London has more landmarks than any other city in the United Kingdom. The city has been a global capital for over 1,000 years. Its landmarks reflect every period of that history. You can see a Roman wall, a medieval castle, a Renaissance cathedral, and a modern skyscraper in a single morning. Each landmark tells a story about the city and the people who built it. Some are free to enter. Others charge admission that funds their preservation. This guide covers five essential London landmarks. One is a royal fortress. One is a clock tower. One is a modern observation deck. One is a ceremonial space. One is a museum. Together they give you a complete picture of London’s past and present.
In This Article
The Tower of London: A 950-Year-Old Fortress on the Thames
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. The White Tower was completed in 1097. It stands 27 metres tall. The walls are up to 4.5 metres thick at the base. The Tower has served as a royal palace, prison, armory, and treasury. The Crown Jewels have been housed here since 1661. The Imperial State Crown is set with 2,868 diamonds. It was made in 1937 for King George VI. The Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower since 1485. There are 37 Yeoman Warders today. A guided tour lasts 60 minutes. Entry costs 34.80 pounds for adults (as of 2026). Children aged 5 to 15 pay 17.40 pounds. The Ceremony of the Keys has been performed every night for 700 years.
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament: 96 Metres of Gothic Revival
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower. The tower was completed in 1859. It stands 96 metres tall. The bell weighs 13.5 tons. It first rang on May 31, 1859. The clock mechanism is accurate to within 2 seconds per week. The Palace of Westminster covers 112,000 square metres. It has 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, and 4.8 kilometres of corridors. It was built between 1840 and 1870 after a fire destroyed the original palace in 1834. The public can watch debates in the House of Commons. Entry is free but requires a ticket. Westminster Hall dates from 1097. It has the largest unsupported medieval timber roof in Northern Europe, spanning 20.8 metres.
The Shard: 310 Metres Above the City
The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom. It was designed by Renzo Piano. Construction took from 2009 to 2012. The building has 95 floors and reaches 310 metres. It cost 1.5 billion pounds to build. The observation deck is on floors 68, 69, and 72. It sits 244 metres above ground. On a clear day you can see 64 kilometres in every direction. The deck opened on February 1, 2013. It has sold over 3 million tickets. Entry costs 34 pounds for adults (as of 2026). Children aged 4 to 15 pay 28 pounds. The deck has 18 telescopes included in the ticket price. The best time to visit is 30 minutes before sunset.
Westminster Abbey: A Church That Has Served 1,000 Years of History
Westminster Abbey has been a place of worship since the 10th century. Edward the Confessor built the first Norman church here in 1065. The current Gothic building was constructed between 1245 and 1517 under King Henry III. The Abbey has hosted 39 coronations since 1066. The most recent was King Charles III on May 6, 2023. The interior is 161 metres long. The nave is the tallest Gothic nave in England at 30 metres. Poets’ Corner holds graves and memorials of over 100 writers. Geoffrey Chaucer was the first, buried in 1400. The Coronation Chair has been used since 1308. Entry costs 27 pounds for adults (as of 2026). Children aged 6 to 17 pay 12 pounds. Evensong is free to attend at 5 PM daily.
The British Museum: 8 Million Objects Spanning 2 Million Years
The British Museum opened to the public on January 15, 1759. It was the first national public museum in the world. The collection has grown from Sir Hans Sloane’s original 71,000 objects to over 8 million today. The Great Court was redesigned by Norman Foster in 2000. It has a glass roof made of 1,656 panes covering 7,000 square metres. The most famous object is the Rosetta Stone, carved in 196 BC. The Parthenon Marbles date from 447 to 432 BC. The Egyptology collection holds 110,000 objects. The museum receives 6 million visitors per year. Entry is free. Special exhibitions cost 15 to 25 pounds. The museum has 94 galleries open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
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