London Itineraries Trip Planning & Itineraries

Day 1: London Up Front

Where to start a trip to London? Not Big Ben or Buckingham Palace - save those attractions for later. Instead start your visit on the London Underground. Also known as the Tube, the Underground is the oldest metro system in the world, built in 1863. With more than 250 miles (400 km) of tracks and 270 stations in greater London, the system carries nearly 1 billion passengers a year and is an indispensable tool for getting around London. (Note that a London Sightseeing Pass will get you free transport on the Underground as well as free admission to museums, galleries and attractions throughout London.)

Right - now ascend that impossibly steep escalator and hit the town. Should you fancy the affairs of state, just look up and find that unmistakable clocktower that is Big Ben - a handy signpost for the Houses of Parliament, where you can watch the legislative process in action. Follow that up with the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and a spot of tea. The city's spiritual side is on splendid display at its two major churches: Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral, both of which are architectural marvels rich with history. To go back even further into London's past, visit the Tower of London, with its Norman walls and dank cells.

Day 2: Exploring London

London's many weekly and daily markets feature everything from trendy clothes to vintage, antiques to modern amenities, health-food to sweets. Harrods and Harvey Nichols are certainly worth a trip, but the markets should be a part of any London itinerary. Among them are Portobello Road, famous for antiques and quirky odds 'n' ends (Saturdays); Borough Market, a Saturday must-do for foodies; and Camden Markets, open every day, with alternative fashions and hand-made crafts.

Enjoy the serving of afternoon tea at Grosvenor House, one of the largest private houses situated on London's exclusive Park Lane in the district of Mayfair. The custom was invented by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford (1783-1857), one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting, when at the mid-afternoon hour she would summon servants to her boudoir with tea and little cakes.

Day 3: Outside London

As chock-a-block as London is with sights, there are plenty of things to see and do beyond the city limits. Head southwest to Windsor Castle (continuously occupied for nearly 1000 years - a record, as it happens), mysterious Stonehenge, and the light opera and Roman spas of genteel Bath. Or make a pilgrimage to Canterbury, Dover, Leeds Castle, and the other treasures of Kent. Stratford, birthplace of Shakespeare, has annual festivals and performances of the Bard's work nearly year-round. Go even further: try haggis in Edinburgh or blood pudding in Paris.