The Ultimate 2 Day London Itinerary for an Unforgettable Trip
Only have 2 days in London and looking to build an itinerary to see as much of this dazzling city as possible? You have come to the right place. Creating a 2 day London itinerary can be daunting to a first-time visitor, but after having spent a semester studying abroad and another trip back to the city, I’ve crafted my ultimate itinerary for all the must-see landmarks, museums, and other stops you need to make on a short visit.
You could easily spend a month visiting London and not fall short of things to do. So if you only have a couple days to digest this city, its important to determine what is most important to you. Throughout this itinerary we will cover:
- London’s most famous landmarks including Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace and more.
- The major museums throughout the city and which ones might be of greatest interest to you.
- Cultural experiences such as seeing a show on the West End that you can’t find anywhere else in the world!
If this sounds like a 2 day London itinerary you are ready to build, then let’s dive in!
Getting Around London – Public Transportation
Public transportation around London is not only incredibly accessible, but also efficient and reliable. After having spent a few months studying abroad in the city pinching pennies, I got pretty savvy at navigating the Tube and bus routes. But if you prefer to stick to car hire instead, there are plenty of options for that as well.
The Tube
Similar to any other metro transportation in a major city, the Tube is often the most efficient way to get from point A to point B in London. The stations are generally well marked, clean, and trains come relatively often (depending on time of day and location) but rarely have I waited longer than 10 minutes for the Tube in central London.
Tube prices vary depending on how far you travel within the city, but typically it costs just shy of £3 per ride. To pay, you can either preload money onto an “Oyster Card” that you purchase within the station and tap it as you enter and exit the stations. Or, if you have a contactless payment credit card you can tap it at the machines to pay.
The Bus
Similar to the Tube, London has an intricate network of double decker buses around the city that are both cheap and efficient when trying to get major landmarks. Sometimes, the bus is even faster than the Tube! I tend to prefer the bus as an option since you get to see the city as you ride aboveground and a ride on the second story of the bus is always fun!
Riding the bus is a bit cheaper than the Tube, with one way fares at £1.75. Similar to the Tube, you can either use an Oyster card or contactless card to pay. If you don’t have an Oyster card, you will need to purchase one ahead of time at either a Tube station or newsagent around London.
Day One in London: Landmark Tour, Museum, and a West End Show
On day one of our 2 day London itinerary, we will start out with seeing some of London’s most famous landmarks including Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey. Next we will head over to one of the many famous museums in the city of most interest to you. Then, we will wrap up the day with a show on the West End.
Buckingham Palace
To start our tour of some of London’s major landmarks, head over to Buckingham Palace in Westminster. Both the King’s official London residence and a working royal palace, this massive palace in the middle of London is quite the sight to see.
With only a couple days to see the whole city, spending 15 minutes to walk around outside the gates, take pictures, and take in the grandeur of this magnificent palace should be sufficient. However, if you are interested in exploring Buckingham in greater detail, you can book tickets for a self guided tour (using a multimedia guide) of some of the palace’s staterooms. Admission for adults is £35 and kids are £17.50 (under 5 are free) but if you book in advance, you can get a small discount on these prices.
Westminster Abbey
About a 15 minute walk from Buckingham Palace, head on over to Westminster Abbey for our next stop on our London itinerary. Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church of London for nearly 1000 years and is the final resting place for 17 monarchs and many other famous historical English figures.
Admission to Westminster Abbey is £29 for adults and £13 for children (5 and under are free) and includes a multimedia guide to tour the church. On your tour you will have the opportunity to explore the Royal tombs (where 30 kings and queens are buried), Poet’s Corner: the resting place of over 100 famous authors including William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, view the Coronation chair, and much more.
I would anticipate to spend at least an hour in Westminster Abbey, but you will likely need closer to 90-120 minutes for a thorough tour of the church.
Big Ben
No London itinerary is complete without a picture in front of the infamous Big Ben clock. And conveniently, Big Ben is just a short walk down the block from Westminster Abbey. Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the clock, and the structure it is inside is Elizabeth Tower.
If you are interested, you can purchase 90 minute tour tickets of the interior of Elizabeth Tower that include a 334 step climb up to the clock. Please note that children must be at least 11 years old and you need to be in good physical health in order to go on the tour. The tour is £30 for adults and £15 for children (aged 11+).
The London Eye
Our final stop on our self guided walking tour will take us across the river to the London Eye. The London Eye is the world’s tallest ferris wheel, offering unmatched views of London and a fun experience while doing so. Whether you are a solo traveler or on a family trip, this is a must-do attraction during your stay in the city.
Tickets to the London Eye are £42 if you purchase the day of, but there are often early bird discounts offered if you book tickets in advance.
Optional: Museum Tour
Depending on what attractions you decide to book tickets for throughout the self-guided walking tour, you may have some spare time to fit one of London’s museums into your day. If you would like to fit a museum into your 2 day London itinerary, here is a list of museums I would recommend checking out:
- The National Gallery: Not far from our walking tour lies The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery is an impressive art museum, housing more than 2000 pieces of art dating back to the 13th century. Pieces from world-renowned artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci, Claude Monet and more are on display throughout the museum. Admission to the National Gallery is free.
- British Museum: A little further north you can find the British Museum which brands itself as an experience to “immerse yourself in two million years of human history, art and culture” with over 8 million works comprising its massive collection of artifacts from around the world. The museum can be a bit daunting, so I highly recommend checking out the galleries and exhibitions in advance to decide where you want to dedicate your time. Admission to the British Museum is free.
- Imperial War Museum: About a 20 minute walk from the London Eye you can find the Imperial War Museum in London. The Imperial War Museum is dedicated primarily to galleries and displays featuring Great Britain’s involvement in the first and second world wars. If you enjoy learning about the World Wars, this museum is an excellent first hand resource. With everything from recovered fighter jets, to videos of first person accounts, and other relics from the time on display, there is a lot of unique World War pieces to observe. Additionally, there is a very well done gallery dedicated to the Holocaust on the top floor.
- Museum of London: Interested in learning more about London in particular? The Museum of London is set up to walk you through the history of the city from prehistoric times up through recent history. You can see everything from relics from the paleolithic era, ancient tools, clothing, paintings, photographs, and more exploring the lives of people living in London throughout history. Admission to the museum is free and this is one of the more child-friendly options in the city.
There are dozens of other museums both large and small scattered throughout the city. For more inspiration on what sort of museums you can visit, read on here.
See a Show on the West End
To wrap up the first day of our 2 day London itinerary, head on over to the West End for a night at the theatre! Similar to Broadway, the West End is a collection of 39 theatres in the West End of London that put on high production shows daily. The West End has been a staple of London society since the 17th century. Today, you can see shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, and Les Miserables to name a few.
Ticket prices range depending on the popularity of the show you are interested in seeing and time of year you are visiting. In my experience, shows on the West End run a bit less expensive than Broadway. I’ve had luck finding tickets as low as £25 and have rarely had to more than £100 for a single ticket.
Some of my favorite memories in London include dressing up, purchasing a glass of wine, and sitting back to enjoy a show in the alluring theatres the shows are housed in. Plus, after a long day of tours- a couple hours off your feet will feel very nice!
Day Two in London: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, Afternoon Tea, and Shakespeare’s Globe
For the second day of our 2 day London itinerary, we are going to start at the beautiful St. Paul’s Cathedral. Then we will head over to the Tower of London for a guided tour, enjoy some classic afternoon British tea, and then round out the day with a show at Shakespeare’s Globe.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Known for being one of the grandest monuments in the world by both size and age, St. Paul’s Cathedral has been one of London’s most treasured landmarks since the 7th century despite numerous wars, fires, and other tragedies during its time. The Cathedral was largely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, and the monument as we know it today was redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710. After its redesign, the Cathedral’s dome became one of the largest in the world.
Admission to the Cathedral is £20.50 for adults and £9 for children. During your visit, you will find over 400 monuments spread throughout the church, an extensive collection of art, the tombs of several notable English historical figures including Sir Christopher Wren, and you will have the ability to marvel at the dome from the interior.
If you are up for it, one of the best parts of visiting the church is climbing up the dome. 257 steps into your climb you will come to the Whispering Galleries. No matter where you stand, if you whisper to someone across the gallery the architecture will carry your voice and they will be able to hear you as clearly as if you were standing right next to them.
You can find the Stone Gallery at the 376 step mark where you will be afforded beautiful views of London from this vantage point of 52 meters in the air. Climb up even further, and at 528 steps you will reach the ultimate panoramic views of London from the Golden Gallery where the Shard, Tate Modern, and Millennium Bridge are all clearly visible.
Tower of London
From St. Paul’s Cathedral, head to the Tower of London by either hopping on the tube, bus, or walking about 25 minutes east. The Tower of London is a massive fortress, palace, and prison all wrapped into one and is one of London’s oldest landmarks and most fascinating attractions. Your London itinerary would not be complete without paying a visit here.
Built in the 1070s by William the Conquerer, the fortress was built as a means of protection from rebellion after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 in which he took over England from King Harold II. At the time it was built, it stood as the tallest structure in the city and was a reminder to English citizens of his power. In the following centuries, succeeding rulers added on to the palace with smaller towers and additional protective walls.
Kings and queens have used the Tower of London to protect themselves and their possessions during times of unrest. Many royal family members have spent extensive time living at the palace including Henry VIII and his wife Anne Boleyn, who was ultimately executed on the grounds of the palace after being accused of adultery and treason. On your tour, you can see the exact spot where this momentous even took place.
Royalty weren’t the only ones who spent a lot of time here, but it was also the final place for numerous prisoners who were “sent to the tower” where they spent the rest of their days locked within the walls of the fortress’ prison. The tour gives you an up close view of what it was like to live your days out locked away in the confines of the tower.
Admission to the Tower of London is £34.80 for adults and £17.40 for children and includes a guided tour by a beefeater through the major attractions within the tower.
Afternoon Tea
There is nothing more British than sitting down for tea, so why not explore one of London’s many beautiful tea rooms for an afternoon reprieve after your eventful morning. Afternoon tea is typically accompanied by some finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a collection of pastries and cakes. A traditional afternoon tea is typically served sometimes between 3-5pm, but you can find reservations at different tea rooms in London all throughout the afternoon.
Some tea rooms may have live music such as a pianist or string player accompany your meal. Other rooms may have more plush seating and elaborate decor. Whereas some focus on providing a more extensive menu for guests. While the most upscale tea rooms will offer all three. Researching what different tea rooms offer will help guide you in deciding where is the best place for you.
Shakespeare’s Globe
To conclude our 2 day London itinerary, head on over to Shakespeare’s Globe for a live production of a classic Shakespearean work (note that the theater is only open from May-October). Shakespeare’s Globe in London is a reconstruction of what the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare’s plays were performed in the 17th century before it was first destroyed by a fire in 1614 and later demolished in 1644.
The intent behind the modern Globe theatre was to recreate the experience of what it would have been like to see a Shakespeare play in the Elizabethan period. Originally, there were no modern enhancements such as lighting, microphones, etc. However, in the last decade, they have started using some primitive technology enhancements within the theater.
Tickets to the plays range in price depending on whether you opt for “standing” tickets or seats. If you are looking to save some money, standing tickets go for as low as £5 but keep in mind that Shakespearean plays tend to run 2-3 hours. For seats, you typically can find tickets between £25-£75 in the theatre.
After obtaining tickets, prepare to be transported centuries back as you enjoy a show by one of the greatest playwriters of all time as a theatregoer would in the 1600s!
Don’t Stop Exploring Here!
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Gluten Free like Me?
It’s uber important to always travel prepared! No matter where you are going, its important to always travel with some gluten free snacks on hand!
Click here to learn more about my favorite gluten free travel snacks!
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