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London rewards however long you give it, but there is a sensible floor and a comfortable sweet spot. Here is how to think about trip length. It pairs with our main guide to planning a trip to London.
Three days
Three days is enough for a first taste: the headline landmarks, one great museum and a wander through a neighbourhood or two. Our three day itinerary plans it hour by hour so you do not waste a minute.
Five days
Five days is the sweet spot. You keep the icons but add breathing room: a slow morning, a second museum, a proper look at a couple of neighbourhoods, maybe a show. Browse the full itineraries for longer plans.
A week or more
With seven days or more you can live a little like a local and still take a day trip to Windsor, Oxford or Bath without feeling rushed. The extra days are best spent going deeper, not faster.
Settled on a length? Next, decide the season with the best time to visit London, then pick your base with where to stay in London.
