3 Day London Itinerary + Budget Breakdown
London is undoubtedly an expensive city. But what’s the point of going if you don’t plan to make the most of it?
In this London 3-day itinerary, I included the top tours and unique activities, with the cost breakdowns so you can get an idea of what to expect to spend.
Disclosure: Some links to products and recommendations are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you).
Some of the activities, tours, and tickets mentioned:
🧀 London Cheese Tour
🎨 Frameless Museum
🫖 River Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise
🥧 Borough Market Tour
🍻 London Pub Crawl + Bar Snacks
Get 10% off your first Klook booking with my code “KAYLACOSMOS”
About This 3 Day London Itinerary for First Timers
Using Public Transit
This 3 day London itinerary is completely doable by public transit only. We used Google Maps to track the tube and bus times to get around. To use London public transit, you can simply tap with your credit card or Apple Pay.
While public transit is quite expensive in London, there is a daily cap on transport charges.
Our Base in London
We based ourselves in Hackney, near Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green Stations. Aside from Greenwich, everywhere else was super fast and easy to get to.
We stayed at an Airbnb that was about $100/night in October. The host, Ulas, was so kind, and the place is well organized with a shared kitchen. I’m so happy to recommend him.
Where to Book Activities
This 3-day London itinerary was done while I was working with Klook, so everything I did was booked through them. This post isn’t sponsored by them, but does reflect my experience booking with them and what they have available.
Klook is simple to use as you can keep all your London activities, schedule, and vouchers in one app.
You can also find a lot of these London activities on GetYourGuide. I’ve left booking links to either so you can save and reserve them to your preferences.
eSIM for the UK
At the time of my visit, I was using the Pangia Pass Unlimited data eSIM (as low as $27/month). If you’re traveling long-term, Pangia Pass offers a really good rate.
To save money on an eSIM for shorter trips, Klook offers competitive rates.
For example, 5 GB of data for 1 week costs about $5. I use Klook eSIMs quite often (including in Taiwan, Turkey, and Malaysia), so I can vouch that they work well.
How We Saved Money on Our London Travel Costs
I’ve outlined all our London activity costs with each experience in this itinerary. And let’s be honest, they can add up!
To save on meals through the trip, we actually downloaded Too Good To Go, so after exploring all day, we had a cheap meal to pick up somewhere. I highly recommend it for getting decent-quality meals at less than half the price.
My favorite Too Good To Go orders were a Katsu Curry & Sushi and a Mexican bowl.
Traveling beyond London? Save money with the BritRail Pass. Read my review and BritRail cost breakdown.
First Timers’ 3 Day Itinerary + Budget Breakdown
I’ll admit, this was my second time in London. But my first time to actually do all the touristy things + some unique tours.
I’m proud of this 3-day London itinerary for first timers and would absolutely do it again. Be sure to save this post to come back to later for inspiration!
Pro Tip: It’s wise to check ticket-booking platforms ahead of time to see availability, as some of these must-do London activities are only available on certain days of the week.
Day 1: Market Tour + Greenwich Park + Gin Tasting + Cable Car
The first day of this 3-day London first-timer itinerary covers the most popular must-visit spots, food, and an infamous drink: gin.
Borough Market & Leadenhall Market
Cost: ~$110
Sure, Borough Market is known as one of the busiest (and maybe even overhyped?) markets in London. But that didn’t make it any less enjoyable as a tourist in the city.
I went on this morning and afternoon tour of the Borough and Leadenhall Markets, where we sampled AT LEAST 8 mouth-watering dishes along the way.
Your London travel costs can go a bit further on this tour, since you’ll get to try so many small dishes and treats, rather than splurging on just 1 or 2 dishes and getting full quickly.
And our guide was the best. The tour wasn’t just about food but also took in historic alleys, buildings, and monuments, diving into London’s rather dark history.
Pro Tip: Skip breakfast, you will be so full by the end of this tour!
River Thames Walk & Greenwich Park
Cost: $0
After the Borough & Leadenhall Market tour, we had a few hours to kill before our next scheduled experience. And these few hours don’t dig at all into your London activity costs, because it’s all free to explore.
After the market tour ended, we went down to the Tower of London and walked around the 11th-century castle, looping onto Tower Bridge.
We took a stroll over Tower Bridge, getting amazing views of the Thames and snapping a few pictures.
Then we took the Thameslink from Tower Bridge Station to Maze Station (it’s a straight shot).
We had about an hour to kill, so we hung out at Greenwich Park (it’s huge!). If the weather permits, don’t miss out on adding this park to your 3 day London itinerary.
Greenwich Gin Tasting and Masterclass
Cost: $35
One of the highlights of this 3-day London itinerary was going to a gin tasting.
If you love gin (and dark history), you cannot skip this.
The tasting experience was set at a stunning bar, which offers a welcome drink, and you learn all about the gin-making process, plus the different botanicals used to make gin.
And if you get a fun group, it just gets more fun, and you’ll have a few laughs along the way.
The tasting lasts about an hour, and for what you get, it’s one of the London activity costs I’d say is well spent.
London IFS Cable Car
Round Trip Ticket Cost: $18-45 (depending on experience)
If you’re planning your 3 day London itinerary with a partner or bestie, then take note, as on weekends, you can indulge in an evening IFS Cable Car trip, poppin’ some champagne.
The cost of the champagne experience is certainly higher than that of the regular ticket. So if you still want to ride the IFS Cable Car but keep your London travel costs on the lower end, you can opt for the regular round-trip tickets.
Day 2: Hyde Park Picnic + Frameless Museum + Pub Tour
Day 2 in our London budget breakdown and itinerary covers a full range of the London experience, including more parks, a museum, and
Frameless Museum
Cost per person: ~$40
I’ve been to a few immersive museums, such as teamLabs Borderless in Japan. To be honest, I don’t always get the hype, even though they’re actually super cool once I give in and just go.
But Frameless? I would go again in a heartbeat. The museum brings famous works through history to life with motion and sound, a full 360-degree frameless experience.
I dunno, maybe I’m just easily moved by music and sound, but I didn’t want to leave. Take a seat on a bench, or on the floor, and let the audiovisual magic unravel masterpiece after masterpiece in front of you.
Pro Tip: Go for the opening time slot (10 AM) so you have plenty of time to enjoy it and still visit Hyde Park afterward. Plus, it will be less busy.
Hyde Park Picnic
Cost per person: ~$7
Hyde Park is just outside the Frameless Museum. We stopped at the Sainbury’s Local right around the corner after Frameless, and then went to the park for a lil’ picnic.
If you decide to join the historic pub crawl next, be mindful of time so you can picnic and still fit in a walk, as Hyde Park is massive!
Food and Historic Pubs Tour in London
Cost per person: $65-90 (seasonal rates)
This London pub tour takes you on a historic walk through some of London’s most unique pubs with some not-so-healthy, but delicious bites along the way. Well, I wasn’t crazy about the pork pie, but the others hit the spot.
Each stop includes a drink of various brews.
Our guide was incredible, as she had a passion for London and all the stories to tell.
I’ll never forget the other American at the end of the tour who tipped $100 and said, “I tip well so you can put up with me,” or something like that. To be fair, they weren’t actually rude on the tour, but it was hilarious.
Day 3: Cheese Tour & Afternoon Tea Cruise
We’ve got a lot of food covered in this London travel budget breakdown, and day 3 is no exception. These two were some of the best spent London activity costs.
London Cheese Tour (Weekends Only)
Cost: $30-50 (seasonal)
Does the UK have much of a reputation for cheese? Not really. But perhaps it should, because this London Cheese tour was a complete delight.
It’s 100% worth including in a first timer 3 day London itinerary as it’s a niche experience with unbelievable tastings.
Each cheese has a story behind it, and our guide, Monterray Jack, was hilarious. If you love cheese and a cheeky tour, budget this into your London travel costs.
Thames River Sightseeing Cruises London
Cost: $80 + depending on day
There are a ton of afternoon tea options in London, and I’m so glad we went with the one on a River Thames Cruise.
There is a selection of teas (with unlimited refills), and a beautiful stack of sandwiches, scones, and sweets.
There are mixed reviews on the food, and I agree it wasn’t all amazing. But the scones with jam and butter? I could have eaten 10 of them.
I asked for a window seat as we were boarding, and the staff was so kind as to accommodate. So don’t be afraid to ask if there’s a window seat available.
Pro Tip: To save money, you don’t have to opt for the afternoon tea cruise. There are regular cruises on offer for much less, and trust me, a cruise on the River Thames, afternoon tea or not, is a must-do.
More Europe Travel Inspiration
At this point, you should have enough inspiration to create your own 3 day London itinerary or simply follow along with mine.
Trust me, it’s the perfect balance of both touristy and more niche tours for a well-rounded trip.
Read More Europe Travel Itineraries and Guides:
