How to spend 2 days in London
Travel ItineraryItinerary Introduction
London - capital city of the United Kingdom - with a population of nearly 9 million people. Festivals, Museums, Theatre, Art, Night Life & Sport - London has it all! Would you like to see many of the highlights on a 2 day trip - mainly on foot? Read on! On this tour, we'll visit 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites: The Tower of London & The Palace of Westminster / Westminster Abbey. We'll see Buckingham Palace and 2 Royal Parks. And we'll experience the wonders of the National Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Churchill War Rooms and the Natural History Museum. We'll view the city from the highest building in London - The Shard. And we'll get up close with Tower Bridge. Want entertainment? We'll be dropping by the West End including Leicester Square, Soho and Covent Garden. This is a tried and tested tour that I've done with friends & family - bring your best walking shoes :) You'll likely be tired from all the combined walking and culture at the end of Day 2 - however you'll definitely have made the most of your trip to London. I'm making the assumption that you're travelling to London on a Friday evening. If this is the case - I'd recommend heading to your accommodation, and dropping off your bags before heading out to a local eatery for refreshments. Make sure you're fresh for an early start the next day! I recommend booking a theatre performance in the West End for the end of Day 1. There are loads of theatres showing fabulous plays and musicals. You should book in advance - there are several online ticket sellers, such as: West End Theatre Bookings and London Theatre . Photo Credits: Marcin Nowak - unsplash.comUseful information about London
Best times to visit London
London weather can be variable (you can check the forecast with the BBC Weather site ) - an umbrella or fold up waterproof could be advisable during the warmer months - although it can also get into the upper 20Cs on a hot day - and obviously dress appropriately for the winter which could be damp and cold.Getting around in London
To get around London, public transport such as the London Underground ("The Tube") or bus - is highly recommended. If you've got time ahead of arriving in London, you could check out the Visitor Oyster Card - which needs to be sent to your home address. Otherwise, a One Day Travel Card is available for purchase at London stations - giving you unlimited all day travel. You could also rent an official Transport for London Santander Bike - but London is not yet as advanced as, say, Copenhagen with its bike lanes - so you need to be careful.London - Travel Itinerary
Day 1
Towers, Squares & The West End
Tower Bridge
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 10.60 GBP | |
Kids | 5.30 GBP | Under 18 |
Notes
I'm not recommending a trip into the Tower Bridge on this tour - due to time constraints. Rather, enjoy the view of this icon of London, before walking next-door to The Tower of London.
Getting there
Take the London Underground to the Tower Hill stop, then walk toward the River Thames. You won't be able to miss Tower Bridge.
Travel time
0 hours 7 minutesTower of London
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 28.90 GBP | |
Kids | 14.40 GBP | Under 18 |
Getting there
The Tower of London is right next to Tower Bridge (our previous stop) - you can very easily walk there.
Travel time
0 hours 10 minutesThe View From The Shard
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 25.00 - 34.00 GBP |
Notes
I have given 1 hour in duration between The Tower of London and The Shard - this is for walking and also to give time to grab a bite & refreshments at any of the many take-aways and cafes you'll pass on the way.
Getting there
It's an 18 minute walk from The Tower of London to The Shard. Walk west to the next bridge - London Bridge (not a spectacular bridge like Tower Bridge). Cross over and you won't be able to miss The Shard.
Travel time
0 hours 18 minutesBorough Market
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Getting there
It's only a 6 minute walk west from The Shard to Borough Market.
Travel time
0 hours 6 minutesSt. Paul's Cathedral
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 17.00 GBP | |
Students | 15.00 GBP | |
Kids | 7.20 GBP | Under 18 |
Seniors | 15.00 GBP |
Getting there
Head north west back to the River Thames and keep walking west until you pass Shakespere's Globe theatre, and finally reach the Millennium Bridge - right next to The Tate Modern gallery. Cross this spectacular bridge over the river, and you won't be able to avoid arriving at St. Paul's cathedral.
Travel time
0 hours 16 minutesCovent Garden
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
Enjoy the many street performances, wander around the shops, or grab a coffee.
Getting there
Walking to Covent Garden from St. Paul's cathedral is nearly a half an hour walk. Too long? Then you could either take a bus, or hop on the tube from Blackfriars to Temple, then walk north west the rest of the way to Covent Garden. Or you could always grab a cab...
Travel time
0 hours 29 minutesTrafalgar Square
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
Enjoy the atmosphere in Trafalgar Square and check out the statues including the famous Nelson's column - before heading into The National Gallery.
Getting there
It's a 7 minute walk from Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square.
Travel time
0 hours 7 minutesNational Gallery
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Getting there
The National Gallery is right on Trafalgar Square - on the north side.
Travel time
0 hours 1 minuteLeicester Square
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
While you are in Leicester Square, wander around - and check out the cinemas where films get the red-carpet treatment when they premier in London.
Getting there
It's a very short 3-4 minute walk to hop between Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.
Travel time
0 hours 4 minutesSoho
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
By now you are likely hungry and ready for refreshments! I recommend to take the rest of the day to wander around London's West End - soak up the atmosphere, grab some food and see a show. Chinatown is also here - and if you're a fan of Chinese food - you're in for a treat. Booking a theatre performance or show is a great idea - although there are stands near Leicester Square where you can buy cheap tickets for shows on the day - if you're lucky.
Getting there
Walking to Soho from Leicester Square is easy - just walk to the west side of the square, and it all starts.
Travel time
0 hours 5 minutesDay 2
Palaces, Parks and Museums
Houses of Paliament
Notes
You can take a tour around The Houses of Parliament - in which case allow for more time. Alternatively, wander around Parliament square, soak up the atmosphere, then walk over to Westminster Abbey.
Getting there
Take the London Underground from wherever you are staying to the Westminster stop. Alternatively, check out with Google Maps on your best transport options to start the day. It's a short walk from the Westminster stop to Parliament Square.
Travel time
0 hours 3 minutesWestminster Abbey
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 24.00 GBP | |
Members | 0.00 GBP | |
Kids | 10.00 GBP | Under 17 |
Seniors | 21.00 GBP |
Notes
I'm not recommending a visit into Westminster Abbey on this trip - purely due to time constraints. Rather, take the time to marvel at this incredible building & grab some photos.
Getting there
It's a short walk across the square to Westminster Abbey from The Houses of Parliament.
Travel time
0 hours 5 minutesChurchill War Rooms
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 23.00 GBP | |
Members | 0.00 GBP | |
Kids | 11.50 GBP | Under 16 |
Seniors | 18.40 GBP |
Getting there
It's a 6 minutes walk north to the Churchill War Rooms from Westminster Abbey.
Travel time
0 hours 6 minutesSt. James's Park
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
Enjoy the relative peacefulness of St. James's Park. Grab a coffee and a bite at St James's cafe, then wander east to our next stop: Buckingham Palace - which adjoins the park.
Getting there
It's about a 3 minute walk from the Churchill War Rooms to the entrance of St. James's Park
Travel time
0 hours 3 minutesBuckingham Palace
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | 26.50 - 49.00 GBP | |
Students | 24.00 GBP | |
Kids | 14.50 GBP | Under 17 |
Seniors | 24.00 GBP |
Notes
I recommend walking up to the gates to get some photos. On this trip, I'm not recommending that you take a tour of Buckingham Palace - due to time constraints. Check out the stunning Victoria Memorial in-front of the Palace.
Getting there
Buckingham palace adjoins St. James's Park to the east of the lake.
Travel time
0 hours 5 minutesHyde Park
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Notes
Enjoy a walk through Hyde Park. Wander around, and visit the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Finally walk south out of the Park on West Carriage Drive and take the 10 minute walk to the V&A Museum - our next stop.
Getting there
Getting to Hyde Park from Buckingham Palace is about a 12 minute walk. Walk along Constitution Hill to Hyde Park corner, then cross the busy road to Hyde Park.
Travel time
0 hours 12 minutesV&A - Victoria and Albert Museum
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Getting there
To get to the V&A Museum from Hyde Park, find West Carriage Drive - in the centre of the park. Head south to the main entrance and take the 10 minute walk to the V&A Museum - our next stop.
Travel time
0 hours 10 minutesNatural History Museum
Category | Price | Restrictions |
---|---|---|
Standard | Free |
Getting there
The Natural History Museum is only a 2 minute walk - literally across the street - from the V&A Museum
Travel time
0 hours 2 minutesAbout the author
I founded MapADay to create a platform where anybody could share and promote their favourite travel itineraries - in a consistent format that travellers can easily follow. I've lived in 5 different countries: UK, France, USA, Canada and now Denmark, and love exploring new places with my family - near and far.
Reviews
Login to write a review