London is a super popular travel destination so I'm sure you've heard of most of the famous spots. I recommend looking into the history of these because it gives them so much more meaning! Here are the top spots I had on my list and what I thought of them.
Tower Bridge
Definitely a beautiful, can't miss spot! It's no wonder its all over London postcards, it's a great photo op and it's fun to walk across and get some nice views too! One time I was in London for just 24 hours but I made sure to make time to enjoy a nice view of the Tower Bridge.
Tower of London/Trinity Square Gardens
The Tower of London actually refers to a whole castle, fortress and prison with a tower within it. You can observe from the outside but if you really want to see everything and also see the crown jewels, then you will have to buy a ticket. There are different kinds of tickets and tours you can purchase so do some research and see what fits your interests best! If you want a nice view of the Tower of London, head to the Trinity Square Gardens, aka Tower Hill. There are pretty flowers and benches, perfect to take a nice walking break and relax!
Buckingham Palace
Well this is an obvious one isn't it? A clear tourist spot, Buckingham Palace is always surrounded by tourists getting selfies in front of the gates. I do think the Palace is beautiful and is clearly worth seeing but I honestly think the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Palace of Versailles is better, sorry Brits. You can pay a hefty price (I think its over 20 pounds for adults?) to get in but I don't think its worth it, save your money for another palace that's cheaper and also more extravagant :) You can go see the Changing of the Guard for free though as it happens every day outside the gates at 11 am and lasts about 45 mins. Get there like 45 mins early to get a good spot! It gets absurdly crowded.
Kensington Palace
So I honestly think Kensington Palace is a lot cooler than Buckingham Palace but that's just me. I think it's prettier, it's less crowded and it's cheaper than Buckingham Palace. For those of you who don't know, Kensington Palace is where Queen Victoria was born and lived until 1837 and also was home to Princess Diana from 1981-1997. They recently added a new exhibition for Princess Diana's style which I would love to go to! Currently Kensington Palace is the official residence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, aka Will and Kate. Royal wedding fans anyone?
Westminster Palace/Big Ben
Westminster Palace, aka the Houses of Parliament, is where the two houses of Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meet. It sits right on the River Thames, which is another one of London's most iconic attractions. On the exterior of the palace is the well known clock tower and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Big Ben, officially known as Elizabeth Tower. The tower really is magnificent to see, it's famous for a reason!
Westminster Abbey
If you love architecture and history then you should definitely go to Westminster Abbey. Not only is the royal church a beautiful work of gothic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it also is the final resting place of 17 British Monarchs and other important Brits in history including Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Charles Dickens and Isaac Newton, and it is the chosen location of 17 royal weddings, most recently the royal wedding sensation of Will and Kate. It does cost money to enter as a tourist and you can enter for worship for free.
If you are looking for activities in London like shopping, park strolls, and seeing shows check out my other blog post!
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