Recommended Classic 3-Day London Itinerary

Travel keywords: March to May is the most beautiful season in London, with flowers blooming, gentle breezes, and warm sunshine. This itinerary includes 12 classic London attractions, offering an in-depth understanding of British history, exploration of British culture, and a taste of English afternoon tea and specialty markets.

Recommended for: First-time visitors to London who want to experience classic British style on a free-and-easy trip.

Tickets & Transportation: Purchase the London 3-Day Pass for £127, which includes free rides on London sightseeing buses (original price £34). Not only does it cover all attraction tickets and transportation costs, but it also offers great value, effectively giving you a 50% discount on tickets. It includes admission and guided tour fees for all attractions in this itinerary! After purchasing on the WeChat mini-program, you can unlock the e-pass, avoiding the hassle of on-site ticket purchases and queues. With this pass, your trip is worry-free!

D1 Big Ben — Westminster Abbey — Buckingham Palace — Tower Bridge — The Shard

D2 Greenwich Observatory — Thames River Cruise — National Gallery — St. Paul's Cathedral

D3 Shakespeare's Globe Theatre — Kensington Palace — Harrods Shopping

01 Big Ben (Free)

Big Ben, also known as Elizabeth Tower, is a world-famous Gothic building and the bell of the clock tower attached to the Houses of Parliament. Located on the banks of the Thames, it is an iconic London landmark, facing the London Eye across the river. The tower is 95 meters tall and chimes every 15 minutes. Although there is no admission fee to visit Big Ben, only British citizens and local MPs can apply for tours. We'll just take photos of the scenery from outside.

Best photo tip: Cross the bridge to the South Bank of the Thames, away from the crowded tourists, for better photo opportunities.

02 Westminster Abbey (Original price £23, free with London Pass)

Best photo tip: There is an old tree outside the church; in spring, the leaves are lush and green. Including the leaves in the frame enhances the scenery.

Westminster Abbey is the exclusive church of the British royal family, used for coronations, weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies. All British monarchs have been crowned here and later rest in peace here. In addition, the famous Poets' Corner is a must-see. Literary giants such as Shakespeare are buried here; the tomb of 14th-century poet Chaucer bears the famous Canterbury Tales, and 19th-century realist writer Dickens also rests here. Pause here to gaze upon long history and linger in Britain's glorious cultural hall.

03 Buckingham Palace – Changing of the Guard (Free)

Buckingham Palace is the famous British royal residence, the main bedroom and office of the British monarch. The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was also held here. The palace is open to the public only in summer, not usually. However, the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony is very distinctive; be sure to find a good viewing angle.

04 Tower Bridge (Original price £11, free with London Pass)

Best photo tip: Take a Thames cruise to capture a panoramic view of Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge is a century-old suspension bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Thames. It has witnessed London's transformation from a post-WWII economically depressed, heavily polluted foggy city to a rapidly developing modern metropolis. The bridge remains an important traffic artery. The bridge deck splits into two sections that can be raised to allow ships to pass, about 500 times a year. With the London Pass, you can climb to the glass-floored walkway and look down at the bustling traffic below.

05 The Shard (Original price £34, free with London Pass)

Best photo tip: After 4 p.m., the sunset casts a golden glow over London, creating a spectacular view.

The best observation point in central London is The Shard. Also known as the 'Sky-scraping Tower,' it is made of 11,000 glass panels, showing how glittering it is in British eyes. With the London Pass, take the elevator to the top for an unobstructed view of both sides of the Thames, including the London Eye, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and St. Paul's Cathedral. The stunning urban forest scenery will surely surprise you. At the end of the first day, enjoy a candlelit dinner at a restaurant on the top floor of The Shard. Options include Western, Chinese, and Asian creative cuisine.

06 Greenwich Observatory (Original price £18, free with London Pass)

?Best photo tip: Straddle the Prime Meridian for a cool photo.

The Prime Meridian, also known as the 0° longitude line from middle school textbooks, is right here. The Greenwich Observatory is one of the most famous observatories in the world and a pilgrimage site for astronomy enthusiasts. The park also houses the Maritime Gallery, with collections of marine art, manuscript maps, ship models, scientific navigation instruments, etc., representing the glory of the British Empire in the Age of Discovery.

07 Thames River Cruise (Original price £21, free with London Pass)

Greenwich Observatory is located in the eastern suburbs of London. It is recommended to take a Thames river cruise back to the city center. There is a cruise stop near Greenwich Park. On the cruise, you can not only enjoy the riverside scenery but also pass many iconic attractions on both banks, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge.

08 National Gallery (Audio guide original price £4, free with London Pass)

The National Gallery is the largest and most precious art collection in Britain. The exhibition halls feature works from Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, the Venetian School, British landscape painting, French realism, early Impressionism, and masters like Cézanne and Van Gogh. With the London Pass, you can get a free audio guide that takes you directly to the masterpieces: Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers,' da Vinci's 'Virgin of the Rocks,' Botticelli's 'Venus and Mars,' and Rembrandt's 'Self-Portrait at the Age of 63.'

09 St. Paul's Cathedral (Original price £20, free with London Pass)

Best photo tip: Photograph St. Paul's Cathedral from among modern buildings to feel the impact of modern and history.

The fifth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest domed church, St. Paul's Cathedral has stood quietly in London since 604 AD. This magnificent Baroque building is not only a famous religious site but also witnessed the grand wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The cathedral is also the resting place of many British nobility, generals, and famous figures, such as Saxon kings, the Duke of Wellington, and 'Iron Lady' Margaret Thatcher.

10 Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (Original price £17, free with London Pass)

The theatre was originally built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the company to which Shakespeare belonged. The theatre's motto has always been 'Totus Mundus Agit Histrionem,' derived from Latin, meaning 'the whole world is a playground.'

11 Kensington Palace (Original price £17, free with London Pass)

Last winter, Season 4 of 'The Crown' brought Princess Diana's story back to the screen, and royal fans remember the beautiful, elegant, and lovely princess. Princess Diana lived in Kensington Palace before her untimely death, and loyal fans still lay flowers at its gates daily. This palace was also a childhood playground for Prince Harry and the residence of Prince William and his wife.

12 Harrods Shopping

Best photo tip: Wait until the street lights are lit before taking photos.

On the last day of the three-day London trip, of course, leave plenty of time for shopping. Harrods is the most famous department store in London. At night, Knightsbridge lights up beautifully with colorful lanterns. Remember to take time to enjoy the night view.

Where history and elegance coexist, experience the classics and look back on history. Go City accompanies you with one pass for a worry-free trip.

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