See London in two days 

Day one

What you will see: The most important political sights, the most important royal sights, three London parks

> Talk about days out in London

We’ll start both days off in the centre of the city – once heading west and once heading east.

Trafalgar Square is home to one of London’s most famous landmarks, Nelson’s Column. It also houses two huge galleries – the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery. We heartily recommend that you spend an hour whiling around the National. Opening times: Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sat–Thu), 10 AM to 9 PM (Fri); Tours: 11.30 AM, 2.30 PM (daily) and 7 PM (Fri) . Cost: Free. 

Once you’ve had your fill of art, head down Whitehall to Parliament Square. Some of the sites along the way include Banqueting House, the Cenotaph and Downing Street.

At the end of Whitehall you’ll find Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Once you have taken a reel of photos, walk across the square to Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey is London’s most prestigious religious building – the setting for coronations, state funerals, and the burial place of many celebrated kings and queens. Opening times: 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri), 9.30 PM to 7 PM (Wed), 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Sat); Last admission 1 hour before closing time. Cost: Adults £16.00; Children £6.00 (11–16); Infants free (under-16); Family ticket £32.00. 

Now head northeast towards St. James’s Park, where you’ll come across the Cabinet War Rooms – home to Winston Churchill during World War II.

Skirt the southside of the lake until you come across the bridge in the middle. This will give you one of the most celebrated views of Buckingham Palace. As you walk towards the Queen’s residence keep an eye out for St. James’s Palace.

We then suggest you take a stroll up Constitution Hill to Wellington Arch. This commemorates the Duke of Wellington’s victories in the Napoleonic wars. His impressive mansion is just across road – Apsley House.

Walk east towards Knightsbridge until you get to the Brompton Road. Head down there until you come to the world’s most famous department store – Harrods. No trip would be complete without a browse through the aisles. Opening times: 10 AM to 8 PM (Mon–Sat), noon to 6 PM (Sun).  

If you carry on down the Brompton Road you’ll come across three world-class museums – the V&A  Opening times: 10 AM to 5.45 PM (Sat–Thu), 10 AM to 10 PM (Fri). Cost: Free. , the Natural History Museum  Opening times: 10 AM to 5.50 PM (daily); Last admission 5.30 PM. Cost: Free.  and the Science Museum  Opening times: 10 AM to 6 PM (daily); Last admission 5.30 PM. Cost: Free. .

A walk up Exhibition Road will take you past another famous landmark – Royal Albert Hall. Head north into the park and you’ll come across the Albert Memorial.

A short stroll through Kensington Gardens will take you to the Round Lake and Kensington Palace – a great place to end the day. Opening times: 10 AM to 6 PM (daily); Last admission 5 PM. Cost: Adults £12.50; Children £6.25 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £34.00. 

Day two

What you will see: The ancient heart of the city, the financial district, the theatres and galleries on Southbank

Get your walking boots ready… because you’re going to see both banks of the Thames today. Starting off in Trafalgar Square again, this time we will head east up the Strand.

Some of the sights along the way include Somerset House and St. Clement Danes. When you get to the Royal Courts of Justice keep an eye out for Temple Bar – the old entrance to the city.

Look out for the way in to Temple Church on the right. This is one of London’s most historic sights and well worth a visit – home to the Knights Templar. Cost: Adults £3.00. 

Keep on walking up Fleet Street and Ludgate Hill until you get to St. Paul’s Cathedral. No trip would be complete without looking around Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. Opening times: 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon–Sat); Last admission 4 PM; Galleries open from 9.30 AM; Last admission to the galleries 4.15 PM. Cost: Adults £15.00; Children £6.00 (6–17); Infants free (5 and under); Family ticket £36.00. 

A walk up Cheapside will take you into the heart of the financial district. Some of the sights include the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and Lord Mayor’s home – Mansion House

Head south down King William Street until you get to the Monument, and then walk down Eastcheap. If you look to the right then you can smake out Pudding Lane – where the Great Fire of London began in 1666. Keep heading eastwards.

The Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th-century and is now one of London’s two World Heritage Sites. Opening times: 9 AM to 5.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Mar–Oct), 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Mar–Oct), 9 AM to 4.30 PM (Tue–Sat, Nov–Feb), 10 AM to 4.30 PM (Sun, Mon, Nov–Feb); Last admission 30 minutes before closing time. Cost: Adults £19.80; Children £10.45 (5–16); Infants free (under-5); Family ticket £55.00. 

Cross the river on one of London’s best-loved landmarks, Tower Bridge, and then head back down the other bank. Along the way you’ll see City Hall, HMS Belfast and Southwark Cathedral.

If you have gaggle of kids in tow, then you might like to stop off for some fun at the London Dungeon.  

Before long you’ll reach the celebrated Globe Theatre and Tate Modern art gallery. We thoroughly recommend a look around the Tate, as the views from the roof are worth admission alone. Opening times: Gallery: 10 AM to 6 PM (Sun–Thu), 10 AM to 10 PM (Fri, Sat); Last admission 45 minutes before closing time; Tours: 11 AM, noon, 2 PM, 3 PM (daily). Cost: Free. 

Keep walking down the river until you get to the Southbank Centre (now called BFI Southbank). This is home to the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall.

The tour ends a little further down the river at the world-famous London Eye. This is the largest observation wheel in the world and is well worth the wait if the queues aren’t too heavy. Opening times: 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Jan–Mar), 10 AM to 9 PM (Apr–Jun), 10 AM to 9.30 PM (Jul–Aug), 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Sep–Dec). Cost: Adults £18.60; Children £9.54 (4–15); Infants free (under-4); Family ticket £56.28.