London, England in 48 Hours: A Visitor's Guide to One of Europe's Biggest and Busiest Cities

If you haven't yet visited one of Europe's largest cities, London , you are definitely missing out. Americans have recently been plagued by a (very) unfavorable exchange rate of nearly two US Dollars to one British Pound Sterling. Rumors of barely passable food and that quintessential "stiff upper lip" don't help paint the image of the United Kingdom in a positive light, but, in all reality, London , England , and as a whole, the UK , are excellent places to visit.

While London wouldn't necessarily be considered "sprawling", it is relatively large, while being densely populated. With transportation options like the famous double-decker busses, and the Tube ("Underground"), it is quite easy to get around and see some of the biggest and best (and some a little less well-known) in a small period of time. If you're on a short business trip or just doing a whirlwind trip of Europe, consider these attractions for your two day, or 48-hour trip, to London , England .

A few notes: London is very easy to navigate once you are on the ground. Research your airport or train terminal before arrival to ensure you know which Tube line you will need to get where you need to go. On your first Tube ride, be sure to buy an Oyster card, which is the ticketless entry system. Also, be sure to remember that Britons drive on the left side of the road, so when crossing the street, always look right!

Day 1: Westminster (Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace), St. James's Park, St. James's Palace, National Gallery, Picadilly Circus, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, East End

Begin your first day with one of London 's most famous landmarks: Westminster (use the Underground stop of the same name). A complex that includes Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace , this part of London is not to be missed! Westminster is considered to be the seat of government, and a visit to this area will show why. Check before you leave to see if you can gain access to the inside of these attractions, or just do a walking tour around the area. Westminster Abbey is almost always open to the public, but there is a (relatively high) admission fee (which, in my opinion, is worth it).

Buckingham Palace sits on the outside of St. James's Park. Take a walk (or the Underground to the Picadilly Circus stop) through the park, by St. James's Palace, to arrive near Picadilly Circus. Snap a few photos and have some lunch in the area. Those interested in museums would enjoy the National Gallery, which is also in the area (and has a façade worth enjoying).

From Picadilly Circus, walk to Trafalgar Square (Underground stop: Trafalgar Square ) and feed the pigeons! Close to Trafalgar Square is the famous London Eye, which is a perfect sunset activity.

London nightlife is great! Have a quiet dinner along the River Thames, or visit the East End for some theatre. Check shows and showtimes before arriving for the best selection.

Day 2: Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, British Museum, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, Harrod's, Texas Embassy Cantina

Begin day 2 where you left off last night: on the River Thames. Use the Tower Gateway, Tower Hill, or Monument Underground stops to access the Tower Bridge and Tower of London . The Tower Bridge is fun to look at, but the Tower of London actually contains the infamous Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom (which have been kept there since 1303!). Other things to see and do at the Tower of London : be sure to visit The White Tower , The Medieval Palace , and the memorial at Tower Green, where several high-ranking executions were performed. For those interested in a guided tour, be sure to find a Yeoman Warder tour, which is included with the price of admission. These tours are really fun and interactive, and guests may be admitted to sites on the grounds that are not open to guests not on a tour.

After the Tower of London , take a walk toward St. Paul's Cathedral (Underground: St. Paul 's Cathedral) and as you admire the façade, read up on the history of why the Cathedral is elevated (hint: there was a major fire in London !).

Spend the rest of your afternoon at the expansive British Museum (Underground: Holborn), or at Covent Garden shopping and enjoying a traditional British bite to eat. Those who enjoy shopping would also enjoy a trip to Knightsbridge (Underground: Knightsbridge) to visit Harrod's, one of the largest department stores in the world. For a fun and interesting dinner location (for those who like Tex-Mex), visit the Texas Embassy Cantina. As a native Texan who lived in Europe for longer than a few months, whenever I craved spicy food that tasted like home, I visited the Texas Embassy.

Day 3 and Beyond:

Sherlock Holmes Museum (221B Baker Street)

Marble Arch

Hyde Park

10 Downing Street (Prime Minister's Residence)

Abbey Road (famous for a Beatles album of the same name)

Regent's Park and the London Zoo

Royal Albert Hall

Madame Tussaud's

Notting Hill

Scotland Yard

Related Suggested Reading:

Berlin in 48 Hours

Cairo in 48 Hours

Geneva in 48 Hours

Munich in 48 Hours

Paris in 48 Hours

Prague in 48 Hours

Resources:

General travel information: http://wikitravel.org/en/London

Underground map: http://wikitravel.org/en/Image:London_Underground_full_map.png

City Attractions Map: http://mappery.com/map-of/Central-London-Tourist-and-Bus-map

Crown Jewels: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/stories/crownjewels.aspx

Texas Embassy Cantina: http://www.texasembassy.com/