Easy & Essential London 2 Day Itinerary: See it All, Fast
Want to make the most out of two days in London? As a Londoner, I see lots of people come and go through this huge city, with no plan and no research.
They quickly get overwhelmed by how big, how crowded, and how many things there are to see.
London is way bigger than you think, and much more spread out than you think. It takes some careful planning to be able to maximise your time and see all the highlights.
Here’s my London 2 day itinerary, written by a Londoner and planned carefully to maximise your short time in our incredible city.
Can You See London in 2 Days?
You can absolutely see a whole lot of London in 2 days if you plan your itinerary carefully.
In order to see the most, you need to group attractions by neighbourhood. London is very spread out, so it’s easiest to plan your time geographically to minimise travel time.
The 2 Day London itinerary below will take you through all the classics like Big Ben and the Tower of London, while also throwing in some less well-known attractions that are quintessentially London.
It’s planned by neighbourhood, with easy walking or public transport between stops.
Everything on this list is carefully curated by me, and I think these are the absolute best things to see your first time here.
Before you set out, check out my essential guides:
- How to get into London from every airport
- Best Oyster Card tourist options
- How to ride the bus
- How to use the London Underground
- Packing List for London
- The Best Navigation App for London
🖨️ Print the 2-Day Itinerary Here 🖨️
2 Day Itinerary for London: Day One
The morning of Day One, it’s best to start out at the most popular attraction in London: the infamous Tower of London.
The Tower of London
- £38.40 per adult, £17.40 per child, children under 5 go free
- Book ahead during peak tourist seasons
- Included in the London Pass
See centuries of history at the incredibly historic Tower of London. This place has been a castle, a fortress, a zoo, a royal residence, an armoury, and a site of gristly imprisonment and gruesome executions.
Starting here allows you to experience London history from the very beginning, and will allow you to understand the rest of London history a little better.
I recommend getting there the moment it opens (either 9 or 10am, depending on the day), and going straight to either the White Tower or the Crown Jewels. These areas get the most crowded, but if you go right at opening, you’ll have most of it to yourself.
You can also join a Beefeater Tour, which leaves every 30 minutes and are included with your ticket.
Visiting the Tower with kids? Read my complete guide to navigating the Tower of London with kids.
St Dunstan in the East
- Free
- No ticket needed
From the iconic Tower, go to a lesser-known hidden gem right nearby: St Dunstan in the East Church Garden.
These beautiful ruins date from the 1100s, and were destroyed time and time again by fires and bombs. The last time it was destroyed, it was left in ruins and nature took over.
It’s an incredible mix of architectural history and photogenic scenery.
Skyscraper Views
- Free
- Book ahead if you can, or you can try walking up.
From the garden ruins, get a sky-high view of London. You have a few different choices that are all close together within the City of London.
The most popular choices are:
- Sky Garden: a free viewing platform within the Walkie Talkie building. Tickets go fast, but you can also walk up and try for a ticket.
- Garden at 120: At the modern 120 Fenchurch Street, there’s a public rooftop garden that has breathtaking scenery, 360 degrees around. Free entry; no tickets are required.
- Horizon 22: At 22 Bishopsgate there is the *highest* free viewing platform with panoramic scenery. Free but must book ahead.
- The Lookout: At 8 Bishopsgate, there’s a brand new viewing platform that’s also free to enter.
Lunch at Leadenhall Market
You may recognize this market from Harry Potter, where it played Diagon Alley. Inside the intricate architectural gem are a variety of restaurants and shops.
It’s a lovely place to take a break from sightseeing and fuel up with a good meal. My favourites are Osteria Del Mercato for adults and Pizza Express for lunch with kids.
St Paul’s Cathedral
- £25 adults, £10 children
- Book Ahead during peak times
- Included in the London Pass
A 15-minute walk (or 9 minute bus ride) from Leadenhall Market is the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral.
This Christopher Wren-designed cathedral is an integral part of London’s skyline, and the interior is just as mind-blowing.
Don’t miss the Crypt tour, included with your ticket. It’s a guided tour that includes spots like the Geometric Staircase, not usually open to visitors.
No need to book ahead for this tour – just ask at the front desk where you enter when the next one leaves.
Shopping in Covent Garden
We’ve done a bit of history. Now it’s time for a bit of London fun!
Covent Garden is a vibrant shopping district in the heart of the West End. Here you’ll find everything from high street standards to unique boutiques to food halls and bakeries.
Don’t miss the original Covent Garden Market buildings that have handmade goods sold by the creators themselves. Find antiques, unique jewellery, souvenirs, artisan foods, and much more.
Pre-Theatre Meal
- Reserve ahead at fancier places
If you want a more casual meal, try Seven Dials Market. It’s a new modern food hall with a huge variety of cuisines, and even a cheese conveyor belt!
If you want a more high-end meal, head to my favourite pre-theatre spot The Palomar. It’s affordable but still fancy in a pretty setting.
If you want a classic British meal, try the ornate Victorian pub The Clachan. They serve up classics like scotch eggs and real ale.
For a fancy dinner, head to The Hawksmoor for a steak or The Ivy for a high-end dining experience.
See a West End Show
- Use Today Tix to get last-minute theatre tickets OR
- Book ahead using the theatre’s website
Did you really visit London if you didn’t see a theatrical production? London’s theatre is only rivalled by Broadway, but we’re the original home of groundbreaking productions.
If you’re into musicals, my recent favourites are Six, Mean Girls, Tina, Hamilton, and Hadestown.
If you prefer plays, huge celebrities are often on stage in the West End. Check out what’s on during your trip, and remember to book ahead for these. If the show has a very big name, it usually sells out months in advance.
2 Day Itinerary for London: Day Two
On your second day in London, it’s time to go to Royal land. We’ll start at the palace and work our way around West London to see all the iconic sights.
Buckingham Palace or Changing of the Guards
Which royal sights you can see really depend on what time of year you’ll be visiting London.
Buckingham Palace
- Open July through September and select other dates throughout the year
- Adults from £32, children from £16
Buckingham Palace is only open for tours when the King is not in residence. This is usually during the summer months, select holiday breaks, and a few other times of the year.
If you’re visiting London in the summer, it’s a good idea to book these tickets as far in advance as possible since they sell out very quickly.
Changing of the Guards
- Free
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10:45 am
If the Palace itself isn’t open when you’re in London, this is a great alternative to experience a bit of the grandeur of the British Monarchy.
Select days of the week you can watch this ceremonial procession that takes place in front of Buckingham Palace.
The King’s Guards march from St James’s Palace to Buckingham Palace, accompanied by music, horses, and iconic uniforms.
Arrive early to get the best views. Crowds will be heaviest right in front of the palace, but anywhere along The Mall will have great views.
Big 3 Museums, Churchill War Rooms or Westminster Abbey
After you’ve visited the Royal Family, continue to more Royal sights with Westminster Abbey, or see one of these iconic museums.
The “Big Three” Museums
- Free
- No booking required, though during peak summer it may be a good idea
The “Big 3” Museums: The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum are all right next to each other in South Kensington.
Each has its own features and charms, so pick whichever one you’re most interested in.
For children, I’d recommend the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum.
For art and design lovers, try the V&A.
For history, zoology and the natural world, the Natural History Museum is incredible.
Churchill War Rooms
- Adults from £32, children from £16
- Book Ahead
If you’re a history buff, you may want to skip the “Big 3” and head straight to the Churchill War Rooms.
See the very underground bunkers where Churchill and his staff ran WWII. Explore the caverns, hidden tunnels, original artefacts, and so much more in this intimate place.
Tickets sell out quickly during peak times; it’s best to book ahead.
Westminster Abbey
- Adults from £27, children from £13
- Open Monday through Saturday, 9am-3 or 3:30pm
It’s not only the site of coronations, weddings and funerals. Many Royals and other significant figures are buried inside this church that dates from 1066.
There’s many, many graves and memorials to see inside. Pick up an audioguide, or join a tour.
Afternoon Tea
- Usually offered from noon-5pm (hours vary per location)
- Tea rooms, hotels, cafes, etc.
Tired yet? It’s time for an afternoon tea break.
Afternoon tea is a quintessentially British experience, and there’s no better place to partake than in a traditional London tea room.
Everywhere from posh hotels to tiny cafes offer afternoon tea. It usually consists of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, a selection of sweets, and unlimited tea (or sometimes coffee).
For the fancier places, you must book ahead. Several museums and smaller cafes offer afternoon teas you don’t need to book ahead.
See my complete guide to afternoon tea in London to find the spot that’s within your budget.
See Big Ben & Houses of Parliament
After you’re fueled up, let’s see the heart of the British government.
Big Ben is iconic to the London skyline. Tours inside book up very quickly and far in advance, but you don’t have to go inside. You can get incredible views just walking around the area. It’s a great spot for photo ops.
The Houses of Parliament are the long buildings that stretch along the river. You can enjoy this area just by walking around and taking in the sights.
Ride the London Eye
- Tickets from £32 if you book ahead (you should during peak tourist seasons)
One of London’s biggest tourist attractions is the Eye, the giant ferris wheel on the Thames.
Board on the waterfront and enjoy 30 minutes of pristine views in your clear capsule that circles around a full loop.
Tickets can be a bit pricey, so if you don’t want to do this you can also enjoy any of the nearby attractions of Borough Market, The London Dungeons, The Clink Prison Museum, The Old Operating Theatre, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and more along the Southbank & Southwark areas.
Thames Cruise or Uber Boat
London is best seen by water. The iconic Thames zig zags its way all through the city, and by hopping on one of the easily accessible cruise ships, you can experience the city the way that Londoners have done for thousands of years.
You can use your Oyster Card to hop on the Uber Boat at any of the docks (there’s one right at the London Eye) and cruise along the water. Hop off at any station and you’ll be ready for your final meal in London.
Alternatively, you can take a Thames cruise ticket package along with your London Eye ticket to get two attractions for a lower price.
Dinner With a View
Some of the most memorable London meals are eaten with a view of the water. Since you’re already on the riverbank, choose either a fabulous pub or restaurant nearby.
Favourite Riverside Restaurants:
- Tavolino Bar at Kitchen near Tower Bridge
- The Coal Shed at One Tower Bridge
- Legare at Shad Thames (a cool area you should explore anyway)
Favourite Riverside Pubs
- The Old Thameside Inn
- Anchor Bankside
- Tattershall Castle (on a former riverboat!)
Only 2 Days in London? Here’s What to Skip
If you only have 2 days in London, you should probably skip anything that’s outside of London.
Some of the most popular attractions that are far outside the city include:
- Harry Potter Studios (1+ hour train or longer each way)
- Windsor Castle (1.5 hours each way)
- Hampton Court Palace (1 hour train each way)
- Stonehenge (2+ hour trip each way)
If you want to do one of these in your short time in London, you totally can! But just realise that you’ll see much less of London if you need to dedicate half your time to a day trip.
2 Day London Itinerary: Final Tips
This itinerary may be a little intense and too busy for some. If you get burned out or tired easily, just pick the things that interest you the most.
Remember, visiting London is supposed to be fun and not taxing!
Enjoy our beautiful city. The best part of London is just being here!
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