Weekend Trips from NYC: 2 Days in London Itinerary
Last Updated on October 24, 2025 by Erin Donahue
London is only a six-hour flight from the East Coast, making it a tempting weekend getaway from New York City. The older I get, the less I plan for my trips. With no itinerary, no strict schedule, and nothing booked in advance, I let curiosity lead me for 48 hours to explore. What followed was a mix of iconic landmarks, food finds, and the freedom that comes with solo travel. If you’re wondering how to spend 2 days in London, here’s how I filled my weekend.
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Is 2 Days in London Worth It?
Yes, and I’m proof of it! Two days in London gives you enough time to hit the major landmarks, eat well, and feel the city’s energy without burning out. You won’t see everything, but 48 hours delivers a solid taste of London’s history, culture, and food scene. With overnight flights from NYC landing early morning, you can maximize every hour. I took a red-eye, landed at 10 AM, and walked past Big Ben by the afternoon.
Day 1 in London
What’s the Best Area to Stay in for Tourists?
I checked into the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in Westminster, and within minutes, I understood why this neighborhood works perfectly for a London weekend trip from NYC. Westminster puts you in the center of everything: Big Ben, Parliament, and the River Thames are all within walking distance. You can start sightseeing the moment you drop your bags. The Great Scotland Yard itself is a luxury boutique property with historic character and modern touches (I wrote a full review you can read here), but even if you book elsewhere, staying in Westminster means you won’t waste precious weekend hours on transit.
Best Ways to Get Around London
London makes getting around almost too easy. I’m a major proponent of public transportation, and the Tube (London Underground) is the best way to navigate the city. You don’t need to buy a special card—just tap with Apple Pay or any contactless card and you’re good to go. When I visited, a rail strike shut down the Tube, but London has a ton of backup options: the iconic double-decker buses, the Elizabeth line, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), trams, and direct airport lines like the Gatwick Express.
Still, walking beats everything. That’s how you stumble upon hidden cafés, striking architecture, and those perfect photo moments the algorithms never show you.
First Afternoon in London
Within minutes of dropping my bag at Great Scotland Yard Hotel, I walked over to the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Since this area is basically the British version of Times Square, the streets overflowed with tourists, and local Brits huffed at anyone idling too long in their path. They’re just like New Yorkers—always moving, always annoyed when you’re not.
Traveling solo worked in my favor here. I slipped through crowds easily, stopped for photos on my own time, and set my own pace without compromise. As the sun started setting, I realized Buckingham Palace sat just a mile away, but after already logging thousands of steps and feeling jetlag creep in, I pivoted toward dinner instead.
Where I Ate Dinner: OshPaz – Authentic Uzbek Cuisine
One of the best parts of solo travel is following pure curiosity. That’s how I ended up at an Uzbek restaurant in London. I’d heard the reputation about bland British food, but my dinner that night was anything but. It was vibrant, layered with flavor, and proved that London’s food scene runs much deeper than fish and chips.
Day 2 in London
Day two was my only full day in London, so I had to make it count!
Morning at Borough Market
If food drives your travel, Borough Market is a must-visit. The smells hit you before you even walk through the entrance. It’s almost overwhelming with how many vendor stalls compete for attention. You’ll find everything from lobster paella to mushroom risotto, Turkish sweets, and coffee carts at every turn.
I have a travel rule: if you can find the food at home, don’t get it abroad. So I skipped the viral strawberry chocolate cups everyone posts on Instagram and went for a British beef steak and craft ale pie from Pieminister. The vendor told me they serve it cold. If I wanted it heated, that would cost an extra pound. With the US dollar significantly weaker than the British pound, that felt absurd. I tried it cold anyway and instantly understood where that bland food reputation actually comes from. While I could taste the ale, it should definitely be warmed up since any pie aficionado knows the crust simply tastes better when heated.
After my food hunt, I stumbled upon Whirld, a fudge vendor. I’m always hunting for the perfect chocolate fudge flavor and texture, so I tried two flavors: smooth chocolate and mint chocolate. Oddly, the mint chocolate tasted more like chocolate than the “smooth” one did. However, nothing has beaten the fudge I had in Savannah yet, so my search continues.
Right next to Borough Market, you’ll find the London Bridge and The Shard if you want to tick off more iconic sights without adding transit time. It’s funny that Fergie’s famous song is about this lame bridge instead of the Tower Bridge that everyone mistakes it for.
Afternoon in Chelsea & Harrods
After walking back toward Westminster along the riverfront, I made my way to Chelsea, where the vibe shifts entirely—sleek, stylish, noticeably wealthier. I grabbed cocktails with a friend who lives in London, then walked over to check out the iconic Harrods. It was Sunday, so the store was closed, but the massive gilded exterior lives up to every bit of hype you’ve heard!
Golden Hour in Hyde Park
As the day wound down, I walked through Hyde Park at golden hour. If you’re from New York, it feels like Prospect Park in Brooklyn and is comparable in size. Hyde Park even has its own Marble Arch, though it’s no match for Grand Army Plaza.
Dinner at The Mayfair Chippy: Fish & Chips Are a Must!
Everyone says you can’t leave London without eating fish and chips, so my British friend recommended The Mayfair Chippy. They’ve held a 1 AA Rosette rating from the Michelin Guide since 2015 and won this year’s Good Food Award for Fish and Chips with a Blue Ribbon. Naturally, there was a line out the door when I went.
I don’t do lines. But here’s the ultimate solo traveler hack: you seldom wait more than five minutes for a table. I used my “party of one” powers and skipped ahead. Once inside, I went classic with an order of authentic fish and chips. The only downside of solo dining is that there’s no one to share the food with. Too many fries went straight into the trash that night. Upon posting about eating here, my social media received comments with better recommendations, so I’ll have to check those out next time I visit.
What You Need to Know Before Your London Weekend Trip
Skip the Currency Exchange—London is Cashless
Don’t bother exchanging currency at the airport. Like New York City, London runs almost entirely on contactless payments. A good travel credit card helps you rack up points while avoiding foreign transaction fees. I carry Capital One Venture X, American Express Gold, and Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The City Moves on Two Wheels
On my last day, a rail strike meant everyone found alternative ways to commute, many on bikes. London reminded me of Copenhagen in that way, another bike-championing city. If you’re comfortable cycling, it’s a fast and scenic way to cover ground.
Stay Alert for Petty Theft
London has a reputation for phone snatching, especially in crowded spots like Borough Market and Oxford Street. It’s gotten so bad that the city has painted purple warning lines on the pavement in high-risk areas. Wear a crossbody bag or fanny pack, and consider using a phone lanyard. I saw too many distracted tourists looking down at their phones not paying attention to their surroundings.
What Are Some Free Things to Do in London?
London offers no shortage of free experiences. Walk along the Thames to see iconic landmarks without paying admission. Wander through Hyde Park at sunset. Window shop in Chelsea or Mayfair. As someone who plans less and less for trips, I gravitate toward these free, unstructured experiences. They’re where the real character of a city reveals itself, and let me blend in with the local way of life.
My 48 Hours in London as a Solo Traveler
In just two days, I saw London’s biggest landmarks, ate my way through Borough Market, wandered through Chelsea and Hyde Park, and capped it all off with legitimate fish and chips. If you’re planning a quick London weekend trip from NYC, steal this itinerary. If you’re going solo, remember: curiosity is your best guide, but awareness is your best protection.
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