Queue at the north entrance by Parliament Square. Buy tickets online in advance to skip the line. Allow time to see Poets Corner, the Coronation Chair, and the Henry VII Chapel.

Best photographed from across the Thames on Westminster Bridge or from the south bank near Portcullis House. The tower is the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben is the bell inside.

Walk southeast along the Thames past the London Eye to reach the market under the railway arches near London Bridge. Go for lunch brought here as the food stalls are excellent.

Cross the Millennium Bridge from St Pauls side to the former Bankside Power Station. The permanent collection is free and the Blavatnik Building viewing terrace offers free skyline views.

Arrive by 9:00 AM opening to beat crowds. Join a Yeoman Warder tour (included with entry) for the full history of the Crown Jewels and the infamous prison stories.

Walk across the glass-floored skywalk 42 meters above the Thames. Look for the original steam engines in the lower engine rooms a hidden gem most visitors miss.

Climb the 528 steps to the Golden Gallery for panoramic views across London. Attend Evensong (free after 5:00 PM) and hear the choir in the Whispering Gallery.

Arrive right at 10am to beat the queues. Head straight for the Rosetta Stone in the Great Court, then loop through the Egyptian mummies and the Parthenon Sculptures on the upper floor. Entry is free but special exhibits cost extra.

Enter from the Bayswater Road side near Lancaster Gate and walk south toward the Round Pond and Kensington Palace. The Italian Gardens at the northern edge make a quick, scenic photo stop.

Enter via the Exhibition Road entrance to skip the main queue. Focus on the Cast Courts and the British Galleries on level 2 and 3 for decorative arts and fashion. Guided introductory tours meet at the information desk.

Stay on the Exhibition Road side as it connects directly from the V&A. See the Hintze Hall blue whale skeleton on the ground floor, then visit the dinosaur gallery on the first floor. Entry is free.

On the pedestrianized area outside South Kensington tube station on Thurloe Street. Look for stalls selling gourmet street food and grab a seat at the shared picnic tables. Best to arrive before 8pm as stalls start packing up.

Stand on the Prime Meridian line at the Royal Observatory for the iconic straddle across east and west. Walk down through Greenwich Park toward the historic Cutty Sark and the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College.

Head to Broadway Market in Hackney, a bustling Saturday street market with artisan food stalls, vintage clothes, and local produce. Search for Broadway Market London, open 9am to 5pm on Saturdays only.

Take the tube north to Hampstead and climb Parliament Hill for one of London's best free skyline views. Walk the woodland trails around the bathing ponds and Kenwood House for a slice of countryside in the city.

Explore the opulent Arab Hall with its gold mosaics and Islamic tiles at 12 Holland Park Road. Check the website for timed entry slots to avoid queues.

Walk through the city's history from prehistoric times to the present at 150 London Wall. Focus on the Victorian and Great Fire exhibits for the most compelling artifacts.

Stroll through the Piazza and watch street performers near the Apple Market stalls. Browse the independent shops in the surrounding Seven Dials neighborhood for unique finds.

Head east to E2 on Sundays only for the packed flower stalls lining the street between 8am and 3pm. Arrive late for discounted bunches from sellers packing up.