Tourism in London
London is the most important and largest city in England in terms of area and population density, as it is the capital of the country and its political, cultural and economic center, which is characterized by the inclusion of a large number of theaters, museums of archeology, humanities and civilization, and the best universities in the world and its financial institutions.Tourism in London
It is also characterized by an ideal location on the banks of the River Thames in the south of the country, and varied terrain between the plains and the fertile pastures made by the rivers and between the high hills, with a climatic nature that fluctuates between moderation, cold and thick fog, which made it nicknamed the "City of Fog".
This is in addition to its elements that made it one of the most important tourist destinations in England, such as the eight royal palaces and gardens for which it is famous, cathedrals, monasteries and monumental buildings, unparalleled entertainment areas, and London's shopping streets are famous for being the best in the world.
During the article, we will address a group of the best tourist destinations in London, the most visited and rated according to visitors' opinions, with the most beautiful entertainment places for children in London, and the most ideal for family outings.
1- Big Ben . watch
The Clock Tower is one of London's most famous tourist attractions, with its majestic construction and magnificent architecture, and its height of 96 meters, and the sound of its ringing bells that roam all over the British capital, London.
The famous Big Ben bell is located inside the main clock tower in London, which bears the name of the Queen Elizabeth Tower, and weighs about 13 and a half tons, and has stood tall in the Houses of Parliament since 1859, and the ringing of the bell was heard for the first time on July 11 of the same year.
Big Ben is one of the most important tourist attractions in England, not only London, with a large number of visits that unfortunately stopped at the end of 2016, due to the renovation work that will continue until the beginning of 2020, but you can still plan to visit the building and surroundings of the famous Houses of Parliament Throughout the parliamentary holidays, or every Saturday during working days, or enjoy a fun night tour and wonderful photos in the presence of the prestigious tower and its luminous hands.
2- Tower of London
It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in London, located on its central border with the northern bank of the Thames, west of the Tower Hamlets district. It is a palace and a castle, and bears several names such as the White Tower and the Royal Castle.
It dates back to the 11th century AD, when King William I decided to build it near the wall of the ancient Roman city as a control center for the city, its inhabitants and its terrain, and as a fortress to protect it from attacks. Its construction continued throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, when limestone from Normandy was used.
The history of the Tower of London witnessed many bloody political events and radical differences in its function, as it was used as a royal palace, a political prison and an execution grounds, the headquarters of several government institutions.
Now the tower has turned into an archaeological landmark that is placed on the list of recommended tourist places in London to visit, during which you can see a series of monumental buildings and towers that extend over an area of 18 acres, along with traditional and military weapons dating back to the era of the Middle Ages and modernity.
- Entry tickets to the Tower of London: £25.
- Likely time to visit the Tower of London: 3 hours.
3- Tower Bridge
It is one of the most famous tourist places in London located near the ancient tower of London. Its construction dates back to the period from 1886 to 1894, by the architects “Horace Jones and John Wolf Barry” to be opened in the middle of the year 1894 by the “Prince and Princess of Wales”, to keep pace with the commercial development that The city witnessed it at that time.
The reversing suspension bridge is famous for its style, which combines Gothic and Victorian architecture, and its grand architecture; In which about 10,000 tons of steel, 7,000 tons of concrete, granite and Portland stones were used to protect them and to give the bridge an aesthetic appearance.
The reversing suspension bridge runs over the River Thames, and has two towers that are lifted by machinery. Two parts of the bridge are; To allow the river to pass from below.
- Entrance tickets to Tower Bridge: £9.
- Likely time to visit Tower Bridge: 1 hour.
4- River Thames
One of the most important and famous geographical and tourist attractions of England, why not, and it is its longest river, with a length of up to 215 miles from its source in Cotswolds, through central London and a group of the most beautiful British cities, all the way to its mouth in the North Sea, becoming the only river in Europe that covers an entire country More than 200 bridges pass over it.
The depth of the River Thames ranges between 20 to 25 meters, and contains about 125 species of fish, which are classified as one of the most important attractions and lure for fishing enthusiasts, who make the Thames their visitor.
This is in addition to a number of festivals, sports and entertainment events that have been held on its banks since the 19th century, and make it one of the most famous places of entertainment in London; It offers boat tours, picnic areas and dining in a group of the finest restaurants overlooking the most beautiful landscapes.
5- The Shard
The Shard is one of the most important British wonders that is recommended to visit and pass when traveling to London, or when organizing a tourist trip to London, as the tallest European skyscrapers located in the London Bridge district, near its central train station, with a height of 309.6 m.
The tower is distinguished by its 96 floors built from top to bottom; Using steel and reinforced concrete, with a rooftop outdoor viewing area adorned with shards of glass for a majestic view that would not disappoint with a camera lens.
It includes The Shard, which extends over an area of 398,490 square meters, 72 residential floors, 44 elevators, and 48 parking spaces.
The ground floor of the tower includes a public area for sitting and resting, while the rest of the floors are divided as follows: 25 floors for offices and companies, 3 floors for international restaurants, 17 floors for Shangri-La Hotel and Spa, 13 floors for residential and hotel apartments, 5 floors for exhibitions of public watchtowers, with an ideal use of spaces to serve All needs.
- Likely time to visit The Shard: 1 hour.
London's most important museums
1- The British Museum
The British Museum is not only the most important museum in London, but the most important museums in the world. To display the treasures of human history of various civilizations and peoples, which number up to 13 million artifacts.
Despite the disagreement over the legality of acquiring archaeological artifacts and belongings in the museum, it is classified as one of the best and most important tourist places in England for families and young children, and for anyone interested in studying the history, culture and heritage of the different peoples that have created the land since its inception.
The Middle East and North Africa Group; Which represents the civilizations of Sheba, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, Turkish Iznik, Sudan and Pharaonic Egypt are among the most famous archaeological holdings in the museum and the most popular and visited among tourists, along with Palestinian traditional costumes.
- Likely time to visit the British Museum: two and a half hours.
2- The National Gallery London
The National Gallery and Museum in Trafalgar Square is one of the oldest and most prominent museums in London and the world, which is visited by thousands of art enthusiasts during their tours of England.
The history of the Museum and the National Art Gallery in London dates back to the first quarter of the 19th century, when it began its career as a tourist attraction with 36 paintings of the most famous painters of the world such as Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Dali, Peter Paul Rubens, and others, to become, over time, one of the most important cultural and artistic landmarks of London, With its wonderful and rare collections, which now number more than two thousand paintings, some dating back to the 13th century, and what it offers of introductory lectures, audio-visual programs and tours for young and old.
- Likely time to visit the National Gallery London: two and a half hours.
3- Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the largest museums in London and the world for the diverse arts of design dating back to 3 to 5 thousand years of human history.
Fashion, textiles, glassware, photography, literary and theatrical writing, and performing arts throughout the various eras, most notably the Middle Ages, the European Renaissance, and Asian civilizations.
This is in addition to organizing free permanent and temporary exhibitions for the local public and the public visiting London for tourism, or London tour delegations organized by local travel agencies.
- Likely time to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum: two and a half hours.
4- Natural History Museum
It is one of the best entertainment places for children in London, with its exciting educational and educational activities, as the giant museum presents the life cycle of the solar system, cosmic galaxies and wild creatures that have inhabited the Earth since its inception until this moment, through more than 80 million unique pieces that are Presented with permanent exhibitions open to children and families.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful collections of the museum and the most popular among visitors during London tours is the blue whale model hanging from the ceiling with a length of 25 meters, the World Dinosaur Exhibition, rocks dating back millions of years.
The museum also offers illustrated exhibitions of wildlife developments around the world, morning sessions of yoga and silent dance, and interactive programs for children during school holidays.
5- Tate Modern Museum
Tate Modern or London's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which is one of the best and most important places in London that you can visit for free, to see and learn about the finest works of painters and plastic artists during the Renaissance and the Middle Ages such as Pablo Picasso, Cézanne, Leonardo da Vinci, Matisse, Mark Rothko , Dalí, Cornelia Parker, Bullock, Warhol and Bourgeois, as well as the impressive sculptures and designs of Turbine Hall.
The Tate Modern is located in the former Bankside Power Station, on the banks of the River Thames in London.
- Likely time to visit the Tate Modern: two and a half hours.
6- Madame Tussauds London
Madame Tussauds or the Wax Museum in London is one of the most famous and impressive museums in London and the world and attracts visits from individuals and families, especially those that include children, which made his idea move to many cities and capitals of the world such as Berlin, Hollywood, New York, Washington, Las Vegas, Vienna, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beirut, Madame Tussauds London remains the best for its figurative quality and innovative spirit.
The museum was founded in 1884 by the sculptor Marie Tussauds, and includes elaborate wax statues of the greatest figures of art, sports, literature and culture in the world, through organized halls and divided for each category.
The great thing is that there is a special hall that presents wax figures of the royal family in England, and another of the political leaders of the world, with 4D shows for children inside an antique taxi.
- Admission tickets to Madame Tussauds London: £39.
- Likely time to visit Madame Tussauds London: two and a half hours.
7- Science Museum
One of the best places in London for scholars and researchers in the fields of natural science and technology and lovers of knowledge of all ages, through its exhibitions that present diverse and classified biological and geological samples.
while showing the interrelationships between them, which illustrates the development that has affected the sciences of development and genetics with the gradation of discoveries by scientists in this The field, from physical and chemical experiments with the most prominent results and scientific explanations, through the use of murals, restorations, habitats, diorama systems, models, computer techniques and multimedia.
The museum seeks to educate its visitors and provide them with the required scientific knowledge through tours, lectures and classes for adults accompanied by academic guides, and separate from the tours of school children, who use different techniques with them such as a story system and personal practical experiences through the establishment of exhibitions of their own innovations.
- Weighted time to visit the Science Museum: 3 hours.
London's most important palaces
1- Buckingham Palace
One of the most important and best tourist attractions in London, it is recommended to visit especially during travel trips to London only, if you dream of experiencing the life of kings and the atmosphere of elegant official receptions.
The giant palace dates back to the year 1761, when it was established as a comfortable royal house for the family of King George III, and 14 of his sons were born in it, and in the year 1826 his successor George IV succeeded in introducing modifications and expansions to the house, turning it into a huge palace in the French classic style.
comprising 775 elegant rooms It has been used since 1837 to run the affairs of the British government, as a residence for the royal family and prominent government officials, to receive its guests from foreign envoys and important political figures, and to celebrate a number of official occasions of a cultural or sporting nature.
Despite the palace's political and diplomatic importance, it is open for visits to the general public throughout the summer months through a range of organized tours.
2- The Palace of Westminster
One of the most famous and best tourist places in London, which has a long history as a royal palace, and the seat of Parliament for many centuries and separate.
At the beginning of the 11th century, a monastery called Westminster was founded, and next to it was a royal palace of the same name by “Edward I,” the most influential ruler in England (formerly Saxony).
With the arrival of "William I" the Conqueror to the throne, he used the monastery and the palace as the seat of his rule in London, and at the end of the 11th century, his son William Rufus added to the palace a ceremonial hall; For the organization of entertainment and entertainment, it was converted over time into a courtroom.
By the thirteenth century, thinking began to convert the palace as the seat of Parliament at the invitation of Simon de Montfort, which came into effect in 1834, after the British Parliament and the Houses of Parliament were burned.
The present Palace of Westminster is famous for its distinctive Victorian Gothic style, which was built by Charles Barry and Bagen during the Middle Ages.
- Entry tickets to the Palace of Westminster: £19.
- Likely time to visit the Palace of Westminster: two hours.
3- Kensington Palace
One of the most important tourist attractions in London, because of its rich royal history. The majestic palace dates back to before 1689, but its history as a property began from this date, after King William III bought it from his foreign minister, the Earl of Tottingham, who carried the palace his name before changing it. A name and expanded content.
From then until the year 1760, the palace was used as a resting place and residence for famous British monarchs led by Queen Victoria.
Now the palace has been transformed into a royal hotel, housing the offices and suites of the British Duchess as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kent, Gloucester, a section for royal and ceremonial clothing, including the heirlooms dating back to the 18th century, with parts open for visits by the general public, and another for official ceremonies.
- Kensington Palace entry ticket price: £15.
- Likely time to visit Kensington Palace: an hour and a half.
4- Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace, or more precisely, Hampton Court Palace, this wonderful masterpiece that you should not miss when traveling to London, and taking the endless exciting London tours.
The first palace, called Tudor Palace, began its history during the 14th century by the architect “Knights Hospitaller” as a residence for the King’s advisor, Cardinal “Thomas Woolsey”, before King Henry VIII was fascinated by his beauty, and took it as his residence with his wives and children, and the palace is characterized by its gardens that take Its labyrinths and its red brick buildings are topped with gigantic chimneys.
As for the second palace, it was established by the architect “Christopher Wren” during the end of the 17th century, at the invitation of King “William III” and his wife, Mary II, in the elegant Baroque style.
In the year 1838, Queen Victoria opened Hampton Court Palace as a tourist attraction to the general public, and over the years it has attracted millions of visitors for tourism in England.
- Entry tickets to Hampton Court Palace: £21.
- Likely time to visit Hampton Court Palace: 3 half hours.
London's main attractions
1- London Eye or Coca-Cola London Eye
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel dating back to 1999, which was built to celebrate the entry of the second millennium, with a height of 135 meters, a diameter of 120 meters, and a weight of 320 tons, to become the second tallest Ferris wheel in the world after the “Star of Nanchang” since 2006.
The London Rotating Eye is one of the most famous London tourist attractions, and the most popular among families and children, and among the most popular entertainment places in London for visitors of all ages, with its wonderful panoramic view of the British capital, with a sense of fun and fun that is no different from London amusement parks Giant, during the journey of turning for a full half an hour.
Ferris London consists of 32 capsules, connected by taut steel cables, each of which can accommodate 25 people, and was opened to the public for the first time in March 2000.
Likely time to visit the London Eye or Coca-Cola London Eye: an hour and a half.
2- Piccadilly Circus Square
One of the most beautiful entertainment venues in London, which is famous for its continuous traffic, as it represents an intersection of four main streets in the city that are always crowded with tourists and shoppers, yet at the same time it is one of the best entertainment places for children in London, with its circus shows and popular exciting games that are fun and entertaining.
The 1920s Piccadilly Street/Circus and Square are located in Westminster, between South St James and North Soho, and as a link between Regent Streets, Shaftesbury and Coventry.
The surroundings of the circus are also famous for the ancient hotel of the same name, the monumental Saftesbury statue and fountain (1892) known as the god of love Eros, Big Ben is located nearby.
Likely time to visit Piccadilly Circus Circus: 3 hours.
3- London Aquarium for Marine Life
One of the best entertainment places for children in central London, and the most exciting, educational and fun, where 400 species of fish are drawn from 14 aquatic environments from different climatic regions around the world, swimming inside glass basins in about two million cubic liters of water, making the London Aquarium the largest aquarium fish on the European continent.
During the tourism tour in London, especially when you visit the London Aquarium for Marine Life, you will feel as if you have launched your submarine into the depths of the ocean, to see many wonderful types of fish and aquatic creatures such as green turtles with their different species, sea horses, colorful coral reefs, sharks of all kinds, and fish Rays, stingers, acrobats, crabs, and sea dragons.
You can also watch all these types of fish feeding in a rare and unique shot, and enjoy diving and swimming shows in the pools offered by this water park in central London.
- Tickets to the London Aquarium of Sea Life: £25.
- Likely time to visit the London Aquarium of Marine Life: 2 hours.