London is one of the best tourist capitals of the world. It is the ultimate tourism paradise where you will find modern and historic architectural masterpieces to the world’s best museums, vibrant atmosphere across the River Thames to lash greenery and open spaces, famous luxurious palaces to busy shopping streets. There are plenty of spectacular places to explore and exciting things to do in London. You must add the following top 10 things to do and places to visit in London in your bucket list without which your London sightseeing trip will be incomplete. These are the must-see and must-do on any London trip:
- Tower Bridge
- Buckingham Palace
- British Museum
- Big Ben
- Westminster Abbey
- London Eye
- Oxford Street
- Hyde Park
- Thames River Cruise and Boat Trip
- Trafalgar Square
- Tower Bridge
Tower bridge, London’s defining landmark, is one of the most iconic bridges in the world. For any tourist, it is one of the must visit places to enjoy the panoramic views of London. Pedestrians can walk across the tower bridge at road level without buying any ticket. However, It costs only £13.4 per adult and £6.7 per child to explore inside Tower bridge and experience spectacular Glass Floors in the high-level Walkways.
Tower bridge was built on the river Thames over 130 years ago. It took eight years to build the bridge. At the end of 2014, Glass floors were installed on the bridge 42 metres above the river and 33.5 metres above road level. The glass floor comprises six different layers and the top layer is replaced regularly to ensure best views for visitors.
Tower Bridge’s bascules open around 800 times a year for ships to pass. Until 1976 steam engines were used to operate the bascules before being replaced by oil and electricity. The original steam engines and coal-fired boilers are now on display in the engine room for visitors to enjoy. Tower Bridge Exhibition is one of the best ways of exploring this magnificent Victorian Engineering.
Public transport is one of the best means to visit Tower bridge. Tower hill is one of the nearest underground railway stations from where it takes only a 9 minutes walk to reach tower bridge. The bus routes you may take to reach Tower Bridge are: 15, 42, 78, 100, 343.
- Buckingham Palace
Buckingham palace is the official London residence and the administrative headquarters of the Monarch of the United Kingdom. It has 775 rooms including 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. Buckingham Palace’s 39 acres garden is the largest private garden in London. This garden is the home of over 1,000 trees, 325 wild-plant species, and 30 species of breeding birds.
There are plenty of things to see and do at Buckingham palace. Palace garden, state rooms, throne room, ball room, music room, picture gallery, grand staircase, and changing the guard are the top attractions. Buckingham Palace is open to visitors each summer and on selected dates during spring and winter. It costs only £32 per adult and £16 per child(5-17) to explore this magnificent palace.
Buckingham palace used to be known as Buckingham house. John Sheffield, once the Duke of Buckingham, gave the house its name. The first monarch to live in this palace was Queen Victoria in 1837. East wing of the palace was added between 1847-1849 to accommodate Victoria’s growing family. The famous central balcony is one of the most important parts of this addition as it allowed the royal family to be visible and connect with the public.
Public transport is one of the best means to visit Buckingham Palace. London Victoria train station, St James’s Park tube station, and Hyde Park Corner tube station are the closest train/ tube stations from where it takes approximately 10 minutes walk to reach Buckingham palace. The bus routes you may take to reach Tower Bridge are: 11, 211, C1 and C10.
- British Museum
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is the first national public museum of the world. Its eight million objects covering two million years of history attracts more than six million visitors each year. People can study great civilizations including Egypt, Assyria, Greece, China, Rome in more than 60 galleries centred around the magnificent Great Court.
One of the most fascinating parts of the British Museum is its reading room which is considered one of the great sights of London and became a world-famous centre of learning. Although British Museum entry is completely FREE for visitors, it is recommended to book a timed entry ticket in advance to guarantee entry.
Rosetta Stone, one of the most important archeological artefacts of human history, is the most-visited single object in the British Museum. Discovered in 1799, it enabled archeologists in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Other important highlights of the British Museum’s collection include Egyptian mummies, Parthenon Sculptures, Aztec Double-Headed Serpent, Hoa Hakananai’a, Vindolanda Tablets, Lewis Chessmen, Ife Head, The Sutton Hoo Helmet, and Tara Statue.
Nearest tube stations are: Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square, and Goodge Street from where it takes only 5-8 minutes walk to reach the British Museum. The bus routes you may take to reach the Museum are: New Oxford Street (1, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 98, 242), Tottenham Court Road / Gower Street (14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390), Southampton Row (59, 68, X68, 91, 168, 188).
- Big Ben
Big Ben, officially known as Elizabeth tower, is London’s most iconic film location and one of the most instagrammed landmarks standing at the north end of the House of Parliament. Technically, Big Ben refers to the massive bell inside the iconic clock tower. People can visit inside this magnificent tower by booking a 90-minute guided tour on the official UK Parliament website. The tower itself is over 96m tall. Visitors require to climb 290 stairs to reach the clock room, followed by 44 stairs to reach the clock mechanism room where the famous bell is located, and an additional 59 stairs to reach the top of the spire.
Big Ben was completed in 1859. Since then it has rarely stopped. The chimes of Big Ben have become a part of London’s famous new year celebration which telecast each year all over the world. During the parliament session a special light above the clock faces is illuminated. Big Ben’s bell was silent during World War I and its clock was not illuminated during World War II to prevent it from enemy aircraft.
The closest Tube station is Westminster from where it takes a two minutes walk to reach Big Ben. The bus routes you may take to reach Big Ben are : 148, 24, 26, 453, 87, 11, 12, N53, N109, 734, N3, N11, N26
- Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most prominent historic churches in the world. It is famous for its iconic gothic architecture, the coronation of British monarchs, and ceremonies of national significance. It is also the final resting place of many prominent public figures including Sir Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, King Edward the Confessor, Queen Elizabeth I, etc.
Westminster Abbey was founded in 960 AD by Benedictine monks. King Edward the Confessor rebuilt and enlarged it in the 1040s. The church got its current look on the orders of King Henry III in 1245. It costs only £27 per adult and £12 per child to book a guided tour to explore the incredible architecture and discover the fascinating history of Westminster Abbey.
The closest tube stations are Westminster and St James’s Park from where it takes a five minutes walk to reach Westminster Abbey. The bus routes you may take to reach Westminster Abbey are : 11, 24, 26, 148 and 211.
- London Eye
The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction located on the south bank of the Thames river in London. It is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. Since its launch in 2000, more than 70 million people have experienced stunning 360-degree unobstructed views of London’s skyline from its glass pods. During the ride, visitors will be able to see some of London’s iconic defining landmarks, including Big Ben, The Shard, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace.
The London Eye has 32 high-tech air conditioned glass pods which represent London’s 32 boroughs. The whole ride takes approximately 30 minutes. A standard ticket with timed entry costs only £29 per adult and £26 per child. A fast-track entry ticket is also available for visitors who want to skip the queues. Tickets must be pre-booked online.
The closest tube stations are Waterloo station, Charing Cross, Westminster, and Embankment Which are a few minutes walk away. The bus routes you may take to reach London Eye are: 1, 12, 59, 68, 76, 77, 139, 148, 159, 168, 176, 188, 211, 243, 77 and 381, 507, 521.
- Oxford Street
Oxford Street is the leading shopping capital of Europe. It is the ultimate shopping paradise with approximately 300 shops including more than 90 flagship stores and outlets. Most of the flagship stores are situated on the west side of the street while Tottenham court road tends to be more downmarket. With more than 60 restaurants within walking distance, it is a perfect day out for any food lovers as well.
Oxford street has a wide variety of stores of fashion, beauty, tech and homeware. It attracts people from all age groups, colour, and financial means. Some of the popular names on the oxford streets are Selfridges, John Lewis & Partners, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Gap, River Island, Primark etc.
The closest tube stations are Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch, Tottenham Court Road, which are a few minutes walk away. The bus routes you may take to reach Oxford Street are: 3, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 23, 25, 73, 88, 94, 98, 113, 137, 139 & 159.
- Hyde Park
Hyde Park is a 350-acre Royal Park famous for its greenery, Serpentine Lake, Speakers’ Corner, picturesque meadows, Rose Garden, Rotton Row (horse-riding area) and winter wonderland. This park was established in 1536 by Henry VIII. Diana Memorial Fountain, made from 545 pieces of Cornish granite, is one of the significant landmarks of the park built to honour the late Princess Diana. Speakers’ corner has been established as a site of public protest, free speeches and debates. Karl Marx, George Orwell and Vladimir Lenin were among the users of the speakers’ corner.
Hyde park is well known for organising festivals, concerts, and large-scale events throughout the year. Many famous rock bands such as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Queen performed in Hyde park. It is a perfect day out destination for families with kids as well where kids can enjoy the swings and climbing frames, or simply enjoy surrounding greenery , gardens, and the tranquil large lake-home to waterfowl and oarsmen.
Hyde Park is in west London. The closest tube stations are Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, and Knightsbridge which are a few minutes walk away. The bus routes you may take to reach Oxford Street are: 2, 6, 9, 16, 19, 22, 36, 38, 52, 74,137, 142, 148, 390, 414, N2, N9, N19, N22, N32, N38, N74, N97, N137.
- Thames river cruise and boat trip
Thames river cruise and boat trip will give you an unique opportunity to experience a panoramic view of London’s best sights. During the journey, you could just sit, relax and enjoy the expert guide or captain’s commentary on the glorious history of London and the iconic landmarks standing surrounding the River Thames. You could also enjoy food and drinks, take lots of photos, and enjoy a magical sunset from the deck.
There are plenty of Thames river cruise and boat trip service providers available. Almost all of them travel through similar routes where you can see Big Ben, the Shard, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and many other popular landmarks from water. Most of the cruises depart from Westminster Pier, London Eye Waterloo Pier, Greenwich Pier, and Tower pier.
- Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, formerly known as Charing Cross, is a public square situated in Central London. In 1830 the site was officially named Trafalgar square which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory over France and Spain that took place in 1805. The square is surrounded by some of London’s top attractions. It is also an epic centre of events, including protests, rallies and demonstrations, cultural celebrations, and commercial events.
Nelson’s Column is the centrepiece of Trafalgar Square. The column is topped by a 5m-tall (16ft) statue of Admiral Nelson (naval hero of Battle of Trafalgar) and guarded by four sculpted bronze lions. Two iconic fountains featuring dolphins, mermaids and tritons are an integral part of Trafalgar square. There are few other commemorative statues and sculptures occupying the square. The square is surrounded by significant buildings including the National Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Canada House, and South Africa House.
Trafalgar Square has a dedicated tube station exit, which leads directly onto the square. Other nearby stations to Trafalgar Square are Leicester Square, Embankment, Charing Cross and Piccadilly Circus. The bus routes you may take to reach Trafalgar Square are: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and 453.
no comment