Perfect 2 Day London Itinerary: Solo Female Travel in London
I took my very first solo trip ever to London recently! It was a quick 2 full day trip (3 nights) on my way back to the States to see family and boy am I glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to do this. I fell in love with London immediately, as do many. Because I had such limited time here I packed my days as much as I could and stuck to more of the touristy stops within London that many want to check off their list. There is a lot of walking and wandering cobblestone streets in this itinerary. Keep reading for the perfect 2-day London itinerary and guide for a first-timer.
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When to Visit London
The busiest tourist season for London is late Spring through Summer. The weather is lovely during this time. You should see more sunny days but costs will be higher due to demand and crowds.
I visited in mid-February and was lucky to have 2 perfectly sunny days back to back. November to March can be more dreary (and cold) but will be more affordable with fewer crowds than the Summer travel season.
Safety Tips for Visiting London as a Solo Female
London was my first country to visit solo. I did a lot of blog reading of other women’s experience solo in London and felt based on what I read, that I wouldn’t have much to worry about but also prepared myself to ensure I wouldn’t be putting myself in any sort of situation. My personal experience was wonderful and I at no point felt unsafe while exploring London alone. Women unfortunately just have to think about their safety and plan for the worse more than men so here are some solo travel tips for London for you to also feel your safest, ladies.
Make up your story before you get there! Most people you may strike up a conversation with are genuinely interested and harmless but it’s important to not elude to the fact that you are a solo female. My story was I was in London with my husband for a work trip but I am doing some sightseeing while he works. Another is saying you are on your way to meet friends/partner/family.
Piggybacking off the previous point, consider moving a ring to your left ring finger if you are not married as a visible sign of you being unavailable.
Avoid staying out very late without a safe plan to get back to your hotel. I mostly was back at my hotel by dark or shortly after. But if you are out later planning to get an Uber instead of walking, etc.
If you choose to use Uber, confirm with the driver who they are picking up before getting into the car. Uber also has a great feature where the only way the ride begins is to put in a pin code which confirms you are getting into the correct vehicle.
Watch your drinks if you go out drinking. Always keep it in your sight and even while sitting there or if you look away, place a hand over the glass so no one has the chance to slip anything into your drink.
Share your live location, itinerary, hotels, and flight information with loved ones.
Don’t post to social media in real-time. This is a general safety rule I follow for all trips but especially being by myself I posted a couple of days after the fact so that I was nowhere in the area.
Keep your belongings close in crowds to avoid being subject to pickpocketing. I used a small crossbody bag that I wore under my coat so it was hidden from sight most of the time but also impossible to access without my coat coming off first.
I hate having to share tips for how women-identifying people can stay safe while traveling on their own but this is our reality. Travel safe babes <3
Where to Stay in London
If you are looking at being in the heart of London with great access to all the attractions, I recommend staying in Waterloo, Westminster, City of London, or the Soho area. There is no shortage of accommodations fitting anyone’s preference - luxury, mid-range, local bed, and breakfasts, or hostels.
The Steam Engine Hostel: An affordable, laid-back hostel in a quiet part of London with walkability to public transit starting at $45/night.
YHA London Oxford Street Hostel: Trendy, higher-end hostel option in a desirable location.
B+B Belgravia: Bed & Breakfast in the affluent Belgravia neighborhood (near Westminster).
hub by Premier Inn London City Bank hotel: Mid-range hotel near the Tower of London for a pretty good price for London (around $150/night).
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London: A 4-star hotel located right across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben and Westminster Abbey with access to the trains and water taxis down the River Thames in a few minutes walk. I highly recommend this hotel - I stayed here!
How to Get Around London
Let's be honest, London has their sh*t together when it comes to getting around. You’ve got several options. Here are the most popular:
Train
There are a few different train lines to know about: The Underground (or the Tube), Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Elizabeth Line, and London Overground. Here’s a summary of what each of these are:
The Tube: The most well-known and popular underground, rapid train network in London.
DLR: The Docklands Light Railway is a driverless train servicing East and South-East London (the Docklands area).
Elizabeth Line: This is the train line that goes from Heathrow Airport into the Eastern stretch of the city and even as far West as Reading. If you are planning to take a train to and from Heathrow, the Elizabeth Line will be one of your options to get to and from.
London Overground: This overground train system serves the Greater London/suburban areas with connections from Central London.
You can check train departure times, routes/lines, and fees on the TfL website.
Bus
The buses and trams are a cost-effective way to get around to areas in and around rural London where the trains can’t get you. There are the typical running bus routes (some even operating 24 hours), and sightseeing double-decker buses where you can see a bit of the city while also getting you to where you’d like to go.
You can check bus departure times, routes, and fees on the TfL website.
Riverboat / Sightseeing River Cruise
The River Thames flows through the middle of London and offers a unique source of transportation - by river buses or cruises operated by Transport for London. There are 2 main options - a river bus just simply getting you from point A to point B via a boat or a sightseeing cruise which also gets you around but you get a speaker on the boat to point out landmarks, facts, and history along the way.
You can check piers, departure times, routes, and fees for these options on the TfL website.
Your other options are sightseeing river cruises not associated with TfL (the official transportation association of London). I personally took a cruise with City Experiences to get from Westminster Pier to London Tower Pier. I go into further detail about this cruise in the itinerary below.
For all London Train, Bus, and River Buses and Cruise information visit the Transport for London website or down the TfL Go app.
By Foot
By far my favorite way around London (as you will likely gather from my itinerary). London is a very walkable city with wide sidewalks on every street, crosswalks (that even have written on the ground in which direction to look for oncoming traffic), and crosswalk signals at each intersection.
Walking is free and allows you the freedom to sightsee on foot, stopping wherever you are interested along your way vs being confined to a vehicle.
Uber/Taxi
The most expensive option but definitely a straightforward and readily available one. Uber works great in London. It’s efficient and gets you to where you need to go safely (remember the safety tip above about requiring a pin for your Uber! Love that extra protection).
The taxis and most famously the iconic black cabs can be hailed on the street or called in advance by apps such as Gett and Taxiapp. If you are hailing a cab on the street just remember that only if the yellow light is illuminated on the top of the car are they accepting rides.
Bonus perk to taking a car: if you are in London for a short period, this is a great way to get in some sightseeing and have a local to talk to about their recommendations, ask questions about the neighborhoods, etc.
Where to Eat in London
The UK has its notable foods like fish & chips, bangers & mash, and afternoon tea. The London food scene is DELICIOUS. There are endless cafes, upscale dining, and food carts to choose from. Here are just some to consider for your visit:
Fishcotheque: My favorite stop while in London for fish and chips. One order can easily feed 2 people - I wasn’t able to finish it myself.
Borough Market: A great way to eat a little bit of everything London has to offer. This market has stalls galore of local eats. Try Flat Cap Coffee for your coffee fix and Nana Fanny’s Deli for amazing falafel.
Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery: This bakery is known for its Jewish-style bagels and is open 24 hours.
Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames: Get a little tour of the River Thames and enjoy afternoon tea along the way! I had planned to do this but by the time I went to book my tickets, it was sold out. So book ahead of time! Here is the cruise I had planned to book with City Experiences.
Terry's Cafe London: If you are looking for an English Breakfast you can find it at this family-run cafe that has fed Londoners for years.
Punjab Indian Restaurant: There is a large South Asian population in London which has influenced and benefitted the food landscape of the city. A good example of that is the Indian restaurants around - particularly Punjab that has been around since the 1940s and serves traditional Indian dishes.
Perfect 2 Day London Itinerary
This itinerary is organized into 2 full days of exploring London on a budget with a priority on the iconic must-sees of the city for first-time visitors and doing a lot of walking. Note that depending on where you choose to stay in London can alter how you want to tackle this itinerary. I stayed in Waterloo near Big Ben so my days (and this itinerary) will start in that part of the city. In addition, I did A LOT of walking in this itinerary but you can speed up your day and the # of things you see by utilizing the efficient public transportation options available to you.
Day 1: Sightseeing Water Taxi Down River Thames, Borough Market, Walk the Queen’s Walk
First Stop: Sightseeing Water Taxi Down the River Thames
A sightseeing river cruise down the River Thames is a great way to see London landmarks while also getting you from point A to point B. I chose to do this with City Experiences from Westminster Pier (next to Big Ben) to Tower Pier (next to the Tower of London). The ride takes about 40 minutes and along the way, you have a guide who speaks on some of the notable landmarks you pass.
Places you will see on this boat ride:
Tips & things to know:
Book your ticket with City Experiences ahead of time here. (Not sponsored, just genuinely enjoyed my experience with them)
Book an early morning departure time to make the most of your day.
The points of departure and arrival along the River Thames are Westminster Pier, Tower Pier, London Eye Pier, & Greenwich.
Tickets with City Experiences start at £13/person (about $16usd).
There are other ticket options available from City Experiences including a 24-hour boat ticket for hop-on-hop-off access, return tickets, etc.
Second Stop: Tower of London
Taking the water taxi down to the Tower Pier drops you off right in from of the Tower of London, a castle and the historical location of battles and the Crown Jewels. Stroll around the impressive Tower of London grounds and read about the structure from the plaques located on the paths surrounding its perimeter for free.
If you want to see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London while you are here:
The Crown Jewels, or the royal regalia (the royal crowns and treasures) are a major attraction while visiting the Tower of London. I recommend if you choose to see the Crown Jewels, to purchase your tickets as ahead of time as you can on the Tower of London website.
I did not choose to see these but did observe that the lines to get into the Tower of London were very long and slow-moving. However, your ticket includes entry to also see London of Tower attractions, The White Tower, Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Battlements, Medieval Palace, Bloody Tower, Torture at the Tower exhibition, Fusiliers Museum, and Royal Mint exhibition so this can certainly be well worth your time to visit if it interests you.
Cost: Tower of London tickets start at £29.90 (about $37usd) per adult and get you entry into all of the above-mentioned places in the ToL
Location: London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
TIP: Check the Tower of London website for updates on the availability of the Crown Jewels. They are removed from display at the Tower of London leading up to royal events and Coronations.
Other optional sites you can see near the Tower of London:
Third Stop: Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is a beautiful spectacle and iconic landmark in London so take some time to cross the bridge, admiring the architecture and stunning views of the River Thames. Simply walking across this bridge is enough to be satisfied with your visit here however if you are looking to take it a step further you can also book tickets to enter the interior to explore the bridge’s walkway and engine rooms. You can buy those tickets here.
Cost: Free to walk across; tickets to enter the bridge start at £12.30/person (about $15usd)
Location: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Fourth Stop: Borough Market
After crossing the Tower Bridge, just a short 13-minute walk away is Borough Market. Here you can grab lunch and a coffee, do some shopping for tea, cheeses, or sweet treats, and even find some vendors selling fresh flowers and artisan goods.
Cost: Free to visit; food and shopping cost
Location: London SE1 9AL, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Fifth Stop: Queens Walk (South Bank)
The South Bank Queens Walk (boardwalk along the south bank of the River Thames running from about St Pauls Cathedral to Westminster Bridge) is the trek you will take back down the south side of the river to the area in which you started your journey today by boat. As a leisurely walk with stops along the way, this can take about 1.5-2 hours to complete (about 3 miles) and was personally one of my favorite activities as there is so much to see at no cost along this path.
Sites you will pass along the Queen’s Walk:
Shakespeare’s Globe (image 3 above)
Millenium Bridge (image 2 above)
Bankside Beach (image 1 above)
Thames Beach (image 4 above)
Sixth Stop: Leake Street
Leake Street is located under Waterloo Station as an abandoned railway tunnel that’s turned into an urban street art delight. The walls and ceilings are covered in incredible graffiti art and you can add on to it if you bring your own spray paint. Also along the tunnel are a restaurant and dive bar.
Cost: Free
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
Day 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace/Changing of the Guards, Museums
Day 2 is another busy day around London with some notable stops along the way. I personally walked this entire day as well with the exception of to Victoria and Albert Museum which I took an Uber to because it was a little further out of the way. If you are staying around Waterloo as I did this is a great way to spend a full day exploring the more Western area of Central London.
First Stop: Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is the Anglican Church that has been the location of all of the most notable royal ceremonies since 1066 (weddings, coronations, funerals, etc). Just from the outside Westminster Abbey is a sight to behold but you can also tour the inside by purchasing your tickets ahead of time on the WA website.
Cost: Free to see from outside. Tours start at £27/person (about $33.50usd)
Location: Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Second Stop: Horse Guards Parade
A short walk from Westminster Abbey is the Horse Guards Parade. This outdoor ceremonial space hosts the annual Trooping the Colour on the monarch’s birthday. On any other regular day though, you can walk around the grounds, still considered today as the official entrance to the palace. Stationed at the front of the entrance are horse guards you can get a picture of and at 11 am daily see the changing of the guard occur at this entrance (different from the Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guards - see below).
Cost: Free
Location: Horse Guards Rd, London SW1A 2AX, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Third Stop: St James’s Park
St James’s Park is a 57-acre nature park on the palace grounds open to the public with walking trails, benches, ponds, and small coffee/snack shops. I recommend taking your time to stroll through the park with a coffee - it’s a stunning place!
Cost: Free
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
Fourth Stop: Buckingham Palace/Changing of the Guards
The trails of St James’s Park lead you to the breathtaking Buckingham Palace. While visiting the palace, I recommend getting here in time for the Changing of the Guards as well. The Changing of the Guards is simply the time of day when the guards outside Buckingham Palace change shifts with new guards but in a typical royalty manner, it’s made into a spectacle that thousands of tourists come to London to see every year.
It begins with the Military Band marching and playing their musical program while they accompany the new guards to their post. They walk down The Mall, around the circle drive surrounding the Victoria Memorial, and beyond the palace gates. The actual changing of the guard is a ceremonious pass-over of position and salute before they march off again.
Tips & things to know:
The entire process takes about 45 minutes but be prepared to be waiting around on your feet for longer than this as you want to arrive a bit early to secure your spot along the road or gate.
The schedule in which this occurs depends on the time of year and day of the week. Refer to the official website for upcoming schedule postings.
If you wish to see the entire ceremony of the Changing of the Guards behind the palace gates, arrive at the gates an hour early to secure your unobstructed view.
And on that note, be informed that unless you are standing at the palace gates or get a front-row seat/standing at the Victoria Memorial (which is elevated above the crowds in the circle drive), you will not be able to see the actual Changing of the Guards behind the gates due to the crowds of people.
The Changing to the Guards actually takes place in 3 different places: Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, and Wellington Barracks. The most famous one to attend though is Buckingham Palace.
Cost: Free
Location: Get directions with Google Maps
Fifth Stop: The Mall
After Changing of the Guards, walk along The Mall, a processional route leading to Buckingham Palace. This street is lined with beautiful trees and United Kingdom flags for certain occasions and gives a central view of the Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace.
Cost: Free
Location: Get directions with Google Maps
Sixth Stop: Trafalgar Square
At the end of The Mall, you will run into Trafalgar Square. This square is a large area in front of the National Gallery with a fountain and historical monuments. It’s a unique area to grab a small bite while resting on the fountain’s edge or on the gallery steps.
Cost: Free
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
BONUS: While at Trafalgar Square, visit the National Gallery to see some of London's most notable art pieces and exhibitions.
Seventh Stop: Hatchards
Hatchards is known as the oldest bookstore in London, founded in 1797. Drop by Hatchards on your way to Oxford Street (stop #8) to do some shopping or just leisurely browse this beautiful store.
Cost: Free to visit unless making a purchase
Location: 187 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9LE, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Eighth Stop: Oxford Street
Oxford Street made this itinerary because of its notability as the most famous and busy shopping street in Europe. You can find all of your store favorites here like Zara, Adidas, and Microsoft. As well as some UK favorites like Selfridges and Marks & Spencer.
Cost: Free to walk around. Costs to shop.
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
Ninth Stop: Victoria and Albert Museum
For this stop, you will need to take a train, uber, or bus ideally as it’s a bit further out of the way from where you’ve been today. There are a LOT of museums in London to choose from but the reason I chose the Victoria and Albert Museum for this itinerary is because of its iconic art collections from around the world, the size of the museum, and the pure beauty of the architecture and exhibitions. You can spend hours here if you are an art lover like myself.
Cost: Free
Location: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
18 More Things to Do on Quick London Trip
1. Tate Modern
For modern and contemporary art lovers - this is your place to visit in London for just that. Tate Modern holds centuries of international modern paintings, sculptures, and more.
Cost: Free
Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
2. A West End Show
West End shows in London are the equivalent of Broadway shows in New York City - so iconic and worth looking into while in the area. Think Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and The Phantom of the Opera!
Cost: Depends on the show and seat selection
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
3. Neal’s Yard
Located in Covent Garden is the brightly colored shopping area of Neal’s Yard.
Cost: Free to visit
Location: Get directions on Google Maps
4. Painted Hall
Painted Hall is known as “Britain’s Sistine Chapel” for its intricately painted walls and ceilings by Sir James Thornhill in the 1700s.
Cost: £12/adult (about $15usd)
Location: College Way, London SE10 9NN, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
5. Columbia Road Flower Market
As the name suggests, Columbia Road Flower Market is a special market with vendors selling an arrangement of flowers, plants, herbs, and the like. Even if you can’t bring back a plant from your visit, it is worth stopping by here for the once-a-week colorful community gathering with the smell of fresh flowers in the air. It is open only on Sundays from about 8 am - 3 pm.
Cost: Free to visit
Location: Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
6. Go to a London Football Match
If you are a football (soccer) fan and luck out on timing, attend a game to see one of the famous London teams battle it out on the pitch. You can see what matches are scheduled while you are in town on the ESPN website.
Cost: Depends on selected seating & game
7. Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is the largest antique market in the world! Seven days a week vendors rotate by offering different types of products in their booths such as antiques, fashion, produce, and food.
Cost: Free to visit
Location: London W11 1LJ, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
8. Sky Garden
Sky Garden is the highest garden in London and boasts some of the best views of the city you can find. In addition to the garden, you can eat and drink at the restaurant and bar on site.
Cost: Free to visit
Location: 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
Indulge in an English Afternoon Tea with small sandwiches, jams, pastries, cakes, and tea. There are countless places around London that offer this experience that you can find here.
Cost: Depends on where and when
10. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London is one of the most famous and important museums in the world showcasing taxonomy and the discovery of the natural world.
Cost: Free but tickets should be booked in advance here
Location: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
11. Kew Gardens - Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew Gardens is a massive botanical garden with the most diverse collection in the world located in Southwest London.
Cost: £12 - £24 (about $15 - $30usd) depending on the time of year you visit
Location: Richmond, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
12. Go on a Jack the Ripper Tour
The infamous serial killer known as Jack the Ripper made his way through London in 1888. Today, there is a walking tour dedicated to sharing everything to know about his crimes and the area of London that he impacted.
Cost: £12/person (about $15usd)
13. Kyoto Garden
A Japanese Zen Garden - Kyoto Garden. The perfect quiet and calming place in the city to escape to for a couple of hours featuring water features and Japanese shrubbery.
Cost: Free
Location: Holland Park, Holland Park Ave, London W11 4UA, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
14. The Beatles Crosswalk (Abbey Road)
Recreate the famous Abbey Road Beatles album cover with your friends at The Beatles Crosswalk in St John’s Wood, London.
Cost: Free
Location: Abbey Rd, London NW8 9DD, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
15. King’s Cross Station
King’s Cross Station, the train station known for the location of Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter series where the Hogwarts Express departs for Hogwarts. A truly iconic stop in London for HP lovers.
Cost: Free
Location: Euston Rd., London N1 9AL, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
16. Harry Potter Studio Tour
Speaking of Harry Potter, you can tour the studio where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed as well as see props and costumes from the movies. This is about an hour's drive outside of London but worth the stop if you have the time.
Cost: Starting at £51.50/person (about $63.97usd)
Location: Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
17. Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
If you are looking for stunning natural beauty outside of the hustle and bustle of London, the Surrey Hills Area is the perfect place. This park has hiking, lakes, and lodging just an hour's drive from the city.
Cost: Free
Location: Box Hill Trail, Tadworth KT20 7LB, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
18. Stonehenge
2 hours from London is the historical and ancient landmark, Stonehenge. There are a number of tour agencies that can be booked for a day trip.
Cost: Tours with Golden Tours (suggested company on Stonehenge website) start at £64/adult (about $79.49usd)
Location: Salisbury SP4 7DE, United Kingdom - Get directions on Google Maps
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