Lady’s 3 Day London Itinerary

A lot of people ask me to recommend things to do in London. To help them, I’ve been sharing different London itineraries on the A Lady in London blog. The posts have been so popular that today I want to add my 3 day London itinerary to the mix. I hope you find inspiration in it.

3 Day London Itinerary

72 hours in London is a good amount of time to see the highlights and dig a bit deeper into the local side of the city. I suggest starting with my 2-day London itinerary and adding the following 24-hour segment to it.

Morning in London

The final day of my 3 day London itinerary starts with a trip to Covent Garden. After breakfast or coffee at one of my favorite places in the neighborhood, I love walking through the piazza and seeing what’s on in the markets and shops.

Afterwards I explore the area around Seven Dials, Neal’s Yard, and St Martin’s Courtyard. There are always plenty of places to duck into, cafes to linger over a tea in, and bright colors to delight my senses.

None of the streets seem to be at right angles, so I have fun letting myself get lost for a while, too.

Afternoon in London

When I find myself, I like continuing the last day of my 3 day London itinerary by meandering through Bloomsbury and Holborn to get to Clerkenwell and Smithfield.

This part of the city is home to some of London’s most fascinating history and noteworthy restaurants.

I begin by wandering through Smithfield Market, the largest wholesale meat market in the UK. With its colorful gates, red phone boxes, and ghosts of the morning’s busy trade, it’s a beautiful place.

Outside in Smithfield is the site where William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was executed back when the area was home to one of the city’s most famous gallows.

Today it’s better known for the restaurants that circle it, and for nearby Charterhouse Square and the beautiful little churchyard of St Bartholomew the Great.

From Smithfield I love continuing the final day of my 3 day London itinerary by walking up St John Street, where I’m sure to find a good lunch at one of the many award-winning restaurants lining its pavements.

Around the street are little alleys like Peter Lane and St John’s Lane that make me feel like I’ve traveled back in time. If I’m running ahead of schedule, I do my self-guided Clerkenwell walking tour to see more of them.

After wandering, I walk down Old Street to Shoreditch and take in east London’s trendy hub.

From the high street and Great Eastern Street to hipster Redchurch Street and Rivington Street, there’s always somewhere new to discover in the neighborhood.

If I have time, I head to Spitalfields to browse the wares in the covered market, see what’s on around the Old Truman Brewery, and stroll down the historic lanes near Commercial Street.

If it’s a weekend (and especially if it’s a Sunday in London), I hit the markets that spill out into Brick Lane. I might even do my self-guided street art tour or Spitalfields walk.

Evening in London

Soon evening approaches and I’m in the right place. East London is one of the city’s best nightlife areas, and there’s no shortage of restaurants, bars, pubs, speakeasies, and pop-ups to choose from.

I continue the final day of my 3 day London itinerary by settling in at one. I then make my way to as may others as I have energy for before heading home to relax after another great day in London.

3 Days in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed this London itinerary and that it’s given you good ideas for things to do in the UK capital. If you want more, you can read about the city in Lonely Planet London. You can get it here. Happy travels!

How about you? What would you include in a 3 day London itinerary?

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