Sightseeing OverviewBefore setting off sightseeing, it is wise for visitors to study a London Underground map, to get a feel for the straightforward color-coded system. Visitors should also bear in mind, however, that many of the Underground stations are very close to each other and many central areas are easily navigable on foot.
Walking the streets of London, or strolling through its parks, one realises that, in a city hailed for its ability to embrace modernity and change, the past is, however, never far away: there are four world heritage sites in London (the Palace of Westminster,
the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwhich and Kew Gardens) and some 40,000 listed buildings and structures. Three of Britain’s top 10 paying attractions and six of the top 10 free ones can be found in London. The London Eye, since it made its appearance on the banks of the Thames to mark the turn of the millennium, has since become the most popular attraction for visitors to the capital.
The tourist heart of London lies mainly on the north bank of the River Thames, with the chunk of flat land between South Kensington in the west to Tower Bridge in the east stuffed full of things to do and see. Starting in the west, there are the three major South Kensington Museums – the
Victoria &
Albert Museum, the
Natural History Museum and the
Science Museum. Moving eastwards, the next key attraction is
Buckingham Palace. A short walk away, through
St James’s Park, is Westminster, with the
Houses of Parliament,
Big Ben and
Westminster Abbey. From here, it is another short walk up Whitehall to
Trafalgar Square, with the
National Gallery and other attractions. This is where the ‘West End’ starts, heading slightly north to
Leicester Square – a busy tourist-infested piazza where many Londoners would not be seen dead – connecting up with
Piccadilly Circus to the west and
Covent Garden to the east, with the stately old
British Museum a little further away to the northeast. In the middle of the West End,
Theaterland and
Chinatown merge into Soho, with its nightlife and new media offices.
Along the river itself, on the north bank is the
Tate Britain gallery in the west, followed by Westminster and then the Embankment. Crossing over the River Thames from the Embankment can by done on the pedestrian
Hungerford Bridge. The south bank of the river now has its own throngs of tourists, at the
British Airways London Eye and
London Aquarium. This side of the river also dominates culturally, with the South Bank Center and, further east, the
Tate Modern and the
Globe Theater. Another pedestrian bridge, Lord Foster’s
Millennium Bridge, connects the Tate Modern with St Paul’s Cathedral, back on the north bank. From St Paul’s, it is possible for one to walk through the City of London, reaching the Tower of London further east. Tower Bridge connects this ancient seat of power to
City Hall, on the south bank, the new state-of-the-art home of London Mayor Ken Livingstone and the London Assembly, designed by Lord Foster (website:
www.london.gov.uk).
Tourist InformationVisit London Tel: 0906 133 7799 (24-hour general tourist information).
Website:
www.visitlondon.com London’s main tourist information center is the
Britain and London Visitor Center (
BLVC), 1 Lower Regent Street, SW1. Opening hours: 0930-1830 Mon, 0900-1830 Tue-Fri and 1000-1600 Sat-Sun (Jun-Sep, Sat-Sun 1000-1700).
There are various London Tourist Information Centers (TIC) situated throughout the city, including one at
Pepys House, 2 Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, SE10 (tel: 0870 608 2000) open daily 1000-1700; and one at
Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, SE1 (tel: (020) 7357 9168), open Tue-Sun 1000-1800, Mon closed.
City Information Center St Paul’s Churchyard (opposite St Paul’s Cathedral)
Tel: (020) 7332 1456.
Website:
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk Opening hours: Easter-Sep, daily 0930-1700; Oct-Mar, Mon-Fri 0930-1700, Sat 0930-1230, Sun closed.
PassesThe
London Pass (website:
www.londonpass.com) allows free access to over 50 attractions (including the London Aquarium, London Zoo, Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Buckingham Palace in summer). The ‘with transport’ option also includes transport on all London buses, Tubes and trains. The card is available for one, two, three or six days and can be purchased at the airport and tourist information offices around London. The card is fairly expensive though, so only worth buying if you are planning on doing a lot of sightseeing during your stay in London, or if you are pressed for time (card holder can avoid queues at many of the attractions).
Key Attractions:British Airways London Eye and County Hall Towering 135m (444ft) into the heavens, right in the heart of London, the
BA London Eye is literally an unmissable attraction. The world’s tallest observation wheel has become London’s most popular attraction, which usually means a ‘flight’ requires booking in advance and often queuing as well. However, the experience (one revolution of the wheel, lasting approximately 30 minutes) is absolutely worth it – the unparalleled views of the city reach as far away as 40km (25 miles).
Although the London Eye is the focus of the area, sitting right next door and directly across the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament is
County Hall, the former home of the Greater London Council. The enormous building is home to the
London Aquarium, which features over 350 different aquatic species from around the world, and some huge water tanks, and the
Dalí Universe, which contains over 500 works of art by the famous surrealist, including the painting
Spellbound, which was created specially for the set of the 1945 Hitchcock thriller, and the sofa in the shape of Mae West’s lips. County Hall is also home to two hotels, numerous bars and restaurants and a
Namco Station, a vast entertainment center offering video games, ten-pin bowling, bumper cars, a pool hall, as well as a licensed bar and lounge with big TV screens.
South Bank, SE1
BA London Eye Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1
Tel: 0870 500 0600 (booking line).
Website:
www.ba-londoneye.com Opening hours: Daily 0930-2000 (Oct-Apr); Mon-Thurs 0930-2000, Fri-Sun 0930-2100 (May and Sep); Mon-Thurs 0930-2100, Fri-Sun 0930-2200 (Jun); daily 0930-2200 (Jul and Aug); closed (6-26 Jan).
Admission charge.
London Aquarium County Hall, Riverside Building, SE1
Tel: (020) 7967 8000.
Website:
www.londonaquarium.co.uk Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (school holidays until 1900).
Admission charge.
Dalí Universe County Hall, Riverside Building, SE1
Tel: 0870 744 7485.
Website:
www.daliuniverse.com Opening hours: Daily 1000-1730.
Admission charge.
Tate Modern and Bankside Opened in 2000, the
Tate Modern is a £130-million project that is regarded as a model of urban regeneration, with the disused Bankside power station transformed into an avant-garde space dedicated to 20th-century art. The permanent exhibition changes biannually so that much of the Tate Gallery’s collection of modern work can be on show, displayed thematically rather than chronologically. This includes major works by Matisse, Picasso and Warhol, as well as contemporary pieces. The Turbine Hall displays changing pieces of artwork, specially commissioned to fit the enormous space. International artists who have exhibited here include Olafur Eliasson with his huge
Sun installation and Anish Kapoor with
Marsyas, a striking, huge sculpture in steel and dark red PVC.
The Bankside area itself is becoming one of the most exciting corners of the capital, and the £14-million
Millennium Bridge is one of the newest additions here. Designed by Lord Foster, it provides a pedestrian link from the Tate Modern to
St Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank. Bankside’s cultural regeneration is enhanced by the beautifully reconstructured
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater &
Exhibition, which is open all year round, although plays are only performed at the outdoor venue during the summer. Other attractions along the river, past Southwark Bridge towards London Bridge, include
Vinopolis, an interactive celebration of wine, the
Golden Hinde, a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s flagship, and
Southwark Cathedral, which is nestled under London Bridge, on the edge of the nearby
Borough Market (website:
www.boroughmarket.org.uk), a heaven for gourmets.
Bankside, SE1
Tate Modern Bankside, SE1
Tel: (020) 7887 8888
or 8008 (recorded information line).
Website:
www.tate.org.uk Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 1000-1800, Fri and Sat 1000-2200.
Free admission (donations welcome); charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater &
Exhibition 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1
Tel: (020) 7902 1400
or 7401 9919 for tickets.
Website:
www.shakespeares-globe.org Opening hours: Oct-30 Apr daily 1000-1700 (exhibition and theater tour). May-Oct daily 0900-1200 (exhibition and theater tour) and 1230-1700 (exhibition only).
Admission charge.
Vinopolis 1 Bank End, Bankside, SE1
Tel: 0870 241 4040.
Website:
www.vinopolis.co.uk Opening hours: Tues-Thurs and Sun 1200-1800; Mon, Fri and Sat 1200-2100.
Admission charge.
Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey The
Palace of Westminster contains the
Houses of Parliament, part of which is one of the city’s most famous landmarks -
Big Ben. Big Ben is actually the name of the huge bell, whose tolling tune is instantly recognizable, while the clock tower itself, which rises above the seat of British government, is called
St Stephen’s. The most ancient part of the whole Palace,
Westminster Hall, is 900 years old. After almost total destruction by fire, the rest of the palace was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style during the 19th century, to designs by Charles Barry.
During late July/August and mid September/early October, Parliament is in recess and the
Summer Opening of the Palace of Westminster takes place. Extensive guided tours are offered for visitors; these last about 75 minutes and include the
Royal Robing Rooms, the
House of Lords and the
House of Commons and
Westminster Hall. These are not free and they must be booked in advance (in person or from
Firstcall, see below). Visitors who want to watch Parliament at work, rather than tour the Palace, can watch from the
Strangers’ Gallery. When Parliament is in session, there are two long queues (one for the Lords and one for the Commons) outside the Palace.
Across Parliament Square is
Westminster Abbey – a magnificent Gothic structure where innumerable members of the British royal family have been christened, married, crowned and interred. Consecrated under Edward the Confessor, in the 11th century, it was rebuilt over the next four centuries in Gothic style. Highlights include
Henry VII’s Chapel,
Poet’s Corner and the
Coronation Chair.
Parliament Square, SW1
Summer Opening of the Palace of Westminster Tel: 0870 906 3773 (Firstcall).
Website:
www.parliament.uk or www.firstcalltickets.com Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0915-1630 or 1315-1630 (depending on schedules).
Admission charge.
Westminster Abbey Tel: (020) 7654 4900.
Website:
www.westminster-abbey.org Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1545 (Wed 1800) and Sat 0930-1345 (sightseeing; last admission one hour before closing); all day Sun (religious services only).
Admission charge, service free.
Trafalgar Square London Mayor Ken Livingstone has made the once-congested and pigeon-infested
Trafalgar Square a 'World Square', pedestrianising more of this famous space and banning seed-sellers, in an attempt to stop what he considers a nuisance. The pedestrianization links Nelson's Column in the center with the north side of the square, where one of the world’s greatest galleries, the
National Gallery, is to be found. It houses an incredible collection of Western paintings from the 13th to the early 20th century, as well as frequent special exhibitions. Round the corner, the
National Portrait Gallery displays the country’s famous, infamous and forgotten in the media of oil, watercolor, marble and photography. The new
Ondaatje Wing includes a lecture theater and restaurant. Opposite the gallery is the beautiful 18th-century neo-classical church,
St Martin-
in-
the-
Fields, which hosts regular concerts and has a café in the crypt.
Trafalgar Square, WC2
National Gallery Trafalgar Square, WC2
Tel: (020) 7747 2885.
Website:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk Opening hours: Thurs-Tues 1000-1800, Wed 1000-2100.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
National Portrait Gallery 2 St Martin’s Place, WC2
Tel: (020) 7312 2463 (recorded information)
or 7306 0055.
Website:
www.npg.org.uk Opening hours: Sat-Wed 1000-1800, Thurs and Fri 1000-2100.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Covent Garden Covent Garden has long been associated with the market trade. For some 300 years, the area has hosted traders of all sorts of wares, perhaps most famously the fruit and vegetable market, which was centered in the Piazza. The market is still here, and today, the area is also home to many shops, bars and restaurants. The street performers, and the cheering crowds they attract, give the area a very special atmosphere, and make Covent Garden a must see for all first time visitors to London. The world famous
Royal Opera House can be found here too. And of course Covent Garden is the heart of Theaterland: for a good retrospective, visit the
Theater Museum, which gives an overview of the evolution of the West End since 1843 to the present day. Another popular museum in the area is the
London Transport Museum, which retraces the history and development of the city’s transport system.
Piazza, Covent Garden
Website:
www.coventgarden.uk.com The Theater Museum Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2E
Tel: (020) 7943 4700.
Website:
www.theatermuseum.org.uk Opening hours: 1000-1800 (Tue-Sun). Closed Mondays and bank holidays.
Free admission.
London Transport Museum Piazza, Covent Garden
Tel: (020) 7379 6344
or 7565 7299.
Website:
www.ltmuseum.co.uk Opening hours: Closed until spring 2007.
Admission charge.
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace, the London home of the Queen, is hugely popular with tourists. They flock to the palace, to witness royal pageantry dating back centuries at the
Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 1130 from April to July and on alternate days at other times of the year. There is also the rare chance of seeing inside a royal residence (summer only). The building, by John Nash and Edward Blore, was built around the shell of the older of the older Buckingham House, in the 19th century. The rather drab façade was added in 1913. The 19
State Rooms of the Palace, including the
Throne Room and the
Picture Gallery, are only open to the public during August and September, when the Queen moves to her Scottish residence. The recently refurbished and expanded
Queen's Gallery is open to the public throughout the year. It displays a changing exhibition of selected works from the Royal Collection, which covers five centuries' worth of art collecting and treasures, now held in trust by the Queen for the nation. The 17-hectare (42-acre) garden, long hidden from view, is also now open to visitors touring the palace.
Buckingham Palace Road, SW1
Tel: (020) 7321 2233
or (020) 7766 7300 (credit card booking line).
Website:
www.royal.gov.uk Opening hours: (26 July-24 Sep only) Daily 0945-1800 (last admission 1545).
Admission charge.
Tower Hill The infamous royal fortress on Tower Hill, the
Tower of London, was begun by William the Conqueror in 1078 and remained a royal residence until the mid-16th century. Today, it houses the priceless
Crown Jewels and the
Royal Armouries collection. The history of the tower is a catalog of intrigue and bloodshed – key historical figures, including members of the royal family, were imprisoned, tortured and/or executed here. The nearby
Tower Bridge (a prime example of Victorian architecture and engineering) spans the River Thames. Hydraulic machinery, hidden in twin neo-Gothic towers, lifts the central section to allow ships in and out of the Pool of London. Visitors can learn about the bridge in the
Tower Bridge Experience or enjoy the excellent views towards Canary Wharf and the City of London. On the northeast side, the harbor at
St Katharine’s Dock marks the beginning of the London Docklands, while the warehouses to the south house the stylish
Design Museum.
Tower Hill, EC3
Tower of London Tel: 0870 756 6060.
Website:
www.tower-of-london.org.uk Opening hours: Tue-Sat 0900-1800 and Sun-Mon 1000-1800 (Mar-Oct); Tues-Sat 0900-1700 and Sun-Mon 1000-1700 (Nov-Feb); last admission one hour before closing.
Admission charge.
Tower Bridge Experience Tower Hill, EC3
Tel: (020) 7403 3761.
Website:
www.towerbridge.org.uk Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (last admission 1730).
Admission charge.
Design Museum Shad Thames, SE1
Tel: 0870 833 9955.
Website:
www.designmuseum.org Opening hours: Daily 1000-1745.
Admission charge.
St Paul’s Cathedral The dome of
St Paul’s Cathedral is the third largest in the world and one of the most distinctive features of the London skyline. The present building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was completed in 1710, on the site of the original cathedral that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. On the inside of the dome, the
Whispering Gallery, named for its incredible acoustics, offers a close-up of the frescoes of the life of St Paul that decorate the interior of the dome. From there, visitors can climb higher, up to two further galleries, which are outdoors and which offer magnificent views across the whole of London. Guided tours are available, book in advance.
Paternoster Square, EC4
Tel: (020) 7246 8350.
Website:
www.stpauls.co.uk Transport: London Underground St Paul’s.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1600 (sightseeing); sightseeing is restricted on Sun and religious holidays.
Admission charge.
British Museum The
British Museum, the centerpiece of which is Lord Foster’s glass-roofed
Great Court, is one of the world’s finest museums. Visitors must contend with a mind-boggling six million artifacts from all corners of the globe, plucked (or plundered) by collectors. The awesome scale of the museum means it is essential to select just a few of the 94 galleries for close attention. Highlights include the
Rosetta Stone, a copy of the
Magna Carta and the controversial
Parthenon Sculptures, known as the
Elgin Marbles, taken from the Parthenon in Athens. A 90-minute 'Highlights' tours is available daily at 1030, 1300 and 1500.
Great Russell Street, WC1
Tel: (020) 7323 8299
or 8181 for tickets.
Website:
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk Opening hours: Sat-Wed1000-1730, Thurs-Fri 1000-2030.
Free admission, charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
South Kensington Museums The
Victoria &
Albert Museum (
V&
A) is one of three major museums in South Kensington – the others being the
Natural History Museum and the
Science Museum. Founded in the 19th century as a museum of the decorative arts, the V&A’s 11km (7 miles) of corridors trace a path through paintings, jewelry, furniture and textiles dating from 3000BC to the present day. Highlights include the
Raphael Cartoons, the sculpture court, the dress collection from 1700 onwards, as well as the ‘British Galleries 1500-1900’, a comprehensive history of Britain’s design and art.
The award winning
Science Museum offers interactive exhibits on all kinds of scientific topics, from Space, Time or Weather to Agriculture or Food, from Computing or Mathematics to Nuclear Physics or Veterinary History. One key gallery is ‘Making the Modern World’, which includes objects such as early cars and computers.
The incredible Victorian building that is the
Natural History Museum is divided into Earth Galleries and Life Galleries. The Earth Galleries explore our planet, while the Life Galleries explore the creatures that have inhabited it, from the dinosaurs to creepy crawlies. For live specimens, there is the Wildlife Garden outside. The new
Darwin Center houses the museum’s extensive collections of specimens, which date as far back as the 16th century but also include recent new species discoveries. It also allows visitors to interact with the scientists using the collections and carrying out current research. Phase One is now open to the public, although Phase Two will complete the project in 2008.
V&
A Museum Cromwell Road, SW7
Tel: (020) 7942 2000
or 0870 442 0808.
Website:
www.vam.ac.uk Opening hours: Thurs-Tues 1000-1745, Wed and last Fri of the month 1000-2200.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Science Museum Exhibition Road, SW7
Tel: (020) 7942 4000
or 0870 870 4868.
Website:
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800.
Free admission.
Natural History Museum Tel: (020) 7942 5000
or 7942 5011.
Website:
www.nhm.ac.uk Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1750, Sun 1100-1750.
Free admission.
Further Distractions:London’s Parks Together,
St James’s Park,
Green Park,
Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens stretch from Whitehall to Kensington in the west. St James’s Park and Green Park are at the heart of royal and governmental London, cantilevered around Buckingham Palace, while Hyde Park’s
Speaker’s Corner is the place for soapbox philosophers to harangue passers-by on Sunday mornings. Kensington Gardens contains the delightful
Serpentine Gallery, as well as the glittering
Albert Memorial and the controversial
Memorial Fountain in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Regent’s Park, just north of Oxford Circus, is home to
London Zoo, while immediately next door is
Primrose Hill, with a fabulous view and chic village atmosphere. Of the many other parks in London, two are huge but further out – Hampstead Heath in north London and Richmond Park in south London.
Hampstead Heath boasts acres of natural parkland, the 18th-century
Kenwood House, numerous bathing ponds and another fantastic view over the capital.
Richmond Park is the largest open space in London, first enclosed as a hunting park by King Charles I in 1637, it still boasts deer. Last, but not least,
Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed royal park. Situated on a hilltop with impressive views across East London, it provides a setting for several historic buildings, including the Old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House.
All Royal Parks (tel: (020) 7298 2000; website:
www.royalparks.gov.uk), except
Hampstead Heath (tel: (020) 7482 7073; website:
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk).
Serpentine Gallery Kensington Gardens, W2
Tel: (020) 7402 6075.
Website:
www.serpentinegallery.org Free admission.
London Zoo Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, NW1
Tel: (020) 7722 3333.
Website:
www.londonzoo.com Opening hours: 1000-1730 (Mar-Oct), 1000-1600 (Nov-Feb).
Admission charge.
Kenwood House Hampstead Lane, NW3
Tel: (020) 8348 1286.
Website:
www.english-heritage.org.uk Opening hours: Daily 1100-1700 (24 Mar-31 Oct); 1100-1600 (1 Nov-23 Mar).
Free admission.
Highgate Cemetery Resonating with the ghosts of such luminaries as Karl Marx and George Eliot,
Highgate Cemetery is one of London’s most extraordinary places. With some of the finest Victorian funerary architecture in the country, many of the memorials are architecturally listed sites. The East Cemetery contains Karl Marx’s grave and monumental bust. The West Cemetery contains the remarkable Lebanon Circle, formed of 20 family catacombs surrounding an ancient cedar tree, as well as other notable monuments. Visitors can freely explore the East Cemetery but can only visit the West Cemetery by booking the one-hour guided tours in advance (by telephone).
Swains Lane, N6
Tel: (020) 8340 1834.
Website:
http://highgate-cemetery.org Opening hours: East Cemetery: Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat and Sun 1100-1700 (Apr-Oct); Mon-Fri 1000-1600, Sat and Sun 1100-1600 (Nov-Mar); last admission half an hour before closing. West Cemetery tours: Mon-Fri 1400 (Mar-Nov only); Sat and Sun 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500; Mon-Fri 1400 (Mar-Nov only); Sat and Sun 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 and 1600 (Apr-Oct).
Admission charge.
Tate Britain The
Gallery of Modern British Art opened in 1897, around the collection of sugar merchant Henry Tate. It now holds an unrivalled collection of English paintings from 1500 to the present day. Much 20th-century art has moved to the
Tate Modern (see above), however, some remains on rotation here, from Gaudier Brzeska to Gilbert and George. There is also the ’Art Now’ room, which shows a changing contemporary exhibition. The magnificent Turner Bequest is housed in the purpose-built
Clore Gallery, with hundreds of Turner paintings on display.
Millbank, SW1
Tel: (020) 7887 8888
or 8008 (recorded information line).
Website:
www.tate.org.uk Opening hours: Daily 1000-1750.
Free admission; charge for some of the temporary exhibitions.
Dennis Severs’ HouseThis house in Spitalfields is a work of art that transports its visitors out of the 21st century and sends them on a sensual and imaginative journey into an older, less familiar and more mystical world. It was built in the early 18th century, and its 10 rooms, decorated by the late Mr Severs, an American artist, represents domestic moods that dominated the periods between 1724 and 1914. The silent journey through the candle-lit and heavily scented and decorated rooms is no mere history lesson, however; it is just as much a journey of the soul. Nothing loud or flashy is on offer, just a quiet opportunity to catch a glimpse of a reality one hardly knew existed.
18 Folgate Street, Spitalfields
Tel: 0207 247 4013.
Website:
www.dennissevershouse.co.ukAdmission charge.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related London Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related England Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
England Airport Guides:
|
England City Guides:
|
| England Attraction Guides: |
|
|
|
England Community:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
