London Attractions
Written by Vacation Idea.com Travel Editors.
London features numerous famous attractions, galleries and museums. For more information about visiting London and for travel tips, visit our London page.
Buckingham Palace
In August and September when the Buckingham Palace is open to the public, visitors can tour the State Rooms, including the Throne Room, Picture Gallery and State Dining Room. Approximate visit time is 2.5 hours.
The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
In August and September, guided tours are available at the Houses of Parliament. Visitors can see The Queen's Robing Room, The Royal Gallery, The Prince's Chamber, the Chamber of the House of Lord's, the Central Lobby, House of Commons, Members Lobby, Division Lobby, St Stephens Hall and Westminster Hall. Learn more about Big Ben and see pictures.
Tower of London
Tower of London houses the priceless Crown Jewels. You can also see Traitors' Gate, the Medieval Palace, the Bloody Tower and the famous ravens.
The Tower Bridge Experience
This is one of the newest London attractions. Walk 140 feet above the Thames and see an exhibition which explains the history of Tower Bridge.
The British Museum
The British Museum features collections of over six million objects, including Egyptian mummies, Rosetta Stone, the Mildenhall Treasure and the Elgin Marbles. Collections include Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, coins, medals, prints and drawings. The British Museum is the oldest public museum in the world. The newest Great Court is a covered inner courtyard with a glass and steel roof.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic building which has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066. Visitors can see the coronation chair, royal tombs and the grave of the unknown warrior.
St Paul's Cathedral
This famous cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710. Guided tours of the cathedral lasting one and a half hours are available several times a day. The crypt houses tombs of famous figures, including Lord Nelson.
The Natural History Museum
A fun place to visit for kids and grown-ups alike, the Natural History Museum contains interactive exhibits such as the Earthquake Experience and the Dinosaur Gallery. Plan to spend a full day since there are hundreds of exhibits to choose from.
The Science Museum
Exhibits include the history of science, technology, and medicine as well as hands-on modern technology. Display items include the Charles Babbage’s calculating machine, Stephenson’s Rocket and the Apollo 10 command module that made the first manned flight around the moon. There is a special interactive gallery for children called Launch Pad, where you can fly a plane.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Exhibition
The Exhibition includes the story of the re-creation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre from 400 years ago. Learn about the costume and clothing design, special effects and music. Guided tours last about 1.5 hours.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
The museum includes collections dating back to 3000 BC, furniture, textiles, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, books, prints and photographs.
London Eye
London Eye is the world's highest observation wheel (135 metres high). It provides a 30-minute, slow-moving tour of London with great panoramic views.
Madame Tussaud's
The collection features wax figures of famous people and themed settings.
