London sights: TOP 25 attractions

From this article, you'll find out which London attractions are worth seeing during your stay in the capital of England. Let’s look at what to see in one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the world.

What to see in London: 25 interesting places

The luxurious sights of London attract tourists from all over the world. We have made a review of the most beautiful places that everyone who comes to this extraordinary ancient city should see.

1. The British Museum

This is one of the favorite London attractions among tourists. The British Museum has the most complete collection of archaeological finds and historic artifacts. The exhibitions are arranged in a way so that a visitor can easily navigate through countries and eras. Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Assyrian and other ancient periods are represented.

A separate room is devoted to the history of Britain during the Celtic and Roman rule. There are also cultural monuments from the medieval and modern eras.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 10:00-17:30. Entrance is free. The nearest subway stations are Russell Square, Holborn.

2. Buckingham Palace

What to see in London? Of course, you should see the official residence of the Royal family. The palace was built in 1709 in the neoclassical style. All important state events are held here. Every day there is the Ceremony of Changing of the Guard, securing the peace of the Royal family.

To get to Buckingham Palace, you should book in advance, and it is open for visitors only when the Royal family is on vacation. As a rule, this is August and September.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat, 9:30-18:30. Ticket price £14 for children and £25 for adults. The nearest subway station is Victoria.

3. Regent's Park

A magnificent example of English garden art in central London. Its history began in the 19th century, when King George IV bought the land from farmers and laid out a park.

In Regent's Park, it's nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the capital and take pictures against the background of beautiful nature. The well-kept green areas of the park are framed by rows of trees and decorated with classically shaped flower beds. More than 400 varieties of roses are planted in Regent's Park! There's the summer garden and the large lake where you can row boats. The London Zoo is situated in Regents Park. Entrance is free.

The nearest subway stations are Regent's Park and Baker Street.

4. Ferris wheel

What is the first thing to see in London? One of the most fashionable Instagram locations of the city center is the London Eye. This ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames was specially built for the celebration of the new millennium. Its height is 135 meters. There are 32 cabins on the wheel, which are called capsules, each of them has a capacity of 25 passengers. There are individual capsules for romantic dates, with the possibility to pre-order champagne and desserts to the selected capsule.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00. Ticket price: children £24, adults £40. The nearest subway station is Waterloo.

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5. Tower Bridge

A favorite tourist attraction in London, a recognizable symbol of the city is located in the center of the capital. Tower Bridge was opened in 1894. Since then, it has been depicted on all postcards of London.

Its original design combines bascule and suspension elements: this means that you can stay on it even while it's raised. Part of the upper pedestrian passage is equipped as an observation deck, which offers a spectacular view of the Thames and the surrounding area.

To climb, the bridge is free. The nearest subway stations are Tower Hill and Tower Gateway.

6. Hyde Park

London sights also include Hyde Park, one of the most crowded and popular parks in the capital. An interesting monument is Speakers' Corner, which appeared in 1872. Every tourist can try to hone his eloquence on the podium, where many politicians once spoke.

Hyde Park has an outdoor art gallery with paintings of contemporary artists, children's and sports grounds. The real jewel of the park is the artificial lake where you can row a boat or canoe.

The nearest subway station is Hyde Park Corner.

7. Palace of Westminster

The impressive government building on the banks of the Thames is one of London's jewels. This masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture was built in 1834 on the site of the medieval Westminster Castle destroyed by fire. One of the oldest parts of the castle that survived is Westminster Hall, built in 1097. Nowadays, the Palace of Westminster serves as a meeting place for the Parliament and the place for national important events.

It is located in the center of London. In summer the tours are daily, in other seasons — only on Saturdays. The entrance fee is £25. The nearest subway station is Westminster.

8. Tower Fortress.

Not all sights in London can boast such a rich history as this two-thousand-year-old fortress. In different years it was used as the defensive castle, mint, arsenal, observatory, prison, and even a zoo! For a long time, the fortress used to be the Royal residence. Formally, it remains so today, but it is open to visitors. I. The History museum and the armory are in the halls of the fortress.

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 9:00-16:30, Sun-Fri 10:00-16:30. The entrance fee is from £23.2 for children and from £28.9 for adults. The nearest subway station is Tower Hill.

9. Big Ben

A true symbol and the calling card of the British capital. Officially, this elegant structure is part of the architectural ensemble of the Palace of Westminster and is called the Elizabeth Tower. But it is known as Big Ben worldwide (actually, it is the name of the huge bell installed in the clock).

The tower is 96.3 meters high. Its top is adorned by a four-sided clock, believed to be the largest mechanism of its kind on the planet.

The nearest subway station is Westminster.

10. Trafalgar Square

We tell you what to see in London for history lovers.

One of the two central squares in London, named for the naval victory of the British navy in the battle in 1805 at Cape Trafalgar, is called Trafalgar Square. In the center of the square is Nelson's Column, surrounded by fountains, it was built in honor of the legendary commander. Four huge lions complement the sculptural ensemble.

People come here to relax, drink coffee, and watch the beautiful fountains. During the Christmas holidays, a tall Christmas tree is installed on the square and a New Year's fair is held.

The nearest subway station is Charing Cross.

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11. St. Paul's Cathedral

The magnificent building of St. Paul's Cathedral is a vivid example of Baroque style. The temple was built in 1710 in honor of the Apostle Paul. Even tourists who are far from being religious, like the Cathedral.

The interiors are richly decorated and embellished with sumptuous frescoes. Visitors can explore the crypt and the numerous galleries overlooking the capital.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.mThe entrance is free. The nearest subway station is St. Paul's Churchyard.

12. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

What is worth seeing in London for sure is the Changing of the King’s Guard, accompanied by solemn music on the square in front of Buckingham Palace. It is a daily colorful military costumed parade in central London. The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes. The Royal Guardsmen are dressed in bright red uniforms and tall bear hats.

It is better to arrive early and take seats closer to the bars of the fence. The Changing of the Guard begins at 11:30 a.m. and takes place every day in the summer or every other day during other seasons. In bad weather, the Changing of the Guard may be canceled.

The nearest subway stations are St. James' Park and Victoria.

13. The Shard skyscraper

The giant «‎shard»‎ in the center of London rises up into the clouds and invites tourists to do the same. The 310-meter-high pyramid is lined with glass panels and equipped with three viewing platforms. From the enormous height, you can enjoy stunning views over the capital of Great Britain.

After the tour upstairs, you can have lunch in one of the restaurants on the lower floors. The Shard is considered the tallest building in London and one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe.

The nearest subway station is London Bridge.

14. Piccadilly Square

Attractions in London for tourists are highly diverse i and the city is famous for its squares. Piccadilly is one of London's two most famous squares. A popular place for dates and meetings; it's the starting point for sightseeing tours of central London.

Piccadilly Square is surrounded by old buildings with many cafés, restaurants, and stores. In the center is the large fountain with an elegant sculpture of a winged archer with the bow and the arrow. Londoners call it «Eros‎»‎. At night, the square is illuminated with the neon lights of signs and boards. It's considered to be the center of London's nightlife.

The nearest subway station is Piccadilly Circus.

15. British National Gallery

The main British art museum is located in Trafalgar Square in central London. The gallery houses the greatest collection of European paintings. Its collections consist of over 2,000 items and continue to grow. It exhibits such masterpieces of world painting as «Sunflowers» by Van Gogh, «‎Holy Family» by Titian, «‎Venus with Mirror» by Velazquez, «‎Landscape with the Castle of the Wall» by Rubens.

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-18:00, Friday — until 21:00. Entrance is free. The Charing Cross subway station is nearby.

16. Museum of Natural History

If you're wondering what to see in London in museums, visit the Natural History Museum.

A favorite museum of tourists is located west of the center of London. Its halls contain a wealth of information about nature and natural phenomena. The London Natural History Museum has one of the largest and most valuable collections in the world. In addition to traditional exhibitions, you can see interactive exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. The museum's hall is adorned by a 32-meter-long replica of a diplodocus skeleton.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-17:50. Entrance is free, for some exhibitions there may be a separate ticket. There is a South Kensington subway station near to the museum.

17. Churchill War Rooms Bunker Museum

Attractions in London also include the underground headquarters where Prime Minister Winston Churchill lived and worked during World War II. The museum offers two large exhibitions: one devoted to the life of the British command during the war, the other to Mr Churchill.

Opening hours: 09:30-18:00, ticket price £13.6 for children and £27.25 for adults. The nearest subway station is St James' Park.

18. Platform 9 ¾

What's worth seeing in London for Harry Potter fans? Visit King's Cross railway station. That's where Harry Potter and his friends board the magical steam train to Hogwarts School. The train station lobby has a themed photo location with spectacular props - the cart with suitcases, owl cage, and scarves in the colors of all four faculties.

King's Cross station with platform 9 ¾ is in northeast London. It is open 24 hours a day. Entrance is free, but you will need a ticket to get on the platforms. The nearest subway station is King's Cross St. Pancras.

19. Royal Opera

When walking in the center of London, be sure to visit the country's major opera house. Another informal name is Covent Garden. Absolutely all performances in this luxurious opera house, both opera or ballet are of the highest aesthetic level. The solemn interiors and evening gowns of the visitors complete the impression. However, there is no special dress code for visiting the Royal Opera.

After the show, you can have a delicious dinner in one of the restaurants right in the theater building.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri. Ticket prices range from £25 to £1,500. The nearest subway station is Convent Garden.

20. Globe Theater

It is difficult to imagine sights in London without the Globe Theater, which is associated with William Shakespeare. In the early 17th century, an acting troupe, with Shakespeare as a member, successfully performed here. The theater building was later destroyed by fire. The modern theater is a reconstruction built near the remains of the foundation of the first Globe.

Today it is a popular historical monument and a functioning theater. The theater offers guided tours.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00. The cost of guided tours is £17. The nearest subway stations are Black friars or Mansion House, in a 10-minute walk. .

21. Boro Market

One of the largest food markets in London, located in the heart of the capital. It’s been about a thousand years since farmers have been delivering fresh meat, herbs, cheeses to the market every day. Tourists love Borough Market for the opportunity to touch the informal, everyday life of Londoners and for the quality products.

You can also taste ready-made meals made by old recipes. According to tourists' reviews, the street food here is awesome. .

The market is open daily, and the entrance is free. The nearest subway station is London Bridge.

22. Madame Tussauds Museum

Attractions in London also include Madame Tussauds Museum. The world's largest wax museum is extremely popular with tourists. Marie Tussauds, who lived in the 19th century, achieved extraordinary high level skills, and she did not only create figures, but also promoted them around the world.

In the museum, you can meet famous politicians, military leaders, figures of science and culture, movie stars and comic book characters, in total more than 400 figures. The museum offers interactive tours.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:30-15:30, admission £47, pre-booking online £36. The nearest subway is Baker Street.

23. Royal Botanical Gardens

What to see in London from the parks? Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. More than 50,000 plants thrive in this magnificent garden in southwest London. The history of the garden began in 1759. Now the area of 121 hectares is equipped with many pavilions with different themes: the palm house, the greenhouse of Princess Diana of Wales (opened personally by Princess in 1987), a huge Temperate House greenhouse, the arboretum.

There are also architectural monuments: Q Palace, Chinese pagoda and many sculptures. On the territory there is the lake with the bridge — a great location for photos, a playground.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00, entrance fee starts from £13.50. The Kew Gardens subway station is a 5-minute walk.

24. Sherlock Holmes Museum

Looking for things to see in London outside downtown? On the northwest side of the city is the Sherlock Holmes Museum, the world-famous literary hero. Visitors will tour the authentically reconstructed apartment of the detective and his friend Dr. Watson, get acquainted with the objects of their everyday life, sit in the armchair in front of the fireplace and take pictures. In the evening, the museum is illuminated with real gas burners.

The museum is located in a beautiful townhouse built in 1815 at 221B Baker Street. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6pm, entrance fee £11-16, free entrance for children under 6. There is a Baker Street subway station nearby.

25. Portobello Road

A popular Instagram location and one of the most colorful streets in West London. The brightly colored houses look spectacular in the photos. One of the largest antiques markets in the world is located here.

You can have great shopping here when you stay in London, Portobello Road is considered one of the longest shopping streets in Europe. It is also a paradise for fans of good food, interesting books and London fashion.

Notting Hill Gate subway station is nearby.

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