Sights in London: What should you see in London?

Bezienswaardigheden in Londen
Sights in London
Sehenswürdigkeiten in London

Sights in London: What should you see in London?

October 2, 2024 Citie to Travel Comments Off

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with many nice sights, but which sights in London should you really see 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 many nice sights. And it is impossible to visit all the sights in London during one city trip. For this you will have to make a city trip to London more often. But the best sights that you should definitely see 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

One of the most visited sights in London is Big Ben. Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the enormous 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 chimed for the first time over Westminster on May 31, 1859. And on the hour, a four-bar carillon is heard, followed by the striking of the hour of that time.

Great Westminster Clock

Big Ben has four clock faces that hang 97 meters high on each side of the Elizabeth Tower. Each dial, officially called the Great Westminster Clock, has a diameter of 7 meters. In addition, each dial has a small hand that is 3 meters long and weighs 100 kilos, and a large hand of 5 meters that weighs 300 kilos.

2. Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster is a large Victorian Gothic complex of buildings consisting of four floors, a hundred staircases, a thousand rooms and a total of over two miles of corridors. In addition, the complex has three towers, the Victoria Tower, the Central Tower and the Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben. The Palace of Westminster is truly one of the sights in London that you should not miss. It is a beautiful building that is centuries old and is characteristic of the history of England.

3. Tower of London

The Tower of London, commonly referred to simply as the Tower, is a historic castle in London, located on the River Thames. The historic castle was built in the 1070s by England’s first Norman king, William I, also known as William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, the Tower has had various functions. For example, it served for years as a royal palace, prison and execution site. 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 can be admired from the outside for free, but if you want to visit the castle from the inside, you will have to buy a ticket.

4. Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge is also one of the most popular sights in London that you should definitely see if you are going on a city trip to London. This 244-metre-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 beautiful pictures of the bridge.

5. Buckingham Palace

One of the most popular sights in London is without a doubt Buckingham Palace, the Royal Palace where the royal family of England lives. The palace was designed by nobleman and architect William Winde and built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. He sold the enormous palace to King George III in 1762. Buckingham Palace covers over 15 hectares 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-pullers just outside Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard, also known as Guard Mounting. This ceremony starts daily at 10:45 am and usually lasts about 45 minutes. If you want to watch the changing of the guard, make sure you 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. Viewing the ceremony is completely free and well worth it.

6. London Eye

One of the best 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. In addition, it has 32 closed capsules and weighs more than 1,700 tons. The giant rat is truly amazing to see and is part of the London skyline. If you want to take a tour of the giant rat, you have to buy a ticket. One round takes about 30 minutes and during this half hour you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.

7. Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most famous squares and landmarks in London and is sometimes referred to as the Times Square of London. Piccadilly Circus was built in 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 intersection, which, like Piccadilly Circus, is also one of the most important sights in London. A walk on Piccadilly Circus is very nice and you will find several shops, cinemas, theaters and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food. and famous traditional English pubs where you can enjoy a drink. So if you are going on a city trip to London, be sure to take a stroll through this fun and lively square.

8. Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, together with Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, is one of the most famous squares and sights in London. The square, which was built in 1844, is visited by thousands of tourists every year. And this is partly because the square is located 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 are therefore among the best sights in London. you really must see. Trafalgar Square is located in the City of Westminster district and the nearest tube station is Charing Cross.

9. St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is located in the center of London. This beautiful cathedral with a dome of 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’s not surprising, because there is a lot to admire, such as the crypt with graves 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 are 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. Unfortunately, a visit to the Golden Gallery at St. Paul’s Cathedral is not free, you do have to buy a ticket, 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, form the largest park in central London. The park is 350 hectares in size and is 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. The park is extremely popular and one of the most visited attractions in London. The park is visited by more than 13 million visitors every year. The park is home to several popular attractions, such as the Diana Memorial Fountain built in honor of the late Princess of Wales. You will also find lots 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 is 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!