One of the most visited and important cities in the world is London, which is capital of Englandand United Kingdom. London used to be a settlement known as Londinium (Roman London) during the Roman ruling in 47-50 A.D. Today, London takes the lead and influences various sectors such as arts, education, fashion and tourism industry. With so many things going on in London, it is no surprise that London is home to people from culturally diverse background. It is estimated that over 300 languages are spoken here.
Buckingham Palace (Image credit: visitlondon)
Besides that, the United Kingdom has an impressive 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 4 of them being located in London. To be included in the listing of the UNESCO sites is a huge deal, as these places are considered important and the best in the world. Visiting all the attractions, can be quite costly if you don’t use the London Pass. With the London Pass, you will be able to have more flexibility on your travelling dates, visit more than 80 attractions and also save money. Click here to download the free guide book to plan your visit.
London Pass (Image credit: Visit Britain shop)
How many days do you need to explore London?
Well, we would suggest to spend at least 3-5 days in London. The cheapest time to visit London would be between September and October (off season), whereby flight tickets are cheaper and the queue for the tourist attractions is shorter. To get around London, we suggest you pair up your London Pass with the Visitor Oyster Card, so that you can save more when you are travelling to each of the attractions. Want to know more about our trip to London? Check out our post WHY EVERYONE SHOULD VISIT LONDON: 3 DAYS ITINERARY
So getting that out of the way what are the10 Must Visit Places in London?
1. Visit Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
(Image credit: Dean and Chapter of Westminster)
The Royal Wedding (Image credit: Chris Jackson)
Royal Tombs (Image credit: Pietro Torrigiani)
To start off the list, we have Westminster Abbey, which is one of the most popular sites in London. This gothic church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hosts various events such as royal weddings (including Prince William and Kate Middleton), coronations and funerals. It is also the resting place for more than 3,500 people, including the likes of Sir Issac Newton and Steven Hawking.
2. Explore Buckingham Palace
Changing of Guard event (Image credit: cheatsheet.com)
Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain
One of the most popular event at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of Guard, which is free and takes place only on certain days, lasting around 45 minutes. Be sure to come early to get a good spot for the event. You can also join the tour inside Buckingham Palace which is opened to the public every summer. The tour of Buckingham Palace includes the State Rooms and the Palace Garden.
State Rooms (Image credit: royalcollection.org.uk)
The White Drawing Room (Image credit: induced.info)
Inside the State Rooms, you will be able to see the layout for royal ceremonies and also the Royal Collection, which includes some of the most priceless artworks and sculptures in the world.
The 2 plane trees planted over 150 years ago by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (Image credit: Royal Collection Trust)
Rose Garden (Image credit: Royal Collection Trust)
You can have your picnic here (Image credit: Royal Collection Trust)
In the Palace Garden, you will be able have a picnic while enjoying the beautiful 39 acre garden, which boasts wildflower meadows, a rose garden and a three-and-a-half acre lake.
3. See the most famous clock tower in the world : Big Ben
Big Ben (Image credit: ShanghaiEye)
The Palace of Westminster (Image credit: ArchDaily)
When thinking about London, most people will envision the iconic landmark here, The Big Ben. A common misconception is that Big Ben is the tower clock. It is actually the nickname given to the clock’s bell. In 2012, Big Ben was renamed as the Elizabeth Tower to honour Queen Elizabeth 60 years reign. The clock was completed in 1859 and is one of the most reliable clocks in the world. The clock tower is located at The Palace of Westminster also known as the “Houses of Parliament” where meetings of the Parliament are held.
4. Check out London’s highest view at The Shard
The Shard (Image credit: Trip Advisor)
Fine dining with a view (Image credit: the-shard)
What better way to see London, than to view it from The Shard. Standing tall at a height 310m/1,016 ft, The Shard boasts a stunning view of London from the viewing platform (68th and 69th floor) and also the open air Skydeck (72nd floor). The Shard is commonly known as the “Shard of Glass” due to the huge 11,000 panels of glass used to construct the skyscraper. All London Pass holders will not need to pay for the entrance fee at The Shard and will be given a Priority Lane entry to save time.
5. Walk on the Tower Bridge Glass Walkway
Glass Walkway (Image credit: towerbridge)
Tower Bridge (Image credit: TravelTriangle)
Tower Bridge being raised (Image credit: Medium)
Easily one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world is the Tower Bridge, which has been around since 1894. It is often mistaken as “London Bridge”, which is located 800m/0.5 miles upstream. The middle portion of the Tower Bridge can be raised to enable large vessels to pass through. Nowadays, due to the reduction of shipping activity at the London Docklands, the bridge is rarely raised. The tour to the bridge offers a panoramic view over the River Thames and also showcases its nerve wrecking Glass Floors which is 42m above River Thames. This attraction is free for London Pass holders and they will receive a 10% discount at the Tower Bridge gift shop as and added perk.
6. Discover the Tower of London : Fortress, Palace, Prison
Tower of London (Image credit: WorldStrides)
View of the tower from The Shard (Image credit: Duncan CC BY 2.0)
Inside the Tower of London (Image credit: XYUandBEYOND)
The Tower of London is one of the symbols of royalty and the best example of an 11th century tower left in Europe. Entry into the Tower of London (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) is free for London Pass holders. The Tower of London is a place which fascinates and horrifies people with the ghost stories and tales of torture. Among the roles which the tower had over the centuries are:-
i) Mighty Fortress – Treasures, possessions and the royal family were guarded during the war
ii) Royal Palace – Monarchs transformed the tower into a luxurious palace
iii) Infamous Prison – Monarchs used the tower to imprison their enemies
iv) First London Zoo – Many exotic animals (Royal Beasts) were kept at the tower
7. Ride on the London Eye
London Eye (Image credit: Conde Nast Travler)
Special Micro-pub theme (Image credit: lastminute.com)
Hire your own private capsule (Image credit: tagvenue.com)
Hop on the London Eye in one of their 32 pods to get a bird’s eye view of the city. The London Eye also known as the Millennium Wheel has a height of 135m/442ft and was launched back in 2000 to mark London’s millennium celebrations. The London Eye ride lasts around 30 minutes and is usually bundled as a package with other attractions such as River Cruise, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure and London Dungeon.
8. Walk around Hyde Park
Hyde Park aerial view (Image credit: Gray Malin)
Statue of Achilles (Image credit: royalparks.org.uk)
The Joy of Life Fountain (Image credit: royalparks.org.uk)
The largest (350 acres) and most famous park in London is none other than, Hyde Park. The park is popular for its “Speaker’s Corner”, whereby the public can freely voice out their opinions, carry out debates, protest and perform. There are plenty of activities that can be done here such as jogging, swimming, boating, cycling and skating. As you walk around the park, you will also see many historic buildings and monuments such as the Statue of Achilles, the Serpentine Bridge and the Joy of Life fountain.
9. Explore the National Gallery
National Gallery (Image credit: Supellex)
Inside the gallery (Image credit: theartpostblog)
Van Gogh -Wheatfield With Cypresses (Image credit: Ras67/WikiCommons)
Come and explore the National Gallery, one of the top art museum in the world. Established in 1824, the National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and displays artworks from famous artists (from the 13th-20th century) such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. The entrance to the museum is free, even for some temporary exhibitions. If you are interested in visiting, make sure to come early to avoid the crowd.
10. Travel back in time at the British Museum
Night at the museum (Image credit: leadingculturedestinations)
If you liked the National Gallery, you will definitely find the British Museum interesting. Established in 1753, the British Museum has an impressive collection of human history dating back 2 million years ago. Here, you will be able to see the world famous objects such as the Egyptian mummies, treasures of Sutton Hoo, Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon sculptures. Entry to the museum is free, however some special exhibitions require a fee to enter.
Have any experience or tips on travelling in London? Or are you planning a trip soon? Let us know and share your thoughts and questions in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you guys!
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