Lady’s 15 London Attractions You Have to See

The longer I live in the UK, the easier I forget to experience the big London attractions. When I first moved here I went around to all of them, but now I usually only go if I have a guest visiting. Lately I’ve been reminded of how amazing the city’s sights are, so today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to 15 London attractions that are worth seeing.

London Attractions

Before I get into my list, it’s worth stating that not all London attractions are created equal. Some are cheesy or overpriced, others aimed at tourists (and not in a good way).

Thankfully there are so many amazing attractions in the city that it’s easy to find the best and leave the rest.

The following are my favorite London attractions, but there are a lot more to choose from. I hope they inspire you and spark an interest in seeking out more of the ones that appeal to your tastes.

1. London Attractions: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are perhaps the most recognizable London attractions. These iconic London landmarks are symbols of the city and beautiful works of Gothic Revival architecture in their own right.

Touring the Houses of Parliament is a great way to see the historic interiors and learn about how the UK government works. There are some amazing stories within the walls of these buildings.

2. London Attractions: The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks are some of my favorite London attractions. From the stunning gardens in St James’s Park to the Serpentine in Hyde Park and the rose garden in Regent’s Park, there’s no shortage of beauty in these green spaces.

When the weather is warm, I love to picnic in Green Park. When it’s not, I like to wrap up warm and do a big circuit of Richmond Park.

And that’s to say nothing of seeing the views from Greenwich Park and Hampstead Heath, which are stunning whatever the temperature.

3. London Attractions: Buckingham Palace

For royal lovers, Buckingham Palace is one of the best London attractions.

This stately building is the monarch’s London residence and hosts everything from the Changing the Guard ceremony to the annual summer opening when visitors can tour the interior.

There are also evening tours at other times of year when the palace is open to smaller groups for guided champagne tours of the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace.

4. London Attractions: Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

In the heart of the city, Trafalgar Square is another unmissable London highlight. The square itself is full of fountains, street performers, and festivals, and there’s always something to see.

On its northern edge, the National Gallery dominates the architectural scene. This museum is home to world-class paintings, sculpture, and other fine art, as well as rotating exhibitions throughout the year.

5. London Attractions: Piccadilly Circus

Right near Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus is another of the best London attractions. The junction boasts of huge screens with flashing advertisements and stunning architecture on Regent Street.

Piccadilly Circus is also the gateway to a lot of great London neighborhoods, from elegant St James’s to bustling Soho. And that’s to say nothing of Piccadilly itself.

6. London Attractions: The London Eye

On the South Bank, the London Eye is the star of the show. This towering Ferris wheel on the Thames is one of the top London attractions for a reason: the views of London are hard to beat.

But even from a distance the London Eye is an integral part of the city skyline and an eye-catching landmark in its own right.

7. London Attractions: Tower of London

Where the London Eye is one of the newest attractions in the city, the Tower of London is one of the oldest. Its White Tower dates back to 1078, and the surrounding buildings are steeped in history.

But it’s not all architecture here. The crown jewels are equally exciting to see, and the views from the walls are worth climbing the steps for.

8. London Attractions: Tate Modern

Back to the present day, Tate Modern is one of the most visited museums in the world. Its collection of modern and contemporary art has its home in a former power station designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

Tate Modern’s exhibitions are some of the best in the city, and the views of London from the Blavatnik Building’s dedicated terrace are breathtaking.

9. London Attractions: The Greenwich Museums

Out east, Greenwich is full of maritime history and royal residences. The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship worth touring, and the National Maritime Museum has a wealth of treasures from Britain’s seafaring past.

The 17th-century Queen’s House has one of the most beautiful staircases in Britain, the Old Royal Naval College has the stunning Painted Hall, and The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian.

And that’s to say nothing of the view over the Thames from the top of the hill in Greenwich Park. It’s one of the best views of London, and given the rate of construction in Canary Wharf, it’s always changing.

10. London Attractions: The Bridges

Speaking of the Thames, the bridges spanning the river are some of the most recognizable London attractions.

Tower Bridge is an impressive feat of engineering from the Victorian era, and the pedestrianized Millennium Bridge is an equally eye-catching one from the modern.

But perhaps my favorite bridge in London is Albert Bridge in Chelsea, which brightens up the night sky with all its twinkling lights.

11. London Attractions: The British Museum

When it comes to museums, the British Museum is a London icon. This stately building is packed full of antiquities and artifacts from across the globe.

From the Rosetta Stone to an Easter Island moai, ancient Egyptian sarcophagi to the Parthenon Sculptures, this treasure trove (or plunder room) has an impressive collection on display.

12. London Attractions: The South Kensington Museums

Speaking of museums, South Kensington has a trifecta of the most important museums in London.

The Natural History Museum is a temple to natural science both within its walls and without, the V&A museum has a stunning decorative arts and design collection and sell-out exhibitions, and the Science Museum is the perfect place to indulge your inquisitive side.

They’re all right next to one another and offer free entry, so there’s no reason not to go.

13. London Attractions: Westminster Abbey

When it comes to religious landmarks, Westminster Abbey is one of the most important London attractions. The burial place of monarchs and poets past, it’s also the location of coronations and royal weddings.

Visiting Westminster Abbey feels like stepping into the greatest British history book of all time.

14. London Attractions: St Paul’s Cathedral

Like Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral is another of London’s most sacred religious landmarks.

St Paul’s was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed its predecessor, and was the first cathedral to be built after the English Reformation.

The interior is full of curving arches and a great big dome, and there are stairs leading up to the roof for panoramic views of London.

15. London Attractions: The Viewpoints

Perhaps the most attractive London attractions are the views of the city.

From The Shard to the Sky Garden to The Garden at 120 Fenchurch Street, there’s no shortage of places to see them. They offer panoramas of the London skyline and show off a lot of other attractions.

Best London Attractions

And there are a lot of others. London is incredible in that it has so much to offer, and there are more attractions popping up all the time.

I’m sure it won’t be long until there are additional attractions to add to my list. In the meantime, I’ll be revisiting the ones I haven’t seen in a long time.

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