This 7 day London and Paris itinerary gives you a simple day-by-day plan for major sights and easy train travel between the cities.
Seven days in London and Paris can feel short, yet a clear route lets you see famous sights and still keep travel days calm. The plan below starts in London, moves to Paris by train in the middle of the week, and keeps each day clear enough that you always know where you are heading next.
7 Day London And Paris Itinerary Overview
This 7 day london and paris itinerary spends three full days in London, one travel day on the Eurostar, and three full days in Paris. That gives you time for royal landmarks, river walks, and one big museum in each city without turning every hour into a race across town. You can swap the order if your flights work better into Paris first, yet the overall rhythm of the week stays the same. This split suits many visitors.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon / Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival, settle into hotel, first walk near your area | Thames walk, Westminster, early dinner |
| Day 2 | Tower of London and Tower Bridge | St Paul’s area, Tate Modern, South Bank |
| Day 3 | Buckingham Palace and nearby parks | British Museum or National Gallery, West End evening |
| Day 4 | Eurostar from London to Paris | Seine walk, Notre Dame area, Latin Quarter streets |
| Day 5 | Louvre Museum | Tuileries, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe |
| Day 6 | Eiffel Tower area and Seine cruise | Les Invalides or Orsay Museum |
| Day 7 | Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur | Shopping time, final café stop, flight home |
How To Split Time Between London And Paris
With only one week, three full days in each city works well for most travelers. London spreads out across many districts, so those first days help you get through the main clusters by tube and on foot. Paris is denser, so you can link several stops with short walks and simple metro rides.
Landing in London first also helps with jet lag. English signage keeps the first groggy day simple, and by the time you reach Paris you already understand the local rhythm of late dinners and long days.
Day 1 London Arrival And First Walk
Getting Into The City
Most long-haul flights land in the morning. From Heathrow, the Elizabeth line gives a quick ride into central London; from Gatwick, trains into Victoria work well. Aim to reach your hotel by early afternoon, drop bags, shower, and head back out before tiredness wins.
Use contactless payment or an Oyster card on the tube and buses so you do not have to learn a new fare system right away. The official visitor hub at Visit London lists current transport tips and attraction passes if you want extra savings.
First Evening Around Westminster
Keep your first outing simple. Ride the tube to Westminster, step out by Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then stroll across the bridge and along the South Bank. Street performers, views of the London Eye, and easy riverside paths offer a gentle first taste of the city.
Grab an early dinner near the river and head back to your room. An early night here makes the rest of the week feel smoother.
Day 2 Tower Of London, St Paul’s, And The South Bank
Morning At The Tower
Start Day 2 with the Tower of London as it opens to stay ahead of crowds. Join a Beefeater tour or pick up the audio guide to learn how the fortress, royal palace, and prison all shared the same walls. Plan two to three hours so you are not rushed through the Crown Jewels and towers.
From there, walk across Tower Bridge and pause over the Thames. The view back toward the City skyline feels like a postcard, with historic stone buildings next to sharp modern glass.
Afternoon Near St Paul’s And Tate Modern
From Tower Hill, ride the tube or follow the river toward St Paul’s Cathedral. You can climb the dome if your legs feel ready, or stay at ground level and take in the nave and crypt. From there, cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern, where free galleries and the turbine hall give you plenty to see even on a short visit.
As light fades, stay on the South Bank for casual food markets or simple pubs, then walk back toward the London Eye and the stations that lead to your hotel.
Day 3 Royal London, Museums, And A Show
Morning In The Parks And Near The Palace
Start the day in Green Park or St James’s Park, then walk toward Buckingham Palace. On select days you can watch the Changing of the Guard; check the latest schedule online so you pick a day with a full ceremony. Even without it, the area offers plenty of photo spots and open space.
From the palace, follow the Mall toward Trafalgar Square or cut through the park toward Hyde Park. These green stretches break up busy streets and give you a calm pause before a museum afternoon.
Afternoon Museum Stop And West End Night
Spend the afternoon in one of London’s free national museums. The British Museum and National Gallery both sit on easy tube lines and hold broad collections. Pick one or two sections that match your taste so you do not wear yourself out. VisitBritain lists these museums with current opening hours.
End your London stay with a West End show. Book ahead for popular productions, or try same-day deals in Leicester Square. After the show, a short walk through Soho or Covent Garden keeps the night lively without running late.
Day 4 Eurostar Travel From London To Paris
Morning Departure From St Pancras
On Day 4 of this 7 day london and paris itinerary, check out after breakfast and ride the tube to St Pancras International. Arrive at least an hour before departure to clear security and exit checks. The Eurostar ride to Paris takes a little over two hours and drops you at Gare du Nord in the north of the city.
Keep train tickets, passport, and hotel details handy in a small day bag, along with snacks and a refillable water bottle. Trains run on a set schedule, so allow a buffer for any delays on the way to the station.
First Stroll In Paris
After you reach your hotel, head toward the Seine for a light first walk. A simple route runs from the area around Notre Dame toward Saint-Michel and into the Latin Quarter, with book stalls, bridges, and narrow back streets that already feel different from London.
Pick a simple brasserie for dinner, order something easy like steak frites or roast chicken, and call it an early night.
Day 5 Louvre, Tuileries, And Champs-Élysées
Morning At The Louvre
Book a timed Louvre ticket and arrive a little before your slot. The building is huge, so decide in advance which wings or star pieces you care about most. Many visitors head straight to the Mona Lisa, yet the sculpture halls and quieter painting rooms often feel more relaxed.
After a few hours indoors, step into the Tuileries Garden. Sit by the ponds or stretch out on a chair, grab a snack from a kiosk, and rest before you head up the grand avenue in the afternoon.
Afternoon On The Champs-Élysées
Walk from the Tuileries along the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe. Shops and cafés line the boulevard, and you can climb the arch for rooftop views along the axis back toward the Louvre. Traffic whirls around the roundabout, yet from the top you feel above the rush.
Later, ride the metro back to your hotel or stay in the area for dinner in side streets that sit just off the main boulevard.
Day 6 Eiffel Tower And The Left Bank
Morning Near The Tower
Reserve Eiffel Tower tickets in advance, aiming for a morning slot. Allow time for security checks and elevator lines, then linger on the viewing platforms to spot places you have already visited and areas you still want to walk through.
When you come down, wander through the Champ de Mars and along the river. A daytime Seine cruise fits neatly into this day and gives you a fresh angle on many monuments at once.
Afternoon Museums And Left Bank Streets
Spend the afternoon at Musée d’Orsay or Les Invalides. Orsay’s former train hall and Impressionist rooms draw many visitors, while Les Invalides holds the army museum and Napoleon’s tomb. Official tourism sites such as Paris je t’aime share current exhibits and ticket choices.
Later, head into Saint-Germain-des-Prés for cafés and bookshops. A slow dinner here rounds out the day without a long ride back.
Day 7 Montmartre, Shopping, And Departure
Morning On The Hill
On your last full day, ride the metro to Montmartre and climb to the steps of Sacré-Coeur. From here you see rooftops stretching across the city. Then weave through smaller lanes behind the basilica, where small studios and quieter streets sit away from the busiest square.
Stop for coffee or a pastry at a small café, then head back toward central districts with room left in your bag for gifts.
Final Hours For Cafés And Gifts
Use your last hours for shopping and simple wanders. Areas such as Le Marais, the Latin Quarter, or streets near Opéra all offer plenty of shops that fit within hand luggage. Leave generous time to collect your bags and reach the airport or station without a rush.
Suggested Daily Budget For London And Paris
Costs swing widely with taste and season, yet a broad daily range helps you plan. The table below gives mid-range daily numbers per person, not including flights.
| Category | London (GBP) | Paris (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 140–220 | 130–210 |
| Food And Drink | 40–70 | 35–65 |
| Local Transport | 8–15 | 7–12 |
| Museum And Sight Tickets | 30–60 | 30–60 |
| Extras And Shopping | 20–60 | 20–60 |
| Average Daily Total | 238–425 | 222–407 |
Street food, takeaway sandwiches, and set lunch menus can trim costs, while fine dining and private tours raise them. Mix one or two special meals with simpler dinners to keep the budget steady.
Practical Tips For A Smooth 7 Day London And Paris Itinerary
Best Time Of Year To Visit
Spring and early autumn bring mild weather and long enough daylight for evening walks. Summer brings outdoor events but also bigger crowds and higher prices. Winter sees shorter lines at big sights, yet you need warm layers, a rainproof coat, and closed shoes.
Where To Stay In Each City
In London, search for hotels near central tube lines, such as Bloomsbury, South Bank, or Victoria. These areas give quick links to both Westminster and the West End. In Paris, central districts near the river, such as the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th, keep you close to many stops in this plan.
Staying near major stations like King’s Cross in London or Gare du Nord in Paris shortens travel days, yet areas a stop or two away often feel calmer at night.
Tickets, Passes, And Local Transport
Book timed tickets ahead for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and busy London sights such as the London Eye or popular palace tours. This cuts time spent in lines and gives each day a clear anchor. For local transport, contactless payment and simple metro or tube cards work well in both cities, and short trips rarely need a heavy pass.
Pacing, Packing, And Rest
A 7 day london and paris itinerary only works if you still feel human by Day 7. Aim for one headline sight in the morning and one in the afternoon, with space left for slow meals and plain wandering. Guard sleep, wear broken-in walking shoes, and keep a light day bag with water, snacks, and a scarf or extra layer.
Is This 7 Day London And Paris Itinerary Right For You?
If it is your first time in Europe, this route gives a broad taste of two major capitals in one week. You see royal palaces and river walks in London, grand boulevards and art in Paris, and you learn how easy cross-channel train travel can be.