London in 3 or 7 days on your own: a first-timer's plan by area

A first trip to London in 3 days works if you group sights by area instead of ticking off a list. Spend the first day around Westminster and the South Bank, day two around Covent Garden and Soho, and day three at the Kensington museums or the City. A 7-day plan adds Camden, Greenwich and a day trip outside London.

Where should you stay in London on a first trip?

Choose your base for transport links rather than landmarks alone, because Transport for London (TfL) runs the Tube and other rail services that link almost every district. Areas near big stations are the easiest to live in for a first visit.

If you are travelling solo, pick accommodation on a street that stays busy at night, close to a Tube station, and read recent reviews about the walk from the station.

What does a 3-day London itinerary look like?

1. 1Day 1: Westminster and South BankStart at Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then cross the river to the South Bank past the London Eye and Tate Modern.
2. 2Day 2: Covent Garden and SohoWalk from Trafalgar Square to Covent Garden, Soho and Chinatown, and keep the evening for a West End show.
3. 3Day 3: Kensington or the CityFor museums go to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum or V&A in Kensington. For history choose the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge in the City.

What should you add for 7 days in London?

A 7-day plan is the 3-day core plus the remaining areas and one slower day. The areas worth adding are Camden and Greenwich, plus a train day trip from London, which keeps the pace comfortable for people who dislike rushing.

• Camden: canal-side markets and street food, reached by Tube.
• Greenwich: the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark and the park, reached by train or river boat.
• A day trip: Oxford, Bath, Cambridge or Windsor. Always check timetables and weekend engineering works first.
• A rest day: a market or a park such as Hyde Park or Regent's Park, so the trip does not become tiring.

How do you move between areas without losing time?

The quickest method is to finish one area at a time and walk as much as you can, using the Tube or a bus only to cross the city. The walks between Westminster, the South Bank and Covent Garden are short enough to link on foot.

• Start each day with the sight that is usually busiest, then stroll the rest of the area.
• Swap days with the weather: move museums to rainy days, because rain is possible all year.
• Wear comfortable shoes and carry a light waterproof layer.

What should you book before leaving for London?

Accommodation, trains out of London and tickets for popular attractions are worth booking ahead, while the rest of your city days can stay flexible with the weather.

What should solo travellers prepare for London?

Solo travellers should prepare as for any big city: keep key documents apart, share your location with someone you trust, and plan the night route back to your hotel in advance. Thai passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa before travelling, so confirm that first on GOV.UK.

How does mobile internet help a self-guided London trip?

A self-guided trip depends on your phone: routes in TfL Go or Citymapper, digital attraction tickets, taxi apps and restaurant searches. TfL says Tube station Wi-Fi is tied to UK mobile networks, so visitors on a foreign SIM or eSIM may not be able to use it. Do not rely on Wi-Fi alone.

Before you fly, pick a plan that lists the United Kingdom clearly. The guide “Best eSIM for the UK 2026: for visits and for study” covers the options.

Voir les forfaits eSIM pour le Royaume-Uni