Are you planning a trip to London? Here are some of the best things to do in and around the city.
British Museum
An architectural beauty itself, the British Museum is home to a plethora of the world’s best and most famous antiques. In fact, many people consider it to be the best museum in all of London, if not the entire UK. And what’s even better – this museum is completely free to visit. You can easily get a lot in here for the entire day, looking at ancient artefacts and learning about historical ways of life from all over the world.
Tower of London
While it might not look all that impressive from the outside when compared with some of the other stately landmarks in London, Tower Bridge has a lot to offer. Inside, it’s always buzzing with activity – and for good reason, it’s home to the stunning Crown Jewels and has a very interesting story to tell.
Buckingham Palace
The home of the Queen, Buckingham Palace is not to be missed when you visit London. It’s open to visiting – except for Her Majesty’s private quarters, of course) during the summer, and on certain dates during the spring and winter. You’ll be able to visit the nineteen staterooms where the Queen and her family host state, ceremonial and official meetings.
Warner Bros. Studio
Although it’s not strictly in the city, the Warner Bros. Studio is definitely worth mentioning. If you love Harry Potter and everything to do with the magical wizarding world, then you’ll definitely find the 20-minute train ride from London Euston worth it. The Harry Potter studio tour takes you behind the scenes on the sets, and you can learn all about how the films and special effects were made. Be sure to ride the Hogwarts Express and grab a tasty Butterbeer!
Piccadilly Circus
The entrance to the buzzing West End, Piccadilly Circus is regularly compared to Times Square. It’s the meeting place of five busy roads and the central point of all the hustle and bustle in London. Whether it’s shoppers en route to the stores and shops at Oxford Road, businesspeople on the way to and from work or tourists exploring the area, Piccadilly Circus is never empty.
National Gallery
Located at Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery has such a large, labyrinth interior that you’ll need a colour-coded map to get around. It’s well worth the visit if you enjoy art; this museum houses paintings in the Western European tradition from the thirteenth to nineteenth centuries, including plenty of masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance plus several stunning French Impressionist pieces. All in all, it’s home to 2,300 works of art.
Tower Bridge
Along with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge is an iconic sight in the London skyline. It’s an architectural marvel that must be seen, and the most famous bridge across the River Thames. By London standards, the bridge is fairly modern – construction began on it in 1886. It stands out for its impeccable detail and the moveable roadways that lift up when large ships sailing along the Thames need to pass through.
The London Eye
Another landmark you’ll recognise from the London skyline, the London Eye is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe – but it delivers fantastic views, rather than a thrilling ride. It circles around slowly, allowing passengers to get a unique and unbeatable birds-eye view of the city. The average rotation of the wheel lasts for around thirty minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to get a good look around and take photographs.
No matter your reason for visiting, London has something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, art, film, culture or shopping, you’ll find it here.
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