Written March 1, 2025.

If you’re looking to start exploring Europe, London is an amazing choice for one of your first destinations. And trust me – this guide will ensure your first trip across the pond is a real success.

Or maybe you’re a well versed explorer, but you haven’t been to London yet! Stay tuned, because this itinerary is for you, too.

Why London?

London is the beautiful capital city of England that offers the opportunity to explore rich history and culture all throughout the city through museums, landmarks, architecture, food and entertainment.

Part of the reason I love London is because of how recognizable so many of the landmarks are, like Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower Bridge. It’s an amazing feeling to finally see them in real life.

London also plays such a prominent role in music, media, and Hollywood, so I had always wondered what it would be like to visit. I’ve always been interested in the Royal British family and movies and plays set in London, like Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap, A Christmas Carol, and Oliver!. Having tea, being around the royal court, and walking past Big Ben were all dreams I had thought up as a kid.

Why is London a great first trip to Europe?

• It’s “close” to the US
  • The flight to London is a relatively closer flight from the east coast of the US to Europe. It takes around 6 and a half hours for me to get from Newark, NJ to the London Heathrow Airport.
• English speaking
  • For any English speakers out there, you won’t have to worry about a language barrier in London.
• Plenty to do
  • There’s so much to do in London that you’ll totally find something that aligns with your interests.
• Iconic sights and history
  • While in London, you will get the opportunity to visit very culturally and historically significant monuments and places that you’ve either seen in movies, heard about, read about, etc.

It’s important to know a few tips and tricks before leaving for London.

Here are some tips for London first timers:

• There are three main airports in London
  • There’s London Heathrow (main airport), London Gatwick and London Stansted. If you’re flying in from the US, most flights will go to London Heathrow. However, when I was flying from Madrid to London, the Stansted airport offered the most affordable flight option, so I flew in there.
  • The difference between the airports is the proximity to the center of the city. You can take the tube from Heathrow to center city, but you have to take a separate airport transfer train from Gatwick (35 mins) and Stansted (45 mins).
• They drive on the left side of the road!
  • If you’re from the US, this is going to be a strange difference to comprehend. And even if you don’t plan on renting a car during your time in London, it still impacts the way you cross the street and the way you pay attention to traffic.
• Tipping
  • In the UK, expect to tip between 10% and 15% at restaurants for good service at restaurants.
• Travel tax
  • As of January 8, 2025, the UK is requesting an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to entering. You can apply for an ETA on the UK’s government website. I would do this well in advance to avoid any issues.
• Local currency
  • The currency in the UK and London is the British Pound. I use my credit card when I’m there (one that doesn’t charge international fees) but it always is helpful to have some local currency on hand. I think if you’re only staying for a few days, it’s not necessary to have cash on hand – but a debit card that you can use to take money out of an ATM in case of emergency is on my must-have packing list.
• Transportation
  • Aside from the very walkable center city, I rely on the tube, buses and taxis to get me from place to place in London, in that order.
  • Tip for the tube: If you don’t plan on buying any type of daily or weekly pass for the tube, you can buy single use tickets. However, I prefer to just scan my credit card upon entry to the station to save time and avoid waiting in lines.
• You need plug adapters
  • The UK uses type G plugs, different than both the US and the rest of Europe. I bought my plug adapters off of Amazon.

What to expect from this guide

Alright: so you’ve decided you’re going to spend a weekend in London. This itinerary is geared towards people who are trying to see as much of the city in a short amount of time, and it’s also geared toward travelers who haven’t visited London before.

This is how I would maximize a short amount of time to see the best of the city, especially if you want the best first impression of London.

If you’ve already been to London, seen all the sights, and you want to have a little bit of a different more niche experience, check out my three day guide to London.

Here’s the breakdown:

Day 1:

• See main London attractions in the city on the Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tour

• Try a classic English dinner at a pub

• Indulge in a show on the West End

Day 2:

• Check out bustling Borough Market

• See the city from above on the London Eye

• Enjoy a proper High Tea

• Shop on Carnaby Street in Soho

• Sip a martini at Duke’s Hotel Bar

What do I love about this itinerary?

As much as it’s a packed way to spend 2 days in London, I think there’s enough flexibility that you can really make it your own.

For instance, you can make the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour really whatever you want it to be by creating your own route.

There’s also only only two events with a definite time that you have to book in advance (the show on the West End and a reservation for your ride on the London Eye).

Also… In terms of expenses, this doesn’t have to be a lavish adventure. Yes, London is a pricey city compared to other European cities, but with this itinerary, you don’t have to break the bank. I’ll include prices of everything in the more detailed itinerary below.

Day 1:

The morning & afternoon: The Big Bus Tour

If you’ve never been on a bus tour like this, here’s the premise: the bus rides a certain route all day. Every 15-20 minutes, buses will stop at each designated stop along the route. So you can catch the bus at a stop close to your hotel or where you go for breakfast, then you can ride the bus and only get off at the places you want to see.

Wait back at a designated stop when you’re done, get back on, and ride to your next destination.

Here are all of the sights you have to see:

• Buckingham Palace
• Trafalgar’s Square
• Piccadilly Circus
• Westminster Abbey
• Hyde Park
• Tower Bridge

I would recommend booking through Big Bus London and following the Red Route, which is geared toward exploring central London.

One of the best things about this tour is the opportunity to see so much of the beautiful city as you get from stop to stop.

Observing from the top deck of the double decker buses makes every second of the Big Bus Tour entertaining.

My tips:

• Buy tickets in advance (40 pounds, equivalent to a little more than 40 US dollars). They are good for the whole day, which is amazing. Start when you want and end when you want, too.
• Take so many photos! A lot of these sights are classic London sightseeing spots.

The evening: Dinner and a show!

When the day winds down, maybe you’ll freshen up at the hotel after your long day of city exploring. Then it’s time for a true English dinner at a pub. You can go exploring and find a pub on your own, or check out The Harp or The Lamb & Flag.

Looking to try some local cuisine? There’s nothing more English than fish and chips, bangers and mash or Shepard’s pie with a beer or a cider.

End your night by seeing a show on the West End!

The West End, London’d version of NYC’s Broadway, is a fantastic part of London culture. I saw Phantom of the Opera, and I was blown away by the talent and the quality of the production. For Phantom, tickets started at 41 pounds. The next musical that I want to see is definitely Les Mis, and the next play on my list is The Play That Goes Wrong.

Day 2

Morning: Shopping and city sights

Start your day at the Borough Market! At around 10 AM, head over to check out the oldest food market in London. There’s so many incredible places to try, including the viral chocolate covered strawberries from Turnips and fruit crumble from Humble Crumble.

Enjoy tea, coffee and some snacks before you explore the market and the surrounding area, including the London Bridge. It’s a thirty minute walk from the Borough Market to your next stop, perfect for sight seeing in a new area of the city!

Next stop: The London Eye. The London Eye is a famous city attraction that has several enclosed pods you can ride in to get an areal view of the city.

Book your London Eye tickets for around 1 PM. I booked tickets here and did not have to wait in line for a while at all. (Tickets start at 29 pounds).

If you’re debating the London Eye, maybe because of your fear of heights… just do it anyway. Those pods are actually so spacious, which helps to diminish the height factor, and the view from above is incredible!

Heights are not my favorite, but this was absolutely worth any fear I had. It was an experience I’ll always remember. I went at night, too, so if you rather see the city lit up after dark, book this tour for after sunset.

Afternoon: Shopping and high tea

You can’t make your first visit to London without experiencing one of London’s clichés: high tea.

As much as it might be a cliché, it’s also a great London memory I have from my first visit. I would recommend tea at Grand Caffe Concerto. They take reservations but do not require them. This restaurant chain offers an excellent menu with customizations for dietary restriction or even the option to add on champagne.

We opted for the classic: tea sandwiches, scones and dessert with bottomless tea and a glass of Prosecco. (About 65 pounds for two people, with the Prosecco).

There’s so many different high tea experiences available in London all over the city with different themes and in different adorable locations.

Shopping on Carnaby Street is the only proper way to end the afternoon. Carnaby Street is located in Soho. It has a lively energy and so many shops to explore despite the rainy London weather, which is inevitable.

Now that you’ve seen most of the city, here’s your chance to look for some souvenirs!

Evening: Dinner and drinks

Maybe find a restaurant that you’ve seen while walking around or do a little search to find a restaurant near your accommodation, or try another pub for a different English classic dish.

And then head over to the bar at Duke’s, originator of the famous martini. Enjoy a relaxing night at this spiffy hotel bar before heading back to your room for some much needed rest.

This itinerary is perfect for first timers in London. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to make the most of two days in the city, and I would even do it myself again. If you are looking to try something a little different, check out my three day in London guide that has a few more niche recommendations.

Safe travels across the pond!