Tower of London & The Crown Jewels (UNESCO)
William the Conqueror’s 11th-century Thames fortress, home to the dazzling Crown Jewels, the White Tower armoury, and Yeoman Warder tours.
St Katharine’s & Wapping, London EC3N 4AB
Royal sights in London
People who want palaces, history and green space.
The route
- Day 1 morningTower of London and the Crown Jewels. Go at opening time.
- Day 1 afternoonWalk St James's Park to Buckingham Palace. The State Rooms only open for part of the year, so check dates first. Finish at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, which is free, for Van Gogh's Sunflowers and paintings by Monet.
- Day 2 morningKensington Palace and its Sunken Garden.
- Day 2 afternoonHyde Park and the Serpentine, then the V&A, which is free.
- Extra dayHampton Court Palace and its maze, by train from Waterloo.
- If you're here in JuneTrooping the Colour, the King's official birthday parade, runs along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade. Check the date, and plan around the crowds and road closures.
Where to stay
South Kensington and Knightsbridge. Walkable to Kensington Palace, Hyde Park and the V&A.
Hotels in LondonPlaces on this route
St James's Park & Pelicans
The oldest of London's eight Royal Parks, framed by Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, and a lake famous for its resident pelicans.
St James's Park, Westminster, London
Buckingham Palace (The King’s Gallery & State Rooms)
The monarch’s official London residence at the end of The Mall, famous for the Changing of the Guard ceremony and summer openings of the 19 State Rooms.
Westminster, London SW1A 1AA
The National Gallery (Trafalgar Square Masterpieces – Van Gogh, Turner & Da Vinci)
Crowning the north side of Trafalgar Square with over 2,300 European paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries, including Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Turner’s Fighting Temeraire.
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
Kensington Palace & The Sunken Garden
Birthplace of Queen Victoria set on the western edge of Hyde Park, featuring the gilded King’s State Apartments and the tranquil Sunken Garden.
Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX
Hyde Park & Serpentine Lake
London's flagship 350-acre Royal Park featuring the Serpentine Lake, Speaker's Corner, Diana Memorial Fountain, and rose gardens.
Hyde Park, London
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A – World’s Greatest Museum of Art & Design)
The world’s leading museum of art, design, and performance in South Kensington, famous for its towering Cast Courts, fashion galleries, and Victorian ceramic Gamble Room café.
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL
Hampton Court Palace & Tudor Maze (Thames Royal Day Trip)
Henry VIII’s sprawling riverside Tudor palace and William III’s Baroque wing surrounded by 60 acres of formal Thames gardens and the famous 1700 hedge maze.
Hampton Court Way, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU