2 days in London: an ambitious, hour-by-hour itinerary for people who want to hit the city hard

Planning a short visit to London and not sure what to see? We’ve created the perfect 2 days in London itinerary: everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip.

As a born and bred Londoner, it can be too easy to take our hometown for granted. Buckingham Palace, been there, done that. The London Eye? Julianna used to work there.

So we decided to fix the situation and spend 2 days in London like a tourist.

The result? The best London itinerary you can get your hands on, and we mean that. This isn’t a gentle stroll, it’s a properly ambitious two days, back to back, built for people who’d rather come home exhausted than come home wishing they’d seen more.

If you’re planning your trip to the city and wondering how best to spend your two days here, hold it right there. Put your comfortable walking shoes on and prepare yourself for this perfectly storming tour of gritty, grimy, beautiful London.

PS… Have even less time? Here’s our guide to exploring London in one day.

2 days in London itinerary

Day one

10am, Hyde Park

Start your two days in London in Hyde Park, one of London’s Royal Parks and our second favourite London park (the first is St James’s Park, don’t worry, we’ll pop in there later).

Hyde Park in the morning somehow feels utterly quaint. Low-key celebrity joggers, dog walkers with some of London’s most pampered pooches in well-ordered clusters at heel, a few ambitious souls swimming in the Serpentine (the lake in the middle of the park).

It’s a nice way to introduce you to London, enjoy some peace and quiet while you can, you’re about to enter the fray.

After Hyde Park, cross over to walk through Green Park and over to Buckingham Palace.

11am, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

You can’t take a trip to London and not visit Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is every bit as large and ostentatious as you’d expect for the official residence of the monarch. It’s all a bit embarrassing really, 775 rooms (no, that’s not a typo) including 188 bedrooms for the staff alone and 78 bathrooms, in case you were wondering.

You can visit the State Rooms during the summer opening (they generally run from early July to late September, book ahead as slots go fast) or satisfy yourself by taking a million pictures of the palace’s exterior.

We’re not actually here to visit Buckingham Palace, though. We’re here to see something much more exciting, the Changing of the Guard.

The Changing of the Guard is officially when the King’s Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace to the New Guard. Whatever that means.

In reality, it’s a glorious display of slightly ridiculous but iconic tradition as the guards strut (sorry, march) around in their bright scarlet tunics and skyscraper bearskin hats, accompanied by music.

Unfortunately, the powers that be don’t think we could handle the excitement of the Changing of the Guard every day, so it only takes place on select days in the winter months, though it’s daily during the summer. Days and times can change or be cancelled, check before you go.

We’ve just about got time to pop into St James’s Park for a little stroll.

Sandwiched between Buckingham Palace, Downing Street and Horse Guards Parade, St James’s Park is a little bit of bliss in central London.

If you had more time, we’d suggest plopping yourself down on one of the benches with an ice cream and soaking up the idyllic setting, its famous pelicans included. But you don’t. So onwards we go.

12pm, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

Can we make a confession? Julianna hadn’t actually visited Westminster Abbey until fairly recently. Walked past it? A million times. Actually made the effort to go inside? Nope. Westminster was for tourists.

Turns out we were missing a lot.

Westminster Abbey dates back to 1245 in its present form, and the site has been the country’s coronation church (where the monarch is officially crowned) since 1066. It’s also one of the most spectacular gothic buildings in the UK, make sure you have plenty of space on your memory card. Entry currently runs to around £31, book ahead online for the shortest queue.

We’re not that bothered about seeing the graves of past monarchs, but you shouldn’t miss Poet’s Corner, where some of the nation’s leading literary figures are buried or commemorated.

On a slightly less macabre note, pop out of Westminster Abbey and cross the road to see the Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster.

The Houses of Parliament are the seat of British government, and another pretty impressive Gothic building. It’s not hard to imagine the cogs of politics running their course in the depths of this grand old building.

The Houses of Parliament are also famous for their role in the notorious gunpowder plot, when Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby and a band of Catholic dissenters tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and the then king, James I.

Didn’t work out so well for them, but it was the inspiration for our much-loved Fireworks Night, so they’ve made their mark in the history books one way or another.

Big Ben is perched next to the Houses of Parliament (well, actually it’s part of the Palace of Westminster too). Good news if you visited a few years back and remember it wrapped in scaffolding, the multi-year restoration wrapped up back in 2022, so you’ll get the full, unobscured view and bongs, back in action after their own hiatus during the works.

2pm, lunch at The Cinnamon Club

You’ve been working hard. All that walking, paying attention, dodging the angry Londoners stalking the pavement. It’s really hard work, we get it. Time to treat yourself to lunch at The Cinnamon Club.

The Cinnamon Club is one of our favourite restaurants in London for one reason, because it serves fabulous food. You have not tasted a curry until you’ve had it there. This isn’t one of your greasy spoon, slop-it-on-a-plate kind of curry. This is high-end Indian dining in a pretty swanky setting, set inside the former Old Westminster Library, a genuinely striking Grade II listed room still lined with books. The restaurant celebrated 25 years in 2026, and Executive Chef Vivek Singh’s cooking remains genuinely excellent.

Its close proximity to the Houses of Parliament means it’s not unusual to spot a politician or two either. You’ll be too busy savouring your food to care.

4pm, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

Now that you’re rested and refreshed, it’s time to take on another one of the city’s iconic landmarks on your London itinerary, Trafalgar Square.

This large public square sits at the end of Whitehall, the proud home of Nelson’s Column and the National Gallery.

Trafalgar Square is at the heart of the central London community. For Julianna, it’s filled with the memories of Christmases past, bright lights and a dazzling tree, and so many events it’s hard to keep track. There’s pretty much always something going on here, check the calendar to see what’s on when you visit.

The National Gallery couldn’t be more of a contrast to the busy square, there’s something so peaceful about leaving the crowds and the noise to step into the home of our national art collection. It’s busy, of course, but in that shuffling, muted manner typical of most galleries.

Masterpiece after masterpiece, you can walk through the history of art in the course of a few hours. And all for free, good time to note that most of London’s museums and galleries are free, though you’ll need to pay for any special exhibitions.

7pm, the London Eye or Sky Garden

For full disclosure, Julianna used to work at the London Eye, gorging herself silly at the age of 17 on all the free rides, face pressed against the glass, soaking up the far-reaching views down the Thames. Turns out there really is too much of a good thing, though, she’s never quite managed to face going on it again.

Still, unless you’ve been on there umpteen times, we’d be remiss if we didn’t add it to your London itinerary. If you can time your visit for sunset, dusk falling over the city from up high, the river and buildings bathed in rosy hues, is genuinely lovely.

Tickets run close to £30 for a standard 30-minute spin, and you can also book VIP tickets or hire a private capsule if you’re celebrating something.

Want the view without the ticket price? Swap the Eye for Sky Garden instead, free entry, book a timed slot online in advance, and you’ll get a genuinely lush indoor garden alongside your City views, three floors up inside the Walkie Talkie. Booking a table at one of its restaurants also gets you in even when general tickets are sold out.

Time to hop on the Tube. Walk to Waterloo and take the Bakerloo line (the brown line) to Oxford Circus station.

8pm, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square

Controversial opinion alert. Don’t bother going shopping on Oxford Street. If you’ve ever been to a high street, we can guarantee you’ve seen what it’s got to offer. In fact, we’d say don’t bother with Oxford Street at all.

Still, we know you won’t believe us until you’ve seen it for yourself. Just don’t blame us when you get trampled by a horde of camera-touting tourists who flatten you to the pavement without any sign of realising you exist.

Once you’re done with that funfair/circus/inner circle of hell, take yourself down Regent Street to another of London’s big landmarks, Piccadilly Circus. Us Londoners have got a bit of a chip on our shoulder because it’s not quite as cool as Times Square, but you can’t miss it on your London trip, chip or no chip.

Next up is Leicester Square. Don’t eat anything, buy anything or drink anything in Leicester Square, it’s almost certainly overpriced and underwhelming. We’re sorry, but it’s the cold, hard truth.

We could extend that to saying don’t go to Leicester Square at all, but that seems churlish. It’s home to a ridiculous number of cinemas, so it’s a winner if you want to catch a film. But we’ve got bigger and better plans, so we’ll wave farewell.

9pm, cocktails and dinner at Bob Bob Ricard in Soho

We hope you’ve been saving your pennies, because it’s time to splurge them on the most ridiculously good meal you can eat in London. Welcome to Bob Bob Ricard.

This Russian-European restaurant combines Belle-Époque style, high-end food (the lobster is so delicious you’ll dream about it for weeks), great cocktails and some natty dining booths with actual buttons you can press for champagne. It’s exactly what you want and deserve to recuperate after your busy day.

11pm, late-night cocktails at Disrepute Soho

OK, we’ll confess. We love a cocktail. Oh, you do too? We knew we were meant to be friends.

Soho isn’t short of a cocktail bar or two, and most of them are actually pretty good too. But if you only want the best, Disrepute is the place to go.

Book a table and settle in for perfectly executed, devilishly sippable cocktails. Life is hard, suck it up. Just not too many cocktails, though, you’re only halfway through your London trip and you need your energy for tomorrow, not a stinking hangover.

Day two

9am, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

It’s an early start today, and we’re sorry, kind of. Turns out the list of things you must see in London in 2 days is pretty long.

We’re big believers in early starts, so here we are at the Tower of London at 9am, coffee in hand, eyelids propped open.

The Tower of London is intrinsically linked with London’s history. The capital’s castle, many of the country’s high and mighty have been imprisoned within its walls, perhaps most famously Elizabeth I during her half-sister Mary I’s reign.

The Tower of London has a pretty gruesome past, as the list of people executed there attests. It’s not all doom and gloom, though, it’s also home to more pleasant relics and traditions, including the Crown Jewels and the strangely attired Beefeaters.

Just a few paces away from the Tower of London, you’ll come to another of London’s icons, Tower Bridge. The neo-Gothic bridge has been raising its ramparts to allow tall ships to pass since 1894.

The bridge is also the subject of a rather amusing rumour, that American tycoon Robert McCulloch accidentally purchased the much less impressive London Bridge rather than the intended Tower Bridge and had it shipped all the way to Arizona in the 1960s. It looks like this is a vicious rumour and McCulloch had always intended to buy London Bridge, but it’s a fun story nonetheless.

10am, The Shard

From the old to the new. If you haven’t heard the hype, The Shard is the tallest building in London, so it should come as no surprise that it’s one of the best places to see the city in its full glory, and shouldn’t be skipped.

The View From The Shard experience gives you views of up to 40 miles from levels 69 and 72 of the building, tickets currently run from around £24-28, book ahead for a discount and to guarantee your slot.

The Shard was relatively controversial when it was built, with many claiming it would ruin London’s skyline. Now that you’ve seen it, you can weigh in on the still-simmering debate.

11am, Borough Market for brunch

Borough Market is the city’s best-known food market and handily located just down the road from The Shard.

We sincerely hope you’re hungry, the market’s been feeding the capital in some shape or form since the 12th century, and they’re pretty damned good at it now. It’s an unmissable stop, even on a short visit.

We’ll let you make your own mind up about how you feel about eating the gloriously cheesy concoction that is raclette at 11am, but let’s face it, you only live once, and it’s so good it would be rude not to. Make a beeline for Kappacasein to indulge in a meal so good you’ll wonder why you don’t eat cheese for breakfast every day.

PS. We can still be friends if you opt for something else.

12pm, Tate Modern

The second day of your London itinerary takes you to not one, but two museums. Tate Modern is the first.

As the name suggests, this is Tate’s museum of modern art (there’s also Tate Britain further down the river, with a more traditional offering).

The collection ranges from the thought-provoking to the downright strange, and features artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Mark Rothko. There’s also an ever-changing roster of temporary exhibitions (you’ll have to pay for these).

2pm, St Paul’s Cathedral

Walk across the Millennium Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral, undoubtedly one of the best things you’ll see on this trip.

Possibly the most striking building in London, St Paul’s Cathedral has been built and rebuilt five times, most famously after the Great Fire of London that razed much of the city to the ground.

The current cathedral was designed by one of England’s most-lauded architects, Sir Christopher Wren, in the 17th and 18th century. Even now, its huge dome is an architectural marvel.

Impressive as the building is, it’s even more striking inside, and very much worth the entry fee.

3pm, Natural History Museum, Science Museum or V&A

Time to hop on the Underground again. Walk to Monument station and take the Circle or District line (yellow or green line) to South Kensington. Our destination? Museum Mile in the Kensington area.

You’ve got a tough decision to make. Which museum? Sorry to make you choose, but with only two days, you can’t see all three.

The Natural History Museum gives you a glimpse into the earth’s history, a story covering dinosaur fossils, human biology, creepy crawlies and human evolution, spread across dozens of galleries.

The Science Museum should start marketing itself as the most fun you can have in London with your clothes on, a bold claim, but it backs it up.

Immersive exhibitions, sensory experiences and little-known facts combine to provide a peek into the fascinating world of science. There’s a reason it was always the school trip everyone got most excited about.

On the other hand, the V&A isn’t a museum kids get quite as excited about (though if you do have kids, check out this guide to child-friendly activities in London). Full-grown adults will appreciate the vast collection in one of the best museums of art and design in the world.

It’s a museum of superlatives, the finest collection of Italian sculptures outside of Italy, the most Indian art you’ll find outside of India, and an enchantingly haphazard but impressive collection of arts from the Masters, Islamic art, sculpture, fashion and design, clustered under its impressive roof.

5pm, Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens

Our two days in London are almost over, but not quite.

There’s still just about time to fit in one more royal palace and park, Kensington Palace and Gardens, to be precise. Kensington Gardens is often referred to as the other half of Hyde Park, but technically it’s separate.

Swing by the Albert Memorial, built in memory of Queen Victoria’s much-beloved husband, before popping into Kensington Palace itself. You’ll need to be quick, it closes at 6pm, but there’s just enough time to see the rather ostentatious King’s State Apartments and their more modest counterparts, the Queen’s State Apartments.

Don’t forget to take a peek at the Royal Albert Hall, which is across the road from the park too.

7pm, the Churchill Arms

You’ve been haring around tackling this itinerary, and you haven’t been in a pub yet? This is a serious wrong that needs fixing pronto.

Luckily, one of the capital’s most charming pubs and photo locations, The Churchill Arms, is a quick walk away.

Bedecked in a bustle of blooming flowers, the pub serves an excellent range of ales and surprisingly good Thai food.

Settle in with a pint or a large glass of wine and give yourself a big pat on the back. You’ve conquered two days in London like a pro. Now it’s time for a rest.

Time for one more? The British Museum

Try as we might, we just couldn’t fit a trip to The British Museum into the itinerary. We’re sorry, we’ve failed you.

On the plus side, if you have a bit more time, you can schedule a visit in. The galleries stretch over several miles, so wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes and don’t forget your map.

The London x London Take: we’ve deliberately kept this ambitious rather than pared it back, this itinerary works because it makes you actually earn your two days rather than coast through a shortlist. If something has to give, cut one of the Day Two museums rather than the walking pace itself, that’s the bit readers consistently tell us they loved most.

Practical tips and tricks

Now you know what to see, here are a few tips to help you plan the rest of your trip.

Should I take the hop-on-hop-off bus?

You don’t really need one for this itinerary, since we’re mostly walking, but whizzing around the city on an open-top double-decker can be a fun add-on if you’d rather sit than walk for a stretch. Several operators run these tours, worth comparing current routes and prices before you book.

Is a sightseeing pass worth it?

If you’re visiting on a time limit and want to bundle several paid attractions together, a multi-attraction pass can work out cheaper than paying for everything separately, several providers offer these, covering everything from the Tower of London to guided bus tours. Do the maths against the specific attractions on this itinerary before you buy, since pricing and inclusions change fairly often and a pass isn’t always the better deal.

Budget hacks and money-saving tips

• Walk, despite its big reputation, the centre of London is quite small and very walkable. There’s no better way to discover a city than on foot, and it saves on London’s relatively expensive public transport costs.
• Visit lots of museums, most of London’s museums and large galleries are free to enter. There are so many to choose from that you could easily spend your two days in London only visiting museums and only scratch the surface. Read our guide to exploring London for free.
• Eat street food or from markets, London has a buzzing street food scene full of delicious treats at a fraction of the cost of a sit-down meal. Borough Market is the city’s best-known, but there’s something to suit every taste, Boxpark in Shoreditch, Maltby Street Market (Saturdays and Sundays), Flat Iron Square, Leather Lane (daytimes only) and the South Bank among the best hotspots.
• Book in advance, lots of attractions, the London Eye included, offer a discount if you book ahead. It’s an easy way to save money and skip the queue at the same time.
• Use an Oyster card or a contactless card to pay for transport as you go, it’s capped daily depending on whether you travel peak or off-peak, and works out cheaper than most bundled transport add-ons.
• Check listings to see if there are any free events happening in the evenings. This two-day London itinerary leaves you free at night, there’s always time to see something else.

Getting around

London has an extensive transport system that’s easy to use. In the centre, it’s formed of trains, buses, the Underground (the Tube), river buses and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

We’d recommend an Oyster card to pay for your journeys, though you can also use contactless, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Just check ahead that your card issuer or bank won’t charge an additional foreign transaction fee, since this can add unnecessary cost to your trip.

Moving on: recommended day trips from London

• Oxford. Julianna may be biased, having gone to university there, but Oxford is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities with a long and fascinating history to discover. Clusters of golden sandstone buildings, dreaming spires and bucolic riverside walks await. If you’d rather not organise the trains and timings yourself, this Oxford and Cotswolds day tour covers both in one day, a genuinely efficient way to see both without a car.
• Cambridge. The eternal rivalry lives on, Cambridge is quieter than Oxford but no less idyllic. Meander between university buildings that are centuries old while soaking up the atmosphere. Go from King’s Cross directly by train, or book an organised day tour if you’d rather not plan the logistics yourself.
• Bath. Bath has been a fashionable go-to destination since the 18th century, it even pops up in a few Jane Austen novels. Go to see the Roman ruins, spend some time at the spa, and live your best Georgian-era life. This day tour combines Bath with Stonehenge, a genuinely good way to tick off both in a single day.
• Brighton. A quintessential British seaside destination, Brighton might not have golden sands (full disclosure: it’s a pebble beach), but it’s a lively, cool city with a vibrant dining and nightlife scene. Read our guide to the best beaches near London for more options.
• The Cotswolds. Chances are that if you conjure up an image of a traditional British village, it looks a lot like the villages dotted around the Cotswolds. Fair warning, they’re descended on by hordes of tourists during peak season, it’s up to you whether you want to enter the fray. You’ll need a car, or go with an organised tour if you’d rather leave the driving to someone else.

Don’t forget to pack

An umbrella. Much as we like to deny it, it really does rain a fair bit in London. You can step out into pure, brilliant sunshine, and five minutes later find yourself soaked to the skin. Pack one regardless of the forecast.

Comfortable walking shoes. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking. In winter, nothing says London style like a pair of chic ankle boots, in the summer months, a good pair of sandals or trainers you can happily walk miles in does the job just as well.

A London travel guide. A proper printed guidebook is still genuinely useful for the bits an itinerary like this one can’t cover, browse whichever publisher’s current edition you prefer at your local bookshop before you travel.

Where to stay

Budget, Safestay Holland Park

It might not have the most imaginative name, but this hotel-cum-hostel in the leafy area of Holland Park offers excellent value and good transport links into the centre, at a fraction of the cost of most other London hotels. Check prices at Safestay now.

Mid-range, K West Hotel & Spa, Shepherd’s Bush

Ultra-modern rooms and a spa to pamper yourself in at the end of a long day. K West might be a Tube ride away from central London, but it offers a high-end stay at mid-range prices, a genuine rarity in a city known for expensive accommodation. Check prices at K West now.

Luxury, The Henrietta, Covent Garden

We’re suckers for a gorgeously decorated boutique hotel, so it was inevitable we’d love The Henrietta. What’s not to love? Its contemporary-luxe decor is eccentric enough to be interesting, comfortable enough to put you at ease. Add a central location, and you’re onto a winner. Check prices at The Henrietta now.

Want more options? Read our full guide to where to stay in London, an area-by-area breakdown with budget, mid-range and luxury picks for every part of the city.

Itinerary map

Recommended reading

We’ve written a host of guides about London, but we’d particularly recommend these before your trip.

• One Day in London: to help you plan an even shorter trip to the city.
• Five Days in London: in case you decide you want to stay longer.
• Where to Stay in London: an area-by-area guide to the best areas to stay and what to do in each one.
• Offbeat Things to do in London: away from the big sights, the cool, quirky and sometimes weird things London has to offer.
• Day Trips from London: cool British destinations within easy day-trip distance.
• Harry Potter in London: hunting out Harry Potter filming locations and hotspots.
• Free Things to do in London: things to do in the capital that won’t cost you a penny.
• London at Night: how to see the best of the capital after dark.
• London’s Best Secret Bars and Speakeasies: for illicit cocktails and cheeky drinks.