London is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. A trip to this capital city will not be complete if you don’t visit the London tourist attractions listed below.
London Tourist Attractions
1. Buckingham Palace
This palace will top every list featuring the best London tourist attractions. The Buckingham palace has been the residence of the nation’s Royal Family since 1837. Your trip to the Buckingham Palace should include a visit to the State Rooms.
The common people were allowed to take a trip to the palace’s State Rooms for the first time in 1993, but just for a period of eight months. However, the immense success of that venture made public visits to the State Rooms a regular affair. The other items, which must be a part of your tour plan includes The Royal Mews, Green Park, The Victoria Monument and The Queen’s Gallery.
Your visit to the palace must be timed in a way so that you can witness the Changing of the Queen’s Guard ceremony. From April to July, this 40-minute spectacle takes place every day at 11.30; during the other times of the year, the event is held on alternate days.
2. Tower of London
It’s a historic castle situated in central London (to be more precise, on River Thames’ north bank). The UNESCO has declared the Tower of London as a World Heritage Site.
Since the time it was built, the Tower of London has been used for a number of purposes, for instance, as a menagerie, a treasury, an armoury, an office for keeping public records, the site of the Royal Mint, and last, but definitely not least as the home for the nation’s Crown Jewels.
3. Trafalgar Square
The name of this square at the centre of the city of London has been derived from the Battle of Trafalgar. At the centre of the Trafalgar Square, you will find the Nelson’s Column.
The column is 151 feet tall and has an 18 feet statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson on it. The four corners of the square, on the other hand, house four plinths, each with a statue of a war veteran.
4. Big Ben
The Big Ben is probably the most talked about tourist attraction in London after the Buckingham Palace. It’s located at the north-east of the Palace of Westminster and is currently the world’s third-biggest freestanding clock.
Many might find it surprising, but “Big Ben” is actually the name of the bell that hangs in the clock. However, nowadays, both tourists and locals use the term to refer to the overall structure.
Construction of the tower ended in 1856, which is as many as 13 years after it was started. This chiming clock stops very rarely and is widely known for its accuracy and reliability. In spite of the fact that the common people are not allowed to enter the premises of the tower, the clock is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the city.
It makes a charming sight even from a distance, particularly during night times when it gets illuminated.
5. Westminster Abbey
The Westminster Abbey is the site of marriage, coronation, and burial of the British monarchs. It has been playing these roles since 1066. The abbey is home to over 600 memorials and monuments and more than 3,000 people have been buried in the Cloisters and the Church.
The current building dates particularly from the 13th to 16th centuries and is one of the biggest testimonies of the legacy of the Royal Family. Tourists come to the Westminster Abbey not only to see the amazing mixtures of Gothic styles the building features but also to witness pieces of history like The Coronation Chair, The Royal Chapels, Lade Chapel, Royal Tombs etc.
You will also find the experience of worshiping at the abbey’s daily service enthralling.
6. St Paul’s Cathedral
The St Paul’s Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren, one of the most celebrated architects of his time. The construction started in 1675 and ended in 1710. It’s said that this building is one of Wren’s finest works.
The grand interior of the cathedral will leave you awestruck. You will be particularly mesmerized to see The Whispering Galley, located 30 m above the floor of the cathedral. The most talked about feature of this gallery is its acoustics. Another big attraction of the place is the superb serving of traditional, homemade cakes.
7. HMS Belfast
The HMS Belfast, which is currently a museum ship, used to be a light cruiser of the Royal Navy. It has been moored permanently on the River Thames and is governed by the British national museum organisation Imperial War Museum.
This museum ship will introduce you to the stories of people who lived aboard this warship. You will get to explore all the nine decks of the HMS Belfast and know the experiences sailors had during the World War II and beyond.
If you want to gather more hands-on experience about the life of naval officers, don’t forget to visit the famous Life at Sea exhibition and the ship’s Operations Room.
8. Tate Modern
It’s a British national museum featuring international modern art. Here, you will get to see international contemporary and modern art created by famous artists such as Rothko, Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Warhol, and so on.
The Tate Modern was inaugurated in 2000 and took very little time to become the world’s most famous modern art museum. On average, the museum gets 4.6 million visitors each year and as much as 60% of them are 35 or younger. It would be wrong to categorize the Tate Modern as an art gallery.
Other than being home to some fascinating artwor