London Daily Reminder
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You can see lots of London in a few days — but not all days are created equal! This day-by-day list can help.
Note: These days and hours may change — verify with the sight first before making plans.
Sunday: The Tower of London and British Museum are both especially crowded today. The Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park rants from early afternoon until early evening. These places are closed: Banqueting House, Sir John Soane's Museum, and legal sights (Houses of Parliament, City Hall,
and Old Bailey; the neighborhood called The City is dead). Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's are open during the day for worship but closed to sightseers. With all these closures, this morning is a good time to take a bus tour. Most big stores are open 12:00–18:00. Street markets are flourishing at Camden Lock, Spitalfields, Petticoat Lane, Brick Lane, and Greenwich, but Portobello Road and Brixton markets are closed. Because of all the market action, it's a good day to take the East End Walk listed in my London guidebook. Theaters are quiet, as most actors take today off.
Monday: Virtually all sights are open except for Apsley House, Sir John Soane's Museum, Vinopolis, and a few others. At Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery is free until 14:00. The Houses of Parliament are usually open until 22:30. The Portobello Road market is sparse.
Tuesday: Virtually all sights are open, except for Vinopolis and Apsley House. The British Library is open until 20:00. On the first Tuesday of the month, St. John Soane's Museum is also open 18:00-21:00. The Houses of Parliament are usually open until 22:30.
Wednesday: Virtually all sights are open, except Vinopolis. Westminster Abbey is open until 19:00 (possible spoken evensong today).
Thursday: All sights are open, plus evening hours at the British Museum (selected galleries until 20:30), National Portrait Gallery (until 21:00), and Vinopolis (until 22:00).
Friday: All sights are open, plus evening hours at the British Museum (selected galleries until 20:30), National Gallery (until 21:00), National Portrait Gallery (until 21:00), Vinopolis (until 22:00), Victoria and Albert Museum (until 22:00), and Tate Modern (until 22:00). The Houses of Parliament close early today (15:00). Best street market today: Spitalfields.
Saturday: Most sights are open except legal ones (Old Bailey, City Hall, Houses of Parliament; skip The City). Vinopolis is open until 22:00, and the Tate Modern until 22:00. Best street markets: Portobello, Camden Lock, Greenwich.
Notes: The St. Martin-in-the-Fields church offers free lunchtime concerts several times a week. Evensong services occur daily at St. Paul's Cathedral and daily at Westminster Abbey, and several times weekly at Southwark Cathedral. London by Night Sightseeing Tour buses leave from Victoria Station every evening and the London Eye spins nightly (hours depend on the season).
For up-to-date specifics, see the latest edition of the Rick Steves' London guidebook. We also offer free-spirited tours of London.