Bezienswaardigheden in Londen
Sights in London
Sehenswürdigkeiten in London

Sights in London: What must you have seen?

October 2, 2024 Citie to Travel Comments Off

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with lots of great sights, but which sights in london should you really have seen during a city trip to london? In this blog we list the best sights that you should not miss.

Sights in london

London is a huge city with lots of great sights. And it is impossible to visit all the sights in London during one city trip. You will have to go to London more often. But the best sights that you should definitely have seen during your first city trip are;

1. Big Ben
2. Palace of Westminster
3. Tower of London
4. Tower Bridge
5. Buckingham Palace
6. London Eye
7. Piccadilly Circus
8. Trafalgar Square
9. St. Paul’s Cathedral
10. Hyde Park

1. Big Ben

Surely one of the most visited sights in London is Big Ben. Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the huge bell in the clock tower, which weighs more than 13,760 kg and is one of the heaviest bells in the world. Big Ben was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and Sir George Airy and built by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent. Big Ben first rang over Westminster on May 31, 1859. And on the full hour, a four-measure carillon chime is heard, followed by the striking of the hour of that time.

Great Westminster Clock

The Big ben has four dials hanging on each side of the Elizabeth Tower at a height of 97 meters. Each dial officially called Great Westminster Clock has a diameter of 7 meters. In addition, each dial has a small pointer that is 3 meters long and weighs 100 pounds, and a large 5-meter pointer that weighs 300 pounds.

2. Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster is a large Victorian Gothic complex of buildings that consists of four floors, a hundred staircases, a thousand rooms and in total the complex has over three kilometers of corridors. In addition, the complex has three towers, the Victoria Tower, the Central Tower and the Elizabeth Tower, which is also called the Big Ben. The Palace of Westminster is really one of the sights in london that should not be missed. It is a magnificent building that is centuries old and typical of the history of England.

3. Tower of London

The Tower of London, commonly called the Tower for short, is a historic castle in London, located on the River Thames. The historic castle was built in 1070s by England’s first Norman king, William I, also known as William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, the Tower has served various functions. For example, it served for years as a royal palace, prison and place of execution. Today, it is one of the most popular sights in London. And it is visited by more than three million tourists every year. The Tower of london is free to admire from the outside, but if you want to see the greenhouse inside , you will have to buy a ticket.

4. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is also one of the most popular sights in London that you should definitely have seen, if you are going on a city trip to london. This 244-meter-long iconic bridge over the River Thames was designed by Horace Jones, and built in 1886 next to the Tower of London, from which it also takes its name. You can walk across the bridge for free, and there are several places where you can take very nice photos of the bridge.

5. Buckingham Palace

One of the most popular sights of london is undoubtedly Buckingham Palace, the Royal Palace where the royal family of England resides. The palace was designed by nobleman and architect William Winde and built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. The latter sold the enormous palace to King George III in 1762. Buckingham Palace is over 15 acres and has 775 rooms. This includes 188 staff rooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 52 royal and guest rooms and 19 state rooms.

Changing of the guard

One of the most popular crowd attractions just outside Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard , also known as Guard Mounting. This ceremony begins daily at 10:45 a.m. and usually lasts about 45 minutes. If you want to watch the Changing of the Guard, be sure to arrive well in advance. The event is very popular and attracts many visitors so it can be difficult to find a good spot to watch the changing of the guard. Watching the ceremony is completely free and well worth it.

6. London Eye

One of the most enjoyable sights in London is The London Eye. The giant rat was designed by Marks Barfield architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield and construction began in 1998. The London Eye is one of the largest giant rats in the world. It is 135 meters high and it has a diameter of 120 meters. It also has 32 enclosed capsules and weighs over 1,700 tons. The giant rat is really amazing to see and belongs to the skyline of London. If you want to take a tour in the giant rat you have to buy a ticket. One lap takes about 30 minutes and in this half hour you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

7. Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most famous squares and landmarks in London and is sometimes called the Times Square of London. Piccadilly Circus was laid out 1819 and today it is one of the liveliest areas in London with neon signs, various displays and the Eros fountain in the middle of this crossing, which like Piccadilly Circus is also one of the main attractions in London. A walk along Piccadilly Circus is great fun and you will find various stores, cinemas, theaters, restaurants where you can eat delicious food and famous traditional English pubs where you can enjoy a drink. So if you go on a city break to London, be sure to take a walk across this fun and lively square.

8. Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, along with Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, is among the most famous squares and landmarks in London. Built in 1844, the square is visited by thousands of tourists every year. And this is partly because the square lies directly in front of the popular National Gallery museum. But also the beautiful fountains and the impressive tribal statues, such as the bronze lion statues, Nelson’s Column, General Sir Charles James Napier, Major General Sir Henry Havelock and King George IV are very popular with tourists and thus are also among the best sights in london that you really must have seen. Trafalgar Square is located in the City of Westminster district and the closest tube station is that of Charing Cross.

9. St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral can be found in downtown london. This magnificent cathedral with a dome over 111 meters high was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built in 1710. The cathedral is one of the most iconic sights in London and a popular tourist attraction. And that is not surprising , because there is a lot to admire, such as the crypt with tombs and monuments of some of the country’s greatest heroes, such as Admiral Lord Nelson , the Duke of Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren. But the Stone and Golden Galleries is also worth a visit. Located at the very top of the dome, it is a small balcony that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city of London. Visiting the Golden Gallery at St. Paul’s Cathedral is unfortunately not free, you have to buy a ticket for this, but it is a must-visit attraction for anyone who wants to experience the beauty of London’s skyline.

10. Hyde Park

The world-famous Hyde Park, once owned by Westminster Abbey and later the royal hunting grounds of Henry VII, together with Kensington Gardens to the west, forms the largest park in central London. The park is 350 acres and 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. The park is hugely popular and one of the most visited attractions in london. The park is visited by over 13 million visitors annually. In the park you will find several popular attractions, such as Diana Memorial Fountain which was built in honor of the late Princess of Wales.In addition, you will find a lot of greenery in the park and a beautiful rose garden.And the park has two large cafes and several small eateries. The park is open daily and free to visit.

Special offers

Are you going on a city trip to London and would you like to visit a few attractions and sights in London, then take advantage of the offers below!