London is one of the most popular and vibrant cities in the world. If you visit the United Kingdom, it’s impossible not to visit this amazing city full of beautiful landmarks, shopping malls, restaurants and, most importantly, people from all over the world. One of the most common problems when starting to organize a trip to a new city is not knowing where to start, and this becomes even more difficult when you have only a few hours or days. Do you want to see the best of London in three days or 72 hours and don’t know how? Do not miss this article by Irish Rugby Tours!
How to Spend 72 Hours in London | 3 Day London Itinerary with Irish Rugby Tours
There are a plethora of things to do and see in London. Here is a guide to how you can enjoy most of London in only 72 hours:
DAY 1 – Travel to London
On your first day in London, we recommend you get into a sightseeing bus or book a walking tour and explore the city’s famous sites. One of the best ways to do this is by taking a hop on hop off bus tour. The bus covers most of the top attractions in London. If you want to explore the city by yourself, here is a list of attractions you can visit on day 1:
London Tower & Tower Bridge
Start your day by visiting the London Tower. From palace to prison to a private zoo, the Tower of London has played many different roles since its inception. The tower is one of the most iconic landmarks of London and visited by millions of people every year. Don’t miss to visit Tower Bridge next to it. Keep walking towards the famous Borough Market for the best food market in London and have a light snack or early lunch there.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Undoubtedly, the most famous church in London is St. Paul’s Cathedral. The spectacular 365-foot dome and the twin Baroque towers of the church are indeed a masterpiece of English architecture. Walk the stairs of the church and witness the beautiful interior of the dome and the Whispering Gallery.
Westminster Abbey
Another location that you can visit on the first day in London is Westminster Abbey that stands on a site dating back to the early 7th century. Westminster Abbey was founded in 1065, and since then, it has been gaining the attention of people. It’s also a preferred site for Royal Weddings.
Check out: Top 10 Free Things to Do in London
DAY 2 – Travel to London
There are unlimited things to do in London, including the Rugby matches held across the city every year. If you are a sports travel fan, you can spend your second day watching a rugby match or alternatively, check out other landmarks as below:
British Museum
Start your second day at the famous British Museum, where you can see the most beautiful buildings and unique collection. The museum is huge, and will take a few hours to explore all sections. Make sure to get their early as the line is huge.
Camden Market
After exhausting yourself at the British Museum, head off to the Camden Market and eat delicious food from many stalls there at lunchtime. You can find the famous Cheese Wheel serving their scrumptious pasta with extra cheese. There are many other food dishes you can choose from.
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard
Built in 1837, Buckingham Palace has been the residence of the Royal Family since the accession of Queen Victoria. You can see the Queen on the central balcony on special occasions. When the Queen is away at her palace in Scotland, visitors can tour the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and the Queen’s Gallery. Don’t miss out watching Changing of the Guard.
Looking for unique things to do in London, read our blog: TEN THINGS FOR UNDER A TENNER IN… LONDON RUGBY TOURS
DAY 3 – Travel to London
Notting Hill
On your third and last day in London, catch a tube in the early morning to the Notting Hill. Here you can enjoy strolling around the beautiful streets featuring colorful houses and cafes. Walk to the Portobello Market and buy some unique souvenirs from many antique shops there. Before moving to the next place, have lunch at one of the many restaurants or pubs at Notting Hill.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is arguably the largest open space of London that has been attracting people since 1635. There are many things to do and see in Hyde Park, including the Serpentine – a human-made lake for swimming and boating. Don’t forget to visit the Apsley Houses to see the incredible collections of paintings.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square was built to commemorate the victory of Lord Horatio Nelson over the Spanish and French in 1805. Today, it has become an important tourist destination located just near the Piccadilly Circus. After exploring the Square, end your day with a delicious dinner at one of the restaurants here, including Rosetta, Prezzo Italian Restaurant, and Thai Square.
Travel to London and explore rugby tours with Irish Rugby Tours. Looking forward to more trips in 2021? See our blog on places to visit in 2021 with Irish Rugby Tours.
The Vatican City is actually its own state within Italy and is the smallest in the world.
You can’t come to Rome and not visit one of the most famous attractions in the world, the mighty Coliseum.
Just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum lies the fantastic ruins of Rome’s ancient Forum.
Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as being designated as a national park.
The gorgeous Amalfi Coast is one of the most scenic spots in Italy. If you want to experience as much of it as possible then consider taking a boat trip along the shore line.
If you are going to visit charming Sicily as part of your travels, your first stop needs to be the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
On a visit to Sicily you absolutely can’t miss the chance to climb at least part way up Stromboli, a still active volcano. If you are looking for an easy trek, you can walk 400 meters up the sides of Stromboli by yourself.
Verona is home to what is said to be the balcony of Juliet, the character made famous in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.
Pompeii is famous for the events that took place here in 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the town in ash.
Mount Vesuvius is one of the most famous mountains in the world. Trueof its famous eruption that covered the unsuspecting town of Pompeii in volcanic ash.
Lake Como in Lombardy spans an amazing 146 square kilometres and is the perfect place to get out on the water and explore Italy by boat.
The city of Siena is often overlooked in favour of Florence. Although this is unfair as there is a huge amount to see and do here. Parts of the city are as pretty as its neighbouring rival.
Venice has a range of peerless attractions although perhaps the most famous of these is Saint Mark’s Basilica.This is located on the famed Piazza San Marco or Saint Mark’s Square.
The Grand Canal in Venice is one of the most famous waterways in the world. There are a variety of ways that you can enjoy it.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa is a fluke of architecture. When the tower was constructed it immediately started to sink into the marshy ground beneath it.
One of the premium sights in Capri is the Blue Grotto, also known as the Grotta Azzurra.
Arrive 15 minutes before time this will give you time to change into wet suit and buoyancy aid for the trip. You will then set off under the leadership of an experienced guide.
Meet your local guide in the infamous An Pucan Whiskey Bar. An Pucan is a very friendly, traditional Irish venue and the perfect setting for an intro to the history of Irish whiskey.
There was no delay in getting into the business end of the visit with distribution of complimentary rugby kit and a training session for the team with an international rugby coach at the University Playing Fields. While the team were being put through their paces, the parents were occupied too with a walking tour of Galway City. Highlights included the buskers in Shop Street, the River Corrib the shortest in Europe and the magnificent Galway Cathedral which mesmerised the visitors. The Menlo Park Hotel pushed the boat out providing a separate room for the dinner and team meeting and providing a breakout room for the team to ‘hang out’.
