Without visiting the country’s capital and exploring everything London has to offer, you cannot properly experience England. One of the most popular tourist sites in the world, the medieval city is crowded with people, restaurants, and stunning architecture. London is not a small city, though, so if you wanted to see everything the city had to offer, it might take you several days.
Here are the top ten places you should definitely must see in London to make your visit memorable.
Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the London Eye is the one location you should check out if you want to soak in all of London’s riches at once. With a diameter of 120 meters, this massive Ferris Wheel is large enough to give you exclusive access to the vibrancy of London. The glass capsules allow a 360-degree view, helping you take in all of London with each turn of the wheel. Pro tip: make sure you visit it during the night time. The grays of London that appear dominate mornings are not as aesthetically pleasing.
Harry Potter introduced an entirely new generation of children to the charms of London. Now, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in the city allows those children to live their Harry Potter dreams for real. You can never miss out on a ride on the Hogwarts Express, and there’s a lot more to see and experience at the Warner Bros. lot. So, make sure to put it onto your list of things to do in London.
London’s home to many celebrities and you could very well run into them while heading to some of the city’s most luxurious restaurants. But, if you really want to run into all the celebrities, Madame Tussauds is the place to go. You’ll be greeted there by life-size wax dolls of the some of the most popular figures in the entire world. They may not be the real deal, but they still look great on a selfie.
Royalty, whether we like it or not, is a definitive aspect of England. The royals are now as popular as they have ever been due to all the gossip and TV shows. While it’s not possible to hang out with Kate Middleton or the Queen, you can still head onto Buckingham Palace as a tourist and check out what all the fuss is about. The best time to visit it is the start of summer, when the palace has a special opening.
While there are numerous football stadiums all across the UK, none offer the beauty or prestige that Wembley carries. The home of English football, the stadium does not host many matches until the very end of the season. However, you can still visit the stadium for some fantastic pictures. Moreover, the stadium regularly plays hosts to major concerts – which become unforgettable experiences due to the presence of 80,000 people.
The Tower of London is one of London’s and the world’s most recognizable buildings. It makes for a fascinating tour, as you go around the old structure. While you may not be able to get on top of the Tower, the architecture of this great structure will still make for a great outing during your London visit.
No trip to London is complete without a healthy dose of shopping. The city is teeming with international brands and ancient shops, and there’s no better place to shop than Oxford Street. Widely recognized as Europe’s busiest shopping area, Oxford Street sees about half a million visitors each day. Nearly all of them are there to visit the more than 300 shops and stores that line the famed street end to end. You can shop at some of the oldest clothing stores in the world, while also interacting in a tourist-heavy street.
We have discussed the London view and skyline a couple of times, but nothing makes the skyline more attractive than being high above it. That’s what you get from The View. Located in the Shard. Up 244 meters from sea level, The View is the uppermost portion of the tallest building in Western Europe. You can view the Wembley Stadium and St. Paul’s Cathedral in a whole new light, not to mention it makes for the most fascinating selfies you could take anywhere.
It might be difficult to imagine a big city like London having a large natural space that has been untouched by planners and builders. If you’re looking to get away from the city, the ancient Hampstead Heath provides a worthy reprieve.
Spanning a massive 320 hectares, the hilly Heath is full of ancient woodlands, newly planted forests, a training track, and several playgrounds. Moreover, it’s dotted with several ponds, giving you a fully immersive experience with nature.
Hyde Park should be at the top of your list whenever you visit London. It is the largest of the four Royal Parks that are chained together right in front of Kensington Palace. While the location is certainly appealing, it’s the park’s grandeur that makes it such a delight for visitors. Divided by the Long Water and Serpentine lakes, Hyde Park was established in 1536 and was long used as a hunting ground by the royalty. However, it has taken on a different role altogether ever since it was opened to the public in 1637, playing host to several demonstrations and concerts. It is a piece of London’s history that makes for a fabulous picnic as well.