How To Spend 48 Hours In London
London is a huge city filled to the brim with things to do, sights to see and food and drink to try, so it can feel impossible to see all of it in 48 hours. While there’s some truth to that feeling, 48 hours is plenty of time to get out and see the city and most of what it has to offer and we’d highly suggest you give it a try!
While the following itinerary can change depending on your personal tastes, we’ve put together a quick suggested guide for what you can do while in London for two days! So book that travel insurance (unfortunately only EU citizens can get a European Health Card!) pack your bags, book your stay at one of The Montcalm Luxury Hotels and get ready to head off to London – here’s how you can spend 48 hours in the capital of England.
DAY ONE
Breakfast
Breakfast is the perfect way to start off your first day, and in and around Museum Street is a great place to start. With a handful of options to choose from, you could pop into Ruskin’s Café for a hearty, traditional full English breakfast, or stop by Giovanni’s for something a little fancier but equally as delicious. Both are reasonably priced and open to tourists. Book in advance during busy tourist season where possible, or stroll along Museum Street and see what’s available,
Museum Hop
Once you’ve had your fill of good food, you can take a stroll towards London’s biggest and best museums. With so many holding so many incredible artifacts from around the world, you’ll be spoiled for choice and if you so wished, you could spend an entire day exploring each and every one of them.
Lunch
For lunch on your first day, you should opt for a picnic in one of London’s incredible parks if the weather call’s for it. Whether you make up your own and take it with you, or pick up a sandwich from one of the incredible sandwich bars the city had to offer, taking a stroll around and enjoying the tranquillity within the bustling city is a must. Hyde Park is London’s most famed choice, where you can enjoy a boating lake, the Serpentine art gallery, Speaker’s Corner and even the Princess Diana Memorial water feature.
Visit A Market
After lunch, why not take a visit to one of London’s greatest markets? Camden, Borough Market and Old Spitalfields are all incredible choices, with an array of different clothing, artwork, crafts, goods and more on offer. Camden, in particular, is perfect for those looking for something a little more alternative, while Borough Market is filled with amazing smells to have you wanting lunch all over again!
Go For A Stroll
If you failed to resist temptation and indulged in a bite or two to eat at the markets, a great way to work it all off is to take a stroll along the Thames. Walking along this famous river will take you past countless monuments, from the likes of the Millennium footbridge to the Tate Modern and all the way to the London Eye, where you could stop for a bite to eat.
Dinner
When you stop at the London Eye, there are countless restaurants to choose from. From chain choices like Wagamama, to something a little fancier like Gillray’s Steakhouse or The Library at County Hall.
Soho
For the perfect night out in London, there’s nowhere better than Soho. With a vibrant nightlife to enjoy and the red-light district to dip your toes into if you so choose. There are also famous jazz clubs like Ronnie Scott’s Soho, and with numerous theatres dotted around too, there’s something for everyone.
DAY TWO
Breakfast
For a bite to eat before you embark on your day, stop at Pimlico Fresh on Wilton Road in Victoria for an Instagram-worthy meal, or if you want something a little more affordable and a lot more traditional, you could opt for The English Rose Café and Tea Shop.
Buckingham Palace
For a true taste of Britain, there’s nowhere better to visit than Buckingham Palace itself. While it’s unlikely that you’ll get a glimpse of the queen, the guards are always there for you to admire and if you’re lucky, you could time it just right for the changing of the guard!
Westminster Bridge
After visiting Buckingham Palace, why not travel down to Westminster Bridge and its surrounding sights to get a glimpse at everything London is so famous for. After crossing the bridge, why not wander past the Houses Of Parliament and taking one too many photos of Big Ben towering above you? You could take a stop by Westminster Abbey, visit Number 10, and even visit the London Eye again!
Lunch – River Cruise
For a spot of lunch and a better view of the Thames, why not jump on a river cruise? There are plenty that offer lunch or refreshments during your journey and it’s another way to get from A to B without needing to hop on the Underground. There are plenty to choose from and you could opt for booking in advance if you want to secure your place.
Covent Garden
Now is finally the time to do a bit of shopping! Covent Garden is home to some amazing stores, from designer labels to stationary stores. There’re toy stores for the kids, and tea shops if you want to indulge in a good old British brew. There’s usually market stalls dotted about too, so there really is plenty to do for all!
Dinner
Head to Maxwells in Covent Garden for an American menu and some amazing milkshakes that can have anything from chocolate to donuts included, or stop by the Punch and Judy pub for traditional pub grub!
See A Show
Covent Garden is just around the corner from some of the city’s leading shows, so why not try and pick up last minute discounted tickets from Leicester Squares ‘Tkts’ stand in the morning and see a show for yourself in the evening? Getting lost in the beauty of the West End truly is the perfect way to round off your trip.
Time Saving Tip!: You can opt for a chartered plane going to London to save time and avoid the hassle of using public transport. Search the internet to know how much a private jet to London costs to see what rate matches your budget.
Additional resources:
How to Find the Best Vacation Rentals in London
How to House Sit in London for Free Accommodation!
10 Reasons Why London Is The Best City In The World
