London Sights and Tourist Attractions
While taking a city break in London, discovering what this fascinating metropolis has to offer is a must-see. There are thousands upon thousands of entertaining activities, however the most well-known of these are the tourist attractions that people travel the world to see. There are a plethora of sightseeing opportunities in London, of which attractions such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and The Natural History Museum should be compulsory for every visitor.
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Although London is a metropolitan region with several parks and botanical gardens, it can be interesting to get out of the city in order to get in touch with the surrounding nature. From captivating cliff formations to charismatic caves, there is many a unique natural phenomenon to explore and discover in this beautiful country. If more information about the unique landmarks around London and in the UK is required, for instance about the Brimham Rocks or the magnificent Badbury Hill bluebell woods, further details can be found under information on natural and artificial landmarks around London.
Westminster
Tower Power
Christmas Lights
Famous Buildings in London
Buckingham Palace
Located in the City of Westminster, Buckingham Palace is the residence of the Royal Family, where the Queen ceremonially receives state guests. In 1762, King George III acquired the building and Queen Victoria was the first to move in, in 1837. Due to her extraordinary popularity with the people, the Queen Victoria Memorial was built in front of the palace in her honour. The memorial is an impressive sight at 26m and carved entirely out of a single marble block. London’s largest garden is located behind the palace and there are many works of art on the estate, amongst others the Waterloo Vase. The Queen’s Gallery, with a large collection of paintings of the Queen, and the Royal Mews can still be viewed. The Royal Mews are nothing other than the Royal Stables. In order to better put yourself in the shoes of the members of the Royal Family, here you can take a look at the Royal means of transport, including the giant Golden State Coach, which seems to have come directly out of a fairy tale world. Sometimes visitors can also visit the luxuriously furnished State Rooms. These are the rooms the Royals usually use to receive guests. A real spectacle is the Changing of the Guard in front of Buckingham Palace, whereby the Royal Infantry marches from St. James Palace to Buckingham Palace, in front of throngs of people.The London Eye
On the banks of the River Thames in the Borough of Tower Hamlets is Europe’s largest Ferris wheel, the London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel. At 135m it is one of the most unique attractions that can be experienced on a trip to London. The first trip took place in March 2000, and although the Ferris wheel was only supposed to stay in use for 5 years, due to its enormous success, it was decided to keep the wheel in operation indefinitely. Before the journey starts, visitors are brought into the mood with a 4D film. The London Eye has 32 glass capsules with room for up to 25 people. Because the capsules are fixed to the Ferris wheel from the outside, visitors can enjoy almost unimpeded views over the city. Gaze out over the traditional city centre, shaped by a mixture of old and new architecture during your ride, which lasts about 30 minutes. This wheel almost never stops turning: it travels at such a slow pace that passengers can comfortably enter and exit their capsules while the Ferris wheel is still turning. Stops are only made for those in wheelchairs to ensure their safety. Depending on the weather visitors can see up to 40 kilometres into the distance – with a bit of luck right out to Windsor Castle outside of London. A special experience is a ride on the London Eye at night, when the city glows in an ocean of lights.The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one huge building complex, construction on which was ordered by William the Conqueror in 1078. Over the course of time the Tower was continuously extended and enlarged, until it reached its current size in 1840. The fortifications, surrounded by a moat, has served various functions – it was once a royal residence, and has also been an armoury, an observatory and even the royal mint. Later it was primarily used as a prison for royal prisoners and other prisoners of notable repute. The history of the Tower of London is testament to a number of famous prisoners – including Queen Elizabeth I, the "Tower Princes" and Sir Walter Raleigh – and has been the site of many atrocities. Today the Tower of London is above all known for being home to the Royal Crown Jewels as well as for having an impressive collection of weaponry and armour behind its walls. Tours through the Tower of London are carried out by the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, who were once responsible for the protection of the King. The highlight of every tour is the Crown Jewels, one of the most valuable collections of diamonds and jewels in the world. In addition to this, visitors can view the old military fortifications and an exhibition on English history. The most famous residents of the tower these days are the Ravens of the Tower of London, at least six of which have supposedly been kept here for centuries owing to a superstition that predicts that, "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it." A particularly interesting ceremony, the Ceremony of the Keys, takes place every night at the Tower at 10pm on the dot. Entry is free of charge; however, the coveted tickets need to be reserved several weeks in advance.The Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge is the most famous bridge in London, spanning across the River Thames and connecting the City of London on the northern side with the borough of Southwark in the south. The 244m long bridge was named after the Tower of London, situated on the northern bank of the Thames. The 65m tall bridge towers are not just connected by the span of the bridge, but also by a glass pedestrian bridge. These are situated above the traffic lanes on the deck, so that they can also be walked upon while the bridge’s bascules are up, for example to let ship traffic through, a highlight of any visit. From 43m in the air visitors have an excellent view out over London. During construction of the massive structure, 70,000 tonnes of heavy piles were dropped into the riverbed to guarantee stability. The Neo-Gothic Tower Bridge was dedicated in 1894 and today the main traffic artery, the A 100 leads over the bridge, which has become a real tourist magnet. The Tower Bridge is seldom raised, as most excursion boats and London liners fit underneath it without any problems. A maximum opening of 83° only takes place for cruise ships or as a sign of respect, for example, for the funeral processions of famous personalities, such as Winston Churchill. The bridge’s museum is located in the North Tower and is home to an exhibition on the construction and history of the Tower Bridge. However, a lot of tourists enjoy just standing on the banks of the river Thames and watching the ships pass by.Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a Royal proprietary church without a diocese in the City of Westminster. The first church on this site was built in 1045; construction on present-day Westminster Abbey began in 1245. Building was continued and expanded upon in the following centuries – the main towers, for example, arose between 1722 and 1745. The coronations of British monarchs, traditionally carried out by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury, have taken place here since 1066, which is also the venue for Royal weddings. Here there are also graves of more than one hundred members of the British royal family, as well as those of famous thinkers and poets. Westminster Abbey is located in the centre of London near the Houses of Parliament. The Great West Door in the nave of the abbey serves as the main entrance, and its façade displays depictions of Christian virtues and martyrs. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oscar Romeo and Martin Luther King can be seen above the Great West Door together with 10 other 20th century Christian martyrs, a relatively recent addition to the façade. The vaulted undercroft, one of the oldest parts of the complex and a former monks’ dormitory, has been home to the museum since 1908, where you can view the burial objects of royal graves, medieval commodities and the oldest English altarpiece. Westminster Abbey is open Monday to Friday. The abbey cannot be viewed on religious holidays or during special events.Windsor Castle
During your stay in London you should not pass up the opportunity to make a day trip to Windsor Castle, located in London’s environs, in Windsor. Although it does not technically belong to the London area, Windsor Castle is only 45 minutes away from London using public transport, is one of Britain’s most popular tourist attractions and hosts around 1 million visitors per year. Built just after the Normans invaded England in 1066, the castle is the longest-occupied castle in Europe and has a more than 900 year history as a fortification, palace and Royal Residence. It is still the Queen’s favourite weekend home, where she also holds diplomatic receptions and other state events. Aside from Queen Elizabeth II today, notable residents have included William the Conqueror, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The exteriors of the castle are predominantly in Georgian and Victorian styles, whereas the interiors are an eclectic mix of everything from Gothic to Rococo, Classical to Baroque. Highlights include the State Rooms, the 15th century St. George’s Chapel and Queen Mary’s Doll House. When the Queen is in residence there is also a daily Changing of the Guard. Surrounding the castle is also extensive park land, which includes functioning farms, estate cottages and small towns. A good way to get an insight to the castle’s history and use today is on a 30 minute guided precinct tour, which is free of charge.Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
The British House of Lords and House of Commons sit in the Houses of Parliament. Originally, the Houses of Parliament made up the Royal Westminster Palace. However, they haven’t been used as such since 1512. Henry VIII made Westminster Palace available to Parliament in 1550, where it has been meeting since. The Palace is situated on the banks of the River Thames on Thorney Island and is approximately 1000 years old. Parts of the palace were destroyed in the fire of 1834 and were rebuilt according to Charles Barry’s designs in Neo Gothic style. This is why the appearance of the Houses of Parliament is now very nineteenth century. The Houses of Parliament are divided into three main segments: the House of Lords, the House of Commons and Westminster Hall, where many important trials have taken place. Construction began on Westminster Hall in 1097 under William Rufus. The architectural ensemble’s trademark is the Clock Tower, Big Ben, with its 13 tonne bell. The Houses of Parliament, together with Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret’s Church, became UNESCO world heritage sites in 1987.Parks and Squares in London
Hyde Park
Hyde Park, an oasis of green in the middle of the metropolis, is a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle and is one of London’s royal parks, offering visitors a myriad of leisure opportunities. The Serpentine, Hyde Park’s lake, is a nice place to take a boat ride or to go swimming. There are also facilities for bowling, a number of horse trails and, of course, wonderful, vast lawns where you can have a picnic. Even in the evenings there’s usually something to do, and in the summer there are sometimes rock and pop concerts. The Rolling Stones played one of their legendary concerts here as long ago as 1969. Hyde Park’s tourist attractions include Wellington Arch and the memorial fountain built for Princess Diana in 2004. The fountain’s water flows in two directions at various speeds and in this way is supposed to symbolise both the turbulent and the happy times in Diana’s life. The Speaker’s Corner is also an important area in Hyde Park, where British freedom of speech is celebrated, in that everybody has the opportunity to give a lecture on a topic of his or her choice. The only criterion for exclusion is using the Royal Family as the object of the speech.Although London is a metropolitan region with several parks and botanical gardens, it can be interesting to get out of the city in order to get in touch with the surrounding nature. From captivating cliff formations to charismatic caves, there is many a unique natural phenomenon to explore and discover in this beautiful country. If more information about the unique landmarks around London and in the UK is required, for instance about the Brimham Rocks or the magnificent Badbury Hill bluebell woods, further details can be found under information on natural and artificial landmarks around London.