a discount at the gift shop. It’s advised to pre-book your entry into the tour since it can get crowded.
Morning, Continued: Tower Bridge via Thames Ferry
From the Tower of London, you can walk along and admire the Tower Bridge. I personally haven’t walked across it or visited it, so instead I would suggest taking a Thames Ferry up the river to get an up close look at both the Tower Bridge and London Bridge. The internet tells me that these are now called River buses powered by Uber Boat by London Clippers, but it’s just a boat that runs up and down the Thames all day for commuters and sightseers alike. Adult fares are £8.60 within the Central Zone. An all day family pass is £42.40, for two adults and kids, making it more affordable if you plan on several trips or your kids love transport.
If you are visiting in the summer, you can enjoy Summer by the River between the bridges on the opposite side of the Thames. The local London Bridge City neighborhood has set up courtyard by Potter’s Field where you can listen to live music, get a drink, and relax with a view of the river.
Continue under the Millennium Bridge to the Blackfriars pier. Cross the Millennium Bridge to walk along the embankment to see Shakespeare’s Globe Theater and visit the Tate Modern, if you so choose. I preferred the main Tate Museum over the Modern, as the Tate Britain had a huge Turner exhibit. Turner is one of my favorite artists, and I much preferred that over modern art. If you want to visit Tate Britain instead, continue south after visiting Westminster.
Afternoon: Westminster Abbey
Hop back on the Thames Ferry to visit Westminster Abbey. You can get off at the pier by the London Eye if you want to ride the ferris wheel, and cross the Westminster Bridge, or exit at Westminster Ferry Terminal.
When I visited in 2018, Westminster Abbey was a must-visit, since my father had found a photo of him in front of the Abbey from the 1970s and I simply had to recreate it.
You may recognize Westminster Abbey from Wills and Kate’s wedding, or from King Charles’ coronation. It is still an active church today, and you can visit a service most days.
What is wild to me is that there was an entire clerestory at Westminster Abbey that was simply boarded up, and not discovered until very recently! Imagine having a secret attic that you’ve forgotten about for SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS and then stumbling upon it one day. These are the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, and entry is five quid. While the main portion of the Abbey was crowded, this was practically empty and I loved the views and exhibits from up here.
I highly recommend purchasing your entry ticket ahead of time. When I visited in 2018, the admissions line was around the block. I got on my trusty phone to buy online and was able to skip the entire line. In today’s age of timed entry, this is probably more commonplace. As of today, tickets are £29 (wowwww I paid £24 total in 2018 for the galleries entry, guidebook and student entry). The internet says there is a Verger-led tour, and you know I LOVE a tour so I’m adding this to my itinerary next time.
Once you’ve finished with Westminster, you can walk to see Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace is sometimes open to the public, when the King is not in residence. The Queen always spent August and September at Balmoral, making this a prime time to visit Buckingham. With the King now crowned, check the website before visiting. If you want to see the Changing of the Guard, that happens at 11am so you could switch the activities today to fit it in and take the water taxi the opposite direction.
Another option while near Westminster is to visit the Churchill War Rooms, although I’ve included that on Day 3 afternoon as an option as well.
Evening: Dinner at Dishoom
Dishoom was the ONE restaurant that everyone suggested to me, and it did not disappoint. Dishoom is Bombay/Mumbai style Indian food and the line will form out the door if you do not have a reservation. There are several locations around London; pick the closest to you and make a rezzie ahead of time. I could recommend dishes but they are all terrific, order to your heart’s content.
Day 3 on a Three Day Itinerary in London for work
Today is a little bit of a Dealer’s Choice day. I’ll give you a few options for your last day in the city. On both of my visits, I’ve used a day to get out of the city to explore one of the palaces. However, you may want to stay and visit a museum or sporting event instead.
If you truly want to gtfo from London, popular day trips include Harry Potter tour at WB Studios, Stonehenge (usually paired with Bath), Oxford, the Cotswolds (the type of small village that an elderly lady would solve mysteries in), or Highclere Castle/a Downton Abbey tour. The options below won’t take us quite as far afield.
Morning:
Option 1: A Palace – Windsor Castle or Hampton Court Palace
Originally while writing this, I wanted to use day three to visit both Windsor and Hampton Court. I think that’s probably inefficient, unless you have a car, since you’d end up spending about four hours total on trains. Not entirely undoable, but not great either. Especially if your three day London itinerary is a little tight, then make your choice judiciously.
Windsor Castle
I’ve been to Windsor twice, once in 2018 when I stayed in Windsor for the last night of my trip when I had not booked my Airbnb long enough (facepalm). The second time was in April when, after a long day of customer meetings, my customer offered to drive us to see a nearby castle since we weren’t going to be able to do a lot of sightseeing. Reader, it was Windsor!
Windsor Castle is the largest occupied castle in the world, originally built by WIlliam the Conqueror in 1066. Forty British monarchs have lived there. When I visited, the grounds and several halls were open to visitors, and I was able to get a short guided tour by a docent as well. I don’t recall the State Rooms being open, although photos were not allowed so perhaps I just don’t have photos to jog my memory. My favorite room was St. George’s Hall, where the coats of arms for the Knights of the Garter decorate the ceiling. If a knight fell out of favor, well, they just took his coat of arms down like he never existed! Wild!
To reach Windsor, you take the Elizabeth Line to Slough, and then transfer to the GWR train to Eton & Windsor Central. I know what you’re thinking – two trains? Don’t fret, it’s at the same station and literally everyone else will be traveling with you to the same place.
Admission to Windsor should be pre-booked, since it can get crowded. Cost is £30, although when you exit you can get your pass converted to a one-year access pass for free. Windsor also has a number of special events and exhibits, so be sure to check to see if there is a tour or exhibit open while you are visiting.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court was never high on my list of places to visit, but after visiting, I realized how wrong I was. Hampton Court was originally built by Cardinal Wolsey, and requisitioned by King Henry VIII himself. Henry lived here with all six of his wives, and it’s said that Catherine Howard still haunts a gallery today.
To reach Hampton Court, you can take a train on South Western Railways from Waterloo directly to Hampton Court station, and then walk a few minutes over the bridge. Don’t fret about the train, it’s incredibly easy to find as it is well signed. Near the train station are also several cafes and restaurants if you’re peckish.
Entrance into Hampton Court is £29 for adults. If you are planning to visit the Tower, you’ll save money if you buy a one-year membership to Historic Royal Palaces as mentioned above. There are also several guided tours of Hampton Court, including a bicycle tour. I had perfect weather when I visited so I wish I had been able to do this.
Can I visit both Windsor and Hampton Court on the same day?
I’m not your mom, so I won’t tell you what to do. You could definitely visit both in a day by taking the South Western Railway train towards London Waterloo, exit at Ashford and then take the 216 bus. The trip will be about 75 minutes total, Or it’s a thirty minute drive if you can find a cab or have a car.
Option 2: A Morning at the British Museum
The British Museum is a must-see when you visit London. If you stay at Montague, you’ll be just around the corner from it as well! I have been twice, although it was incredibly overwhelming. I also didn’t make it on my last trip even though I was staying right there.
The internet can probably do a better job of telling you what to see or how to plan your day at the British Museum, so I will let you use the googles to do so.
Entrance to the museum is free, although you should definitely pre-book a timed entry ticket.
Afternoon:
Option 1: Shopping at Liberty or bookstores
If you are like me, you’ve been shopping at every gift shop so far, especially the one at Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. I just can’t get enough of those little ornaments of the queen or a printed tea towel. On one trip I brought home at least six tea towels. No judging.
For more shopping, you can, of course, head straight to Harrods but I think it’s full of lookieloos and not a great experience. Instead head to Liberty of London and pick out a bag or scarf to send to me. You could also find quintessential British shops like And Other Stories, Boden, Barbour and more.
Or, maybe used books are your kryptonite, and you can head to many of the dozens of bookstores near Bloomsbury to find what is missing from your bookshelf. One of my favorite books set in London is 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, that includes correspondence between Helene and the owner of a bookstore at that address. Google tells me it is now a McDonald’s. Facepalm.
No matter where you end up, you’ll enjoy an afternoon of walking around the city.
Option 2: Churchill War Rooms (Or stay at the British Museum)
You could probably spend days at the British Museum, “Mixed-up Files”-style, so feel free to continue your day here.
The Churchill War Rooms are a historic site that served as the operational headquarters for Britain’s wartime government during World War II. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his inner circle made crucial decisions that shaped the course of the war from here. The rooms are preserved in pristine condition. While I have not yet visited these, everyone who has raves about what an impactful experience it was. Admission is £32 for adults. The museum is near Westminster.
Evening: A Theatre Show
It’s your last night, so let’s celebrate with a theater show (or theatre? Since this is a London guide). When I visited in April, I saw The Great British Bake Off Musical (which has since closed) at the Noel Coward Theatre and it was darling if not entirely predictable. I have also heard the Guys and Dolls musical is unbelievable.
Many of the theaters are located in the West End, between the British Museum and Leicester Square. I purchased my tickets day off via London Theatre Direct, although you can also buy through TKTS London. (Non-affiliate links)
Where to Stay in London on a Three Day Itinerary in London for work
London has HUNDREDS of hotels, and if you include VRBOs, thousands of places to stay. I’ve stayed in three locations in London:
An Airbnb/VRBO in Pimlico: This was a room in a stunningly gorgeous townhome in Pimlico. The owners were out of town and only one other person was staying there so it felt very private. Pimlico is full of old Georgian townhomes giving off Regency vibes. Every historical fiction book or London cozy mystery I’ve read has a well-to-do Victorian lady living in one of these homes. The location was amazing, as it was very quiet and walkable, and also on the tube line. Recommended if: you want a more affordable neighborhood/area. Similar VRBOs are:
- Pimlico Studio Apartment, from $197/night, for one to two people on a budget
- Smart 2 bedroom flat close to Pimlico Tube, from $369/night, for two bedrooms in a charming flat
- Or live super large in this Seven-bedroom luxury home in the heart of London (Westminster), from $2032/night, in this gorgeous townhome
Marble Arch Marriott in 2023: Other folks I was traveling with selected this hotel, which was still not that close to our office. The room was spacious for London, and the attached restaurant was fantastic. This location was very easily walkable to a park, plenty of coffee shops and restaurants, and several tube stations. Recommended if: You’re in London for work, want a centrally located hotel – book in this area or South Kensington. Similar VRBOs in this neighborhood include:
- Central, cozy Victorian flat next to Harrods, from $210/nt, is a budget option in this neighborhood
- Perfectly Located 1bed, South Kensington, from $393/nt, is slightly more expensive for a great location
Montague at the Gardens in 2023: What a charming hotel! I booked this on my own because it looked so charming. The location is just around the corner from the British Museum, and also close to King’s Cross/St. Pancras. The hotel had a fantastic restaurant, lounge, afternoon tea, and a garden. Recommended if: you need a cozy hotel near the British Museum, or want a neighborhood close to the train station without being too chaotic. Nearby VRBOS include:
- Lovely One Bedroom Apartment In Central London, from $297 a night, which is one of the more budget options for an apartment in this area
- Modern 1-Bedroom Apartment by British Museum, from $313, very near the British Museum
Conclusion on a Three Day Itinerary in London for work
I hope you found this three day itinerary helpful for when you visit on a three day itinerary for London but still need to work. Safe travels!
