Start at Westminster Abbey and allow about 1½ hours, but note that Sunday is generally reserved for worship rather than sightseeing, so tourist entry may not be available. Check the Abbey’s visitor calendar and service arrangements before setting out; if you can’t go inside, admire the Gothic exterior and plan around any public access rather than assuming a sightseeing ticket will get you in. From there, walk a few minutes to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament for the riverside views; allow about 45 minutes outside.
Cross Westminster Bridge to the London Eye (roughly 10–15 minutes on foot). Allow about an hour including queues, and book a timed ticket if you want to ride; check the operating hours for your date, as winter schedules can be shorter. Late November daylight fades around 4 p.m., so aim to reach the wheel before dusk if you’d like to see the city in daylight as well as after dark. A ride typically costs around £30–£40, depending on ticket and booking date.
Head east along the South Bank to The Anchor & Hope in Southwark—about a 25-minute walk from the Eye, or a short taxi ride. Budget £25–£45 per person before drinks and book ahead, but check the restaurant’s Sunday service hours before making dinner plans: its Sunday schedule may not include evening service. If it is serving, settle in for seasonal British cooking; otherwise, you’ll need to adjust the meal timing or revisit the booking plan.
Aim to reach The British Museum for its 10 a.m. opening; allow around 2½ hours, and choose a few galleries rather than trying to cover the whole collection. General admission is free, but book a free timed entry in advance and check the museum’s current hours and entry arrangements before you go. The museum is a short walk from Tottenham Court Road or Holborn stations.
Walk about 10 minutes to Russell Square for a half-hour pause among the trees and garden paths. It’s a good spot to rest your feet after the galleries; the square is usually open to the public, though facilities and access can vary. Grab a coffee nearby if you’d like a longer break.
From Russell Square, walk south to Covent Garden in roughly 20 minutes, or take the Tube from Russell Square to Holborn and walk on. Spend about an hour browsing the market halls and enjoying the street performers; performances are informal, so leave a little room in your timing. Finish at Dishoom Covent Garden for dinner—budget about £20–£35 per person before drinks. Book if possible, or expect a wait at busy times; check the restaurant’s current hours before setting out.
Be at Tower of London near opening, usually 9am on weekdays, and give it about three hours. Book ahead, especially for the Crown Jewels: queues can build, and entry to popular sections may involve waiting. Expect an adult ticket to cost roughly £35–£40; check the official calendar and prices before you go. Start with the Crown Jewels, then leave time for the White Tower and the fortress grounds.
It’s a short walk from the Tower to Tower Bridge. Allow about 1½ hours for the high-level walkways, river views and the Victorian Engine Rooms. Tickets are recommended; adult entry is roughly £13–£16, and opening hours can vary, so check before setting out. The glass floor is fun if you’re comfortable with heights.
From the bridge, walk east along the north bank to St Katharine Docks—around 10 minutes on foot. Spend 45 minutes wandering the marina and historic quays; it’s a calmer spot to pause after the crowds at the Tower. Then settle in at The Dickens Inn, a distinctive converted warehouse right by the water. Budget about £20–£35 per person before drinks, and book a table if you’d like to eat at a particular time.
Start at the Victoria and Albert Museum around 10 a.m. and spend about two hours with the design and decorative-arts collections; it’s easy to lose time here, so pick a few galleries that catch your eye. General admission is free, though special exhibitions may be ticketed—check current entry arrangements before you go. For lunch, keep it easy at the museum’s V&A Café, or walk to Exhibition Road for a choice of cafés and quick bites.
Walk a few minutes along Exhibition Road to the Natural History Museum. Allow around two hours for Hintze Hall and a selection of the natural-world galleries. General admission is free, but timed entry may be required, so check the museum’s booking page and leave a little slack for the entrance queue. Its usual opening hours are 10 a.m.–5:50 p.m.; confirm them for your date.
From the museum, stroll through Kensington Gardens toward the palace area for about an hour. Late November daylight fades early—sunset is around 4 p.m.—so head into the gardens promptly after your visit and keep the walk flexible if it’s wet or getting dark. Finish with dinner at The Ivy Kensington Brasserie; allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly £30–£50 per person before drinks. Booking is recommended, especially for dinner.
Go early to St Paul’s Cathedral for the interior and, if the galleries are open and you’re happy with the climb, the views from above. Allow about two hours; visitor access and gallery hours can vary, so check the cathedral’s calendar and book ahead. Budget roughly £25–£30 for an adult ticket. From there, it’s a short walk to Millennium Bridge—take your time crossing for the classic river views back towards the cathedral and Bankside.
Spend around two hours at Tate Modern, where the former power station’s vast spaces are part of the experience. The collection is free to visit, though special exhibitions are usually ticketed; check what’s on before you go. Then walk east along the river to Borough Market for a flexible lunch. Thursday is a trading day, but hours and individual stalls can vary; aim to arrive before the usual 5 p.m. close. Expect to spend about £10–£20 per person, and allow an hour to browse and eat.
Finish at The George Inn, a historic Southwark coaching inn a short walk from the market. Settle in for a drink or a traditional pub meal; allow about 1½ hours and budget roughly £20–£35 per person for dinner. It can get busy around the evening rush, so arriving on the early side gives you a better chance of finding a table.
Take the DLR to Cutty Sark station; from central London, allow roughly 30–40 minutes, depending on your starting point. Arrive for Cutty Sark’s usual 10 a.m. opening and allow about 1½ hours to explore the restored tea clipper. Tickets are recommended; check the current opening hours and book ahead, especially for a specific entry time.
Walk a few minutes to the National Maritime Museum for about 1½ hours. General entry is usually free, but check current visitor arrangements and any exhibition charges. Then wander to Greenwich Market for lunch and a browse among its independent stalls; allow an hour and budget around £10–£20 per person. Market opening details can vary, so check before you go.
Head through Greenwich Park to Royal Observatory Greenwich for the Prime Meridian and the historic observatory; allow about 1½ hours. In late November, daylight fades early, so aim to arrive by around 2 p.m. and check the day’s timed-entry availability before setting out. Finish at The Trafalgar Tavern, by the river, for classic pub fare; budget roughly £20–£40 per person before drinks, and book a table if you can.
Get to Portobello Road Market early—around 9 a.m. is a good target for browsing antiques and vintage stalls before the Saturday crowds peak. Allow about two hours, and keep a little cash handy alongside contactless for small purchases and street food. Then walk to the Museum of Brands nearby; plan for roughly 1½ hours and check its Saturday opening hours and ticket price before you go (admission is usually paid).
Head to The Churchill Arms for lunch, a short walk from the museum. Its flower-covered exterior is a London classic, and the Thai menu makes a good change from market snacks; budget around £20–£35 per person. Saturdays get busy, so expect a possible wait and avoid cutting lunch too close to your next stop.
From the pub, walk or take a short bus ride to Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. In late November, daylight fades early and the garden may close around dusk, so aim to arrive by mid-afternoon and check seasonal access on the day; allow about 45 minutes. Finish back in Notting Hill at Electric Cinema for a film. Book a screening ahead, as popular showings can sell out, and check the venue’s schedule before setting your evening plans.
Make The Wolseley your final breakfast stop on Piccadilly. It’s a grand, lively room, and breakfast is typically served from early morning; book ahead if you can, especially for a Sunday. Budget about £20–£35 per person. From there, walk roughly 15 minutes toward St James’s Park for an easy 45-minute loop by the lake—November can be chilly and damp, so bring a warm layer and shoes that can handle wet paths.
Continue on foot to Buckingham Palace (around 10 minutes from the park) for an exterior look and photos; allow about 30 minutes. Don’t plan on going inside: palace access is seasonal and shouldn’t be assumed in late November. Then collect your bags and leave generous time for your onward journey. The best route depends on your airport or station and where you’re staying: allow extra for London traffic if taking a car, or check live Tube and rail services before setting out. For an international flight, aim to reach the airport around three hours before departure; for a train, follow your operator’s check-in guidance and leave additional time to cross London if changing stations.
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