If you only have 48 hours in England’s capital city, make the most of it with this budget-friendly 2 day London itinerary! Whether you’re catching a budget Ryanair flight for the weekend or passing through on a whirlwind tour of Europe, this guide helps you experience the best of London without breaking the bank.
As far as budget destinations go, London isn’t really considered on the list for its affordability. That being said, much of London’s beauty lies in its rich history, amazing architecture, and vibrant city life. So it’s doable to really be able to experience the city on a budget, just expect to pay more for accommodations and meals.
Tl;dr – if you have two days in London, stay in the Lampage neighborhood, be choosy on the historic sites you actually choose to enter (Westminster Abbey is not worth it, but Tower of London is), and picnic or enjoy local markets where possible.
We personally arrived Friday afternoon and left Sunday afternoon, so this London two day itinerary is a perfect summary of things to do in London on a weekend, but can easily be followed any day of the week.
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Arrive in London: Night 1
Arriving in London: Plan to land in London on an evening flight. Your main goal tonight is to get to your accommodation. If you arrive earlier, you can explore a local pub or enjoy a casual dinner.
Airport Transfers: London’s main airports are Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW). Check your flight details and plan your transport accordingly. For budget-friendly transfers, consider using the London Underground or shuttle buses like the National Express or Heathrow Express.
- If you are flying in from a Ryanair flight, plan for the bus ride into the city to be upwards of 2+ hours if you’re traveling during high traffic times. I had traveled to London from Scotland and was meeting my now husband who was flying in from Ireland. Needless to say I was not planning to kill so much time in a Starbucks waiting for him to get into the heart of the city.
When we visited London, we were broke. Like “thought paying to take the underground was a luxury we couldn’t afford” broke. So we didn’t even consider staying anywhere near the main tourist attractions. That being said, staying away from those areas allowed us to actually get to experience London like more of a local, while still being able to easily get to the famous sites.
The neighborhoods I recommend staying in are Lambeth, Vauxhall, or Waterloo. All of them are within an easy walking distance of the underground and near the Thames.
Affordable London Accommodation Options
- Onefam Waterloo Hostel – if you’re between the ages of 18-36 and traveling solo, beds here are as low as $45 per night. Private rooms range between $180-$220 per night. Breakfast is not included but there are kitchen facilities.
- Vauxhall TravelLodge – nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable and well-situated to explore. Prices start as low as $80 USD per night. Breakfast is not included nor are there kitchen facilities but a great value if there are two of you.
- Griffin Belle Hotel Vauxhall – If you’re looking to stay somewhere affordable but still uniquely London, Griffin Belle is perfect. It’s a boutique hotel with 14 rooms and an English breakfast included. The main floor is the Griffin Belle pub, which is a great spot to hang with the locals. Prices start at $176 USD per night.
Day 1: Iconic London Landmarks
Start your day with a traditional English breakfast, especially if it’s your first time in London. If you’re trying to save money, stay somewhere that has breakfast included. Or find a local cafe – pick something close to your accommodation to save time and money and avoid eating in any of the tourist areas.
Walk 5-10 minutes to the Vauxhall Underground station. There, you can purchase an Oyster Card. These have a £5 activation fee but will allow you to either pre-load credit onto your card (£15 should be plenty for 2 days in London) or pay as you go.
If your credit card or debit card has the “tap to pay” feature, you can also just use that as the fees will be the same. Apple Pay works too if you don’t want to pull out your card in a busy station.
Since this London in 2 days itinerary heavily uses the Underground, aka “the tube,” you’ll want to find a way to easily use it.
Buckingham Palace: Begin your exploration with Buckingham Palace. Take the tube to Victoria Street and then walk about 10 minutes to Buckingham Palace. This is going to be a relatively quick stop, as for most people simply taking in the splendid exterior will make you feel both sufficiently in awe and sufficiently broke.
Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony if time permits (check the schedule ahead of time).
- If you’ve dreamed about exploring the inside of Buckingham Palace, plan to spend a little more time there this morning and take a guided tour. This tour will ensure you see the Changing of the Guard ceremony and learn all the secrets of the Royal Family*.
- *Maybe not all of them.
- Otherwise, I’d plan to spend 30 minutes taking in the splendor and then move on to your next stop (you only have 48 hours in London afterall!
Westminster Abbey: A 15 minute walk from Buckingham Palace, this historic site is a must-see. It is a historic church known for its stunning Gothic architecture and important role in British history. It has hosted many royal events, including coronations and weddings, and is the final resting place of numerous notable figures.
Entrance into the actual Abbey is a pretty steep £30. In my opinion, it’s not necessarily worth it unless you’re particularly keen on British royal history (i.e. If you binge watched every season of the Crown, you’re who I’m talking about).
- If you’re really trying to be a Basic Economy B, or you’re actually a spiritual person, attending a church service at the Abbey is free. The daily calendar of service times can be found here.
- St. Margaret’s is a 12th century church on the grounds of Westminster Abbey is known as the “Parliamentary Church” and houses the tomb of Sir Walter Raleigh. It’s free to enter and could be a good place to step into if you’re dealing with a rainy day in London.
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben: Stroll around the iconic buildings and take photos of Big Ben, just a 5 minute walk from Westminster Abbey. The exterior view is free, and you can enjoy the area without spending much.
As you’re walking, you’ll walk through Trafalgar Square: A short walk from Westminster Abbey, this famous square features the Nelson’s Column, the National Gallery, and plenty of people watching opportunities with the street performers. It’s also a particularly perfect spot for pickpockets, so be cautious.
Lunch: Budget-Friendly Dining
There’s a Tesco near Parliament which has the classic Tesco Meal Deal, which is great value on a budget. I’d grab my favorite sandwich and walk over to the Victoria Tower Gardens and grab a grassy spot to enjoy a picnic, surrounded by the sweeping views of history. Even if you’re visiting during some of the most crowded and worst times to visit London, you should be able to find a spot.
- As an aside, please avoid anything with seafood from Tesco if you don’t want to be violently ill on your bus ride back to Glasgow. It’s not pretty (and wasn’t for ya girl).
If a picnic isn’t your thing, or you’re committed to filling every hour of your 2 days in London with new sights, take the tube to Borough Market and find something that looks delicious to snack on. Might I give a hearty recommendation to the custard filled doughnuts?
Afternoon: Cultural Highlights
The British Museum: Ride the tube for about 15 minutes to reach the British Museum. Entry is free, though donations are appreciated.
The museum has a world-renowned collection of global artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone, classical Greek sculptures, and ancient Egyptian mummies with their ornate sarcophagi. The museum also features notable items such as the Lewis Chessmen, medieval ivory chess pieces, and the Sutton Hoo treasure, showcasing Anglo-Saxon artifacts. Additionally, it houses the Portland Vase, a Roman glass masterpiece, and the Hoa Hakananai’a statue from Easter Island.
- To be very honest, I did not particularly enjoy the British Museum. In my opinion, these precious treasures have really no business at all being in London and should be returned to where they were found. But, if you’re a history nut, this is well worth a stop.
Covent Garden: Once you’re finished at the British Museum, wander around Covent Garden, enjoy street performances, and explore unique shops. It’s a vibrant area perfect for a mid-afternoon stroll but skippable if you did any of the tours and have a grumbling belly that needs to be fed.
If you’re not a museum nerd but you are a Harry Potter nerd, you don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars and a half day doing the Warner Brother Studios tour. You can take a $20 Harry Potter walking tour and see all of the sights of Muggle London. For the price, it’s a great deal.
Evening: Relax and Dine
Dinner: Find a local restaurant or pub for dinner. Consider exploring areas like Soho or Leicester Square for a range of dining options. The further you go from tourist attractions, the better prices you’ll get, though in general food in London will still be expensive.
Evening Stroll: After dinner, enjoy a leisurely walk along the Thames, taking in the city lights and landmarks like the London Eye. Riding the London Eye starts at £29 if you book tickets ahead of time and even more if you don’t. So it’s perfectly lovely to look at, but not worth riding unless you’ve always wanted to see the views over London.
Pub Tour: London’s pub culture is world-famous. Why not join a pub walking tour? For under $40 it’s a great way to experience London culture.
Retrace your steps back to Vauxhall via the tube and put your feet up. You probably logged more miles than you were expecting! Check out my London packing list if you’re visiting in the colder months and figuring out what to pack in terms of footwear.
Day 2: Exploring More of London
Morning: Historical Sites and Parks
Grab a quick breakfast from a local bakery or café. Check out of your hotel if you need to and ask them to hang onto your bags so you can continue to explore. If they can’t, there are luggage lockers at the train stations and bus stations in the heart of the city that you can also rent.
Tower of London: Start your day at the Tower of London. You’ll ride the tube for about 20 minutes to reach this iconic landmark.
The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. Originally built by William the Conqueror in 1066, it has served various roles throughout history, including as a royal palace, fortress, and prison. The Tower is renowned for housing the Crown Jewels and its iconic White Tower, the oldest part of the complex. Multiple of Henry VIII’s wives were executed at the Tower of London.
The tours are led by the famous Beefeaters, or Yeoman Warders, who guard the site. They are hilarious. They are everything that dry, stone faced British humor should be.
If you’re tempted to skip this, please for the love of all that is good, do the tour. I told you you could skip multiple things on Day 1 in the interest of cost, but the paid entry to the Tower of London is SO worth the money. To date it’s one of my favorite tours I’ve ever been on (see above point about stone faced British humor).
- This tour lets you skip the line and gets you admission to see the Crown Jewels. As the lines can get kind of long, I think it’s worth it to spring for the extra couple of dollars to make sure you don’t have to wait in them.
Tower Bridge: Just a short walk from the Tower of London, admire this iconic bridge, often mistakenly viewed as the London Bridge. You can cross the bridge and enjoy views of the Thames. The actual London Bridge is pretty unimpressive and not worth your time, sorry to report if you’re a big Fergie fan.
Lunch: Affordable Eats
Try some street food or grab lunch at a market like Brick Lane for a variety of budget-friendly choices. It’s about a mile from the Tower of London if you’d like the walk, otherwise hop on the tube for a couple of minutes to get there more efficiently.
Afternoon: Museums, Markets, or Parks
Tate Modern: Once you’ve finished lunch and explored Brick Lane to your heart’s content, head to the Tate Modern, located on the South Bank. Entry is free, and you can explore contemporary art exhibitions.
It is one of the largest and most influential modern art galleries in the world, showcasing works by artists from the 20th century to the present. The museum features a diverse collection of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and multimedia works
If you’re not particularly into art, head to St. James Park instead and enjoy sprawling green space and a beautiful pond. We spent several hours here and had a lovely time, even in the heart of February when we visited. Hyde Park is nearby and equally stunning.
- If you loved the Tesco Meal Deal from the previous day, why not go 2 or 2 on this two day London itinerary and grab another round? St. James Park is another excellent spot to picnic. Again, just avoid the seafood if you don’t want an unpleasant end to your weekend in London.
Evening: Farewell to London
Airport Transfer: Head back to your accommodations to grab your large bags and head to the airport via the Underground or shuttle service. If you’re taking a shuttle to any of the airports, make sure you book one with plenty of time to get you there as traffic can be quite brutal.
To wrap up your weekend trip in London, you’ve just scratched the surface of what this vibrant city offers, even if it feels like you could sleep for a full day after all the exploring you’ve done. With our 2 days in London itinerary, you’ve seen historic landmarks, explored cultural gems, and enjoyed local dining without spending a fortune.
For a weekend trip in London, remember that even in just a short stay, you can dive deep into the city’s rich history and lively atmosphere. From iconic sights like Buckingham Palace to contemporary spots like Tate Modern or spots that locals love like St. James Park, your London two-day itinerary is packed with memorable experiences.
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