Hi all, taking a trip with my girlfriend to London for the first time this April 10-14 (4 nights). Wouldn't mind some itinerary/restaurant/activity recommendations. We are yet to book a hotel but we were looking at the Z hotels in Holborn or something in kensington if that helps.

We like architecture, history, and just walking the streets in general. We want to see the big sites and attractions but any other cool recommendations for activities would be welcomed. Also what is the best way to pay for transportation in london? would it be with an oyster card

With only 3 full days, you'll have to be very selective in which "big sites and attractions" you see. IMO, only you can set those priorities.

Timed reservations are highly recommended for any places that offer them; otherwise, you may wait in some lines, sometimes long lines.

For bus, tube and trains, I would use a contactless credit card or a mobile pay like Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc. You'll each need one or the other and must tap in and out using the same at both ends. Oyster cards cost 7 pounds each before you load any value, and this fee is nonrefundable.

https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-...-pay-as-you-go

We find the TfL Go app helpful in planning routes.

https://tfl.gov.uk/maps_/tfl-go?intc...oad%20TfL%20Go

Welcome to Fodors. You only have 3+ days so you really won't be able to see too may of the big sites. A good rule of thumb is two major sites a day with maybe 1 or 2 'mid-level sites' squeezed in. London is ENORMOUS and getting from one place to another will eat up time - plus factoring in lunch.

So don't over plan -- pick your 4 or 5 musts. A starting ist would the Tower of London, St Paul's and Westminster Abbey plus one or two of the major museums -- the V&A / British Museum / National Gallery / National Portrait Gallery.

There are several Z Hotels in very central locations - Covent Garden, Holborn, Strand, Trafalgar Sq., Soho and others. For such a short visit I personally would not stay as far west as Kensington (South Kensington would be better than Kensington)

You don't really need to pre book many things -- perhaps the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Museums and Galleries are mostly free and no tickets are required. Some major exhibitions IN those galleries and museum do need booking.

A lot of restaurants (and even pubs for dinner) require prebooking.

. . . meant to add either an Oyster card or touchless credit cards work on the tube and buses. I personally prefer Oysters but many people prefer cc's. I don't like faffing about with tapping in/out with my phone or credit card at busy tube stations. Cabs also take cards.

I don't factor in the £7 Oyster card since I've been using the same one every visit for ages now. But I don't think it would bother me paying for a new Oyster - £7 isn't that much in eh scheme of things.

a few ideas
https://freetoursbyfoot.com/things-t...ndon-in-april/
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-t...eums-in-london
https://www.londonxlondon.com/free-t...-do-in-london/

changing the guard as a time killer and not that interesting.
You'll find that London is a multi-cultural city with so many languages spoken and the English you hear will have so many accents. Slow down and listen.