London Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat

London rewards a staycation more than almost anywhere in Britain, partly because so much of the best of it costs nothing. The national museums in South Kensington, the National Gallery and Tate Modern are free to walk into, the royal parks link up across the West End, and a long weekend can be built around walking the Thames rather than queuing for tickets. This guide covers where to base yourself, what to prioritise and how to fit it into two days, with links to the full London destination page as you go.

How long to stay

Two nights is the minimum to do more than skim the headline sights, and three lets you add a day trip. London is big, so plan each day around one area rather than criss-crossing the city: Westminster and the South Bank one day, the City and the East End the next, South Kensington and the parks another.

Where to stay in London

The full list is on the London hotels page, but for a short break the choice mostly comes down to which part of town you want on your doorstep.

Westminster and the South Bank

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London sits at the south end of the bridge, across the river from Parliament, with a spa and an indoor pool. It is rated 4.5 from more than 14,000 Google reviews.

The West End and Mayfair

For a special occasion, The Savoy on the Strand puts Covent Garden and the theatres a few minutes away, while The Ritz on Piccadilly looks over Green Park and is known for its afternoon tea. London Hilton on Park Lane faces Hyde Park and accepts dogs.

The City, Shoreditch and King's Cross

The Ned, a five-star hotel in a 1920s Lutyens-designed building in the City, has a spa, a pool and several restaurants, and also takes dogs. Further east, ibis London City Shoreditch is a practical modern base with a tube station outside the door, and Kings Cross International is a simple budget option right by King's Cross and St Pancras, handy if you are arriving by train from the north.

Things to do

There is far more than a weekend's worth on the London attractions page, so pick a handful and leave time to walk between them.

Museums and galleries

South Kensington holds two of the biggest: the Natural History Museum, with its dinosaur galleries, and next door the Science Museum, known for its hands-on exhibits. Both are free, as is the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, rated 4.8 from over 62,000 reviews, and Tate Modern in the former Bankside power station, where the cafe looks across the river to St Paul's.

Landmarks and history

The Tower of London is the one paid attraction most first-time visitors should not skip, for the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warders. St Paul's Cathedral is a short walk from Tate Modern over the Millennium Bridge, and the climb to the galleries in Wren's dome is worth the effort. For a view from above, choose between the London Eye on the South Bank and the Sky Garden at the top of the Walkie Talkie tower in the City.

Parks and royal London

St James's Park runs between Whitehall and Buckingham Palace, with a lake known for its pelicans, and dogs are welcome. For an evening out, a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, home of the Proms, is hard to beat.

Where to eat

Browse the London restaurants page by area and cuisine. Among the most reviewed are Circolo Popolare, a theatrical Italian dining room decorated with thousands of bottles, Mamma Rosa for pizza, pasta and weekend brunch, and Maharaja of India for tandoori dishes.

A two-day plan

Day one

Start early at the Tower of London, then cross Tower Bridge and walk west along the South Bank. The flat riverside route passes Borough Market on the way to Tate Modern, a good lunch stop. Cross the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's in the afternoon, then head to Covent Garden and the West End for dinner and a show.

Day two

Spend the morning in South Kensington at the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum, then walk east through Hyde Park and Green Park to Buckingham Palace. Continue through St James's Park to Westminster to see Parliament and Big Ben, and finish with a late ride on the London Eye as the lights come on along the river.

Day trips from London

Fast, frequent trains make London an easy base for day trips. Windsor has the castle and the Great Park, Guildford is a handsome market town on the edge of the Surrey Hills, and Southend-on-Sea is the quickest seaside fix, with one of the longest pleasure piers in the world. Oxford, Cambridge and Brighton also work as trips by train.

Camping and cottages near London

Abbey Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Site is around five minutes' walk from Abbey Wood station, and Crystal Palace has a second Club site in south London. Just outside the city, Home Farm Glamping near Elstree has yurts and permanent tents and accepts dogs. See all campsites near London or browse London cottages and apartments for a self-catering stay.

Practical tips

London is the hub of the rail network, so most people can arrive without a car: King's Cross serves Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland, Euston the West Midlands and the North West, and Paddington the West Country and South Wales. Driving in the centre is slow, so leave the car at home if you can; our guide to staycations without a car has more on this. Pack for rain, because the free museums make London one of the best rainy-day staycations in the country, and if you are weighing it up against other cities, see UK city breaks you can reach without flying.