Hi, we are travelling to Australia via LA and have two days to spend there, any suggestions what we can do in such a short space of time? Thanks Kaz, Manchester, UK

I agree! Santa Monica and Venice are my favorite parts of Los Angeles.

I'd be thinking in terms of WHEN to do more than what to do. LA is 7 hours off of Manchester, and the eastern edge of Australia is yet another 7 hours different. So you are essentially swapping night and day in just 48 hours. Your internal clock will not like this.

I'd be inclined to skip the traditional sightseeing, get a quiet hotel in Santa Monica and try to adjust my sleeping schedule to something similar to Australia's - this means sleeping in late and staying up late. This is most easily done with eating and mild exercise during the 'daytime', and mild sleep aids at 'night'.
Santa Monica supplies exactly what you would need: places where you can eat and stroll late at night. ( Despite the well-intentioned suggestion above, Venice is not a place where a tourist walks at night unless he is buying illegal drugs. )

Another vote for somewhere like Santa Monica. If you stay at the Holiday Inn there you are only a block or so from the pier and there is stuff to do night and day. Definitely don't plan too much other than relaxing and as someone else suggested try to work on a time closer to Australian if possible. We walked to Venice Beach from Santa Monica during the day and even then there were a lot of alternative people around so I would agree with the 'don't walk there at night' reply.

Have a great trip in all the places you visit.

... and yet another vote for Santa Monica! We recently spent a couple of days there enjoying the beach, walking along Ocean Avenue, and wandering around the shopping areas before heading north.

With limited time a tour of LA might be interesting and a visit to Universal studios. A couple of years ago we did a 2-hour tour in morning with a stop at the Farmer's Market for lunch, then were dropped at Universal Studios for about 5 hours - it was interesting but timewise a stretch; 3 hours would've suited us fine.

If you like sunshine and relaxing, go to the beach - Santa Monica is a good one. Art? Try the Getty Museum. Got a little yen for American trashy fun? Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland.

If possible, eat at least one meal at Cantor's on Fairfax in Hollywood.

As overemphasized and rightly so, stay in Santa Monica. Rest in your lodging or rest in the "over the pond" pub center of Santa Monica at Ye Olde King's Head British Pub located one block west of Third Street Promenade on Santa Monica Blvd. See their website: http://www.yeoldekingshead.com/

I want to emphasize 3rd street promenade. That's going to be your evening time option in S Monica with street entertainment, decent restaurants and shopping 'til late. If you're there on a weekend, Westwood, near UCLA has a nice street life and the vibe of a college town.

As to where to stay, I had a great time at the funky Cadillac hotel. It's right on the beach in Venice and has a rooftop deck ideal for sunsets