Whether you’re in London for a few days for fun or even scoping out the best places to retire, the city can be a bit overwhelming for those who are unfamiliar with in. And for good reason: Having been founded by the ancient Romans, London has been
a major hub of the island for nearly 2,000 years—which means it’s not only an enormous city, but it’s brimming with things to see or experience.
Here are some of the most popular sites you may want to check out for yourself, along with some handy tips:
Most of the really big ones are happily pretty much right next to each other, excluding the Eye, which is right across the Thames. If you’re taking the Tube, I highly recommend getting off at Westminster and then going out via exit 3, because as you emerge from the tunnels and look up, Big Ben is looming right above you. (Well, technically, Big Ben is the clock; the entire tower is Elizabeth Tower.) Sadly, you can’t tour the Tower itself unless you’re a UK resident, but heck, the most easily recognizable image of London is totally free to visit and photograph, so you really can’t complain.
The building attached to the Tower is Parliament, which you can pay to tour—something a lot of people don’t seem to realize. It’s actually really neat; the site has been used for more than 900 years, both as a palace (until the time of Henry VIII), as well as a seat of government. Plus, the government of the U.K. is fascinatingly different from the U.S.—for instance, the Prime Minister is not directly elected, but rather is the leader of the political party that receives the most votes.
To the left (while facing Elizabeth Tower) is Westminster Bridge, and across that and to the left is the London Eye, a slow-moving Ferris wheel with air-conditioned glass compartments. It’s a nice ride, taking about 30 minutes, and grants you plenty of time to take pictures. However, many people get bored after 15 minutes, and I would recommend the Eye at the end of your trip, so that when you look at all of London from some 440 feet in the air, you actually can recognize the buildings and bridges you see.
Then, when facing the Elizabeth Tower, Westminster Abbey—where the kings and queens of England have been crowned since 1066—is to your right. You can pay to tour this one as well, which grants you access to many areas of the grounds along with the Abbey. Pictures are not allowed inside, but there is a free audio tour you can download on your phone narrated by Jeremy Irons that comes highly recommended.
From Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace is about a 15-minute walk (there really aren’t any Tube stations close enough to make it worth your while). The Changing the Guard often happens at 11:30 daily, but you definitely need to check ahead of time. You also need to show up 30-45 minutes early to get a good spot—when facing the front gates, the right side generally offers better views, but if you don’t want to stand, the fountain in front of the Palace is a nice place to sit. Look up what the different parts of the Changing symbolize. And, for the late summer and early autumn, you can tour the inside of the Palace as well.
