Top 10 Attractions In London, England - Updated 2024

Anne
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
attractions in london

London is a sprawling and exciting city to explore with many major attractions, plenty of history and royal pomp and ceremony. The capital of England and the UK is nestled on both sides of the River Thames and it is an iconic mixture of historic and fascinating sites and modern architecture. The city’s history dates back to Roman times from around 43 AD, when London was called Londinium. Iconic landscapes of the city include the political pomp of the Houses of Parliament with the famous Big Ben clock tower, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Newer additions include the London Eye, a cantilevered observation wheel on the south bank of the Thames which offers panoramic views of the entire city. Explore some of the most iconic sights in the city which form part of these 10 top attractions in London, UK.

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1. London Eye

Located on the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye is one of London’s major and newer attractions. The cantilevered observation deck is said to be the tallest of its kind in Europe and the world, and it offers visitors panoramic views over the South Bank and the entire city. See Buckingham Palace, St. James Park and the Houses of Parliament from a whole new angle, while the big wheel turns. Of interest to note, London Eye rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second and one full revolution lasts around 30 minutes. The platform doesn’t normally stop to pick up passengers as the rotation rate is so slow, passengers can climb on or off the moving capsules down at the ground level.

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2. Warner Bros. Studio

Warner Bros. Studio in London gives visitors the chance to enter the magical world of Harry Potter. Learn how the movies were made while visiting film sets, with costumes, props and special effects. Immerse yourself in the magic by standing in the Great Hall, visiting Dumbledore’s office and stroll in Diagon Alley. Experience the original Hogwarts Express steam engine while posing for photos at the famous Platform 9¾. Various events are regularly planned in the studios for more magical fun. Visit the world of Harry Potter as a muggle and leave with a touch of magic inside.

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3. Sea Life Aquarium, London

attractions in london | sea life aquarium, london

Sea Life Aquarium in London offers a magical world of marine life, right in the heart of the city. There are 50 displays with more than 400 species of sea creatures, including eels, sharks, octopuses, clownfish and penguins. Enjoy live feedings and visit the Rainforest Adventure exhibit with the Amazon’s carnivorous fish, including the 300 of the terrifying piranhas. As you explore, you will have sharks under your feet in one of the 14 themed zones in the aquarium.

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4. Madame Tussauds London

Get up close to the royal family and many popular celebrities at Madame Tussauds in London. The remarkable wax replicas are incredibly lifelike. Take a selfie with David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Kim Kardashian or your favorite celebrity, pose with the entire royal family or visit the Star Wars heroes, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Yoda at the immersive Star Wars exhibit. Alternatively, you can hang out with the iconic Spider-Man at the Marvel Super Heroes 4D exhibition.

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London Tour Guide

Robert Woolf

Robert Woolf

I am a London tour guide and my tours include talking about people who have shaped the city plus the many connected places such as Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the commercial centre of the city: the City of London, and London’s world class museums and galleries. I have been guiding for 12 years. I am a licenced London Blue Badge Tour Guide, a City of London Gu... Read more

Tours by Robert

5. Churchill War Rooms

churchill war rooms

It is hard to imagine what London went through during the Second World War. You can uncover the secrets of the world’s last major war hidden under the streets of Westminster in Churchill’s War Rooms. Take a tour of the underground bunker where Churchill’s staff was protected during the bombing and while he planned the necessary route to the Allied Victory. Get a feel of what life was like during those tense days and nights underground and see where Churchill met with his War Cabinet. Visit the Map Room, which has been left exactly as it was on the day they turned the lights out in 1945, as the war ended at last.

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6. Tower of London

The Tower of London is a number of things. It is London’s castle, but it is also a royal palace, a secure fortress and an infamous prison. A tour includes a visit to all the major sites, including the magnificent Crown Jewels, a collection of 23,578 gorgeous gemstones​ kept safe in the Tower of London. Meet the iconic Yeoman Warders and learn stories of passion, pain, torture and treachery of the past. See the famous ravens, known as the guardians of the Tower. Visit the White Tower, an imposing example of Norman architecture in the heart of the complex.

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7. National Gallery

London’s National Gallery is home to an impressive quantity of art, including the work of Botticelli, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Monet. When taking an official tour of the gallery, visitors can learn more about the artists, their work and the artistic techniques they used to create it. This is the ideal location for budding artists and art enthusiasts to learn more about the paintings on display.

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8. Kensington Palace

kensington palace

Kensington Palace is nestled in the Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. A visit to Kensington Palace reveals stories from the days of Queen Victoria in the new “Victoria Revealed” exhibition on site. Visit the King’s State Apartments and find out about the secrets of the fragile dynasty while touring the magnificent Queen’s State Apartments.

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9. Buckingham Palace

Britain’s royal family is known worldwide and considered celebrities in the world’s media. You can explore Buckingham Palace to find out more about the royals and visit the 19th-century staterooms and the famous throne room. The palace is the monarch’s official residence in London and it is often used for state occasions.

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10. The London Dungeon

the london dungeon
Source: www.viator.com

The London Dungeon is a popular attraction for young and old and it is located on the South Bank of the Thames in London. The site recreates all the macabre and gory historical events of London’s infamous past in a true, gallows humor way. Using a mixture of live actors, fun rides and special effects, the attraction has delighted visitors for almost 40 years. It is a 110-minute journey through 1000 years of the city’s murky and macabre past.

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Have fun on your tour of the major sights of London

Buckingham Palace from gardens, London, UK - Diliff
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Diliff used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Take in the history of the city, enjoy magnificent views, take in the royal pomp and ceremony and visit lifelike statues of the royal family and other popular celebrities while visiting these 10 top attractions in London, UK.

Tip from Content Creator

London is one of the most popular destinations for tourists across the world—and it isn't hard to see why. This city truly has everything for every traveler. Plus, it is massive! Even if you lived there for years, you would still have a hard time covering all the experiences. This means that no two trips are ever going to be the same. Aside from checking out the usual highlights, here are some more activities you can enjoy in London:

- Drink an English cider in a British pub

- Go on a river cruise on the Thames

- Explore the British Museum

- Go shopping on Oxford Street

- Stroll down Abbey Road

- See a show on the West End

- See the disappearing trolley in King’s Cross

- Go shopping in Soho

- Learn something at the Natural History Museum

- Immerse yourself in the art and design at Victoria and Albert Museum

- Climb to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral

- Tour the Sherlock Holmes Museum

- See the lions at Trafalgar Square

and so much more!

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anne Sewell was born in England, but has spent most of her life in Africa - Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa - and now resides on the beautiful Costa del Sol in southern Spain. She loves writing...Read more

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