My Top Ten London Tourist Attractions

London is one of the world’s most popular tourist cities. There are hundreds of tourist attractions in the city. Here are my top ten.

London Eye

The London Eye offers great views of this great city. It is a revolving Ferris Wheel that is 135 metres high at its highest, and has views of 25 miles on a clear day. It is constantly moving from 10am until closing time (which varies depending on the time of year) and consists of 32 capsules. The current cost is £18.60 and it takes around 30 minutes to go round. The London Eye is situated on the south bank of the River Thames and has particularly good views of the Houses of Parliament and Canary Wharf.

Tower of London

Officially known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, this historic castle in on the north bank of the River Thames, next to Tower Bridge. It was founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. It has been used for many purposes over the centuries, including as a royal residence and a prison. It has been besieged many times throughout history and historically has been important in controlling the country. The Tower of London was prominently used as a prison in the 1500’s and 1600’s and many were famously executed there. Now it is a museum.

Houses of Parliament

This is one of London’s most famous landmarks. It is where members of parliament meet to discuss and debate political matters. It consists of the House of Lords, the House of Common and the world famous clock tower, Big Ben. Built in the 19th Century, it is on the north bank of the River Thames in the west London area of Westminster.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

This is the most famous cathedral in Britain and the Mother church of the Diocese of London. The visually most striking part of St. Paul’s is the famous dome. Up until 1962 it was the tallest building in London. The architect was Christopher Wren whose remains are in the corner of the crypt.

The Globe Theatre

The original globe was built in 1599 by William Shakespeare’s company. It was reconstructed in 1997 just over 200 metres from the original and is an open-air stage. The building is a ring-like shape around the theatre. Only Shakespeare plays are shown, and it is a real atmospheric location to watch some of the greatest theatre ever produced.

Science Museum

There are a variety of science related pieces in the Science Museum, including many that visitors can experiment with themselves. It is a hands-on science experience and great for children, who can learn about science while playing with some fun exhibits.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum, situated in Kensington in West London, consists of a large number of life and earth specimens. There are five main collections; botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. The palaeontology collection includes dinosaur skeletons, which is what the museum is most famous for. The museum is free to enter.

British Museum

You may think the British museum would be primarily about British history, but it consists of artefacts from all parts of the world, including Egypt, ancient Greece, Asia and America, and much more. There are over eight million artefacts in all. The British Museum has been open since 1759. It is visited more than any other museum in Britain, and has the second most visitors in the world, behind the Musee de Louvre in Paris.

National Gallery

Situated on the world famous Trafalgar Square, this art gallery has over 2,000 paintings. There is free entry but they do hold exhibitions which cost extra. Established in 1824, it is the third most visited museum in Britain.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is the most visited modern art museum in the world. It is situated in what was previously the Bankside Power Station, with the outer building much as it was then. The Tate Modern contains a large array of modern art pieces and is constantly changing. Entry is free.

Andrew Marshall ©

Solicitors London