Things to do in London in 7 days

Spending a full week in London can be considered a real luxury for travel lovers. In seven days you can visit London's main attractions and discover some of London's most hidden secrets.

A stay like this will allow you to see historic monuments such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Big Ben, as well as visiting some of its many museums. In addition, you will be able to get to know the British capital without rushing and enjoy it in all its essence.

Although you'll have to get up early to make the most of the day, this first day will be a great day out. You'll get to see one of the capital's iconic events, the Changing of the Guard, as well as visiting one of the world's most important museums.

Marble Arch

This tour could just as well be done on one of London's sightseeing buses, but there's no problem if you prefer to make the most of it by walking.

It starts at Marble Arch, a triumphal arch that once stood at the entrance to Buckingham Palace and is now one of the city's best-known landmarks.

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

On the way to Buckingham Palace, I recommend stopping to admire the Wellington Arch, built to celebrate England's victory over Napoleon.

After walking along part of the Diana Memorial Walk, you will finally reach the palace, the main residence of the British monarchs. If you have risen early and are there around 10:30 - 11:00, you can witness the famous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Enter Westminster Abbey

To admire the culture and history present in London there is nothing better than entering Westminster Abbey. Expect the visit to take about two hours and bear in mind that you can get in with a London Pass or by purchasing your Westminster Abbey tickets in advance, as there are often long queues.

Westminster Abbey is where the coronations and funerals of the country's kings are still held. Inside are buried illustrious figures such as Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin, as well as the kings of England.

Trafalgar Square and National Gallery

From Westminster you continue your journey to London's most famous square, Trafalgar Square, where you will be greeted by the statue of Admiral Nelson and his four lions. Here you will be greeted by the statue of Admiral Nelson and his four lions.

As well as strolling around the square, the square is home to the National Gallery, a must-see museum for art lovers.

Free to enter, the gallery contains a large collection of paintings by European artists from the 13th to the 20th century. Among others, you can see works by Rembrandt, Titian, Velázquez and Van Gogh, to name but a few.

On the way to Big Ben via Downing Street

When you've finished admiring the works of these painters, look for the entrance to Whitehall Street, which leads to Parliament Square.

Along the way you will be able to see a surviving section of a palace that burnt down in 1698 and which still has a ceiling painted by Rubens.

Before reaching Parliament Square you will pass through the well-known Downing Street, where the official residence of the British Prime Minister is located, specifically at number 10.

Once in the square you will find various statues representing famous people from all over the world, such as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela among others.

However, the main attraction of the square is the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament. It is here that the tower known as Big Ben is located, although, in reality, that name only refers to the bell located there.

London by night

It is very likely that the night is upon you. My advice is to join one of the night tours of London which will allow you to see **London'**s monuments from a different perspective.

Like the previous day, this second day should start early if you want to make the most of your time. The itinerary includes some of the city's most important museums and the most visited religious building.

Guided tour

The best way to start the day is to take one of the many guided tours available in London. This will not only help you discover some of the attractions you haven't seen yet, but will also help you understand what you have visited so far and give you information about what you are going to visit in the following days.

The range of tours on offer is truly impressive. You can choose between walking, cycling, bus or boat tours with the theme of your choice.

Soak up history at the British Museum

When the tour is over, head to one of London's finest museums, the British Museum, which is free to enter.

Please note that the visit should never take less than two hours, although it will take several days to see the whole museum.

Its collection includes more than seven million objects from all over the world, including the famous Rosetta Stone.

To make the most of your time, it is best to study in advance what you want to see so that you can go directly to the corresponding rooms. It is also highly advisable to pick up the audio guide they offer so that you can be better informed about what you are seeing.

More history at St Paul's Cathedral

While the exterior of St. Paul's Cathedral is already impressive given its size, second only to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, its interior will not disappoint anyone.

As soon as you enter you get the impression of being in a unique place full of history. It is undoubtedly one of the best monuments in London, thanks, among other things, to its wonderful decoration.

During your visit you should pay special attention to the frescoes that decorate its ceilings, as well as climb up to its dome and enter the crypt.

The wonderful views from The Shard

The last visit of the day is after crossing Tower Bridge towards City Hall. This is to enjoy the views from The Shard, a modern skyscraper where you can enjoy an impressive observation deck.

There is also a restaurant in The Shard where you can dine. If you prefer somewhere else, the surrounding area offers a good variety, as you can see in this article on where to eat near The Shard.

To celebrate the third day of our trip, I've prepared a route that takes you from one of the city's most important and picturesque markets to its busiest streets. Bear in mind that you will almost certainly have to go somewhere on the tube, so here's a little guide on how to use the London Underground.

Camden Town

The day starts with a visit to Camden Town, one of London's most interesting neighbourhoods. Although it tends to be very busy due to the large number of tourists, it still retains some of its old essence, especially in the market that is held there.

In addition to the different stalls you will find, try to also take a look at the facades of the buildings. As a special place, try to visit the stables.

How long you want to spend here really depends on your interest. In fact, many people even take the opportunity to eat at the market, but you should bear in mind that the more time you spend here, the less time you will have left to see other places.

Tate Modern

If you have time left after seeing the market, your next stop is the Tate Modern, one of the most visited modern art museums in the world.

Really, a visit to the Tate Modern is an absolute must for art lovers. Its very location, in the former Bankside Power Station, adds to its appeal.

Admission to the Tate Modern is free and its collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol, Salvador Dalí and Monet, among others.

Harry Potter locations tour

Fans of the Harry Potter saga will find some of the best Harry Potter toursin London, as well as the great Harry Potter exhibition at Warner Studios.

One of the most interesting tours is the one that takes in the most famous locations from the Harry Potter films, from the famous platform 9 and ¾ at King's Cross Station to the Leaky Cauldron (located in Borough Market).

Discover the atmosphere of Soho

The best time to visit this area is after dark. This is when thousands of Londoners and tourists stroll the streets. My advice is to wander aimlessly and, among other things, check out the various theatres and a good number of cult bars.

The most famous street in the area is Carnaby. As well as its atmosphere, it is known for its extravagant Christmas decorations, making it a must-see if you're in London at Christmas.

London offers visitors attractions of all kinds. It is this variety that allows the tour for this fourth day to be made up of the most disparate places.

Hyde Park

Day four begins with a relaxing stroll through one of London's finest parks, Hyde Park. Its paths hide attractions such as the Peter Pan statue, Speaker's Corner and the Serpentine Lake.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of the most spectacular museums in London, especially if you're travelling with children.

Its collection is made up of millions of elements of nature, but the most striking is undoubtedly the area dedicated to dinosaurs, including the impressive life-size reconstruction of a T-Rex with movement and sound.

Admission is free and there are plenty of games and interactive attractions to make it a great place to visit with children.

Relax on a boat on the Thames

When you've finished enjoying the great outdoors in the heart of the big city, you'll want to head down to the River Thames for a special activity: a little cruise.

There are plenty of these river cruises on offer, so here's an article on the best Thames river cruises so you can choose the one that suits you best.

London Dungeon or Sea London Aquarium

In the Westminster Bridge area you'll find the perfect place if you're a fan of horror: the London Dungeon.

It's an interactive attraction that tells the darkest history of the city and is sure to scare even the most fearful on occasion.

In case you're going with children (for whom the attraction is not recommended) or you're not too keen on gruesome stories, not too far away is the Sea Life London Aquarium.

London Eye

From one attraction designed to scare you to another that can cause vertigo sufferers to break out in a sweat. This is the London Eye, a spectacular 135-metre high Ferris wheel.

To get on it, I recommend you buy tickets for the London Eye in advance so you can enjoy the best views of London.

Don't worry if it's getting dark in London, as the London Eye is still operating to offer a panoramic view of the city's illumination.

On your way down, you might want to look for one of the restaurants around the London Eye for a bite to eat.

One of the great advantages of having a whole week in London is that you can afford to go on an organised tour from London.

Near London is, for example, Stonehenge, a visit that can be combined with such beautiful cities as Bath. In order to see both, you will have to decide whether to do it on your own or hire an organised tour to Stonehenge.

If you prefer to hire a car or use public transport, consider what I explain in my article on How to get to Stonehenge from London. Then, weigh up the pros and cons to see if an organised tour is more suitable for you.

Excursion to Stonehenge and Bath

If you are looking to make the most of your time during your trip, I recommend combining a visit to Stonehenge and the city of Bath in a single trip.

Stonehenge's charm increases especially during the summer solstice, a particularly recommended time to visit it.

As for Bath, this city is considered one of the most charming cities in the country, both for the baths that make it famous and for many other attractions that you can discover during this visit.

The penultimate day of your trip will start in one of the city's most colourful neighbourhoods, Notting Hill, and end with a visit to one of London's many shows.

Notting Hill and Portobello Road

Although it was made famous worldwide by the film of the same name, Notting Hill was already known for its colour and the carnivals that take place there. This party is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do if you are in London in August.

Its best known street is Portobello Road, which crosses the neighbourhood almost completely. The best day to visit is Saturday, when one of the most complete flea markets in the city is held.

Madame Tussauds

Undoubtedly, the Madame Tussauds museum presents the best wax figures from all over the world.

In this museum you will see realistic wax figures of thousands of famous people from all over the world, from sportsmen to great protagonists of history, from actors to scientists.

Covent Garden

In the afternoon it's a good time to wander around the Covent Garden area and soak up the special atmosphere that characterises it. There used to be a flower market here and nowadays you'll find numerous street performers, restaurants, pubs and food stalls.

If you're travelling with children, this square is home to a museum that they tend to love: the London Transport Museum.

West End

This day's tour will end in the West End, one of the liveliest areas of the city.

Here you will find numerous dining options and it is also where most of **London'**s theatres are located. I recommend ending the day by seeing one of the musicals performed in the West End.

Normally, we all arrive at the last day of a trip rather tired and, moreover, with a strange feeling of sadness at the end of the experience. However, this shouldn't stop you from enjoying every last moment.

Follow Sherlock Holmes' route through Baker Street

London was also the place where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle set the stories of the most famous private detective in history: Sherlock Holmes.

Not surprisingly, the city has a museum dedicated to the character, whose location will come as no surprise to any fan: 221B Baker Street, just at the address where Holmes lived in the novels.

Primrose Hill

After leaving Baker Street there is no better place to go than Primrose Hill. This park is situated on a hillside and offers visitors a beautiful view of the city.

The atmosphere in the park is very pleasant and it's definitely a great place to have a picnic or eat at one of the restaurants in the area.

Imperial War Museum

After a leisurely lunch it's time to visit one of the most interesting and, at the same time, disturbing museums in the city.

This is the Imperial War Museum, which, as its name suggests, is dedicated to war. Opened in 1920, its first purpose was to show the consequences of the First World War on society. Over time, its collection expanded to show objects, documents, weapons and testimonies of victims of other conflicts, such as the Second World War.

Last walk through Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street

Londoners and tourists alike consider Piccadilly Circus to be **London'**s most famous intersection.

Some consider it to be London's equivalent of New York's Times Square. Seeing it at night before strolling down one of the city's most popular shopping streets is the perfect way to round off a trip.

Soak up the atmosphere on Oxford Street

This shopping street is considered to be the busiest in Europe. Its almost two and a half kilometres are lined with shops of all kinds, restaurants and other venues that attract a large number of Londoners and visitors.

Walking along this street you will be able to see some of the most famous department stores in the city. Some, such as Selfridges, are housed in buildings of great architectural value.

If you're lucky enough to be in London at Christmas time, this street is a must-see for its Christmas lights.