London is one of the world's top tourist destinations. The Britain's capital city is a vibrant arts and entertainment center and boasts one of the planet’s greatest concentrations of cultural attractions. From royal palaces to the people's parliament, from Roman ruins to castles and cathedrals, you could spend endless days exploring London's sites without ever running out of unique things to see and do.
PLACES TO VISIT
1.LONDON EYE
The London Eye is Europe's largest observation wheel. Its individual glass capsules offer the most spectacular views of the city as you embark on a circular tour rising 443 ft above the Thames.
2.TOWER OF LONDON
One of Britain's most iconic structures - from prison to palace, treasure vault to private zoo, the magnificent Tower of London has fulfilled many different roles down the centuries. Other exhibitions include the famous Crown Jewels, the Beefeaters, the Royal Mint, and gruesome exhibits about the executions that took place on the grounds.
3.ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
London’s largest and one of the most spectacular cathedral's in the world - St Paul's Cathedral sits atop the site of a Roman temple. The twin Baroque towers and magnificent 365 dome of St Paul's are a masterpiece of English architecture.
4.BUCKINGHAM PALACE
One of Britain's most iconic buildings, Buckingham Palace is also the scene of London's most popular display of pomp and circumstance, the Changing of the Guard. When the Queen is not in residence you can go on tours to see the State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews.
5.THE SHARD
The Shard is London's newest landmark and Western Europe’s tallest building. The View from The Shard offers spectacular views over London for up to 40 miles. Twice as high as any other vantage point in the city, it is the only place where visitors can see the entire city at once.
6.WESTMINISTER ABBEY
Kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains - Westminster Abbey is a must see living pageant of British history.
7.HYDE PARK
Hyde Park is London's largest open space and has been a destination for sightseers since 1635. In the park an 18th century man-made lake Serpentine is popular for boating and swimming. Also in the park is Apsley House, former home of the first Duke of Wellington. Now a museum, it houses Wellington's magnificent collections of paintings, including Velázquez's Waterseller of Seville, along with gifts presented by grateful European kings and emperors. England's greatest hero is also commemorated at the Wellington Arch.
8.NATIONAL GALLERY
London's National Gallery is ranking among the top art museums in the world and represents an almost complete survey of European painting from 1260 until 1920. The museum's greatest strengths are in its collections of Dutch Masters and Italian Schools of the 15th and 16th centuries. Among its highlights are a cartoon (preliminary sketch) of the Madonna and Child by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo's The Entombment, Botticelli's Venus and Mars, van Gogh's Sunflowers, and The Waterlily Pond by Monet.
9.THE BRITISH MUSEUM
The British Museum displaying more than 13 million of the world’s finest collections of artifacts from the ancient world. The museum’s most famous exhibits include the controversial Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, the colossal bust of Rameses II, the Egyptian mummies, and the spectacular hoard of 4th-century Roman silver known as the Mildenhall Treasure.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
- Warner Bros. Studios
- Palace of Westminister
- Madame Tussauds
- LondonTower Bridge
- London Dungeon
- Shrek’s Adventure
- London Aquarium
- Big Ben
- Churchill’s War Rooms
- Hampton Court Palace
- The Victoria and Albert Museum
- Piccadilly Circus
- Trafalgar Square
- Covent Garden
- The Two Tates Galleries
- Royal Observatory Greenwich and Docklands
- Kew Gardens
- Hungerford Bridge
- Science Museum, London
- Globe Theatre, London
- London Transport Museum
- National Maritime Museum
- Kensington Gardens
- Wallace Collection
The best way to travel in London is by River Services, tube, taxis, bus, shuttle, Thames Clippers and Santander Cycles.
London is one of those places you can visit any time of the year, but the best time is in the May, June and September. The days are long enough and the temperatures are mild for long walks and the city's parks are green and blooming.
