5 Great Landmarks To Visit In London

English writer Samuel Johnson famously wrote, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” There are so many sites to squeeze into a trip to London that it can feel a bit overwhelming to even the most seasoned travelers. I always find when planning a trip to London I end up wishing I had at least a few more weeks to explore the city, but alas the real world is always calling me home. Here are five must see landmarks if you visit London.

Tower of London

Garrison, jewel house, king’s bed champers, zoo, royal palace, defensive structure, offensive structure, prison and place of execution – this 900 year old structure is a gold mind for lovers of history. The Tower was built by William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest, and stands as an ever looming example of the Norman Conquest. Discover layers of history as you explore the 27 m tower and all of its different complexes. To truly experience the Tower of London I recommend getting a tour, because guides really do unlock a lot of interesting historic, architectural and cultural aspects of the Tower of London.

Tower of London, England, UK by Garry Knight

London Eye

The London Eye soars 135 meters into the London sky to give viewers 25 mile view of London in every direction. This world famous ferris wheel is one of the best ways to experience London’s skyline, but is a particularly stunning view if you go from sunset to night fall. More than 10,000 people visit on average per day, so plan to deal with crowds. Each capsule holds 30 people per vehicle, so don’t expect to get to intimate at this site. Due to the popularity of this site, I recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Maybe even consider paying for the premium tickets that allow you to skip through the lines.

London Eye at Sunset by Garry Knight

Shakespeare’s Globe

This theatre is based off of the plan of the Globe Theatre where many of William Shakespeare’s plays were first staged. Shakespeare also happened to co-own the Globe Theatre. The original Globe Theatre burned to the ground in 1613, but 400 years later the theatre was rebuilt. Due to the authenticity of design there are no seats for the crowd, so if you catch a show be prepared to stand through the entire performance.  Every year there are seasonal festivals outside of the theatre that can be quite entertaining if you just happen to be in town.

The Globe Theatre, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

Buckingham Palace

You know that we couldn’t skip this internationally recognizable landmark when writing about London. The Buckingham Palace is the famous royal palace where Queen Elizabeth II currently resides. Although the royal family still uses some of the house, a lot of it is open to the public. Visitors can admire different memorabilia of gift to the throne, including drawings from Salvador Dali. The 29 acre gardens are also available to visitors for those who want to take an outdoor stroll in royal style.

Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK by Leonard Bentley

National Gallery

Located in Trafalgar Square, this gallery offers a huge range of art that dates from 1260 to 1900. Few places in the world exhibit so many important paintings in one place. The admission is free to all, and make sure to check for their extended opening hours. The Gallery is huge, so do not try to see everything in one visit. It is best to pick out a handful of exhibits you want to see then work your way from there. One could spend an entire week with no rest wandering the Gallery and still miss some of the exhibits.

Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

Holly Williford is a travel writer who has gone to several places all around the world. She has just booked a tour to the landmarks of Senegal and South Africa with Palace Travel.

Tags: buckingham palace, London Eye, national gallery, Shakespeare's Globe, tower of london

Category: Cities, Cities