A tourist standing outside the gates of London's Buckingham Palace

How to spend 5 days in London

Spending 5 days in London? Check out our guide to make sure you don't miss any of the best bits!
By Ian Packham

Must-sees, local favourites and top tips - our suggested itinerary for 5 days in London...

Two thousand years of history, some of the world’s top museum collections and icons of design including black cabs and red telephone boxes makes London one of Europe’s most desirable city breaks. Whilst it can be tempting to limit your time in ‘the big smoke’ to a couple of days, there’s so much to see and do in London we’d recommend planning to spend several days in the capital.

5 days in London can be easily filled, with shopping sprees, cultural attractions and ancient castles all taking their turn. The sheer volume of attractions can actually make it difficult to know where to begin, which is where our 5 day London itinerary comes in very handy!

Day 1 – Make the acquaintance of Old Father Thames

Image of Person, Church, Landmark, St. Paul Cathedral,

Described by The Kinks as a ‘dirty old river’ in their love song to London Waterloo Sunset, the Thames – despite its muddy brown color – is now one of the cleanest urban rivers in Europe. Having played a significant role in the development of the city, landmark sites aren’t thin on the ground.

To take in their full spectrum of attractions, there are Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing cruises. Slip along one of the world’s most important waterways like a wooing royal – George III had composer Handel write the Water Music to do just that – taking in a vista that includes the Houses of Parliament UNESCO World Heritage Site, London Eye and the recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe at Bankside.

When you feel the urge to explore further, simply disembark at the next pier – there are four to choose from putting the Whispering Gallery of St Paul’s Cathedral, exhibition space of the Tate Modern art gallery and crown jewels at the Tower of London all within easy reach.

If you’ve a head for heights, you can also explore the upper walkways of Tower Bridge to discover more about this masterpiece of Victorian engineering, or draw a close on the day with sunset from London’s highest public viewing platform – The View from The Shard.

Day 2 – Discover hundreds of years of history

Image of Person,

Just west of Westminster Millennium Pier, The Mall has been one of the centers for state ceremony since Buckingham Palace became the monarch’s official residence. Stretching for approximately 1.5 kilometers in a perfectly straight line – an unusual occurrence for London – its eastern end is linked to Trafalgar Square via Admiralty Arch.

A top destination for art lovers, Trafalgar Square’s public sculptures include Nelson’s Column and those that reside on its fourth plinth. Left empty for decades, it was decided to open up its platform to temporary works of art. A giant blue cockerel and melting ice cream cone have each taken a turn.

A more comprehensive study of European art over the centuries can be enjoyed at the National Gallery, whose walls hang with a near-unending list of recognizable names, from Turner to da Vinci. The interconnected National Portrait Gallery displays the great and the good of British history.

To pay homage to the country’s scientists and writers – Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Jane Austen amongst them, head to Westminster Abbey, which has served as the coronation church since 1066.

By contrast, Buckingham Palace has only been the residence of major royals for a couple of centuries. Even so, the chance to walk through its state rooms, such as the Banqueting Hall and Throne Room, is not one to be missed during the summer months, whilst the Changing of the Guard ceremony draws the crowds throughout the year.

Day 3 – Head east to Greenwich

Image of Shoe, Adult, Male, Man, Person, Sneaker,

One of the few London neighborhoods ‘south of the river’ not unilaterally dismissed by those living in the traditionally well-to-do areas of north London is Greenwich.

Situated beside Greenwich Pier, it’s the masts of the Cutty Sark which welcome many visitors to the neighborhood. The last of its kind in the northern hemisphere, this sailing ship was a tea clipper holding the record for the fastest voyage between Shanghai and London, a journey of 3.5 months. It now provides an insight into life on the high seas in the 1800s carrying a cargo now synonymous with British culture.

But Greenwich’s maritime history is far from done with the Cutty Sark alone. A short distance away are the grand buildings that make up the National Maritime Museum. It contains priceless artefacts including the jacket Admiral Nelson was wearing when hit by a French sniper at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Continue along the rising paths of Greenwich Park and you’ll not only get an incredible panorama across much of Canary Wharf, but also the opportunity to discover how the world was mapped and stand in both the eastern and western hemispheres on the prime meridian at the Royal Observatory.

Day 4 – Soak up north London’s atmosphere

Image of Flower, Flower Arrangement, Flower Bouquet, Lamp, Boy, Male, Person, Teen, Potted Plant, Dahlia,

Think of London as a series of small villages – Notting Hill, Kensington and Covent Garden for instance – that eventually formed one megacity of over nine million people – and you can best understand why the ambience of one part of the capital can be so different from another.

Notting Hill’s Portobello Road is very different in temperament from the independent stores and high-end pubs of Marylebone High Street. Its market runs in various forms throughout the week, with stalls from everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to household essentials. But it’s the areas renown for antiques and vintage that attracts most people. To see it at its best – and busiest – try and coincide your visit with the weekend.

For some peace and tranquility after bargaining hard, Little Venice on Regent’s Canal is a nice place to recharge with a coffee and a pastry. To continue the shopping spree there’s Oxford Street and its cluster of well-known shopping destinations including Bond Street and Regent Street.

Then head to a time when none of London’s modern attractions existed at the British Museum. Pick up an audio guide and you’ll be free to trace the heritage of treasures including the Rosetta Stone and Anglo Saxon Sutton Hoo burial.

Day 5 – Follow in the footsteps of kings and queens

Image of Castle,

To dedicate 5 days in London without taking the time to include Windsor would also be a mistake. Although not strictly speaking a part of the capital, its history is intricately linked with that of the nation’s royals.

The oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor Castle has such symbolism that it gave its name to the royals when it was seen as expedient to end the German-sounding Saxe-Coburg-Goetha dynasty during World War One.

You can catch a Changing of the Guard ceremony here as well as at Buckingham Palace and tour St George’s Chapel, where the funeral of Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh was held following his death at the age of 99.

Join a sightseeing bus tour of the town and you can also see Eton College, one of the country’s most prestigious private schools, and glimpse deer in Great Windsor Park.

Discover London’s top attractions with Go City

Visiting London can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be. There are numerous hints and tips for making the most of the capital, including traveling with Go City. Our passes provide visitors with huge savings on admission to many of London’s top attractions so you can stop watching your wallet and start enjoying yourself!

Continue reading

London's parks show their fall colors in all their glory
Blog

Reasons to visit London in October

It may have waved goodbye to the summer, but there are still plenty of things to do in London in October, with something for everyone. Foodies will be happy to learn of the British capital’s October food and drinks events, whilst art lovers have a major fair to look forward to. Culture buffs can turn their attention to the forgotten history of London’s black population, and horror fans find themselves in the city of Jack the Ripper just in time for the spooky goings on of Halloween! Weather in London in October The key consideration for visiting London in October is its weather. Famously – or infamously – fickle, there are plenty of people who’ve experienced glorious weather in London in October. And there’s a similar number who’ve faced a wash out. But no one heads to London expecting uninterrupted sunny skies. On average, you can expect at least some rain and cloudy skies for half the month, with rainfall totaling 5.4 cm. Daytime temperatures start October at around 18°C and end the month falling slightly to 14°C. It’s rare for storms to affect life in London in October and snowfall is as rare as a British house without an umbrella. With the weather covered, let’s take a look at the top events and things to do in London in October. Make the most of the fall color Parks are for summer, right? Wrong! Cast aside London’s select crop of green spaces just because the seasons have ticked over and you’ll be missing out on sights that have enraptured everyone from botanists to kings and queens. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – turns to gold in October. Its cover of 14,000 trees alongside sculpture, glass houses and ten story Chinese-style pagoda ensure there’s always something new to see. Accessible from Regent’s Canal Walk, Victoria Park in east London was opened in 1845 as the capital’s first public park after Queen Victoria donated part of the Crown Estate. Its features, which range from a small lake to fragments of old London Bridge turned into seating alcoves, help bring its history to life. Discover the next Picasso Explore Regent’s Park for a week during October and the fall color will have to compete with the temporary marquees and outdoor sculpture of the Frieze Art Fair. One of the biggest fairs focused solely on living artists, all the art is for sale, though you’ll have to be quick with your credit card as most works don’t hang around for long, making their way to galleries and private collections internationally. Previous artists to appear at Frieze have even made it into Tate Modern. Situated within a converted power station on the River Thames beside Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern is the UK’s most visited museum. Free to enter, the five story high Turbine Hall provides a space for specially commissioned works, whilst the gallery walls are hung with everyone from Picasso and Matisse to Turner and Warhol. Get into the Halloween spirit Jack-o’-lanterns may be hard to come across, but that doesn’t mean London in October isn’t up for some otherworldly antics. More than two thousand years of history means there’s been plenty of time for ghosts to make their presence felt on the capital, with guided ghost walks through London’s historic lanes a good way to take in the tales – if not to sleep well afterwards. The London Bridge Experience also takes visitors into the darker corners of London’s history, from detailing Guy Fawkes’ passage along the Thames to the Tower of London where he was tortured until he could no longer sign his name, to the atrocities of Jack the Ripper in Whitechapel. Entrance includes the London Tombs scare attraction, built over a burial site for plague victims. Head west to Hampton Court Palace, the favorite residence of King Henry VIII, and you run the risk of bumping into two of his wives said to stalk its corridors. If the former queen seems complete, it will be Jane Seymour, who died giving birth to Edward VI. Any headless torso is likely to be Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, who was beheaded for adultery in 1542. Celebrate London’s diversity Travel to London in October from North America and you have a second chance to participate in Black History Month. A host of special events usually span October, from museum exhibitions to talks and tours all aimed at marking the role of black history in forming modern multicultural London. Usually taking place in mid-October, Diwali is a festival of light. Celebrations begin in the early afternoon in Trafalgar Square with a series of dance troupes taking to the stage. As the afternoon progresses they give way to yoga demonstrations and the opportunity to taste authentic south Asian food. Other events take place at Hoxton’s Museum of the Home and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Fireworks feature heavily, with north London’s Wembley the best place to head. Satisfy your hunger October is also the time of the London Restaurant Festival’s Fall Edition. Participating restaurants fling open their doors to diners with an array of specialty menus. Other events include beer, wine and gin tastings in some of London’s most exciting destinations, from St Katherine Dock to Notting Hill. Londoners don’t need much encouragement for a stiff drink either, with Oktoberfest the latest cultural import to take the capital by storm. Locations include east London’s Canada Water and south London’s Croydon. Expect tents decked out like traditional Bavarian beer halls, alongside a near endless supply of lager, bratwurst and lederhosen. But if it’s a Cosmopolitan or Manhattan that’s more your kind of drink, October’s London Cocktail Week will save the day. More than 250 bars get involved, serving up signature blends in addition to hosting a number of one-off events. Exploring London in October At first, October may not look like a good time to visit London. However, we all know how looks can be deceiving. Take the plunge and vacation in London in October and a wealth of attractions will await you. Travel with Go City and you’ll get reduced admission to many of London’s biggest attractions at the same time!
Ian Packham
Dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park.
Blog

Quirky things to do in London

Scratch the surface and you’ll find there are dozens of unusual and quirky things to do in London. We’ve got a whole bunch of out-there ideas to help you sidestep the tourist traps and experience London at its wackiest, from strolling underneath the Thames, to sleepovers with dinosaurs, a Moomin mecca and dining in the dark. London’s quirkiest museums Sure, you’ve heard of the Natural History Museum. But did you know you could stay over in its cavernous Hintze Hall? We can’t promise you sweet dreams as you doze off in the shadow of a suspended blue whale skeleton, but you’re certainly guaranteed a unique and unforgettable experience. There’s a sleepover for kids, with a dino t-shirt workshop and a chance to search the museum for prehistoric beasts by flashlight, and a separate one for adults that includes a pub quiz, an all-night monster movie marathon and more. London’s smaller, quirkier museums are often its most interesting. Surrounded by beautiful ornamental gardens and woodland, the Horniman in south London specializes in anthropology and natural history with a collection of over 350,000 objects. Don’t miss the eye-popping permanent exhibition of taxidermy animals. It’s here you’ll meet the famously overstuffed walrus that is the museum’s emblem. He’s been around as long as the museum itself – since 1901. Take a ride on Mail Rail at the Postal Museum in Farringdon. This quirky little place is great for kids, with an interactive exhibition and fun playroom. But the undisputed highlight here is a ride into the original underground tunnels on the same miniature train used to transport mail 100 years ago. Head to lively Fitzrovia for the atmospheric Pollock Toy Museum. This nostalgic wonderland of colorful toys and trinkets boasts over 4,000 antique toys, with everything from Victorian porcelain dolls to dinky Matchbox cars and wooden rocking horses. To step into Dennis Severs’ House in Spitalfields is to enter a bygone era. But nothing here is quite as it seems. Severs lived in this Georgian townhouse from 1979 until his death in 1999, during which time he painstakingly transformed the interior to represent the imagined 18th-century lives of a fictional Huguenot family. It is, in effect, a highly authentic theatre set, alive with grand period décor and furnishings, and particularly evocative in December when rooms are decked out with festive candles, trees and decorations. Fun (and free!) outdoor attractions Postman’s Park is an oasis of calm amid the bustling streets of the City. At its heart is a late-Victorian era monument to everyday heroes who died saving the lives of others. Set against a red-brick wall, beautiful ceramic tiles of the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice commemorate the lives lost, vividly (sometimes even graphically) detailing their courageous deaths. It’s a lovely spot for quiet reflection. Venture south to Crystal Palace Park, a Victorian pleasure garden that retains many of its original features. Dinosaur sculptures that date back to the 1850s bask in and around the lake. Though not considered entirely anatomically accurate by modern standards, what they lack in realism they more than make up for in charm. Look out for the megalosaurus and iguanadons in particular. The park also contains six huge sphinxes that flank the staircases along the Italian terraces, as well as a fun maze and a number of interesting statues, many of which are headless (some are even said to be cursed)! There are many attractions to tempt visitors to Greenwich, not least the Cutty Sark and Maritime Museum, but no trip to the home of time would be complete without a stroll through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. A feat of turn-of-the-century engineering, the tunnel spans the Thames at a depth of 15 metres, emerging on the southern tip of the Isle of Dogs, from where you’ll be rewarded with splendid views back across the river to the Royal Observatory. Footsore visitors may prefer to have a go at one of London’s latest crazes: pedal buses. These people-powered vehicles seat up to around 12 and allow you to tour the sights while seated around a table. Many operate a bring-your-own-bottle policy, while others factor in stops at some of London’s finest alehouses. Unusual emporiums Looking for a quirky souvenir of your trip to London? Then look no further than Bloomsbury’s James Smith & Sons, the candy store of the umbrella world, where well-to-do gentlemen (and ladies) have been furnishing themselves with high-quality handmade umbrellas, parasols, walking sticks and more for over 150 years Just over the road, and a stone’s throw from the British Museum, Treadwell's is a quirky esoteric bookstore specializing in witchcraft, tarot, spiritualism and the occult. Wander downstairs to see the amazing fireplace that once belonged to occultist and celebrated tarot illustrator Pamela Colman Smith, and now forms something of a shrine to her memory. Lighten the mood with a pilgrimage to The Moomin Shop in Covent Garden Market. Wall-to-wall Moomin memorabilia is what it’s all about here, with author Tove Jansson’s lovable trolls available to buy in almost every format you can think of: Moomin books, Moomin mugs, Moomin socks, Moomin purses, Moomin cuddly toys and, yes, even Moomin tea. Quirky eats and entertainment Once you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time for dinner – with a difference. Farringdon’s Dans le Noir is a sensory dining experience like no other, where visually impaired waiters serve up surprise courses in pitch darkness. Simply choose the red (meat), blue (fish) or green (you guessed it: vegetarian) menu and let the waiters – and your taste buds – do the rest. You might be surprised by how tricky it is to identify food you can’t see. Those who suffer from nyctophobia need not apply. London’s knack for reinventing its public spaces also now extends to public conveniences. Officially, the initials of the WC bar in Clapham stand for the wine and charcuterie served inside, but this hip hangout was, in fact, also a lavatory in a former life. Don’t let that put you off though: this century-old subterranean space is beautifully restored and very atmospheric, with exposed brick, reclaimed pipework and still-gleaming original tiles. Grab a booth and dive into delicious sharing boards, tasty tapas and ace cocktails that include, naturally, a WC Fields Martini. The sister bar over in Bloomsbury is an equally charming place to spend your pennies. Some of London’s quirkiest music venues also happen to be some of its finest. A pilgrimage to Islington’s Union Chapel is always rewarding. This working 19th-century gothic church hosts regular live acts and other entertainment such as comedy and film screenings. It’s tough to beat communing with your favourite band in this most sacred of spaces. A café by day, the subterranean church crypt at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, just off Trafalgar Square, transforms into a late-night jazz venue in the evenings. Meanwhile, over at the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe, the grand entrance shaft for a long-defunct pedestrian tunnel beneath the Thames has been reborn as a unique space for the performing arts. Its high walls, blackened by soot from steam trains, provides a suitably atmospheric backdrop for dramatic operas.
Stuart Bak
Clown fish at SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Image credit: Merlin.
Blog

Ultimate Guide to SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Set on the ground floor of County Hall on London’s bustling South Bank, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium has been wowing wide-eyed visitors with its kaleidoscope of aquatic critters since it opened back in 1997. Penguin-waddle into our underwater world for the ultimate guide to this top-tier London attraction, including information on what to expect, when to visit, and the best ticket options in town… SEA LIFE London Aquarium: The Lowdown Attracting over a million visitors every year, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is one of the South Bank’s most popular attractions. That’s largely thanks to its state-of-the-art aquaria, spine-tingling underwater Shark Walk tunnel, cool gentoo penguin colony, and 5,000-or-so marine creatures that range from tiny clownfish to majestic sharks, turtles, crocs, rays, and octopuses. Immersive exhibits at the aquarium mean you can get really up close and personal with these spectacular beasts of the deep. And we mean really really close – over, under, and with your inquisitive face pressed right up against the glass. Heck, there’s even a touch pool where kids young and old get the rare chance to handle sea stars, crabs and other rock pool regulars. It takes most people between one and two hours to explore the various zones of the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, but there’s no time limit on your visit, meaning kids mesmerized by staring through bubble windows at the magical underwater worlds within can do so for literally hours on end.  There are also several ranger talks on the many species here, from rays to rainforest dwellers, as well as scheduled feeding times, when you can see the penguins diving for their supper or catch an unmissable piranha feeding frenzy. You can even feed the turtles and go snorkeling with the sharks! SEA LIFE London Aquarium Zones Open Oceans. The replica ribcage of a great gray whale makes for a fine habitat in the Open Oceans exhibit, where colorful purple tangs, snappers, triggerfish and other tropical critters flash brilliantly across the bleached bones. The essential highlight of this zone is the glass tunnel that passes beneath the huge tank, promising tantalizing glimpses of green sea turtles and huge southern stingrays soaring overhead. This is also where you can spot sharks – or head up a level to get an aerial view of these majestic creatures of the deep. Coral Kingdom. Experience a kaleidoscope of color at the UK’s largest living coral reef, an awesome underwater oasis that extends some 40 feet and teems with clownfish, seahorses, angelfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish, regal blue and yellow tangs, and other reef dwellers. Take the clownfish challenge as you yourself get the opportunity to bob, weave and shuffle your way through a simulated reef environment. Polar Adventure. Slip and slide your way to one of SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s most popular zones to meet the resident colony of playful gentoo penguins. These cute little blighters, with their distinctive white ‘headbands’ and bright orange bills are a joy to observe as they swim, splash, socialize and snooze their way around their icy environment. State-of-the-art 3D and augmented reality technology also brings giant polar bears and orca whales to life in this thrilling Antarctic adventure. Rainforest Adventure. Adventure of an altogether different kind awaits in the aquarium’s Amazonian rainforest, where tropical temperatures support life for a fantastical array of exotic animals. This one’s for the creepy crawly connoisseur, the reptile rhapsodizer, the frog fanatic. For here’s where you can meet some of the planet’s most fearsome beasts, among them the poison dart frog, the West African dwarf crocodile, the Chilean rose tarantula, he UK’s largest collection of piranhas, and a snapping turtle named Bowza! Ocean Invaders. Mesmerizing and dreamlike in their slow, languid movements, jellyfish are among the ocean’s most fascinating creatures. Brainless and composed of more than 95% water, these amazing animals have been present in our seas for some 500 million years – even longer than our most ancient reptiles! Step into the Ocean Invaders zone to observe several species in all their graceful glory, including the translucent, bell-shaped moon jellyfish, the fearsome looking (and sounding!) Japanese sea nettle, and the more self-explanatory upside-down jellyfish. SEA LIFE London Aquarium: When to Visit Opening hours vary throughout the year but are generally around 10AM–5PM in the cooler months, increasing to 9.30AM–7PM in summer and during school holidays., and last entry is an hour before closing time. Check the official SEA LIFE London Aquarium website for opening hours on the specific dates you want to visit. You’ll need to book a time slot for entry during peak times (weekends, school holidays and public holidays). If you fancy a less crowded experience, pop by on weekdays towards the beginning or end of the day, when advance booking is rarely required and the tourist crowds are relatively minimal.  SEA LIFE London Aquarium: Tickets One of the best money-saving ways to experience the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is with an Explorer attraction pass from Go City. You can save up to 50% with the pass, which gives you 60 days to experience up to seven London tours, activities and attractions. Entry to the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is included with the pass, as are bucket-list big-hitters including the London Eye, Up at the O2, the London Bridge Experience, Westminster Abbey, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Zoo, The View from The Shard, and many more. You can also book direct via the SEA LIFE London Aquarium website, where options include multi-attraction tickets and VIP experiences with the penguins, sharks and turtles. Closest Transport Links to SEA LIFE London Aquarium SEA LIFE London Aquarium is a short stroll from Waterloo station, as well as Charing Cross and Westminster Underground station just across the river. After emerging from any of these, simply head towards the London Eye and you won’t go too far wrong! Save on London Tours, Activities and Attractions Save on admission to 100+ London attractions with an Explorer or All-Inclusive pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

    Thick check Icon