London Attractions

The most ancient part of London, the area the Romans called “Londinium” is now simply referred to as The City. There you will find the Tower of London, the ancient fortress that imprisoned the likes of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, and Sir Walter Raleigh. In the White Tower, you can view macabre displays of armor and weapons; torture and execution implements can be found in the Bowyer Tower. Most people especially enjoy viewing the Crown Jewels, which refers to the regalia worn by the royals during coronation ceremonies and various other state functions. The collection includes crowns, scepters, swords, rings, and more.

 

Several of London’s famous bridges are located in The City as well, including the Tower Bridge, the London Bridge, and the Millennium Bridge.

 

Also in the area is St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is famously known as where Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer.

 

A bit across town is the heart of Royal London, with Westminster Abbey at its center. Edward the Confessor founded an abbey on the property in 1065, and every monarch (with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII) has been crowned here ever since. The current structure was built over many years, with Henry III playing prominent role in the cathedral’s design.

 

The Houses of Parliament are located in the former Palace of Westminster, which was the king’s residence until Henry VIII moved to Whitehall (to a palace that subsequently burned down in the 1600s). Adjacent to the government building is the tower housing Big Ben, the clock that is perhaps London’s most famous landmark.

 

Buckingham Palace is Queen’s Elizabeth’s official residence (though not her favorite; that distinction belongs to Windsor Castle). If the Royal Standard is flying over the palace it means the Queen is in residence. If you want to see the interior, you must visit during August and September. The staterooms and picture galleries are only open when the royal family is away on summer vacation. The most famous portion of a visit to the castle happens year round: the Changing of the Guard. Only on certain days, however, so check the schedule to make sure you don’t miss it.

 

The British Museum contains one of the world’s best collections of art and relics. Highlights include Asian antiquities, Chinese porcelain, and Indian sculpture and one of the museum’s most famous pieces, the Rosetta Stone. Other important London museums include the Saatchi Gallery for modern art, the Tate Britain and Tate Modern for British works, and the National Gallery, which has a large collection of paintings from the 13^th century up until today.

 

The Victoria and Albert Museum contains an impressive collection of decorative arts including embroidery, carpets, tapestries, and sculptures. The National Portrait Gallery displays portraits of famous Brits from royals to Shakespeare, and the Museum of London traces the city’s history from prehistoric times, through Roman domination, to the present.

 

Birthplace of Queen Victoria and home to several royals including Princess Diana and her sons, Kensington Palace dates back to 1605. Of the mansion’s 30 rooms, 15 are open to the public, including the King’s Gallery and the Cupola, where Victoria was baptized. Apsley House was the former residence of the Duke of Wellington, who was notable for defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. It was opened as a museum in 1952.

 

London has several famous parks. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are adjacent to one another, and the latter is where you will find the delightful Peter Pan statue adored by children everywhere. Green Park and St. James Park are side-by-side in the heart of the West End, and Regent’s Park, home to the terrific London Zoo, forms a portion the city’s northern border.