Don't Miss A Moment In London During Your Visit, Start With These Top Attractions
Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
Delight in the quintessentially English culture of London on a 4.5-hour tour that combines three iconic British experiences. With a knowledgeable guide, watch the incredible Changing of the Guard Ceremony outside of Buckingham Palace, and then embark on an audio-guided tour of the residence’s lavish State Apartments, only open for two months of the year. Then, head to a prestigious hotel in central London and pleasure your palate with an appetizing array of finger sandwiches, soft scones and aromatic cups of English tea. Book now to avoid missing the few dates that Buckingham Palace is open to the public. 4.5-hour royal London tour including afternoon tea, led by an expert local guide Stroll through St James’s Park and watch the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace Use a prebooked ticket to visit Buckingham Palace, a landmark only open to the public for two months each year Explore the ornate palace on an audio tour and learn about Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family Learn about England’s famous afternoon tea tradition from your guide Finish with afternoon tea at an elegant venue. For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Watch the Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, a striking display of British pageantry, when the New Guard takes over from the Old Guard – don’t miss one of the most iconic free events in London.
The Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Tower Bridge in Southwark.
Head to the magnificent Victorian engine rooms to hear about the lives of the people who kept the bridge going. The permanent exhibition uses photographs, films and interactives to bring their stories to life.
Enjoy a panoramic view of city life from the glass floors of the high-level walkways. You’ll get a birds-eye view from 42 metres above the river.
Time your visit to coincide with a bridge lift and see the roadway rise beneath your feet.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
The British Museum
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Enjoy a unique comparison of the treasures of world cultures under one roof, centred around the magnificent Great Court.
World-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies are visited by up to six million visitors per year. In addition to the vast permanent collection, the museum’s special exhibitions, displays and events are all designed to advance understanding of the collection and cultures they represent.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
National Gallery
Explore the story of European art at the National Galley, masterpiece by masterpiece, with its collection belonging to the public which includes inspiring works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh. There are free guided tours, audio guides available in multiple languages and free family activities for children of all ages.
This season we have incredible exhibitions for you to enjoy. Discover how ‘Mantegna and Bellini’ shaped the Renaissance or see to the bright and vibrant images of the Impressionist movement in ‘Courtauld Impressionists: From Manet to Cézanne’.
If you are looking for adventure you can also join the Winter Survival festival for a weekend of Poetry, printmaking and skilled drawing workshops.
The National Gallery also have the first UK exhibition of Spain’s Impressionist, Joaquín Sorolla, in over a century (opens 18 March 2019), an exhibition dedicated to celebrating the vivid seascapes and animated scenes of Spanish life.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s leading museum of art, design, and performance, representing more than 3,000 years of human creativity, with collections unrivaled in their scope and diversity and an inspiring range of events.
In recent years, the V&A has undergone a dramatic programme of renewal, expansion and restoration. Highlights include the new Exhibition Road Quarter entrance and exhibition space designed by AL_A architects. As well as the the Jewellery gallery, where you can marvel at Queen Victoria’s sapphire and diamond coronet.
From the Cast Courts with its display of copies of originals to the new Photography Centre, you can discover some of the greatest surviving treasures and iconic works. The stunning Europe 1600 – 1815 galleries and British galleries, illustrate the story of Europe and Britain through the lens of art and design.
In addition to its outstanding free permanent collection, the V&A offers a programme of temporary exhibitions and an events programme for all.
For more information, click here.
Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square
Two of London’s best-known tourist spots, these famous squares lie not far apart and mark the gateways to Soho, London’s lively theater and entertainment district. Trafalgar Square was built to commemorate Lord Horatio Nelson’s victory over the French and Spanish at Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson’s Column, a 183-foot granite monument, overlooks the square’s fountains and bronze reliefs, which were cast from French cannons. Admiralty Arch, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the National Gallery surround the square. Piccadilly Circus marks the irregular intersection of several busy streets – Piccadilly, Regent, Haymarket, and Shaftesbury Avenue – and overlooking this somewhat untidy snarl of traffic stands London’s best-known sculpture, the winged Eros delicately balanced on one foot, bow poised. “It’s like Piccadilly Circus” is a common expression describing a busy and confusing scene.
The Two Tates: Tate Britain and Tate Modern
Once collectively known as the Tate Gallery, London’s two Tate galleries – Tate Britain and Tate Modern – comprise one of the world’s most important art collections. Opened in 1897 as the basis of a national collection of significant British art, the gallery continued to make acquisitions and needed more space to properly display its collections. The end result was the establishment of Tate Britain, in Millbank on the north side of the Thames, as home to its permanent collection of historic British paintings. A superbly transformed power station across the Thames became home to the modern art collections. Art lovers can spend a whole day viewing both sites, conveniently connected by high-speed ferry.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Westminster Abbey
Kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers; poets, priests, heroes and villains – Westminster Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history.
Every year, the Abbey welcomes over one million visitors who want to explore this wonderful 700-year-old building – the coronation church of England. Audio guides are available in eleven languages or there is the highly-popular verger-led tour.
Audio guides are free with individual entry tickets and the tour takes around one hour. The English-language tour is narrated by the actor Jeremy Irons and audio guides are also available in 11 languages.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
Hyde Park
London’s Hyde Park is one of the greatest city parks in the world. Covering 142 hectares (350 acres) and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, there’s a good chance you’ll forget you are right in the centre of London.
Hyde Park in London has something for everyone. You can enjoy swimming, boating, cycling and skating. There are pitches for team games, tennis courts, tracks for horse riding and a spectacular children’s playground.
The Park has two lakeside restaurants which are licensed and serve everything from a three-course meal to a quick cup of coffee. Hyde Park is home to a number of fascinating buildings and monuments, such as The Serpentine Bridge, the Joy of Life fountain and the famous Archiles statue. And with the Diana Memorial Fountain and open air events throughout the year, there’s always something to see and do. If you’re out and about on Sunday, head to Speaker’s Corner to hear London’s most vocal orators share their opinions with the world.
For more information on the tours that take place in Hyde Park, click here.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a world-class shopping and dining destination attracting food-lovers and fashionistas alike.
Buzzing with the excitement of the opera and Theatreland, the area boasts some of the best shopping destinations in London’s West End. From Apple to Tom Ford, Mulberry to Paul Smith and Petersham Nurseries to Benjamin Pollock’s Toy Shop, the area offers a unique blend of global and independent brands, curated to satisfy every shopping need.
Whether it’s breakfast or brunch, pre-theatre dining or burgers alfresco, Covent Garden is a foodie’s paradise, filled with a diverse array of gastronomic options to suit all tastebuds, from morning to night. With renowned five-star restaurants including the likes of Frenchie, Henrietta, The Oystermen and Balthazar, Covent Garden offers world-class dining in the heart of London’s West End. This year, Covent Garden is proud to announce the exciting new additions from Sushi Samba, Petersham Nurseries, Cora Pearl and RedFarm.
For more information, click here.
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens, London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Home to the world’s most diverse collection of living plants and a scientific research centre of international renown, it’s the perfect day out.
Discover beautiful glasshouses including the iconic Palm House and its exotic rainforest; the Princess of Wales Conservatory which invites you to explore 10 of the world’s climatic zones; and the Waterlily House with its amazing, giant lily pads.
Visitors of all ages love the 59ft (18m) high Treetop Walkway, which soars into the tree canopy offering a bird’s-eye view of the gardens. Enjoy a stroll along the Great Broad Walk Borders, home to more than 60,000 plants, and step into history at Kew Palace, the former summer residence of King George III.
Plus, relax with refreshments in one of our inviting cafes.
Kew Gardens is less than 30 minutes from central London, and easily reached by road, rail, and London Underground.
For more information, click here.