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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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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A dancer at Notting Hill Carnival, London, UK / extrageographic

With millions on track to the UK for the greatest show on earth, what are the non-Olympics alternatives for those fatigued with the Games?

Alan Turing’s Life and Legacy – The Science Museum

Though you mightn’t be familiar with Alan Turing you’re probably using one of his inventions as we speak. So as you know, Turing invented the computer. He is also the codebreaker who managed to shorten the Second World War by years. This exhibition pays homage to Alan Turing, whose short tragic life impacts on us all on a daily basis. Based in the excellent Science Museum in London, Codebreaker: Alan Turing Life and Legacy is a must see exhibition this summer.

Damien Hirst – Tate Modern

Whether you see Damien Hirst as the greatest artist of our generation or consider him part business man/ part showman, this exhibition is a must see on a trip to London. Held at the brilliant and beautiful Tate Modern, the artist’s greatest works are in abundance and a visit allows you to see all the meat, medicine and animals suspended in tanks of preserving chemicals you will ever hope for. It’s certainly worth a visit, whether you’re a lover or even a hater of Hirst.

Notting Hill Carnival

Since its beginnings in 1964, the Notting Hill Carnival has become a weekend of significant spectacle. Take part in the celebrations and watch the flats, dancing and ambitious celebration. It’s a vibrant celebration and one that celebrates multi-cultured of Britain in all its colourful glory. Sunday is the best day for family, but the whole festival is a feast for the senses.

Another London – Tate Britain

A wonderful exhibition that documents London’s period of change that was 1930 – 1980. With over 150 photos from some of the twentieth centuries top photographers, this is a must see exhibition to get an insight into the UK’s main city. From the photographers experience of UK immigration to the relationships the photographers had with the city as tourists and citizens, this is a must see and gives a fantastic sense of perspective on London. All the greats are on show, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Marc Riboud, Irving Penn, Bill Brandt, Dora Maar and Robert Frank.

Superhuman – Welcome Institute

What better time to look at man’s efforts into enhancing physical performance than just in time for the Olympics. From early prosthesis found in an Egyptian tomb to aids in sight, hearing and limbs, this exhibition focuses on the history of prosthetics. The exhibition has pieces of the wondrous as well as the weird and includes everything from silver noses attached to spectacles for women who disfigured from syphilis, to a piece on the rise of isotonic drinks.

With so much on in London in summer 2012, we’re pretty sure you might even get side-tracked from the Olympics.

Cormac Reynolds writes for specialist UK visa site Global Visas and lives in London.

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London / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Gatt

Regarding accommodation there are a wide range of accommodation options available to you. From budget hostels to luxury rentals London is bursting with exciting opportunities. Where you stay in London will largely depend upon your budget and plans.

A cheap way to stay in London

If you are on a shoestring budget then a luxury hotel will obviously be out of the question and there are a number of youth hostels, cheap bed and breakfasts and shared university accommodation. You will find these all over London and although more expensive than a lot of bed and breakfasts, hostels etc in other parts of Britain, they will provide you with a good base from which to explore everything the capital has to offer. During the Olympic period however, even these options can be expensive as accommodation has largely sold out.

Location, location, location

If your weekend trip includes a trip to the theatre or to the museums then you will probably want to stay nearby. This will limit your options slightly although you should still find something within budget if you look around. If you are prepared to travel though you will find that the London underground is extremely reliable and useful. If the idea of the Tube doesn’t appeal there are countless taxis you can hail or you could even hire a car and driver.

A more expensive way to stay

You can spend thousands of pounds per night for some of the finest luxury hotels London has to offer or you can rent a property for the duration of your stay. For luxury rentals London cannot be beaten. You will find hotels that blow your mind away but if you would like to keep your independence you can rent a luxury apartment or house for the duration of your visit. These obviously don’t come cheap but you will be able to stay in a high-end London rental property in the heart of the city. This will give you easy access on foot to all the major attractions whilst allowing you to live a home away from home.

This article was written by Brandon Barnes on behalf of Rhodium RH45 which offers luxury properties in London both for sale and rent.

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Don’t go expecting to be able to take home one of the Queen’s pillows as a keepsake either, as the private quarters of the royal family are out of bounds to visitors, but many thousands of people each year make a trip to London just to get the chance to enter Buckingham Palace.

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In a city where many of the buildings are centuries old, it may surprise some people that the palace itself only dates back to 1705, though that is considerably longer than the Dubai hotels that seek to replicate the Palace’s grandeur. King George III acquired it later in the 18th century for his wife, Queen Charlotte, but it was not an official royal palace until Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837.

Over the years, the building has been extended. Though the core of the building remains largely unchanged, it was enlarged by architects Edward Blore and John Nash by the addition of three wings around a central courtyard.

If there’s one feature of Buckingham Palace known better than any other, it is the balcony on which members of the Royal Family gather to greet crowds. Many millions of TV viewers around the world will remember the balcony as the scene for famous kisses following royal weddings – that of Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales in 1981 and Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.

One of the most used rooms in Buckingham Palace is the Ballroom, built in 1854. It is the largest room in the building, and one used for investitures, including the conferring of knighthoods, as well as state banquets.

For those lucky enough to receive an invitation, one of the greatest sights in London happens every November when the Queen entertains members of the foreign diplomatic corps, who get to dine off gold plate.

View Buckingham Palace – one of the most prestigious and interesting sights of London United Kingdom in a larger map

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