Many tourists visit London every day. This is a city with an interesting history, famous and famous attractions of London every traveler dreams to visit. Here everyone can find something to see: historical, architectural, cultural sights and wonders will not leave anyone indifferent.
The city of palaces and museums, concert halls and art galleries, clubs and restaurants, boutiques and souvenir shops and today is full of historical and cultural attractions, architectural masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Top 22 attractions in London
London’s historic landmarks belong mostly to the Victorian era. This is the name of the time when the country was ruled by Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901). Few earlier buildings have survived, as many were destroyed in a fire in 1666.
We could talk and talk for hours about the capital of Great Britain. But, as they say in our country, “It’s better to see it once. And there really is a lot to see in London. Here’s a list of the city’s brightest places and buildings.
Tower Bridge
Tourists must visit the Tower Bridge, located near the famous prison. This is another symbol of the capital of Great Britain, posted in many photos. The length of the landmark is almost 250 m, the height of the towers – 65 m. Between the towers is a span of 61 m. It is divided into two parts, rising to allow maritime traffic to pass.
The bridge is designed so that pedestrians can walk across it even when the spans are unfurled. To this end, there are galleries connecting the towers high above the river. A pedestrian can get here by climbing the spiral staircase of one of the towers. Since 1982, the pedestrian galleries have housed exhibitions. You can also go up here to see the surroundings.
Big Ben
It is the most famous tower in London. It has a clock on all four sides. The diameter of the clock is 7 meters, due to such a large size the clock is considered the main clock of London. Elizabeth Tower is located on the grounds of the Palace of Westminster, where the British Parliament sits.
Tower of London
The Tower is one of London’s most famous landmarks. The fortress is located on the banks of the Thames, at EC3N 4AB. The first tower appeared here in 1078 on the orders of the Norman Duke William I to intimidate the conquered locals. At first it was a wooden building, which was later replaced by stone. In the second half of the 12th century several more towers and fortress walls appeared around the Tower, along which a deep moat was dug on the outer side.
The Tower of London became famous as a dungeon whose prisoners were aristocrats, many of whom served life sentences or were executed. Here sat the rulers of Scotland and France, spent the last days of the three wives of Henry VIII, spent a few months the future Queen of England, Elizabeth I.
The Tower housed more than just a dungeon. For several hundred years it also housed the royal jewels, an arsenal, a mint, an observatory, and archives. Until 1830 the fort housed a zoo with bears and other animals.
The Tower is now a museum, an arsenal, and contains the treasures of the British Crown. Officially, the fort is listed among the royal residences. There are several apartments where the Tower’s servants and honored guests live.
Prince Albert Memorial
It was erected by Queen Victoria of Great Britain in honor of her husband Albert. The monument reaches more than 50 meters in height. The memorial marks love and respect.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British kings. Located at London SW1A 1AA . Construction of the building began in 1703 by order of the Duke of Buckingham, who planned to settle here. In 1762, the landmark was acquired by Monarch George III, who was no longer satisfied with St. James’s Palace, and so he was looking for a new residence. Over the next century, a huge amount of money was spent on the improvement of the palace, and the castle itself has undergone significant transformation.
The total area of Buckingham Palace is 20 hectares. It is not only the main building, but also a garden, stables, two post offices, a swimming pool, a movie theater, and a royal garden where pink flamingos live. The most important place in the palace is considered by the British to be the balcony from which monarchs and their family address their subjects on holidays.
Tourists can visit the palace from August to September, when the royal family is absent. At this time the castle is a museum, where you can see the paintings of famous artists, antique clocks, antiques, a collection of porcelain and many other interesting things.
You can also visit the famous royal stables Royal Mews, the most famous exhibit of which is a gilded carriage built in the 18th century. Near the palace anyone can watch the changing of the guard, which takes place daily at Buckingham Palace.
London Eye
The world’s largest attraction “London Eye” will show all the beauty of London from a height of 136 meters. The whole city will be “as if in the palm of your hand. The London Eye is the largest Ferris wheel in the world. The wheel comes full circle in 30 minutes.
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is located on the banks of the Thames at SW1A 0AA. Until the early 16th century it was the residence of the English monarchs. The first English Parliament met here in 1295, and the national government has been sitting here ever since. In the early 19th century there was a big fire, so the castle had to be rebuilt again. All that remains of the old building is the Reception Hall, where the judges assembled, and the Jewels Tower, which housed the treasury of Edward III.
The most famous tower of the palace is Big Ben. The actual name of the structure is Elizabeth Tower. The Big Ben is the name of the large bell that weighs 13.7 tons. It was built in 1859 and together with the spire is 96.3 meters high. The clock mechanism in the tower is the third largest four-sided clock in the world. Their lower part is located 55 m above the ground, the total weight is 5 tons, the diameter of the dial is 7 m.
Tourists can only get into the Palace of Westminster on Saturdays as part of a tour, or on other days when Parliament is not in session.
Westminster Abbey
Collegiate Church of St. John the Baptist. St. Peter’s, known as Westminster Abbey, is located across the street from the Palace of Westminster, at SW1P 3PA, London, Deans Yd, 20. Traditionally, this landmark is the site of coronations, marriages, and burials of English monarchs.
The abbey was built on the site of a 7th century Benedictine church. It is considered an example of early English Gothic architecture: its construction began in 1245. Over the centuries, the abbey was rebuilt several times and acquired its final appearance in 1745.
In the Abbey Museum, tourists can see the queen’s diamond galleries, paintings by famous artists, sculptures, statues, tapestries, and church utensils. The Church of St. Joseph, which was founded by the Church of the Holy Trinity. Petra is known not only for its elaborate decorations, but also for the people who found their last resting place here. These are not only representatives of the royal family, but also the graves of famous writers (Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spencer, Charles Dickens). Music lovers will also like it here: concerts are often organized here.
Westminster Abbey Museum is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday. Sunday is a day off.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. It is located at the highest point of the City, on top of Ludgate Hill, and belongs to the Anglican Church. This is the fifth temple located here. The first wooden church appeared here in the 6th century AD, but soon burned down. The next stone building stood for three centuries – and was destroyed in a Viking raid. The third and fourth churches also did not last long, burning in fires.
The construction of the modern church began in 1697, and the architect had to change the project three times. The city authorities wanted to build a grandiose attraction on the site of the burnt-out church. In the end, when the project had already been developed, at the initiative of King Charles II, a dome was added to the architecture of the temple, much like the top of the Roman Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Peter. The church is also known for its gallery with excellent acoustics: a word said in a whisper can easily be heard at the other end of the room.
Many famous people are buried inside the cathedral. Among them are Admiral Nelson, the painter Henry Moore, and the Duke of Wellington.
The cathedral is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday you can also get here, but on that day there are services, and therefore there are no guided tours.
Trafalgar Square
The square is the site of festivals and celebrations. The monument to Nelson, who died in the Battle of Trafalgar, is surrounded by lions and is the centerpiece of the square. Beautiful fountains decorate the entire perimeter.
Albert Hall
This world-famous concert hall was built in the style of the Roman Colosseum in the second half of the 19th century. The most important music events and charity receptions are held here, and the best musicians of the year are awarded.
It is named in honor of Prince Albert, who conceived and promoted its construction. To pay for the construction, Prince and the other creators of the hall sold tickets entitling their holders to come to concerts for nearly 1,000 years.
Piccadilly Street
Rich and famous people live here. Piccadilly is also the busiest street, so you can see a lot of colorful advertising. Many shopping centers, mansions are located on both sides of this street.
Hyde Park
Every tourist who has been to London should visit Hyde Park. It is a royal park located in the center of the capital of Great Britain, with an area of 1.4 km2. This area used to belong to the monarchs of England, who used it for recreation. Now it is one of the most favorite places of Londoners, who spend their holidays here, hold various celebrations, political rallies. There is also an area called Speakers’ Corner, where various lecturers, speakers, and preachers hone their oratory skills.
London’s Hyde Park has a very long history and was originally owned by Westminster Abbey. When the monasteries were dissolved in 1536, Henry XVIII took Hyde Park for himself to use for various amusements, primarily hunting. The park was opened to ordinary people at the end of the 16th century – and soon enough it became a favorite place for Londoners to relax.
Hyde Park is home to Lake Serpentine, where swimming is officially allowed, as well as an art gallery. This museum features art exhibits from the 20th and 21st centuries. There is also a sculpture of Achilles dedicated to the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon. This is the first statue in the British capital that is a figure of a naked man. At one time it caused a lot of indignation among the townspeople.
Madame Tussauds Museum
One of the most famous exhibition centers in London is considered to be Madame Tussauds wax museum. It appeared two hundred years ago at the initiative of Anne Marie Tussauds. Her mother had once served as a doctor who sculpted wax sculptures. He taught the girl how to work with wax. When Mary was 26, she first sculpted Voltaire on her own, then Rousseau, Franklin. When the revolution raged in France, she created posthumous masks of members of the royal family.
In the early 19th century, Tussauds and her sculptures ended up in the capital of England, and because of the war she was unable to return home. In 1835, the first permanent exhibition appeared here. In the museum, the room of horrors, where famous criminals, victims of the bourgeois revolution, were gathered, attracted the special attention of visitors. Over time, the London museum began to add figures of personalities who became famous in various fields of activity.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is well known to many fashionistas because it is the street where famous brand boutiques, malls, and supermarkets are located. On this street you can buy absolutely everything. No tourist leaves Oxford Street without shopping.
London National Gallery
The largest museum in the country is the London National Gallery. There are many exhibitions of paintings and other objects of art. The gallery’s collections are still going strong today.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
This is a special place for lovers of the work of Arthur Conan Doyle. This is where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson “lived. The museum recreates an atmosphere and setting close to those described in A.K.’s works. Doyle.
Globe Theater
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is one of the most interesting in the world. Performances here take place in the open air, and the hall and stage look just as they did in the 17th century. The stage is low, and most of the audience stands.
Although the modern building was completed in 1997, its history goes back more than three hundred years. The first theater appeared in 1599, and part of the stock was owned by Shakespeare. However, it did not last long, burning to the ground in 1613. The architects used the same materials for the construction of the modern building as they did for the 17th century houses. They mixed sand, goat hair, and lime to make plaster, and made the canopy over the seating and stage out of straw. As a result, the Globe was the first building in London to be allowed to have a thatched roof after the terrible fire of 1666.
Also during the construction of the theater it was decided not to conduct electricity, so all performances take place from May to September. The rest of the time the theater company is on tour, and for tourists in the building organized daily excursions.
British Museum
It is the center of the archaeological museums of Great Britain and the largest archaeological museum in the world. On an area of more than 4 square kilometers is presented almost a hundred expositions.
To get acquainted with all the exhibits on display, you will have to spend here more than one day.
St. Pancras Railway Station
The station is striking in its architecture. The walls are made of red brick, so the building looks bright and eye-catching. It is London’s largest station, providing transportation for passengers and tourists to all kinds of destinations in the country.
Wembley Stadium
All fans and soccer fans are familiar with Wembley Stadium. The stadium is the main soccer arena of the country. It is here that the world’s biggest stars of show business like to give concerts.
Kensington Palace
It is the most unpretentious residence of the monarch’s family in the capital. The palace was born in the 17th century for the Earl of Nottingham. However, William of Orange, who ruled England at the time, purchased it and made it a summer home, something like a country house.
The palace, which looks more like a medium-sized mansion, is located in the west of the city. At the end of the 17th century, it was visited by the Russian Tsar Peter I. The great Queen Victoria was born here. Princess Diana was once a hostess here.
What’s free to see in London?
Many tourists are surprised by the fact that admission to most museums is free. You can walk through and look at the unique collections:
- British Museum;
- Parliament buildings;
- London Museum;
- National Gallery;
- maritime museum;
- portrait gallery;
- Museum of Natural History;
- Tate Gallery.
With the high cost of living in the capital, it becomes a real gift for tourists to satisfy their curiosity and learn many interesting facts about the history of the city and its famous citizens.
Moving around the city is more convenient to the subway, near most sights that is worth seeing in London, is necessarily a subway station.
The subway is also considered an important attraction because it is the first in the world. The striking difference from Moscow stations immediately catches the eye: there are no decorative elements, many colors, everything is strict and restrained in an English way. There is almost no seating in the waiting room, the interval between trains is only 3 – 5 minutes. Therefore, it is worth buying a diagram of the lines, choose the nearest subway station and come out almost a few steps away from the intended goal, avoiding city traffic jams.
The touching love story of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert shook the world at one time. She outlived him by 40 years, expressing her grief and unspent tenderness by creating a huge cultural center, a monument, an embankment, a bridge and the prestigious Albert Hall concert hall in her husband’s memory.
Practical tips for the tourist in London
The city has several landmarks that have become true calling cards, and to pass by them would be an unforgivable mistake.
To proudly claim that you’ve really seen London, you have to look at it:
- Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament;
- London Eye ferris wheel;
- Covent Garden District;
- the cathedral of st. Paul;
- the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace;
- Camden Town.
Remember that many museums and galleries put a special stamp on the ticket that allows you to visit the object again for free.
You should take a few hours and visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The character created by Arthur Conan Doyle has long lived his life with an apartment at 221b Baker Street. It serves as a museum, the rooms reproduce in detail the setting described in the books, guided tours are conducted by guides dressed as maids, and the order at the main entrance is monitored by a policeman in 19th-century uniform.
During the tourist season, which falls between May and October, you often have to deal with lines for sightseeing. To avoid this, you can book tickets in advance or come as part of a tour group. Such trickery comes in handy if a visit to Madame Tussauds, the Ferris wheel, Westminster Abbey, the Tower, the Museum of Natural History is planned.
Video overview of London sights
Buckingham Palace, the Tower, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, the Waxwork Museum, ancient structures and modern buildings lure tourists from all over the world. The sights of London with their grandeur and beauty mesmerize, fascinate, make you admire the unique monuments, intrigue by the many legends and interesting stories.
It is a city that captures the hearts of those who visit it, and so they return again and again to feast their eyes on its beauty and discover places of interest.
To visit all the sights of London, you will need a sufficient amount of time. Once you’ve been to London, you’ll definitely want to return to this fabulous place. Your memories are sure to remind you of your happy time in London!
London sights on the map
London is one of the greatest cities of our time with a rich history and amazing monuments. Only this city has a museum dedicated to a man who didn’t really exist. In the gallery, you can easily take pictures of the queen and Schwarzenegger and ride the double-decker bus, noting on the way what to see in London today and what to postpone for tomorrow. Tourists organize sightseeing and thematic excursions, which include a tour of the most popular sites.
Nowadays, tourists from all over the world come to this city to relax and enjoy the excursions. So what are the most interesting places in London that you should pay special attention to?
