Last Updated on 11 November, 2023
Planning a trip to London but have no idea what is worth seeing, doing or even how to get around this major city. London is a very big city that virtually “never sleeps”.
When staying in London for a few days it might be worth pre-booking a few activities to make sure you have something planned and also get a space on the activity you’d like to try.
Booking in advance will on some occasions also land you a better price which is good considering London is an expensive place to travel. Below is a quick guide to fun activities and must-see on our two day London itinerary. In addition, if you only have 1 day in London or 3 days we have additional itinerary tips on the blog.
Be careful when visiting London, hold on to your bag, the risk for pickpocketing in this crowded city is not the smallest so hold onto your valuables. Particularly if you are hanging out around Piccadilly Circus as well as crowded trains.
Day 1 In London
Day one in London gets many of the touristy places checked off the list and day two explores Instagrammable cafes.
• Morning Activities
Tower of London
The Tower of London is considered a must- see if you ask most people. A former fortress, palace, and prison – now, a tourist attraction.
This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reasons, and you can actually see the Crown Jewels of the British Monarchy.
It is free to walk around some parts of the Tower of London whilst some require a fee. You can get a guide to take you around to make sure you are not missing out on anything. This is the general admission fee for the Tower of London.
- Adult (18-64) £24.70
- Child (5-15) £19.30
- Senior (65+) £10.30
- Youth (16-17) £19.30
Tate Gallery
Even if you dont think art is your thing, there is something for everyone at Tate Modern. The Tate galleries (Tate Modern or Tate Britain) during your London trip are not just great for the art but the incridible views too.
They both offer free entry and you get the chance to experience British, modern and international art. Tate Britain has been operating since 1500 and they always have different kinds of dazzling exhibitions on display.
Take a stroll through the exhibitions, check out the beautiful views over London from the top floors and enjoy a bite to eat at their very own cafe. Tate Britain is located on Millbank, Westminster, London SW1P 4RGand Tate Modern can be found at bankside, London SE1 9TG.
Leicester Square & Piccadilly Circus
Leicester Square is the famous square in West End London, it was laid out in 1670 and was named after the contemporary Leicester House.
This square is always very busy with lots of things to do, you can buy theater tickets, visit the Lego store and easily walk to other known places such as Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Soho and Covent Garden. This square is the home of exquisite restaurants, cinemas and theaters alike.
Piccadilly Circus is the road junction and public space of London’s West End. Built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly.
Here you can check out the Piccadilly lights, browse down Regent street for some serious shopping and even venture down the theater district if that’s your type of thing.
Oxford Street
Are you into shopping, then you must visit oxford street! Oxford street is one of Europe’s busiest shopping streets with over half a million visitors a day and over 300 shops to choose from.
Oxford Street is the ultimate shopping paradise. Shop the very best high-street brands such as Topshop, Gap, River Island, Primark, X and the UK’s iconic department stores, including Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer.
This street requires a visit when visiting London.
• Afternoon Activities
Big Ben
This 96 m high tower constructed in 1859 is usually referred to as the clock and the clock tower. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London.
You can not leave London without taking a picture of this British cultural icon recognised all over the world.
London Eye & Southbank
This 135 m high Millennium wheel, constructed in 1998 is a must-see when in London and a very romantic spot for a date. You can also book hotels with views of the London Eye.
An adult ticket costs you around £30 but it sure is worth it, the whole tour around takes about 30 minutes and offer you amazing views and snapshot opportunities over the South Bank of the River Thames in London.
Southbank has plenty of cafes and restaurants to chill out at if you decide to hang out here for the rest of the evening.
• Evening Activities
Ghost Bus Tour
You will be driven around in a 1960s Routemaster bus while two funny and spooky guides share some odd fun facts and background stories of London.
This tour takes place every day after sunset and takes around 1 hour to 1.15h.
The meeting point is 8 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, next to Charing Cross Underground Station.
The price is around £24 per person.
Night Cap With A View
After a day of exploring end the day in style and book at table at Sushi Samba. Located on the 38th floor of Heron Tower in the city.
Have dinner or a cocktail in the clouds. Take the scenic journey to the top of London, dine under a sparkling canopy of lights in our dining room, enjoy unparalleled 360° city views from the two highest outdoor terraces in Europe, and quench your thirst at one of our three cocktail bars.
Another option but also located in the same building is Duck & Waffle. Serving up traditional British cuisine with broad European influences emphasizing local, rustic, seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
Dishes are designed for sampling and sharing and are complemented by an iconoclastic cocktail experience served in a vibrant atmosphere that welcomes guests 24/7(although currently operating limited hours).
Day 2 In London
Day 2 on the London itinerary starts off with another London icon…
• Morning Activities
St Pauls Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London constructed in 1675. St Paul’s was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1967 and the dome is still amongst the highest in the world, at 365 feet (111 m) high.
You can visit St Paul’s every day (except for Sunday when it is closed) between 8.30 am – 4 pm with an adult entry price of £17, unless you are attending a service, then it is free.
Nearby you also have New Change shopping mall, small but a great place to grab some accessories, and souvenirs as well as some coffee and snacks.
Before leaving for the next spot on the London itinerary, I recommend also checking out Madison Bar which has amazing views of St Paul’s. A little hidden gem, not many are aware of.
• Afternoon Activities
Harry Potter Walking Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Harry, Hermione, and Ron and get to know the muggle world of London from a wizard perspective.
This is a must-do for any harry potter fan and a great way to experience the film in real life.
Prices start from 26€ only and takes 2.5 hours.
For those not into the magic of HP, head to the colour neighbourhood that is Notting Hill
Exploring London’s Colourful Neighbourhood; Notting Hill
Explore one of London’s most colourful neighbourhoods. This is an Instagrammer’s paradise. Amazing cafes, beautiful doors, and one of London’s most famous markets.
This is where Portobello Market is. It’s also the largest market in London. Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. For a full list of place to check out read our full guide on fun things to do in Notting Hill.
Complete with cool bakeries, and amazing pubs and must-see cafes in Notting Hill.
Explore Cafe Culture
From Notting Hill, you don’t have to travel far for London’s Instagrammable cafes. A choice of three to fill your time before the evening draws in.
EL&N
Élan, means style, flair and exuberance and that sure is what this cafe offers. This is one of the most Instagrammable places in London, mainly due to its flower and love heart covered walls.
This hotspot started out on park lane and quickly grew to become the influencers hangout place, it has now expanded to many more locations in London such as Oxford Street, Knightsbridge estate, and Belgravia.
Café Duke
Café Duke has had its screen time in Batman and Downton Abbey so can be sure this is the right place to take your Instagram pictures in.
And here is something to write in your caption: Cafe Duke was created from the original washrooms for officers of the united services club. Additional spicy information, the famous pool scene from “Batman Dark Knight” was shot in this cafe.
Where: 7 Duke Street St James’s, St. James’s, SW1Y 6BN
Peggy Porschen Chelsea
Peggy Porschen sure is one of the most Instagrammable cafes in London thanks to its beautiful flowers. Here you can see many influencers pose and snap a pic!
The location has a pink outside which goes perfectly with the sweet cakes and bubbly champagne served at Porschen. For more on cafes to check out in Chelsea click here.
Where: 219 King’s Road, Chelsea, SW3 5EJ
• Evening Activities
Nightlife and Clubs
When in London it is almost compulsory to party, at least once! Are you looking to experience all nightlife London has to offer in one night then why not purchase a London nightlife ticket.
You will get free access to 19 different nightclubs and bars as well as other perks and experiences. Get your very own e-ticket now and enter the clubs you want.
What’s Included in the London Nightlife Ticket:
- Unlimited entry to all 19 nightclubs (for 2 or 7 days) )
- £15 Uber credit on your first ride (get home safe)
- £10 UberEATS credit on your first order (eat like a champion)
- Empire Casino – Drink & Play free drink plus £5 credits
- 2 for 1 Cruise on the Sundowner Cruise Line (including complimentary drinks & bites)
- 2 for 1 sorbet & smoothies at AFTA EATS (Wembley Park Blvd location)
- 2 for 1 drinks at Planet Hollywood (drink up)
Prices for 2 days club-entrances start from £10 only.
With Instagram taking over and the hypyiest thing is to post every moment of your life on the gram we are all looking for good places to take the optimal Instagram photo.
London has many Instagrammable photo places, many being cafes. We have listed some of the best Instagrammable cafes in London below, so you can make the most of your stay.o
How To Get Around London
Getting around London is not always the easiest especially not in rush hour. Considering how many people live in this city there is no wonder it gets pretty crazy in rush hour.
You can usually walk in between many of the major sites in London but are you venturing out to the suburbs or looking for a quick way to get around, check out one of the options below.
Taxis are not recommended to use in London since they are very, very expensive. Try to purchase an opal card or simply tap your contactless card when using public transport.
Underground – “The Tube”
The London Underground, or “Tube” as its nicknamed, is the oldest underground metro network in the world, with parts operating since 1863. There is usually an underground stop within walking distance and a train arriving every ten minutes, at least.
The tube services operate from 5 am to midnight with some 24 hour services available.
The Underground operates in fare zones 1 – 6, which covers London in expanding concentric circles, with zone 1 in the centre and zone 6 at the outside. The more zones you cross on your journey, the more expensive it will be.
Avoid taking the tube between 7.30 – 9.30 am and 17.00 – 19.00 pm Monday to Friday, due to these being the busiest times.
Trains
London is a very big city and in some cases you need to take a train to get around, especially if travelling to the suburbs. The cheapest way to get around in London, regardless if you’re travelling with train, underground or bus, is to purchase an oyster card. This will save you money and offer convenience. You can buy these at the train station and some kiosks around.
Bus
There are so many bus routes in London, you can basically get anywhere in London by bus. Bus fares are also cheaper, at a fixed price of £1.50 for a single journey, regardless of distance.
To use the public buses in London, simply tap your debit or Oyster card on the big yellow card reader when you boarding the bus There are also many bus services that operate round the clock, meaning you can still get home after a night out on public transport in many instances.
One disadvantage with using the bus is that it takes a lot longer to travel compared to the other travel options available.
More On London:
- Top Places To Visit In Kensington
- Amazing Airbnbs In Notting Hill
- Cool Things To Do In Chelsea
- Top Luxury Hotels In Kensington And Chelsea
- Best Cafes To Check Out In Kensington
- Best Pubs In Kensington
- Best Breakfast Places In Kensington
