It’s not for nothing that Britain’s capital city attracts upward of 20 million visitors each year from all over the world. London is a hub of historical culture, a vibrant arts and entertainment center, plus the home of the Beatles definitely has an awesome music scene.
Here are some of the top places to visit when you travel to London.
The Thames
Known to some as the Mother River of England, the river Thames is a must-see. It’s one of the longest rivers in England, running through notable landmarks and beautiful scenery. For this reason, the number one thing almost everyone does is board a cruise or a boat and see the sights from the unique perspective of the river.
A cruise through the Thames means seeing landmarks like the:
- London Eye
- London Skyline
- London’s Bridges
- Globe Theatre
- Greenwich
It’s not all passive viewing and no action either. There’s plenty of exciting things to do on the Thames. For example, make your sightseeing tour 10x better by booking a cruise that offers a bottomless brunch option. The best ones offer not only bottomless bubbly but also perks like an extensive menu and a DJ.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a popular tourist spot that lies not far apart and marks the gateways to Soho, London’s lively theater and entertainment district. If you like the bustling chaos of busy streets, definitely check this place out as it marks the irregular intersection of several busy streets – Piccadilly, Regent, Haymarket, and Shaftesbury Avenue.
Additionally, overlooking this circus is London’s best-known sculpture. The beautiful sculpture of a winged Eros stringing a bow, delicately balanced on one foot.
Westminster Abbey
Founded by Edward the Confessor in 1065, the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, Westminster Abbey is nowadays most famously known as the preferred location for Royal Weddings.
Every year over a million people flock to this historic church to see the over 600 memorials in the Nave; the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior; Poet’s Corner in the Transepts, with its memorials to the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Dickens; the Westminster Abbey Museum; and the lovely gardens.
Hyde Park
You’ve almost certainly seen this place in the movies. It has been a favorite movie location since the 1800s, and most recently, the location of some scenes from Wonder Woman 1984.
Hyde Park has been a favorite destination spot for sightseers since the 1600s, covering 350 acres that have made it London’s largest open space.
The highlights are several:
- The Serpentine is an 18th-century man-made lake popular for boating and swimming
- Apsley House is the former home of the first Duke of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo. Now a museum, it houses a magnificent collection of paintings, along with exotic gifts presented by grateful European kings and emperors
- London Zoo is located within the grounds of the park and is a popular favorite of families visiting the city
The London Eye
Europe’s largest observation wheel was built to Mark London’s millennium celebrations in 2000.
A tour on the London Eyes’ glass capsules guarantees the most spectacular views of the city; thirty minutes of breathtaking sights of Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Elizabeth Clock Tower (Big Ben), Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s, The Tate Museum, Tower Bridge, The Shard, and the Thames River.
The British Museum
The British Museum is home to some of world history’s most famous art pieces: the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, the colossal bust of Ramesses II, the Egyptian mummies, and the Mildenhall Treasure (the hoard of 4th-century Roman silver).
The British Museum has on display more than 13 million of the planet’s finest antiquities. Priceless objects from all over the globe. From Assyria, Babylonia, China, Europe, Nigeria, etc.
Furthermore, the Museum offers a variety of lectures and workshops, plus a restaurant and café.
Shoreditch
It doesn’t have to be all old buildings and classic museums. It’s important for diverse travels to include both history and the present culture. So consider visiting Shoreditch and experiencing how locals live.
Shoreditch is one of the trendiest areas of London. It has recently undergone extensive regeneration and is now one of the hottest nightlife spots in the city. Packed full of bars and eateries, it’s the perfect place to spend a day and an evening and one of the coolest places to stay in London.
For example, Trapeze is a circus-themed bar that serves endlessly inventive drinks out of popcorn tub-style cups. Or, for pop culture lovers, there’s Far Rockaway, a chilled bar and restaurant filled with comic books, band posters, and a regular 90s night.
From cruises with bottomless brunches, historic parks, museums with priceless art pieces, and bustling areas, London is a vibrant metropolis both during the day and throughout the night, filled with incredible experiences.
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