London sights, attractions, what to see in the capital of England

There is probably no more multicultural city in the world than London. With its more than 1500 km², it aspires to the title of the largest city on Earth, after all, the entire New York, Brussels, Amsterdam and Vienna could fit into such a huge area! But what is most important, there is always something to discover in the British capital, walking through the whole city is simply a superhuman task, so you will never get bored and it will always surprise you with something new.

That something can even be a ghost – London is considered one of the scariest cities in the world, which does not change the fact that it is also one of the most magical.

The most interesting sights in London and attractions, what to see

Buckingham Palace

This building needs no introduction. It is the seat of the royal family, which acquired its current form only in 1913, and was opened to tourists only in 1993. It is possible to see the interior only in August and September, i.e. during the Queen’s holiday, but the Royal Mews with a collection of beautiful carriages and the Queen’s Gallery are open all year round. If traveling by metro, get off at St. James’s Park station.

See what the changing of the guard in front of Buckingham Palace in London looks like. The weather is typically London – cloudy.

Tower Bridge

One of the symbols of London, the bridge built in 1886-94, is considered a masterpiece of Victorian construction. In the Tower Bridge Museum you will learn about the history of the bridge, in the Tower Bridge Experience located in the central part of the bridge you will experience the ,,Century of Steam“. From the tops of the towers there is a breathtaking view of London. In the basement there is an indispensable souvenir shop and restaurant. Metro station Tower Hill.

Tower of London

The fortress documents the darker part of London’s history, in the Middle Ages it was a feared prison and execution site, and these sad events have forever brought the smell of suffering and death to the Tower. The gloomy atmosphere is also enhanced by the ubiquitous ravens, which are fed and kept here as ,,guards“ – one of the legends says that if the birds left the Tower, it would collapse. In the Jewel House section, the English coronation jewels are kept, the safety of which has been protected by ,,Beefeaters“ in traditional uniforms since the Tudor era. Get off at Tower Hill station on the metro.

Westminster Abbey

In this abbey, coronations, state funerals and weddings have been held for 900 long years, famous personalities such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Rudyard Kipling have found their final resting place here. The Gothic Chapel of Henry VII is flawless. Metro station Westminster.

Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace)

A building without which no one can imagine London. The British Parliament has occupied its place since the year 1000, since then it has of course been rebuilt many times, until the 1st half. 19. century acquired its current form, including the Clock Tower with the Big Ben bell. Getting a tour is quite difficult due to strict security measures, and it is better to book it in advance. Metro station Westminster.

British Museum

Thanks to its extensive collections, it is probably among the best and most famous museums in the world. The list of all exhibits is enormous, for example, let us name at least beautiful ancient and ancient Egyptian statues, archaeological finds from Babylon and Assyria, originals of early prints of famous books, as well as notes by the conqueror of the South Pole Amundsen or Captain Nelson and many other treasures. Metro – Russel Square station.

More read here.

Madame Tussaud’s Museum

The famous wax museum, which has been operating for an incredible 178 years, is one of the most popular tourist attractions, and new statues of celebrities are added here every year. Metro station Baker Street.

London Eye

You have certainly heard of the London Eye towering over the River Thames. And this “attraction” is one of the places you should definitely visit.

Even though tickets for a specific day and time can now be purchased in advance from the comfort of your home via the Internet, you need to count on approximately 30-60 minutes of standing in line. However, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the whole of London, which will really make up for this (unpleasant for many people) wait.

National Gallery on Trafalgar Square

Along the left bank of the Thames you will reach Trafalgar Square, on which is located Nelson’s Column and the National Gallery.

In the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, you can see the works of the most famous artists, such as Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh or Water Lilies by Claude Monet.

The undeniable advantage of London is that the vast majority of museums and galleries have free admission with the possibility of voluntary contribution.

Shakespeare’s Globe

A perfect replica of the original Elizabethan theater from the 16th century, so it is all made of wood and almost the entire roof is made of straw. The original building burned down in 1613, and the current theater was built more than 400 years later. Metro station Mansion House.

Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

Hyde Park is rightly called the ,,green lungs of London“, as it is the largest park in the city center. In its northeastern part is the famous Speaker’s Corner, where various speakers perform every Sunday (to whom anyone can join), in the middle of the park you will find the Hudson area of protected birds, where, in addition to colorful birds, you can also admire beautiful statues.

Across the Serpentine pond leads a bridge called ,,Rennie“ directly to the gardens of Kensington Palace (which you can also visit). Get off at Lancaster Gate, or Hyde Park Corner on the metro.

Covent Garden Market (The Piazza)

The market in the very heart of the metropolis offers an unmistakable atmosphere, you can buy practically everything here, and you will also be entertained by jugglers, acrobats and clowns, performing their art directly on the street. The Piazza was created from the old market halls and represents an exceptional monument of industrial architecture. Metro station Covent Garden.

Now we will focus a little on the lesser known, but all the more interesting sights and places that are worth seeing in London.

Grand Union Canal

During the industrial revolution, the Grand Union Canal, a water canal, connected the city of Birmingham with London, and although other routes are used to transport goods today, the canal still has its use: excursion boats sail along it with tourists admiring the Little Venice and Regent’s Park with London Zoo, the largest and oldest zoo in the world. In addition, a pleasant walk is from the Warvick Avenue metro station along the canal.

Soho and China Town

They say that the wildest part of London is the Soho district, however, during a personal visit, everyone will realize that this is not entirely the case, even though there is a somewhat greater concentration of brothels than elsewhere. And it lives here in other directions as well – in the streets of Soho there are restaurants of almost all types, the shops and theaters are unusual here, and above all, interesting people live here. Part of the district is also China Town – while walking through ,,Chinese Town“ you feel like you are right in Beijing or Shanghai.

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich Park is the largest maritime museum in the world. For example, a well-preserved river steamer, the Queen Mary’s coastal boat from the 17th century, is on display, and the exhibition also presents the history of the English Navy. The complex of buildings also includes the Old Royal Observatory, where you can stand directly on the prime meridian.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The unique Victoria and Albert Museum exhibits ,,beautiful things for everyday life“, on an area of 40,000 m² you can see old things of daily use and furniture not only from England, but also from the Near and Far East. The Jones Collection, a collection of home furnishings from the Rococo period in France, is particularly noteworthy. Metro station South Kensington.

Harry Potter studio

The Harry Potter Studio in London (Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter) offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of the film series, including original sets, costumes and props. You will walk through Diagon Alley, the Great Hall or the Hogwarts Express and experience the magical world of Harry Potter with your own eyes.

More information and photos can be found in this article.

Platform 9 and ¾ at King’s Cross Station

Harry Potter fans must not forget to visit platform 9 and ¾, which is located at King’s Cross station.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Here you will find an exhibition capturing the life and adventures of the most famous detective in the world. The museum impresses not only with the richness of the exhibited objects, but also with its pleasantly old-fashioned atmosphere.

In the city you will also find the famous restaurant of the same name near Trafalgar Square, specifically at 10 Northumberland Street, London.

London parks

On the way from Trafalgar Square, you can enjoy views of one of the royal parks, St. James´s Park. London’s parks are truly picturesque and well-maintained and are known, among other things, for squirrels, which are used to the number of tourists and often come to you within arm’s length. With a little patience, they will also take the offered treat from you.

St. Dunstan in the East Church Garden

One of the most picturesque and peaceful places in the city center. It is located between the Tower and London Bridge. You will see the ruins of St. Dunstan’s Church and a romantic garden inside the ruins, which is an ideal place for taking photos.

Read more in this article.

Sea Life London Aquarium

A popular aquarium on the Thames near the London Eye, where you can admire more than 500 species of marine creatures from all over the world. You will walk through a glass tunnel under sharks, see penguins, jellyfish and tropical fish in colorful coral reefs.

There is a separate article on this website.

Transport

Public transport in London

London’s public transport is famous all over the world, thanks mainly to the famous red ,,double-deckers“ and the metro nicknamed ,,Tube“. Of course, you can cruise the city streets in your own or a rented car, but if you don’t want to lose your nerves, it’s better not to get in it, you wouldn’t have almost anywhere to park it anyway. So back to the metro: London’s underground railway is more than 400 km, it’s hard to find your way around the routes, for this reason it’s better to get a metro map.

Around London, the easiest way to get around is by metro. Transport from airports is a bit more complicated. In their case, I recommend traveling by train and buying a ticket in advance, because you will save a considerable amount of money. Back to the metro. If you are going to travel by it, get an Oyster Card. It’s not complicated and again you’ll save a lot of money. And the metro is often crowded, so watch out for pickpockets!

London Underground train, also known as “The Tube”.

London by bike

Thanks to the publicly rentable bikes available everywhere, you can cycle through the city. I recommend trying it at least, because you will see London by bike from a completely different perspective. And don’t forget that not only buses in London drive on the left, but also cyclists :)

Save your money – use the London Pass

This is a tourist card that entitles you to unlimited use of public transport in London, and also allows you to visit up to 60 of the most visited museums, galleries and historical buildings in London for free. A huge advantage is also that you will not have to stand in unnecessarily long queues at the most visited sights.

London Pass holders can avoid these queues. In addition, when you purchase a LondonPass, you will be able to receive discounts in a huge number of restaurants and businesses in London. You will also receive a relatively comprehensive guide to London of approximately 160 pages including maps with the pass. You can purchase the London Pass online here.

Accommodation in London

Money is never enough, if you are a student or just want to save money on a hotel or hostel in London, visit the Booking accommodation search engine. You can search using a large number of criteria, e.g. according to the map. distance of the hotel from sights, interesting places or compare hotels according to prices. Some hotels also offer promotional accommodation prices, so you can save up to several tens of percent compared to the original price.

Flights to London

Cheap flights to London departing from the Czech Republic can be obtained from a few hundred crowns, these are mainly low-cost companies such as Ryanair.com or Wizzair.com. Sometimes interesting prices also appear on the Pelican website.

Shopping

If you are among the tourists who, in addition to the sights, are also looking forward to shopping in London, you will certainly be pleased to know that Oxford Street, one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, is located approximately 20 minutes’ walk from Buckingham Palace.

You can really get almost everything you can think of here. From the “most ordinary” souvenirs, through shoes, clothes and expensive jewelry to books and musical instruments, everyone will find something for themselves here. All that remains is to wish everyone a successful trip and sunny weather.

Weather

Although this metropolis is mostly talked about as a rainy and unkind place, it is not entirely true. In September and October, there is almost always a beautiful Indian summer, and in winter the temperatures rarely drop below 0°C.

If it rains here, it is more of a short shower than a long-lasting rain. So much for the local climate.

The weather in London is not nearly as inhospitable as is commonly said about England. Temperatures there remain at a similar level as in the Czech Republic. The only significant change is the greater variability of the weather and occasional showers, which usually do not last too long. So don’t forget to pack a good umbrella!

Month	Average temperature (°C)	Precipitation (mm)	Rainy days (≥1mm)
January	5	55	11
February	6	40	9
March	8	45	10
April	11	43	9
May	15	48	8
June	18	45	7
July	20	40	6
August	20	50	7
September	17	45	7
October	13	55	9
November	9	50	10
December	6	53	11

Tip: The best time to visit London is May to September, when there is the least rain and the temperatures are pleasant for walking around the city.

If you prefer a quieter program, I recommend taking a walk around the river. Despite the large number of people, London is a very picturesque city and its pleasant atmosphere will absorb you in a moment.

Tip: You can also drive to England.

Not to mention the perfectly pleasant locals, who are usually happy to advise and help you. Just remember to pack enough money… a trip to London is not complete without souvenirs, and it would be a shame not to bring anything home with you – of course, in addition to the rich experiences!

Frequently Asked Questions