11 Top Tourist Attractions in London
There are so many tourist attractions in London and endless unmissable places to visit! I often say that London is a city that never ends. A week, a month, two months… there will always be little time to explore everything this place has to offer. That’s why I bring here the top tourist attractions in London you should never miss.
Price of Tours in London
The cost of taking tours in London depends on the type of tour, the duration, and the number of people in your group.
There are guided bike tours that let you see more of London than you would on foot, bus tours that take you around to get an overview of the city, and even boat trips to explore from a different perspective.
If you want to go on foot, on a guided tour known as a free walking tour, you will pay less than if you choose a bus or bicycle tour. If you are traveling with your family or friends, it is worth booking private tours to share the costs and have more privacy and even flexibility in the duration of each tourist attraction.
Entrance prices for attractions and sightseeing tours vary depending on the type of tour. You can find great deals by purchasing online, so I recommend organizing activities in advance, especially as tickets for London’s main attractions may become unavailable.
Tip: book a guided tour for your first day in London, as a guide will tell you about all the unmissable places to visit during the rest of your trip. It’s a great way to get an overview of the place and readjust some points in your itinerary.
London attractions packages and passes
The London attractions packages or the famous London tourist passes allow you to save time (quick access, avoiding queues) and money, offering a ticket with full access to several tours.
By purchasing the access card, you are entitled to entry to the main museums and tourist attractions, as well as the London Eye, museums, or Tower Bridge.
The first step is to choose your pass online via the website. The type of pass will depend on your time availability, with passes being offered with different numbers of days.
It will be activated the first time it passes the attraction’s scanner and will then be validated for use on consecutive days. When the purchase period ends, the pass will automatically expire, and you can no longer take the tours.
London Pass with Access to Over 80 Attractions
Save on your trip with a 1-10 day pass, including 1-day access to London’s hop-on hop-off bus circuit. It gives access to more than 80 attractions, such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
Pass 5 Top Attractions with Madame Tussauds
For those who want to take a practical itinerary with the liveliest tourist attractions in London, this card offers you savings and easy access to Madame Tussauds, the London Eye, the London Dungeon, the SEA LIFE Aquarium, and DreamWork’s Tours: Shrek’s Adventure.
LONDON CITY CARD: exploration games and tours
Discover the most iconic places in London, stories, and characters London has to offer. This card allows you to participate in exploration games on themes such as Sherlock Holmes and, Harry Potter; marvel at the whimsical neighborhood of Notting Hill.
London Fitness Pass
For those who want to stay in shape during their trip to London, this card gives you access to dozens of gyms spread across the English capital.
What are the Must-See Attractions in London?
1. The London Eye
The London Eye is a Ferris wheel that differs slightly from those common in amusement parks. It offers a large, closed cabin and a slow turn, allowing you to admire London, the capital of England, from above.
On the bank of the Thames, at 135 meters high, when it reaches its highest point, you have a private view of the incredible tourist attractions of London, such as Big Ben, Parliament, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Pleasant and eye-catching!
With an advance ticket to the London Eye, you will have priority entry and skip the line. It is important to note that children under 16 can only enter accompanied by an adult.
And, if you can choose, board in the late afternoon and see the whole city lighting up just after sunset. In fact, it is one of the most interesting things to do in London.
- Tour duration: 40 minutes
2. Tour to London Tower
The London Tower was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and has served as a palace, fortress, and prison.
It was built in 1086 and holds the jewels of the British monarchy, including the imperial ceremonial crown, which has 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies.
As it is a place of great interest to tourists, it is common to have long queues. To avoid busy times, it is recommended to schedule the tour to London Tower in the morning, as there is no priority entry to this attraction.
3. Cruise on the River Thames
Cruising is having the possibility of seeing the city from another perspective. From Westminster to Greenwich, on this Thames River Cruise in London, you’ll gain insight into the history of London as you pass by relevant historical landmarks. Boats leave every thirty minutes and have external observation decks. It’s definitely one of the unmissable spots in London.
- Tour duration: 1 hour
4. London’s Tower Bridge
The most famous bridge in the world is worth a visit, as it is also one of the points of interest for anyone visiting London. You can walk along the walkways on a guided tour and see the bridge’s structure from the inside! An exhibition inside features photos and records of the construction. It took eight years between the beginning and completion of the bridge in 1894. When booking this tour, pay attention to the opening hours, which vary with each season.
5. Westminster Abbey Tour in London: One of London’s Best Attractions
Westminster Abbey is a cathedral with Gothic architecture, which looks like something out of novels and history books. Originally occupied by Benedictine monks in the 10th century, today, the Abbey holds masses, and if you’re lucky, you can even attend an organ concert in this Church.
In the Abbey, 17 monarchs are buried. There is also the Coronation Chair, created for King Edward I in 1296 and which has been used for the coronation of each monarch since 1308. The Poets’ Corner holds the rest of famous artists, including Charles Dickens.
On this tour in London through Westminster Abbey, an audio guide will be available in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French. On Sundays, Westminster Abbey is not open for visitors.
- Cost per person: 22.72 euros
6. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
On this tour to see the changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the guards step out impeccably, wearing their bearskin hats and red tunics.
A guide accompanies the entire route, allowing you to watch the entire ceremony in the section where they perform outside the Palace. Who knows, you might even be able to take a photo with the (immobile) royal guard by your side?!
It is worth noting that the changing of the guard at the Palace may be canceled or the time changed at the discretion of the British authorities. All in all, a visit here is one of the best things to do in London as you will be able to see British officer’s precision up close and in practice!
7. Shakespeare Globe
This is a perfect replica of the theater where several of Shakespeare’s works were performed. The Shakespeare Globe is a perfect replica of the theater where several of Shakespeare’s works were performed.
The colors, the materials, the space… Everything was done to refer to the original structure and project from 1599. A dive into the era of the most performed and read novels of all time, the history and life of William Shakespeare.
I recommend you find out the theater’s schedule in advance, as it functions as a cultural space and hosts plays and shows.
Furthermore, the Shakespeare Globe is located on the Southbank, a nice place in London with fairs, bookstores, and food and drink stalls. A truly unique and worthwhile visit.
8. Guided tour of Notting Hill: One of the Best Places to Visit in London
Notting Hill became famous because of the film of the same name. The neighborhood is cute, and the famous blue door portrayed in the film (which is actually a shoe store) attracts lots of people and flashes.
On Saturdays, the place has an extra charm: the traditional antiques fair and the street market on Portobello Road. Here, you’ll find Crockery, jewelry, household items, clothing, and fresh cherries, depending on the time of year.
9. Camden Market
A place for everything and everyone. This is Camden Market, a little piece of London that ranges from the most diverse stalls and clothing stores to bars with good music. The place was the birthplace and inspiration of artists such as Amy Winehouse.
10. British Museum in London: One of the Top Tourist Attractions in London
From nomads to modern civilizations, the history of the world is told at the British Museum. Here, you will be invited to think about deep questions in history: why did nomads stop migrating and become farmers? Why are there gods, kings, and nations? Why were money and writing invented?
The present is guided by the past and makes us think and rethink the choices of the “new world.” A guided ticket to the British Museum in London will make this visit unforgettable.
11. The Natural History Museum in London
Geology, geography, paleontology, and dinosaurs! A guided tour will take you to the center of the Earth, where it all began, and along the path of the species’ evolution. Right at the entrance, as you climb the stairs, the world – a huge globe – welcomes you. In addition to the exhibitions, several interactive activities. It is a great opportunity to be part of history and live this experience with family and friends.
What is worth doing in 3 days in London?
But after all, how do you put together a list of top attractions in London? Firstly, you should know that the city offers numerous attractions. And with countless attractions, boredom will not knock on your door, as there is always something to do in Europe’s beautiful city.
This way, it is possible to know which ones are most attractive according to your interests and curiosities and evaluate which activities and spaces are worth traveling more and/or more time during the days dedicated to them.
Visiting the famous clock, Big Ben, is the first thing to do when arriving in London. From there, there are a number of important places that can be visited on foot or with a quick metro ride.
Go to the London Eye, the most famous Ferris wheel in the world, and Buckingham Palace, the main royal residence.
Visit Trafalgar Square, which is one of the most important squares in the capital and should be included in your plans. Once there, it is easy to visit the National Gallery.
Go to Tower Bridge (London Bridge), a bridge that is one of the best-known tourist attractions in London. Next to it is the Tower of London Castle.
London Sightseeing Bus Tours
London bus tours are ideal for first-time visitors, as with so many things to see and do, it’s hard to know where to start.
These tourist bus tours, also known as hop-on hop-off, are a great way to see many London attractions in a short time without spending a lot of money.
Offered daily with audio descriptions in multiple languages, these popular guided bus tours of London include stops at the city’s top attractions like Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.
There is also the option of combos to use the ticket for more than one day. This way, you can enjoy all the convenience of getting on and off as many times as you want at the stops at your favorite tourist spots.
Riding a tourist bus is also a great way to save money on transport in the city, as with good planning, you can get around a lot just on board the bus.
Bike Tours in London
Bike tours are a fun and relaxed way to get to know London and see everything the city has to offer. The best part is that the most famous landmarks are included in the bike routes. Furthermore, with a live guide by your side, you will discover hidden places in London that usually go unnoticed by most tourists.
These guided bike tours in London are designed for both experienced cyclists and those new to cycling. There is also the option of renting a bike so you can make your own itinerary.
Tours to discover London on foot
One of the best ways to get to know a city is by walking, discovering its hidden gems, and getting lost in its streets.
If you are interested in history, art, architecture, politics, or even gastronomy, taking a walking city tour of London is an excellent way to get to know the city from a local perspective.
