that's a really good plan, you've got the routing down. few things from living here though. for day 1, the walk from tower bridge to st pauls along the thames is nice but if you cut through the churchyard of all hallows by the tower instead you'll see a bit of roman wall and a tiny museum that's free, takes 5 minutes tops. also borough market's mushroom risotto stand is legit but the grilled cheese place called toast at the back does a better lunch for less, no queue usually

on day 2, the national gallery is free but don't miss the room with van gogh's sunflowers on the ground floor, everyone runs upstairs and misses it. also dishoom is great but if the queue is mad, go to the basement of seven dials market and get the udon at koya, it's faster and the broth is incredible. for the west end show, tkts booth is good but if you're under 25 the national theatre has £10 tickets for some shows, you just have to queue on the day

for day 3, i'd swap kensington palace for a walk through the v&a's cast courts, they're genuinely breathtaking and free. portobello road on a saturday is a nightmare, go on a friday afternoon instead if you can, the antique stalls are still out and it's half the crowd. your budget tip about set lunch menus is spot on

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solid plan, covers the big stuff well. if you're near covent garden on day 2 and the dishoom queue is a no-go, head to the basement of the seven dials market instead, there's a japanese place called koya that does udon and it's usually a seat within 10 minutes. also worth knowing the national portrait gallery next to the national gallery just reopened after a long closure, it's free and has a good rooftop cafe if you need a break from the crowds

for day 3, skip kensington palace unless you're really into royal history. the deer park in richmond is a 30 minute tube ride from south kensington but you'll see actual deer roaming around and the view of the city from richmond hill is better than anything you'll get from the eye. pack a sandwich from a sainsbury's local and you've got a proper picnic spot that most tourists miss

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the kings cross area is totally worth a quick detour if youve got an extra hour, the british library is free and has a copy of the magna carta and original beatles lyrics just sitting there. also platform 9 3/4 is right next door obviously, but the gift shop there does a decent butterbeer if youre into that

for day 1, borough market is great but it gets absolutely mental by noon. if youre there before 11 youll actually be able to move, and the mushroom risotto from the wild mushroom stand is the best thing there imo. also the gold guy on the walk from the globe to tate modern is a street performer who does proper funny bits, worth stopping for a minute

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good guide, covers the lot. one thing i'd add for the evening strolls is that if you walk the south bank on a friday or saturday night, the tate modern's turbine hall stays open until 10pm and it's free. you can walk right through without queuing and the space is something else when it's quieter. they've usually got some massive installation in there that changes every year or so.

for a proper pub experience near the hidden neighbourhoods, try the harwood arms in marylebone (W1G 8PS). it's a tiny sam smiths pub that hasn't changed in decades, no music no tv, just a fireplace and old men reading newspapers. they do a decent pint for about £5 in zone 1 which is getting rare. perfect after a walk around regent's park.

also if you're hitting borough market, skip the long queues for the famous grilled cheese and go to the fish stall at the back instead. they do a massive pot of cockles or whelks for about £6 and you can eat them standing up with a little fork. proper london food that tourists usually walk past

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solid guide, covers the main bases. one thing i'd throw in is that if you're doing free museums, the natural history museum (SW7 5BD) is also free and honestly more impressive than the british museum for the building alone. the hintze hall with that massive diplodocus skeleton is worth the trip, and it's right next to the science museum and the v&a so you can hit three in one day.

for a proper evening drink, skip the south bank bars and head to a pub in the city like the old bank of england or the counting house near bank station. they're these old banking halls turned into pubs, all high ceilings and marble, and they get actually quiet after 7pm on weekdays. the beer's normal price too, not tourist markup.

also if u want a proper london fry-up, avoid the tourist cafes near the landmarks and find a greasy spoon like e. pellicci in bethnal green (E2 0NG). cash only, queue out the door by 10am, but the bubble and squeak is unreal. feels like stepping into the 1950s.

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Nice guide, covers the essentials well. One thing I'd add is that if you're doing the Tower of London, the Yeoman Warder tour is included with your ticket and genuinely worth the 45 minutes. Those guys have the best stories, way better than just wandering around on your own.

For a quieter alternative to Borough Market on a Saturday, try Maltby Street Market just down the road. It's more of a railway arch setup with smaller producers, and you can still get a great venison burger or some raclette without the human traffic jam.

Also worth noting that the river bus from Westminster to Greenwich is actually cheaper if you tap in with an Oyster card or contactless, it's about £7.70 versus the cash ticket price. The Cutty Sark stop drops you right at the museum and the market.

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