This makes it a great city for a 2 day or weekend break.
Here are some tips on how to spend the perfect 48 hours in London including how to travel, where to stay and a perfect itinerary to make sure you maximise your weekend.
How to Get to London
London is a key hub of the UK’s rail and bus network with routes leading to the city from all directions of the country and Europe. London also has several airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton located nearby with connections to lots of international destinations.
Getting Around
There’s an extensive underground network and bus routes that run well into the night. This means, no matter what time of day, you’ll always find a way to navigate around the city.
You could also travel by foot as a lot of tourist attractions are nearby especially in the west end. Other options include taxi and Uber, whilst there are also a number of places to rent a car all over London.
For the ultimate tourist experience several companies offer sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tours running daily throughout the year which are a great way to see the main highlights in a short period of time.
Where to Stay?
London’s sprawling metropolis has a vast array of hotels and hostels to suit all budgets. Stay near the West End and Covent Garden to be in amongst the action, where nightlife and evening entertainment is on your doorstep.
- £££: Hotel Cafe Royal (view more options for luxury hotels in London)
- ££: Mimi's Hotel Soho
- £: View our guide to the best budget hostels in London
View all accommodation on Booking.com and reserve in-advance for the cheapest prices.
Suggested London Weekend Itinerary
Whether this is your first time in London, or you just want to see more of England’s capital, this two-day itinerary can help you see what London has to offer.
Saturday Morning
Quintessentially British, start your morning off right outside Buckingham Palace.
Take in the grandeur of the design, see the unique ritual of the changing of the guards (which takes place at 11am on certain dates) and upload a few snaps in front of this iconic palace.
From Buckingham Palace you can also see the Queen Victoria Memorial outside the cast iron gates. Look beyond this to see the flowing Mall running adjacent to the floral St James’ Park.
Spend your first morning wandering around the park, listening to the birds and taking a moment of peace before all the excitement of the rest of your trip.
Just a 20 minute walk from the palace, through the park is your next must see; 10 Downing Street. Although you won’t be able to walk to the doorstep, go up to the gates and soak in the history.
Just five minutes up the road is the towering Big Ben and the iconic Houses of Parliament. Walk along Westminster Bridge to take in the best view of the gothic architecture and grand scale of the clock tower.
Saturday Afternoon
After a morning of packing in the sights, take a welcome break with a spot of lunch. But, as you’re in the capital city, if you want to do it in style at the famously luxurious, Ritz Restaurant.
Thankfully, it’s not too far from Big Ben. It’s just a short, one stop, tube journey from Westminster station to Green Park on the Jubilee line (or head there first after Buckingham Palace if you’d rather).
Enjoy the charming tradition of afternoon tea with finely cut sandwiches, fresh cream scones and cakes that are almost too good to eat. Sip on a glass of bubbly in the elegant surroundings before heading back out to the bustling London streets to continue your weekend.
Please note this isn't cheap with prices generally £100+ per person but if you have the budget or do want to treat yourself it really is a special experience. Don't worry if you are visiting London on the cheap though, there are plenty of cafes, food outlets and restaurants on the same street as the Ritz for a fraction of the price.
From Green Park, hop on the Piccadilly line to South Kensington for the Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert museums. Take your pick and explore the exciting interactive exhibits found in these top London museums.
Saturday Evening
Once you’ve finished exploring, head back to the South Kensington tube, to get back on the Piccadilly Line and get off at the vibrant Leicester Square - about a 20 minute journey away.
From world-renowned film premieres to the nearby West End shows, Leicester Square is a hive of activity. Head across to Trafalgar Square and take a wander through Picadilly Circus.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, stop in at check out Chinatown, there’s loads of choices, street food and take-aways.
From here you can take a 10-minute stroll to Covent Garden. Here you’ll find a wide range of restaurants, from well known chains to independent eateries. Enjoy street performers before taking your seat for an evening of entertainment in one of the world-renowned theatres in the area.
From musicals, comedies, dramas to Shakespeare’s classics, you’ll surely find a show to enjoy. After the show, enjoy cocktails in one of the many bars open late in either Covent Garden, Soho or Leicester Square.
Sunday Morning
After an exciting evening, start your Sunday morning off slowly, with a nice view. St Paul’s Cathedral is easy to get to on the tube via, the Central Line, or by taking the District and Circle Line to Mansion House. Take in the beauty of the magnificent Monument, before taking a stroll along the River Thames.
Walk past the iconic London Bridge and the epic HMS Belfast to the medieval Tower of London that overlooks Tower Bridge - this is one of the most popular historical attractions in London.
In this area you can take shelter in the nearby Coppa Club. Famous for its glass igloos, enjoy a delicious brunch overlooking the river. I’d recommend pre-booking this, if this is what you fancy.
Alternatively, you can cross London Bridge and even take to the skies in the neighboring Shard, where you can enjoy panoramic views of London’s ever changing skyline.
Sunday Afternoon
Travel in style down the River Thames on a cruise.
You can get on at Tower Bridge and head east for sights such as the London Eye, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in the world.
This is definately one of the most romantic things to do in London, but even if you don't fancy it, hop off here and explore the Southbank, famous for its art galleries, street performers and many tourist attractions.
If you’d prefer to shop, take the Bakerloo line from the Embankment Station across the river to Oxford Circus. Here you can walk to Oxford Street for well-known, high street brands, independent boutiques and designer outlets.
Sunday Evening
If you don’t fancy fashion and want something more upbeat to end your trip, jump on the Northern Line from the Waterloo Underground to Camden Town.
Discover the famous street art, get lost in the maze that is Camden Market, relax in the old-school pubs and relish in this lively part of London.
If you visit London on a sunny day you might want to walk 20 minutes from Camden high street to Primrose Hill for amazing sunset skyline views of London.
There are lots of bars and clubs here with live music in Camden, a perfect way to spend a night in London on your last night in the city.
Enjoy the colourful nature of Camden before saying goodbye to this momentous city. If you arrived by train, you can easily find your way back as Camden is less than 15 minutes away from Kings Cross Station on the Underground, via the Northern Line.
Plan a City Break to London
With only two days in London, it’s best to start with a plan of what you want to see.
This city is huge with so many different places to see and things to experience. If you would like to see the main London tourist sights in only 48 hours hopefully our guide has given you ideas and inspiration for what to do.
Our itinerary really is an action packed 2 days packed full of amazing sights, excitement and great food. What more could you need in a weekend adventure?
There really are though hundreds of places you could visit so be sure to research all to see what appeals to you.
Where you go really comes down to the weather and time of year too, like if you visit in summer you could spend a day in Hyde Park or consider day trips from London, some beaches are only an hour away by train.
Go explore London for yourself, you won't want to leave!
