Lewis Ludlow, 27, swore allegiance to Islamic State as he prepared to drive a van through London's shopping district or Madame Tussauds.
The former Royal Mail worker, who called himself "The Eagle" and "The Ghost", researched potential targets around the capital.
He bought a phone under a false name and wrote down his attack plans, which were later found ripped up in a bin.
He identified Oxford Street as an "ideal" spot, writing: "It is expected nearly 100 could be killed in the attack."
Last year, he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to plotting an attack in the UK and funding IS abroad.
TARGETED ST PAUL'S
His attack plans also revealed plans to attack St Paul's Cathedral and a "Shia temple in Romford".
Ludlow, of Rochester, Kent, gave evidence that he was pressured into supporting Islamic State by an operative in the Philippines called Abu Yaqeen but had changed his mind just before his arrest.
He admitted preparation and funding of terrorist acts but a further charge of attempting to travel to Islamic State was ordered to lie on file at a previous hearing.
At his sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey today defence barrister Rebecca Trowler said he was vulnerable to pressure due to his autism and depression.
But this was rejected by the Recorder of London who said he did not accept Ludlow had a "change of heart".
Your extremism ran very deep and for some time."There could be no other explanation for anyone planning to kill innocent people in a van for ideological reasons
Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC said: "I do not accept that these matters explain your participation in these offences. Your participation in these offences is explained by your adherence to violent jihad.
"I accept you were bullied at school and found it difficult to establish relationships. You may for example have joined your local mosque and found comfort there.
"Instead you attached yourself to those who promoted violent extremism.
"I do not regard you as suggestible or easily taken advantage of. You were well able to resist the Prevent Programme and did so.
"You are nobody's fool. You were no-one's unwilling instrument or tool.
"There's nothing about the videos you made which remotely suggest to me you were. You were certainly acting in concert with Abu Yaqeen.
"I have seen no sign you are anything other than an enthusiastic participant in a joint plan."
EXTREMISM
The court heard Ludlow set up a Paypal and Facebook account called Antique Collections as a front to send money to a man with IS-links called Abu Yaqeen.
But he was stopped at Heathrow Airport in February last year as he tried to board a flight to the Philippines.
He attended a demonstration led by radical preacher Anjem Choudary in 2010 and was invited to engage with the Met Police Prevent programme.
Jailing him for life with a minimum of 15 years, the judge said: "Your extremism ran very deep and for some time.
"There could be no other explanation for anyone planning to kill innocent people in a van for ideological reasons.
"No other sentence other than life imprisonment will be appropriate.
"There is much work to be done and much of it is in your own hands."
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