London was one of the first cities I had traveled to outside of the United States. I remember stepping off that plane and just being so shocked at everything, from the English accent to driving on the opposite side of the road. London has so much to do and see that it was hard making this list but I figure these are some of the more important highlights and it will get you a good overall sense of London and this amazing city. Let’s get right into this list shall we….
Check out this quick video of London England and you will see the top 5 places from this blog post. Click here to watch London England video
- Buckingham Palace. To get a tour of Buckingham Palace, you must buy your tickets online. You can get tickets through here https://buckinghampalace.co.uk/ A couple of tips to keep in mind if you do the tour; you must check in your bag, there are no pictures allowed inside the Palace, there are no bathrooms to use, and there is a little café towards the end. There are over 775 rooms in the palace but you will only see 19 of those rooms designated for the tours. At 11:00 am you can watch the changing of the guards which is a unique experience; keep in mind that this does not occur on Thursdays. I highly recommend that and taking a photo with one of these guys; the guards cannot move so be aware of that!
- Camden Market. Camden is an inner borough of London, England in the county of Middlesex. Camden is known for its live music scene so if you are into live music definitely check out some of the venues. Camden is also known for its open-air markets; there are 6 markets around Camden so plenty to choose from and to get in on all the action the weekends are the busiest. If on the other hand you want a more mellow experience then come during the weekday.
- The Big Ben. The Big Ben is located in Central London next to the river Thames. The real name is the Great Bell but it is known as the Big Ben all over the world. The tower itself has an official name that has been known as the Clock Tower, but in 2012 it was given a new name – Elizabeth Tower. An interesting fact about the Big Ben is that it was late one year for ringing in the New Year! Whatever you do make sure you get to see the Big Ben up close and personal; it is a sight you don’t want to miss!
- The London Eye. The London Eye is one big gigantic wheel with more than 3.75 million visitors a year. The eye was initially built to celebrate the millennium and to only be temporary but thankfully a 25 year lease was agreed upon in 2006. It is 443 feet eye and it is the 4th largest one in the world! The actual ride takes about 30 minutes and it’s in a glass enclosure, there are 32 glass capsules and the views are amazing.
- The Tower Bridge. This is not the London Bridge so don’t get them confused. You can walk the Tower Bridge for free, but you will need to pay to walk the upper area of the bridge. Traveling from the Big Ben to the Tower Bridge is about 2.6 miles long and if you stay along the Thames River you can’t get lost this is a great city for walking so I highly suggest doing this.
There is so much to do and see in London but if you are tight on time and can only see and experience a few things I suggest the list above. It will allow you to see some of the main points in London and explore its beauty!