48 Hours in London: The Perfect Weekend
Two days in London β a Friday evening arrival or Saturday morning start through to Sunday evening β gives you enough time to hit the essential sights, eat well and get a genuine sense of the city without running yourself ragged. Here's the optimised version.
Day 1: Morning β South Bank & Tate Modern
Start at Tate Modern when it opens at 10am (free). An hour in the permanent collection, check the Turbine Hall commission, then the 10th floor for the view of St Paul's across the river. Walk Millennium Bridge across to St Paul's Cathedral (go in β worth the ticket, or attend Evensong free at 5pm). Lunch near St Paul's or head east.
Day 1: Afternoon β Tower of London & Borough Market
Book the Tower of London in advance β it's the most important pre-book in London. Allow two to three hours. Walk to Tower Bridge for the glass walkway view (or just walk across for free). If it's Wednesday to Saturday, Borough Market for a late lunch before it closes. If Sunday, skip to Bermondsey Street for the Maltby Street Market alternative.
Day 1: Evening β Shoreditch
Head east to Shoreditch for dinner β walk Brick Lane and the surrounding streets, then dinner at one of the area's restaurants (Japanese, Korean and modern European are all strong here). Bar hopping along Shoreditch High Street if energy allows.
Day 2: Morning β British Museum & Bloomsbury
British Museum opens at 10am (free, no booking needed). Two hours covers the highlights β Elgin Marbles, Egyptian mummies, Lewis Chessmen, Sutton Hoo. Walk through Bloomsbury's literary streets to Covent Garden.
Day 2: Afternoon β Covent Garden & West End
Covent Garden piazza for coffee and the street performers. Walk to Trafalgar Square, then up to the National Gallery (free) for an hour. Leicester Square for the theatre district atmosphere. Book a West End show for this evening if you haven't already β this is the ideal time to use it.
Tips
- Book the Tower of London before you travel β timed entry is essential on busy weekend days.
- A West End show on Day 2 evening is the ideal end to a 48-hour London visit β book in advance.
- Pay for all transport contactlessly β your bank card works directly on Tube and buses.
- Don't over-plan β the best moments in London often come from turning down an unexpected street.