2 Days in London: An Action-Packed 2 Day London Itinerary!

Are you planning a 2 day trip to London and wondering how to see and do it all?

In this 2 Day London itinerary, I’ll cover exactly how I recommend spending 2 days in London for first timers. This itinerary hits all the highlights like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Borough Market, Covent Garden, and more in a whirlwind 48 hours!

Of course, you won’t be able to see everything in the city (that would take weeks or months!), but 2 days in London will allow you to scratch the surface and experience the most iconic sites London has to offer.

So, keep reading if you are interested in an action-packed 2 day London itinerary for first time visitors!!

London Trip Planning at a Glance

Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to London to help plan your epic adventure!

Where to Stay:
– The Z Hotel Covent Garden (Budget)
– Hilton Doubletree Marble Arch (Mid-Range)
– The Cavendish London Hotel (Mid-Range)
– The Chesterfield Mayfair (Luxury)

Places to Eat & Drink:
– Dishoom Bombay Street Food
– Sky Garden
– Cahoot’s Underground
– Roti King
– plus Sunday Roast at a pub!

Things to Do:
– Westminster Walking Tour
– Ride bikes through Hyde Park
– Explore Soho and Covent Garden
– Thames River Cruise to Tower of London
– Eat your way through Borough Market
(Full list of Things to Do in London here!)

The Ultimate 2 Day London Itinerary: How to Spend 2 Action-Packed Days in London

How to Get to London

Before we dive into this 2 day itinerary, let’s talk about the different ways of getting to London, England! If you are traveling to London from the United States, you will most likely be flying into London Gatwick Airport (LGW) or London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

These are London’s two largest airports and have the most international flights coming in and out of them. Did you know London actually has SIX airports?! The others are more commonly used for smaller, regional flights to other parts of England or Europe.

Once you arrive at either Heathrow or Gatwick, you’ll need to pass through border control, grab your bags, and make your way into the city center!

You have a few different options for getting from both airports into the city. Heathrow is about 16 miles outside central London, while Gatwick is around 28 miles.

Since you only have 2 days in London, I recommend choosing the fastest option for getting into the city to maximize your time (if it fits in your budget).

🗺️ Love that you’re already mapping out your London days! Before the fun stuff, make sure the logistics are handled: flights, travel insurance, accommodation, money, and phone service. My Passport to Confidence guide is a $7 planning roadmap with a 6-month checklist so you know exactly what to do and when.

For Heathrow, this means taking the Heathrow Express, a high-speed train that runs several times a day from Heathrow Airpot directly to Paddington Station in the center of London. The train ride is only 15 minutes, and it is a very nice train with dedicated checked baggage areas.

If you decide to go with this option, I recommend looking at tickets as far ahead of your trip as possible to save money. If you book far enough in advance, you can snag one way tickets as low as 10 pounds! However, closer to the trip, you can expect to pay 25 pounds for the same ticket.

Another option for getting to London quickly from Heathrow is the newly opened Elizabeth line. This line, which also runs from the airport to Paddington station, takes around 30 minutes due to several stops it makes in between the two stations.

However, it can be significantly cheaper than the Heathrow Express, especially if booked closer to your trip or the day of. Fares for the Elizabeth line start at just 13 pounds.

You can read more about both the Elizabeth Line and the Heathrow Express, as well as other transportation options, on the Heathrow Website here!

For Gatwick Airport, your options are quite similar! Gatwick has the Gatwick Express, which is the fastest option and provides non-stop service to central London in 30 minutes. There is also the Southern line, which follows the same route, is cheaper, but takes a bit longer!

You can read more about the Gatwick Express and the Southern line, as well as other transportation options, on the Gatwick website here!

➡️ Read Next: Traveling to London for the first time? Make sure to read my Ultimate London Beginner’s Guide here! 🇬🇧

Where to Stay in London

Now that you know how to get into central London from the airport, let’s talk about where to stay in London! You probably know that London is a large city – the main city center is around 16.5 square miles.

However, the greater London area is much bigger than that and actually has 32 boroughs!

Since you only have 2 days in London, I highly recommend staying in the heart of London. This means staying in either the City of Westminster or the City of London proper.

You can see what I am talking about on the map below! I’ve notated in purple specifically where I recommend looking for hotels during your 2 days in London.

Staying in this central area will help maximize your time for activities instead of wasting time commuting into the city center each day.

In terms of specific hotel recommendations in London, there is truly something for every traveler and budget! There are a few specific neighborhoods within the purple box above that you can use to narrow down your search, including Westminster, Victoria, Soho, Marylebone, Mayfair, Covent Garden, and St. James.

We chose to stay at the Hilton Doubletree Marble Arch in Mayfair, which was walking distance to Hyde Park and Soho, as well as two tube stations and several bus stations! This was the perfect location in my opinion, since everything was either walking distance or a short journey away on public transport.

Here are some other hotel options to consider in the purple area!

The Z Hotel Covent Garden (Budget)
The Cavendish London Hotel (Mid-Range)
The Resident Soho (Mid-Range)
The Chesterfield Mayfair (Luxury)

Whatever hotel you choose, my biggest tip is to make sure it’s within walking distance of a Tube station. With only two days in London, you should rely on public transportation as much as possible, which brings us to our next section!

Getting Around London

As mentioned above, with only 2 days in London, you’ll need to rely on public transportation as well as your own two feet to maximize your time for sightseeing!

This two day London itinerary will include a combination of public transportation (Tube or bus), bikes, and walking depending on where you are headed for each activity.

In general, I always recommend checking Google Maps or Citymapper before you set out to your next destination. These apps will be able to tell you the fastest way from Point A to Point B.

Sometimes, that means a quick Tube ride, but other times there is a public bus that will take you exactly where you need to go! We actually loved taking the bus during our time in London.

While sometimes the Tube looks like the faster option, it doesn’t always account for the time (and stairs!) it takes to get down into the station, which adds up!

Plus, the public buses in London are the red, double decker buses you’ve seen in travel magazines and on postcards. It can be very fun to ride up on the top level, especially if you get the front seat!

Day 1: River Cruise, Tower of London, Borough Market, and the London Eye

Welcome to your first day in London, England!!! It’s time to hit the ground running since you only have 2 days in London.

To make your trip planning as easy as possible, I’ve created the below map with all the locations mentioned in this itinerary pinned! The purple pins are for Day 1, and the yellow pins are for Day 2!!

Journey to Westminster

As expected, today is an action-packed day, so make sure to start your morning with a large breakfast near your hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll be heading down to the heart of Westminster to see Big Ben and board a Thames river cruise!

🚇 Transportation Tip: Depending on where you are staying, the fastest way to get here is to take the Tube to Westminster Station, which can be reached on the Circle (yellow) line or District (green) line!

Upon exiting the Tube station, you’ll be greeted by Big Ben towering over you! (It took me a few minutes to release where we were when we first arrived).

Fun Fact: Did you know Big Ben is NOT the name of the iconic tower?! Big Ben is actually the giant bell inside the clock tower, which is officially named Elizabeth Tower (named to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee).

Feel free to walk around this area a bit, including crossing over the famous Westminster Bridge for even more incredible views of Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben! You’ll also have time to explore Westminster Abbey tomorrow more!

Thames Sightseeing Cruise to Tower Bridge

Don’t stroll too far, however, since your next activity leaves right from Westminster Pier in front of Big Ben. You’ll be embarking on a Thames Sightseeing Cruise.

While it seems touristy, we actually loved taking a sightseeing cruise in London!! You get to see some iconic London landmarks like the Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and downtown London from a new perspective.

In addition, this cruise includes live commentary, so you’ll get to learn some fun facts about London along the way. It’s the perfect introduction to the city for first time visitors.

⛴️ Check pricing and availability of this Thames River Cruise here! ⛴️

Leaving from Westminster Pier, the river cruise will head east along the Thames. It will make a stop at the Waterloo Pier, which will give you the perfect opportunity to snap some photos of the London Eye as well as with Big Ben (like the one above).

From there, the cruise will continue along the river, passing other famous London landmarks like Cleopatra’s Needle, Shakespeare’s Globe, the London Bridge (very underwhelming), and the HMS Belfast.

Finally, you’ll arrive at the iconic Tower Bridge (which is often confused as the London Bridge), with its signature blue suspension cables and castle-like structure.

You’ll have plenty of photo opportunities of the bridge from the River, as the cruise will slowly turn around in front of the bridge and dock at the nearby Tower Millennium Pier. Bonus points if you get a photo of a red bus crossing over the bridge like the one below!

When the cruise stops at the Tower Pier, it’s time to disembark and head over to the Tower of London, the next stop on this itinerary!

Tower of London

With only 2 days in London, I’ve cut out most of the museums and tours from this itinerary to maximize your time. However, I personally believe the Tower of London is a must-do attraction in London and something almost everyone will enjoy!

If you do plan on visiting the Tower of London, I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance. Tickets to visit the Tower are known to sell out, most commonly the morning time slots and especially if you are visiting in the summer.

Once you arrive at the Tower of London, you’ll be able to wander through this UNESCO World Heritage site as you see fit (I’d plan for 2ish hours here).

The Tower is a site to behold, as it dates back to the early 1000s and has been used as many different things since its inception (including a ZOO!).

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Today, the Tower of London is most famous for housing the Crown Jewels, a sparkling collection of regalia and gemstones. The jewels are kept under armed guard in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, and some are still used by the monarch for national ceremonies, like Coronations or the State Opening of Parliament.

In addition to the Crown Jewels, I also recommend checking out the Lower Wakefield Tower, where you can see replicas of torture devices used at the Tower of London in the 1500s and 1600s. Creepy right?!

You can also see historic armor of past kings in the White Tower, learn about prisoners that were held at the Tower, and so much more! Overall, this is a great place to spend a few hours learning about London’s history.

Borough Market

By now, you’ve probably worked up an appetite for lunch! So, it’s time to head to one of my favorite spots in London – Borough Market!

🚶🏼Transportation Tip: The best way to get to Borough Market from the Tower of London is actually just to walk! You’ll head back west along the river, cross over the London Bridge, and arrive at Borough Market in less than 20 minutes.

The market is tucked away right off the river, but it’s easy to find! Once arriving, you’ll be overwhelmed with all of the different food stalls. Here, you can get everything from paella to wine to coffee to cheese to meats and more!!

Make sure to try some fresh oysters and a sausage roll from the Ginger Pig – you won’t be disappointed!

London Eye and Pub Dinner

Now it’s time to leave Borough Market and head back towards the main city center across the River.

If you still have energy (and daylight), this is a great time to ride the iconic London Eye, a 400+ foot tall ferris wheel that towers over the London skyline and offers incredible views of the city.

🚇🚏 Transportation Tip: To get here from Borough Market, you can hop on the Jubilee line from London Bridge Station and ride 2 stops to Waterloo Station. Or, you can catch the #381 bus from the Hop Exchange to County Hall (Stop G).

Similar to the Tower of London, I highly recommend booking your tickets to the London Eye in advance of your trip. In fact, the London Eye even offers skip-the-line tickets!! This will be a huge time-saver, especially during peak travel months (like summer).

To end your first day in London, grab a traditional dinner at a local pub near your hotel. If you happen to be visiting on a Sunday, make sure to try the famous British Sunday Roast.

This is a pub speciality that typically includes hearty foods like roast chicken or beef, carrots, potatoes, and gravy! YUM!

Day 2: Hyde Park, Westminster, Covent Garden, and Historic Squares

Now it is time for day 2 of 2 on this incredible London itinerary!!

To recap, yesterday you saw the iconic Big Ben, Tower of London, Tower and London Bridge, Borough Market, and the London Eye!

Today, we will be focusing on the northern side of the Thames river, including a deeper look into the City of Westminster and the lovely neighborhoods of Soho and Covent Garden in West End.

Biking Through Hyde Park

To save you some steps, start your day after breakfast by renting electric bikes from one of the many bike share companies in London like Lime or Santander.

🚇🚏 Transportation Tip: If you are not staying within a mile or so from Hyde Park, I first recommend taking a bus or Tube ride to Bond Street, Marble Arch, Hyde Park, or Paddington Station so you don’t have to bike TOO far on the main roads of London.

If you’ve never rented e-bikes before, they are super easy to use and operate a lot like Uber. All you have to do is download the company’s app (like Lime), find a bike on the road with full battery, scan the QR code, and you’re good to go!

The rental costs will automatically be charged to your credit card when you end your ride, depending on how much time you spend on the bike!

Once you are near Hyde Park and have rented your bikes, make your way into the park from any of the main entrances. From here, spend around 30 minutes biking through Hyde Park and enjoying the beautiful scenery! This was one of my favorite things we did in London!

Buckingham Palace

After a bit, input Buckingham Palace into Google Maps on your phone (most bikes will have a handy phone holder) and then set your transportation type to bicycle.

Follow the biking route on your phone, which will most likely take you past Wellington Arch along Constitution Hill road to Buckingham Palace!

🚲 Transportation Tip: This route is totally walkable as well, but after yesterday, your feet might want a break! Plus, it’s a beautiful bike ride, especially if the weather is nice.

Upon arriving at Buckingham Palace, you have a few options! If you just want to get a glimpse of the Palace, you can stop quickly, take some photos, and continue your biking journey towards Westminster Abbey.

However, if you want to explore around Buckingham Palace and maybe catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, I recommend ending your bike share here and park the bikes in a designated parking area (the app will show you where that is).

For the Changing of the Guard, it’s important to note that this Ceremony only occurs on certain days of the week and at certain times. You can check the latest schedule on this website if you are interested in attending.

We accidentally arrived at Buckingham Palace about 5 minutes before the Changing of the Guard during our trip in mid-August, and the place was absolutely swamped with people!

So, if your priority is seeing the ceremony up close, you’ll need to arrive very early to get near the front gates.

Westminster Abbey

After you’re through with Buckingham Palace, continue on through St. James Park all the way to Westminster Abbey, either on bike or on foot (it’s about a 15-minute walk).

If you are interested in going inside Westminster Abbey, you are going to want to (you guessed it) book a ticket in advance. We were unsure whether or not we wanted to go inside.. and upon arriving, there was a HUGE line, so we decided to skip it!

That said, if going inside the Church is a priority for you, book your timed-entry ticket in advance. Or, you can get a skip-the-line ticket by going on a guided tour like this one.

Speaking of tours, if you are someone who likes to learn about history from a local when exploring new countries, another way to conquer the first half of today is through a guided tour!

You can walk through Hyde Park on your own and then book a guided tour that includes Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. In addition, this specific tour also includes a stop by Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Downing Street, and the Houses of Parliament.

This is a great experience, especially if you prefer to learn from a local guide on your travels!

Dishoom and Covent Garden

If you’ve made it this far without lunch, I have the perfect spot for you!

Assuming you’ve ended around Westminster Abbey, hop on the #24 bus at Westminster Station and ride 4 stops to Cambridge Circus. From here, it’s a quick 3-minute walk to your lunch spot, Dishoom Covent Garden.

Now, if you’ve asked people for food recommendations in London, I can almost guarantee someone said Dishoom. But I promise it’s not overhyped!

This Bombay-style street food restaurant is absolutely mouth-watering. All of their products are imported from India, so it’s extremely authentic. For example, I ordered a juice, but the waitress said the shipment was stuck in India!!!

Feel free to pig out here, no judgement!!

After lunch, head over to Covent Garden Market, a quick 5-minute walk away. This market is actually made up of 3 different markets and has everything you could need on a shopping day!

Spend your afternoon wandering through the markets. I recommend grabbing a gelato and maybe an Aperol spritz at one of the open air restaurants and watching the street performers!

Famous Squares & Museums

In the afternoon, walk off all that food and drink by heading towards the famous Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.

I was surprised to find out there’s not much here to do.. it’s mostly just tourist shops and street performers. However, it’s worth a quick visit since you are in the area!

If you’re a film fan, I recommend checking out the famous statues in Leicester Square, known as “Scenes in the Square”. Here, you’ll find fictional British icons like Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Mr. Beans, and Paddington Bear!

Next, head south towards Trafalgar Square for some more photo opportunities! Trafalgar Square has a long history behind it, which you may have learned about if you booked one of those guided tours earlier today!

The Square is most recognizable for the giant column in the center, known as Nelson’s Column, flanked by two beautiful fountains and four lion statues!

The square commemorates Britain’s victory in the Battle of Trafalgar and has some other historic statues and busts scattered throughout.

I loved snapping photos around the square of the beautiful architecture, Union Jack flags, underground station, and double-decked buses (like a total tourist!)

Note: If you have extra time in the afternoon, some of London’s most popular museums are located nearby, including the National Gallery and the British Museum. Both of these are free!

Theatre or Other Nightlife

To wrap up your last night of this 2 day London itinerary, I have 2 options for you!

If you are interested in theatre, you can’t go wrong with seeing a play in London’s famous West End. Akin to New York City’s Broadway, you’ll find iconic shows and historic plays scattered throughout London’s theatre district.

My favorites are of course Hamilton and Wicked, but you can’t go wrong with a classic like Macbeth or even Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, This is a great way to end your last night in London!

If plays or musicals aren’t your thing, you can also just spend your last night in London soaking in the London nightlife scene. Right next to Covent Garden is the neighborhood of Soho, famous for its pubs, bars, clubs, and restaurants!

For example, you can head over to the famed Carnaby Street and check out Cahoot’s Underground, an old Underground station turned cocktail bar.

All of the drinks (and atmosphere) are transportation-themed, and you even have to descend to a lower level to find it, speakeasy style.

Some other top-rated spots are Swift Soho and the Little Scarlet Door!

Make sure to cheers to your last night in London! 😢

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth going to London for 2 days?

Absolutely! London is always worth it in my opinion. Of course, you won’t be able to see the entire city in 2 days, but you can hit most of the highlights. Plus you can always come back again!

What is the best way to get around london for 2 days?

I recommend taking advantage of public transportation as much as possible if you only have 2 days in London! Walking the entire city is a quick way to kill your feet, plus you’ll waste valuable time! London has an excellent public transportation system including the Underground (Tube) and double-decker buses that can get you all around the city.

What to do in London for 48 hours?

Keep reading to find out more! But in general, I recommend hitting these highlights: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, London Eye, Borough Market, Tower of London, Hyde Park, Covent Garden, and West End. You can read my full list of Things to Do in London here!

Is 2 days in London enough?

2 days is the bare minimum I recommend spending in London! This will allow you enough time to see the main highlights if you are efficient with your time. 3 days is even better, but 4 days in London is the perfect amount in my opinion!

Where to stay with 2 days in London?

With only 2 days in London, I recommend staying in the heart of central London so you can maximize your time. The neighborhoods of Marylebone, SoHo, Covent Garden, Victoria, and Westminster are the best options if you only have 2 days. However, these will be more expensive than if you stay outside the city center! Read my full guide on Where to Stay in London here!

Final Thoughts

That’s a wrap on my action-packed 2 Day London itinerary! As you can see, trying to fit everything into just 2 days in London is nearly impossible; however, this itinerary hits almost all the highlights.

If you have a bit more time to spend in London, some honorable mentions I would add to this itinerary are:

St. Paul’s Cathedral and Millennium Bridge
Afternoon tea
Kensington Palace & Princess Diana Memorial
Natural History Museum
Leadenhall Market
Sky Garden or the Shard

Or, you can check out my 4 day London Itinerary, which includes most things on this itinerary plus some extra activities at a much slower pace! If you want to add another country to your trip, don’t miss my 7 Day London and Paris itinerary!

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!