Today I want to bring you my itinerary for 2 days in London. Spending 48 hours in the UK capital will allow you to get a feel for the city’s highlights and give you a broad overview of what London has to offer. From the big attractions to the local areas, London has no shortage of entertainment for visitors. Read on for my itinerary. I’ve included a map, too.
2 Days in London
When people ask me how to spend 2 days in London, I have plenty to tell them (you’ll know that if you’ve seen my London travel guide). I’ve lived here for years, and I know the city well.
The nice thing about a 2-day London itinerary is that it gives you enough time to see the highlights.
Whether you want to discover the big landmarks, explore the attractions, shop, eat, drink, or delve into the city’s past, you’ll find a lot to get excited about while you’re visiting London.
My 48-hour itinerary covers a range of things to do and see. It’s ideal for first-time visitors and those who haven’t been to London in a while.
It will give you a good introduction to the highlights of the city and tempt you to come back and explore more of London on a future trip.
If you want additional ideas, there’s a lot more about things to do in the city in the stylish book London, Block by Block: An Illustrated Guide to the Best of England’s Capital. You can get it here.
Where to Stay in London
There are loads of options for accommodation in London. Whether you want to stay in a hotel or apartment, the city has a lot of places to choose from.
Given the UK capital is massive, basing yourself in or near the city center is wise. You can see my blog posts about the best area to stay in London and the best hotels for your style for more ideas.
I’ve even published blog posts about the top quirky hotels in London and the best pubs with rooms in London. They’re ideal if you’re looking for something unique and different.
You can also find deals and book accommodation in London here. With so many options, you’re sure to find a place that ticks all your boxes.
How to Pack for 2 Days in London
Once you’ve decided when to come to the UK, you have to pack for London. Depending what time of year you visit, that will mean different things.
I’ve created packing lists for summer, autumn, winter, and spring that can help you decide what to wear in London. I’ve also drawn up a general guide to how to pack for London all year.
If you’re flying to London, you can check out my long-haul packing list and my guide to how to pack with just a carry-on (I was interviewed by The New York Times about the latter).
Day 1 in London
Begin the first morning of your 2-day London itinerary with great coffee and food. Whether you head to one of the best coffee shops in London or one of the top places for breakfast, you can’t go wrong.
Caffeinated and satiated, you’ll be ready to start exploring the UK capital. And there’s no better place to do it than Westminster.
I recommend starting at Buckingham Palace. It’s what draws many visitors to the city, and it’s a must on any first-time London itinerary.
You can time your visit to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony (it happens several days a week), or just admire the monarch’s London residence from the gates.
If your trip coincides with the seasonal opening, you can also take a tour of Buckingham Palace. It’s a fun way to see the state rooms and gardens while you’re in town. You can book tickets here.
From the palace you can stroll through St James’s Park and Horse Guards Parade to Westminster. This area is home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, and it’s what many people think of when they hear the word “London”.
Westminster Abbey is lovely to behold, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) is an icon, and the Houses of Parliament are stunning. If you have time, you can tour the abbey and parliament. You can book tickets here.
You can also go on my free self-guided Westminster walk if you want to see more of the area beyond the big attractions. It will take you to some of the side streets and hidden spaces locals love.
From Westminster, you can cross the Thames to get to the South Bank. It’s the perfect place to soak up the views from the London Eye or just wander through the book market or along the river.
You can book London Eye tickets here (you’ll want to book well in advance, as it sells out).
There are always pop-ups, street performers, and other entertainment going on here, so it’s fun to wander along the river and see what’s on.
From the South Bank, it’s a great walk to Tate Modern, another of the city’s most beloved landmarks. The museum is an amazing place to visit, and the fact that it’s free means it’s easy to pop in for as long or little as you want. There are stunning views, too.
When you’re done exploring the South Bank, hop on the tube and take it to the West End. You can explore Soho and Covent Garden when you arrive.
There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the area, and Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus are always exciting in the evenings.
You can see my recommendations for restaurants in London if you need help finding a place for dinner.
If you want to end your night in style, take the Underground to South Kensington and check out the nightlife scene around Walton Street and the King’s Road in Chelsea.
Alternatively, you can take an open-top bus tour to get a better feel for the city. It’s a great way to get an overview of what London has to offer in a short amount of time. You can book tickets here.
Day 2 in London
I recommend starting the second morning of your itinerary for 2 days in London at Borough Market. It’s the most famous food market in the city, and it’s an ideal place to find something delicious for breakfast. Don’t miss the legendary Monmouth Coffee.
After filling up at the market you can cross London Bridge to get into the City. Make sure to look to your right and admire the views of Tower Bridge on the way.
From the iconic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral to the modern skyscrapers, the City of London always awes me with its abundance of architectural history. You can do my self-guided City of London walk if you want to see the highlights.
From the City, walk or take the tube over to Tower Hill to see the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
You can take a tour of the Tower of London to see the White Tower and the crown jewels if you’d like to, or just admire the fortress from the outside. You can book Tower of London tickets here.
You can also tour Tower Bridge. This inspiring feat of Victorian engineering is one of the most popular landmarks in London. You can book tickets here.
After seeing Tower Bridge, grab a light lunch in St Katharine Docks. This unique marina area has lots of casual restaurants. My favorite is White Mulberries.
After lunch you can hop on the tube at Tower Hill and head to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
The formal garden by Kensington Palace is one of my favorite green spaces in the city, and with 2 days in London strolling through its vine arches is a must.
Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake is always fun to wander around, and I love watching the boats go by.
When you reach Hyde Park Corner, you’ll be ready to rest your feet. There’s no better way to do it than by indulging in afternoon tea. There are lots of good offerings in the area, so it’s never hard to find a place (just book in advance).
From The Lanesborough to The Dorchester, The Berkeley to the Mandarin Oriental, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower to Claridge’s, The Goring to The Halkin, The Ritz, Brown’s, and Fortnum & Mason, the area is packed with afternoon tea options.
As evening approaches, continue the second of your 2 days in London by taking the tube to the West End to catch a show. There are plenty of plays and musicals you can see on any given night in London.
The city’s theater scene is legendary, and whether you’re queuing up for a musical in Soho or settling in for a drama in Covent Garden, there’s always something to see.
If you’re hungry after the show, you can take advantage of the late opening hours of many of the restaurants in the West End.
If you’re in the mood for nightlife later on, there’s no shortage of good bars in the area. My favorite is Cahoots, a travel-themed bar in Kingly Court. It’s a great place to end your trip to London.
London Itinerary Map
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the places I mentioned in this itinerary. You can see it here. If you click on the pins, you’ll find my relevant blog posts about each spot. I hope the map helps you plan a great trip to London!
2-Day Itinerary for London
I hope you’ve enjoyed my itinerary for 2 days in London. If you want more help, you can take a look at the Travel Planning Services page of my blog to see how I can assist you with creating a customized itinerary that fits your travel style and preferences.
I’ve published plenty of other London itineraries, too. You can check out my 1-day, 36-hour, weekend, 3-day, 4-day, 5-day, 6-day, 7-day, 1 week, 8-day, 9-day, and 10-day itineraries for more inspiration. I’ve even written about how to have a perfect Saturday or Sunday in London.
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