Sightseeing OverviewBefore setting off sightseeing, it is wise for visitors to study a
London Underground map to get a feel for the straightforward color-coded system. Visitors should also bear in mind, however, that many of the Underground stations are very close to each other and many central areas are easily
navigable on foot.
Walking the streets of London, or strolling through its parks, you realise that, in a city hailed for its ability to embrace
modernity and change, the
past is, however, never far away: there are four
UNESCO World Heritage
sites in London (the Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Gardens) and some
40,000 listed buildings and structures.
The tourist heart of London lies mainly on the north bank of the River Thames, with the chunk of flat land between South Kensington in the west to Tower Bridge in the east
stuffed full of things to do and see.
Starting in the west, there are the three major South Kensington museums - the
Victoria & Albert Museum, the
Natural History Museum and the
Science Museum. Moving eastwards, the next key attraction is
Buckingham Palace. A short walk away, through
St James’s Park, is Westminster, with the
Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and
Westminster Abbey.
From here, it is another short walk up Whitehall to
Trafalgar Square, with the
National Gallery and other attractions. This is where the
West End starts, heading slightly north to
Leicester Square connecting up with
Piccadilly Circus to the west and
Covent Garden to the east, with the stately old
British Museum a little further away to the northeast. In the middle of the West End,
Theaterland and
Chinatown merge into
Soho, with its nightlife and new media offices.
Along the river itself, on the north bank is the
Tate Britain gallery in the west, followed by Westminster and then the Embankment. Crossing over the River Thames from the Embankment can be done on the pedestrian
Golden Jubilee Bridges.
The south bank of the river now has its own throngs of tourists, at the
London Eye and
London Aquarium. This side of the river also dominates culturally, with the
South Bank Center and, further east, the
Tate Modern and the
Globe Theater. Another pedestrian bridge, Lord Foster’s
Millennium Bridge, connects the Tate Modern with
St Paul’s Cathedral, back on the north bank. From St Paul’s, it is possible to walk through the
City of London, reaching the
Tower of London further east.
Tower Bridge connects this ancient seat of power to
City Hall, on the south bank, the new state-of-the-art home of London Mayor Boris Johnson and the London Assembly, designed by Lord Foster.
Tourist InformationVisit London Website:
www.visitlondon.comBritain and London Visitor Center (BLVC)1 Regent Street, SW1
Opening hours: Mon 0930-1830, Tues-Fri 0900-1830, Sat (Oct-May) 1000-1600, Sat (Jun-Sep) 0900-1700, Sun 1000-1600.
City Information CenterSt Paul’s Churchyard (opposite St Paul’s Cathedral)
Tel: (020) 7332 1456.
Website:
www.cityoflondon.gov.ukOpening hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1730.
PassesThe
London Pass (website:
www.londonpass.com) allows free access to over 50 attractions (including the London Aquarium, London Zoo, Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Buckingham Palace in summer). The ‘with transport’ option also includes transport on all London buses, Tubes and trains. The card is available for one, two, three or six days and you can buy one at the airport and tourist information offices around London. The card is fairly expensive though, so only worth buying if you are planning on doing a lot of sightseeing during your stay in London, or if you are pressed for time (card holders can avoid queues at many of the attractions).
Key Attractions:London Eye and County Hall Towering 135m (444ft), right in the heart of London, the London Eye is literally an unmissable sight. It’s become London’s most popular attraction, which usually means a ‘flight’ requires booking in advance and often queuing as well. However, the experience (one revolution of the wheel, lasting approximately 30 minutes) is absolutely worth it - the unparalleled views of the city reach as far away as 40km (25 miles).
Although the London Eye is the focus of the area, sitting right next door and directly across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament is
County Hall, the former home of the Greater London Council. The enormous building is home to the
London Aquarium, which features over 350 different aquatic species from around the world, and some huge water tanks, and the
Dalí Universe, which contains over 500 works of art by the famous surrealist, including the painting
Spellbound, which was created specially for the set of the 1945 Hitchcock thriller, and the sofa in the shape of Mae West’s lips. County Hall is also home to two hotels, numerous bars and restaurants and a
Namco Station, a vast entertainment center offering video games, ten-pin bowling, bumper cars, a pool hall, as well as a bar and lounge with big TV screens.
South Bank, SE1
London Eye Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1
Tel: 0870 500 0600 (booking line).
Website:
www.londoneye.com Opening hours: Daily 1000-2000 (Oct-May); daily 1000-2100 (Jun and Sep); daily 1000-2130 (Jul and Aug).
Admission charge.
Tate Modern and Bankside Opened in 2000, the Tate Modern is a £130 million project that is regarded as a model of urban regeneration, with the disused Bankside power station transformed into an avant-garde space dedicated to 20th-century art. The permanent exhibition changes biannually so that much of the Tate Gallery’s collection of modern work can be on show, displayed thematically rather than chronologically. This includes major works by Matisse, Picasso and Warhol, as well as contemporary pieces. The Turbine Hall displays changing pieces of artwork, specially commissioned to fit the enormous space.
The Bankside area itself is becoming one of the most exciting corners of the capital, and the £14 million
Millennium Bridge is one of the newest additions here. Designed by Norman Foster, it provides a pedestrian link from the Tate Modern to
St Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank. Bankside’s cultural regeneration is enhanced by the beautifully reconstructed
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater & Exhibition, which is open all year round, although plays are only performed at the outdoor venue during the summer. Other attractions along the river, past Southwark Bridge towards London Bridge, include
Southwark Cathedral on the edge of the nearby
Borough Market (website:
www.boroughmarket.org.uk), a heaven for foodies.
Bankside, SE1
Tate Modern Bankside, SE1
Tel: (020) 7887 8888
or 8008 (recorded information line).
Website:
www.tate.org.ukOpening hours: Sun-Thurs 1000-1800, Fri and Sat 1000-2200.
Free admission (donations welcome); charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater & Exhibition 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1
Tel: (020) 7902 1400
or 7401 9919 for tickets.
Website:
www.shakespeares-globe.orgOpening hours: Daily 1000-1700 (exhibition and theater tour) (early Oct-Apr); daily 0900-1230 (exhibition and theater tour) and 1300-1700 (exhibition only) (May-Oct).
Admission charge.
Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey The Palace of Westminster contains the
Houses of Parliament, part of which is one of the city’s most famous landmarks -
Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the name of the huge bell, whose tolling tune is instantly recognizable. The most ancient part of the whole palace,
Westminster Hall, is 900 years old. After almost total destruction by fire, the rest of the palace was rebuilt in neo-gothic style during the 19th century, to designs by Charles Barry.
During late July/August and mid September/early October, Parliament is in recess and the Summer Opening of the Palace of Westminster takes place. Extensive guided tours are offered for visitors; these last about 75 minutes and include the
Royal Robing Rooms, the
House of Lords and the
House of Commons and
Westminster Hall. These are not free and they must be booked in advance (in person or from
Keith Prowse ticketing, see below). Visitors who want to watch Parliament at work, rather than tour the palace, can watch from the
Strangers’ Gallery. When Parliament is in session, there are two long queues (one for the Lords and one for the Commons) outside the palace.
Across Parliament Square is
Westminster Abbey - a magnificent gothic structure where innumerable members of the British royal family have been christened, married, crowned and interred. Consecrated under Edward the Confessor, in the 11th century, it was rebuilt over the next four centuries in Gothic style. Highlights include
Henry VII’s Chapel,
Poet’s Corner and the
Coronation Chair.
Parliament Square, SW1
Summer Opening of the Palace of Westminster Tel: 0870 840 1111 (
Keith Prowse ticketing).
Website:
www.parliament.uk or www.keithprowse.comOpening hours: Mon-Sat 0915-1630 or 1315-1630 (depending on schedules).
Admission charge.
Westminster Abbey Tel: (020) 7654 4900.
Website:
www.westminster-abbey.orgOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1645 (Wed until 1900) and Sat 0930-1445 (sightseeing; last admission one hour before closing); all day Sun (religious services only).
Admission charge, service free.
Trafalgar Square Former London Mayor Ken Livingston has made the once-congested and pigeon-infested Trafalgar Square a ’World Square’, pedestrianising more of this famous space and banning seed-sellers, in an attempt to stop what he considers a nuisance.
Nelson’s Column dominates the center of the square while on the north side, one of the world’s greatest galleries, the
National Gallery, is to be found. It houses an incredible collection of Western paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, as well as frequent special exhibitions. Round the corner, the
National Portrait Gallery displays the country’s famous, infamous and forgotten in the media of oil, watercolor, marble and photography. The
Ondaatje Wing includes a lecture theater and restaurant. Opposite the gallery is the beautiful 18th-century neoclassical church,
St Martin-in-the-Fields, which hosts regular concerts and has a cafe in the crypt.
Trafalgar Square, WC2
National Gallery Trafalgar Square, WC2
Tel: (020) 7747 2885.
Website:
www.nationalgallery.org.ukOpening hours: Thurs-Tues 1000-1800, Wed 1000-2100.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
National Portrait Gallery 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2
Tel: (020) 7312 2463 (recorded information)
or 7306 0055.
Website:
www.npg.org.ukOpening hours: Sat-Wed 1000-1800, Thurs and Fri 1000-2100.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Covent Garden
This area has long been associated with the market trade. For some 300 years, it has hosted traders of all sorts of wares, perhaps most famously the fruit and vegetable market, which was centered in the Piazza. The market is still here, and today, the area is also home to many shops, bars and restaurants. The street performers, and the cheering crowds they attract, give the area a very special atmosphere, and make Covent Garden a must see for all first time visitors to London. The world famous
Royal Opera House can be found here too. A popular museum in the area is the
London Transport Museum, which retraces the history and development of the city’s transport system. The museum reopened in November 2007 following extensive renovation.
Piazza, Covent Garden
Website:
www.coventgarden.uk.comLondon Transport Museum Piazza, Covent Garden
Tel: (020) 7379 6344.
Website:
www.ltmuseum.co.ukOpening hours: Sat-Thurs 1000-1800, Fri 1100-2100.
Admission charge.
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace, the London home of the Queen, is hugely popular with tourists. They flock to the palace to witness royal pageantry dating back centuries at the
Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 1130 from April to July and on alternate days at other times of the year. There is also the rare chance of seeing inside a royal residence (summer only). The building, by John Nash and Edward Blore, was built around the shell of the older of the older Buckingham House, in the 19th century. The rather drab facade was added in 1913. The 19
State Rooms of the palace, including the
Throne Room and the
Picture Gallery, are only open to the public during August and September, when the Queen moves to her Scottish residence. The refurbished and expanded
Queen’s Gallery is open to the public throughout the year. It displays a changing exhibition of selected works from the Royal Collection, which covers five centuries’ worth of art collecting and treasures, now held in trust by the Queen for the nation. The 17-hectare (42-acre) garden, long hidden from view, is also open to visitors touring the palace.
Buckingham Palace Road, SW1
Tel: (020) 7321 2233
or 7766 7300 (credit card booking line).
Website:
www.royalcollection.org.uk Opening hours: Daily 0945-1800 (last admission 1545) (end of Jul-end of Sep only).
Admission charge.
Tower Hill The infamous royal fortress on Tower Hill, the
Tower of London, was begun by William the Conqueror in 1078 and remained a royal residence until the mid 16th century. Today, it houses the priceless
Crown Jewels and the
Royal Armouries collection. The history of the tower is a catalog of intrigue and bloodshed - key historical figures, including members of the royal family, were imprisoned, tortured and/or executed here. The nearby
Tower Bridge (a prime example of Victorian architecture and engineering) spans the River Thames. Hydraulic machinery, hidden in twin neo-gothic towers, lifts the central section to allow ships in and out of the Pool of London. Visitors can learn about the bridge in the
Tower Bridge Exhibition or enjoy the excellent views towards Canary Wharf and the City of London. On the northeast side, the harbor at
St Katharine’s Dock marks the beginning of the London Docklands, while the warehouses to the south house the stylish
Design Museum.
Tower Hill, EC3
Tower of London Tel: 0844 7582 7777.
Website:
www.hrp.org.uk Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1730 and Sun-Mon 1000-1730 (Mar-Oct); Tues-Sat 0900-1630, Sun-Mon 1000-1630 (Nov-Feb).Admission charge.
Tower Bridge Exhibition Tower Hill, EC3
Tel: (020) 7403 3761 (exhibition)
or 7940 3984 (bridge lifting times).
Website:
www.towerbridge.org.ukOpening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Apr-Sep); daily 0930-1800 (Oct-Mar).
Admission charge.
Design Museum Shad Thames, SE1
Tel: 0870 833 9955.
Website:
www.designmuseum.orgOpening hours: Daily 1000-1745.
Admission charge.
St Paul’s Cathedral The dome of St Paul’s Cathedral is the third largest in the world and one of the most distinctive features of the London skyline. The present building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was completed in 1710, on the site of the original cathedral that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. On the inside of the dome, the
Whispering Gallery, named for its incredible acoustics, offers a close-up of the frescoes of the life of St Paul that decorate the interior of the dome. From there, visitors can climb higher, up to two further galleries, which are outdoors and which offer magnificent views across the whole of London. Guided tours are available, book in advance.
Paternoster Square, EC4
Tel: (020) 7246 8350.
Website:
www.stpauls.co.ukOpening hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1600 (sightseeing); sightseeing is restricted on Sun and religious holidays. At the time of writing, hours were reduced to 0830-1530 due to maintenance work.
Admission charge.
British Museum The British Museum, the centerpiece of which is Norman Foster’s glass-roofed
Great Court, is one of the world’s finest museums. Visitors must contend with a mind-boggling 6 million artifacts from all corners of the globe, plucked (or plundered) by collectors. The awesome scale of the museum means it is essential to select just a few of the 94 galleries for close attention. Highlights include the
Rosetta Stone, the Anglo-Saxon
Sutton Hoo treasures
and the controversial Parthenon Sculptures, known as the
Elgin Marbles, taken from the Parthenon in Athens. A 90-minute ’Highlights’ tours is available daily at 1030, 1300 and 1500.
Great Russell Street, WC1
Tel: (020) 7323 8299
or 8181 for tickets.
Website:
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.ukOpening hours: Mon-Wed 0900-1800, Thurs-Fri 0900-2300, Sat 0800-2300, Sun 0800-1800.
Free admission, charge for some of the temporary exhibitions
Tate Britain The Gallery of Modern British Art opened in 1897, around the collection of sugar merchant Henry Tate. It now holds an unrivalled collection of British paintings from 1500 to the present day. Much 20th-century art has moved to the Tate Modern (see above), however, some remains on rotation here, from Gaudier Brzeska to Gilbert and George. There is also the ’Art Now’ room, which shows a changing contemporary exhibition. The magnificent Turner Bequest is housed in the purpose-built Clore Gallery, with hundreds of Turner paintings on display.
Millbank, SW1
Tel: (020) 7887 8888
or 8008 (recorded information line).
Website:
www.tate.org.ukOpening hours: Daily 1000-1750.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
South Kensington Museums The
Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) is one of three major museums in South Kensington - the others being the
Natural History Museum and the
Science Museum. Founded in the 19th century as a museum of the decorative arts, the V&A’s 11km (7 miles) of corridors trace a path through paintings, jewelry, furniture and textiles dating from 3000BC to the present day. Highlights include the
Raphael Cartoons, the sculpture court, the dress collection from 1700 onwards, as well as the ‘British Galleries 1500-1900’, a comprehensive history of British art and design.
The award-winning
Science Museum offers interactive exhibits on all kinds of scientific topics, from space, time or weather to agriculture or food, from computing or mathematics to nuclear physics or veterinary history. One key gallery is ‘Making the Modern World’, which includes objects such as early cars and computers.
The incredible Victorian building that is the
Natural History Museum is divided into different zones exploring varying aspects of the planet. Highlights include a full-size model of a blue whale, the dinosaur exhibits and the earthquake simulator. For live specimens, there is the Wildlife Garden outside. The
Darwin Center houses the museum’s extensive collections of specimens, which date as far back as the 16th century but also include recent new species discoveries. It also allows visitors to interact with the scientists using the collections and carrying out current research.
V&A Museum Cromwell Road, SW7
Tel: (020) 7942 2000.
Website:
www.vam.ac.ukOpening hours: Sat-Thurs 1000-1745, Fri 1000-2200.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Science Museum Exhibition Road, SW7
Tel: 0870 870 4868.
Website:
www.sciencemuseum.org.ukOpening hours: Daily 1000-1800.
Free admission.
Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, SW7Tel: (020) 7942 5000.
Website:
www.nhm.ac.ukOpening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1750.
Free admission.
Further Distractions:London’s Parks Together,
St James’s Park,
Green Park,
Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens stretch from Whitehall to Kensington in the west. St James’s Park and Green Park are at the heart of royal London, close to Buckingham Palace, while Hyde Park’s
Speaker’s Corner is the place for soapbox philosophers to harangue passers-by on Sunday mornings.
Kensington Gardens contain the delightful
Serpentine Gallery, as well as the glittering
Albert Memorial and the
Memorial Fountain in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Regent’s Park, just north of Oxford Circus, is home to
London Zoo, while immediately next door is
Primrose Hill, which has a fabulous view and chic village atmosphere.
Hampstead Heath boasts acres of natural parkland, the 18th-century
Kenwood House, numerous bathing ponds and another fantastic view over the capital.
Richmond Park is the largest open space in London, first enclosed as a hunting park by King Charles I in 1637; it still boasts deer.
Last, but not least,
Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed royal park. Situated on a hilltop with impressive views across East London, it provides a setting for several historic buildings, including the Old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House.
All Royal Parks (tel: (020) 7298 2000; website:
www.royalparks.gov.uk), except Hampstead Heath (tel: (020) 7332 3505; website:
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk).
Serpentine Gallery Kensington Gardens, W2
Tel: (020) 7402 6075.
Website:
www.serpentinegallery.org Free admission.
London Zoo Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, NW1
Tel: (020) 7722 3333.
Website:
www.londonzoo.comAdmission charge.
Kenwood House Hampstead Lane, NW3
Tel: (020) 8348 1286.
Website:
www.english-heritage.org.ukFree admission.
Highgate Cemetery Resonating with the ghosts of such luminaries as Karl Marx and George Eliot, Highgate Cemetery is one of London’s most extraordinary places. With some of the finest Victorian funerary architecture in the country, many of the memorials are architecturally listed sites. Visitors can freely explore the East Cemetery but can only visit the West Cemetery by booking the one-hour guided tours in advance (by telephone).
Swains Lane, N6
Tel: (020) 8340 1834.
Website:
highgate-cemetery.orgAdmission charge.
Horniman MuseumHousing a unique range of exhibitions that explore the cultural and natural world, South London’s Horniman Museum offers fascinating permanent exhibitions including African Worlds, the Aquarium and the Environmental Room. The unusual art nouveau building that houses the collection is worth a look in itself.
100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23
Tel: (020) 8699 1872.
Website:
www.horniman.ac.ukFree admission.
Sir John Soane’s Museum
The former home of Bank of England architect Sir John Soane is justifiably many Londoners’ favorite museum. The elegant Georgian townhouse is crammed with Soane’s collection of paintings, sculpture and furniture, all enhanced by the architect’s ingenious use of top-lighting and architectural illusion. Highlights include the enormous Egyptian sarcophagus in the basement and a full cycle of Hogarth’s
A Rake’s Progress.
13 Lincoln’s Inn Field’s, WC2
Tel: (020) 7405 2107.
Website:
www.soane.orgFree admission.
The Photographers’ Gallery
As Britain’s leading venue for contemporary and historical photography, The Photographers’ Gallery is the place to catch rising stars in the photographic world. There are three exhibition spaces, a print sales room, specialist bookshop and cafe. Although Great Newport Street has been home to a gallery for over 35 years, it will be relocating to a specially designed building on Ramilles Street in 2010.
5 & 8 Great Newport Street, WC2Tel: (020) 7831 1772.
Website:
www.photonet.org.ukFree admission.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related London Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related England Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
England Airport Guides:
|
England City Guides:
|
| England Attraction Guides: |
|
|
Available Tours to England:
|
