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.

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For the cheap price of an advanced train ticket, you could be visiting interesting places in the UK that you may not have known were even within reach.

To make sure you get the most out of your trip, make sure you’re packed with the bare necessities that will help you enjoy your day to the maximum.

Three O’Clock in London, England, UK by Garry Knight / License: Creative Commons

• Phone Battery - At the risk of sounding like your dad, you don’t want to get stuck somewhere with a flat battery. Since there isn’t always a place you can go to charge your phone, it’s worth purchasing an external battery pack for your phone.
• Backpack - In order to carry all your important belongings, you’ll want to keep them in a quality bag to ensure that you can always find your items
• Food – Unless you want to explore cafes and eat out, packing some snacks for the trip will be a money saver and also allow you to eat faster for when you have a long day planned.
• Weather – Check the weather beforehand so you’ll know whether to pile on the layers or pack a poncho just in case things get stereotypically cold. Hay fever sufferers will want to have a supply of antihistamines will them.
• Toiletries – Whilst you shouldn’t try and pack your whole bathroom, taking suntan lotions and wet wipes for makeup would be a great idea.

Museums Can Be Packed With Entertainment

There are plenty of museums around, but you won’t get a more comprehensive sizeable one than the London Science Museum. The UK is filled with weird and individual museums, from Cornwall’s Witch or Lawnmower museums, to the Baked Bean Museum of Excellence in Wales, there are plenty of odd and interesting places to visit if ordinary museums seem a little dull to you.

If you or your friends share the love of a similar television show or film that was set in the UK, it’s a fun idea to try and visit the place where it was shot. Doctor Who fans can not only visit the museum located in East London, giving you a first-hand look at the costumes and models of the many supernatural beings on the show, but also located in Wales is the Torchwood HQ that all ‘Whovians’ will want to see at least once. Fans of Harry Potter fans are lucky enough to be able to visit the Warner Bros studios and have a tour of the worldwide loved film in central London.

London attractions, England, UK by Garry Knight / License: Creative Commons

Don’t Forget To See The Big Landmarks

There are plenty of places in the UK that people all over the globe come to visit, yet some that we haven’t even seen ourselves. The list of landmarks people come from all over to visit include:

• Stonehenge
• Windsor Castle
• Big Ben
• Hadrian’s Wall
• Buckingham Palace
• Tower of London
• The London Eye
• St Pauls Cathedral

With even more tourists wanting to see places like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, you’ll want to plan a thorough trip to London so you can see this most popular places for yourself.

Matt Chiles is a London tourist guide and passionate traveller, always looking to help those who are less experienced at day tripping.

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Dulwich Picture Gallery

If you enjoy looking at great artwork, you should check out the Dulwich Picture Gallery. This gallery features some of the finest European artwork in the country. Some of the most popular exhibitions at this gallery include Nicolas Poussin’s First Series of Seven Sacraments, Murillo & Justino de Neve: The Art of Friendship and Coming of Age. If you visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery during the weekend, you can enjoy a free guided tour of the permanent collection.

Brixton Windmill

The Brixton Windmill is one of the most interesting sights in London. It was built in 1816 and has remained beautifully preserved since then. When you enter the windmill, you will be able to hear an interesting story about the family who used to own the windmill. You can also book a guided tour in advance if you want to see the upper floors.

Brixton Windmill, London, UK by Stuart

Hunterian Museum

The Hunterian Museum is located inside the Royal College of Surgeons of England and features thousands of medical instruments and specimens. When you are touring this museum, you are sure to see something that boggles your mind. Some of the most fascinating exhibitions in this museum include Model Anatomy, Extinct, Humans as Fossils and Big.

Dennis Severs’ House

If you are in London, you should make the time to stop by Dennis Severs’ House. A man named Dennis Severs used to live in this home without electricity and other modern conveniences. He purchased the 18th century home and decided against restoring it. As you are walking through this home, you will feel like you went back in time. The home is only lit by candlelight, so it is quite dark inside.

St. Mary’s Secret Garden

St. Mary’s Secret Garden is one of the most beautiful places to visit in London. It features a herb garden and vegetable beds that grow winter lettuces, kale and brussel sprouts. Visiting this garden gives you a chance to escape the bustle of the city and just relax. You can also take a very fun and informative gardening course at the St. Mary’s Secret Garden.

Women’s Library

The Women’s Library features a lot of different books and articles that relate to females. When you are there, you can go in the reading room and research the materials for free.

As you can see, there are plenty of less-known attractions in London that are worth checking out. If you just go to the tourist spots in London, you will be missing out on these hidden gems.

Sally writes for Reserve Apartments the Edinburgh Festival Accommodation specialists. Reserve Apartments also feature properties in Glasgow, for an Apartment Glasgow visit https://www.reserveapartments.co.uk.

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Windsor castle, England, UK by gailf548

The Tower of London

Just half an hour from Gatwick airport, the Tower of London is one of the oldest historical monuments in London. Dating back to the Roman empire, this fortress has been the home of royalty, a stronghold against invasion and a prison. It’s open year round, but the crowds are thinnest in the late spring and early summer.

Windsor castle

This is the oldest inhabited castle in the world, and is currently the weekend home of the Queen. Located in Berkshire, the castle is just a 30 minute drive from Gatwick airport, and it’s also near historic Stonehenge for an easy day trip. Because the castle is occupied during the summer, it’s best to avoid the area from June through August, but it’s open to visitors throughout the rest of the year.

Lewes castle

Located in Sussex, Lewes castle is one of the closest monuments to the airport. It’s next to the Babican House Museum, which provides a comprehensive view of Sussex history, and the castle walls provide the best views of the surrounding countryside. Both the castle and museum are open year round, but it may be best to avoid hotter months due to walking and climbing needed to explore the castle keep.

Lewes castle, Sussex, UK by Charlesdrakew

The Royal Pavilion

A palace, not a castle, the Royal Pavilion is home to a museum and beautifully-cultivated garden. The palace sits on a pier filled with carnival-like festivities year round. The best views of the garden are during the spring and summer months when everything is in bloom, but the palace and grounds are open throughout the year.

Arundel castle

Built in the 11th Century, this castle is located an hour away from Brighton in the quaint town of Arundel. The castle towers over the city and provides a stunning view of Arundel and nearby Sussex. Arundel castle is open to visitors only from March through October.

There’s so much to see and do near Gatwick airport that you’re sure to find something to appeal to your tastes. If you’re looking to tour castles, it might be best to book a trip in the spring as there are fewer crowds and most attractions are open at this time. If you can’t make it out during the spring months, however, you can still see many of the year-round attractions that the countryside has to offer. While you explore, be sure to choose a centrally-located hotel that will give you access to all of the attractions near Gatwick airport.

Georgie Little is a guest writer for www.gatwickairporthotels.com where you can find out more about Gatwick hotels.

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Tower of London, England, UK by xiquinhosilva

1. The Tower of London

One of London’s oldest and most popular attractions, the Tower of London was built in 1078, and remains one of the most well preserved medieval castles in the country. Its central location within the skyscrapers of the City of London financial district make it even more unique, as does its multiple galleries, and housing of the Crown Jewels.

2. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located on the outskirts of the City of London financial district (about 10 minutes by Tube from the West End), St. Paul’s Cathedral has survived fire and the WWII Blitz to remain one of the capital’s most loved landmarks. Giving yourself the time to explore its artifacts, and the Whispering Gallery on the upper levels, is recommended.

Photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

3. Westminster Abbey

While a visit to Westminster, which contains the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, is always recommended, it’s worth taking the time to visit Westminster Abbey. The Gothic church is a regular destination for Royal weddings, contains a number of important burial sites, and includes fascinating museums exhibits.

Photo of Westminster Abbey, London by thetravelguru

4. Buckingham Palace

The Queen’s main residence is a constant favourite of visitors to London, and can be explored via guided tours of certain areas of the Palace. The Palace also includes art galleries, a gift shop, and the daily sight of the Changing of the Palace Guards.

Photo of Buckingham Palace, London by OwenXu

5. British Museum

Home to one of the world’s best collections of art and rare items, this Bloomsbury-based museum demands repeated exploration. First developed in the 18th century, the Museum, only a short walk from the West End, is particularly recommended for its Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts.

Photo of British Museum, London by DAVID HOLT

6. Victoria & Albert Museum

Part of a street of famous museums in Kensington, which also includes the National History Museum and the Science Museum, the V&A was opened in 1852 as a home for decorative art, and today represents one of the best places to see photography and contemporary design exhibits.

Photo of Victoria & Albert Museum, London by gailf548

7. London Eye

This enormous Ferris wheel represents the best way to get a panoramic view of London. Based by the Thames, and near to London Waterloo train station, the Eye offers 30 minute rides in its passenger capsules, with varying prices.

Photo of London Eye, England by Jim Bahn

8. The National Gallery

This art gallery by Trafalgar Square is home to over 2,300 paintings, and is free to enter. The gallery’s pillared facade takes you into a vast holding of art from painters such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Van Gogh.

Photo of The National Gallery on Trafalgar square, London by Maurice

9. Tate Modern

London’s best modern art gallery sits on the banks of the Thames, and faces towards St Paul’s on the other side of the river. The gallery contains changing and permanent exhibitions, and is free to enter.

Photo of Tate Modern, London by aaron.bihari

10. Natural History Museum

Another of Kensington’s world class museums, the Natural History Museum is dedicated to the natural sciences, and animal and insect collections. Particularly recommended is the enormous Blue Whale, and the museum’s dinosaur exhibits.

Photo of Natural History Museum, London by Heather Cowper

Author bio: Liam Ohm is a keen writer with a particular interest in things-to-do in London. He highly recommends Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tickets for another great day out during your time in London.

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Tower of London, UK by Fernando Nunes

The Hour Before Midnight

It is the ghost of Henry VI that haunts the Wakefield Tower. Henry met his death on the 21st May 1471, murdered ‘in the hour before midnight’ as he knelt in prayer. This quite tragic and ineffectual monarch is believed to have met his death at the hands of the sinister Duke of Gloucester, being stabbed repeatedly in what was by all accounts of the time, a frenzied and brutal attack, with his body being describes as being ‘full of deadly holes’. It’s on the hour before midnight, every year, on the anniversary of his death that he reappears, his spectre is said to pace around the inside of the Wakefield Tower until, when midnight finally strikes he fades away.

The White Lady

The cold stones of the narrow and winding corridors of the great tower are the haunt of the White Lady. She has been seen waving to visiting children from a window in the tower, who eagerly waved back at her from an opposite building. Most haunted residences seem to have a white or grey lady but this one is different. With the white lady of the tower you smell her approach, as the air is said to fill with the pungent aroma of cheap perfume, which is especially noticeable around the area of the entrance of St John’s Chapel, the scent is so strong that it has been known to make staff and guards retch.

Tower of London – St. John’s Chapel, UK by Nick Mehlert

The Screaming Countess

Out of all of the men, women and children that met their death here, either through murder or execution, one of the most alarming ghostly visitations is that of the Countess of Salisbury, Margaret Pole. Sentenced to death at the respectful age of seventy two by Henry VIII, as an act of vengeance towards Cardinal Pole, her son, she was sentenced to be executed on May 27th 1541. The Countess refused to kneel at the block, stating that to kneel would be to assume the role of a traitor, which she was not. The executioner unfazed by her refusal wielded his axe at her where she stood; she tried to flee for her life but was literally hacked down as she ran. This incredible scene is not replayed every year but it has been seen, and heard on many occasions by the guards and staff that work in the vicinity of where the scaffold and block once stood.

Looking for more information on London? How about travelling around London the stylish way with a London Chauffeur? Visit Ultimate Chauffeurs for more information now.

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River Thames, London, UK by Elliott Brown

London is, of course, famous for Buckingham Palace, located next to St James’s Park.  You can see the palace from the park, and the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony can be witnessed from outside the front gates every morning.  However, admission to some areas of the palace is also available for a price, and this is something you may want to consider.

The Tower of London is one of the city’s unmissable sights.  It is the home of the Crown Jewels, which are on display here, and was also one of London’s most famous prisons for many years.  Keep a look out for the ravens in the tower – tradition says that the kingdom and the tower will fall if the ravens ever leave.

Built for the Millennium celebrations, the London Eye has become one of the city’s most popular attractions.  It can be found on the banks of the River Thames, and the thirty minute ride offers unrivalled views.

There are also a large number of museums located in London, the majority of which offer free admission.  The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, located next door to one another, are always popular, and both will usually have, in addition to the permanent displays, a range of temporary exhibits.

Of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to the West End to see one of the famous theatre shows.  There is always a wide selection, and ticketscan either be prebooked or purchased on the day, though availability may be limited.

Author Bio: This post was written by Chris from Simply Hike an online camping equipment store and retailer of Hunter Wellies

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With so many options in terms of what to see and do though, you may wish to put a bit of thought into planning London weekend breaks beforehand, so that you can maximise the time you have available.

One thing you may not wish to be doing as part of your whirlwind tour is to spend precious time queuing for tickets, so if you can buy these in advance, so much the better.

The London Eye by Trine Juel

The London Eye is emerging as one of the top tourist destination in the city. It’s on the south bank of the river and provides a panoramic view of the entire city and beyond. The Eye is close to the Tate Modern Art Gallery and not too far for the reconstruction of the Globe Theatre where Shakespeare’s plays were first performed.

On the other side of the river sits the City of London where you’ll find St Paul’s Cathedral. This magnificent building was designed by Christopher Wren in the years following the great fire of London (1666) and contains the graves of many famous people including Wellington, Nelson and Wren himself. It is a fair old climb to the top of the dome but worth it to experience the Whispering Gallery and of course the views.

East again into the city and you’ll find the Tower of London where you can immerse yourself in more than 900 years of history. The Beefeaters, famous ravens and of course the crown jewels all help to provide a fascinating insight into London’s sometimes gory past.

Tower Bridge London by Steve Wilson

The British Museum and the National Gallery must be on your list of places to visit in London if you are interested in history and art. With literally millions of exhibits and paintings from many of the world’s most famous artists, these two locations are truly awe-inspiring.

No weekend in London would be complete without the opportunity to do some shopping. Depending on your own personal tastes there are the famous markets at Camden Lock and Portobello Road. For more conventional shopping, there’s the world famous Harrods in Knightsbridge and of course the Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Piccadilly.

After all that sightseeing you may need some well-earned refreshment and the one thing that London is not short of is a huge variety of restaurants and bars. You’ll find food from all corners of the world.

There is, of course, a huge variety of entertainment on offer and you may wish to include a visit to one of the fantastic west end shows to your itinerary.

With many of the famous tourist attractions all relatively near each other, you can obviously fit in a fair number in your 48 hours in London. You may have to be realistic though and acknowledge that you’re just going to have to come back again!

About the Author
Stella Jones is a freelance travel writer who has set herself the task of seeing every country in the world by the time she is fifty! Her articles cover all things travel and travel related, including Weekend breaks in London

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London underground / Amanda Vincent-Rous

The Underground, like all train-lines, has to be reliable and fast; if it isn’t, then people are late for work, the companies fail to make profit and the economy suffers. While Britain is far from having the most reliable and on-time underground system, it is still very impressive – just don’t expect to be comfortable in the tubes.

As a result, the London Underground has changed quite a lot over the years. As the world’s first underground railway, 1863 was an important year for London’s transport vision. While the official title of ‘London Underground’ would only come into play in 1985, the underground rail network in London has been in full flow for well over a century, transporting passengers on a daily basis.

Now carrying three million passengers every day, the London Underground is a business in itself, but it hasn’t always been like that. Back in 1863, the first line was laid and stretched just under four miles between Paddington and Farrington Street. It wasn’t much, but it was a start of something that would turn into a massive line of railway across the capital.

1880 saw the opening of the first Tube tunnel, from the Tower of London to Bermondsey, which represented another milestone and leap for the evolution of the railway network underground. As the world entered the 20th century, electric lines were introduced to the District and Circle route, cementing the future of the concept.

London transport museum / Julian Tysoe

Changes and additions to lines and new stations were made as the decades rolled by until the exciting introduction of dot-matrix train destination indicators in 1983. This was perhaps a big sign of the more modern-approach to the London Underground as we pushed towards the end of the 20th century.

Tragically, the late ‘80’s saw a fatal fire at King’s Cross killing 31 people which not only shook the nation but called for new safety and fire regulations to be introduced. As we welcomed in the 21st century, 2002 saw the Oyster card for the first time in the London Underground – something that is still used to this day.

It may not be comfortable in the tubes for the passengers – especially at peak times – but the Underground remains a massive part of people’s everyday lives for commuting and pleasure. Who knows where the London Underground is going in the next 100 years (my money is on maglev technology), but one thing is for certain: it will definitely still be there!

This gaze at the glorious London undergound was contributed to us by chessingtonholidays.co.uk – hoping you’ll pay a visit next time you’re in London!

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Tower Bridge / Frank Steiner

One interesting thing about the survey was that there was actually a drop in the number of visitors in May, this was because May saw stunning weather in the UK and therefore there was a drop in indoor attractions in London but outside attractions saw a massive boost. This is a great consideration for the UK Tourism Companies, in order to be prepared for an un-predictable UK Climate, they should ensure the attractions can cater for both weather conditions.

What does this show?

It shows London is as popular as ever with overseas tourists flocking here in the Summer months to see all the fabulous culture and fine restaurants and attractions that London has to offer. It is also great to see that the attractions in London are appreciated by those that visit London and also shows just how important Tourism is to the UK and London economy. It also shows that people are willing to spend money on seeing attractions even if the pricing could be considered expensive, what is important to tourists to London is value for money – they are happy to pay more but they expect more for it.

Houses of Parliament / shining.darkness

What are the key attractions that people visit?

The Key attractions that are the most popular with tourists to London are the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Of course not everyone that wants to come to London spends just their time in London and there are a wealth of things outside London that people want to see such as Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Bath and even short trips up to Edinburgh. What this survey shows though is that those people who come to London don’t just stay in – they get out and about and visit the range of Museums, shows, attractions that are on offer in London and it is important to the UK Economy that these attractions remain at the front of other cities as they are a showpiece for London and a huge source of income to the UK.

For more information about London Attractions check out www.sightseeingtourslondon.com or to see some of the other great UK Sightseeing Tours on offer Click Here.

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