12 Most Beautiful Places To Visit in London - 2024 England Travel Guide

Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral...there are endless places to visit in London. The British capital is in fact a container of attractions to be discovered. To take you away from the embarrassment of choice, we suggest you 10 places that are really worth seeing in the capital and therefore must not be missing from your itinerary. We are sure you will not be disappointed. They are all very popular places, so we advise you to get your ticket online. You will avoid the queue at the ticket office and you can immediately start enjoying the experience!

1. Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Risen from the ashes of the original Cathedral, razed to the ground by the fire that struck London in 1656, St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings in the city, in total contrast with the modern context of skyscrapers and buildings in which it is inserted .

St. Paul's Cathedral has always hosted some of London's most significant events, such as Churchill's funeral or Lady Diana's wedding to Prince Charles. The building is easily recognizable thanks to its wonderful central dome and is characterized by an English Baroque style. To take the perfect photo, admire it from the Millennium Bridge, the famous bridge that also appeared in the Harry Potter saga films.

2. Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge is the most famous drawbridge in the world and connects the Tower of London to the Southwark area. It offers one of the most appreciated and photographed views of the city, especially when it is illuminated.

Visitors can walk the glass walkway 42 meters above the Thames that connects the two neo-Gothic towers. When it was built, it had to allow even very bulky ships to pass on the river, which is why it had a hydraulic mechanism that exploited the power of steam. Since the 1970s it has been replaced by a diesel-powered system, although the Victorian Machine Rooms, located in the North tower, can be visited and house the period gears.

3. London Eye.

If you love to admire the city from above and have the world under your feet, then you certainly can't miss the London Eye, the famous London Ferris wheel. On the contrary, if you suffer from vertigo or otherwise don't feel comfortable at great heights, we advise you to admire it from below.

Also known as the Millennium Wheel, it is in fact one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world: the large cabins reach up to 135 m in height, offering a 360° view of London, you will really have the city and the Thames under your feet! The complete tour takes about 30 minutes and, in addition to the basic ticket, you can also purchase various experiences at a higher price, such as booking an entire cabin just for you.

4. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.

Trafalgar Square is an excellent starting point for discovering the city. It is a majestic square that somewhat represents the heart of London, as the main arteries of the city branch off from it, including the Strand, the road that leads to the City, The Mall, the avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace and Whitehall the street leading to the House of Parliament. Nelson's Column stands tall in the center, while on either side it is surrounded by important buildings, such as the National Gallery art museum.

The National Gallery is one of the most important museums in London, as well as being one of the most visited. Inside there are more than 2,300 paintings from various periods. With two floors full of rooms and wonderful collections, works ranging from the Middle Ages to post-impressionism and which are representative of the mastery of the greatest interpreters of Western art. Estimate at least 2 hours for the visit, better 3 hours!

5. Big Ben, Westminster.

The Palace of Westminster is the building that houses the English Parliament, known in English as the House of Parliament. It is a real show of Gothic architecture and, inside, it is made up of 1,200 rooms and also houses the seats of the two chambers of the English Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Right next to the Palace of Westminster is what is one of the symbols of London: the famous Big Ben, or the Clock Tower, which houses what is considered the most accurate clock in the world. It is mistakenly believed that Big Ben is the name of the clock, in truth it is the name of the bell, installed by Benjamin Hall, weighing 13 and a half tons.

Finally, behind the Palace of Parliament you can find the famous Westminster Abbey, or Westminster Abbey, one of the most beautiful in London. This is where the most important celebrations are held, such as the coronation of kings and queens (since the distant 1066) and royal weddings. Inside, don't miss the Lady Chapel, the most beautiful chapel in the entire Abbey, and the Poets' Corner, where some exponents of English literature rest, including Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare.

6. Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace is perhaps the most famous palace in all of the United Kingdom. It is, in fact, the residence of the English monarchy and is located at the end of The Mall, the famous street that connects the building to Trafalgar Square. It is spread over a truly extensive area: the majestic palace has 775 rooms and is surrounded by a large royal park that extends for 20 hectares.

At 10:45, make sure you are at Buckingham Palace, you will be able to attend the changing of Her Majesty's Guard, a ritual that has taken place every day since 1660. Pay attention to the number of guards: if there are 4, it means that the Queen is at home. The changing of the guard takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays (weather permitting).

7. Natural History Museum.

A few steps from the Victoria & Albert Museum you can visit one of the most beautiful and famous museums in London: the Natural History Museum, or the city's natural history museum. It is a perfect museum to visit even with children, they will surely love it!

Built between 1873 and 1880, initially the Natural History Museum was only supposed to house a collection of skeletons, fossils and plants from the British Museum. But, over the years, the museum expanded, also absorbing the Geological Museum which was located nearby, thus becoming one of the most visited attractions in the English capital. The magic begins as soon as you cross the front door: the hall houses the skeletons of some large animals, such as the diplodocus dinosaur and the mastodon. From here begins a wonderful collection dedicated to life on earth through the millennia.

8. Hyde Park.

Between one visit and another you certainly cannot miss Hyde Park, the famous park in London. It is the ideal place to take a break between one cultural visit and another, especially on beautiful sunny days, which are not always a guarantee in London.

Hyde Park is one of the eight royal parks in London and covers 124 hectares. It is much loved by Londoners, who come here to relax away from the traffic and frenetic life of the city, spending a few hours with their family or playing sports. Enjoy a walk along the large tree-lined avenues, have a picnic by the lake and go to the Lady Diana Memorial, with its beautiful fountain. Don't miss the events organized throughout the year either: in winter you can lose yourself in the magic of the large winter amusement park, in summer you can take part in one of the many festivals and concerts.

9. Piccadilly Circus and Soho.

If New York has its Times Square, in London you will find Piccadilly Circus, the most famous crossroads in the English capital. It is located in the heart of the city and is also easily accessible thanks to the metro, which stops right at Piccadilly Circus Station.

Today it represents a real meeting place, both for Londoners and tourists, and it is the point of the city that never sleeps: even at night it seems like day due to the gigantic signs and large luminous advertising screens.

From here you can also easily reach Soho, one of the most famous districts of London. It is the hub of the city's nightlife, lively both day and night. It also represents the district of the London LGBT scene and is full of clubs of all kinds, including red light venues. Enjoy the evening along the most famous street, Regent St, but Dean St, Frith St, Beak St and Old Compton St are also very lively.

Piccadilly Circus is located in the heart of London, an easy walk from Trafalgar Square (500m, 6 min)

10. British Museum.

The British Museum is one of the most important museums in London, as well as being one of the most visited. Also in this case, as for many museums, admission is free and allows everyone to be able to approach the world of art and culture.

Specifically, the British Museum houses one of the largest and most valuable collections of archaeological finds in the world. Walking in the various exhibition areas it is possible to observe artifacts that bear witness to the origins of our history. The objects preserved here are over 8 million and include the first stone engravings from the prehistoric era, the very first coins, many examples of hieroglyphics but also Chinese ceramics and works of art from the 20th century. The famous "Rosetta stone", the stone that allowed scholars to decipher the ancient writings, is also kept in the British Museum.

11. Camden Market.

Camden Town is the hipster and alternative neighborhood of London. Get ready for a truly unique atmosphere: here the premises are housed in old recovered containers, the walls of the buildings have numerous murals and particular sculptures and the streets are full of unique little shops and workshops, which really sell everything, from objects vintage to design products.

Enjoy a few hours in this neighborhood, do some shopping in search of the perfect souvenir and don't miss the Camden Market, the wonderful neighborhood market, active every day with lots of stalls. Pay your respects to the famous Amy Winehouse in front of the Amy Winehouse Statue and stop for a drink at The Ice Wharf, one of the neighborhood's most popular pubs.

12. Notting Hill and Portobello.

London is a city full of unique neighborhoods, each with its own soul and atmosphere.

Notting Hill is one of the most elegant districts of the English capital. Today it is mainly a residential district, with no particular attractions, but it has become famous for being the location of the film of the same name Notting Hill, the 1999 romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. And between a walk through the streets and the colorful houses, you certainly cannot miss Portobello Road, a street full of vintage shops, nice clubs and characterized by a wonderful bohemian charm.

Nottingh Hill is located in West London. Portobello Road is within walking distance of Kensington Palace (2km, 25 min)