London in four days: choose a useful base and give each day a neighbourhood

South Bank, South Kensington or Paddington?

South Bank around Waterloo is worth comparing for riverside time and a mixed central itinerary. South Kensington suits a museum-focused stay, especially if several members of your group want different collections. The official Visit London attractions map helps place Westminster, the South Bank and Kensington rather than treating them as interchangeable hotel districts.

Paddington deserves consideration when a Heathrow rail arrival shapes the trip. Test its onward connections to your plans, rather than making the airport transfer your only criterion. Compare the exact station entrance, road crossings and return walk after dinner in every area. For a family, one extra transfer with luggage may matter more than a small room saving. Ask about street noise and room position; a district name cannot settle those questions.

Start with the named airport, not “London”

Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) require different routes. Heathrow’s official rail guide distinguishes the Elizabeth line, Piccadilly line and Heathrow Express. Compare each service’s fare and onward journey to the hotel, including your terminal and any changes. The fastest airport train does not necessarily produce the simplest door-to-door trip.

Gatwick’s official transport FAQs explain its rail options and payment arrangements. A London airport label is not enough to select a transfer: check the airport name on every arrival and departure. Recheck engineering works and operating hours for your date, especially around an early flight. Include a terminal connection or luggage collection in any airport-change plan.

Four days with four geographical focuses

1. Day one — Westminster and the river. If arrival leaves useful time, see the Westminster area, then cross towards the South Bank for a modest riverside outing and dinner. Choose one ticketed visit if you want an interior; do not reserve several entry slots after a flight. With a late arrival, stay near the hotel.
2. Day two — the British Museum and Covent Garden. Give the British Museum a substantial part of the day, selecting a few galleries instead of attempting the whole building. Check its current entry, exhibition and security arrangements. After a meal, make Covent Garden the afternoon or evening area. A show is optional, with its finish and transport home checked first.
3. Day three — South Kensington. Make V&A South Kensington the main visit. Its general admission is free; confirm separate exhibition tickets and that you are booking the correct V&A venue. Add a short outdoor break or a local meal rather than another cross-city museum.
4. Day four — Greenwich. Use Royal Museums Greenwich’s planning information to choose the National Maritime Museum or Queen’s House, then allow time for the surrounding area. Select sites for your dates rather than assuming every Greenwich attraction is open. Check the return journey before booking anything that evening.

This needs four useful days. If day four is a flight day, replace Greenwich with a local morning. If arrival consumes day one, shorten the plan rather than compressing all four areas into the remaining time.

Payment, zones and passes are different decisions

TfL’s pay-as-you-go guide explains contactless and Oyster. For rail journeys, use the same card or device to touch in and out; a physical bank card and its phone version are not interchangeable for that journey. On buses and trams, touch in only, without touching out. Check overseas card charges with your issuer.

A Travelcard covers its specified zones, including the zones you pass through. Compare that coverage with your actual days before buying. Do not assume a river trip or airport express is included simply because a payment card is accepted. Gatwick’s FAQ specifically says London Travelcards are not valid there. An attraction pass is a separate purchase: list the sites you will genuinely visit and check reservation rules before calculating a saving.

Compare a full stay, including the useful arrival hours

Record each quote for the same dates, guests and beds, with the final amount in the currency charged. Add breakfast, deposits, any apartment cleaning charge and airport transfers. Check payment timing and the cancellation deadline in local time. A prepaid room and a cancellable room solve different problems, even when their first displayed prices are close.

Keep meals, local travel, paid exhibitions and optional theatre tickets in separate budget lines. Ask about luggage storage before check-in and after checkout. A kitchen or laundry may be useful for a longer stay; a short break may benefit more from reception hours and a convenient route. Leave some spending uncommitted for changed plans.

Access, season and official entry checks

Choose outdoor time around daylight and the current forecast, with an indoor alternative. Reconfirm museum rooms, entry arrangements and transport disruptions shortly before departure. Check the full access route—street entrance, lifts, platform, boarding and the destination—and ask the operator about any assistance you need. Confirm the hotel’s entrance and bathroom layout directly rather than relying on a general accessibility label.

Use the UK Government’s visa and travel-authorisation checker for your passport, purpose and circumstances, including any dual nationality. Read Smartraveller’s current United Kingdom advice and the linked official requirements before paying for non-refundable travel. This guide does not determine whether you need or qualify for a visa or authorisation. Save the hotel address and booking details offline, and leave the final morning light.