Spending 48 Hours in London-Guide For First Timers

Tips and advice for a first time London trip

By Krishna (Sponsored Post)

Spending 48 hours in the British capital requires a tight itinerary if you want to get most out of this city. From exploring must-see attractions, to eating delicious street food, experiencing a West End musical and pub-hopping, to extravagant nightclubs, there’s so much to see and do in this short amount of time. If it is your first time in the city, this guide will give you a 48 hour snapshot to help you plan your days, so that you don’t miss out anything important.

# Day 1

Breakfast at Sketch

Sketch restaurant is based near the busy Oxford Circus district. Its unique exterior hints at how brilliantly weird it gets inside. You can enjoy breakfast menus throughout the day till 6pm. The food here looks like an exhibition piece rather than hearty grub.

Culture fix: Visit the Tate Modern

Want to explore most impressive exhibitions of modern art? Tate Museum is the right place to hit. You’ll find world-class masterpieces by Picasso, Cézanne, Matisse, Bonnard, Pollock, Bourgeois and Warhol, to name a few.

Globe Theatre

Visiting and watching Shakespearean plays at the Globe Theatre is a must-do experience. This is one of the most famous play houses of all the time, where Shakespeare performed many of his greatest plays.

Lunch at the Anchor

When you are done with exploring the Gallery and Theatre, stop at the Anchor pub/restaurant for lunch. You will enjoy a traditional Brit meal in a relaxing atmosphere.

Oxford Street

Spend your afternoon browsing the popular Oxford Street. The street is in the West End of London. It will offer you brilliant window shopping options, housing around 300 shops.

Time for High Tea

Follow the customs of traditional Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Hotel. Going for an afternoon tea is an institution in itself. You can choose from a choice of several varieties of tea, all served with delicious cakes and savouries.

Drink at Mahiki

Visit Mahiki, one of London’s most affluent and famous bars, and get yourself a delicious cocktail.

Dinner Spot: Chicken Shop

Wind down after a long day with a delicious dinner at Chicken Shop. Chicken Shop offers really good chicken dishes and a fine selection of craft beers. You can visit any of the five outlets, which are located in Tooting, Whitechapel, Holborn, Balham and Kentish Town.

London Serviced Apartment

Book a serviced apartment in any of the popular neighbourhoods in London like Canary Wharf, Islington, Shoreditch and Camden. London serviced apartments are affordable compared to hotels in these areas. The apartment is great place to start your vacation and the interesting thing is you can live like a local here.

# Day 2

Portobello Road Market

Start Day 2 with a shopping spree. Visit Portobello Road Market, located in Notting Hill. Enjoy shopping in the world’s largest antiques market where you can find over 1,000 shops that are setup every day.

Hyde Park

Head to Hyde Park to spend a leisurely afternoon. You can wander around and even get in a little snooze time beneath a tree. Spend some time with nature in one of the Royal Parks of London.

Lunch at Hakkasan Mayfair

For lunch head to Mayfair to enjoy Cantonese cuisine and signature cocktails.

Etcetera Theatre, Camden

Visit Etcetera Theatre which is a typical small pub theatre. The pub seats just 42 people. Etcetera is situated above the Oxford Arms in Camden.

Victoria Park

Explore East London to see another side of London. Victoria Park is a great spring spot with a community feel. This green space is one of London’s oldest and most historic recreational parks.

Late-night at V&A London

When in London, do not miss London’s vibrant night life. In South Kensington, the V&A Museum keeps its doors open until late on the last Friday of every month. Enjoy pop-up bars, food options, live music and DJs.

Now, after spending two days here you have only got few hours left in the city. It’s time to enjoy a stroll in any of the parks in London. You could also enjoy watching the sun set over the Serpentine that shall give your journey a perfect end.

About the Author

Hi, I am Krishna, avid traveller and foodie. I like to explore new places and share my experiences. Here I am sharing spending 48 hours in London – a perfect guide for first timers. I am currently working as a blogger for thesqua.re, a community for travelers specifically dealing in major cities such as London, Paris and New York.