London: the whole world in one city! Have the time of your life while you fall in love with big, vibrant, multicultural London. This is the largest city in Western Europe and in the European Union as well, so choose lodging that is located as close as possible to the attractions you most want to visit. By the way, having fun in London does not depend on the weather, but if you plan your trip for spring or autumn you’ll have thinner crowds to deal with than in summer. When you do come to London, be sure to put these on your list:
10 London Must-See Attractions
1. The Tower of London: The Tower is actually a group of several buildings inside two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. When you visit this historic fortress, you will discover that it has served as a royal palace, prison, place of torture and execution, armory, arsenal, treasury, zoo, and home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
2. British Museum: Originally established in 1753, the museum now houses a collection of more than seven million objects from around the globe documenting the entire story of human culture. Here you will find such celebrated objects as the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase, sculpture from the Parthenon, and drawings from the 14th century to the present.
3. Madame Tussauds: This renowned wax museum will put you face-to-face with some of the most famous persons in the world. You’ll encounter figures from the fields of politics, royalty, sports, and showbiz – from Shakespeare to Rooney, from Britney Spears to Her Majesty the Queen. Each figure takes more than 800 hours to create!
4. The London Eye: Also known as the Millenium Wheel, this is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, the third largest in the world, and probably the major feature of the city skyline. The complete ride in one of the 32 sealed, air-conditioned 25-passenger capsules lasts about 30 minutes and provides a truly amazing view of the city!
5. Tate Modern: Housed on the banks of the River Thames, the Tate Modern is Britain’s national museum of international contemporary and modern art. Here you can see displays of great works (dating from 1900 onwards) by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, and many other legendary artists.
6. National Gallery: Founded in 1824, the National Gallery displays one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world: more than 2,300 paintings that date from the mid-13th century to 1900. Don’t miss your opportunity to marvel at work by Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Turner, and Van Gogh.
7. Trafalgar Square: The fourth most popular tourist attraction on earth, Trafalgar Square has been a central meeting place since the Middle Ages. In addition to Nelson’s Column, you will see sculptures, statues, and fountains. The National Gallery is located on one side of the Square.
8. Buckingham Palace: Buckingham Palace (owned by the British state) is the official residence of the Queen. It is also a British symbol, an art gallery, and a tourist attraction. The famous “Changing of the Guard” ceremony is scheduled on specific days and times and takes place in front of the palace. Arrive early and find a good position from which to watch. During the Annual Summer Opening (from late July to September) you can visit the State Rooms of the Palace, which contain some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.
9. Houses of Parliament: Also known as Westminster Palace, this is the seat of the two houses of Parliament. The building is stunning. Take a walk over Westminster Bridge in order to see the view from the south bank. The famous Big Ben is in the clock tower. During two months of the summer (when Parliament is not sitting), tours are available.
10. Natural History Museum: This museum houses a permanent dinosaur exhibition as well as a collection of the largest and rarest animals in the world. The new Darwin Centre hopes to inspire people to take better care of our planet.
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