Also known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster is one of London’s most iconic architectural landmarks. It serves as the meeting place of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and lies on the northern bank of the River Thames, with three towers rising above.
There are many places in this world which receive a lot of visitors and are considered to be important tourist attractions. Some of the places are popular due to their natural beauty while others are popular as they have some unique man made features in them.
The official residence and headquarters of the British monarchy in London, Buckingham Palace lies in the City of Westminster. It was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and was acquired by King George III in 1761 to serve as a private residence for Queen Charlotte.
Dominating Trafalgar Square in Central London, the National Gallery is home to more than 2,300 paintings and stands as one of the most visited art museums in the world. It was founded in 1824 with a collection that dates from the mid-13th century to the early 20th century and works that represent most major developments in Western painting.
Located on the South Bank of London’s River Thames, the London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel that rises to 135 meters in height. It first opened to the public in the year 2000 as the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, although it has since been surpassed by a number of others, including Las Vegas’ High Roller (167.
The largest of London’s Royal Parks, Hyde Park sprawls across Central London and is one of the city’s most famous green spaces. It was established by Henry VIII in 1536 as a hunting ground before opening to the public in 1637 when it become a popular setting for May Day parades.
Located in the former Bankside Power Station (directly opposite St Paul’s Cathedral), the Tate Modern is Britain’s most prestigious gallery of modern art. Its world-renowned collection spans work dating from 1900 to the present day and it stands as one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world.
Founded back in 1857 based on surplus items from the Great Exhibition, the Science Museum on South Kensington’s Exhibition Road is now one of London’s most visited attractions. It boasts more than 300,000 items, including the world’s first jet engine and the oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world, the Puffing Billy, and is renowned for its interactive exhibits.
The world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, the Victoria and Albert Museum is located in London’s Brompton district. It is named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and boasts a rich history, having been founded in 1852 and now housing more than two million objects.
Officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, the Tower of London is an iconic castle that lies on the northern bank of the River Thames. It was founded in the 11th century as part of the Norman Conquest of England and built by William the Conqueror.
One of the oldest and largest food markets in London, the Borough Market is located on a site near the Southwark Cathedral that dates back to the 11th century. Many of its current buildings were constructed in the mid-19th century and it’s fronted by an Art Deco-style entrance, creating an atmospheric destination to sample and purchase specialty foods and gourmet produce.
Located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, Harrods is perhaps the world’s most famous luxury department store. It was established by Charles Henry Harrod in 1824 on Borough High Street in Southwark and rapidly expanded in the late-19th century, with customers including Oscar Wilde, Sigmund Freud and Laurence Olivier.
Perched on Ludgate Hill at the highest point in London, St. Paul’s Cathedral is a Heritage-listed Anglican cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of London.
Home to the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world, the Kew Gardens is located in southwest London. With a history that dates back to the exotic garden at Kew Park, it has grown to include more than 30,000 different types of plants and 7 million preserved plant specimens.
One of the largest and most comprehensive museums in the world, the British Museum is dedicated to the exploration of human history, art and culture. It was established in 1753 in Bloomsbury’s Montagu House and was based on the collection of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and scientist.
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