Top 8 Things to Do, See, and Eat in London If You Only Have 3 Days
As I mentioned in Who Knew England Could Be Such a Positive Influence on My Life as a Solo Traveler? I had been to London twice, and now, this past trip in November was my third time. I didn’t spend a full week in London since we went to Copenhagen for the week and Sweden for one afternoon. Still, I managed to visit some of my favorite places and even went to some new ones.
I know London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but you can still do and see some amazing things. Check out my tricks and tips below!
Free Things to Do/ Explore
1. Sky Garden
I will say this place and the Shard (I will get to this one later) are my favorite two places I have been to, and they share one thing in common: stunning views.
Sky Garden was built in 2004 by Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly. This is the highest public garden in London; some of the plants within are the African Lily, Red Hot Poker, and Bird of Paradise—alongside fragrant herbs such as French Lavender.
You have 360-degree views of London from the terrace, and you can grab a snack, a meal, or a drink while you are there. My friend and I had champagne and pastries.
The best thing about Sky Garden is that it’s FREE to enter. You just need to book your ticket ahead of time, and you can book a ticket up to three weeks in advance. We went the morning when I flew into London.
Another great thing about Sky Garden is they have couches to sit on—not just tables and chairs. This is a great place to read a book, work, or chat with friends.
2. South Bank
South Bank is an energetic area at the heart of London, along the River Thames. The riverside walkway is filled with restaurants, historic pubs, and big landmarks such as Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral. This is a great place to wander the streets and see all the main attractions that London offers. And this is free to do unless you pick up a snack or a beer at a stand.
When I was there in November 2022, they had some Christmas decorations out. I actually walked from the Shard to Tower Bridge to Big Ben. This area is my favorite place in London because you can see so much in a short amount of time!
Tours You Pay For
3. London Eye
If you have yet to catch on, I love a good view! And you can't get any more iconic than the London Eye! I was at the London Eye before when I was in grad school visiting a friend, and I saw London in bright sunny weather, which is uncommon. Eleven years later, my friend and I did the London Eye, and in true London style, it was foggy, and you could barely see anything!
In 2000, the London Eye opened and was designed as an attraction to usher in the new millennium. It was supposed to be a temporary attraction, but with 15,000 visitors daily, it became a fixture in London. There are 32 capsules on the wheel, and it takes about 30 mins to go around.
There are different options you can book. Prices are shown in pounds (£).
London Eye Champagne Experiences- £55 per person
London Eye and River Cruise- £43 per person
London Eye and Madame Tussauds- £58.50 per person
London Eye and SEA LIFE London- £54.50 per person
My friend and I ended up doing the London Eye and River Cruise, which I will discuss below!
4. River Cruise
This was my first time ever being on the river Thames! I told my friend I wanted to do the London Eye with the Champagne Experience or the River Cruise, and she picked well. The river cruise was terrific!
You see all the main attractions from the South Bank, but with a guide telling you about the stories from each attraction. I loved every minute of the 45-minute boat ride we were on. Yes, you can see all the same attractions via the London Eye and walk, but if you want to elevate your experience, I recommend doing the London Eye and the River Cruise together!
Places to Eat
5. Shard
I never did the proper high tea the other times I was in London. So I was excited when my friend suggested we could go. You can find a list of places you can go for high tea ranging from 50 bucks to 200 plus dollars. She sent me a list of places to see which one I wanted to go to. I only had one wish; I wanted to see the views. Some of these places are high up in a building where you can see London below. I sent her my top three choices so she could place a reservation. Well, a couple of weeks prior, she went to the Shard and shared her pictures from High Tea.
I was sold!
The Shard is right across the river from Sky Garden, and you can see almost 360-degree views of London. Where we sat, we were overlooking Tower Bridge. How freaking awesome is that?!
We had a themed high tea that was called “Peter Pan.” It was really a magical High Tea, and there was a ship! There was smoke! And really yummy food, desserts, teas, and of course . . . views!!!
At this high tea, you can add an option of a drink. We chose to do the regular menu, but after my friend left, I decided to get a glass of champagne to celebrate the fact that I was sitting in a pretty dress overlooking London!
6. Mercato Mayfair
I found out about this place an hour before landing in England. I watched Stanley Tucci's Searching for Italy on the plane, and he went to Mercato Mayfair for a pasta dinner that night. If you plan to walk Oxford Street, you should visit Mercato Mayfair. This place was once a church converted into a stunning market hall. It was filled with over 17 curated food and drink traders, a wine bar, and a deli in a striking church setting with an outdoor terrace. I would highly recommend eating here!
7. Borough Hall Market
In keeping with the food show theme, I watched a London episode of Someone Feed Phil, and so I wandered through Borough Hall Market on my walk from Tower Bridge to London Eye. This is close to the Shard, so you can walk here after high tea. I love wandering through markets. Here you can taste test foods and drinks and pick up a present or fresh flowers. This is one of the biggest markets I have been to, and it’s free to wander around.
This market is one of the oldest in the world. The history of Borough Market stretches back over 1,000 years (1014), when merchants started trading grain, fish, vegetables, and livestock here near the riverside. The market thrived over the centuries until Parliament shut it down in 1775 because of traffic congestion. But they opened another market at a new site.
8. Fortnum and Mason
This was another place from Someone Feed Phil, and my friend goes here occasionally. It's a fancy tea, coffee, and biscuits shop that sells chocolates and gifts. It also has a food hall. So, a one-stop shop to bring something back for yourself and a blessing. This place is a little pricey, but it's a great place to walk around. When I was there, the whole store was decorated with Christmas décor. Also, you can walk over to Piccadilly Circus, which I explored the last time I was in London. This area always reminds me of a smaller version of Time Square!
Wrapped up!
Now that you know where to go to see the sights and grab some food, which of these places do you want to visit? If you can’t choose, that’s fine! Remember, all eight of these experiences can be done in only 3 days.