When I decided to travel solo for the first time, London immediately came to mind! In addition to avoiding language barriers, the city is extremely easy to navigate. Being as I only stayed for five days, I have a few recommendations on how to make the most out of a short trip.

Accommodations

There are plenty of hotels in London, but that will be your biggest expense depending how you arrive. I stayed in the South Kensington neighborhood, near Earls Court Station and I couldn’t recommend it enough. The walk from my hotel to Earls Court was no less than ten minutes, and that’s because I chose to walk through the neighborhood like the main character I am striving to be.

Itinerary (5 Days)

Day 1
Depending on what time you are landing or how far you are coming from, I suggest leaving your first day in London open for rest. Coming from a 12 hour flight, I personally couldn’t get any of my wishlist done. My first day looked like:

-Arrive to London Gatwick Airport OR Heathrow Airport
-Check In to Hotel or Airbnb
-Find your a nearby bodega or Boots (pharmacy) to grab water or any travel supplies you may need
-OPEN / REST

Day 2
Leave a day for the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio, I’m telling you it is worth it. I had a hard time deciding if an hour commute to the studio would be worth it in such a short time, and I am so glad I did! The studio alone took four hours, and the commute was two hours there and back. I’ll note that on the website, you must choose a time slot, but in-person they don’t mind if you are a bit early or late. I was an hour early cause I’m paranoid and had no issues joining a tour early.

-Breakfast: I recommend grabbing something quick at a Pret a Manger or Cafe Society (I think of them both as London’s Starbucks, which they also have)
-Take tube to Watford Junction
-Watford Junction has a free shuttle to the WB Studio
-Tour (2 hours)
-Lunch at the halfway point of the tour (full restaurant and cart)
-Tour (2 more hours)
-Travel back
-Dinner
-Looking to grab a drink? I recommend The Churchill Arms in Kensington!

Day 3
London is a walking city, so get your walking shoes on for the third day! There are tons of tourist attractions bunched together and easy to see. First, I recommend picking a market to see. I tried Camden Market cause I’ve heard it’s where the young, hipster crowd is. The Main Street gives Coney Island vibes. I recommend turning onto a side street and exploring. I stumbled upon Curzon Cafe, which is also a movie theater. Then for lunch, grabbed Hola Guacamole, which is amongst many other food vendors (think outdoor mall with several stories).

-Travel to a Market / Grab food there
-Head to London Tower
-Take Tower Hill Station to Westminster Station
-See Big Ben!
-Walk from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace (20 minutes)
-Dinner (high tea even?!)

Day 4
If you booked a five-day trip, this would be your last true day of sightseeing. I recommend setting time aside to see a play and/or a museum. First – download the app Today Tix to get an idea of what you want to see before you wait in line for better seats. I waited no longer than 20 minutes around 1pm. Tell the ticket concierge what you are looking for and don’t be afraid to ask for comparisons to other seats and prices.

-Breakfast near your hotel
-Head to Leicester Square
-Go to the TKTS booth and buy your play/musical tickets
-Visit a museum (they’re free!)
-Lunch
-Head to your play/musical
-Dinner & Drinks: I recommend The Shed

Day 5
Depending on what your flight or train times are, you may be tight on time. My flight was out of LGW airport and the direct train to get there changes by the minute, so it took me extra time to navigate (about an hour extra). If you do have extra time, I recommend doing one of the following on your way out.

–St. Pancras Station (gorgeous architecture inside and out) and Kings Cross (Harry Potter location and connected to St. Pancras Station)
-Grab a cupcake at Peggy Porschen
-Buy a postcard and don’t forget stamps! I bought mine at a souvenir shop with complete ease. I even mailed it in the airport!

Cost

For a five day trip, I spent about $1,800 USD total. Keep in mind, I spent money on whatever I wanted, but I didn’t live luxuriously. Here is a look into my spending categories:

Airfare w/ Seats (Iceland Air): $698.77
Hotel (Marriott Xenia): $436.65
Travel Supplies: $33.76
Food & Alcohol: $216.05
Transportation (tube and train): $143.56 (I could’ve saved with an Oyster card earlier on)
Uber/Lyft to and from airport at home (PDX): $70.82
Experiences/Souvenirs: $128.31
COVID Test (requirement to enter US): $47.72

TOTAL: $1,775.64