48 Hour Itinerary

5 April 2012

For those using London as a stop-over, or business people with some time to spare, we present an insider's guide to making the most of the capital.

Fortunately, the most illustrious attractions - the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham House, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, the West-End, Soho and St James's Park - are all within walking distance of each other.

Rather than wasting your few hours here sitting on buses and the Tube, This is London's compiled a realistic 48hour PRINT-OUT itinerary - here's our complete package, including transport, connections, accommodation and even the total cost!

Day 1:
7/8am:
Arrive and refresh yourself
Arrive at your hotel in the early morning. Pick one that's central such as the Harlingford Hotel (LINK) on Russell Square - this way you can saunter to the West-End.

9.30am:
Go for a walk
After refreshing yourself have a cup of tea in true English style - set off down Tottenham Court Road.

10.30am:
Soho, shopping and China Town
The 10-minute walk takes you to Soho, which is a must-see. Enjoy the cutting-edge boutiques, cobbled streets and bohemian atmosphere, weaving on down to Lisle Street to China Town where you can admire the eastern-influenced area with its lanterns, oriental shops and Chinese street signs. Unless you do a bit of shopping, the whole promenade, including stopping to enjoy the sights will take little more than half an hour.

Midday:
Gallery and lunch
If you walk a few minutes south down Shaftesbury Avenue you'll find yourself at the famous Trafalgar Square. By now you might be tired and peckish, so enjoy a cup of tea and something sumptuous at the fantastic restaurant in the National Portrait Gallery - its rooftop views of London are terrific. It's next to the National Gallery (if you like art, the collection here is extremely good), which is on the north facing side of the Square.

If it's just a snack you're after, you could indulge in a ciabatta and Espresso from one of the many little Italian Cafes in Soho. By now it'll probably be mid-afternoon.

1.45am:
Buckingham Palace
Just off Trafalgar Square is the Mall, which leads to Buckingham Palace. Stroll up the Mall admiring the royal St James's Park on your left. Only watch the furry-headed footmen in the forecourt at Buckingham Palace because it is too time-consuming to go inside (it requires a day in itself!).

2.45pm:
St James's Park, Horse Guard's Palace
Now turn around and walk back on yourself through the flower-adorned St James's Park, which heaves with fancy ducks and geese. At the end of the park is the Horse Guard's Palace. After giving the stately horses a pat, turn immediate right down to Whitehall - this is south towards the Thames.

3.15pm:
The Prime Minister's home, Houses of Parliament
As you walk down, Downing Street's on the right so stop for a couple of minutes to take a peep at Tony Blair's policeman through the decorative gates. Walk on and you're at the golden Houses of Parliament.

5pm:
Relax by the Thames
On the west side of the Parliament buildings, you'll find The Victoria Tower Gardens where you can relax. Sporting views of the Thames, it also proffers a beautiful Rodin sculpture in the centre. Stop for a break here, as you might be cultured-out!

5.30-8pm:
Hotel or Somerset House and Waterloo bridge
If you don't fancy going back to the hotel for dinner, then walk down the Victoria-Embankment road following the Thames east to Somerset House courtyard and eat at The Admiral. Built next to Waterloo Bridge, it's worth quickly walking onto the bridge because of the beautiful views it displays.

8.30pm-11.30pm:
National Theatre, The Globe, Musical
Depending on what floats your boat, you can either go on to a Musical in the West-End, see a play at the National Theatre or The Globe. If you fancy grabbing a quick pint of lager before going in you could try one of the microbreweries.

Midnight:
Sleep
Finally, it's time for bed ? it's easy to hail a taxi at this time of night and you haven't far to go, so it won't cost much.

Day 2:
Get up 8am.

9am and it's time to go:
Breakfast and Covent Garden stroll
Stroll down Tottenham Court Road, onto Shaftesbury Avenue and then through Covent Garden market, past the Opera House down onto the Strand. Take a right (west) onto the Strand and then a left down Villiers Street to Embankment by the Thames.

10.30am:
Boat journey and Greenwich
At the pier there, get a Catamaran River Cruise (this is a great way to learn about London's sites and its history) to Greenwich. See the Cutty Sark on the Thames; walk through the Greenwich covered market up to the green Royal Park. Go to the Royal Observatory - the turreted Flamsteed House where time started.

3pm:
Late lunch
On your way back to the Cutty Sark, you can pop into the Maritime Museum, but this is time consuming as it's very big. Grab some jellied eels or pie and mash for an authentic lunch, there?s a Pie and Mash shop one minute away from the Cutty Sark DLR station. After filling yourself up, buy a single to Zone 1 and jump on the Disney-esque roller coaster ride through the futuristic Docklands to Bank tube station.

5pm:
St Paul's Cathedral
Change onto the Central line (the red line) and go one stop to St Paul's (the last tour is at 2pm Mon-Sat). There, jump out and enjoy Sir Christopher Wren's cathedral. Pop up to the Whispering Gallery and soak up the dramatic views. You'll be tired by now so get the No 8 bus on the main road (Cheapside) back to Tottenham Court Road.

6pm-8pm:
Hotel or British Museum
Take some time out to relax.

8.30pm-Midnight/3am:
Live performance or clubbing
It's the evening and the choice is yours. Either go to the modernist Barbican and see a live musician or a play, or go out clubbing at Fabric - both are nearby in Clerkenwell. It's only a few stops on the Tube from Euston Square to Barbican or Farringdon. Grab a taxi home.

If you have any spare time either days, definitely visit the British Museum, which is literally just down the road from where you are staying in Russell Square!

Total cost for everything (approx):
Day 1
Harlingford Hotel £70 x 2nights = £140
Lunch in Soho/National Portrait Gallery = £10 inc drinks
National Gallery = Free
Dinner at The Admiral = £20
Pint of lager at Mash = around £2.50
A West-End musical/Theatre = £20
Taxi = £6

Day 2
Catamaran River Cruises = £7.50
Pie and Mash shop = £5
Cutty Sark DLR single to Zone 1 (to St Paul's) = £1.90
Cutty Sark = £3.90
National Maritime Museum = Free
St Paul's = £6
No 8 Bus = 70p
British Museum = Free
Single Zone 1 (Euston Square to Farringdon) = £1.60
Barbican/Fabric = £12
Taxi = £7