Sightseeing
Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster, or the Houses of Parliament, as it’s more commonly known, is probably one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The building isn’t particularly old – it was reconstructed in the mid 19th century after a major fire gutted most of the previous building. The only remaining pre-fire parts of the building are the Jewel Tower, the chapel crypt and Westminster Hall. Charles Barry was the architect commissioned to restore and rebuild the Palace, which he did in magnificent neo-gothic style. The enormous clock tower, named Big Ben after the 13-ton bell that resides within it, rises majestically over the towers, spires and turrets of the houses.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is the much older neighbour of the Houses of Parliament. It’s a medieval building dating from pre-Norman times. William the Conqueror was crowned King here in 1066, and the coronation of just about every other king and queen since then has also been held here. It’s one of the most important churches in Britain, and many of the country’s great and good are buried here – not just monarchs, but also important religious, literary and political figures.
Buckingham Palace
This splendid royal residence has been home to the British monarchy since 1837. The Queen opened up the doors of the Palace to the public in the 1990s, allowing visitors to tour the State Rooms during the summer and see some of the country’s most important treasures – paintings, sculpture, porcelain and furniture. It gets very busy at the height of the season, so expect to queue for quite a while. If you’re put off by the lengthy waits, why not go to see the Changing of the Guard in the Palace courtyard. It happens at 11.30 every day in the summer, and every couple of days for the rest of the year.
Tower Bridge
This twin-towered bridge, with its hydraulic lifting platforms to allow the passage of large boats, is a wonderful feat of Victorian engineering, and it’s one of the most well known images of London. You can visit the engine rooms and take a walk along the top connecting walkway of the bridge by going on the guided tour – there are several tours daily in different languages.
Tower of London
One of Britain’s most visited tourist attractions, the Tower of London has a fascinating and rather gory history. It was once a prison and fortress and the original parts of the building date from the 13th century. Many notorious events took place here long ago, from the beheading of monarchs to the murder of two boy princes. It was famously guarded by ravens, and there are still some birds roaming around today. Don’t’ miss the Crown Jewels collection and the Royal Armouries Museum – the treasures on display are exquisite.
Other sights
One of London’s best public spaces is Trafalgar Square, bounded on all sides by magnificent buildings and dotted with fountains and statues. Nelson’s Column famously towers above it. St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in London. It’s a baroque domed church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1673, and it has held some of the most important services and funerals in the city. Inside it’s possible to climb up into the ‘Whispering Gallery’ of the dome, which has wonderful acoustics. To get great views of the city, take a ride on the London Eye, a ferris wheel that’s a permanent feature along the south bank of the Thames.
