What are the main tourist sights to see in London

Welcome to London. There’s something for everyone in this amazing city. But if you’re only here briefly and want to see the main London sights, then here are the 10 most visited tourist destinations. 

» See more – 10 tips for tourists visiting London

Tower of London 

The first is the Tower of London, which is one of Great Britain’s most important symbols. The fortress has a thousand-year history full of mysterious legends and secrets. Not only did it serve as a royal palace, but also a prison, a zoo, a mint, and a royal arsenal, which will undoubtedly raise your interest. 

The Tower is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm on Sundays and Mondays and opens at 9 am every other day. Tickets cost 24.70 pounds. If you’re interested in exhibits and historical reconstructions, then you should book a tour. 

The closest Underground stations are Tower Hill station on the District Line and London Bridge station on the Northern Line. 

Tower Bridge 

The Tower Bridge is over the Tower of London. It opens up two or three times a day to let ships go along the Thames. You can go on a tour inside the tower that has an unbelievable view of the city from the top. You can avoid ticket counter lines by buying your ticket online here. 

It’s open from 10 to 6:30 from April to September, and from 9:30 to 6 from October to March. It’s closed on December 24-26 and opens at noon on January 1. 

The closest Underground stations are Tower Hill station on the District Line and London Bridge station on the Northern Line. 

Big Ben 

The famous Big Ben and the Parliament building where the British government has been meeting for 5 centuries are among the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Visitors will see how parliamentary debates happen, how the committees work, can go and see the palace’s maze and enjoy the beautiful Gothic architecture. 

Only locals can tour the tower. Tourists are offered Saturday entrance to parliament. Tickets cost 18.50 pounds or 7.50 pounds for children. There are days with free entrance and there are no tours while parliament is in session. You can get here while on a foot tour of Westminster. 

The closest Underground station is Westminster station on the Jubilee Line. 

The London Eye 

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the Thames’s southern bank that offers a wonderful view from 135 meters in the air. It’s one of the city’s most modern tourist attractions and can handle about 800 guests at a time. 

It’s open every day from 11 to 6. The schedule does change sometimes, such as during the summer when it’s open 10 to 8:30. You can buy tickets online here. 

The closest Underground stations are Westminster station on the Jubilee, District and Circle Lines, Embankment station on the Northern, Jubilee, Bakerloo, District and Circle Lines, and Charing Cross station on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines. 

Buckingham Palace 

Buckingham Palace is her Majesty’s home and is open to visitors just a few weeks a year. You can feel like the Queen’s guest in the 775-room palace that’s filled with family treasures and delicate furniture, decorated with Rembrandt’s and Canaletto’s paintings, and home to a beautiful flower garden you can walk through and enjoy. 

From July 20 to August 31 it’s open from 9:30 to 7:30, and the last tour starts at 5:15. From September 1 to September 29 it’s open from 9:30 to 6:30 and the last tour starts at 4:15. Adult tickets cost 25 pounds and children’s tickets cost 14 pounds, but there are discounts for students, retirees, and family tickets. If you want, you can buy them in advance (here for example). 

The closest Underground stations are Victoria station on the Victoria, District and Circle Lines, St. James Park station on the District and Circle Lines and Hyde Park Corner station on the Piccadilly Line. 

Trafalgar Square 

Trafalgar Square is the intersection of Westminster’s three main streets. Admiral Nelson’s column is in the center and is surrounded by huge sculptures of lions and fountains. This is where the famous London National Gallery is and you can enjoy the works of Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso there, for free. 

Walk around on your own, or learn more about its history on a tour where the square will be just one of the interesting things you’ll experience. 

The closest Underground station is Charing Cross station on the Northern and Bakerloo lines. 

Covent Garden 

Covent Garden is a borough centered around the location of a former fruit and vegetable market that’s now a major shopping destination. This is one of the city’s main tourist locations, and it’s full of small artisan stands and brand shops along the narrow stone streets This is where you can see the London Transport Museum and the Royal Opera House which is known as Covent Garden. 

The closest Underground stations are Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line, and Charing Cross station on the Northern and Bakerloo Lines. 

Covent Garden, London: book hotel in

St Paul’s Cathedral 

The English St Paul’s Cathedral isn’t just a symbol of spirituality and the London bishop’s home; it’s a resting place for many famous British people. 

The cathedral is closed to tourists on Sundays, and otherwise it’s open from 8:30 to 4:30. Double-check the times in advance because they can change due to church holidays. You can get a ticket in advance using this link which will let you avoid the ticket counter’s lines. 

The closest Underground station is St. Paul’s station on the Central Line. 

British Museum 

The British Museum is the base of the historical and archeological center of Great Britain and one of the largest museums in the world. It’s full of items from all over the world and has unbelievable architecture, unusually beautiful glass ceilings and marble columns. 

Entrance is free and it’s open from 10 to 5:30. Some of the galleries are also open on Friday evenings. It’s closed on December 24-26 and January 1. Due to the wide variety of collections, it’s best to use a guide (there are interesting options here). 

The closest Underground stations are Tottenham Court Road station on the Central and Northern Lines and Holborn station on the Central Lines. 

Camden Town 

We want to end this list with an area that’s good if you’re tired of historical places and want to see a different side of London. Camden Town became a center of the liberal youth that prefers rock music and leather jackets, skateboards and bikes, and tattoos and piercings. You’ll see a huge number of stands, boutiques, food and of course entertaining clubs and pubs in Camden for tourists. 

The closest Underground stations are Camden Tower station on the Northern Line and Mornington Crescent station on the Northern Line. 

Camden Town, London: book hotel in

You can find London’s other tourist sights in a special article. 

Have a nice vacation!