Attractions
With iconic attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, Big
Ben and Tower Bridge, visitors to this eclectic city will be kept
busy with the multitude of sights to explore. Visit the stoic lions
on Trafalgar Square, be bowled over by the grand interior of St
Paul's Cathedral, or take a stroll through St James Park and watch
the famous changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, and you
still haven't scratched the surface of London's attractions.
Venturing more into the heart of the West End, follow the crowds
to the bright montage of lights and billboards at Piccadilly Circus
and from there take in Chinatown, Soho and Covent Garden. For those
with an appreciation for history and the natural world, the superb
British Museum and Natural History Museum in South Kensington are a
must on any London vacation. The south bank of the Thames draws
visitors with the London Eye, the London Aquarium and the
über-cool Tate Modern.
An easy and pleasurable way to see the major sights is on one of
the London's red buses or, weather permitting, on foot. Many
visitors use the underground to travel the short distances from
sight to sight, missing the opportunity to gain a better picture of
this vibrant city. A boat tour down the river Thames is also a
great way to view some major sights and to learn more about the
central role this river has played in London life, or just relax
while you ponder what next to see and do in London.
Madame Tussaud's
Madame Tussauds is the most famous wax museum gallery in the
world, with more than 400 life-sized models of stars, famous
politicians, royals and sportsmen, as well as the most infamous
criminals the world has known. Inside the Museum the 'Spirit of
London' ride...
see full detailsTower of London
The Tower of London is perhaps as famous for its traditions as
its imposing structure, located on the Thames River. It is guarded
by a special band of Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, and
dotted with several large, black birds - the ravens....
see full detailsAbbey Road Studios
The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road was recorded at this
unassuming studio in St John's Wood, London. While many other
famous bands, including Pink Floyd, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2,
Kate Bush, Radiohead, Oasis and Sting, all recorded tracks there,
it is Beatles...
see full detailsSpeaker's Corner at Hyde Park
Located right in the middle of London, Hyde Park is a huge patch
of green and blue tranquillity in a busy city. Covering 350 acres,
it features restaurants, fountains, monuments and flower gardens,
and offers a range of activities including ice skating, swimming,
boating,...
see full detailsTate Modern
Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, which has been
transformed by Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron into a
spectacular new modern building, the Tate Modern is Britain's new
National Museum of Modern Art. It showcases an exhaustive
collection featuring works from 1900...
see full detailsNational Gallery
The National Gallery has an imposing and regal façade
stretching across the northern side of Trafalgar Square, and houses
over 2,000 paintings from every major European school of painting
from the 13th to the 19th century. It was opened in 1938 at its
present...
see full detailsBritish Museum
With more than 6,000 historical objects from all around the
globe, the British Museum houses one of the world’s greatest
collections of antiquities, including the Parthenon Frieze or Elgin
Marbles, the Rosetta Stone and the Roman Portland Vase dating from
the 1st century AD....
see full detailsLondon Eye
At 443ft (135m) tall, and weighing more than 250 double-decker
buses, the London Eye is the most spectacular new addition to
London’s skyline. With incredible views of most of
London’s major attractions, and an opportunity to put the
city’s geography into perspective, it is...
see full detailsShakespeares Globe Theatre
Situated on the bank of the Thames, just 656ft (200m) from the
site of Shakespeare's original Globe theatre, this fantastic
recreation will transport visitors back to the time of the very
first productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night.
The reconstruction took...
see full detailsBuckingham Palace and the Queen’s Gallery
No visit to London would be complete without experiencing the
pomp and ceremony of the changing of the guard at Buckingham
Palace, but now visitors can actually get a peek inside during the
annual summer opening of the State Rooms, and see some...
see full detailsHarrods
Harrod's, which proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed calls his 'Palace in
Knightsbridge', promises one of the most extravagant and luxurious
shopping experiences in the world. With 22 restaurants, and a wide
range of departments and services across its seven floors, it is
easy to see...
see full detailsCamden Market
Camden Market is one of the most exciting shopping experiences
London has to offer. Even if you're just browsing, the market is
definitely worth a visit with its huge variety of food, antiques,
bric-a-brac and clothing stalls, bars, nightspots and crowds of
people ranging...
see full detailsGreenwich
This is the home of the Greenwich Meridian, which splits the
globe into East and West and is responsible for setting the world
clock on zero degrees latitude. Greenwich has a host of attractions
including Greenwich Market with its variety of arts, crafts,...
see full detailsSt Paul’s Cathedral
The great dome of St Paul's Cathedral has been a distinctive
landmark on the London skyline for centuries. Built in 1673 by Sir
Christopher Wren, after the previous St Paul's was burnt to the
ground during the Great Fire of London, it is...
see full detailsPiccadilly Circus
One of London's best known, but most overrated sights, Picadilly
Circus is at the junction of Picadilly, Regent Street and
Shaftesbury Avenue and is surrounded by neon advertising and
fast-food restaurants. However with its Tube station, Picadilly
Circus is a good starting point for...
see full detailsHampton Court Palace
Situated on the banks of the Thames, 14 miles (23km) southwest
of London, Hampton Court is perhaps the most spectacular royal
palace in England and makes a great day-trip from London. The
palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 1500s, it...
see full detailsWestminster Abbey
This church in the heart of the city is one of London's top
attractions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rivals Notre Dame
for the most famous church in the world. Westminster Abbey draws
millions of tourists each year in addition to the...
see full detailsBig Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Originally built for Edward the Confessor more than 1,000 years
ago, the Houses of Parliament, or Palace of Westminster, remained
the principal residence of Britain's monarchs for the next 400
years. Thereafter it became the administrative centre of the
country. In 1834 the great...
see full detailsTower Bridge
The twin spires of the iconic drawbridge stand 213 feet (65m)
above the Thames River, and form one of the most popular
attractions in London. Often mistakenly referred to as the London
Bridge (which is a bit further upstream), the Tower Bridge
functions as...
see full detailsVictoria and Albert Museum
Originally known as the Museum of Manufacture, the Victoria and
Albert Museum (or V&A Museum, as it is popularly known) in
London is a veritable treasure trove of artefacts from cultures
around the world. Devoted to art and design, it houses more than
27,000...
see full detailsWimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
In June and July, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
is filled to capacity, with thousands of tennis fans eager to see
the greatest players in the world at the Wimbledon Championships.
The rest of the year, the venue houses the...
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