Location: London
Top Things to do in London
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Things to do in London, England: The Best Historic Sites
The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
Restaurants in London
1. Tower of London
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65,488 reviews
Discover London’s castle – a secure fortress, royal palace and infamous prison where you can explore 1000 years of history. Prepare to be dazzled by the breathtaking, world famous Crown Jewels. Take a Yeoman Warder tour and hear captivating stories of pain and passion, treachery and torture. Meet the famous ravens and discover why they are known as the guardians of the Tower and marvel at the imposing White Tower, a magnificent example of Normal architecture at the heart of the Tower of London.
Reviewed By cherylmallen - Bristol, United Kingdom
We’ve always said we should go to see the Tower but have never got there. This time we did! Bought the tickets online and decided not to do the Beefeater tour glad we made that decision as the crowds were so big and we felt we’d not hear enough. We opted for the audio guides which we found very useful. So amazing to walk in the footsteps of all those historical people (I’ve probably read too much Hilary Mantel, Philippa Gregory, David Starkey and CJ Sansom!) Moved to see the red roses by the Chapel altar, as we’d just passed the anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s beheading. The whole place was clean, tidy and a credit to the people who care for these amazing palaces. Even the cafe. Well worth the entry charge, so glad we went and would do it again. Big tip get there early! Thank you
2. HMS Belfast
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,807 reviews
London’s warship experience. Climb on board and explore all 9 decks. Permanently moored on the Thames.
Reviewed By jobyjugs
Well worth a visit if your in the area, fascinating to actually step onboard a war ship you can practically walk round the whole ship, very interesting facts to be learned.
3. Buckingham Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29,134 reviews
Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the focus of national and royal celebrations as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony. Explore the magnificent State Rooms which are open to visitors for 10 weeks each summer and on selected dates during winter and spring. During a visit to Buckingham Palace, visitors can see the 19 magnificent State Rooms, which provide the setting for ceremonial occasions and official entertaining. All rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.
Reviewed By lpMaggi713 - Baltimore, United States
Just before leaving on our trip, we were very lucky to get an email from the Royal Collection Trust saying that they would be having private tours of Buckingham Place in late March and early April for £ 85 each. We have always wanted to tour the palace, but we are never in London when it is normally opened in the summer months while the Queen is at Balmoral. We signed up right away for a tour on Friday, March 29, at 5:30 PM. This was going to be 2-1/2 hour tour with a private tour guide, limited participants, a glass of champagne, an official souvenir booklet on Buckingham Palace and a discount in the museum shop. Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to take pictures. Laura P. made all the arrangements for me to have a wheelchair. She was so helpful and kind. We were met at the front entrance to the palace by Abi, a delightful representative of the palace, who stayed with me the whole tour. Our tour guide was Roz and what an incredible tour guide she was! Her command of the knowledge and history of the palace made it come alive for us. She gave us a comprehensive tour of the 19 State Rooms where the Queen and members of the royal family host guests for state, ceremonial and official affairs. We were able to see the Grand Staircase, Grand Entrance and Marble Hall, Green Drawing Room, Guard Chamber, Music Room, The Throne Room, The Picture Gallery, The Ballroom, Blue Drawing Room, Bow Room, East & West Gallery, State Dining Room, The Ball Supper Room, White Drawing Room with a secret doorway for the Queen, the Silk Tapestry Room, The Ante Room, The Lobby, Minister’s landing & Staircase We were completely awe struck by the opulent rooms with enormous chandeliers, candelabra, paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens; plus more, exquisite English and French furniture and Sèvres porcelain. Each and every room had some of the most magnificent pieces from the Royal Collection. Some interesting facts about the Palace: 450 people are employed there; it has 775 rooms; there are offices and rooms below the quadrangle; the palace was completed in 1834; there are 200 bedrooms, 79 bathrooms, and 92 offices; the total square footage is 830,000 sq. ft., which includes a post office, swimming pool, medical offices and a movie theater. There are 2 full-time personnel to take care of the 350 clocks in the palace. I was escorted back to the front entrance by Richard. It was really a thrilling experience to tour the palace, and we are so appreciative of the opportunity to do so. If you have the chance, you must do this. The Royal Flag is flown when the Queen is in residence.
4. Wallace Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,471 reviews
A free to visit, national museum in the heart of central London. Originally a private collection, the artwork was bequeathed to the nation by Lady Wallace in 1897. This attraction features one of the world's best collections of French 18th-century pictures, porcelain and furniture, plus a fantastic array of 17th-century paintings.
Reviewed By RoySensei - Mount Claremont, Australia
This is a MUST SEE - conveniently located off Oxford Street, in the Wallace Collection you'll have the most delightful collection of art works, suits of armour, elegant writing desks, exquisite porcelain, and other magnificent heritage items. Arrive mid morning and you can spend a whole day there - time very well spent and you won;t be disappointed. It's a one-stop-shop of culture and heritage.
5. Somerset House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 989 reviews
Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. During summer months 55 fountains dance in the courtyard, and in winter you can skate on London's favourite ice rink. Somerset House also hosts open-air concerts and films, contemporary art, design and fashion exhibitions, family workshops and free guided tours of spaces usually hidden to visitors. The Trust's mission is to conserve and maintain Somerset House to the highest standards and to develop the site as a public space which is universally recognised as a world class visitor attraction and centre of excellence for culture and the arts.
Reviewed By EmmanuelRayLive
London Fashion Week, Emmanuel Ray with Boris Johnson. British Fashion Council. Flashback photo 25th anniversary.
6. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,568 reviews
Founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, Shakespeare's Globe is a unique international resource dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare's work and the playhouse for which he wrote, through the connected means of performance and education.Together, the Globe Theatre Company, Shakespeare's Globe Exhibition and Globe Education seek to further the experience and international understanding of Shakespeare in performance.
Reviewed By 543nickyk - Uckfield, United Kingdom
Hands down the best production of A Midsummer Nights Dream that I have ever seen (and as my favourite Shakespeare play I’ve seen a few!). The cast were eloquent, hysterical and a few in our party who weren’t familiar with the play managed to follow the story line. The costumes were bright and original, the addition of music to the production was really expertly done (Lysander’s romantic ballads had us in stitches). Bravo, encore and thank you.
7. Spencer House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
Restored to the full splendor of its late eighteenth-century appearance, this manor house was once the residence of the Spencer family, whose famous member was Diana, Princess of Wales.
Reviewed By 309judyg - Melbourne, Australia
A little known gem in the heart of London. Well worth a visit with a knowledgeable guide explaining the history of this magnificent house.
8. Westminster Abbey
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,153 reviews
Westminster Abbey was initially built by Henry III in 1245 and it is one of the most important Gothic buildings of England. At first home of Benedictine monks, the coronation church since 1066 and the final resting place of 17 monarchs. It contains a treasury full of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles, books and various other artefacts plus the most significant collection of monumental sculptures of the UK. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the Abbey's Triforium opened in June 2018. Explore over 1,000 years of history in this truly unique space, high above the Abbey floor.
Reviewed By Aimco1998
First visit to this historic building and I was not disappointed ! The free audio guide is a must brilliant commentary from Jeremy irons provides fascinating insight and history into this incredible building . Stunning architecture and sculptures fill every corner. Parts of the building are not easy accessible narrow passage ways and steps are not easy for anyone with walking difficulties ! Helpful friendly staff and easy distance from Westminster tube station make it a must if you are in London
9. Abbey Road Studios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 484 reviews
This studio has stood at the forefront of the recording industry for many years, which is particularly noteworthy as the recording studio used by the famous Beatles during the 1960s and 1970s.
Reviewed By 116rogerb - Huddersfield, United Kingdom
Brilliant afternoon listening for over two hours to the brilliant presenters who gave a detailed, amusing and wonderfully entertaining history of Abbey Road Studios on the 50th anniversary of the famous photograph of the Beatles zebra crossing. The place is steeped in music nostalgia and is a must for music fans of all ages. Our second visit to these lectures and just as entertaining and riveting as the year before.
10. Hampstead
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
This charming town lies northwest of London and features many popular attractions including the Sigmund Freud Museum, Fenton House and John Keats' House.
Reviewed By FamilySkiers2014 - London, United Kingdom
Hampstead is a lovely village off the Northern line that has has a nice little renaissance over the past 15 years with more local shops displacing chain restaurants, banks and mobile phone stores, though too many real estate offices remain. There are a variety of interesting pubs, resturants and local museums and sights and there is Hampstead Heath right next door. A great day out.
