Things to do in London
London, one of Europe’s cultural capitals by excellence, is the largest and most famous city for travelers in Europe. The capital of England and United Kingdom is home to famous monuments and attractions. There are things to do for everyone, ranging from art-lovers to literature or history lovers to sports or performing arts fans, and much, much more. From history, science and art museums, to amusement parks, zoos, original bars and other attractions your travelling schedule will be full. London is a modern city whose history goes back to Roman times, and where Shakespeare represented a ground-breaking change the history of theatre, performing arts and the English language itself, where Dickens wrote about Oliver Twist and Ebenezer Scrooge. In London, visitors can admire the Royal Palaces of the British monarchy, the imposing Parliament, the emblematic Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, the coronation place of the British monarchs. On the other side of the Thames, the London Eye, the Ferris wheel, offers a panoramic view of the South Bank Center, and the whole city.
British Museum
The British Museum is one of the most famed and the most visited museum in the world. In this museum, located in the center of London, there are many sections and thousands of pieces. Visiting the museum can take up to three hours. Since it has a great variety of exhibits coming from Egypt, Anatolia, Middle East and the Far East, it allows you to take a journey through the world history. Among the famous exhibits in the museum we can mention, the Rosetta Stone of Egyptian hieroglyphs, Assyrian reliefs from Asurbanipal's palace in Ninova, Friezes from Mausoleum in Bodrum, Sutton Hoo Ship Cemetery, African statuettes made of bronze and elephant teeth.
London Eye
The London Eye is the highest ferris wheel in Europe and draws more than 3.5 million visitors a year. When it was first built in 1999, it got the title of being the tallest ferris wheel in the world. Within walking distance from the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye gained extraordinary popularity with its 135 meters height and 129 meters radius. From the glass cocoon, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city. That is why it is one of the first things to do in London.
Tower of London
Because this is one of London’s most popular attractions, you can expect a wait, so it’s always best to book your tickets well ahead of time, to avoid queuing or disappointment. The London Eye is also placed in the ideal location, close to many of London’s most iconic sights. This means you can easily sightsee after your 30 minute ride, including perhaps a Thames River cruise, visiting the Houses of Parliament, checking out Big Ben, or venturing to the Tower of London. Of course, the London Eye opened on New Year’s Eve 1999, marking the start of the new Millennium in style. From that day on, this has been an attraction that makes your entire visit to London, and is one certainly not to be missed. Children will love the experience, so it’s a great family day out too.
Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens or shortly Kew Gardens is the name of the park that consists of gardens and botanic glasshouses. This botanic garden, hosting about 38,000 different plant types, is located right in the middle of the city. With its variety of plants that are running the risk of becoming extinct, it is the perfect place to visit for the nature-enthusiasts.
Stonehenge
Located in the Wiltshire area of England, Stonehenge is one of the most renowned sites in the world. Tumulus graves surround the standing stone structure from Neolithic Stone Age and Bronze age. Stonehenge, meaning hanging stones, was the scene of astronomy and geometry studies, and Pagan ceremonies.
The Shard
The Shard (Shard London Bridge sometimes) is a skyscraper located in London. The building that is 309.6 meters height and counts 95 floors and is the tallest skyscraper in the European Union, the fourth in Europe, the 87th in the world. The observation deck is located at 244 height, and it allows visitors to see 60 km further from the Shard in clear weather.
National gallery
The National Gallery, located in Trafalgar Square, draws 4-5 million tourists a year on average. This gallery was opened in 1824. It has a collection of roughly 2300 paintings from the 13th century to the 19th century. This Gallery is home to masterpieces such as "The Raising of Lazarus" by Sebastiano del Piombo, "The Baptism of Christ" by Piero della Francesca, "Venus at her Mirror"(The Rokeby Venus) by Diego Velázquez and the even more renowned Leonardo da Vinci's "The Virgin of the Rocks" and Jan van Eyck's "Arnolfini Portrait".
London Zoo
The Zoo of London is the oldest zoo in the world. It opened on 27th of April 1828 in the capital city of United Kingdom, London. When it first opened, it was designed to be used for scientific purposes. However, it went public in 1847. In this zoo, there are specific sections for gorillas, African birds, butterflies, and marine fauna.
Harry Potter Studio
Located in Watford, London, the Warner Bros Studios opened to the public in March 2012. Inside the studios, it is possible to visit the entire cinematographic set of Harry Potter. Visitors can walk through the corridors of Hogwarts, knock on the door of Privet Drive number 4, have a sip of “butterbeer”, and have a brief quidditch experience. Since Harry Potter went viral in the world and won children's and grownups' hearts, visiting Warner Bros is not only a place where to bring your childrens. Harry Potter's Studios are therefore a perfect location to spend a magic day with kids and family.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is where the British Royalty have been living since the 17th century. Indeed some royal family members still live here. It was home to Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The palace that was built by Sir George Coppin in the 15th century as a two-story building was rebuilt in the 17th century.