Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London
Going to London for a weekend and want to make sure you don’t miss out on anything? That’s a hard order to fill, considering that fact that London is chock full of interesting attractions and locations. However, it’s definitely possible to plan your visit so that you have a chance to experience the most popular tourist attractions in London. Here’s a list of the most appreciated sights in London:Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: Buckingham Palace
Built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, today Buckingham Palace is the main London Royal residence. The weekday home to the Queen and Prince Philip, it is also the headquarters for the Royal Household. Owned by the nation, the Royal Collection, which includes paintings, artifacts and furnishings, is open for viewing to the general public. Near the Royal Mews, the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is open year round and shows a changing collection of items from the Royal Collection.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: The Tower of London
Historically, the Tower of London primarily served as a royal palace, a fortress and a prison. Since 1303, the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom have been housed there. Said to be England’s most haunted building, Queen Anne Boleyn’s ghost is reported to have been seen carrying around her head as she walks around the tower. Boleyn was beheaded at the Tower in 1536, after being found guilty of treason.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: The British Museum
One of the most famous museums in the world, the British Museum was established in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759. Home to many famous artifacts collected from around the world, the museum is perhaps most famous for housing the earliest image of Christ, the Easter Island Statue and the Rosetta Stone. The museum is open daily to the public.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square, located in central London, was built to commemorate the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, a Napoleonic War battle won under the leadership of Admiral Horatio Nelson. The most notable feature in the square is the 18-foot tall statue of Nelson, posed on top of a 151-foot tall granite column. Today, the square is a popular tourist attraction, as well as a site for political demonstrations.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: The Clock Tower
Often mistakenly referred to as Big Ben, the Clock Tower is one of London’s most recognizable features, something you're sure to see while on a London vacation. Completed in 1858, the Clock Tower is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. Located at the northeastern side of Westminster’s House of Parliament Building in London, the Clock Tower houses “Big Ben,” the name given to the main bell of the tower.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: Madam Tussaud’s and the London Planetarium
Not just a museum with life-size replicas of wax celebrities, Madam Tussaud’s owns and operates the adjacent London Planetarium and Spacedome as well. With enough activities (both celestial and waxy) to entertain the whole family for an entire day, this complex is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Opening hours vary throughout the year, so check online for current times and schedules.
Most Popular Tourist Attractions in London: The London Eye
One of the most recent additions to the list of must-see attractions in London, the London Eye, also called the Millennium Wheel, is a 450-foot tall Ferris wheel that offers stunning views of the city from its 32 air-conditioned passenger pods. The London Eye, which is now one of the most popular paid tourist attractions in London, is the fourth tallest structure in the city. The Eye is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the summer, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the winter.
Just because these are the most popular tourist attractions by no means implies that they comprise the entire list of things to do in London -- these are just the beginning! So add these to your checklist of things to do and see on your London travel holiday, and you’re sure to have the trip of a lifetime!
