London skyline and the River Thames at dusk

London, United Kingdom

Royal landmarks, great museums and the River Thames

London mixes centuries of history with theatre, shopping, parks and one of the world's great food scenes. Many of its biggest museums are free to enter, and the Thames links famous sights from Westminster to the Tower of London.

Top attractions

Tower of London: A royal fortress begun by William the Conqueror in the 1070s and home to the Crown Jewels.
Westminster: The Houses of Parliament, the Elizabeth Tower that holds Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, where coronations have taken place since 1066.
British Museum: Two million years of human history in one building, with free general admission.
Tower Bridge: The Victorian bascule bridge next to the Tower, with high-level walkways across the top.
Buckingham Palace: The monarch's official London residence, known for the Changing the Guard ceremony.

Things to do

Museums and galleries: Spend a day at the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery or Tate Modern.
Theatre: See a musical or a play in the West End.
Parks: Walk through Hyde Park, Regent's Park or Greenwich Park.
Shopping: Oxford Street, Covent Garden and famous department stores.

A little history

The Romans founded Londinium on the Thames soon after their invasion of Britain in AD 43. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror began the Tower of London, and the city grew into the centre of English government and trade.

The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed much of the old city, which was rebuilt with new churches including St Paul's Cathedral. By the 19th century London had become the largest city in the world.