A London Tourist’s Top 10

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London is one of the great cities in the world and is a traveller’s paradise. Where else but London would you find the Sky Garden at the top of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building. Below are 10 more things every London tourist should do in this great city.

[ctt template=”5″ link=”ZA3fk” via=”yes” ]”When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” – Samuel Johnson[/ctt]

Tower of London

Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower of London is one of Britain’s oldest historical buildings. Visit Britain states the Tower is a World Heritage Site and one of the very few intact medieval buildings in the world. The Tower has a museum with an extensive collection of armour and weapons. But the highlight of the museum is the Crown Jewels which are valued at $24 billion! Make sure you take the tour with one of the guards that live at the Tower of London. You’ll find out all of the interesting and gory stories that happened at the Tower!

Buckingham Palace

No trip to London is complete without seeing where the owners of the Crown Jewels live. Every summer Buckingham Palace opens its doors to allow visitors a rare look inside. If you don’t want to pay to go inside you can still witness a bit of British tradition through the changing of the guards. This takes place (almost) every morning at 11am in front of the palace. Check the palace website for time and date details!

Madame Tussauds

Getting a glimpse of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace is extremely rare! Why not get a good look at their wax figures at Madam Tussauds? The wax museum can be found at many locations around the world but the original is in London. Alongside the Royal Family you will find many other figures of history and culture. You’ll even see some of the 2012 London Olympics stars such as Jessica Ennis-Hill and Usain Bolt.

Olympic Stadium

After seeing Jessica Ennis-Hill as a wax figure you can visit the stadium where she won her gold medal in 2012. The Olympic Stadium features a museum showing how the Olympics was put on and sells Olympic souvenirs in the shop.

The Olympic Park next to the stadium is a great place to relax, too. It is also home to the ArcelorMittal Orbit which is Britain’s largest piece of public art. Visitors can go up the art installation for great views of east London. Then, slide back down to the bottom on the world’s longest, fastest, tallest tunnel slide!

Harry Potter Studios

If sport is not your ‘cup of tea’ then perhaps a trip to the Harry Potter Studios will be ‘up your street’! Although technically not in the city of London, the Warner Brothers Studios in Leavesden is only a short trip away by overground train. Included in the tour are the actual sets used in the films and a unique chance to go behind the scenes to experience how the films were made. A true Harry Potter loving fan would not miss this! Make sure you book tickets in advance as it is almost always sold out!

Science Museum

Moving on from movie magic to real life magic is a trip to the Science Museum. Enclosed in the walls of the museum is Britain’s scientific history, and there’s a lot of it! For instance you can see the first jet engine and Stephenson’s Rocket. The Science Museum is also renowned for its space section. Currently the descent module that British astronaut Tim Peake used to return to earth is on display, pretty cool if you ask me! Entry to the museum is free (although special exhibitions require tickets).

British Museum

Moving from the stars to the history of the world, the British Museum is one of the oldest and most comprehensive museums in the world. It has the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt, my favourite section of this museum. The British museum features artifacts from every corner of the globe dating back from prehistoric times right up to the 21st century. Proving it’s staying power, some objects have been with the museum since it opened in 1753!

Natural History Museum

The third museum on this list is the Natural History Museum which examines the history of our planet. The museum is famous for its collection of dinosaur skeletons and life size cast of a Diplodocus skeleton greeting visitors in the main hall. The Natural History Museum works closely with leading naturalist and television personality David Attenborough. According to virtual reality news site Road To VR, the museum now features a virtual reality documentary by Attenborough that follows a dive around the Great Barrier Reef.

Tate Modern

After examining the real world it is time to take a trip to the imaginary at the Tate Modern. Never to shy away from controversy, the Tate Modern has featured some of the world’s most famous and infamous pieces of modern and contemporary art. The Culture Trip made a top 10 list of unmissable art works in the Tate which includes works by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. Within the Tate Modern, you also have stunning views over the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral.

The London Eye

What better way to finish off a trip to London than to take in the entire city from the London Eye? It is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel and offers panoramic views of the city. On a clear day visitors can see as far as 25 miles!

Travel Information

Getting around London is very simple. All the places on this list (except the Warner Studios) can be reached by the London Underground. I recommend buying an Oyster Card that will allow you to travel around on London’s transport system with discounted fares. The card also gives you discounts at selected restaurants and venues!

For international travellers flying into London you’ll likely enter through either Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. Both airports have express transport systems that will take you direct to central London after your flight lands. However, if your arriving flight is early in the morning or late at night, both airports offer on-site hotels. For example, Gatwick airport parking providers Parking4Less made an extensive list of the on-airport hotels available at the London aviation hub that offer luxury as well as convenience. This is great for travellers who arrive between 12am and 6am and want to get a good rest after a long flight before they start their London adventure.

I hope that this list and travel information has been useful. London is a beautiful city with many destinations to visit and explore.

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Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

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About Lesley

Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!