LONDON.
London, despite being a bustling, modern metropolis, is deeply immersed in history. It is this synergy between the past, the present and the future that makes this city so popular among tourists from all over the world. Wander down the narrow alleys and admire the iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, and marvel at the traditional architecture which will send you back in time, even if for a few days. If tradition is not your cup of tea, then you will be mesmerised by the modern face of London, as objects like the Shard, the planned Garden Bridge and the Tate Modern extension are ones of the most impressive examples of contemporary architecture. The city’s diversity affects more than architecture – often called the city of ideas and imagination, London has a vibrant art and culture scene, with both traditional and avant-garde sides to it. From charming pubs, leafy suburbs, and quiet river banks, to the wildest clubs in Europe, London is a city of many faces, with a welcoming atmosphere which makes every visitor feel at home. This deeply multicultural, tolerant city, consisting of 270 nationalities and 300 tongues, welcomes everyone with open arms.
Top 10 Things to See and Do in London
Warner Bros. Studio: The Making of Harry Potter
A perfect choice of attraction for the Harry Potter fans. This luxurious tour allows you to experience the making of a Harry Potter movie independently, without a group. See various props and costumes from all of the movies in a single, hassle-free round trip which takes you from central London all the way to Watford.
London Eye Skip-the-Line Ticket
Waiting for a couple of hours before you can access an attraction might scare off some tourists, and this is exactly where skip-the-line tickets come into play. This one allows anyone to experience a marvelous panoramic view of the city from the world’s highest observation wheel, and moreover includes admission to the special London Eye 4D Experience.
Hop-on-hop-off London Sightseeing Tour
A great tour if you do not like having strict schedules and would rather discover the wonders of the city at your own pace. This tour allows you to purchase a one-day or two-day ticket for three bus routes, which themselves contain an audio commentary, and one of the routes even has a live guide to tell you about the attractions of London.
Westminster Abbey with an audio guide
This tour is an absolute must-see for everyone visiting London. The Westminster Abbey is one of the greatest abbey churches of the United Kingdom and the traditional place for coronation and burial site for monarchs. This personalised guide allows admiring everything inside at your own pace with an audio guide providing information.
The View from The Shard
A great way to admire the cityscape of London with all of its gorgeous monuments and attractions is to get a ticket for the View from the Shard, where you can access an inspiring 360-degree view of the capital of England. The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe, providing an unforgettable experience to any visitor.
VIP tour of the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral
An exclusive, insider access to what are probably the two most renowned attractions of the city. The VIP ticket allows you to enter the Tower of London before the public, making for an intimate sightseeing experience. The tour also includes the access to the Triforium of St Paul's Cathedral where you can admire the staircase used in Harry Potter movies.
Jack the Ripper Tour
This unique tour allows you to retrace the murderous route of Jack the Ripper – a famous Victorian murderer, known for hunting women on the streets of London. The tour includes a well-oriented guide who will tell you the chilling story of Jack the Ripper, including the use of a handheld projector to provide an even greater immersion.
Churchill War Rooms
The Churchill War Rooms is a special museum dedicated to recreate and preserve the historic underground complex of rooms which housed the British government command centre during the Second World War. The museum also has a special part with a biographical description of Winston Churchill.
Thames River Cruise
This forty minutes long cruise will allow you to relax and unwind after a tough day of sightseeing, while still providing entertainment and attractions to admire. The cruise will take you along the river Thames, passing many historical sites such as Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and even the modern Millennium Bridge.
London Dungeon
A real must-see for any tourist, whether young or adult. The London Dungeon provides entertainment with its dark and spooky corridors, with a specially staged performance with interactive elements, bound to chill your spine as you explore the history of London's most well-known killers and the aftermath of the Great Plague.
Other Things to See and Do
Natural History Museum
It is worth exploring the Natural History Museum during your trip to London, as it does not require an admission fee. Face a famous roaring T-Rex and even have some fun with the unique earthquake simulator which is located in the midst of the museum.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
This historic house, which encompasses a museum and a library, was built by the famous 19th-century architect Sir John Soane. The house has been left untouched for almost a hundred and eighty years and is now open to the public to visit at any time, sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport.
Bank of England Museum
While a bank may not seem to be the most thrilling place to visit on your trip to a foreign city, there are plenty of exhibits and attractions there to keep you occupied. The most popular display of the museum, which is free to visit from Monday to Friday, is a genuine bar of solid gold which you can hold yourself and take a picture with.
Museum of London Docklands
Marvel at the natural history collection at the Grant Museum of Zoology, which covers the entire animal kingdom, including many extinct and near-extinct species. The museum is open Monday through Saturday for all visitors and holds an exhibit of cases packed with skeletons among others.
Horniman Museum
The Horniman Museum, located in Forest Hill, is a free-to-enter site dedicated to research on anthropology. The museum holds an arrangement of displays on natural history and even musical instruments and houses a gigantic overstuffed walrus for people to see.
British Museum
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is one of the most well-known museums in the world. Its incredible collection shows the history of mankind spread across over two million years, including the world famous Rosetta Stone.
Imperial War Museum
If you’re into arms and military, the Imperial War Museum is a sure must-see. The museum holds one of the largest collections of military armament in the world, as well as interesting stories of people whose lives were largely impacted by the war, including documents and art.
Crystal Palace Park
This park, located in South London, is a place where the glass Crystal Palace exhibition was displayed between 1854 and 1935. Nowadays, the park is a place where you can admire full-size dinosaur models and it includes a range of playgrounds, mazes and plenty of greenery to look upon.
The Anaesthesia Museum
If you're into quirky, unusual attractions that are sure to imprint themselves firmly into your memory, you might be interested in visiting the medical museum of anaesthesia, holding a collection of over two thousand objects which tell the story and development of anaesthesia techniques.
Wimbledon Common
Take a stroll and relax on the Wimbledon Common, a large park which includes a broad variety of ponds, nature trails, and even a windmill. The Common has football, rugby and cricket courts where you can spend your free time while exercising and staying healthy.
Hyde Park
A visit to one of the world’s largest parks, covering over 142 hectares of terrain with more than four thousand trees, a sizable lake, and a decorative flower garden, is a necessity for any nature enthusiast who happens to visit London. Those who wish it can even swim in dedicated places.
Kensington Gardens
This park, planted with numerous avenues of tall trees and ornamental flower gardens, covers a hundred hectares and is home to the Kensington Palace, Italian Gardens, a large Peter Pan statue, the gorgeous Albert Memorial and the Serpentine Gallery, surrounded with grasslands and local wildlife.
St James Park
The St James Park, located in the heart of London and covering 23 hectares, may not be the largest park of the city, but it is worthy of a visit nonetheless. Every day at 2:30 p.m. the local pelicans are being fed, and the park itself is home to a number of water birds, owls, woodpeckers, and bats.
Royal Festival Hall
If you’re in London with your kids and family, why not gather up and take a trip to one of the London’s major concert halls for orchestral concerts. While the public tours of the hall have been discontinued, you can still ride the famous singing elevator inside of the hall.
Vauxhall City Farm
The Vauxhall City Farm is home to a wide range of farm animals, including pigs, sheep, rabbits, ducks and even three alpacas, called Ben, Jerry, and Tom. The farm also has an ecology area as well as a cosy picnic spot.
Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross
If you’re a Potterhead and love both the movies and the books written by J. K. Rowling, you just have to visit the famous platform at the King’s Cross station, where you can pretend to put a trolley right through the marked wall to enter the magical world of Harry Potter.
Southbank Centre
Being a famous art centre in London with a variety of different festivals and events spanning all over the year, the Southbank Centre provides a place to experience renowned art and cultural attractions to stimulate your senses. The Centre also has a skate-park next to it, where you can see death-defying tricks performed by professionals.
Trafalgar Square
Visit the iconic Trafalgar Square with its very popular fountains and unique architecture, and join a special festival that takes place every year around the square. The square itself has a famous Nelson’s Column, the world-famous stone lions, and the Fourth Plinth, which shows the works of modern artists.
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is a true one-of-a-kind attraction, regarded as a must-see when in London. Since the Supreme Court is open to all free of charge, you can visit it from Monday to Friday to watch a court case with your very own eyes.