London's Calling! An Ambitious Traveler's Guide to Taking on London In 2 Days

Spend the morning in Camden Town. A quick trip from Covent Garden on the Underground and home to the famous Camden Market, this neighborhood is bursting with energy. We tucked into a little restaurant called The Lost Elephant Kitchen and found a spot on their quiet back patio. I had a delicious avocado toast and iced coffee before browsing the market.

Next, make your way over to the Tower of London for the afternoon. You can take in views of the Tower Bridge on your walk that way from the Underground. The White Tower is chock-full of weaponry and artifacts from the British monarchy, and the Crown Jewels are worth the wait to see. You can spend a bit of time using the map of the grounds to navigate the history that you feel most drawn to, or there are a number of guided tours to take advantage of.

We took a break mid-day to escape the heat and get cleaned up for dinner. Then we headed out for an evening of delicious food and ironic arts (I’ll explain shortly). Piccadilly Circus is ideal for those who thrive in the city. Its vibrant atmosphere was exhilarating as we made our way from our cab to our dinner reservation at Heddon Street Kitchen. One of Gordon Ramsay’s famous restaurants, this place is known for its beef Wellington. It requires 45 minutes to prepare, so if you’re interested, order it right when you sit down. It is delicious and well worth the wait.

Following dinner, we made our way to the West End to the Victoria Palace Theatre, where they were showing Hamilton. I didn’t realize the irony of seeing a show about America seeking independence from Britain in LONDON until I sat down, but it was an incredible performance. The Broadway scene in London is highly acclaimed, and the tickets are relatively cheap to buy online ahead of time. Whether there’s something you’ve always wanted to see, or you decide to book a last-minute ticket on your trip, you won’t regret a visit to the theater followed by a few delicious London gin cocktails.

Covent Garden was quiet the next morning as we wandered about searching for breakfast. Drop in to the Black Penny, where you can have the most decadent French toast with ricotta and blueberry compote.

Then, hop on the Underground and head to Green Park, from which it’s a quick, breezy stroll to Buckingham Palace. If possible, get there for the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 11 am. While this 45-minute ceremony typically takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, it’s always good to check the schedule before making your way through the crowds. We didn’t have a fantastic view, but you have a better chance of getting one by arriving between 9:30 and 10 am.

From Buckingham Palace, you can walk to Westminster Abbey and take in Big Ben. Depending on timing, you can tour these spots more in depth. A 15- to 20-minute walk over the bridge and down Lambeth Road has you at the Imperial War Museum. If you’re a history buff, this is the spot for you! It can be a day-long activity, or you can determine which war(s) you’re most intrigued by and prioritize that floor/floors.

We wanted to be sure we saw Trafalgar Square while we were in the city as well, so that was our next stop on the Underground. From there, allow for some flexibility on your last day, bopping around to different restaurants and bars. A few great cocktail spots that I’d recommend are The Dog & Duck (Soho) for more gin tasting, the Alchemist (Covent Garden, but there are quite a few locations) for unique, fun, and reasonably priced cocktails, and Mr. Foggs (Covent Garden).