Top 35 London Attractions, Great Britain (UK)

During the rise of the mighty British Empire, London became practically the center of the world. Fabulous capital and resources flowing into the metropolis from numerous overseas colonies made the capital of Great Britain a rich, arrogant and brilliant city, stuffed with architectural masterpieces, magnificent concert halls and fashionable shops.

London is a coveted destination not only for countless immigrant flows, but also for tourists from all over the world. Lush Victorian city blocks, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey are among the world's most visited attractions. Michelin-starred restaurants and trendy clubs in London's Soho area attract here the most advanced, progressive, select audience.

What to see and where to go in London?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Tower Bridge

Drawbridge over the River Thames, designed by architect H. Jones and built at the end of the 19th century. The construction consists of two powerful "Gothic" towers 64 meters high, connected by galleries and hanging spans. Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable symbols of the capital of Great Britain, although initially the inhabitants of London considered it ugly and ridiculous. There is a museum on the top floor of one of the galleries.

Tower of London

The fortress, standing on the north bank of the Thames, is over 900 years old. The Tower is known as a prison for nobles and prisoners of royal blood. From time to time it became the residence of monarchs. At various times, the famous humanist Thomas More, the wives of Henry VIII Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn, the "bloody" Queen Mary Tudor and many others visited the castle. Only in the middle of the 20th century, the Tower ceased to serve as a prison.

Ferris wheel "London Eye"

One of the largest attractions of this type in Europe. The height of the structure is 136 m, which approximately corresponds to a 45-storey building. The wheel is set on the banks of the Thames, with a view of the whole of London. Passengers can be accommodated in one of 32 closed capsule cabins, which symbolize 32 city districts. A full rotation is completed in half an hour. The attraction opened in 1999.

Buckingham Palace

The Royal Palace, the official residence of the ruling dynasty in London. There are about 800 rooms in the building, around a perimeter of 20 hectares there is a whole “city” for the internal use of the royals: a hospital, a police station, a post office, a restaurant. The palace was built for the Duke of Buckingham in the 18th century, but was bought by King George III. It became the official residence after the accession to the throne of Queen Victoria.

Palace of Westminster and Big Ben

The seat of the British Parliament since the 16th century. The palace stands on the banks of the Thames in the heart of the capital. Since the 11th century, English kings have settled here. For many centuries, the facade of the building was rebuilt, updated, new buildings were added. Tourists can only get inside during the summer parliamentary recess. Big Ben is the bell of the famous clock tower on the territory of the Palace of Westminster, more often the whole tower is called that together with the famous clock face. The tower was built by the architect O. Pugin in 1859; the building reaches a height of 96 meters. Since 2012, Big Ben has been officially renamed Elizabeth Tower in honor of the reigning queen.

Kensington Palace

Another royal residence, the smallest of all the palaces belonging to the ruling family. The building was built in the 17th century. for the Earl of Nottingham, but King William of Orange bought it and made it his summer country estate. Kensington Palace (rather a mansion compared to other royal palaces) is located in one of the western districts of London. In our time, the families of the Duke of Kent and Gloucester live there.

Westminster Abbey

The main church of Great Britain, not only an important religious center, but also the place of coronation and burial of British monarchs. The abbey was founded by Edward the Confessor at the beginning of the 11th century, and acquired its modern look in the 15th century. Since Harold II, all the kings of Great Britain have been crowned here. The abbey is open to tourists; classical music concerts and exhibitions are often held here.

St Paul's Cathedral

Anglican church on Ludgate Hill. Since the early Middle Ages, Christian churches have been built in this place. The last Catholic cathedral fell into disrepair after the reforms of Henry VIII, only ruins remained on the top of the hill. In the 17th century construction began on a completely new cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Many iconic personalities of British history are buried in the temple: W. Churchill, Admiral Nelson, A. Fleming and others.

Trafalgar Square

The famous square in central London, a favorite symbol of the city for tourists and the place where the British “zero kilometer” passes. Numerous holidays and festivals are held here, and the main Christmas tree of the country is set up in winter. The square appeared in 1820 on the site of the old Whitehall stables. The place is named after the victory of the British in 1805 in the naval battle at Cape Trafalgar.

Oxford Street

One of London's most famous shopping streets. More than 100 million people visit it every year. First of all, visiting the street is interesting for everyone who follows fashion and loves shopping. In a relatively small area (Oxford Street is only 2.4 km long.) There are more than 500 stores, including boutiques of world brands, large family supermarkets and shops with goods of the mass market category.

Street and Piccadilly Circus

The street got its name from the lace collars that Robert Baker sold. Previously, it was called Portuguese. Piccadilly is known for the fact that for more than 300 years the richest and most distinguished representatives of the world's "elite" have settled here: bankers, stars, members of powerful financial clans. Here are the most expensive and luxurious mansions, hotels and apartments.

Abbey Road

The street gained popularity due to the fact that part of it was immortalized on the cover of the record "The Beatles" (the album was called "Abbey Road"). The record company was also located here, where the famous band recorded their songs. Decades later, fans continue their pilgrimage to Abbey Road. Beatles breathlessly photographed in "the same place" that is depicted on the cover.

Skyscraper Mary Ex 30

A structure made of metal and glass structures in the modern center of London, shaped like a cucumber (Barcelona also has such a tower). The building is used as the headquarters of the Swiss company "Swiss Reinsurance". The tower was built from 2001 to 2004. designed by architect Sir N. Foster. 400 million dollars were spent on the construction. The structure reaches a height of 180 meters and contains 40 floors.

Skyscraper Shard

A high-rise building built for the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games. The structure is a glass pyramid resembling a piece of ice 310 meters high (72 floors). Inside there are offices, hotels, recreation areas, private apartments. Tourists tend to get into the skyscraper to the observation deck, located at the level of the 70th floor, from where you can admire London lying in full view.

British museum

The main historical and archaeological museum of the country, one of the largest in the world. There are about 100 exhibition halls in the building, where exhibits are presented from all over the world - the former colonies of the British Empire. There are also ancient Egyptian and antique artifacts. Many countries require the return of exhibits to their homeland, as it is believed that they came to the British Museum in a not entirely honest way.

London National Gallery

The largest museum in the country, where more than 2,000 examples of Western European painting are exhibited, dating back to the 12th century. The gallery was founded in 1839, since then the collection has been constantly replenished. Like many similar places, the museum cannot be bypassed in one visit; you will need to return to it several times to look at all the expositions. Also in the London Gallery you can listen to audio books and lectures on art.

Churchill's War Rooms Museum

An underground bunker from which Churchill and his entourage ran a military company during World War II. Its construction was completed shortly before the start of the war. In 1989, Margaret Thatcher solemnly opened the bunker for inspection by everyone. Equipment, personal belongings of the country's leaders, photos and documents were left inside as exhibits. The museum is located under the Treasury building, next to the Palace of Westminster, and is a branch of the Imperial War Museum.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The world's largest museum of design and decorative arts. It was opened a year after the World Exhibition of 1851, as the event was very successful. The Museum of Products, as the collection was originally called, was renamed in honor of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert in 1899. The royal couple provided comprehensive assistance in replenishing the collection, consisting of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, medieval rarities, fabrics and theatrical props.

Natural History Museum

Opened in 1881, the basis of the exposition was the collection of the Natural History Department of the British Museum. The total number of exhibits exceeds 80 million (botany, zoology, mineralogy, paleontology). Many can be touched and studied, there are information stands in different languages. The most impressive hall is the central one, where authentic dinosaur skeletons are installed in full growth.

Madame Tussauds London Museum

A branch of the most famous wax museum in the world (it has branches in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, New York, Copenhagen). Marie Tussauds inherited wax figures from her teacher Curtis and gradually added new characters to the collection. Until 1835, she toured all over England like circus performers, then opened a permanent exhibition at the insistence of her sons.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

House Museum of the popular detective at 221b Baker Street. It was here, according to the idea of ​​the writer Arthur Conan Doyle, that Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson rented rooms. The building was purchased by a society of admirers of this literary work. The museum opened relatively recently - in 1990. In the rooms, the atmosphere is recreated, exactly corresponding to the author's description of A.K. Doyle.

Tate British Gallery

A contemporary art gallery that attracts millions of tourists every year. Considered one of the largest in the world. The collection is made up of works from the period of the beginning of the 20th century. and to our days. The modern building opened to visitors in 2000. It consists of seven floors, each of which has its own exposition. The museum is housed in a converted building of a former power plant.

Theater Royal Covent Garden

One of the most prestigious opera venues, where the best performers and orchestras strive to get into. Before the construction of the modern building in 1858, there were two theaters on this site, which burned down in fires. Previously, all theatrical genres were staged in Covent Garden, but later it began to specialize only in musical performances: operas, oratorios, ballets, concerts.

albert hall

A concert hall reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum, hosting a variety of events from musicals and award ceremonies to charity receptions. The hall was erected in the period 1867-1871. designed by Prince Albert. To recoup the construction costs, the creators sold tickets to future events that gave them the right to visit the Albert Hall for 999 years. Some still go to the hall on these tickets.

Globus theatre

The theater, created with the participation of the great playwright W. Shakespeare at the end of the 16th century. Almost all of the author's works were staged here, but the building lasted only 14 years and was destroyed by fire. The rebuilt theater lasted until 1642 (then the troupe was disbanded by order of the Puritan government, and two years later the building itself was demolished). The modern "Globe" is a reconstruction based on fragments found during excavations.

Hyde Park

City park, where it is always crowded and lively. Tourists tend to come here to see with their own eyes the personification of democracy "Speakers' Corner", where everyone can express any thoughts. True, you can’t use microphones, so you have to strain your larynx. Hyde Park is a typical English landscape park with fountains, topiary trees and neat lawns.

St. James Park

Included in the "green belt" of central London. From different sides, the oldest park in the British capital is limited by the Foreign Office building, Buckingham and St. James's palaces. Previously, there were swamps that were drained and a canal was laid. The design, imitating the Versailles gardens, did not last long: the territory was planted with trees, and the pond became the main water artery. To the north is the Mall - a street for ceremonies involving the royal family.

highgate cemetery

In the first half of the nineteenth century in London, it became necessary to create a network of cemeteries. The former belonged to churches and were already filled. The plan for Highgate Cemetery was completed in 1839. The architecture of buildings and mausoleums is colorful, most of the tombstones are in the Victorian style. Particularly stand out are the sections called "Egyptian Street" and "Lebanese Circle". The most famous burial is the grave of Karl Marx. On the territory there is a lot of wild greenery from flowers to large trees.

Thames

The river artery of the capital, crossing the entire city and passing through its central part. Perhaps this is one of the most popular rivers in the world, passing through the city. Largely due to the possibility of navigation on the Thames, London began to develop as an industrial, and later a financial center. Even during the Roman Empire, there was a port here. The Thames is an independent attraction visited by millions of tourists.

St. Pancras station

Railway junction in central London. It was built by architect W. Henry in the 19th century. The station building is a typical example of the neo-Gothic style characteristic of the Victorian era. Trains arrive here from continental Europe and from neighboring counties. A single architectural ensemble of red brick, together with the station, makes up the five-star Renaissance Hotel.

Wembley Stadium

A well-known and even legendary stadium among football fans, a symbol of football England. For the first time its gates were opened under King George V in 1923, in the same year the FA Cup was played at the stadium. By the 60s. XX century Wembley becomes the main football arena of the country. In addition to games, there were concerts by Madonna, Michael Jackson, Metallica, Oasis, AC / DC and other world stars.

Harrods department store

A real "mecca" for fashion fans and shopaholics, it is one of the three most visited London attractions. Harrods occupies 18,000 m², on its territory there are 300 stores selling everything in the world. Here shopping is elevated to its highest degree. The building itself is distinguished by the luxury of interior decoration and the monumentality of architectural forms.

Camden Market

Every weekend, the Camden market, divided into segments, is visited by about 100 thousand people. The market is also open on weekdays, but some outlets are closed most of the week. Some sellers rent shops, others are located in tents or in the open air. It sells original gifts, clothes, things from independent designers. In addition, there are pubs and restaurants along the main street.

Flea market in Portobello

Located in Notting Hill (West London). Here, the collapse of antique gizmos, shops with second-hand clothes coexist with expensive boutiques. In the market you can buy unusual clothes, vintage interior items and furniture, interesting handmade souvenirs. Many people come here not for shopping, but for the special atmosphere of antiquity, history and strong traditions.

Telephone booth and double-decker bus

Symbols of the British capital recognizable all over the world. Previously, booths were used for their intended purpose, but with the invention of mobile communications, they have become simply cultural objects (some have mini-libraries). The red bus became the prototype for the tourist bus in almost all world capitals, its model was invented in Britain in 1956.