London was a short but energetic stop on our winter Europe itinerary, filled with iconic sights, long walks, and a mix of festive and historical experiences. With just two days in the city, we focused on a blend of must-see landmarks, unique tours, and plenty of good food, leaning into what London does best rather than trying to see it all. From world-class museums to royal pageantry and a non-traditional Christmas “market,” this stop offered a little bit of everything.
Plan Your London Trip
At A Glance | Day-by-Day | Christmas Markets | Top Historic Sites | Food & Drink | Getting Around | Practical Tips | Reflections
London at a Glance
Day 1
- British Museum – massive museum full of world history
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – festive holiday carnival park
- Dishoom King’s Cross – iconic Indian food worth the wait
- Platform 9 3/4 – Harry Potter photo-op classic
Day 2
- Buckingham Palace – must-see royal landmark
- Household Calvary Museum – historic guards and horses with photo-op
- Big Ben – London’s most recognizable clock tower
- B Bakery Afternoon Bus Tour – afternoon tea crossed with bus tour
- Tower of London – medieval fortress with royal history
- Jack the Ripper Museum – Victorian true crime deep dive
- Covent Garden – lively square with shops and bars
- Marquess of Anglesey – casual pub with classic fare
- Piccadilly Theatre – West End theatre landmark
Day-by-Day Activities
Day 1
After landing in London on our red-eye from the states, we checked into our hotel and then grabbed some essential coffee near the hotel. A quick stroll through the surrounding King Cross neighborhood revieled a lot of hustle and bustle but a few quieter streets and courtyards – and a whole lot of pigeons.
After a quick power nap, we grabbed more coffee and headed out to the British Museum. It was a quick tube ride down the Piccadilly line to the Holborn station. We only had about an hour, so skimmed through a few exhibits before making sure we got a chance to see the Rosetta Stone and sculptures from the Greek Parthenon. Check out details below for my recommendations for the giant British Museum!
We had heard that Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland was a bit of a tourist trap, but we couldn’t help ourselves so we hopped back on the Central line to the Marble Arch station. We meandered through various parts of the Christmas Festival, pausing to grab a few snacks and drinks and check out various vendor stalls. The irony of going to “Germantown” a few days before we would be in Berlin was not lost on me, but the fair was a festive experience.
Finally, we headed to Dishoom for our first real meal of the day – and boy was it worth the wait. We headed back up the Piccadilly line to King Cross station and walked north to the Dishoom King’s Cross location. This was my second time dining at that location and it was just as good as I remembered it. On our way back towards the hotel, we stopped inside of King’s Cross to see Platform 9 3/4. The line for the photo opportunity was long, but it was fun to watch a few people get their photo taken. We also enjoyed the mini diagon-alley-turned-christmas-tree display nearby.
Stuffed and happy, we called Day 1 a success and headed back to the hotel for a much needed full night of sleep.
Day 2
Our second day in London started off grabbing a croissant and latte at the train station and then hopping on the Piccadilly line to the Green Park station to see Buckingham Palace. As we were there, crowds were starting to gather to watch the changing of the guards at 11 AM. We didn’t want to wait 45 minutes, so we elected to take our photos and continue up the mall.
We meandered through the park, saw a few horseback processions we can only assume were leading up to the ceremony, until we found the Household Calvary Museum. We decided not to go inside based on time constraints, but I couldn’t resist taking a photo with the Royal Horse Guards standing outside the museum.
Continuing down Whitehall, we reached Westminster Hall and admired Big Ben. We then crossed the street to check out the Parliament buildings and admire St. Margaret’s Church and Westminster Abbey. We didn’t spend much time in this area as some type of protest was happening around parliament square and car horns were honking constantly!
We wove through Westminster towards Victoria Coach station where we had a reservation for a 12 PM bus tour. This was a very urban part of London, characterized by quick food stops and office buildings. Finally, we reached the bus station and hopped on board a double decker bus for an afternoon tea tour with Brigit’s Bakery. You can learn more about the treats and experience onboard the B Bakery Bus Tour below!
After the bus tour, we needed to make our way to the Jack the Ripper Museum in Whitechapel for our 3 PM walking tour. We took the Circle line from Victoria to Tower Hill Station. We had a great view of the Tower of London coming out of the station and then headed to the museum. The museum and walking tour was my friend’s request for the trip and honestly, it was such a unique and interesting experience! I go into some more detail about the Jack the Ripper Museum and walking tour below!
Our final plan for the evening was Covent Garden which we heard was festively decorated and a great spot to check out during the Christmas season. We didn’t do a ton of research, but found the vendors closing up their stalls when we got there. The streets were definitely decorated but I don’t think we found exactly what was recommended. Turning our search towards fish and chips, we got lucky with no reservations at the Marquess of Anglesey. Overall, it was a great find for the evening but I’m sure there are comparable and probably better bars and pubs in the area. But if you find yourself needing a place to eat without a reservation, could be a great place to check out!
We decided to stroll through downtown London to SoHo before heading back to the hotel. There were a ton of lights and shops, very reminiscent of the Times Square area of New York. We passed the Piccadilly Theatre which made its way onto my bucket list to see a show next time I come to London! Then we hopped on the Piccadilly line back to Kings Cross to get some sleep before our early train to Amsterdam the next morning.
<Introduce links> Christmas Markets <> Historical Sites <> Eat & Drink <> Getting Around, <> Practical Tips <>.
Christmas Market Breakdown
Since London was a quick stop, the only Christmas “market” we visited was Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, though it felt much more like a festive pop-up carnival than a traditional market.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a ticketed holiday festival in the heart of London, with entry prices that vary by day and time. We visited on a Tuesday evening and paid standard admission, with additional costs for rides, ice skating, and theatre shows inside the park. Lines were short when we arrived, though entry can take significantly longer during peak nights. Once inside, the scale of the festival is immediately clear—it feels more like a seasonal fair than a traditional Christmas market.
We entered through the red gate in Santa Land and made our way toward Luminaire Lane, stopping for photos beneath the illuminated archway and to admire the rotating bar at the center of the square. From there, we followed a pretzel sign straight into Bavarian Village, where large beer halls offered food, drinks, and live music. As we wandered, we passed carnival-style games, rides, and countless food stalls, along with Market Square vendors selling gifts and souvenirs. Nothing felt overly crowded, making it an easy and enjoyable place to explore at a relaxed pace.
Overall, Winter Wonderland reminded me of a large Christmas festival you might find in the U.S., with an emphasis on entertainment and variety rather than tradition. If you’re looking for rides, shows, and a lively holiday atmosphere, it’s a fun stop—especially on a weekday. If your priority is classic Christmas treats and authentic market shopping, the traditional markets in cities like Berlin and Prague offer a much more atmospheric experience.
Top Historic & Cultural Sites
London’s history spans centuries, from ancient artifacts to royal traditions and darker chapters of the city’s past. With limited time in London, we focused on a small selection of historical sites that captured our personal interests.
The British Museum
The British Museum is one of the world’s most famous museums, with collections spanning thousands of years and cultures from across the globe. From ancient Egyptian artifacts and the Rosetta Stone to classical sculptures and early manuscripts, it presents an overwhelming amount to see in a single visit. Even with limited time, it provides a broad overview of human history, making it a worthwhile stop despite the sheer scale of the collection.
I consider myself a casual museum-goer and found the most striking exhibits are on the ground floor. This is where you’ll find the Rosetta Stone, the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the Parthenon sculptures, remnants of the 5th-century BCE temple in Athens that showcase classical Greek artistry. The upper galleries hold a vast array of smaller artifacts from cultures around the world, which are fascinating if you have more time to explore. I also love pausing in the Round Reading Room, the museum’s iconic circular library, which evokes the sense of a grand intellectual hub in the heart of London.
I do recommend not relying too heavily on the museum’s “short tour under an hour.” Even attempting it, we only made it halfway before having to rush to the highlights. Instead, pick the exhibits that interest you most and build your visit around those. If you’re short on time, consider focusing on a few must-sees like the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, or the Egyptian mummies as anchors.
Final note: much of the British Museum’s collection can feel like it belongs in its place of origin. Seeing the Parthenon sculptures in London, for example, made me wish some pieces were still in Athens, and the museum’s history is undeniably tied to Britain’s colonial past. That said, with free entry and optional donations, it still feels worthwhile to visit and form your own perspective on these complex stories.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is one of London’s most iconic landmarks and a symbol of the British monarchy. It serves as the official residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch, hosting state ceremonies, official events, and royal receptions. Beyond its role in governance, the palace is a cultural touchstone for the British people, from the Changing of the Guard to appearances on the balcony for major celebrations. Even just viewing the exterior, the palace offers a glimpse into centuries of royal tradition and British pageantry.
Visiting Buckingham Palace for us was mostly about enjoying a stroll through the surrounding parks and admiring the iconic building from the outside. On this trip, we walked up The Mall and through parts of St. James’s Park, taking in the scenery and snapping photos along the way. On a previous visit, I explored Constitution Hill and parts of the Green Park to see Wellington Arch, making a morning walk an easy and pleasant way to experience the palace area.
While a visit to Buckingham Palace can be as simple as walking around and taking photos, there are options for touring the palace itself. Tickets typically sell out quickly, so planning ahead is essential. You can also watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, where the guards in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats perform a formal handover. For a good view, it’s best to arrive at least an hour early, especially if you want a front-row vantage point.
I enjoy including Buckingham Palace as part of a morning walk through the surrounding parks since it allows you to see the palace and enjoy London’s greenery without feeling rushed. Even if you don’t go inside, strolling through St. James’s Park, Green Park, or along The Mall offers plenty of iconic photo opportunities and a sense of British royality. Planning ahead for tours or the Changing of the Guard can enhance the experience, but the palace itself is impressive enough to make a visit worthwhile even from the outside.
Jack the Ripper Museum & Walking Tour
The Jack the Ripper Museum and accompanying walking tour offer a fascinating glimpse into one of London’s most infamous historical cases. Jack the Ripper, active in the Whitechapel district of London in 1888, is notorious for a series of brutal murders that shocked Victorian society. The museum provides context on the victims, suspects, and social conditions of the time, while the walking tour brings the history to life through the streets where the events unfolded.
I went into this experience with no expectations and little knowledge of who Jack the Ripper was outside of a notorious serial killer. I think the museum did a fantastic job of introducing you to the various cases attributed to Jack the Ripper as well as an understanding of the period in which the murders were committed. We spent about half an hour at the museum before our walking tour at 3 PM.
The tour itself was fantastic. Our guide, Sam, walked us through the streets of Whitechapel and we stopped by different buildings that housed the hostels or bars the women were last seen at prior to their murders. TThe mood was somber but engaging, and Sam offered a fascinating perspective on the stark contrast between the impoverished neighborhoods and the wealthier areas nearby.
I highly recommend this experience for anyone interested in true crime or historical mysteries. It’s best to start with the museum for context and convenience as the tour ends at the Aldgate station instead of back at the museum. In December, the weather definitely got chilly as the sun set towards the end of the tour and we were wishing for warmer clothes by the end – so make sure you dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes!
Food & Drink Highlights
Dishoom King’s Cross
5 Stable St, London N1C 4AB, United Kingdom
Dishoom doesn’t accept reservations but instead has a line that will form that you’ll wait for a table in. They do this quite well as a waiter will bring you warm Chai and about 20 minutes before your table is ready, you go downstairs to their bar where you can order drinks. The best part is they seamlessly transfer these drinks to the table to make the overall experience quite seamless. I got a Sunny’s Startini cocktail which was delicious and my friend ordered one of their many mocktails.
I am thoroughly convinced there isn’t a bad thing to order at Dishoom. Each item is fairy small so they recommend about 2-3 dishes per person. We said yes please and ordered Vegetable Samosas, Chole Puri Halwa, Dishoom House Chat, Mattar Paneer, House Black Daal, and Garlic Naan. I don’t think you can go wrong but please get the Black Daal! It is absolutely amazing and our favorite thing of the entire meal.
There are multiple Dishoom locations depending on where you are in London. Each have their own vibe but I’ve heard the Kings Cross and Covent Garden locations are some of the best.
B Bakery Afternoon Bus Tour
Departs from Victoria Coach Station
A little unique to include this under food and drink, but since this served as our entire lunch as we drove around the city of London, I’m going to count it. High tea was absolutely delicious – there was an amazing assortment of savory and sweet two-bite items. You were able to specify dietary restrictions when you booked, and everything was arranged when we got onto the bus. We also pre-ordered glasses of prosecco to enjoy from our VIP seats.
The fact this was all on wheels was an added experience. Drying to drink from a flute of prosecco on the top of a double decker bus driving through the streets of London is exactly as hard as it sounds. But the bus did a great job of coupling music with informational tid-bits about the sites we were passing. I personally think I
Getting Around London
London might have my favorite public transit system with the extensive network of the underground, the frequent trains, and easy tap-to-pay access. My biggest recommendation is to stay near a metro station and everything else is within your reach.
In the City
The easiest way to get around the city is to use the underground. There are 11 distinct lines as part of the underground that conveniently cross and circle central London. Payment is simple as you can just tap-to-pay with a contactless device (card, phone, watch) at both the entrance and exit of the subway and the system will automatically calculate the fare. Just make sure you use the exact same device to tap in and out – I personally always used Apple Pay on my phone.
To figure out what car to take where, I use Google Maps. You can turn the Transit layer on to visually inspect railways and stations or just choose public transportation from the directions option and Google will calculate the fastest options. We used the Picadilly line a lot since it connected King’s Cross, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, and Buckingham Palace. In the past, I stayed near Paddington and had similar ease navigating through the city.
In addition to the Underground, be prepared to walk a lot! While there are a ton of stations across London, the city is large and there is so much to see above ground. In the two days we were there, we easily went over 20k steps per day so prioritize comfortable shoes and use the subway to get you between big gaps in sites.
Transit to Heathrow Airport (LHR)
My top recommendation to get from the airport into downtown London is to use the Heathrow express. It’s extremely well signed and is a quick 15 minute train ride to Paddington station. You can also take the Elizabeth line which takes the same route but stops at regular stations making the trip 30-40 minutes. Once at Paddington, you can easily connect to other lines and navigate to your hotel.
I do recommend purchasing passes for the Heathrow Express in advance. Typical tap-to-pay systems don’t work for the express and the lines in the terminal can get long to purchase tickets onsite. There are multiple sites that will sell you a pass, I typically use the main site of Heathrow Express. Note that you can get a significant discount if you book more than 45 days in advance, so it’s worth it to buy early!
Practical Tips
Neighborhoods & Where to Stay
London is a huge city with a lot of diverse neighborhoods and I’ve personally stayed in three different areas during three different trips. My philosophy is that as long as you are near an underground station, you can get anywhere relatively quickly. Typically the underground operates between the hours of 5 am and midnight though certain routes and weekend nights have special times. I am rarely traveling outside of those hours, so I’m not overly concerned with nearby ammenities to my hotel.
For this trip, we stayed in the King’s Cross neighborhood because we had an early train to catch and didn’t want to worry about the frequency of trains running at 5 AM or have to catch a cab. The convenience of the number of metro lines running through King’s Cross / St. Pancras was great and we were able to easily get to the parts of London we wanted to visit, but it was a busy area of London as a major tranist hub. I would recommend the area if you have an early or late train, don’t need nearby dining options, and plan to utilize the underground network.
On a previous trip, I stayed near Paddington Station for similar convenient access to the airport. The immediate area surrounding the station was busy, but not to the extreme of King’s Cross, but after a few blocks it quickly became a quiet residential area. I personally enjoyed the walkable access to Hyde Park as well as easy access to the underground system – there were also some good nearby dining options as well. And on my first trip to London, I stayed in the Westminster neighborhood which had great walkable access to a lot of the main sights.
Weather & Packing
You can’t go to London without getting rained on. Or at least that’s what my British coworker told me when I complained it started raining while we were at Winter Wonderland. So I highly recommend factoring that into your packing list. For this trip, I switched between my light rain jacket and a sweater during the day and my heavier water resistant puffer coat at night. This was a great pairing as the weather during our trip was in the mid 50s during the day and dropped into the 30s at night.
Heathrow Airport Tips
London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the primary international airport and located about 16 miles outside the center of London. For more tips about getting to and from the airport on the Heathrow Express, check out the Transit to Heathrow Airport in the Getting Around London section.
Quick Tips:
- LHR has four terminals so make sure you know which one you’re flying out of. These terminals are linked by the underground as well as walking paths for easy transfer. If you need to transfer due to a connection, those busses are also provided within the airport.
- If you’re reading this page, London is likely your final destination. However, if you are connecting through the LHR airport, expect to spend 45-60 going through security to recheck. I will never book a connection less than 2 hours through LHR based on this.
- Make sure to check if you have lounge access through your airline loyalty program! Many airline loyalty programs in the US do not base lounge access on loyatly level, but many do outside of the states. I love the British Airways lounges in T3 and T5!
Safety & Solo Travel Recommendations
London is a destination I would definitely recommend for solo travel. I have done it solo and with friends and think it’s a great option for first-time solo travelers. Like any busy city, take the typical precautions against pickpocketing and be cautious after dark in less traveled areas. The only time I’ve felt uncomfortable in London was a solo walk through some neighborhood streets to get between the underground station and my hotel (seriously just stay a block away from an underground station). So if you enjoy urban environments and are looking for an international solo destination, I would highly recommend London!
Prague Reflections & Summary
London largely met my expectations as a vibrant, walkable capital packed with history, culture, and excellent food, though it didn’t stand out as the most festive stop of our Christmas market trip. The city felt busy and energetic rather than cozy or quaint, especially compared to destinations like Berlin and Prague, but that pace is part of its identity. I appreciated how easy it was to move between neighborhoods and experiences, even with limited time.
The standout experience of the trip was the Jack the Ripper Museum and walking tour, which exceeded my expectations and offered a uniquely immersive way to engage with London’s history. Dishoom was a close second and easily justified planning an evening around it. While Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was fun, it reinforced that London’s strengths lie less in traditional Christmas markets and more in its museums, food scene, and layered urban history.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend London—especially for travelers who enjoy large cities with depth, variety, and strong public transit. It’s also a great option for solo travel, offering a balance of safety, walkability, and endless ways to fill your time independently, whether that’s museum hopping, long park walks, or lingering over meals. London may not be the coziest winter destination, but it excels as a city where you can always find something interesting just around the corner.
To learn more about how I balanced finding Christmas cheer and soaking up local histories in the rest of my eight-day trip, check out my post on It’s Christmastime in the Cities: A Winter Tour Through Four European Capitals.
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