London and Paris Itinerary

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Today I want to bring you my London and Paris itinerary for 10 days in the United Kingdom and Europe. This is a great amount of time to see the highlights of the UK and French capitals. From the iconic landmarks to the major rivers, there are plenty of places to explore in both. Whatever your interests, you can find a lot of ways to fill your time in London and Paris while experiencing the best of both cities.

One of the things I enjoy most about running a travel blog is helping people plan their trips. Whether it’s through my blog posts or my travel planning services, I always enjoy hearing my readers have had a richer experience on the road.

A lot of my clients want to know if you can do London and Paris in one trip. Once I tell them how easy it is, they ask me how many days you need for a trip to London and Paris.

I tell them I recommend spending 10 days in London and Paris. It’s the perfect amount of time to see both cities without feeling rushed, and it will allow you to take a day trip or two if you want to.

To fill in the details, today I want to share the official A Lady in London itinerary for 5 days in each city.

How to Use This Itinerary

There’s no right or wrong way to spend your time on an itinerary in London and Paris. Mine has a mix of the big sights and the local places Londoners and Parisians love.

I’ve spent years living in the UK capital and I lived and worked in Paris for a time, so I know both cities well. I hope my guide gives you a good overview of what you can do and see.

When you’re planning your trip to London and Paris, you can adjust the schedule to fit your personal tastes and interests.

Big Ben

Best Time of Year to Go to London and Paris

As far as what the best time of year to go to London and Paris is, there’s no right or wrong time to visit. A lot depends on your preferences for weather, daylight hours, tourist crowds, and seasonal festivities.

Do keep in mind that a lot of restaurants and other businesses in Paris close for summer holidays in August, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you visit at that time.

What to Pack

In terms of what to pack for a London and Paris itinerary, the cities have a fairly similar climate. You can use my guide to what to wear in London to help you.

Where to Stay in London and Paris

There are plenty of options for accommodation in London and Paris. Whether you prefer a hotel or apartment, the cities have an abundance of places to choose from.

Given how big both cities are, basing yourself somewhere relatively central is a good idea. You can see my blog posts about the best area to stay in London and the best area to stay in Paris for more ideas.

You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here and Paris here. With so many good options, you’re bound to find a place you love.

Day 1: London – Westminster and Buckingham Palace

After you’ve arrived and settled into your hotel in the UK capital, start your 10-day London and Paris itinerary at Buckingham Palace.

You can time your visit to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony, or just admire the monarch’s residence from outside the big gates.

If the dates of your trip coincide with the seasonal opening, you can tour Buckingham Palace if you want to. It’s a fun way to see the state rooms, gardens, and annual exhibition while you’re in the city. You can book tickets here.

From Buckingham Palace, walk through the pretty expanse of St James’s Park, over to Horse Guards Parade, and into Whitehall and Westminster. These areas are home to some of the most recognizable London landmarks.

Westminster Abbey is a sight to behold, Big Ben is a staple of any London itinerary, and the Houses of Parliament are beautiful. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament. You can book tickets here.

You can also do my free self-guided walk in Westminster if you want to discover more of the area beyond the main attractions. It will lead you around to the side streets and hidden places locals like to spend time in.

In the evening, I recommend having dinner near your hotel if you’re feeling jet lagged or you had to wake up early to travel. If not, you can take a look at my recommendations for restaurants in London to find a place that appeals to you.

If you have energy left after dinner, I recommend taking an open-top bus tour to get a feel for the city. It’s a good way to get an overview of what London has to offer. You can book tickets here.

Day 2: London – South Bank and the City

Start the second morning of your 10-day trip to London and Paris by exploring the South Bank.

Right on the Thames, it’s an ideal spot to take in the views from the London Eye, check out the book market, or soak up the scene along the river. You can book London Eye tickets here (it’s best to buy them in advance, as they can sell out).

There are always pop-ups, street performers, and other entertainment on the South Bank, so it’s fun to walk along the Thames and see what’s on while you’re visiting.

As you make your way from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, you’ll walk past Tate Modern and Borough Market. They’re two of London’s most famous landmarks, and they’re both worth popping into.

The museum is a great place to explore, and the fact that it’s free means it’s easy to visit for as little or as long as you’d like. There are panoramic views from the top of the Blavatnik Building, too.

Just down the river, Borough Market is the perfect place to find something for lunch. It’s fun to meander through the stalls to soak up the colors and scents as you make up your mind.

After lunch at Borough Market, cross London Bridge to get to the City of London. Don’t miss the sweeping views of Tower Bridge as you go.

From the stunning dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the historic lanes by Bank station, this part of London has amazing of architectural history. If you want to see the highlights, you can do my self-guided City of London walk while you’re here.

If not, head east to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. You can tour the tower and the bridge if you’d like, or just admire them from the outside. You can book Tower of London tickets here.

When the sun starts to set, walk across Tower Bridge and make your way to Bermondsey Street. This is a local London favorite, and there are plenty of pubs and restaurants with impressive food and drinks here.

Whether you want a classic pub meal of fish and chips or a fun tapas dinner, you can get it on Bermondsey Street.

Day 3: London – Notting Hill or Bloomsbury and the West End

If it’s a Saturday, I recommend starting the third of your 10-day London and Paris itinerary in Notting Hill. With its colorful shops and pretty mews streets, this west London neighborhood is always a delight.

You’ll be able to take in the famous Portobello Road Market in its all its glory on a Saturday, too. I recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds, especially if you visit in the summer months.

Away from the market, my free self-guided Notting Hill walk is a fun way to discover the local highlights of the area. It will lead you around to everything from the high streets to the hidden corners and mews.

After having lunch in Notting Hill, you can stroll down into Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park for the afternoon.

There’s plenty to do and see in these green spaces, from boating on the Serpentine lake to browsing the art galleries and touring Kensington Palace.

If it’s not a Saturday or you’re not interested in Notting Hill, I recommend spending time in Bloomsbury today.

You can go to the British Museum or just walk around and take in the leafy squares. My self-guided Bloomsbury walk will show you the best of the area.

When you’re done exploring, you can take the Piccadilly line of the tube from Russell Square to Hyde Park Corner and walk around the green spaces and gardens.

When the sun starts to go down, walk or take the tube through Mayfair to get to Soho and Covent Garden. They’re some of the most buzzing places in London.

There’s no shortage of great spots to eat and drink around here, so it’s easy to find dinner. Whether you dine at a timeless classic like Rules or head to one of the many new restaurants opening all the time, you’ll be spoiled for choice in this part of the city.

After dinner, you can see a show in the West End. There are always lots of plays and musicals on, and they’re fun ways to cap off a day of sightseeing in London. From dramas to comedies and farces, you have lots of options.

If you’re still up for going out after a show, the bars and pubs in Soho and Covent Garden are a lot of fun.

My top pick is Cahoots, a London Underground-themed speakeasy just off Carnaby Street in Kingly Court. It’s one of my favorite travel-themed bars in the UK capital.

If you just want to wander around, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the Covent Garden Piazza, and Leicester Square are always fun places to be in London at night.

The National Gallery is open until 9pm every Friday, so you can take in the collection after-hours if you want to. It’s free entry, so you can see as much or as little as you have time for.

Day 4 in London: Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, and South Kensington or Day Trip

On the fourth day of your London and Paris itinerary, I recommend either exploring some of the best areas in central and west London, or taking a day trip.

If you choose the former, start your morning in Belgravia. This upscale area is known for its cute cafes and shops, particularly those on Elizabeth Street.

You can go on my free self-guided Belgravia walking tour to see the highlights of the neighborhood, or just wander around the elegant streets and tucked-away mews. My top picks include Motcomb Street, Belgrave Square, and Pimlico Road.

From Belgravia, head over to Sloane Square and the King’s Road in Chelsea. This is a great area for shopping and dining, and you can have lunch at one of the many cafes and restaurants here.

If it’s a Saturday, don’t miss the food market in Duke of York Square. If it’s not, there’s still a lot to do here. The King’s Road is one of the best shopping streets in London, and the Saatchi Gallery is fun (and free) to pop into.

If you’d like to, you can take my free self-guided Chelsea walk to see more of the neighborhood’s colorful side streets and riverfront area.

From Chelsea, head up to Knightsbridge for some shopping at iconic department stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Alternatively, make your way over to South Kensington to visit some of the museums.

The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are right next to one another. All of them offer free entry, so you can spend as much or as little time as you’d like exploring their collections and temporary exhibitions.

In the evening, you can go to dinner at one of the casual restaurants outside the South Kensington tube station. There are plenty of different cuisines on offer here, so you’re bound to find something that appeals.

If you’re up for ending your day in style, there are lots of good nightlife options around Walton Street and the King’s Road. From pubs to clubs, you have plenty of choices.

If you choose to take a day trip from London, you also have a lot of options.

If you’re into the English countryside, my favorite is a day trip to the Cotswolds. You can go independently with or without a car, or take a guided day tour. If the latter appeals, you can book a tour here.

There are lots of towns and villages in the Cotswolds to choose from, too. My top picks include Painswick, Bibury, Upper Slaughter, and Castle Combe.

If you want to go to the seaside, Brighton, Hastings, and Deal are my top recommendations. They all have good beaches and lots of shops and restaurants to enjoy.

If history is your thing, Winchester, Bath, Canterbury and Dover, Lewes, and Amersham are ideal places for you. Amersham is so close you can even take the tube.

If you want to see famous university cities in the UK, look no further than Oxford and Cambridge. These two are some of the most popular day trips from London.

If you’re up for traveling further afield, you can take a York day trip from London. It’s a beautiful city in the north of England, and it’s worth the journey.

And if you really want to get out of town, you can take a day trip from London to Europe. From Lille to Amsterdam, there are plenty of options.

If you want my recommendations for seasonal trips, you can take a look at my blog posts about spring, summer, autumn, and winter day trips from London for more ideas.

Day 5 in London: St James’s, Mayfair, and Marylebone

Start the fifth morning of your London and Paris itinerary in St James’s. This upscale part of the city is known for its royal palace, men’s shops, luxury hotels, art galleries, and private members’ clubs.

You can walk down Jermyn Street and Piccadilly, and pop into iconic department stores like Fortnum & Mason.

When you’re done, you can cross Piccadilly to get to Mayfair. This luxurious neighborhood is home to luxury goods shops, fine-dining restaurants, and the curving stretch of Regent Street. You can do my free Mayfair walk if you want to see the area in detail.

Mayfair is a fun place to enjoy a meal or afternoon tea. Whether you opt for a laid-back place on Heddon Street or splurge on a tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you have plenty of options for lunch.

When it comes to tea, I recommend Brown’s Hotel afternoon tea or the awe-inspiring yellow room at Sketch.

After lunch or tea, head across Oxford Street to get to Marylebone. This is another of my favorite London neighborhoods, especially because it has one of the best high streets in London.

There are plenty of fun shops on Marylebone High Street. They’re ideal places to get a taste of London’s retail therapy scene.

From boutiques to high street names, this road has it all. My favorite place to shop in Marylebone is Daunt Books. It’s one of the best independent bookshops in London, and it’s a treat to see the Edwardian interior with its long oak galleries.

If you want to, you can use my free self-guided Marylebone walk to see more of the neighborhood. It will take you around to discover pretty mews, fun streets, and lush gardens.

After you’ve explored Marylebone, head north to Regent’s Park. This is one of the most beloved green spaces in the city, and it’s a fun place to walk around. If you visit in summer, the rose gardens are beautiful.

When the sun starts to set, you can walk back to Marylebone High Street for dinner, or leave via one of the other exits of the park and eat dinner in lovely Primrose Hill, fun Camden, or classic Fitzrovia.

Day 6: London to Paris – The Marais and Seine Sightseeing Highlights

Start the sixth day of your London and Paris itinerary with an early train to the French capital. You’ll arrive mid-morning, and once you’ve checked into your hotel in Paris you can start exploring.

I recommend spending your first day in Paris in the Marais. This historic part of the city is known for everything from its Jewish heritage to its cool shops, lively restaurants, and pretty Place des Vosges square.

The Picasso Museum is here, too, and the famous Centre Pompidou modern art museum is on the border of the neighborhood.

There are lots of good places to eat here, so it’s easy to find a spot for lunch as you explore the area. My favorite for a quick meal is L’As du Fallafel, a casual spot with delicious Middle Eastern food.

When you’re done seeing the Marais, you can walk down to the Seine and cross one of the bridges to get to the Ile Saint-Louis. This island in the river is home to great shops, historic streets, and pretty views.

It’s fun to walk down Rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile to browse the shops and pick up an ice cream at legendary glacier Berthillon.

From there you can cross the Pont Saint-Louis bridge to get to the Ile de la Cite. This island is home to the iconic Notre Dame cathedral.

It’s also home to the Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th-century Gothic chapel with amazing stained-glass windows. It’s worth a special trip to see the breathtaking interior. You can book a ticket for the Sainte-Chapelle here.

When the sun starts to set, you can take a river cruise on the Seine to get a feel for the highlights of the city. It’s a scenic way to get an overview of what Paris has to offer. You can book tickets here.

After the cruise I recommend having dinner in the Latin Quarter. This lively part of the city is home to great restaurants and bars, and it’s a fun place to spend an evening in Paris.

Day 7: Paris – Champs-Elysees and Iconic Landmarks

Start the seventh day of your London and Paris itinerary in the Jardin des Tuileries gardens. This is a nice place for walking and people-watching. You can admire the Louvre from here, too.

Walk up to and through the Place de la Concorde, which has a large Egyptian obelisk in the center. Once you’ve taken it in, walk northwest up the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

As you head towards the Arc de Triomphe, you’ll pass landmarks like the Petit Palais and Grand Palais as well as gardens and shops.

When you get to the arch, you can go up to the top to see the views, or head down to the Seine to get to the Eiffel Tower. Again, you can admire this famous structure from the ground or head to the top to take in the panoramas. You can book a ticket here.

After seeing the tower, go down into the Champ de Mars park and over to Rue Cler. There are lots of great restaurants and cafes here where you can have lunch.

After eating, you can walk over to Hotel des Invalides to admire its ornate dome. You can go inside to see the army museum (or head over to the adjacent Rodin Museum if you like sculpture). You can book a ticket here.

From the museum you can walk or take the metro to the 6th arrondissement to explore your pick of places like the Luxembourg Gardens, the pretty streets of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, or the 17th-century Eglise Saint-Sulpice church.

When evening comes, you can make your way to Rue Mouffetard. This street is famous for its crepe stands and restaurants. It’s a great place to eat in Paris.

There are plenty of good bars around here, too. If you want to get a taste of the nightlife scene, it’s a fun place to do it.

Day 8: Paris – 1st Arrondissement and Montmartre

I recommend starting your day in the 1st arrondissement today. From the stunning buildings lining Place Vendome to the beautiful gardens and grounds of the Palais-Royal, it’s hard to go wrong here.

There are famous cafes like Angelina on Rue de Rivoli, and fun shopping on Rue Saint-Honore. I came here once with a personal shopper and it was amazing.

There are lots of places to eat around here, too, so it’s a good place to have lunch before the next stop on your itinerary.

From the 1st, you can pop up to see the stunning Palais Garnier opera house, or hop on the metro and head to Montmartre (or do both if you have time).

Montmartre is one of the prettiest parts of Paris, and there’s a lot to love here. From the Sacre-Coeur basilica on the hill to the picturesque restaurants and streets, it’s a photographer’s dream.

Make sure to explore the side streets while you’re here, too. There are lots of little surprises to discover.

In the evening, you can settle in at one of the many good restaurants in Montmartre. There are great bars in the area if you want to do something after dinner, too.

The famous Moulin Rouge is also here if you’re interested in seeing a cabaret show. I went once and I really enjoyed the performance. You can book tickets here.

Day 9: Paris – Museums or Day Trip

I recommend either seeing some of the famous museums or taking a day trip from Paris today.

Most people are interested in seeing either the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay while in the city, so you can take your pick or see both (they’re huge, so make sure to pace yourself). You can book Louvre tickets here, and Musee D’Orsay tickets here.

Paris has plenty of other museums, too, so you can visit another one or two if you want to. Some of my favorites are the Centre Pompidou, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre, the Musee Marmottan Monet, and the Musee Nissim de Camondo.

There always lots of exhibitions on, too, so you can check out what’s showing when you’re in town before you travel.

If one museum is enough for you, there are plenty of great parks to explore in Paris. My top picks are Parc Monceau in the 8th arrondissement and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th. They’re both home to beautiful grounds and gardens.

If you choose to take a day trip, there are plenty of options. These include royal palaces like Versailles and Fontainebleau, wine regions like Champagne, chateau-littered lands like the Loire Valley, and historic cathedrals like Chartres.

If you like art, you can even take a day trip from Paris to Giverny to see Monet’s gardens. They’re as lush in real life as they are in his paintings.

I’ve done all these day trips and more, and I highly recommend them. You can go independently by train or car, or take a guided tour. You can get ideas and book a tour here.

Day 10: Paris – Free Time

On the final day of your London and Paris itinerary, I recommend spending the morning (or afternoon, depending on your departure time) doing any last-minute shopping you didn’t have time to do or filling in any gaps in your itinerary.

Chances are you’ll have heard about some additional places while you’re in the city, so this is a good opportunity to check them off your list.

Whether it’s a local market like Les Puces, a foodie street like Rue des Martyrs, or a famous department store like Galeries Lafayette, there’s plenty to keep you busy before you depart.