HOME::Travel-and-Leisure/City-Guides-and-Information X Visit London - Top 10 Attractions By Andrea Vian Article Word Count: 505 [View Summar

As the city is really full of great spots to visit, during your London trip you can miss something important to see. London is huge and you need time to move from one area to another. The suggestion is to take information about what you want to visit and plan your London tour. Here is a top 10 list of the main things to see:

1. The London Eye: the major feature of London skyline, it is one of the biggest panorama wheel in the world. The complete run lasts 20 minutes and the view is really wonderful.

2. The tower of London: one of the most famous buildings in the world, during its visit you can discover its great history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal and jewel house. Tip for the visit: interesting guided tours are organized every day.

3. National Gallery: it displays one of the greatest collections of painting in the world, especially by European artists (from 1200 to 1900). If you want some names, here they are: Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Turner.

4. Houses of Parliament: the building is really stunning but it is also worth taking a walk over Wastminster Birdge, you will get the view from the South bank. The famous Big Ben is the bell in the clock tower, one of the city symbols. If you want to visit the building inside, there are tour visit only during August and September.

5. Madame Tussauds: visit this museum and meet face-to-face some of the most famous persons in the world. Figures from the field of politics, sport, Royalty and showbiz are present there. Some examples: Shakespeare, Rooney, Britney Spears and Her Majesty the Queen.

6. Tate Modern: On the banks of River Thames, housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the Tate Modern displays great paintings by Picasso and Matisse and other important contemporary artists.

7. British Museum: one of the most famous collection in the world, the British Museum host very famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase and sculpture from the Parthenon. You can admire also an important drawing collection.

8. Buckingham Palace: The Queen's official residence, Buckingham Palace is the famous official residence of the Queen. In front of this palace take place the very famous Changing of the Guard, scheduled on specific days and times. You can check before and organize your trip, you will be able to get there early and find a good position to watch. You can visit the State Rooms and the Palace only during the Annual Summer Opening (months of August and September).

9. Trafalgar Square: Trafalgar Square is one of the most iconic areas of the city and the famous Nelson's Column is really something to see. The National Gallery is located close there.

10. Natural History Museum: It boasts a collection of the rarest animals in the world as well as the dinosaur exhibition (permanent). The brand new Darwin center is going to open in September 2009.

If you need an accommodation just check now this list of London apartments that you can book directly online.

London Attractions

London is Europe's largest city, spanning more than six hundred and twenty square miles from its heart on the River Thames. London is Europe's most diverse metropolises: there are around two hundred languages spoken within its confines, and more than thirty percent of the population is made up of first, second and third generation immigrants.

Despite Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish transference, London is still where the country's news and money are made. London is where the central government resides and where unsophisticated life begins. Londoners' sense of superiority causes enormous resentment in the regions, but it is undeniable that the capital has a great measure of success in most walks of British life.

Most of the major attractions in Europe is located in London. London boasts four World Heritage Sites, 238 attractions that are free to enter (so there's nowhere else in the world where you can see so much for so little). Visit the many museums and castles that the city has to offer.

About thirty percent of London is open space; the other areas are filled with one of the 143 registered parks and gardens. Many of the parks have short walking paths and nature trails can be found in places like Hampstead Heath and Mile End Park, so let us put on our walking shoes and go for a stroll, take a picnic lunch for the end of your walk.

The National Gallery houses paintings ranging from 1250 to 1900, including the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Botticelli, Gainsborough, Turner, Cezanne along with other great works.

The British Museum exhibits the works of man from primitive to modern times with a collection from all around the world. The Rosetta stone, sculptures from the Parthenon and the Portland Vase are included in this museum.

Attractions to Explore On Your London Vacation

London is among the most famous cities in the whole world. Millions of tourists flock to it every year, but most of them are not able to explore the entire city and witness its grandeur. Thus many visitors return to London during several vacations to relish more of its wonderful attractions. If you are yet to see this beautiful city, or if you have already went there but still want to see more of what it can offer, consider visiting the following attractions that will truly make your visit unforgettable:

1. The Tower of London - one of the most important sites in the great city. Consider yourself not being in London if you have not been to this attraction. This medieval fortress houses the world famous Crown Jewels. It is also known as a prison and execution sites of many of England's historical icons including Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, and the Duke of Norfolk.

2. The Tower Bridge - this drawbridge serves as the easternmost entry of Thames. It also has a museum which allows tourists to walk along the old pedestrian paths to have a great view of the city. It is a must see for any London vacation.

3. The London Eye - this is one of the newest attractions in the city, created by the British Airways. It is a giant Ferris Wheel that sports 32 closed capsules that allow people to have a 360-degree view of the great historical city. A great theme park, this can make a vacation fun for any age.

4. Westminster Abbey - this famous religious site is known for being the venue for many coronations of English monarchs as well as their burial. It boasts of great architecture that exemplifies the style of the 13th and 16th centuries.

5. The British Museum - an art and history museum. This attraction is home to one of the world's largest collections of antiquities from ancient Rome, Greece, and Asia. It also houses artifacts from prehistoric and ancient Britain.

6. The Buckingham Palace - you probably know this as the home of the British Royal Family. Be sure not to miss the changing of the guards, which is one of London's iconic attractions.

7. The Houses of Parliament - this site combines three attractions in one. It is the location of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, and the Big Ben, which is probably the most recognizable attraction in the city. It exemplifies great gothic architecture from the Victorian era.

8. The National Gallery - this gallery is home to a great collection of European paintings. The great thing about this attraction is that the entrance is free. The permanent collection encompasses paintings from 1250 to 1900 from Western Europe.

9. St. Paul's Cathedral - this historic site has been the venue of many notable events such as the funeral of Winston Churchill and the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales. It is an architectural masterpiece rebuilt by renowned Christopher Wren in 1710. This is also one of London's attractions that offers a great view of the city, with its 530-stair high gallery.

10. Shakespeare's Globe Theater - this theater is a reconstruction of the original Globe theater where several of Shakespeare's plays were first showcased. It is a replica of the original theater and is considered to be a historical site. A great site for a cultural vacation.

11. Trafalgar Square and the Admiralty Arch - this attraction is a monument honoring England's most respected maritime heroes. Its main feature is the statue of Lord Horatio Nelson that stands 145 feet high. It is also considered to be the centermost part of London. The Admiralty Arch, which is just across this landmark, was built in 1910.

12. Sir John Soane's Museum - this attraction is an exemplification of eccentric architecture. It features a unique and unusual combination of colors, curious perspectives, and a weird display of ornaments from different historical periods.

13. Notting Hill - this very fashionable and trendy district has been popularized by a film starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. It has a very characteristic and cozy feel of a small village.

There are many other great attractions in the great city of London. A few days of vacation in the city would not be enough to see them all. However that might be an excuse to keep on returning to this fabulous city over and over again - an ordeal that you probably would not mind.