A Weekend in London: How to Spend 48 Hours

London is one of those cities where a weekend can feel like two days or two weeks. There is always another neighbourhood to explore, another market to wander through.

I recently spent a weekend in London, and it reminded me that you don't need to see everything to have a great trip. The best approach is to choose a few things you really want to experience and build your weekend around them.

Here is how I would plan a weekend in London if you have around 48 hours.

Friday evening: arrive and settle in

If you're flying into London, don't underestimate the time it takes to get from the airport to the city. London has several airports, and they're not all equally convenient depending on where you're staying.

I arrived at Stansted, and getting into central London was straightforward, but it still took time. If you arrive in the evening, I wouldn't plan anything complicated.

Welcome Pickups is one option for arranging a private transfer in advance, which can make the arrival part of the trip a little easier.

Check into your hotel or apartment, drop your bags and go out for a relaxed dinner or a drink.

I also like walking around the area when I first arrive somewhere. You might find a coffee shop, a little restaurant or simply get a feel for the neighbourhood.

If you’re travelling from the US, your holiday starts with a long-haul flight, so it’s worth being realistic about how much you can comfortably do once you arrive. I’ve also shared some practical tips for making a long-haul flight easier.

I have a few tips for dealing with jet lag.

Saturday morning: your first taste of London

Getting out around 8:30 or 9:00 gives you a good head start, especially if you want to see some of London's most popular areas.

Have breakfast or coffee near your accommodation and then choose one area to explore.

For a first visit, Westminster is an easy place to start. Walk past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, continue towards Westminster Abbey and then follow the Thames.

You don't really need a complicated itinerary here. Just walk and enjoy the city.

Don't try to visit every attraction

This is probably my biggest piece of advice.

With only a weekend, you can't realistically visit the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the British Museum, St Paul's, Buckingham Palace and several markets.

Pick one or two attractions you genuinely want to visit inside. Enjoy the others from the outside.

You can walk past Buckingham Palace, see St Paul's and continue towards the City, or walk across Tower Bridge without necessarily visiting the Tower of London.

You'll have much more time to actually experience London.

Saturday afternoon: get lost in London

After lunch, I'd move away from the main tourist route.

This is when London becomes particularly interesting. Choose a neighbourhood based on what you enjoy:

• Covent Garden for shops, restaurants and street performers
• Notting Hill for colourful streets and Portobello Road
• Camden for markets and a completely different atmosphere
• Soho for restaurants, bars and people watching
• South Bank for a riverside walk and city views

Personally, I think exploring neighbourhoods gives you a better feeling for London than simply ticking landmarks off a list.

A practical London tip: use public transport

London's public transport can look complicated at first, but it's one of the easiest ways to get around once you understand the basics.

For most visitors, using a contactless bank card is much easier than buying individual tickets.

And don't automatically take the Tube for every journey.

When I was staying around the Barbican, I found it much easier to combine walking with the Underground rather than constantly looking for taxis.

If Google Maps says somewhere is a 15 minute walk, just walk. By the time you've reached the station, found the platform and waited for a train, you might have spent the same amount of time underground.

Saturday evening: see a musical or concert

After a full day of walking, Saturday evening is the perfect time to do something that feels like an occasion.

One of my favourite ways to spend a Saturday night in London would be seeing a musical.

If musicals aren't your thing, go for a concert instead. London has everything from huge arena shows to smaller live music venues and classical performances.

Sunday morning: don't waste it

If your flight isn't until the evening, you still have plenty of time to explore.

Leave your luggage at the hotel or use a luggage storage service and head out.

A market is a great option for Sunday morning. You can have breakfast, look around the food stalls and simply enjoy the atmosphere without needing to spend hours shopping.

Sunday afternoon: leave some breathing room

On my recent weekend, I had plans at Wembley Stadium, which meant Sunday was partly about getting across London rather than trying to fit in another long list of attractions.

And that's something worth remembering.

Don't plan your itinerary as if London were a small city.

Getting from one side of London to the other can take much longer than it looks on a map.

How much can you realistically see?

A weekend could be as simple as:

Saturday: Westminster → lunch → one neighbourhood → musical or concert

Sunday: breakfast or market → one attraction or neighbourhood → afternoon plans → airport

That's already a full weekend.

If you'd like to explore some of London's most famous sights with a guide, you can browse London tours and experiences before your trip.

So, is a weekend in London enough?

Not really, but that's exactly why a weekend works.

Think of your first weekend as an introduction rather than a complete London experience.

Choose a few things you really want to see, explore a neighbourhood, use public transport when you need it, walk whenever you can and leave some empty space in your itinerary.

You won't see everything.

And that's a good reason to come back.