Seeing all that is in London is not easy and requires time. If you have little of it, here is the list of places that you should not afford to miss on:
Some of the Things to Visit in London
There is just too much to see in London, and the list tends to be almost endless. There is an overwhelming impression when being in the British capital – no matter how often one goes there, there are the lines like ‘There are yet more things to see!’ Still, do not hurry; better devote some time to contemplate what one can observe.
To create a schedule for your stay in London, please consider the following must-visit places in London.
1. London Eye
This one is a giant Ferris wheel popularly constructed on the Thames River, and this is referred to as the Millennium Wheel- the London Eye. It is less historic compared to other major attractions in this city, but the structure offers a great view of the City of London.
About 135 meters in height, the London Eye has presented the guests with incredible views of the distant and near horizons of London. It costs an arm and a leg to get in, but it is a great way to commence your day at the park. The half-hour spin is enough to have a glance at other notable structures and, most importantly, feel how big the city is.
The capsules, which accommodate up to a quarter of a century of individuals in each, are rather roomy and furnished with the control panels that offer the details referring to the visually seen landmarks of the Eye. London, especially the observation point, is enjoyable if it is your first time, second time, or even third time. As far as the eye can reach, one can distinguish Windsor Castle nestled approximately 40 kilometers in the distance on very clear days.
Individuals interested in making the tour even more unique, there are several options; private capsule, champagne tour, combination ticket with London Aquarium and Madame Tussauds, among others.
2. Houses of Parliament
On the opposite side of the river from the London Eye, one would find such a well-known building as the Houses of Parliament. It possesses beautiful architectural design along the Thames, popular with the large bell tower that is Big Ben. Big Ben has earned its place as an icon not just to London but to the United Kingdom as a whole.
This Parliament building alone is a marvelous neo-Gothic structure of some unique design and grandeur. It has wonderful heritage displaying features with bundles of visits to the House of Commons and the House of Lords. People can also watch debates in meetings, sessions, etc., from the public galleries.
On this inside, the luxury is also observed with carved wooden work, beautiful stained glass windows, and ornamental stony work. The Central Lobby is a professional sightseeing part of the tour due to the stenciled ceilings and statues of prominent personalities. The Queen’s Robing Room and the Royal Gallery reveal the ceremonial side of British politics and painting and shining frescoes and Rexf tapes displaying the pivotal historical events of the nation.
The Houses of Parliament also have a shop in which it is possible both to buy more significant and specific souvenirs with the motive of Big Ben on and a café where one can taste an English tea.
3. Westminster Abbey
Nearer the Parliament is Westminster Abbey, a church that is even older than the Parliament and a prime display of Gothic architecture. This ancient abbey church has been the place of royal anointing from 1066 and the burial ground of many kings and queens of England and other distinguished persons.
The Facilities which attract tourists include; The High Altar, which is of Gothic style, the stained glass windows. There is also the Poet’s Corner, which contains the graves and memorials of a number of literary giants such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, and Rudyard Kipling.
The Chapter House, with a medieval tiled floor and series of murals, is also of interest. The museum of the Abbey is situated in the undercroft originally dating back to the 11th century; the treasures inside include, among others, the number of royal effigies, medieval glass, and other relics. The Henry VII’s Chapel or the Lady Chapel is as magnificent, where the ceiling has fan-traced vaults and some of the Tudor monarchs are buried.
There are also recorded spoken headsets for tourists in several languages, while for individuals who would love to have a deeper experience of this fantastic church, then guided tours are also present. Daily and weekly services, important occasions are also conducted at the Abbey, and the public is allowed to access these services.
4. Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most lively districts and is mainly focused on the equally majestic Nelson’s Column. It can be described as a center of socialization and a very busy area.
The square is flanked by two major museums: The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are two museums in London. Both museums are on the list of free admission ones and focus on collections of art; the collection of the National Gallery includes works of such masters as Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, etc.; the National Portrait Gallery is a specialized gallery, which exhibits portraits of famous personalities in British history.
Trafalgar Square is not only about the museums trying to survive and compete against each other but also about several other things. As much as the space itself, which is full of street performers, artists, and annual public events such as cultural carnivals. The sitting of fountains and statues within the squares makes them even more beautiful, and it is also a good place to observe other people. In December and particularly during the holiday season, Trafalgar Square has a large Christmas tree, a token from Norway, and everybody sings Christmas carols.
For others’ preference, Piccadilly Circus, which has many pubs and shopping centers, is just around the corner to enjoy the nightlife and shopping of London. The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and the statue of Eros at Piccadilly Circus are all the emblematic infrastructure in their own ways.
5. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, which is the London residence of the British monarch, is definitely worth a visit. The parts of the palace that can be visited are the State Rooms, the rooms that are decorated with treasures from the Royal Collection; for that, the palace is open for tourists during the summer.
Every visitor to London should ensure that they watch a performance of the Changing of the Guard; this is a colorful and traditional event. Daily in the summertime and every other day during the winter, if the weather allows it.
The different State Rooms are beautifully and elaborately decorated; some of the pieces are priceless, such as the artworks and furniture. The tour’s major attractions are the Throne Room, White Drawing Room, and the Picture Gallery with Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto paintings. At the palace, there are beautiful lawns, flower plantations, and one of the major attractions is a lake that is evident within the palace region. The palace gardens are eye-catching, especially with the well-maintained lawns, flower plantations, and the most notable lake that is found within the palace compounds.
For lovers of royal history themselves, it is also recommended to take a look at the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews located in the territory of Buckingham Palace. The Queen’s Gallery has chancing exhibitions of items under the Royal Collection, while the Royal Mews stores the state transportation with the Gold State Coach used in crowning.
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral
The next is St. Paul’s Cathedral among the popular religious structures in London. The dome of this beautiful Baroque cathedral distinguishes it from all the other cathedrals in the city skyline. The dome, conducted by Sir Christopher Wren, is considered among one of the tallest in the world.
Inside, the visitors can view Whispering Gallery, where visitors whisper, and their voices can be heard at the other side of the structure; Stone Gallery, where the outside view of London gets better than the views from the dungeons; and the Golden Gallery, where visitors get the ultimate view of London. The part of the Crypt at the Westminster cathedral contains the grave of naval hero Admiral Lord Nelson and the famous military leader – the Duke of Wellington.
The inside of St. Paul’s is equally breathtaking largely due to the floor-to-ceiling mosaics, the superb wood carving that adorns the walls and the marvelous stained glass windows. As for the high altar, the quire, and the organ, it has to be noted that each of them is a work of art concerning its manufacture and design. Other ornaments include The Order of the British Empire Chapel, the American Memorial Chapel; a chapel built to honor the sacrificed American forces in the Second World War.
There are guided tours you can join, as well as the use of multimedia guides which would be of great help to you while visiting this church. The topic of discussion also indicates that the cathedral offers services, concerts, and other events for them, thus giving a chance to witness the religious and artistic role of the object directly.
7. Millennium Bridge
The next easily recognizable attraction is the Millennium Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge that connects St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Tate Modern on the southern bank of the River Thames and designed by Norman Foster. The modern steel suspension bridge allows you to see the Thames and the city from this bridge as well.
The bridge links St. Paul’s Cathedral with the Tate Modern, a gallery of modern art located in a former power station. It is an interesting walk merging the old and the new buildings.
Tate Modern Art gallery is a popular art gallery with the works of Picasso, Dali, and Warhol, among other artists. It was established in 2006 and has a permanent collection ranging between ‘1900s and the present,’ meaning the exhibitions and installations put up are different and that the offered point of view on contemporary art is unique.
While walking across the millennium bridge, you are equally able to see some other iconic landmarks such as the Globe Theatre; an open-aired theatre reconstructed to the original look of Shakespeare’s theatre and the Shard, which is the tallest building in Western Europe. The designed structure and the fact that it vibrates in rhythm with the people crossing over it led the locals to refer to it as the Wobbly Bridge.
8. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge, which is somewhat easily confused with London Bridge, is perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. Manufactured as both a bascule and suspension bridge, this was built during the latter half of the nineteenth century and consists of two towers with walkways between them.
The tourist can tour the Tower Bridge Exhibition, which gives an overview of the construction and history of the Tower Bridge. The glass floor walkway offers a rather interesting view of the bridge and the river found below. Next to the bridge, there is the Tower of London which also is one of the greatest attractions full of history.
Additional attractions in the framework of this exhibition also mean the opportunity to get to the Victorian engine rooms that were initially used for the steam engines of the bridge’s bascules. There are also multimedia information desks explaining in detail the construction of the bridge and its workings, which makes it an informative experience as well as recreational.
The Tower of London is a historic castle and fortress that was a royal palace and now contains the Crown Jewels; guides are provided by the Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters. The Tower is very interesting with its history of plots, arrests, and executions of numerous individuals, including noble folk.
9. Camden Town
Our list ends with Camden Town vibrant market and the crazy atmosphere of the place. Located in the ‘Kampung Baru’ area, which is quite far from the downtown area, the Camden Market offers extraordinary fashionable apparels, accessories, homemade crafts, and delicious cuisines.
London Camden Market, in fact, comprises a number of markets, differentiated by the surrounding atmosphere and offered goods and services. The Stables Market, which is located at the old horse stables, is a hot spot for clothing, especially vintage wear and antiques, while the Lock Market is solely a market for homemade possessions, generally handcrafted wears and accessories. The Buck Street Market was partially renovated with bright-colored stacking containers; the place mainly focuses on streetwear and independent designers.
Alternatively, you can go for the more conventional shopping spree in the famous Notting Hill market, the upper-scale Oxford Street stores, and the famous Harrods. No wonder London is one of the most preferred choices for shopping that fits every type of personality.
Camden Town is also well-known for its music or rather musical nightlife. Some of the most popular and iconic bands and artists of the British music industry, such as Amy Winehouse and Oasis bands, located themselves in Camden. There are several music halls in the area, including the Roundhouse and the Electric Ballroom, where one can get to watch new and newest artists perform.
Final Thoughts
London is an amazing city that I don’t think gets monotonous at any one point. It is full of history, has a colorful culture and beautiful buildings that one can never miss no matter the number of times they visit the city. No matter if one wants to visit historical sites, shop, or just see the life in London, there will be no disappointment.
Make sure to take your time, slow down, and appreciate every happening, and every entertaining spot that puts London as one of the best cities globally. These nine places range from the sophisticated London Eye Ferris wheel to the energetic Camden Town streets to present nine different facets of the city’s personality.
Although it is improbable to take in all these attractions in one go, these sites give a good touch-point feel of the numerous faces that make up London. You will be fully engrossed when you are strolling around the old-fashioned corridors of Westminster Abbey or embracing art in Tate Modern, thus you will be making memories that will last a lifetime.
To all the budding travelers, pick your luggage, your photographer, and prepare to set out and discover the beautiful and a live city that is London. It is the only one of its kind and your journey begins here.