With a history spanning over two millennia, London is brimming with legendary landmarks and magnificent monuments. Exploring these iconic sites, from WWII ships and cathedrals to royal residences and palaces, could easily fill your itinerary for a trip to the city. There are too many to list them all, but in this article, we’ve handpicked some of our favourite historical sights to see when visiting London to give you a taste of what to expect.
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(WA=Wheelchair Accessible)
The Tower of London
No list of London’s best historical sights would be complete without including The Tower of London, an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of the city. This legendary landmark has been standing for over a thousand years and has served several purposes, including as a royal palace, fortress, prison, treasury, and even a zoo. It’s held some incredibly notable prisoners throughout its time, including Guy Fawkes (who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November – read more about it here), to some of Henry VIII’s wives such as Catherine Howard and Ann Boleyn. Today, it houses one of the world’s most precious collections of items: The Crown Jewels, including the sparkling Imperial State Crown, which has a jaw-dropping 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies. The best way to explore The Tower of London is on this Tower of London Tour, where you’ll get to explore the grounds and crown jewels while hearing insights into the tower’s fascinating history as taught by your history-loving guide. Your ticket also includes a flexible one-way pass for London’s best sightseeing river cruise.
The Tower of London | Tower Hill | WA
Image Courtesy of TakeWalks
The Ceremony of the Keys at The Tower of London
You might want to watch the Ceremony of the Keys which also takes place at The Tower of London. This centuries-old ritual takes place at the tower every evening and is one of the oldest military ceremonies in the world, dating back to the 14th century, all the way back to the reign of King Edward III. Each night at 9:53 p.m., the Chief Yeoman Warder, along with his small escort of soldiers, known as the Tower Wardens, march from the Byward Tower to the outer gate of the Tower of London. He carries a lantern and a set of keys, including the Queen’s Keys and the King’s Keys, which is a symbol of the trust placed in him to safeguard the Tower. The keys are then handed over, and the Chief Yeoman Warder locks the outer gates of the Tower for the night. It’s a military ritual, but one that is steeped in British history and heritage, with the opportunity to go and see it for yourself. This VIP Tower of London tour not only grants you access to the tower after hours, meaning you can explore the grounds in peace and quiet away from the crowds, but it also allows you to see this historical tradition up close.
The Ceremony of the Keys at The Tower of London | Tower Hill | WA
Buckingham Palace
When you think of the royal family, Buckingham Palace might spring to mind. This regal landmark is the official residence of the British monarch, although it was initially built as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham back in 1703. During the summer, the palace is usually open for tours, where you can explore its 775 rooms and sprawling 40-acre gardens. This Buckingham Palace tour allows you to skip the queues and explore the palace with an expert guide, who will tell you stories about the building and the monarchs who have called it home. Leave all the planning up to your guide and stroll around the Royal Mews, exploring the labyrinth of parks, palaces and parade routes that make up the grounds. You’ll even get to visit Buckingham Palace’s magnificent State Rooms between July and September – tickets for this alone are highly sought-after.
You might want to plan your visit to coincide with the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at the Palace Forecourt and lasts about 45 minutes. This iconic ritual has taken place since the 17th century and consists of the Old Guard of the palace handing over responsibility for guarding the palace to the New Guard, the group of soldiers who will take over the duty. This symbolic handover usually involves the exchange of keys and other ceremonial gestures.
Best of Buckingham Palace Tour | Westminster | WA
St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral is another one to add to your list of iconic London landmarks to visit. It was designed by the famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren after the original cathedral burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. If you’ve seen pictures of it, you’ll likely recognise its remarkable dome, which reaches 365 feet (111 metres) above the city skyline, making it one of the largest cathedral domes in the world. Inside, you’ll find several galleries, such as the Whispering Gallery, where you can whisper against the walls and the sound will travel to the other side along the curved surface. There’s also the Golden Gallery, where you can take in the epic views of London. Some might not know that it’s also the burial site of many famous figures, including Sir Christopher Wren himself, Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Florence Nightingale. This St. Paul’s Cathedral entry ticket grants you access to the cathedral and provides a multimedia guide that will fill you in on a bunch of fun cathedral facts and history as you explore.
St. Paul’s Cathedral Ticket | Bank | WA
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is another iconic London landmark known for being architecturally stunning – it’s a fine example of English Gothic architecture. It’s also known for being the site of numerous royal ceremonies and burials, including coronations (when a monarch is presented with royal ceremonial objects) and 16 weddings dating back to 1100, when Henry I married Princess Matilda of Scotland in the church, to the latest wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The abbey contains the tombs and memorials of many monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Edward the Confessor, and Henry V. It’s also the resting place for several notable figures from British history, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Geoffrey Chaucer. This Westminster Walking Tour means you’ll skip the queues and enjoy a private guided tour while learning all about British history, royal heritage and more. It’ll take you to see some other Westminster highlights with the option to choose the tour that best suits you.
Westminster Abbey Skip-the-line Entry & Guided Tour | Westminster | WA
Image Courtesy of TakeWalks
The Churchill War Rooms
Next on our list of historical sights to see when visiting London is Churchill’s War Rooms, the underground headquarters where he and his team made pivotal decisions that shaped the course of history, ultimately winning the war and shaping the world as we know it today. On this Life of Churchill Walking Tour, you’ll delve into the profound legacy of Churchill’s leadership during World War II by visiting his legendary War Rooms. Explore with your guide beneath the streets of London and re-imagine life in these historic corridors and rooms throughout the war years – much of it has even been left untouched since the war. Above ground, your guide will lead you to Churchill’s favourite Mayfair haunts and other significant locations, revealing the enduring impact of WWII on the city through eye-opening historical facts and stories.
Life of Churchill and World War II: London Walking Tour with War Rooms | Mayfair | WA
Houses of Parliament
By now, you’ve probably gathered that London is chock full of historical landmarks, and The Houses of Parliament is just another one to add to that list. They’re an iconic symbol of British democracy and a magnificent architectural masterpiece made up of intricate facades, spires and towers. On this Houses of Parliament tour, you’ll embark on a journey through British politics with a knowledgeable guide, hearing all about the history of parliament as you stroll around the rooms and antechambers, listening to stories about the spaces that forged the British empire. Swing by the Chamber of the House of Commons, where Britain’s elected Members of Parliament participate in tense debates and vote on the laws that shape the country before heading to Westminster Abbey, also included in this specific tour ticket.
Houses of Parliament Tour with Guided Visit & Skip-the-Line Westminster Abbey Tour | Westminster | WA
Image Courtesy of Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
While there are many cemeteries scattered around London, there are seven that are included in the list of the Magnificent Seven; seven cemeteries established in the 19th century as a way to tackle the problem of overcrowding in existing London burial grounds. These cemeteries are known for their grand architecture and landscaped gardens, including the remarkable Highgate Cemetery in North London. This particular cemetery opened in 1839 and is known for its winding paths lined with grand Victorian tombs, mausoleums (free-standing monuments), and ivy-clad monuments. It’s famous for being the resting place of many notable figures, including Karl Marx, George Michael, Catherine Dickens and George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans). Take one of the Highgate Cemetery tours listed on their website to learn more about the history of the cemetery and the stories of those buried there. The highlights tour takes you to explore the West side of the grounds, to the iconic Egyptian Avenue, the Circle of Lebanon and the Terrace Catacombs, which are opened exclusively for tour participants.
Highgate Cemetery Tour | Highgate | WA
HMS Belfast
Last on our list of top historical sights to see when visiting London is HMS Belfast, a WWII-era Royal Navy light cruiser moored on the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. The ship has played a part in many battles and wars, from the Korean War and the Battle of North until it was decommissioned in 1963, saved from scrapping due to public support and opened to the public as a museum ship in 1971. You can explore the nine decks of the ship, including the engine rooms, boiler rooms, mess decks, and the captain’s bridge ship, while checking out the military weapons and equipment scattered around, like anti-aircraft guns, torpedo tubes, and depth charge throwers.
HMS Belfast Ticket | London Bridge | WA
If you’ve read through this list of historical sights to see when visiting London and you’re thinking, ‘I want to see them all’, then you might want to consider purchasing a London Pass. Ticket prices for attractions can quickly start to add up, but The London Pass includes many of them, so if you use the pass for entrance to expensive attractions you’ll get your money’s worth more quickly and easily. We have an article all about the pass and whether it’s worth purchasing, but generally speaking, if you’re planning to visit all of the attractions mentioned, it’s a worthy buy.
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