Hello,
These are just suggestions, feel free to cut, paste and discard as you wish. This was actually a suggested itinerary I gave for a different couple so you probably wont be keen on all of it (and I understand its a bit longer than 5 days!)
I live on the South East Coast of England & I have of course been to London many times and have always found these activities very enjoyable. I am unsure what your personal interests are but hopefully the below info will be useful.
Day 7 – You don’t specify what time you will arrive in London but I will assume midday (11am) for reasons I can’t explain! Settle into your accommodation, I would suggest staying in Zone 1 unless you don’t plan on being out late during your stay (there are night buses & taxis once the underground stops though).
First day, just get your bearings and relax mostly.
Covent Garden for Lunch (depends on your price range but if you want a cheap eat in an interesting atmosphere, Covent Garden usually has a giant communal wok of Paella for 5 quid at its centre). Lunch time is busy but it’s nice to see it then because all the street performers are out entertaining. Walk around the little shopping areas.
Wander from here to the British Museum, spend the afternoon here.
Continue to Piccadilly Circus for dinner.
Go to Kings Cross Station to take the underground back to your accommodation (after admiring the station itself of course!)
Day 8 – London West End Trip- All of these sights are surprisingly close together and you can walk to each quite comfortably. I would recommend looking at Trafalgar Square and wandering into the National Gallery (09:00-10:30) go through the Arch about 10:45am in the morning, pop round the corner at 11am to Horse Guards Parade and watch the Changing of the Guard. Wander through St James Park (try not to get mugged by the squirrels! Take a lunch with you or buy lunch in the park and relax) When ready, continue walking through the park until you reach Buckingham Palace. Continue from there to 10 Downing Street, continue walking and you will reach Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster (take a wander inside as it is impressive and there are many famous figures buried here).
Walk over the bridge and along the Thames to Borough Market and have a scrummy late lunch, just eat in the market itself and wander around tasting! (It’s open until 5pm) Wander back towards the bridge and jump on the London Eye for a view of London at sunset. Catch an early evening show at the Shakespeare’s Globe.
Day 9 - London South End Trip – Stroll along Kensington High-Street and take a peep in Harrods grand and ridiculously expensive window displays.
Just off the high-street take a look at the Natural History Museum (this is a must see for me, more so even than the British Museum, it’s just beautiful & interesting). You can easily spend an hour or two here.
Buy something to eat and take it with you (pre-planned) or, stop somewhere, bearing in mind that Kensington is an expensive place for food.
Continue down the road to Kensington Palace; eat your lunch in the Kensington Palace Gardens. If you want to go inside, perhaps spend an hour or so max).
You are now practically in Hyde Park, take a stroll to Speakers Corner to see if there is anything happening and then catch a River Boat from Hyde Park to Camden Loch (this is much more unique & enjoyable than a Thames Cruise).
Take in the eccentricity of Camden Town, wander through the markets and people watch this is a unique part of London you should not miss. Have lunch here from the many stalls (I have eaten here many times and never been sick so do not worry!)
If you are into music, see if there are any live shows that evening in Camden or spend the evening as you choose on the day.
Day 10- Spend the morning at the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Have lunch in Regents Park, hire some stripy deck chairs and chill.
Afternoon Free – Go souvenir shopping –Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street, or, go to the Charles Dickens Museum.
Go to an afternoon Matinee of The Phantom of the Opera at her Majesty’s theatre. Get there a bit early to soak up the atmosphere. Have a few drinks afterwards.
Day 11 - A Spooky Day! Go to St Pauls Cathedral in the morning and before departing have a late breakfast in the Crypt.
Walk to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge and wander the dungeons & take in the history – see if you can spot Anne Boleyn!
Grab a bite for a late lunch.
Go to the London Dungeons – it sounds cheesy, but it really is great fun after taking in dry facts all day. It is very refreshing and different. It is by no means just for children!
Go to an early evening of acting (not musicals or Shakespeare) of one of the oldest showing plays, the Woman in Black.
Try and get some sleep!
Day 12 – Windsor Castle dedicated to an entire day would be a bit boring after a while…I could spend half a day there and be happy. It’s further away too. Possibly spend this day seeing other things on London’s perimeters such as Hampton Court Palace (morning) and Kew Gardens (afternoon).
D13- Last Day in London
We will take the airplane at 6:00PM to back home. Free day.
