London Historic Attractions
London visitors who are interested in historic attractions will love the city and its world-class historic monuments. Most of them are found in central London and the historic core of the British capital. Listed below are only a few of many London’s historic attractions you should not miss if you are interested in history.
The Palace of Westminster. This magnificent palace complex, also know as the Houses of Parliament is home to the two houses of the Parliament of the UK and also features the famous Big Ben. The Palace of Westminster got its present appearance in the 19th century when the Old Palace built in the early 16th century was nearly destroyed by a fire. It is located in the City of Westminster next to the City of London on the River Thames. It is open to public only during the parliamentary debates, while tours inside the building are available during July and August. In 1987, it was declared UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Tower of London. The historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London is another UNESCO World Heritage site in the British capital. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1080’s and served as a royal residence until the end of the 11th century. Then it served as a prison, armoury, menagerie and Royal Crown Jewels. Although the Tower of London is commonly associated with executions, these actually took place on the Tower Hill north of the castle. It can be visited every day except 1 January and from 24 to 26 December.
The Buckingham Palace. One of the most visited palaces in both London and Britain is the official residence of the British monarchs. The splendid palace became the official seat of the royal family in the 19th century when it was enlarged. Its present-day appearance mostly dates from that time although some structural additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th century. On the site of the palace chapel that was destroyed by the Germans during World War II is the Queen’s Gallery displaying art works from the Royal Collection. The interior of the Buckingham Palace is open to visitors only during the summer months.
The Tower Bridge. One of the most iconic buildings of London is impossible to overlook. The famous bridge consisting of two towers connected by two horizontal walkways was built in the 19th century and opened in 1894. The high level walkways serve as the Tower Bridge Exhibition and offer a spectacular view of the River Thames and many London premium attractions.
St Paul’s Cathedral. The Church of England cathedral that sits on the highest point of the City of London is one of the absolute favourites among London visitors. The present-day cathedral was built according to the design of Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. If you would like to see the interior, you can visit it from Monday to Saturday. St Paul’s Cathedral is closed for visitors on Sundays and during special events and services.