Visit London in 48 Hours
Raincoats and umbrellas are part of wardrobes for Londoners but it doesn’t always rain in London. Buckets of rain may fall for five or ten minutes. Before you know it the sun may come out again. London’s maritime climate is suitable for visitors anytime of the year. Let’s visit London in 48 hours.
Public transportation is easy for visitors. Either take the Underground (also known as Tube), the red double-decker buses or the black London cabs. A centrally located
hotel or bed and breakfast place will save you a lot of traveling time. We recommend
B+B Belgravia because of its location. Located on Ebury Street, in a quiet residential area and just a 10 minutes walk from Victoria Railway and Underground station including Gatwick Express to Gatwick International Airport. It is 5 minutes from Victoria Coach Station.
For your first 24 hours, head over to the
London Eye for a bird’s eye view of the city. The 30 minutes Eye flight consists of a single rotation in a domed canopy and offers a panoramic view of Central London.
The next attractions are The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower Bridge.
The National Gallery is located at the Trafalgar Square. It is free of charge and houses the national collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Check out their latest arrivals and special exhibits before you go.
Other than the pigeons on the ground or flying around,
Trafalgar Square is one of the most vibrant open spaces in London. It is a famous London landmark in central London. From the 14th to the late 17th century, the Square was the courtyard of the Great Mews serving Whitehall Palace. And in the early 18th century, the Mews area was cleared forming an open square for events. It was officially called Trafalgar Square in 1830. There are the famous bronze lions on guard at the base of the Nelson’s Column.
The current
St. Paul’s Cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710 after the Great Fire of London destroyed the old cathedral. This 300-year-old building housed important weddings, funerals and meetings for the British royal family.
William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066 and founded the White Tower, known to most people as
Tower of London. It was a palace, a prison and a fortress. The Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters still guard the Tower and some serve as tour guides.
Walk through the Traitor’s Gate, Bloody Tower and listen to the many tales about the royal families and the adversaries. Your guide may even point out spooky places. See the display of the Crown Jewels that dates back to the 1300s. Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation crown and many other crowns, orbs, scepters are displayed.
The Tower Bridge is just a few minutes walk from
Tower of London. The Tower Bridge houses four unique venues including the high level Walkways, the luxurious North Tower Lounge, the majestic Victorian Engine Rooms and Bridge Master’s Dining Room. This may be a great venue for dinner or drinks before heading back to your hotel.
Your next 24 hours visit in London starts early with a nice breakfast at the hotel (included with your stay if you are staying at the B+B Belgravia).
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Britain’s sovereigns since 1837. Today it is the administrative headquarters for the Queen and many official events and receptions are held there. The State Rooms are open to visitors. This huge building consists of 775 rooms, 19 State Rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
Changing the Guard takes place at Buckingham Palace on odd days or even days of the month. Check the
website for the dates available before your visit. For example:
December - odd days (1, 3, 5, etc) up to and including 21 December, THEN on 24, 27 and 30 December only
January - even days (2, 4, 6, etc.)
February - odd days (1, 3, 5, etc.)
Changing the Guard or Guard Mounting is the process involving a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard.
Take a walk to
St. James’s Park, the oldest of the eight Royal Parks in London. The park includes The Mall and Horse Guards Parade. The park is surrounded by three palaces including Westminster also known as Houses of Parliament, St. James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace. Remember to take a picture with Big Ben in the background while walking through Westminster area.
London West End is the place to be for shopping, dining and entertainment. You can shop on Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street. Catch a show at one of the
theatres in West End. While you are there, take a walk at Piccadilly Circus as the place lights up during the night.
There is so much to see and do in London. If you plan your route and stay at an accommodation that is close to everything, you would be able to visit many of these places. The best ways to spend your time is to hire a tour guide or join a city tour.
To find out which airlines fly into London, please check Travelmath’s
airlines flying calculator.
For currency conversion to convert US Dollar to British Pound, use Travelmath’s
currency converter calculator.
A visit to London in 48 hours is possible. Use Travelmath’s calculators to help you plan.
