2 days in London: The ULTIMATE 2 Day London Itinerary

Are you planning a trip to the UK and want to know the best way to spend 2 days in London?

There is so much you can do in London that planning a trip there can become overwhelming. We have visited London regularly over the past few years and this 2 day itinerary will provide you with everything you need to maximise your time in the city.

Below we will walk you through choosing hotels in London, where to eat and the best things to do on your trip if you only have 2 days in London.

2 days in London – Summary

Where to Stay

• NOX Kensington Gardens
• Locke at Broken Wharf
• The Brownswood
• Art Otel

When to Visit

The best time to visit London is late Spring when the flowers are in full bloom and the evenings start to stretch

Must do Activities

• Hop On/Hop Off & London Eye Tour
• Westminster and Buckingham Tour
• Windsor Castle & Stonehenge

Where to stay in For 2 Days in London?

London is a large city so if you can’t stay in the city centre, the best option is to choose somewhere with easy access to public transport. The hotels in London suggested below are based on our experience and on ease of access to the city centre.

One hotel in London we would suggest trying is the Citizen M Tower Bridge, there is a tube station right outside the hotel and it is located right beside the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The rooms are not particularly spacious to be honest but for location alone this is a good option when you only have 2 days in London.

Naturally, prices will fluctuate so the hotels below are based on prices accurate for stays in April 2025.

Is 2 days in London enough time?

London is quite a big city so 2 days isn’t going to enough time to see everything. That being said, if you only have 2 days in London, it is still plenty of time to get a great feel for the city and see the main attractions.

Our suggestion would be to pick two main focus areas for your time in London and spend a day in each. In this guide we will mainly focus on Central London and West London for the two days but you can alter as you need.

If you have more than 2 days in London, there are so many great day trips you can take to extend your stay. For Harry Potter fans, you can take the Warner Brothers Studio tour and go behind the scenes of some of the franchise’s most iconic shots.

Alternatively, if you want to explore one of the UK’s most picturesque places, you could also take a day trip to the Cotswolds. We would really recommend this if you have time as these beautiful villages are like a throwback and a stunning place for getting photos from your trip.

Or if you just want to explore somewhere new, you can easily reach beautiful areas like Canterbury and Bath using the public train network. You could also easily reach the historical areas of Oxford and Cambridge using the same method.

2 Day London Itinerary – Day One – London City Centre & St. Katharine Dock’s

Morning – Westminster & The London Eye

If you want to get some great photos of Big Ben, head across the Westminster bridge and you will find a set of stairs on the right hand side. Go down the stairs and turn right so that you are almost under the bridge and you will have a great shot of Big Ben with a smaller crowd blocking your view.

Next up, it’s time to try out the London Eye, which attracts over 3 million people every single year. This is Europe’s largest ferris wheel and gives you a great perspective on the wider city. The journey around the wheel takes about 30 mins and tickets cost £29 for an adult ticket.

After the London Eye, there are lots of great bars running along the river with views of Westminster and Big Ben. Our favourite of these was the Thirsty Farrier, which is definitely worth stopping off at for an early afternoon resting point before lunch.

There are also lots of barge boats etc. running along the Thames to stop off at so you will have plenty of places in this area to take in the views of the iconic monument in the background.

Afternoon – Covent Garden & Neal’s Yard

Alternatively, on the other side of the bridge as you head back towards the centre there is an amazing wine bar, Gordon’s Wine Bar. This is another great stopping point if you want to rest your legs a little bit before grabbing some lunch.

For lunch, you have so many options. If you want something more substantial with a nice restaurant vibe or recommendations would be either Circolo Popolare (Italian); Ave Mario (Italian); Flatiron (Steak) or Rosa Thai (Thai). But if you’re just looking for something more casual and don’t want to spend a fortune, try out Kingly Court, which has loads of great options and a good atmosphere at lunch time as well.

After lunch, we would suggest taking a walk around the Covent Garden area, as well as Neal’s yard. These are really colourful streets filled with bars, restaurants and shops in the heart of the city centre. You could also take a walk over to Bond Street where you will find the iconic Ralph’s coffee cart for a quick coffee stop.

Evening – St Katherine Docks & The Tower of London

In the evening, especially during the summer, we would highly recommend St. Katharine’s Docks. This is a beautiful area sat along the Thames with a perfect view of the Tower of London & Tower Bridge. As you head in that direction, there are two places we would recommend stopping off at along the way – The Sky Garden and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Sky Garden is a free to access rooftop garden with a restaurant/bar and some of the best views of London in the city. The Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden and the views give you a 360 degree range of the city’s iconic skyline. You can arrange to get free tickets for the gardens here.

If you are lucky enough to get good weather, St. Katharine Docks is a great place to sit outside at one of the bars or restaurants and to take in a great view of the city. The Dickens Inn along the Marina is normally lined with seasonal flowers and a lovely place to get some nice photos away from the crowds.

The docks are only a 5 minute walk from the Tower Hill tube station so it is a really easy place to reach from the city. If you are a pasta lover, try out Emilia’s Crafted Pasta for dinner, which does a great Carbonara. Or if you like a tapas style meal, you could also try out Bravas Tapas.

2 Day London Itinerary – Day Two – Notting Hill & South kensington

On day two, we would suggest getting a little bit out of the city centre to visit two of its most beautiful suburbs – Notting Hill & South Kensington.

Notting Hill is famed for its links to the Hollywood film of the same name and the colourful houses that line its streets. There is a lot to do in this area and it is a great place to visit for a more relaxed feel than the frenzy of London city centre.

Morning – Breakfast at Farm Girl

For breakfast around Notting Hill, we would suggest Farm Girl Cafe – really nice atmosphere and lovely food. You can sit outside in their courtyard as well, which is a really nice option for a relaxing start to a Summer’s day.

Alternatively, there are some great bakeries around Notting Hill, if you would prefer to grab something quick, try out Layla’s or Fabrique.

After breakfast, take a walk down to Notting Hill book shop, again made famous by the film. This shop is a real throwback and a nice place to pick up a souvenir from your trip.

Next up, it’s time to check out Portobello Market – one of the most famous and historical street markets in the world. You can pick up some great bargains here, especially if you are into vintage clothing and unique keepsakes.

Afternoon – Notting Hill Market and Kensington Gardens

Notting Hill is known for its beautifully coloured streets and we would definitely recommend taking a walk around them before you leave. We would recommend Lancaster Road, St. Luke’s and Penzance Place to get some nice photos along your walk.

That being said, it is really important to remember that these are residential streets and people’s privacy should be respected when deciding where to take photos etc.

After leaving the Notting Hill area, we would suggest making your way towards South Kensington to grab some lunch. For lunch we would suggest trying out Brother Marcus, a Mediterranean style brunch restaurant whose dishes are packed with flavour. The menu has lots of great Greek dishes and they also have a pre-theatre menu from 5pm-7pm for £25pp if you wanted to try it out later in the day.

After lunch, take the short walk over to Kensington Gardens, which is free to enter and beautiful on a summer’s day. The gardens are a great place to sit outside with a coffee and you can also visit the sunken garden, a memorial to the late Princess Diana. This is open from 10am-4pm daily.

Evening – Dinner and Drinks

As you head into the evening we would suggest taking a walk over to the Churchill Arms, a pub that dates back to the 1750’s. You will spot this pub from a distance as the facade is lined with beautiful flowers in Spring/Summer and also has great decorations at Christmas time.

If you want to get some dinner in the South Kensington area, we would suggest trying out Jacuzzi. This Italian restaurant has a beautiful aesthetic, making you feel like you’re sitting in a villa in Venice.

Afterwards, finish off your 2 days in London, head back towards the city centre for drinks with a view at Nest, a beautiful rooftop bar in the city. And that is it, everything you need to plan the perfect 2 day London itinerary with plenty of room to alter the plan as needed.