London Points of Interest and Places to Visit

Harry Potter fanatics, rejoice: Dumbledore’s Office, Diagon Alley and the Great Hall all exist just a few minutes outside London! Loop the loop and come full circle with your Harry Potter journey at the Warner Bros Studio, where costumes, props and sets are on display for everyone to see, and where the better part of the movie franchise was filmed over the course of ten years. Come experience the magic of filmmaking first-hand! The studio offers insightful, behind-the-scenes trivia on special effects used during the movies’ post-production and the thorough selection of costumes for both main and supporting characters..

One of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries, people have speculated about Stonehenge for centuries, wondering who built it, why, and how. The circle of massive standing stones in the middle of a green field is about 3500 years old, and will perhaps forever remain enshrouded in mystery, making it an even more intriguing place to visit. Check out the impressive structure and hear the various theories that have evolved regarding Stonehenge.

Windsor Castle is the largest working castle in the world, meaning it is still occupied by royalty. For over 900 years, since William the Conqueror built a wooden fortress here, this has been a royal home and fortress. Queen Elizabeth spends a month at Easter, a week in June and most weekends at Windsor. This is also where she often hosts State Dinners for international dignitaries and entertains those she has knighted into the Order of the Garter.

The Tower of London is old, very old. The central White Tower was built by William the Conqueror after his invasion of England in 1066. Since 1485, the iconic red and black-uniformed Beefeaters have been guarding the Tower. Also crucial to security are the ravens. Superstition has it that if the ravens leave, the Monarchy will fall. Consequently at least six pampered ravens are kept in residence at all times.

Since it was officially opened on New Year's Eve 1999 (as part of the millennial celebrations), the London Eye has become one of London's most popular attractions. It has 32 sealed 'pod' capsules, fitting a total of 800 people, revolving on a huge Ferris wheel. One go-around takes half an hour with the wheel rotating at only twice the speed of a tortoise sprinting, so you can step on and off without the wheel needing to stop! The London Eye is the fourth-tallest structure in London, so the far-reaching views over London are spectacular. On a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle. And the slow speed of the rotation means there's plenty of time to see everything and take lots of photos.

The Thames is the longest river in England, the second longest in the United Kingdom. It flows from the west in the Cotswolds, passing through Oxford and London, ending at the sea at Southend-on-Sea in Essex. As far up as Teddington on the western edge of London, the river is tidal. Once the lifeline of London trade and communication, it's still busy with boats: sightseeing boats and houseboats mainly. Once the only way across the river was to ford it, then London Bridge was built by the Romans. Nowadays many bridges criss-cross the river, the pedestrian Millennium Bridge, Tower Bridge and Albert Bridge are among the prettiest. The Thames is home to many species of fish and birds - particularly white swans which are to this day all still owned by the Queen. The river is also used by rowers and yachtsman but not swimmers - the water is not the cleanest.

Westminster Abbey has long been the worshipping place for kings and queens and has a rich history. Since 1066 it's been the coronation church - 38 Kings and Queens of England have been crowned here. Queen Elizabeth II was married here, Princess Diana's funeral was held here. And seventeen monarchs are buried here. The abbey is full of art and monuments to soldiers, statesmen, artists and poets including Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. Most impressive are the State Rooms, which form the heart of the working palace. They are lavishly furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection and adorned with paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer and Canaletto. Also see exquisite examples of S'vres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Outside, marvel at the ceremonious Changing of the Guard.

St Paul's Cathedral was built around 1680 after the great fire of London, but a church to St Paul has stood here since 604AD. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the current St Paul's remains an iconic landmark in the London skyline. St Paul's is the heart of the Church of England and many royal weddings and funerals take place there, including the marriage of Charles and Diana. One of the highlights of a visit to St Paul's is the Whispering Gallery in the dome where, due to its multilayer construction, you can whisper to the wall and be heard on the opposite side of the gallery. The crypt is burial place for many important people including Sir Christopher Wren himself.

Part of London’s famous series of Imperial War Museums, the original Churchill War Rooms, set in the Prime Minister’s secret underground headquarters. The maze of rooms in the basement of a Whitehall building, initially set-up to protect key government figures from the Blitz bombings, were known as the ‘Cabinet War Rooms’ and became a vital center of operations from 1940 to 1945. After the end of the war, the rooms remained secret until they were opened to the public in 1984 after restoration efforts by the Imperial War Museum. Today, the museum explores the life and legacy of Winston Churchill and includes stories, speeches, photos, video interviews and documents. Here, you can explore the main Cabinet War Room, the ‘Courtyard Rooms’, the ‘Bunker’ and the ‘Map Room’

Westminster Palace, home to the British Houses of Parliament, is right on the river Thames. A magnificent Neo-Gothic building dating from 1840, it's most recognizable from the clock tower at one end known as Big Ben. (In fact, Big Ben is actually the bell inside the tower.) Parliament is made up of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords and both have their meeting chambers inside here. It is possible to sit and watch from the Visitors' Gallery if you like seeing grown men taunting each other with bad jokes. Once a year, the Queen puts on her crown, sits on her Throne in the House of Lords and officially opens Parliament.

Originally built by William the Conqueror, Warwick Castle is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument protected and as such most of the current layout built by King Henry II remains. Many of the rooms are open to visitors, including the Armory, State Rooms and Great Hall, exhibiting authentic armor. Today, Warwick Castle host exhibitions and the occasional medieval jousting, archery or falconry display.

As one of the most important pilgrimage sites of medieval Europe, Canterbury’s iconic cathedral is worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage status and remains an important center of Christian worship. Originally founded in 597 by St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral is the oldest church in England still in use and largely regarded as the birthplace of English Christianity. The present day cathedral owes much of its structure to a series of 11th and 12th century reconstructions, with highlights including the 235-foot-high Bell Harry Tower and over 1,200 square meters of early medieval stained glass windows. The cathedral also hosts the poignant shrine of St Thomas Becket, the one-time Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170 at the hands of King Henry II's knights. Immortalized in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century book, The Canterbury Tales, which tells the story of a group of pilgrims traveling to visit the shrine.

When visiting London, it's on every tourist's list to watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Show up early to get a good viewing spot of the ceremony in all its colorful pageantry, set to the stirring tunes of the regimental band. This long treasured tradition is not to be missed!

Constantly undergoing alterations and upkeep in its 900 year history, its condition is amongst the best condition Europe’s medieval era landmarks. The castle is currently riddled with lovely accumulated décor such as tapestries, ceramics and paintings. Surrounded by Kent County's gorgeous landscape, the castle grounds contain an aviary, grotto, and golf course. Not to mention that it also makes its facilities open year-round for larger-scale events. And if that isn't enough, visit the castle's hedge maze, which uses over 2,400 yew trees. As a little incentive to complete the tricky maze, the only viable entrance to the grotto is located at its end.

Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic sights in London. It was opened in 1894, designed to echo the nearby Tower of London although the two have no association except proximity. The bridge is a bascule bridge which means the span lifts to allow ships and yachts through headed for the Pool of London, the port area just upstream of Tower Bridge. River traffic takes priority over road traffic and cars have to wait when a boat wants to come through. The bridge has two high towers suspended by wires from the land and linked by a high-level walkway between. This was designed for pedestrians to be able to cross the river even when the bridge was open and you can still walk across it today. A common confusion is that Tower Bridge is actually called London Bridge but in fact that is the next one upstream, a much plainer bridge.

Theatrically inclined visitors to London will delight in the relatively recently reconstructed replica of the Globe Theatre, with which the Bard was famously associated. Guided tours of the facility offer an unparalleled glimpse into the theatrical craft, culture and community that thrived during Shakespeare's day (and in response to the author's mighty quill). Originally constructed in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company (the so-called Lord Chamberlain's Men), the structure was decimated by a fire 14 years later. A second structure was promptly erected, only to be closed in 1642, a mere 26 years after its founder's death. A faithful replica of the structure (dubbed “Shakespeare's Globe”) was opened to the public in 1997, just 750 feet from the site of its predecessors. It offers the world's largest exhibition dedicated to the greatest scribbler in the English language, complete with actors, recordings and interactive displays.

Dating from the 1820s and named after Admiral Nelson's last great victory, Trafalgar Square is a hub of London life. With the National Gallery on one side, beautiful church St Martin in the Fields just across the road and the famous Nelson's Column with its guarding lions, it's London's grandest square. It's here that London celebrates moments such as Chinese New Year and winning the Olympics, as well as having a huge Christmas tree each year. It's also here that Londoners show their displeasure about things such as wars and curbs on freedom on speech. Trafalgar Square is a wonderful place to sit and watch the world pass by. There's a common belief that if you sit here for half an hour you will see someone you know, because the whole world passes through Trafalgar Square at some point.

On any trip to London, it's important to celebrity spot. Especially if Robert Pattinson or The Queen are in town. But if they prove to be camera-shy you'll find them more co-operative at Madame Tussauds, in fact, I bet they'll hang out with you for hours. But don't expect deep conversation. Because, of course, Madame Tussauds is a long-established and now worldwide waxworks collection. Madame Tussaud was a Frenchwoman who made wax death masks during the French Revolution. She brought this travelling exhibition to London and it proved so popular - these heroes and villains were the celebrities of their time -that it's been a permanent fixture at the Baker Street site since 1884. These days you can wander freely among many contemporary heroes of stage, screen, music, sports, politics etc. Their clothing is often bought at celebrity auctions increasing the realism, their hair and makeup is restyled regularly, and each figures costs $125,000 to make!

The Cotswolds is an area of south central England known as much for its rural landscapes as it is for its stone home and villages. Characterized by the historic limestone towns in the area, the Cotswolds was designated an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" in 1966. Traditional gardens, pubs and antique shops abound, this area stretches 25 miles wide and 90 miles from north to south, while bordering several English counties. Cheltenham, the largest town in the Cotswolds, is best known for its shopping. Visitors come for the quintessentially English towns and stay for the many stately castles, villas open for tours. Outdoor activities and pleasant strolls through the gardens are also popular pastimes.

Catering to more than 190,000 daily passengers, London’s Heathrow airport (LHR) boasts its fair share of superlatives–it’s not only the world's busiest international airport, but the biggest in the UK, the closest airport to London and, since the opening of its fifth terminal back in 2008, home to the UK’s largest freestanding building. With over 90 airlines flying to and from more than 170 international destinations, if you’re traveling to London, there’s a good chance you’ll be landing at Heathrow. The only airport linked to the city by London Underground trains, Heathrow makes a convenient choice, but the enormous airport can seem overwhelming to first-time visitors, so leave plenty of time to check in or collect your luggage and pass through security. Don’t worry if you’re arriving unprepared or your flight is delayed either, as Heathrow has just about everything you could ever need right on site—currency exchange facilities, accommodation and luggage storage.

The magnificent palace building is made up of two different styles: the Tudor palace of Henry VIII, which is about 500 years old, and the more modern Baroque palace of William III, dating from the 17th century. You can wander through the State Apartments and into royal bedrooms and galleries, see the beautiful Chapel Royal and the medieval Great Hall. There are also 60 acres of gardens ranging from the kitchen garden to formal landscaped gardens, rose gardens and a grapevine planted in 1768 which still produces grapes every year.