London · 2 days
London in two days
For a first London visit, keep each day focused on a small number of neighbourhoods. This two-day outline pairs Westminster and the South Bank with a second day around Bloomsbury and Covent Garden. Treat it as a starting point: choose the stops you care about and leave space for meals, queues, and a change of weather.
By SoundsGood · Updated
Day 1: Westminster and the South Bank
Morning
Start around Parliament Square for views of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. Decide whether Westminster Abbey is your main visit or whether you prefer an outdoor walk. An indoor visit deserves its own block of time; avoid scheduling several ticketed attractions before lunch.
Afternoon
Cross Westminster Bridge and follow the South Bank towards the riverside arts venues. Pick a lunch stop along the way and choose one additional attraction rather than trying to cover every landmark. A river walk can be the whole afternoon if you want a gentler pace.
Evening
Stay near the South Bank for dinner or return towards your accommodation. If you want a show, book it around a realistic travel window. Leave a gap between your final daytime stop and the evening reservation.
Make it fit: If you book an Abbey visit, keep the riverside afternoon flexible. If you are visiting on a Sunday, check the Abbey’s service schedule before planning a sightseeing visit.
Day 2: Bloomsbury and Covent Garden
Morning
Make the British Museum your main stop if its collections interest you. Choose a few galleries in advance so the visit has a clear focus. If museums are not your thing, use the morning for a relaxed walk around Bloomsbury instead.
Afternoon
Move towards Covent Garden for lunch and time around its surrounding streets. Keep shopping, cafés, or another short cultural stop optional. This is a useful part of the plan to shorten if you have a train or flight later in the day.
Evening
Choose dinner near your last stop or your onward transport. For a weekend visit, a comfortable departure is more useful than squeezing in one extra attraction on the other side of the city.
Make it fit: Choose a small number of museum galleries, then leave the afternoon for Seven Dials and Covent Garden. If you have an early departure, shorten the shopping and café time rather than rushing the museum.
Make the plan work for you
- Check current admission rules, opening days, and accessibility before booking. A landmark view and an interior visit need different amounts of time.
- Keep one indoor alternative for a wet day. Swap the order of your days if a timed booking or weather forecast makes that easier.
- Include travel from your accommodation in the plan. Walking routes and public transport options depend on your starting point and mobility needs.
Before you go: bookings, budget and getting around
Book the anchor visits first
Check Westminster Abbey’s visitor opening times before deciding which day to go: Sunday opening is for services. The British Museum’s permanent collection is free, and the museum advises booking a free timed ticket. Special exhibitions can need a separate paid ticket. Put these decisions in your diary before adding meals or a show.
Keep transport and walking realistic
These routes group nearby areas, but they do not include the journey from your accommodation. Use TfL’s journey planner for your actual start and finish; its access options include step-free journeys and routes with less walking. Check the route again on the day rather than assuming every station or bridge approach suits your needs.
Separate the sightseeing budget from everyday costs
Start with accommodation, meals and transport, then add only the paid visits you want. Seeing Parliament and the riverside from outside is a different plan from buying entry to several attractions. For a lower-cost weekend, make the free permanent museum collection your indoor anchor and keep the rest of the route flexible.
Check the official visitor information
- Westminster Abbey: visits, tickets and opening times
- British Museum: admission and free timed tickets
- Transport for London: journey planning and access options
This is a suggested route, with official information linked for your own checks. Opening times, tickets, transport and access arrangements can change. Confirm them for your travel dates before booking.
Questions about your London itinerary
- Is two days enough for a first visit to London?
- Two full days work for a focused introduction, rather than every major sight. Use one day for Westminster and the South Bank, and another for Bloomsbury and Covent Garden. If your arrival or departure takes up half a day, drop an optional visit instead of adding more bookings.
- What should I do on day 2 in London?
- Start with the British Museum in Bloomsbury, choose a few galleries, then continue towards Seven Dials and Covent Garden for lunch and exploring. It keeps the second day in a different area from Westminster and leaves room to shorten the afternoon before travelling home.
- How can I adapt this London weekend itinerary for rain?
- Move the museum day to the wetter day if your bookings allow it. On the riverside day, shorten the outdoor walk and choose one indoor stop you actually want to visit. Leave enough time to travel between stops instead of replacing each outdoor sight with another timed ticket.