What is to see in London? We have tips on iconic places, churches, abbeys and cathedrals, museums, parks, green spaces, traditional markets, and other travel tips, so we suggest you read the article to the end if you are planning a trip to London.
What is to see in London
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom.
It is possible to visit a part of the palace on designated dates, namely between July and October.
However, to know if the queen is in the palace, please confirm if the Royal Standard flag or the UK flag is in place. When the queen is in Buckingham Palace, you see the Royal Fag in place.
Buckingham Palace Location: SW1A 1AA, UK.
Big Ben or Elizabeth Tower
Big Ben is the name of the bell located in the tower.
It was renamed Elizabeth Tower in honor of Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
The London Eye
The London Eye is an observation wheel located in central London.
It is also known as the Millenium Wheel and was until 2006 the largest in the world.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a magnificent castle whose foundation dates back to 1066.
Thus, he has performed several functions over time, including royal residence, prison, arms deposit, and headquarters of the Royal Mint, among others.
Admission has a fee, but we recommend visiting, especially the rooms where the British Royal jewels are displayed.
Tower of London Location: London EC3N 4AB, UK.
The Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge must be one of the most famous weighbridges in the world. Built-in Victorian style, it is located next to the Tower of London, and so you can visit it afterward.
Tower Bridge Location: Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom.
The Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster is the seat of government in the United Kingdom.
However, if you are interested in visiting this neo-Gothic-style monument, please note that guided tours are available on Saturdays in the summer.
Location of Palace of Westminster: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a square where six London streets converge: Regent Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, Haymarket, Coventry Street, and Glasshouse Street and should be on your London to-see list!
However, the particularity of this square is the existence of advertising screens, namely billboards and signs, which earned Piccadilly Circus the designation of London Times Square.
By the way, Piccadilly means leisure and fun, which should give you an idea of what to find in Piccadilly Circus: theatres, bars, restaurants, and the Trocadero, a giant games room.
Thus, it is a busy area and a meeting point for Londoners and visitors.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is an iconic London square that aims to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar. It is known for the famous Christmas tree that annually animates the region.
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is one of the busiest shopping streets, with over 300 shops and restaurants, and therefore a paradise for shoppers.
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is the famous British neighborhood made famous in the film of the same name.
Some of the scenes of the movie took place in this neighborhood, including the Portobello market.
The Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is a suspended pedestrian bridge made of steel.
It was involved in some controversy because of issues related to security and ended up being closed for work just two days after its inauguration.
Soho
Soho is a London district known for its party vibe, with eclectic restaurants, bars, music clubs, and lots of fun after the sun goes down.
Leicester Square
The big movie premieres usually occur at the Odeon, a legendary London cinema located in Leicester Square.
By the way, this square is known for being one of the main strongholds for moviegoers.
Kensington Palace
The Kensington Palace was the official residence of Princess Diana, and parts of the palace, as well as the gardens, are open to visitors.
Kensington Palace Location: Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8 4PX, UK.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe is a re-creation of The Globe Theater, as the first destroyed in a fire in 1613.
In this area, you can watch plays, but you can also take guided tours, take advantage of it if you are a lover of theatrical arts.
Location: 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, UK.
London Dungeon
The London Dungeon is an amusement park that depicts gory historical events but with a touch of humor.
In our opinion, it is not one of the most compelling tourist attractions in London, but we realize that it can be attractive to some audiences.
Shard London Bridge
Shard London Bridge is a skyscraper in London shaped of a pyramid.
It is 310 meters high and is considered the tallest building in Western Europe.
Location of Shard London Bridge: 32 London Bridge St, London SE1 9SG, United Kingdom.
Places to visit in London: churches, abbeys, and cathedrals
Westminster Abbey
First of all, take note that the official name of Westminster Abbey is the Collegiate Church of St Peter of Westminster.
It is the usual place for coronations and weddings for members of the royal family and a resting place for more than 3,300 people, so the interior becomes a little heavy with so many sepulchers per square meter.
Westminster Abbey Location: 20 Deans Yd, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA, UK.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican place of worship and the seat of the Bishop of London.
However, the most newsworthy event that happened at the Cathedral of São Paulo was the wedding of Carlos and Diana in 1981.
Location of St. Paul’s Cathedral: London EC4M 8AD, UK.
What is to see in London: museums
The British Museum
Did you know that the British Museum is free to enter, that is, it only leaves a monetary contribution if you want?
British Museum Location: Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DG, UK.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London is also free to enter, and the main attraction is the exhibition of a skeleton of a diplodocus and a mastodon, both from Chile.
Location of Natural History Museum: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, UK.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery in London including works by artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monnet, Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Sando Botticelli.
National Gallery Location: Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London WC2N 5DN, UK.
The Tate Modern
Tate Modern is a modern art gallery that exhibits works by international artists.
The most famous are The Kiss by Auguste Rodin, The Uncertainty of the Poet by Giorgio de Chirico, and Towards the Corner by Juan Munoz.
Location of the Tate Modern: Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a chain of wax museums currently around the world, attesting to its popularity (it is also a tourist attraction in Hong Hong).
Location of Madame Tussauds: Marylebone Rd, Marylebone, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Alberto Museum is one of the largest because it has a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects!
Location of Victoria and Albert Museum: Cromwell Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL, UK.
Science Museum
The Science lovers will be fascinated by this museum and, by the way, entry to the London Science Museum is free.
Science Museum Location: 64 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, UK.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
First, are there any fans of Detective Sherlock Homes out there? Well, there is a museum dedicated to this fictional character that you can visit on your next trip to London.
Location of Sherlock Homes Museum: 221b Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE, UK.
What is to see in London: parks and green spaces
Hyde Park
Hyde Park is one of eight royal parks in London and covers an area of 2.5 km2, and is, therefore, the largest in London.
However, its most famous spot is the Speakers’ Corner, traditionally where anyone could make a statement, usually related to politics.
On the other hand, on July 6, 2002, the Memorial to Diana was inaugurated, a fountain by Kathryn Gustafson to honor the princess.
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park is a royal park in London and is the ideal place if you need to take a break with your children, as there are four playgrounds here. It is also considered by many to be London’s most beautiful park.
In addition, from Primrose Hill, you can enjoy the view of the city.
St. James Park
St. James Park is London’s oldest royal park, and it has plenty of space to walk around!
Green Park
Green Park is a royal park in London made almost exclusively of meadows. It does not have many attractions such as lakes or entertainment areas.
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is not only a royal park, and it is also a National Nature Reserve.
It is a full-day tour as there is a lot to see and do in Richmond Park. We highlight deer watching and exotic plants in Isabella Plantation.
The Jubilee Gardens
The Jubilee Gardens are next to the famous London Eye, and although they are small compared to the royal parks, they are pleasant.
What is to visit in London: traditional markets
Covent Garden
The Covent Garden is a lively entertainment district in London, and we suggest that you visit the Covent Garden market and see one of the many performances by street performers.
Covent Garden Location: West End, London.
Borough Market
The Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and largest markets and should be on your London list of things to visit.
Borough Market Location: 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL, United Kingdom.
Camden Lock Market
Camden Lock Market is huge and has a wide range of products for sale, from accessories, cameras, clothing, in short, a little bit of everything.
However, what caught our attention was the diversity of stalls that sell food from all world!
So keep this information in mind and plan to visit Camden Lock around lunchtime.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Every Sunday and since 1869, a fragrant flower market has taken place on Columbia Road, attracting visitors in search of flowers as well as tourists marveling at the explosion of colors.
Flower Market Location: Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, UK.
Brick Lane Market
The Brick Lane area is associated with the Asian community.
So, the best time to visit Brick Lane is on Sundays, when the streets are filled with stalls and form a pleasant market, the Brick Lane Market.
Brick Market Location: Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR, UK.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Market is the largest antique market and is famous for antiques and second-hand clothes.
It happens every Saturday, so we suggest you plan your London itinerary to have Saturday free to visit Portobello Road Market.
Portobello Road Market Location: Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, London W10 5XL, UK.
London food
You can try food from all over the world in London.
Drinks in restaurants are expensive, but remember that all restaurants will offer a bottle of filtered water you can drink for free.
Best time to visit London
As London is a European capital with many things to do, so expect to find activities at any time of the year.
However, we take the liberty of remembering some conditions, namely about the climate:
- February is the Chinese New Year, and this means that there are many free initiatives on the streets;
- autumns and winters are cold, rainy and with small days, so keep this information in mind when planning your trip;
- the inhabitants do not usually use umbrellas, but on the other hand, they use raincoats;
- the streets are with Christmas decorations as well as Christmas markets in December.
London Accommodation
It’s hard to choose the best place to stay in London as staying in the center is expensive.
On the other hand, London has a very efficient underground network, and it is easy to travel to neighboring areas.
Even so, we always prefer to invest a little more money in a central hotel as we save time when traveling. Here are some suggestions for hotels in London.
Finally, if you are organizing your trip to London, please check out the following articles:
- Things to do when in London
- London Airports (coming soon)
- Transport in London (coming soon)
Would you like to visit England? We want to travel as a family, regularly, with some comfort and without going broke! We also organize trips, so check out some travel deals and promotions on Facebook, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
