One of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, London is a terrific place to visit. Regardless of whether you’re drawn to this remarkable place for its royal palaces, historic churches, world-class museums, innovative architecture, diverse food scene, or legendary soccer clubs—or you’re hoping to experience a little bit of everything while in town—you’ll encounter no shortage of incredible attractions here to keep you busy for the duration of your trip and then some.
The greater London area is famous for its high concentration of royal palaces, many of which are still in use by members of the royal family today. Kensington Palace and its surrounding gardens are the stately home of the Prince and Princess of Wales, while Windsor Castle is the world’s oldest castle still in use as a private residence. Members of the reigning monarch’s family have been making use of its opulent rooms for personal enjoyment and official state visits for centuries now.
For many London visitors, one of the biggest highlights of a trip to England’s capital city is a stop at Westminster Abbey. Renowned as one of the world’s most iconic churches, Westminster Abbey is the site where dozens of kings and queens have had their coronation ceremonies—and the same place a significant number of them were laid to rest. Another religious institution that’s a major London tourist attraction is St. Paul’s Cathedral, where royal weddings and state funerals often take place. For those visitors whose minds are always putting together an efficient itinerary, St. Paul’s is just down the street from the legendary Tower of London and nearby Tower Bridge.
Given its rich history, it comes as no surprise that London is home to a fabulous assortment of museums devoted to a wide variety of subjects. The British royal family’s Royal Collection is considered the largest private art collection in the world, and art lovers won’t want to miss the chance to view some of its many masterpieces for themselves on the walls of various London-area attractions like The Queen’s Gallery, Apsley House, and Hampton Court Palace. Families with an eye out for an interactive, kid-friendly museum or two will love the Household Cavalry Museum, where they can watch the changing of the guard and see a working stable, and The Postal Museum, a relatively new attraction that features a miniature train ride through underground mail tunnels that the entire group won’t soon forget. And when it’s time to take a step back and soak it all in, The View from The Shard observation deck provides spectacular sky-high sightlines of the whole metropolis.
Keep reading for more information regarding some of London’s most popular tourist attractions, including a bunch more museums, gardens, historic sites, and even a zoo.
