Sightseeing

Discover London from Above: Best Viewpoints to Visit

Born and raised Istanbulite. Keeping an eye on the opportunity to explore this ancient city even more. Trying to do the best for nature.

London… Could it be the most aristocratic city in the world? If you can see royalty walking its streets if you can walk from The Mall to Buckingham Palace and know that everyone is there, including Her Majesty the Queen, even if you are watching the London iconic landmark, guard changing ceremony… Why not a city of aristocracy? London is indeed one of the most attractive cities in the world in many ways. The important works here are the works of important architects who have their signatures among the London historic buildings. Each neighborhood seems to have a different character. Have you ever wondered why the British are such calm people? There’s parking everywhere, maybe that’s why.

London is a city full of people from different countries. Because people come here for inspiration. They also bring their own fantasy heroes. Think about it: from W. Shakespeare to the Beatles, from Hendrix to Bilbo Baggins or Sherlock Holmes. Inspiration comes and finds you in London, it’s fixed with experience! London began to be formed in AD 47 and since then has experienced plague, devastating fires, civil wars, aerial bombardments, terrorist attacks and riots, and more. What might the city, which has been standing for more than 2000 years, have in store for you? HeyTripster puts together great London itineraries for you.

Wherever you want to go, wherever you want to start in the city. You need to know where to look to find the best London treasures, here is the 40 most London landmarks list:

Castles and Historic Buildings

1. Windsor Castle

The favorite home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the castle is where she spends her special weekends with her family. This place is one of the famous London landmarks. Covering 900 years of British history, the castle has magnificent staterooms and works of art. All these works of art also tell a cultural and artistic history, as they reflect the cultural tastes of the kings and queens who lived here. It is possible to see the iconic changing of the guard ceremony from April until the end of June at 11:00 every day except Sundays. The castle is open to visitors except on 25 and 26 December, even if there is a queen inside. Click for ticket prices, opening hours and detailed information.

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2. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the London England landmarks, and it is the Queen’s home and office. The palace is the focal point of national and royal celebrations. During the summer months, it is open to visitors on certain dates between November and December and on Easter. When you visit, you can tour the 19 staterooms that make up the heart of the palace. You can see the magnificent staterooms, the unique paintings and works of art hanging on the corridor walls, the royal family carriages, and other items. If you want to visit the stables and the Queen’s Gallery, you pay an extra fee. It is important to buy or reserve tickets in advance. Click here to buy tickets and find out the current visiting hours.

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3. Big Ben

Officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, it is a large clock tower located right next to the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is among the symbolic structures that are thought to represent parliamentary democracy. Therefore, it is one of the landmarks London. Designed by Augustus Pugin in Neo-Gothic style, the tower was completed in 1859. It has been under 1st-degree protection since 1970. Big Ben is actually the name of the largest of the 5 bells in the tower. Its voice can be heard from 14 km away. The tower is free to visit. You have to pay for the parliament building. Click here for detailed information and reservation.

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4. Tower of London

This place houses some of the most legendary and unusual diamonds in the world. The tower is not just a castle of priceless jewels, of course. There is a lot of pain in its history, its reputation is mostly about being a place of torture and death. Do not go anywhere without seeing the iconic White Tower, The Line of Kings, Royal Beasts, and coins that stand out when you look from the outside. Free to members, open Tuesday through Sunday every week except Christmas.

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5. St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located on the highest point of London for over 1400 years, the cathedral is among the important historical landmarks of London. This cathedral is part of the city skyline with its cruciform structure and stunning dome.  You should visit St. Paul’s dome, the Stone and Golden galleries, the Stone Gallery, the Gold Gallery, and the ‘Great Restoration of the 1920s’ exhibition. The story of the fires that the 1400-year-old building went through and its reconstruction 5 times is very interesting.

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6. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, which Tripadvisor users voted 2021 Traveler’s Choice, draws attention especially with its glass walkway between its two towers. Tower Bridge, the most famous scale bridge in the world, can be opened with a mechanism and the doors of the Thames River are also opened. Walk on the glass road and immerse yourself in the magic of the Thames.

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7. Westminster Abbey

The coronation and marriage ceremony of many kings and queens, this magnificent structure was founded in 960 by 12 Benedictine monks. The current Romanesque structure was built between 1042 and 1052. Here are the tombs of many British monarchs and scientists such as Newton and Darwin. You can also see the rich collections of royal valuables inside.

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8. The Monument

This is a monument to the memory of a great fire. At the beginning of September 1666, a fire in a bakery spread to 86% of the city, leaving 130,000 people homeless. There was no fire department, the people living in the city put out the fire that lasted for 4 days. This is why the people of London take care of their city and love it so much. The Monument tells about this great disaster and connects everyone with an emotional bond. The cathedrals and the city, which were rebuilt in fifty years, integrate with this monument, the view of the city is much more beautiful when viewed from The Monument. Click to visit and for detailed information.

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Must See

9. London Eye

How about seeing the city from the top? Wondering if the Queen is at home? You can see them all from the London Eye. The London Eye is Europe’s largest Ferris wheel, built 21 years ago for the celebration of 2000. It is 135 meters high and takes about 30 minutes to turn completely. The Ferris wheel has 32 glass capsules and is ready for you to enjoy the whole view. If you buy tickets for the London Eye, which is visited by more than 3 million tourists a year, online before coming to the city, you will not wait in line for tickets. Click to visit and for detailed information.

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10. The Shard

Interpreted as an alternative to the London Eye, it is the tallest structure in Europe where you can see the view 360 degrees. There are also many events that attract attention with their silent discos. Although it does not fit the general baroque atmosphere of the city, you can sip something while watching the view from The Shard, which is among the buildings that are constantly visited by tourists. Very enjoyable. Click for detailed information and current ticket prices.

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11. Warner Bros. Studio Tour

What’s it like to discover the magic of Harry Potter™? Backstage, unique costumes, sets, and accessories await you. Here you can take a photo at the start of the journey with the original Hogwarts Express locomotive by climbing up to platform 9 ¾. You can enter the Gringotts Wizarding Bank and hunt for all the magical treasures, Gryffindor’s Sword and Helga Hufflepuff’s Cup. The Forbidden Forest and layers of snow, Diagon Alley, and Hagrid’s Cabin have also joined the studio designs, which have been revamped for 2021. A special Forbidden Forest tour is promised to those who visit until January 16, 2022.

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12. The SEA LIFE London Aquarium

This mysterious experience begins with an elevator descending into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to the glass tunnel walkway, you can see what’s going on in the ocean around you. Along the way, you have the chance to see the creatures living in the depths of the oceans, get to know the wild sharks up close (not too closely, of course!), and watch the wild aquatic creatures in the Rainforest. You can feed Stingrays and have unforgettable experiences in touch pools and exploration zones. Click for tickets and opening times.

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13. ArcelorMittal Orbit

You are in the right place to discover England’s tallest statue. With its height of 114.5 meters, it offers the opportunity to see the entire city at a distance of up to 20 miles. After enjoying the view, do not think that everything is over. Apart from stairs and elevators, you have another alternative for descending: a slide. The slide twists and turns 12 times, including a mind-blowing twist section. In the end, there is a 50 m flat landing section to the ground. The ride takes up to 40 seconds and drives its guests at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Who said “calm” to the British?.

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14. Cutty Sark

This magnificent ship, built-in 1869 and tasked with bringing tea and wool to the country, now welcomes its visitors. While visiting the ship museum, you can interactively play the journey of transporting wool from Australia to the UK in 70 days. It would be spoilers if we now tell the story of the ship, why it’s called Cutty Sark, and the meaning of the female figure in front of it. If you buy the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass, you can enter Cutty Sark for free, as with all museums.

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15. Shakespeare’s Globe

Built-in 1599 and destroyed by fundamentalists in 1644, the theater was rebuilt 350 years later, under the leadership of actor and director Sam Wanamaker. It was re-opened in 1997 and opened its doors to visitors. In addition to living in the fascinating atmosphere of the 17th century, you also have the chance to watch Shakespeare plays. Apart from the games, many events are also organized. You need to book in advance for guided tours. Click to get information about events and to make reservations.

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Museums

16. British Museum

This museum, which contains various works from many parts of the world, is not like visiting in a single day. Like many of Britain’s public museums, admission is free. The British Museum is the world’s first national public museum. A museum that gathers world cultures under one roof. It contains 8 million objects. It describes the diversity of cultures, from small communities to large empires. You experience great surprise when you discover the bond between objects that describe every single detail shaped by human life, even if they come from two distant continents. It is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00. Click for current ticket prices and other information.

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17. Arsenal Emirates Stadium Tour and Museum

The museum, which is free to enter, is ideal for football fans. In the North Triangle Building just north of the Emirates Stadium. Inside you can see Charlie George’s jersey for the 1971 FA Cup Final, as well as Michael Thomas’ boots from Arsenal’s 1988-89 match against Liverpool. It is home to a wide variety of memorabilia throughout the club’s history, such as Alan Smith’s 1994 UEFA Cup jersey. The special trophy commemorating the Winners’ Cup Final and the 2003-04 Premier League season in which Arsenal was undefeated is also here. Visiting hours are from 10:00 to 16:00 every day of the week. Click for extra fees.

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18. Chelsea FC Stadium Tour & Museum

Another museum for football fans. While visiting this stadium and museum, which has been the home of Chelsea for 116 years, you can sit in the dressing room seats of your favorite football players. You can take great pictures while crossing Stamford Bridge. With TOUR+, offered with mobile-guided stadium tours starting in 2021, you can experience a much richer football history. Click for detailed information and fees.

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19. Wimbledon Museum

Items were donated by tennis stars, Victorian tennis clothes and rackets, and many more. It is possible to see the development of tennis since 1877 in this museum. It is possible to visit the tennis courts, of course, the open ones. The ghost of John McEnroe will be with you as you learn about the history, traditions, and legends of the game. A 90-minute field tour is included in the tennis museum visit. You can go through the same doors as the players, sit on the seats in the media center and learn about the maintenance of the lawn tennis courts in detail. There is an entrance fee. Click for detailed information about the museum and online reservations.

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20. Madame Tussauds London

You may have visited Madame Tussauds elsewhere before. However, this place is a little different. Sculptors masterfully displayed their centuries-old artistic methods on the entire royal family. You can greet the Queen and smile for the cameras with Benedict Cumberbatch. Marvel Super Heroes is there too, or Star Wars. You should definitely visit the museum, which has become much richer with new sculptures at the beginning of 2021. There is an entrance fee, we recommend that you buy early and not wait in line.

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21. Sherlock Holmes Museum

Sherlock Holmes Museum, one of the favorites of Baker’s Street, contains everything about Sherlock, which is well known to crime lovers. It’s like everything Victorian is gathered in this museum. The peculiarity of this house is that, according to the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, detective Holmes resided at this address from 1881 to 1904. The history of the museum building dates back to 1851. The four-story Georgian-style townhouse previously served as a hostel but is now protected as a cultural heritage.

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22. Victoria & Albert Museum

Founded in 1852, the museum is located in South Kensington. The focus is on decorative art and products in the design concept. With the aim of developing the design culture in the country and accelerating the production, every object produced in a period of 5 thousand years is exhibited here. You can see the most beautiful examples of Renaissance jewellery, artistic products from British history, furniture, and ironwork. The museum is free to visit, you have to pay for some special exhibitions and events inside. The museum is not open every day, click here for visiting hours and up-to-date information.

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23. Natural History Museum


The museum served as a part of the British Museum until it moved to its own building in 1884. In the Natural History Museum, you can find information about creatures that developed in history and somehow became extinct. The architecture of the museum, which is one of the 3 major cultural facilities on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, is Romanesque. The 80 million objects inside are examined in 4 main groups. The museum has an extensive repertoire of botany, entomology, paleontology, mineralogy, and zoology. Be sure to admire the Diplodocus skeleton at the entrance. Click here for the entrance hours and membership information to the museum, which is open every day of the week.

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24. Churchill War Rooms

Times intertwined with war… Churchill was making all war decisions in these rooms. Now you too can go there and live those times. It is enough to go to King Charles Street to listen to the stories about the Second World War and to visit the award-winning museum. Click for ticket prices and other events.

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25. Dulwich Picture Gallery

Magnificent paintings by artists, discussion films about the views between cultural transitions… The exhibition, which consists of more than 600 paintings rich in European masterpieces such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Gainsborough, and Canaletto, is worth seeing.

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Parks

26. Hyde Park

The park, which is within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, is located on an area of ​​150 hectares. This is one of the top attractions of Heytripster’s London trip plans. It was the hunting ground of the royal family for a long time and was opened to the public in the 17th century. While passing through the park on Sunday, you can stop by the “speakers’ corner” to listen to various debates or go up on an elevation to give a speech. There is a large pond in the middle of the park. Here you can take a boat ride, stroll along the walking paths, have a picnic on the grass, ride a horse, and attend events and concerts if you’ve been there in the summer.

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27. St. James’s Park

Pelicans are the owners of this park, which was built in the 18th century. You can watch the pelicans that have lived here for 400 years while relaxing on the sun loungers. The view of the lake from James’s Cafe is magnificent. Covering an area of ​​57 acres, the park is one of 8 Royal parks. The flower beds on the side of the park facing Buckingham Palace are quite famous. These flowers form a magnificent backdrop in various ceremonies and events. The ideal place to watch the grand festivities that precede the “Trooping the Color”, the Queen’s birthday parade, which begins at the beginning of June, is St. It’s James Park.

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28. The Regent’s Park

The park, where Regent’s College and London Zoo are located, is especially enjoyable for morning walks. You can also pass here when you stop by Hyde Park. The landscaping is very well done. The walking paths are peaceful. A surprise awaits you at the southwestern exit of the park: the Sherlock Holmes museum. Take peanuts with you, especially if you go for a morning walk because the squirrels also go for a walk with you.

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29. Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens was formerly part of Hyde Park. Kensington, one of the 8 Royal Parks, covers 265 acres. Here, there is a private garden for Diana. In this garden, there is a large wooden ship where children can play, and various sculptures inspired by Peter Pan. You can spend a pleasant time in the park with swans, squirrels, chickens, and ducks, and escape from the city crowd, right in the middle of the city. Don’t forget to buy macaroons from the cafe at the exit of the garden!

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30. Hampstead Heath

The park is in the north of London. 4 miles from Trafalgar Square. It encompasses you with its swimming pools, splash pools, sports fields and facilities, athletics track, playgrounds, pergola and hill garden, elegant fountains on the walking path, and clean air. They have very delicious food in their cafe. Ideal for a picnic. The view of London from Parliament Hill is stunning. Hampstead Heath, which also includes Golders Hill Park with a small zoo and butterfly house, is open every day of the year. You will spend hours here, let’s just say.

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31. Greenwich Park

You can see some of London’s iconic sights from here. With its landscape that hasn’t changed since the 17th century, Greenwich Park takes you back in time to the Roman period. This place has a special meaning for time lovers: the Prime Meridian, the reference point for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), passes through this park. You can walk through the gardens with colorful flowers and beautiful roses, and have a snack at the Pavilion Café. England’s first black voter, Ignatius Sancho, lived right next door to the park. You can read the success of Sancho, who was born on a slave ship, from the plaque in the park.

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32. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground

This playground within Kensington Gardens is in sight of Princess Diana’s former residence at Kensington Palace. This garden, which includes the Peter Pan children’s area, which was established during the time of JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, was specially designed for children to play happily. Its most distinctive icon is the full-size wooden pirate ship surrounded by sand. This pirate ship is designed for children to climb. It is among the slides, swings, and fragrant flowers. There is also an area designed for the differently-abled kids in the playground.

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33. Holland Park

“Did I see a peacock?” Yes, if you are in Holland Park, it is very normal to see peacocks. They are the hosts of the park. And of course, there are the squirrels who come to you for peanuts. A boutique park in central London, not as large as Hyde Park. This romantic park covering 22 hectares has it all, a very famous greenhouse, a giant chess set, a cricket field, tennis courts, a Japanese Garden, a student hostel, London’s best children’s playground is here. The park is located in the west of London, and you come across it while walking on Kensington Street.

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Squares – Streets

34. Piccadilly Circus

It can remind us of Times Square in New York with its lively life. Neon lights have never gone out in over 100 years, and the crowd and noise never subside. This square, on the street stretching from Burlington House to Hyde Park, seems to be an indicator of why there are so many parks in the city. The Eros Statue in the square is quite magnificent and beautiful. After this square was closed to traffic, it became an indispensable place for tourists and street artists. Always crowded, always mixed, and just as fun. Do not leave London here without stopping by.

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35. Soho

Soho is an entertainment center. It is located between Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus. Ideal for nightlife and entertainment. There are many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. You can find live entertainment, delicious and interesting dishes.

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36. Trafalgar Square

It’s a huge area full of statues. This square, which the main gate of the National Art Gallery faces, takes its name from the Battle of Trafalgar. This square is one of most London historical sites. Square is located in the Westminster district of central London. It is flanked by the National Gallery and St Martins the Fields Church to the north, the Strand to the east, Whitehall to the south, and Admiralty Arch and The Mall to the southwest. We recommend coming to this square at night because the LED lights in the fountains are breathtaking.

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37. Covent Garden

One of London’s most beloved places, Covent Garden is located in the West End. This is a real shopping place, you can think of it as a neighborhood market. If you don’t like luxury shopping, this is the place for you. In fact, Covent Garden is like a playground for adults and children. You should see the excitement as Christmas approaches. Concepts completely change and new flavors, events, and products are on display, full of surprises. The piazza and the market are always open, shops usually open after 10:00 and close at 20:00. On Sunday, it opens at 11:00 and closes at 18:00.

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38. Borough Market

This neighborhood by the London Bridge is a true foodie paradise. While you are eating hot meals from street vendors, you can browse the market stalls filled with fresh produce. In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also find different flavors such as handmade chocolate truffles and Indian street food. There are quite a lot of options and each one is ready to present its own flavor in its best form. Borough Market is open Monday through Saturday. Not all stalls are open on Mondays and Tuesdays. You can still find a few stalls though.

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39. Oxford Street

With HeyTripster, one of the most fun parts of the trip has arrived: Let the shopping day begin! Here you can find a place for every budget. You can enter the big stores of all the brands you know and shop. There are not many positive comments about the exchange offices here, so you can convert your money to pounds elsewhere and come to the street to shop. There is a completely different world here, especially at Christmas time. Selfridges, one of the most famous shopping malls in the city, is here. Primark is waiting for you for affordable products. Bargaining is fair game. The restaurants are great. You can spend a full day, get your fill of shopping and delicious food.

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40. Camden Town

Camden, in the north of London, is perfect for those who love hippie style, vintage, second-hand shopping. What can you find? In Lock Market, Lock Village, you can find handicrafts, books, clothes, jewellery, and fast food. You can find trendy clothes on Buck Street. You can visit the Barn Market for household items, antiques, second-hand clothes. Camden High Street is where the big fashion brands and vintage clothing stores are located. Here is the map to go. Come here after visiting Regent’s Park, even if you don’t shop, you will love the jazz bars and cafes for the ever-evolving nightlife.

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HeyTripster draws on the experience of trip designers who live in the area and enjoy living here while preparing a trip plan for you to enjoy as well. See London through HeyTripster trip designers eyes with their trip plans!

 

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