Guidebook for London
Sightseeing
This 17th-century building was designed by Inigo Jones for James I, with an exquisite painted ceiling by celebrated baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is the only remaining part of the Palace of Westminster, which was destroyed by fire. Daily 10am-1pm, but call before visiting....
Banqueting House
WhitehallThis 17th-century building was designed by Inigo Jones for James I, with an exquisite painted ceiling by celebrated baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is the only remaining part of the Palace of Westminster, which was destroyed by fire. Daily 10am-1pm, but call before visiting....
The London residence and principal workplace of the monarchy has 775 rooms. It’s usually closed to the public (except in summer)
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Buckingham Palace
The London residence and principal workplace of the monarchy has 775 rooms. It’s usually closed to the public (except in summer)
This 19th-century ship is the world’s last surviving tea clipper. Explore interactive displays on deck or take part in a lively programme of family-friendly events.
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Cutty Sark
King William WalkThis 19th-century ship is the world’s last surviving tea clipper. Explore interactive displays on deck or take part in a lively programme of family-friendly events.
Permanently moored on the River Thames, this ship is Europe’s only surviving World War II cruiser. In service until 1965, it’s now a reminder of Britain’s naval heritage.
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HMS Belfast
Permanently moored on the River Thames, this ship is Europe’s only surviving World War II cruiser. In service until 1965, it’s now a reminder of Britain’s naval heritage.
Site of Parliament since 1265 and still a royal palace, the current building including Big Ben was built in the 19th century. Tours every Sat and 7-13 Apr Tue-Fri. Advance:, audio tour adult £18.50, child £7.50 (first child free); guided tour adult £25.50, child £11.
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Houses of Parliament Shop
12 Bridge StSite of Parliament since 1265 and still a royal palace, the current building including Big Ben was built in the 19th century. Tours every Sat and 7-13 Apr Tue-Fri. Advance:, audio tour adult £18.50, child £7.50 (first child free); guided tour adult £25.50, child £11.
Built around 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures, this is one of only two buildings left from the medieval Palace of Westminster after an 1834 fire. Don’t miss the ornate ceiling carvings. Please check for prices and times.
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Jewel Tower
Abingdon StreetBuilt around 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures, this is one of only two buildings left from the medieval Palace of Westminster after an 1834 fire. Don’t miss the ornate ceiling carvings. Please check for prices and times.
This royal residence sits in Kensington Gardens and was Princess Diana’s last home.
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Kensington Palace
Kensington GardensThis royal residence sits in Kensington Gardens and was Princess Diana’s last home.
This beautiful stone column standing in the heart of the City was built in 1677 to commemorate the 1666 Great Fire of London. Climb the 311 steps to its observation gallery. To Sep daily 9.30am-6pm. Adult £4.50; child £2.30. Joint tickets with the Tower Bridge Exhibition available....
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The Monument
18 Fish St HillThis beautiful stone column standing in the heart of the City was built in 1677 to commemorate the 1666 Great Fire of London. Climb the 311 steps to its observation gallery. To Sep daily 9.30am-6pm. Adult £4.50; child £2.30. Joint tickets with the Tower Bridge Exhibition available....
Built by John Nash in 1825, this beautiful part of Buckingham Palace houses the Queen’s vehicles and horses, including the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Witness daily life and learn about the mews’ history. To 25 Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. 26 Mar-31 Oct daily 10am-5pm.
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Buckingham Palace Royal Mews station
Built by John Nash in 1825, this beautiful part of Buckingham Palace houses the Queen’s vehicles and horses, including the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Witness daily life and learn about the mews’ history. To 25 Mar Mon-Sat 10am-4pm. 26 Mar-31 Oct daily 10am-5pm.
The home of Greenwich Mean Time and London’s only planetarium. Learn about time in the Peter Harrison Galleries and watch planetarium shows throughout the day. The Sky Tonight. Daily planetarium show that explores the Moon, constellations, planets and deep space objects.
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Royal Observatory Greenwich
Blackheath AvenueThe home of Greenwich Mean Time and London’s only planetarium. Learn about time in the Peter Harrison Galleries and watch planetarium shows throughout the day. The Sky Tonight. Daily planetarium show that explores the Moon, constellations, planets and deep space objects.
One of London’s oldest palaces, constructed in the 14th century and home to royalty for three centuries. Palace and house closed to the public.
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St. James's Palace
Marlborough RoadOne of London’s oldest palaces, constructed in the 14th century and home to royalty for three centuries. Palace and house closed to the public.
Sir Christopher Wren’s 300-year-old cathedral has stunning mosaics. Climb up the dome to the Whispering Gallery and a further 271 steps to the Golden Gallery for a classic London panorama. Then head down to the crypt, with its monuments to Wren and Lord Nelson.
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St. Paul's Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren’s 300-year-old cathedral has stunning mosaics. Climb up the dome to the Whispering Gallery and a further 271 steps to the Golden Gallery for a classic London panorama. Then head down to the crypt, with its monuments to Wren and Lord Nelson.
This breathtaking bridge, designed in 1884, is one of London’s most famous landmarks (not to be confused with its less grand, but much older neighbour, London Bridge). It has wonderful views; check out the glass floor on the high walkways.
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Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge RoadThis breathtaking bridge, designed in 1884, is one of London’s most famous landmarks (not to be confused with its less grand, but much older neighbour, London Bridge). It has wonderful views; check out the glass floor on the high walkways.
This historic landmark includes the Bloody Tower, Traitors’ Gate and the Jewel House, home of the Crown Jewels. Enjoy free guided tours by ‘Beefeaters’ (Yeoman Warders). Book ahead online to attend the nightly Ceremony of the Keys, which dates back to 1340 (tickets are free)
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Tower of London
This historic landmark includes the Bloody Tower, Traitors’ Gate and the Jewel House, home of the Crown Jewels. Enjoy free guided tours by ‘Beefeaters’ (Yeoman Warders). Book ahead online to attend the nightly Ceremony of the Keys, which dates back to 1340 (tickets are free)
Ascend the tallest building in Western Europe in a high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lift. At 1,017ft, on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor – and if you can’t see four major landmarks you can visit again for free!
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The View from The Shard
32 London Bridge StAscend the tallest building in Western Europe in a high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lift. At 1,017ft, on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor – and if you can’t see four major landmarks you can visit again for free!
Consecrated in 1065, this abbey is the crowning and burial site of most English monarchs. It also houses Poets’ Corner, the burial place of Charles Dickens and other famous writers. Mon-Sat, please check for times. Adult £20; child £9.
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Westminster Abbey
20 Deans YdConsecrated in 1065, this abbey is the crowning and burial site of most English monarchs. It also houses Poets’ Corner, the burial place of Charles Dickens and other famous writers. Mon-Sat, please check for times. Adult £20; child £9.
Arts & Culture
The world’s largest library, also boasts temporary exhibitions and a great permanent collection. 28 Apr-29 Aug: Russian Revolution: Hope, Tragedy, Myths. A century on from the Russian Revolution, this major exhibition shines new light on the unprecedented and world-changing...
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The British Library
96 Euston RdThe world’s largest library, also boasts temporary exhibitions and a great permanent collection. 28 Apr-29 Aug: Russian Revolution: Hope, Tragedy, Myths. A century on from the Russian Revolution, this major exhibition shines new light on the unprecedented and world-changing...
Parks & Nature
London’s oldest botanic garden, founded in 1673 as the Apothecaries’ Garden. Admire 5,000 species of plants, especially medicinal ones including tropical plants in glasshouses. Free daily tours.
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Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital RdLondon’s oldest botanic garden, founded in 1673 as the Apothecaries’ Garden. Admire 5,000 species of plants, especially medicinal ones including tropical plants in glasshouses. Free daily tours.
Better known as Kew Gardens, this botanical research centre and World Heritage Site contains plants from across the globe, with Victorian tropical greenhouses and a Chinese pagoda. The Xstrata Treetop Walkway offers great views. Throughout 2017 you can also experience The Hive, an enormous aluminium structure modelled on a beehive surrounded by wildflowers. Buzzing and lights play inside it in response to a real beehive. Gardens to 25 Mar daily 10am-5.30pm. Adult £9; child £3.50; charges for special exhibitions.
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Royal Botanic Gardens Car Park
Better known as Kew Gardens, this botanical research centre and World Heritage Site contains plants from across the globe, with Victorian tropical greenhouses and a Chinese pagoda. The Xstrata Treetop Walkway offers great views. Throughout 2017 you can also experience The Hive, an enormous aluminium structure modelled on a beehive surrounded by wildflowers. Buzzing and lights play inside it in response to a real beehive. Gardens to 25 Mar daily 10am-5.30pm. Adult £9; child £3.50; charges for special exhibitions.
Entertainment & Activities
This uniquely thrilling attraction will whisk you back to the capital’s most perilous past. See, hear, feel and (ahem) smell the chillingly-amusing characters of the ‘bad old days’ as they come to life before you. Not for small children or the faint-hearted!
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The London Dungeon
Westminster Bridge RoadThis uniquely thrilling attraction will whisk you back to the capital’s most perilous past. See, hear, feel and (ahem) smell the chillingly-amusing characters of the ‘bad old days’ as they come to life before you. Not for small children or the faint-hearted!
This London icon is one of the world’s largest observation wheels. Interactive screens in each pod give an insight into landmarks on view. Joint tickets with the London Aquarium, London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Shrek’s Adventure! available.
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London Eye
This London icon is one of the world’s largest observation wheels. Interactive screens in each pod give an insight into landmarks on view. Joint tickets with the London Aquarium, London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Shrek’s Adventure! available.
Immerse yourself in the animal kingdom at the world’s oldest scientific zoo, which has over 750 species. As well as an aquarium, penguin beach and endangered Sumatran tigers, you can see the new Land of the Lions exhibition
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ZSL London Zoo
Outer CircleImmerse yourself in the animal kingdom at the world’s oldest scientific zoo, which has over 750 species. As well as an aquarium, penguin beach and endangered Sumatran tigers, you can see the new Land of the Lions exhibition
Celebrated home of life-sized wax figures depicting famous people from the worlds of entertainment, politics, sport and history, from the Queen to Adele. Pose with your favourite legend and visit the terrifying Chamber of Horrors and Scream experiences.
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Madame Tussauds London
Marylebone RoadCelebrated home of life-sized wax figures depicting famous people from the worlds of entertainment, politics, sport and history, from the Queen to Adele. Pose with your favourite legend and visit the terrifying Chamber of Horrors and Scream experiences.
This curiosity-filled museum with over 700 artefacts is a hit across the globe. Explore a range of oddities over six floors, from a shrunken head to an albino alligator and the world’s tallest man. Daily 10am-midnight. Adult £27.95; child £20.95.
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Ripley's Believe It or Not! London
This curiosity-filled museum with over 700 artefacts is a hit across the globe. Explore a range of oddities over six floors, from a shrunken head to an albino alligator and the world’s tallest man. Daily 10am-midnight. Adult £27.95; child £20.95.
One of Europe’s largest aquariums with 500 species of global marine life and walk-through tank tunnels, including a scary glass walkway above 16 sharks. From 1 Apr: Ocean Invaders: Enter the World of the Jellyfish. Get up close to a swarm of jellyfish!
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SEA LIFE Centre London Aquarium
Westminster Bridge RoadOne of Europe’s largest aquariums with 500 species of global marine life and walk-through tank tunnels, including a scary glass walkway above 16 sharks. From 1 Apr: Ocean Invaders: Enter the World of the Jellyfish. Get up close to a swarm of jellyfish!
Ride the magical 4D ‘DreamWorks Tours’ bus to step into live actor fairytale-themed shows where you can meet the characters from the much-loved films. Joint tickets with London Eye, London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life London Aquarium available. Please check for times.
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Shrek's Adventure London
Westminster Bridge RoadRide the magical 4D ‘DreamWorks Tours’ bus to step into live actor fairytale-themed shows where you can meet the characters from the much-loved films. Joint tickets with London Eye, London Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Sea Life London Aquarium available. Please check for times.
Explore behind the scenes of the legendary Harry Potter films in The Making of Harry Potter tour. Visitors can witness iconic sets including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut, Diagon Alley and a recreation of Platform 9 3/4. A fascinating insight into filmmaking. Please check for times....
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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Studio Tour DriveExplore behind the scenes of the legendary Harry Potter films in The Making of Harry Potter tour. Visitors can witness iconic sets including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut, Diagon Alley and a recreation of Platform 9 3/4. A fascinating insight into filmmaking. Please check for times....