48 hours in London | practical itinerary

London is one of the most fascinating cities in the world! The city is full of things to do, countless museums, hundreds of restaurants, and thousands of attractions! Planning a 48-hour itinerary in London is a real challenge, I know! But in the next few lines, I’m going to help you out!

The first thing you need to keep in mind is that you won’t be able to visit all the tourist attractions in just 48 hours in London. Don’t waste your time trying to do everything, prioritize the sights and plan to come back with more time in the future =)

Let’s check out the itinerary?

Itinerary to enjoy 48 hours in London

On the first day, you can try visiting those cinematic attractions like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. On the second day, you might go to a museum or a park, deal?

First day

You can start the day at Buckingham Palace. It is the Queen’s official residence, a symbol of British royalty, and one of the city’s most iconic landmarks! Going to London and not visiting it is unforgivable.

If you visit the British capital between July and October, it’s possible to tour the interior of Buckingham Palace, but only some areas, such as The Queen’s Gallery, which has several artworks by renowned artists; The Royal Mews, where you can visit the royal stables and see the horses and carriages; and The State Rooms, which are the halls used by the Queen during State ceremonies, part of the garden, and access to a seasonal exhibition.

The ticket to visit all three of the areas mentioned above costs £49. If you want to save money, you can choose to visit only “The State Rooms,” which is the most interesting part, and pay £26.50.

Plan to visit the Palace and its surroundings around 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m. watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It usually takes place in front of the main entrance. It’s a very quick ceremony, not unmissable, but interesting, and best of all, it’s free!

Walk to the area around Big Ben. On the way, you’ll probably come across one of those iconic phone booths, take the opportunity to snap a classic photo! Before you reach it, you’ll pass by the famous Westminster Abbey. If it’s on your bucket list to go inside and see it, include it in your 48-hour London itinerary. If not, skip the visit, as your time in the city will be too short to see everything.

Keep walking toward the London Eye, one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world. Tickets for adults cost £31 if bought on-site or £25.50 if purchased online. While walking along the banks of the River Thames, admire the architecture of the buildings.

If you’re a big art fan, stop by the Tate Modern Museum, which will be on your way. Admission is free, and you’ll get to see a beautiful collection! If museums aren’t really your thing, just keep moving. Remember, if you're exploring London in 48 hours, you need to prioritize attractions.

Right after the museum, you can visit one of the most famous markets in Europe, Borough Market. If you haven’t eaten yet, stop and try the traditional “fish and chips.” Next, you can visit The Shard, a famous skyscraper in the capital, and see the city from above.

To end the day, walk to Tower Bridge, one of the most famous towers in the world! You can visit the interior of Tower Bridge, and the ticket price is £10.60 (adult). But in my opinion, the best part is observing it from the outside, both up close and from afar. And that’s free!

If rain is forecasted for the first day, you can flip the itinerary and visit some museums, saving the outdoor tours for the second day.

Second day

You can split the second day of your 48-hour London itinerary into two parts: museums and shopping!

My suggestion is to start the day by visiting the British Museum, the most famous in the city! It features exhibitions on Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and more, you’ll get access to two million years of history. Admission is free and it’s open daily from 10am to 5pm. The museum has wheelchair-accessible restrooms, baby changing facilities, a restaurant, and a coffee.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see all the galleries. To optimize your time and fit in more visits, set aside about two hours for the museum.

From there, you can walk to Oxford Street, the famous shopping street. Or, you can take the subway and explore Camden Town. I strongly recommend the second option. In Camden, you'll have access to more shops, markets, and lots of unique things!

If a visit to the British Museum doesn’t interest you or if you’re traveling with children, I suggest checking out the Science Museum. There you'll find several rooms that teach about energy, space, and the human body. You'll also get hands-on experiences, as it's an interactive museum! It’s open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Next to the Science Museum is the Natural History Museum, another free and interesting option for the whole family. If you’re visiting both museums, set aside around 5 hours of your day. Start with them and finish with shopping, so you won’t be carrying bags all day.

Finally, I couldn’t leave out the Warner Bros. Studio Tour | Harry Potter. If you’re a fan of the young wizard, set aside around 4 to 5 hours of your 48-hour London itinerary for this tour. As it’s a very popular attraction, I recommend buying tickets well in advance.

I hope you enjoyed my suggestions for enjoying 48 hours in London! If you have any questions, tips, or suggestions, drop them in the comments!

Kisses and see you around the world!