citytripo

2 days in London

A 2-day route through London built from the stop base: 7 stops, timed with the walk between them. Change the pace or your arrival day and the plan is rebuilt.

Data checked on October 4, 2026

How long
1 day2 days3 days
Pace

With an arrival day, stops closed that weekday move to another day.

No arrival day set. Times below work on any day each stop is open. Watch the “closed” tags, or pick your arrival day above.

Day 1

The City · Tower Hill

3 stops · 6 h 45 of visits · 27 min on foot

  1. 9:30 am11:30 am

    St Paul's Cathedral

    Booking advisedClosed Sun

    Wren's cathedral on Ludgate Hill. The ticket covers the main floor, the crypt and a climb of 528 steps to the Golden Gallery, with a free multimedia guide.

    2 h visitOpen 8:30 am–4:30 pm · last entry 4:00 pm

    Do the dome climb first, while your legs are fresh, then the floor and the crypt.

    Booking online is the fastest way in. Walk-up tickets are sold, and you can choose a time on the website.

    Sightseeing Monday to Saturday 08:30 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:00. Closed to sightseeing on Sundays, although the Dome Galleries open on Sundays until 25 October.

    See tickets

    Source: St Paul's Cathedral, checked October 4, 2026

  2. 27 min walk
  3. 11:57 am3:57 pm

    Tower of London

    Booking advised

    A medieval fortress on the Thames, with the White Tower, the Crown Jewels and the walls to walk. The ticket includes a guided tour by a Yeoman Warder.

    4 h visit (official site suggests 3 h)Open 10:00 am–5:30 pm · last entry 4:30 pm

    The official site says afternoons are quieter. Go after midday, but keep time for the last Yeoman Warder tour at 15:15.

    Book a ticket online for your date. Walk-up tickets mean a queue at the ticket office.

    Closes 17:30 now, with last entry at 16:30. From the last weekend of October it closes at 16:30 and the last entry moves to 15:00. It opens at 10:00 on Mondays and Sundays and at 09:00 Tuesday to Saturday.

    See tickets

    Source: Historic Royal Palaces, checked October 4, 2026

  4. Too far to walk in comfort (about 75 min on foot). Take public transport.
  5. Lunch break
  6. 5:27 pm6:12 pm

    Buckingham Palace

    Free

    The King's London residence, viewed from the gates and the Victoria Memorial. Combine it with a walk along The Mall and through St James's Park.

    45 min visitAlways open

    The State Rooms open to visitors in summer only. In autumn the Palace opens just on selected dates for guided tours, so for most visits this is an outside stop.

    Source: Royal Collection Trust, checked October 4, 2026

  • Running late? Drop Buckingham Palace first. Nothing is booked there.
  • If it rains, swap Buckingham Palace for National Gallery, which is indoors and close by.

Day 2

Westminster · Bloomsbury

4 stops · 6 h 35 of visits · 37 min on foot

  1. 9:30 am11:10 am

    Westminster Abbey

    Booking advisedClosed Sun

    The coronation church of the monarchy, with royal tombs, Poets' Corner and the cloisters. A multimedia guide is included in the ticket.

    1 h 40 visitOpen 9:30 am–1:00 pm

    Arrive at opening time. The opening window is short, so a late start can cut your visit.

    Buy a ticket online for your date. Tickets are also sold at the door.

    Closed to sightseeing on Sundays. Monday to Friday 09:30 to 15:30, Saturday 09:00 to 13:00. Some days are shorter, for example Wednesday 7 October closes at noon, so check your date in the official calendar.

    See tickets

    Source: Westminster Abbey, checked October 4, 2026

  2. Too far to walk in comfort (about 36 min on foot). Take public transport.
  3. 11:30 am2:30 pm

    British Museum

    Booking advisedFree

    Two million years of human history, from the Rosetta Stone to the Egyptian mummies. Entry is free, and you have to choose what to see, because it is huge.

    3 h visitOpen 10:00 am–5:00 pm

    Pick three or four galleries before you go. On Fridays the evening hours are calmer.

    A free timed ticket is recommended. It gives priority entry in busy periods, and queues are likely without one.

    Open daily 10:00 to 17:00, and until 20:30 on Fridays. Closed 24 to 26 December.

    Source: The British Museum, checked October 4, 2026

  4. 30 min walk
  5. Lunch break
  6. 4:00 pm5:15 pm

    London Eye

    Booking advised

    A slow rotation in a glass capsule beside the Thames, with views over Westminster and the City. Allow time for the queue and security.

    1 h 15 visitOpen 11:00 am–6:00 pm

    Go near closing time for sunset and a shorter queue.

    Book a timed ticket in advance. The time on the ticket is when you join the queue, and the wait can reach 45 minutes at peak times.

    Hours change through the year and by day. Now it opens 11:00 to 18:00 Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 to 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. From 23 October it opens 10:00 to 20:30 daily. Closed for maintenance in January.

    See tickets

    Source: The London Eye, checked October 4, 2026

  7. 7 min walk
  8. 5:22 pm6:02 pm

    Big Ben and Parliament Square

    Free

    The Elizabeth Tower and the Houses of Parliament, seen from Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge. A short stop with the best photos in London.

    40 min visitAlways open

    Source: Visit London, checked October 4, 2026

  • Running late? Drop London Eye first. Nothing is booked there.
  • If it rains, swap London Eye for National Gallery, which is indoors and close by.

What did not fit

  • National Gallery: no room left in 2 days at this pace.
  • Tower Bridge: no room left in 2 days at this pace.
  • Natural History Museum: no room left in 2 days at this pace.
  • Borough Market: no room left in 2 days at this pace.

With one more day it fits. See the 3-day plan.

How these times are calculated

Other ways to plan London