No trip to Europe and the UK is complete without spending a few days in London. Apart from being the landing spot for countless travellers, London is overflowing with history, sights and experiences. There are few cities in the world that offer such a complete package – shows, gardens, royalty, architecture, people – the list is endless.
Before you find yourself overwhelmed by choice, here a few London experiences to plan your itinerary around. While some of them may seem very touristy, there is a reason they are popular with travellers worldwide – make sure you don’t miss out!
The London Eye
The London Eye is a great place to start a trip to London. The 32 capsules carry around 10,000 visitors every day and, after a 15 minute ascent to the top, provides a full 360 degree-panorama. To save yourself hours in a queue, make sure you book your tickets online at least a day beforehand.
Harrods
Since opening in 1849, Harrods has been regarded London’s most prestigious shopping destination. It is so much more than a department store; Harrods is an institution. You can spend a day at least browsing the wares, and its food hall is world famous. See what the Royal Family and countless others love about Harrods.
Longitude Zero
The Greenwich Meridian is the base point for world time, and you can see the time ball drop at 1300 hours every day. The Royal Observatory is a great place to wander to see everything related to time, astronomy and navigation, and best of all, admission is free! Catch a boat from the Westminster Pier and cruise along the River Thames to get there.
Big Ben
The distinctive 96 metre Clock Tower is one of London’s best known landmarks. ‘Big Ben’ is actually the name of the main Bell inside the Clock Tower, but the clock is known to almost everyone as Big Ben. Arguably the world’s most famous clock, Big Ben keeps remarkably accurate time – set your watch by it!
Stonehenge
This immense and intriguing circle of stones has baffled people for centuries. Archaeologists think that the arrangement dates from around 2500 BC, and each of the main stones weigh around four tonnes. Thousands of people travel to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise at 5am on the Summer Solstice. Go then if you love a crowd, otherwise marvel in the beauty of this famous site some other time.
Kensington Palace and Gardens
In 1689, King William III purchased a section of London’s Hyde Park as the location for what was later to become Kensington Palace. He found the location quiet, and his palace later became the residence of Queen Victoria and more recently Diana, Princess of Wales.
One of the best-loved features in the garden is a bronze statue of Peter Pan, search it out for a photo opportunity!
Mind the gap
London has what is often considered the most extensive public transportation system in the world, and taking the Underground, or “riding the Tube” is one of those must-do experiences for visitors.
Listen out for the “Mind the Gap” announcement when a train arrives at a station. One of the recent recordings earned the nickname “Sonia” by tube drivers, because her voice 'gets on yer nerves.’
Treat your eardrums
Westminster Cathedral is one of the great secrets of London – and is not to be confused with the famous Abbey of the same name.
Heading down Victoria Street, tourists are often surprised to come across the eastern, Byzantine style building, with an extraordinary facade of towers, balconies and domes.
Time your visit right for daily Mass or evening prayers and you will also hear some of the most beautiful voices in the world.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London has been a palace, prison, and place of execution for some of Britain’s most famous and influential figures. It is the repository of the Crown Jewels, and has housed lions, bears, and, to this day, flightless ravens.
The Ceremony of the Keys, the traditional lock-up of the Tower of London at 6.53pm, is well worth watching. The ceremonial aspect of London’s activities is one of its most endearing features.
The British Museum
The world famous British Museum houses a spectacular – and controversial – collection of historical artefacts from ancient Greece and Egypt. Here you can see an actual Mummy, the Rosetta Stone, and the Parthenon Sculptures. It is a massive museum, and you will need three or four hours at the very least to see the highlights.
The London Eye
The London Eye is a great place to start a trip to London. The 32 capsules carry around 10,000 visitors every day and, after a 15 minute ascent to the top, provides a full 360 degree-panorama. To save yourself hours in a queue, make sure you book your tickets online at least a day beforehand.
Harrods
Since opening in 1849, Harrods has been regarded London’s most prestigious shopping destination. It is so much more than a department store; Harrods is an institution. You can spend a day at least browsing the wares, and its food hall is world famous. See what the Royal Family and countless others love about Harrods.
Longitude Zero
The Greenwich Meridian is the base point for world time, and you can see the time ball drop at 1300 hours every day. The Royal Observatory is a great place to wander to see everything related to time, astronomy and navigation, and best of all, admission is free! Catch a boat from the Westminster Pier and cruise along the River Thames to get there.
Big Ben
The distinctive 96 metre Clock Tower is one of London’s best known landmarks. ‘Big Ben’ is actually the name of the main Bell inside the Clock Tower, but the clock is known to almost everyone as Big Ben. Arguably the world’s most famous clock, Big Ben keeps remarkably accurate time – set your watch by it!
Stonehenge
This immense and intriguing circle of stones has baffled people for centuries. Archaeologists think that the arrangement dates from around 2500 BC, and each of the main stones weigh around four tonnes. Thousands of people travel to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise at 5am on the Summer Solstice. Go then if you love a crowd, otherwise marvel in the beauty of this famous site some other time.
Kensington Palace and Gardens
In 1689, King William III purchased a section of London’s Hyde Park as the location for what was later to become Kensington Palace. He found the location quiet, and his palace later became the residence of Queen Victoria and more recently Diana, Princess of Wales.
One of the best-loved features in the garden is a bronze statue of Peter Pan, search it out for a photo opportunity!
Mind the gap
London has what is often considered the most extensive public transportation system in the world, and taking the Underground, or “riding the Tube” is one of those must-do experiences for visitors.
Listen out for the “Mind the Gap” announcement when a train arrives at a station. One of the recent recordings earned the nickname “Sonia” by tube drivers, because her voice 'gets on yer nerves.’
Treat your eardrums
Westminster Cathedral is one of the great secrets of London – and is not to be confused with the famous Abbey of the same name.
Heading down Victoria Street, tourists are often surprised to come across the eastern, Byzantine style building, with an extraordinary facade of towers, balconies and domes.
Time your visit right for daily Mass or evening prayers and you will also hear some of the most beautiful voices in the world.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London has been a palace, prison, and place of execution for some of Britain’s most famous and influential figures. It is the repository of the Crown Jewels, and has housed lions, bears, and, to this day, flightless ravens.
The Ceremony of the Keys, the traditional lock-up of the Tower of London at 6.53pm, is well worth watching. The ceremonial aspect of London’s activities is one of its most endearing features.
The British Museum
The world famous British Museum houses a spectacular – and controversial – collection of historical artefacts from ancient Greece and Egypt. Here you can see an actual Mummy, the Rosetta Stone, and the Parthenon Sculptures. It is a massive museum, and you will need three or four hours at the very least to see the highlights.
Some images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
- 9 years ago
Longitude Zero, is not free. For a group the price is prohibitive. Don’t get caught in the queue, find out the price before hand.