Multicultural, vibrant, and packed with some nice surprises, London is a beautiful capital city of England. With over 14 million populations, it is also one of the largest cities in Western Europe. Regarded as one of the world’s leading cities, London is known as the capital of education, fashion, culture, business, music, and politics.
So, if you have plans to visit London, make sure you have booked your tickets with British Airways. If you need any information, you can call British Airways contact number. Once you have safely landed in London, check out the best tourist attractions that the city has to offer.
Buckingham Palace
Visit the official residence of The Queen. The Palace is open for the tourists from July to September; you get to see the royal gardens and the beautiful staterooms. Adding to the glamorous look to the staterooms are the lavish ornaments which are still being used by the royal family. During the summer season, you can relax in the Garden Café towards the West Terrace of the Palace. You can enjoy light refreshments including coffee, tea, sandwiches, and different types of pastries.
Changing of the Guard, also known as Guard Mounting, is one of the things that you should not miss and it usually takes place around 11:30. The ceremony is for about 45 minutes and the guards have continued this duty since 1660. The guards comprise of five infantry regiments namely – Scots, Grenadier, Irish, Welsh Guards, and Coldstream. There is a provision of multimedia tours in different languages including – French, German, Spanish, Brazilian, Mandarin, and Russian.
London Eye
You will find London Eye on the South Bank between Waterloo and Westminster Bridges in front of the Big Ben. This British marvel is 135 m tall and once you are on it, you are all set to enjoy a breathtaking view of some of the well-known landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Houses of Parliament and Nelson’s Column.
Make sure you visit around sunset, I am sure you won’t be able to stop yourself from clicking pictures of the London Eye. The beautiful lighting during the night is worth seeing and from a distance is gives an exciting look. Once you are on board, you will surely have the best 30 minutes of your lifetime.
St Paul’s Cathedral
Visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral is an experience on its own. The Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren and it was completed in 1710. It is undoubtedly one of the most visited and iconic attractions of London. It is a well-known place where all the national events having great importance take place. In the past, the cathedral has witnessed funerals of Sir Winston Churchill, the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
You can opt for a touch-screen multimedia guide or a guided tour to explore one of the iconic buildings in the world. If you wish, you can climb the dome: 257 steps leading you to the Whispering Gallery. The main thing about the gallery is that when you whisper against its walls, it is audible on the opposite side. Further climbing 271 steps will take you to The Golden Gallery and at 280 ft; you will surely cherish the incredible views of London.
Big Ben
Having a height of 316ft and 151 years old, it is a Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, its official name is Saint Stephen’s Tower also commonly known as ‘Big Ben’. It is also one of the popular landmarks of London. The clock inside Big Ben was the largest when it was installed during the 19th century. Big Ben is located next to the River of Thames. The tower is not open for the tourists, but you can pay a visit to the Houses of Parliament which you will find next to The Elizabeth Tower.
The British Museum
The museum is visited by millions of visitors from different parts of the world. You can see some of the world’s finest collections of antiques and 13 million artifacts at The British Museum. There is so much to see at the museum, make sure you have started from seeing priceless objects from China, Assyria, Europe, and Babylonia.
Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Egyptian mummies, the colossal bust of Rameses II, the Rosetta Stone are some of the other things you get to see in the museum. Besides various permanent collections, you can also see special exhibitions, displays, and events designed especially to understand the collection and cultures they represent.
Read also: Top 7 Museums In London You Need To Visit
Hampton Court Palace
You will have to travel towards the southwest of London to visit Hampton Court Palace. It was built in 1514 and at that time it was a resident of Cardinal Wolsey which was later presented to Henry VIII. Enjoy a leisure time exploring 60-acres lush green grounds of The Pond Garden and The Privy Garden, The Broad Walk, and The Elizabeth Knot Garden.
Madame Tussauds
It is a great place having a combination of glamour and unbelievable history with over 200 figures made of wax. Once you are here, you get to click a photo with the wax figures of some of your favourite movie and royal celebrities, politicians, and sports personalities. Chamber of Horrors is the main attraction of the museum; here you get to witness the victims of French Revolution, murderers, and other criminals
The Tower of London
It is one of the world’s famous fortresses and one of the most-visited attractions in London. It is known to have a rich history dating from the Norman Conquest. The tower has undergone various restorations over the centuries and you get to see Majesty’s Crown Jewels. You can make the most of the place by having a tour guide to know more about the place and its history.
The place has also served as an armoury and for more than 600 years, it has housed menagerie. Roam around the tower to explore beautiful surroundings of the River Thames and Tower Bridge. Make sure you are aware of the following timings –
Summer: 1 March – 31 October: Tuesday – Saturday 09:00-18:00 / Sunday – Monday 10:00-18:00. Last admission 17:00. Winter: 1 November – 28 February: Tuesday – Saturday 09:00-17:00 / Sunday – Monday 10:00-17:00. Last admission 16:00.
The rates of the tickets are as follows –
- Adult Ticket – From £20.00 per ticket
- Child Ticket – From £10.00 per ticket
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Here, you get a chance to explore a magical underwater world having a variety of amazing creatures. If you are visiting the beautiful city of London, then this place is a must visit. Your kids will surely love the sea creatures right in front of their eyes. Shark Walk will allow you to walk along the glass having seven different species of shark.
Seeing Bow Mouths, Grey Reefs, Sand Tiger sharks right in front of you will be an experience of a lifetime. Make your visit more special with VIP experience. You get to become a marine biologist for a day and you will have the opportunity of going super close to different species. You will have a chance of working with the personal aquarist to have the in-depth knowledge of the sea life.
Read also: 7 Secret Places In London Tourists Don’t Know About