London is the capital...

London is the most dynamically developing European capital.
On the one hand, this is the royal family, the mighty empire, Beefeater, Hyde Park, Churchill, gentlemen with bowlers and ladies with buttons up to the very neck.
On the other hand, it is the tallest skyscraper in the European Union, modern buildings, a dynamic financial center, Fish & Chips and famous shopping streets. What comes to mind when they say "London" or "England"? We have collected the main things about London to visit it. No wonder London is one of the top travel destinations in the world, attracting over 15 million visitors every year.
The UK's capital is a vibrant arts and entertainment center that offers one of the largest concentrations of cultural attractions on the planet. From royal palaces to the people's parliament, from museums and churches to riding a giant Ferris wheel, London is sure to please everyone. We have selected for you the so-called must see sights (or those that you just have to see), as well as experiences that will make you feel the real English atmosphere of London.

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10 reasons to visit a conservative city:

Architectural monuments 

London is literally filled with sights. However, you should not miss at least this trinity: the 11-story Elizabeth Clock Tower with its dominant bell Big Ben, the unique bridge across the Thames - Tower Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Following in the footsteps of the royal family

Have you ever wondered how the British royal family lives?
In London, you can look right into the living room by visiting Buckingham Palace, the Queen's official city residence. Although it is rather an office and public premises of the palace, possible to visit. Attention, you have the opportunity to go through the bowels of the palace only from August 1 to September 27. Then you can admire the royal jewels in the Tower of London, that is, in the fortress that served the royal family until the 16th century.

Then it was turned into a prison.

Traditions

Traditions here are felt in all corners of the city, but for tourists the appearance of the royal guard is the most attractive.
We are talking about the polite London guards, who have become literally a symbol of London. But even more interesting are the members of the royal guard with their meter-long hats.

Modern projects

The London Eye has made a major contribution to the visual transformation of the city today.
From the 150-meter building, tourists have a breathtaking view of the British capital from a bird's eye view. Modern buildings such as London's tallest building called the Shard of Glass or the Broadgate Tower and a number of other skyscrapers.

Free museums

London museums have free permanent exhibitions, which is very good news for tourists.
In addition, there are so many of them in the capital and with a very wide focus, so that everyone can really find something for themselves. One of the most popular is the British Museum, where you can see, for example, an interesting exhibition with sarcophagi and mummies.
An unusual experience is a visit to the Tate Modern, which is located in a former power plant on the banks of the River Thames, right next to the famous Millennium Bridge.

Outskirts of London

Discover the spirit of the traveller, and dare to venture outside the capital to discover the secrets of Stonehenge, marvel at luxurious mansions like Blenheim Palace, or immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere that literally breathes in the ancient walls of English cathedrals scattered across the country.

English cuisine

If you want to have a classic tourist lunch outside, be sure to try the fish and chips.
But traditional English dishes also include rabbit stewed in earthenware, as well as roast beef and brown Windsor soup. Stuffed baked potatoes, the so-called jacket potatoes, are very popular, most often filled with ham and cheese, mushrooms or tuna.

Night life

Britain and nightlife?
If you go for a beer in a traditional pub, as you should, expect to be greeted with gratitude around 11 pm. Then you can go to one of the well-known clubs - Ministry of Sound and Fabric are among them, but be prepared for long queues at the entrance.

London in cinema

Do you know what Notting Hill, Heavenly Love or Bridget Jones's Diary have in common? Yes, these films were filmed in London. But not only romantic films were filmed in the British capital. Harry Potter also appeared here.

sports matches

London can offer not only a great active sports holiday, but also the opportunity to attend matches of various sports from rugby, football to tennis in impressive stadiums and the best courts.
Matches of one of the major league teams - Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham and West Ham United, not to mention the famous tennis grail - Wimbledon, where you will see only the best of the best games .

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MAIN ATTRACTIONS

Big Ben

Big Ben in the common people is called the "big bell". 

This iconic London landmark is known to every tourist. In 2012, the clock tower was named the Elizabethan Tower in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's jubilee. Big Ben is one of the three towers of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, located on the banks of the Thames. Did you know that Big Ben is gradually tilting? Of course, he is far from the indicators of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, but the fact remains. Since the construction, the state of the soil has changed, which led to the "fall" of Big Ben.

Houses of Parliament

The official name of the Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster. It sits on the banks of the Thames in Westminster and its architecture is breathtaking. Parliament has been sitting in the palace since the sixteenth century, and in 1987 the palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the nineteenth century, the last reconstruction was made to eliminate the consequences of a fire. The Palace of Westminster has 1,200 rooms, 100 staircases and 5 kilometers of corridors. Anyone can observe the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords - the premises of Parliament are open all week at different times of the day. Line up at St. Stephen's Gate and after passing through several security checkpoints, you can reach the visitor's gallery. In August and September, when Parliament is closed, you can take a guided tour of the entire building.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the property of the English capital. Its name refers to the Battle of Trafalgar, in which the British fleet defeated Napoleon. The square is a very large public area where you can sit for hours and admire the fountains with the National Gallery in the background. Mass social events often take place here, for example, they relax here, get acquainted with works of classical and modern art, watch sports competitions and film premieres, celebrate Christmas and New Year, organize rallies and protests.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the Queen. On its territory of 20 hectares, buildings of the police, hospital, post office and restaurant were attached. The palace was built in the eighteenth century, but later it was bought by the King Duke III. The centrally located Buckingham Courtyard is adjacent to Green Park and St James's Park. Usually, a flag flaunts over Buckingham Palace - this means that the Queen is in the building. But at the end of the summer, Elizabeth II leaves her home, and Buckingham Palace opens its doors to tourists. With their own eyes, they can see the luxury of the royal court.  

Gilded ceilings and silk-covered walls, exquisite furniture, antique vases and elegant candelabra - the halls are distinguished by such magnificence. Formally, Buckingham Palace is the property of the royal family. But at the same time, it is considered a landmark and serves as an art gallery. This is the hallmark of the UK.

St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is a landmark on the London skyline. 

The dome of the cathedral is exactly what makes its architecture exquisite and iconic, which is dedicated to the Apostle Paul and is the residence of the Bishop of London. The cathedral sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city. The current church was built after the Great Fire that destroyed most of the city. The cathedral invites everyone to look inside and walk through its majestic halls, as well as view it from the Millennium Bridge, which passes over the Thames right in front of the cathedral.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is another symbol of England, known all over the world.
This bridge across the River Thames was built at the end of the nineteenth century. Two majestic Gothic towers connect the hanging spans. At the beginning of its existence, the bridge was considered the most ridiculous local building. Today there is a museum on the top floor. The most beautiful view of the bridge opens from the banks of the Thames, along which you can also take a nice, cozy walk.

Hyde Park

Occupying a huge area, Hyde Park is the largest open area in London. The main attraction of the park is Serpentine Lake, which was artificially created in the 18th century. Today it is very popular with those wishing to go boating or swimming. Hyde Park is also home to Speakers' Corner, the traditional forum for free speech. Another attraction in Hyde Park is Apsley House, the former home of the first Duke of Wellington, acquired after his famous victory at Waterloo. Now it is a museum that houses a magnificent collection of Wellington paintings, as well as gifts donated by grateful European kings and emperors.

soho

Soho is a quarter in the central part of London's West End, famous for its numerous shops and entertainment venues. The haven of London bohemia, the cradle of beat culture, a quarter with an ambiguous reputation, which every resident of the British capital visits from time to time - all this is the legendary Soho. The noisy and incredibly colorful place will be of interest primarily to those who are ready to see another London: devoid of the notorious respectability, rampant and carefree, sometimes dysfunctional, but always attractive.

Ferris wheel "London Eye"

The London Eye was opened to the public in 2000. At one time, it was considered the largest Ferris wheel in the world and the highest observation deck in London. From the height of the Ferris wheel, incredible views of the entire city are revealed. Rising to the height of a 45-storey building (135 meters), visitors can view London and its surroundings from a distance of up to 40 kilometers in clear weather. The view from the ground is also quite impressive, adding another dimension to the London skyline.

Globus theatre

The Globe Theater is located next to the Tate Modern, a modern reconstruction of the original theater that was closely associated with the great English writer William Shakespeare. The theater has a unique architecture: a round symbolic shape and a thatched roof.  

Here you can also watch beautiful performances in the open air.

Madame Tussauds museum 

Madame Tussauds in London, located in the fashionable area of ​​Marylebone, is deservedly considered one of the symbols of the capital of Great Britain along with Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and others. It is also called "landmark with a human face." More precisely, with a thousand faces - according to the number of wax figures of famous figures of different eras exhibited here, including those living today. In the halls of Madame Tussauds there is always a place for rising stars of politics or art.

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