London in 2 Days

London in 2 Days

Perhaps you are going to find yourself in London for a long layover between travels or are in town for business and have a couple of days free. Either way, London in two days can be as full and busy or as lazy and relaxing as you would like it.

If you have never visited London before, I would definitely recommend going the full and busy route, as you never know when you might get the chance to come back. And in a city so packed with amazing sights and photo opportunities, you won’t want to miss a thing!

Walk It Out

The best way to experience a new city, has to be by foot. For one of the two days, I would suggest a long leisurely stroll through the heart of London town. Since a visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a trip on the London Underground, why not catch a ride on the tube to one of the central stops, like Bank or St Paul’s.

Bank & St Paul’s

Bank is a great stop for architecture fanatics and business people. This is the finance district of London, as the name suggests. The old buildings in which today’s big firms find themselves have an old world charm that exudes architectural beauty, even on the cloudiest of days.

Image sourced from Unsplash

St Paul’s station is where you will find St Paul’s Cathedral. Another architectural wonder, this is definitely worth a visit during a short stay in London.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO SATURDAY –  8:30M TO 4PM
ADDRESS: ST. PAUL’S CHURCHYARD, LONDON EC4M 8AD, UNITED KINGDOM
METRO STATION: ST. PAUL’S, BANK

Millennium Bridge

From St Paul’s, it is a quick 5-minute walk to the Millennium Bridge. This pedestrian bridge runs over the River Thames and offers views of many more of London’s iconic landmarks including the The Shard and Tower Bridge.

Tate Modern Turbine Hall by Dickbauch – Wikimedia Commons

Tate Modern

On the other side of the river, you will find yourself at the entrance to the Tate Modern, which houses some of London’s international modern and contemporary art collections. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: TATE MODERN
OPENING HOURS: SUNDAY TO THURSDAY 10AM – 6PM, FRIDAY TO SATURDAY 10AM–10PM
ADDRESS: BANKSIDE, LONDON SE1 9TG
METRO STATION: BLACKFRIARS, LONDON BRIDGE

Southbank

If you make your way along the river, past London Studios and the National Theatre, you will land up at the Southbank – a great spot to stop and rest your feet. Grab a bite to eat at one of the trendy pop up restaurants which can be found operating out of shipping containers in the Southbank Centre.

London Eye

From here, you might want to head down past Jubilee Gardens, to the London Eye. Take a ride to get a bird’s eye view of the bustling city, if you are not afraid of heights.

The London Eye in London – by The London Eye – Uploaded by them

You could also stop in at the London Dungeon or the London Aquarium (both in the County Hall) if either of those attractions tickle your fancy!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: LONDON DUNGEON
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 11AM – 4PM, SATURDAY 10AM – 6PM, SUNDAY 10AM – 5PM
ADDRESS: RIVERSIDE BUILDING, COUNTY HALL, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE RD, LAMBETH, LONDON SE1 7PB, UNITED KINGDOM
METRO STATION: WATERLOO, WESTMINSTER

PRACTICAL INFORMATION: SEA LIFE CENTRE LONDON AQUARIUM
OPENING HOURS: SUNDAY TO FRIDAY 10AM – 6PM, SATURDAY 9:30AM – 7PM
ADDRESS: RIVERSIDE BUILDING, COUNTY HALL, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE RD, LAMBETH, LONDON SE1 7PB, UNITED KINGDOM
METRO STATION: WATERLOO, WESTMINSTER

Big Ben

If you then cross over Westminster Bridge, you will find yourself at the foot of Big Ben. If you have timed your walk well enough you may even get to hear him ring! Though currently under reconstruction, Big Ben has been silent since 2017 and will continue to be until around 2021.

St James’s Park

A short stroll from this famous time teller, will get you to Westminster Abbey. From here, St James’s Park is a short walk away and somewhere you could enjoy a pit stop. Park off near the lake to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy this green oasis. 

St James Park in London – by Dietmar Rabich – Wikimedia Commons

On the far side of the park, you will find the Victoria Memorial, right in front of Buckingham Palace. Give a royal wave to the Queen before continuing on through Green Park, up to Green Park station.

Piccadilly Circus

If you have already walked yourself flat, catch the tube to your accommodation. If you are still up for more, you could head down Piccadilly Road to Piccadilly Circus. Live the cliche and make your way to the fountain in the centre and take in all the capitalist marvel of the flashing billboard lights.

Piccadilly Circus in London – by Dietmar Rabich – Wikimedia Commons

Soho

If you head on up from there, you will find yourself in the high-energy hotspot, Soho. Here, the world is your oyster. Enjoy a tantalising dinner, find yourself at a fabulous cocktail party or jazz the night away at a club.

Carnaby Street in Soho – by Jim Linwood – Wikimedia Commons

When you are eventually ready to head home after a long day of London-ing, catch the tube at Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road.

On Public Transport

Since you now know a walking route to take in many of the hotspots that London has to offer, I would recommend making a list of all the places and sights you may not see along the route above.

On the second day in town, look for opportunities to get to tick these spots off your bucket list. Here are a few great transport options that will help you to do this.

Oyster Card

Once you have your list, it is a good idea to know the zones you will need to travel through in order to get to see them all. Once you know this, you can grab a famous “Oyster card”. A Travelcard, with access to all the zones you will be travelling in, will allow you unlimited rides on the tube, overground trains and London busses. It is a great option and will be well worth the money if you are cramming lots in!

London Tour Bus

Not your average London double-decker red bus, tour busses follow specific routes around all the top tourists sights of the city and allow you to get on and off at your leisure. Check them out online and find the routes that cover most of what you want to see during your time. If the walking route suggested above is not something you could see yourself doing, tour busses are a great alternative. 

Guided Walking Tours

Guided walking tours are a really great option when visiting a city for a short time. With the wealth of knowledge the tour guides provide, you will learn a lot about London in a short space of time. Why not take a look at the London tours that Discover Walks has to offer and get the chance to experience that much more of London in just 2 Days.