This post contains affiliate links for which I may make a small commission to help keep the site running. You will not be charged extra for these items had you not clicked the links. Thank you for your help to keep the site running!
When planning your trip, you have no frame of reference about how long attractions may take and that makes it incredibly difficult to set your daily itinerary in London.
The short answer for many places is “it depends “ based on how in depth you want to get, but I’ve put together a rough guideline for many of London’s most popular sites below to give you a bit more of an idea of how long to spend at attractions in London.
Just keep in mind that you’ll want to judge for yourself based on your interest – artists will probably want to spend a lot more time in the National Gallery than a family with two young kids, you know?
It will also depend on when you visit London as crowds vary, being higher in London in August and lower in London in winter.
GET A FREE LONDON INTRO GUIDE and ACCESS TO MY FB GROUP
Start your planning with this “Intro to London” guide and access to my London planning Facebook group!
The Absolute Must-Knows (from a Londoner)
- 😍Cheapest Way to See it All: Get the London Pass here (yes, it’s worth it)
- 🎭Cheapest site for West End theatre tickets: London Theatre Direct
- 🚕Cheapest and most reliable airport transfer service: Welcome Pickups
- 🚉Cheapest Way to Book Train and Bus Tickets: Omio
- 🔌Most Reliable Adapter for UK Plugs: This one
Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group, where I can answer more of your questions!
🛎 Still looking for somewhere to stay in London?
My favorite hotel in London for all visitors is the Strand Palace (click here to check prices).
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out the YouTube channel for more London tips
How Long to Spend at London Attractions: At-a-glance
Check out this guide on how long to spend at the top London attractions, but make sure to scroll down to the ones you’re most interested in for caveats and more information.
| London Attraction | How Long to Spend |
|---|---|
| London Eye | 30 minutes for the ride |
| British Museum | 1 – 3 hours (depending, read below) |
| Westminster Abbey | 1-2 hours |
| St. Paul’s Cathedral | 1-2 hours |
| Buckingham Palace | 10-15 minutes (unless open for summer) |
| Natural History Museum | 1-2 hours |
| Museum of London | 1-2 hours |
| Science Museum | 1-2 hours |
| National Gallery | 1-2 hours |
| V&A Museum | 1-2 hours |
| Windsor Castle | 1/2 day – full day |
| Hampton Court Palace | 1/2 day – full day |
| Afternoon Tea | 1.5 – 2 hours |
| Churchill War Rooms | 2.5 – 3 hours |
| Tower of London | 3 – 4 hours |
IMPORTANT: are you coming to the UK from abroad?
In case you’re reading this from outside the UK and will be a foreign visitor here, you need to know these 2 things to stay safe and save money.
- Travel insurance – you need it when going overseas! I use this site to get the best quotes and purchase my packages from. Do not skip this – having medical coverage abroad as well as other coverage in case of missed flights, lost luggage, etc is essential. As I said, I have never gone wrong using this site.
- International debit cards without fees – do not get stuck paying extortionate foreign fees when using your card abroad (and the UK is almost all card these days). I use the Wise debit and travel card which you can apply and learn more about here.
How Long to Spend at the London Eye
The actual ride on the London Eye is easy to predict as it takes 30 minutes, but you’ll want to factor in any time before waiting in line if you don’t have Fast Track tickets.
In off peak season this could be anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, with a longer wait time in the summer months.
If you’re wondering how long to spend at the London Eye and how much time is needed for the London Eye, I would give this attraction about an hour in the itinerary.
How Long to Spend at the British Museum
The British Museum is a vast museum filled with thousands of artifacts and hundreds of exhibits, and it might be on your London itinerary and you’re like, “but how much time for the British Museum?!”
It wouldn’t even be possible to properly see everything in the museum in a full day if you actually took the time to learn about each piece.
With that in mind, similar to some of the other museums coming up, if you’re wondering how long to spend at the British Museum and the British Museum time needed for most people, I would recommend an average of one, two, or three hours here.
One if you are happy with just a cursory glance and to say you’ve been to the museum, two for the majority of visitors who want to explore the museum but don’t need to go in depth in every room, and three if you want a fuller experience (though not nearly the whole thing!) and time to meander and spend some more time in rooms you’re interested in.
Now how long does it take to walk around the British Museum?
Go for about two hours.
You won’t see it all, but if you keep going, you can hit every room.
How Long to Spend at Westminster Abbey
When you get tickets to Westminster Abbey, you get to use an audio guide and go around the abbey seeing where many famous Brits are buried and learn about its history.
I would say around 2 hours is a good amount of time to spend at Westminster Abbey and about the right amount of time needed for Westminster Abbey.
How Long to Spend at St. Paul’s Cathedral
Wondering about the time needed for St. Paul’s Cathedral?
Similar to Westminster Abbey, if you’re on the self guided tour of St Paul’s Cathedral, you could expect to do a cursory tour in about an hour or a more in depth visit in about two.
You can also plan to see a service here or attend Evensong, which doesn’t allow you to walk around like a tourist, but does allow you to schedule a more definitive time that you’ll spend in the Cathedral.
How Long to Spend at Buckingham Palace
Unless it’s the summer and you have tickets to see the State Rooms inside, Buckingham Palace is a “take a few pictures and walk by’ attraction for many people so if you’re wondering, “how much time is needed for Buckingham Palace,” then that’s your answer.
You might want to hang around for 10 to 15 minutes and then carry on your way.
If you want to see the Changing of the Guards, one of the most iconic things to do in London, you can can either make a morning of it and try to get a good view which would put you at about 1.5 hours if you get there an hour early, or you could just roll up and see the actual event from wherever there’s space (more easily done outside of the summer months) and expect it to be about half an hour.
How Long to Spend at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is outside of London and requires time to get there and then back.
If you’re wondering how long to spend at Windsor Castle and the time needed for Windsor Castle, you should know that Windsor Castle is a great day trip or at the minimum, a half day trip.
The castle itself has plenty to see, and you can also enjoy the town of Windsor and take a stroll by the river if you finish the castle before your planned train back.
Certainly don’t sandwich this attraction in between multiple other plans in the middle of the day or something – give yourself the time to breathe.
How Long to Spend at Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is another half or full day attraction.
If you have the space, I would say that the time needed to see Hampton Court Palace is a full day so you can take the time to enjoy a sit down lunch and explore both the palace and the extensive gardens.
There is an extensive kid’s play area that you’ll have a problem dragging them out of if you don’t plan for enough time.
If it’s raining or poor weather, then I would suggest a half day to see the palace itself.
How Long to Spend at Natural History Museum
Wondering how long you need to see the natural History Museum?
Another large and popular museum in London that you can do in a cursory glance in about an hour and an average of two hours.
In fact, this is what I’d recommend also for Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the V and A, and the Science Museum, bumping it up to a max of three if you have a particular interest and fascination with both museums in London and the museum topic.
How Long to Spend at Afternoon Tea
When you book afternoon tea in London, you often book a “sitting” which is commonly between 1.5 to two hours for the full experience.
You can tell them you want to do it in less time, but in many places they’re going to be wanting the table back at the end of your slot.
How Long to Spend at the Churchill War Rooms
The bunker and offices where Churchill and other high ranking officials lived and worked in World War II is a truly fascinating attraction and one that people underestimate the time they want to spend there.
If you also include the Churchill museum which is in the War Rooms, I would say about 2.5 to three hours is a good amount of time to spend at the Churchill War Rooms for the average visitor who has at least some semblance of interest in Churchill or World War 2 or history in general.
How Long to Spend at the Tower of London
As a vast fortress that holds much of the history of the beginnings of London and the crown jewels, the Tower of London deserves a good three to four hours to be able to feel like you’ve adequately explored this site.
From medieval tunnels to sporting the Tower ravens to learning more about torture in the torture chamber (gruesome, I know), there’s just so much to see, and that’s not even including taking a tour by a Beefeater (you’ll learn the lingo along the way!).
What else should I not miss in London?
If you’re visiting London soon, here’s a very brief rundown of a few of my other favorites to make sure you don’t miss anything!
- Hidden London Walking Tour – this tour is the absolute best if you want to see London in a different light and uncover hidden nooks, crannies, and histories that you won’t get on your normal, run-of-the-mill London walking tour. Click here to check prices and book.
- Historical Westminster Walking Tour with Churchill War Rooms – if you’re a history buff or even mildly interested in all of the insane things that have happened in London, particular during the wars, you have to book this tour which is an absolute bargain for the tour + entry to the Churchill War Rooms (basically two must-dos in one). Click here to check prices and book.
- Cutest London Afternoon Tea on a Bus – want to see the sights and enjoy afternoon tea at the same time on the upper deck? Yes, absolutely you do. This afternoon tea is a real delight and helps you get out and about while also putting your pinkies up. Click here to check prices and book.
UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs
🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?
Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here, a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.
🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?
Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one, which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.
🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?
The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.
🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?
For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.
📳 Will my phone work in the UK?
Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.
🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?
Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink.
