Attractions in London

Few cities have as many sights as London. Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Hyde Park, St Paul's Cathedral … it's impossible to pack all of them into a guide of this length. But they are all worth visiting. Here are a few of the most famous and popular tourist attractions in London.

Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the Royal Family since 1837, but it first opened its doors to the public in 1993. The State Rooms contain some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings, sculptures and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Enjoy a walk in the Palace's 39-acre garden with its superb views of the Garden, front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.
Address: The Official Residences of The Queen, SW1.
Underground: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7766 7300.
Tickets: £15.50.

Tower Of London
Construction was begun in 1078 by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world. Here you can see the priceless Crown Jewels, the Medieval Palace and the infamous Bloody Tower.
Address: Tower of London, EC3.
Underground: Tower Hill.
Phone: +44 870 756 6060.
Tickets: £16.00.

British Museum
The British Museum is regarded as one of the biggest and finest museums in the world. It attracts 6 million visitors each year. Highlights are the Assyrian treasures, the Egyptian mummies and the spectacular, light-filled Great Court.
Address: Great Russell Street, WC1.
Underground: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Russell Square,
Goodge St.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 8000.
Tickets: Free admission.

Houses Of Parliament
The neo-Gothic brilliance of the Houses of Parliament is impressive. It was built by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in 1840. Together with its clocktower, Saint Stephen's Tower, the clock itself, Big Ben, the best-known of London's many symbols.
Address: Parliament Square, SW1.
Underground: Westminster.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7219 3000
Tickets: Free admission.

London Eye
137 metres in height, this smart-looking observation wheel, with 32 capsules each holding 25 people, gives a superb view of London. A "flight", as a turn is called, takes 30 minutes.
Address: Riverside Building, next to County Hall, Westminster
Bridge Road. SW1.
Underground: Westminster, Waterloo.
Phone: +44 870 5000 600.
Tickets: £14.50

The Victoria & Albert Museum
The V & A, as it's commonly known, has breathtaking collections of almost everything; from Islamic art to iconic clothing by Vivienne Westwood. But it is the always stunningly designed exhibitions that truly set the V & A apart.
Address: Cromwell Road, SW7.
Underground: South Kensington.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7942 2000.
Tickets: Admission is free but tickets for temporary exhibitions vary.

Tate Modern
Housed in a former power station, Tate Modern is both imposing and impressive even before you enter it. Since opening in 2000, TM has become one of London's lead attractions thanks to high-profile exhibitions of artists like Andy Warhol, Joseph Beuys and Frida Kahlo.
Tickets: Free admission to the collections,
Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions vary.
Address: Bankside, SE1.
Underground: Southwark, Blackfriars.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7887 8000.
Tickets: Free admission to the collections, Ticket prices for temporary exhibitions vary.

Shakespeare's Globe
The Globe is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre, co-owned by William Shakespeare and the theatre where he first staged many of his plays. It burned down in 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII. Now, almost 400 years later, it has risen again almost on the same spot.