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I’ve been to London twice in my life. Once when I was 14 with my family and again when I went as a chaperone with a school I was working at. These photos are from that last trip and I’m so excited to be able to share these with you.
In this post, I’ve compiled my list of must see and do things while visiting London, England. The United Kingdom is such a unique place filled with culture, history, and tradition. I hope that this Guide to London helps you plan your next vacation there!
This is one of the coolest places to visit in all of London! You can go on a tour with one of the Beef Eaters (Yeoman Warder), see the Crown Jewels, White Tower, Fortress, Line of Kings, and Royal Mint. If you buy your tickets online before you visit, you get 15% off.
This famous bridge is right near the Tower of London and if you’d like to do more than take a picture in front of it, you can purchase tickets to go inside and get a look at the panoramic Glass Floor and engine rooms.
At the Churchill War Rooms, you can see the Churchill Museum, Cabinet War Rooms, and the under ground Bunker where Winston Churchill planned the victory during World War II.
If you want to get a real feel for the place, Borough Market is where you should go. It’s an outdoor/indoor market with everything you could ever want! There’s specialty food stores, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, and odds and ends. It’s a great place to stock up on groceries for the week or have a nice lunch with friends.
This part of town is most compared to Times Square in New York City. It’s a colorful part of town filled with shops, restaurants, and places to explore.
The Coco Cola London Eye (it’s full name) is an iconic sight in the UK. It’s right along the Thames River, towering high above everything else. This giant ferris wheel (for lack of a better comparison) is a great way to see the city and relax for a while. If crowds aren’t your thing, you can also reserve a private capsule just for your group.
This beautiful garden is in the Walkie Talkie building on the 35th floor. From here, you can see a 360 degree view of the entire city. Entry is free, but they only allow so many tickets per day, so make sure to request your tickets over 3 weeks before you go.
This free museum has so much to offer! There are different sections for the Egyptians, Greek, Romans, and much more! Plus, it’s a great place to spend one of those hot summer days!
If you’re a Harry Potter fan like my husband, then you have to stop and see the platform at King’s Cross Station that takes Harry to Hogwartz. It’s fun how they’ve incorporated this popular book and movie series into the city!
If you’ve watched a Royal Wedding (or two), then you’ve seen this infamous place. It’s such a beautiful palace and you really get a feel for how big it is when you’re standing in front of the golden tipped fence around it and can only see the guards out front. The day we went, the Queen was having a tea party in the backyard, so we saw tons of cars coming in with ladies donning fascinators and ornate hats. If you go, make sure you see the changing of the guard and they also offer tours of the inside when the Royal family is gone, so make sure that you check their website to see when tickets are available (I think it’s only between August and September that you can go inside).
If you’re looking for a place to stroll and breathe in fresh air, then Hyde park is the place for you! This park features the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and the Peter Pan Statue that you just have to see.
Remember that infamous scene in Mary Poppins where they feed the birds? Well this is where they were! St Paul’s Cathedral is from the late 17th century and not only is the outside beautiful, but you can tour the inside as well.
See the inside of one of the Royals’ residences and the different exhibits they have on display. You can also see the Palace Gardens, The King’s Staircase, The Queen’s State Apartments, and The King’s Gallery.
This is one of those iconic places that you have to see it, but there’s not much there. Basically, if you’re near Westminster Abbey and you look up, it’s pretty close by. Then, check it off your list. It’s really neat to look at (and hear), but that’s about it.
This beautiful church is so incredibly rich with history! It’s been the site of every coronation in England since 1066, is the final burial place for infamous people like Charles Dickens, Stephen Hawking, Laurence Olivier, Isaac Newton, Alfred Lloyd Tennyson, and Charles Darwin, along with numerous Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers, and Parliament members. You can buy your tickets online to really help with your wait time. It’s absolutely stunning inside (and a bit creepy since there’s graves in the floor and walls all around you). No photography is allowed inside, but trust me, it’s something you have to see to believe.
This museum features everything from cartoons and sculptures to Alexander McQueen’s clothing line. It’s truly a unique museum with beautiful works of art.
This is great place to take a walk, hang out for a while or have a picnic, but it is THE best place for a panoramic view of the city.
This is a place to stop and see for a few moments and take in the statues, stairs,and people watch, but then you can just move on. There are lots of street performers here as well, so be wary of pick pocketers.
It’s a fun part of town within walking distance to Piccadilly Square and Chinatown. It has loads of street performers, statues, fountains, shops, restaurants, and a theater. it’s a fun place to hang out for a few hours.
This iconic department store has a great food hall in it if you’re in a hurry and wat to grab a quick bite to eat. They have everything from sandwiches to lasagna, so make sure to look around the whole place before deciding on what you want!
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