Things to do in London in 2 days
London is a city full of monuments, parks, gastronomic sites and incredible places to be. Two days is not enough for London, but enough to fall in love with this famous city.
Postcard of the Buildings in London | ©João Barbosa
With 2 days in London, you will only be able to see the highlights of the British capital, so I have designed an itinerary to help you see most of London's landmarks. Of course, you can take it as a guide and modify it to your liking, so be prepared for a busy couple of days of sightseeing!
Day 1: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, London Eye and Central London
During the first day we will try to see the most emblematic points of the city in order to get a more generic view of what the city is like.
Buckingham Palace
Known as Buckingham House, this building is the official residence of His Majesty the King and has 775 rooms and the largest private garden in London.
Obviously, the monarch's chambers cannot be visited, but by purchasing your tickets to Buckingham Palace you can admire the architecture of the building inside and tour some of the rooms:
- The State Rooms, adorned with works of art and antique furniture.
- The Throne Rooms, more than emblematic.
- The Royal Picture Gallery, where you can see some of the most important masterpieces of the royal collection.
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard in London is a changing of the guard ceremony performed by the Royal Guard. It is a parade that takes place in the mornings and is one of the most famous and important tourist attractions in London.
The changing of the guard takes place every day in June and July and, the rest of the year, only Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Also, it is usually so crowded that sometimes it is difficult to see. So, if you are really interested, my recommendation is to take a tour that includes the changing of the guard, otherwise you might be wasting time that, if you visit London for two days, is really valuable.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a London icon with over 1000 years of history and therefore a must-see during your visit to London.
The interior of this Gothic style church is perhaps even more spectacular than the exterior, so I recommend you book a guided tour of Westminster Abbey to soak it all in.
Also, if you have the London Pass, one of the best London sightseeing cards, entry to Westminster Abbey is included.
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Once you have seen Westminster Abbey, continue through Parliament Square to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, London's most iconic landmarks.
The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is the most important meeting place of the British government. The palace was rebuilt between 1840 and 1870, and you can see it in the foreground sitting on the banks of the River Thames.
While tours of Big Ben are reserved exclusively for UK residents, visits to the Houses of Parliament are offered through their official website.
London Eye
Your next stop will be to see the views from the London Eye. From the Houses of Parliament, cross Westminster Bridge to the Southbank. From there you will see two excellent views: one towards the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and the other towards the London Eye.
If the London Eye is on your list of things to do in London, then I recommend booking tickets for the London Eye in advance because there is usually a long queue.
Trafalgar Square
From Southbank, continue along Hungerford Bridge towards Trafalgar Square and take a break to enjoy the views from the bridge back towards the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
Trafalgar Square is a public square surrounded by some of London's main attractions, including museums, galleries, historic buildings, statues and monuments worth seeing.
Covent Garden
A short walk from Trafalgar Square will take you to Covent Garden, an area full of street performers. In the center of Covent Garden, you'll find a variety of stores and restaurants - this can be a great place to hide away on a rainy day!
If you haven't had lunch yet, then Covent Garden is a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat. Take a stroll through Neal's Yard for a colorful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with plenty of food options, including excellent vegan meals.
National Gallery
If you are an art lover, the National Gallery, home to more than 2,300 works of art, will be an essential part of your visit to London. In this case, I recommend you to book a guided tour of the National Gallery because it will only take you an hour and you will be able to see the most relevant works of the museum.
Of course, if art is not something you appreciate so much, I recommend you to skip this plan to avoid wasting time on something that does not fill you.
Picadilly Circus and Leicester Square
From Regent Street and after walking down Oxford Street (one of the busiest streets) you must get to Piccadilly Circus. No matter what time of day, Piccadilly Circus is always buzzing. It is London's equivalent of New York's Time Square and is a major tourist attraction.
Continue along Piccadilly Circus and, by inertia, you will reach Leicester Square. This is where the movie premieres are held in London- this part of London is arguably even better at night. It is also the heart of Theatreland, so there are plenty of theaters nearby to catch a show.
While there are also plenty of food options in Leicester Square, it is not the most recommended place to eat due to the high prices.
Soho
This area is very popular with Londoners and tourists alike. It is definitely the perfect place to end the day with a variety of entertainment, food and nightlife options.
You will find many excellent restaurants along Wardour Street and its surroundings. You can try Princi if Italian food is to your liking.
Then to end the day you can enjoy a cocktail in one of the many bars or clubs in the area.
Day 2: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shard, Millennium Bridge & Sky Garden
To see as much of London as possible in 2 days, I would recommend starting early again. The second day of your itinerary will start at the Tower of London, which opens at 9am Tuesday through Saturday (and from 10am Sunday through Monday), and end at the Sky Garden.
Tower of London
Dating back to the 1070s as an imposing river fortress, this iconic historic site has served many purposes throughout its existence as a fortress, prison, royal mint and even a zoo and, today, a tourist attraction.
You can book tickets for the Tower of London in advance to avoid wasting time or gain access with the London Pass
If you're not interested in entering, at least walk its perimeter, from where you can get excellent views and an idea of the scale of the tower.
Tower Bridge
Once you've seen the Crown Jewels, head to Tower Bridge, one of the landmarks in London.
The bridge opens fairly regularly to allow tall ships to pass. It's an impressive sight, so it's worth checking the Tower Bridge website to see if it's scheduled to open during your 2 days in London.
The Shard
At 95 stories high, London's tallest skyscraper offers breathtaking views of the city.
Book tickets for The Shard and climb 310 m (1020 ft) above the ground, in what is the tallest structure in Western Europe.
You can also take advantage and stop by the Ting restaurant at The Shard, which serves one of the best afternoon teas, although it is on the 35th floor, so the view won't be as spectacular.
Golden Hide
Your route on this 2-day London itinerary will take you past the Golden Hide. This is a full-scale reconstruction of the first English ship to circumnavigate the world, captained by Sir Francis Drake.
You can also get on board by purchasing your London Pass. It is an impressive structure and well worth a look.
Borough Market
You should be pretty hungry by now! Stop by Borough Market, one of the best places for street food in London. Here you will find a tempting variety of food from all over the world.
The delicious aromas will instantly permeate your senses and, if you're not hungry? Just wait until you stop by! The market is usually open every day except Sundays. Check the Borough Market website for up-to-date opening times.
Shakespeare Globe
As you continue your walk along the south bank of the river, you'll inevitably come across Shakespeare's Globe, a world-renowned outdoor performing arts center that is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, for which William Shakespeare wrote his best plays.
For fans of Shakespeare or theater, it's well worth a visit. It is also included in the London Pass.
If you don't have it, tickets for the Shakespeare Globe cost £17 (20.23 euros) and can be booked online through Shakespeare's Globe website.
Tate Modern
Another 5-minute walk and you'll arrive at the Tate Modern. As with most museums and art galleries in London, admission to the Tate Modern is free but if you really love art and want to make the most of your stay, it's best to book a guided tour of the Tate Modern.
This art gallery houses the largest collection of modern art in the UK. I won't tell you more.
Millennium Bridge
Opened in 2000, the Millennium Bridge was the first bridge to be built over the River Thames in 100 years. This impressive steel suspension footbridge connects the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe on the south bank of the Thames with St Pauls in the north. A spectacle of historical monuments!
Also, on the bridge itself small pieces of hidden artwork painted on chewing gum and designed by artist Ben Wilson.
Moreover, Harry Potter fans will recognize the Millennium Bridge in the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Mystery. If you like Harry Potter I recommend booking a Harry Potter tour of London- you'll love it!
Sky Garden
Our last stop for this guide to London in 2 days is Sky Garden, a themed garden divided into three levels where you will discover a prehistoric forest made up of fig trees and tree ferns, as well as flowering plants from the Mediterranean and South Africa.
Sky Garden also has observation decks, two restaurants, a bar and an outdoor terrace. One of the best things about Sky Garden is that it's free!