Top 10 Attractions In London, England - Updated 2024

attractions in london
Anne
Anne 
Updated
| 4 min read

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.

1. London Eye (from USD 62.0)

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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London Eye Fast-Track Ticket with 4D Experience

Duration: 30 minutes

2904 reviews

2. Warner Bros. Studio (from USD 135.0)

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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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter with Transportation

Duration: 8 hours

1420 reviews

3. Sea Life Aquarium, London (from USD 30.95)

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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London: SEA LIFE Entry Ticket

2294 reviews

4. Madame Tussauds London (from USD 43.0)

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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Madame Tussauds London Skip The Line with Star Wars Exhibition

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

2044 reviews

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 Guide, and a Westminster Guide. The reviews I receive from clients speak of their enjoyment from the local knowledge and the humour I bring to my tours. Born within sight of Hampton Court Palace, I am a Londoner and apart from 2 years in the Middle East, I have worked in this capital city all my business and tour guiding careers. I have travelled widely and I appreciate what appeals to visitors coming to London. I can tailor my tours to interest children. I guide couples, families and larger tour groups. I particularly enjoy visits to Westminster Abbey, where I also volunteer guiding students and children through its wonderful interior – on my tours you will hear about monarchs, why scientists and poets are remembered, the architecture and religious history. The Abbey is the story of England. Come on an engaging and fun tour with me. There is so much to show you !

Tours by Robert

5. Churchill War Rooms (from USD 87.17)

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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London: Westminster WW2 Tour & Churchill’s War Rooms Ticket

Duration: 2.5 hour

488 reviews

6. Tower of London (from USD 398.0)

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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Tower of London and Tower Bridge Private Walking Tour

Duration: 3 hours

33 reviews

7. National Gallery (from USD 115.0)

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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The National Gallery of London - Exclusive Guided Museum Tour

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

51 reviews

8. Kensington Palace (from USD 19.56)

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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London: Kensington Palace Sightseeing Entrance Tickets

2277 reviews

9. Buckingham Palace (from USD 166.0)

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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Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Windsor Castle from London

Duration: 9 hours 30 minutes

60 reviews

10. The London Dungeon (from USD 93.0)

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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Shake, Rattle and Roll at the London Dungeon Children's Tour

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.

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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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