Standing on the Thames River, London is the capital of England as well as the most populous city in Great Britain. The city is a confluence of the old and the new and is one of the most important tourist destinations in the entire world. It is a city with numerous attractions of all sorts including great architecture and heritage.
The numerous attractions in the city like the London Eye, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster’s Abbey and Nelson’s Column attract a large number of visitors. The Shard in London is the tallest building in the city. There are various museums and art galleries in London which preserve the heritage and culture of the immensely rich historic city.
CURRENCY | Pound Sterling (£/GBP) |
COUNTRY | United Kingdom |
TIME ZONE | (GMT+1) London is 4:30 hours behind the center of India |
POWER PLUG | Voltage: 230V, Frequency: 50 Hz, Power sockets: type G |
INTERNATIONAL CALLING CODE | 00-44-number |
TRAVEL SEASONS | MIN/MAX TEMPERATURE | SEASON |
June – August | 21-23°C | Warm and pleasant |
November – February | 9-12°C | Cold and heavy rains |
March – May / September – October | 12-16°C | Moderate to heavy rain |
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Rainfall (mm) | 60 | 45 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 | 50 | 65 | 65 | 55 |
The best time to visit London are the summers and late spring as the winters are freezing here. The holiday season during the winters in December is another favourite time of the year where London is most crowded. Snow is not very common here, though it occasionally happens during the New Year time.
Although you will find cuisine of every kind in this cosmopolitan city, you should make some room in your tummy for some British delights. Start with the classic flaky fish and thick but crispy chips. Next on the list should be saved for a Sunday – dig into an indulgent meal of Yorkshire pudding, with potatoes, vegetables and lashings of thick gravy. Start your morning with the incredible English breakfast, with sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, blood pudding, toast and potatoes. Indulge in the classic comfort of pie and mash, drowned in thick gravy. Dig into a plate of classic Bangers and Mash (Potatoes and Sausages) or get adventurous with a dish of cockles (a type of clam). For your sweet tooth, an Eton mess will make your day with its mix of crushed meringue, cream and strawberries. Alternatively, you can try a sticky toffee pudding or the delicate pastries that come with afternoon tea.
London is one of those places where you can get almost anything that you want to. It is a paradise for the shoppers. The classiest and most exclusive stores of the world are present here like the Harrods in Knightsbridge and Covent Garden. There are popular areas like Kensington where you can get some antique goods. A whole range of fashion design boutiques can be found in Knightsbridge. Oxford Street also attracts a lot of shoppers from around the world. Street markets are pretty common in London and one must surely visit the Camden Markets.
The official language of London is English and it is also the most widely spoken language. As the city is home to people from various countries, around 300 languages are spoken in Greater London.
1. BUCKINGHAM PALACE
The official residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch, Buckingham Palace is a major tourist destination. It is located in the City of Westminster.
Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic buildings in the city of London and it is extremely famous for the city’s most popular display of circumstance, the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony takes place around 11:30 in the morning in every season where one can witness precision marching along with music and orchestra. The Palace was built in 1837 and has continued to be the residence of the Royal family from the time of Queen Victoria.
2. TOWER OF LONDON
A royal fortress and a World Heritage Site which is also famous for being an infamous prison back in the day, the Tower of London, founded in 1066 and located in the heart of the city, is a majestic fortress, with a history dating back to centuries before the present day. Treat your eyes to the world-famous and priceless jewels, archaic yet riveting architecture, and to a clear view of the River Thames on a day trip to this Tower.
Located in Central London, overlooking the River Thames, the expansive Tower of London has weathered a lot of storms since its inception in the year 1078. Having been damaged during the World War II in the Blitz (bombing by German camps on Britain) and having undergone many a reparation, it still stands tall as London’s one of the most famous tourist attraction sites. The palace is guarded by a corps of the Royal Bodyguards, also known as Beefeaters, who also act as tourist guides.
3. WESTMINSTER ABBEY
A historically relevant 1000-year old World Heritage Site, Westminster Abbey in the City of Westminster is one of London’s most regal and noteworthy religious churches. Located along the western bank of the River Thames, it is known for having hosted coronations, weddings, and for being a burial site for the English and British monarchs back in the day.
Located near many other well-known London attractions like the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey sees over a million visitors from around the world and is one of the world’s best churches. It has been in existence since 960 AD.
4. TOWER BRIDGE
The Tower Bridge holds an exhibition from where one can know all about how the world’s most popular bridge works and the history behind the creation of it. One can also enjoy the panoramic views of the city.
Built in 1886, the Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and a suspension bridge in London constructed over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London and is an iconic symbol of the city nowadays. The Tower Bridge exhibition lets you know the history of the bridge, how and why it was built through various interactive videos and displays about the landmark. It has a glass floor walkway that provides a unique experience for the visitors. One may also get a spectacular panoramic view over the river. Bascule bridge refers to those bridges which are lifted in order to allow the boats and the barges to pass. Also experience the amazing view from the high level walkway and notice the wealth of museums and historic buildings surrounding the Thames.
5. LONDON EYE
Centrally located in London, the Coca Cola London Eye can be termed as the heart of the city. It rotates gracefully over the River Thames, opposite the Houses of the Parliament and Big Ben.
The London Eye is a huge Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in the capital city of London. It is often regarded as the Millennium wheel. It is a 443 feet tall structure which has a diameter of 394 feet. This was built to mark London’s millennium celebrations in 2000 and it is also Europe’s largest observation wheel. The individual glass capsules of the London eye offers the tourists wonderful views of the city as it reaches on the top. The journey lasts for about 30 minutes and it is always advised to reserve the time in advance. London Eye has also incorporated 4D experience, where people can be able to feel multi sensory special effects like scent, bubbles and wind.
6. BIG BEN AND PARLIAMENT
Big Ben is referred to the Great Bell of the clock that is situated at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Also known as clock tower, its official name is Elizabeth Tower. It is just beside the Houses of the parliament.
For a majority of visitors, London is identified with Big Ben as an iconic building. It is the most recognisable clock in the entire world and it has been ticking 116 stories above since May 1859. It is also the second largest four faced chiming clock in the entire world. A tour to Big Ben and Elizabeth Tower is possible only if the person fulfils all the criterion mentioned by the British government and he must also have a contact of any MP to request a visit.
7. BRITISH MUSEUM
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is one of the most remarkable tourist attractions in London and has a collection of materials over two million years of human history. It presents a unique comparison of the treasures of the global culture under a single roof.
Located in London, the British Museum is a museum dedicated to human history, culture and art. It is located in the Bloomsbury area in London. It has a record of having over 8 million works and is considered to be one among the largest and the most comprehensive museums in existence.