London Attractions - The Top 10 Most Popular Highlights

The metropolis on the Thames is one of the most popular destinations for city trips. Historical neighborhoods, pubs, fish & chips, and some of the best museums in the world contribute to the charm of the British capital. With 53 million visitors each year, London even surpasses Paris and Berlin in terms of tourism. In our top ten list, you will find some of the London attractions that keep the visitor flow continuous.

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Tracing Humanity in London

A must for every London city traveler is a visit to the British Museum, one of the largest cultural history museums in the world.

The neoclassical building was completed in 1848 and initially housed literature and art collections. Today, the collection includes about eight million objects that represent the entire cultural history of humanity.

Reading Room of the British Library

In addition to artifacts from Asia, Europe, and Africa, the exhibitions of Egyptian mummies and the reading room of the British Library are highlights of the museum. A unique feature in otherwise high-priced London is the free admission to the British Museum. Thus, it rightly takes the first place.

At the northern end of Trafalgar Square is our Rank 2 of the most famous London attractions: the most famous art museum in London, the National Gallery. With 6.4 million visitors, it is also one of the most visited.

From Van Gogh to Monet

Since 1837, the most important paintings from Van Gogh to Renoir to Monet have been exhibited here. The collection includes around 2,300 works from the 13th to the 19th century. There is something for both art connoisseurs and amateurs: amongst the most famous paintings are Van Gogh's sunflowers and Monet's Bain à la Grenouillère.

Admission to the permanent art exhibition is also free.

Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM | Closed: January 1 & December 24 - 26 | Admission: Free

Another impressive collection of paintings and modern art can be found by travelers in the Tate Gallery of Modern Art. It is located right on the Thames in a converted power station and is the largest museum of modern art in the world.

Network of Four Galleries

The Tate Modern, as the gallery is called, is actually a network of four galleries: Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, and Tate Modern. Here, the most famous works of Gauguin, Warhol, Matisse, and Picasso are exhibited.

Alongside the museum opening in the former BP Station, the pedestrian bridge Millennium Bridge and some time later the 'tate-to-tate' boat service with a stop at the London Eye (our Rank 7) were inaugurated. The Tate Modern is worth visiting not just for art lovers and therefore ranks 3rd on our list of the most popular attractions in London.

Admission: Free | Opening hours: Sun - Thu 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Fri - Sat 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

The Most Visited Attraction in London

Learn about the history of the British capital and England at the Tower of London. For 600 years, the Tower has been a popular tourist attraction and one of the most visited sites of British history. In 2011, around 2.5 million visitors wished to see exhibitions showcasing over 1,000 years of British history.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Before its time as a tourist magnet, Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London served as the residence of the British royal family, armory, and prison. In 1988, UNESCO declared the Tower of London a World Heritage Site. Thus, we give it our Rank 4.

Opening hours: March 1 - October 31 Tue-Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Sun-Mon: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM; November 1 - February 28: Tue-Sat: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Sun-Mon: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM. |

Tip: With the London Pass, you can receive substantial discounts when visiting London's attractions. This way, there is definitely more left for fish & chips!

Diversity of Design

Our fifth most sought-after London attraction: The Victoria and Albert Museum, often abbreviated as V&A, houses art and design artifacts from the last 3,000 years.

From furniture, ceramics to jewelry, sculpture, and textiles, visitors will find the best in the world of design.

Sculpture Collection

The extensive sculpture collection includes a replica of Trajan's Column, Bernini's Neptune and Triton Fountain, as well as Antonio Canova's "Three Graces."

With almost 3.2 million museum visitors each year, the V&A is one of the most visited in the British capital. Since 2013, it has been directed by the German art historian Martin Roth.

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 AM to 5:45 PM, Friday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM | Admission: Free

The famous clock tower at the Palace of Westminster shapes the skyline of London like few other buildings. This London landmark was first put into operation in 1859.

'I know that my Redeemer liveth'

However, the name Big Ben does not refer to the clock tower, which has been officially called Elizabeth Tower since 2012, but to the heaviest of the five bells in the tower. Every day at 6 PM, the BBC broadcasts the chimes, the 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' from Handel's 'Messiah' of the 156-year-old clock on the radio.

Tip: Especially at night, when the tower and parliament building are lit with golden light, a visit to the famous clock tower is worthwhile.

London from Above

Also indispensable in the London skyline is the London Eye on the south bank of the Thames. Established in 1999, the giant wheel was originally intended to be in operation for only five years. 15 years later, it still attracts numerous visitors to its 32 air-conditioned high-tech glass gondolas.

Big, Bigger, London Eye

On a clear day, you can see up to 40 km across London and the English countryside. With a height of 135 m, the Coca Cola London Eye is also the largest cantilevered observation wheel in the world.

The unique view of London's most beautiful attractions earns it the seventh place in our top ten London attractions.

Opening hours: Daily except December 25, seasonally

From Coronation to Burial

In the church of the British monarchs, all English monarchs have been crowned since the time of William the Conqueror.

Until 1760, nearly all kings and queens were also buried here. You can find the graves of Mary Stuart, Henry III, and some other famous personalities like Friedrich Handel or Charles Dickens here. In the nave of the early Gothic style church, there is also the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

William and Kate

One of the last major events at Westminster Abbey was the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Opening hours: Daily from 5 PM | Admission: Free

A hub and famous meeting point amidst the busiest shopping streets in London is Piccadilly Circus. Completed in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly, five roads meet here today. It is no coincidence that the Circus received the nickname 'Center of the World' during the time of the British Empire.

Billboards of Piccadilly Circus

The square is also known for its large billboards and the London Pavilion. The round square is the perfect place to relax briefly and take in London - and for this reason, it ranks 9th among the most noteworthy attractions in the British metropolis.

Did you know? In 2017, the famous billboard was completely turned off for the second time in its history for nine months for renovation. Now, the more than 3 tennis court-sized advertising wall features a 4K resolution and cameras for interactive advertising.

Explore Natural History

Natural history museums exist in every major city. But none compares to the Natural History Museum in London. The reason is the numerous exhibits, from exciting to interactive and the unique building that houses the museum.

On the Trail of Dinosaurs

Other highlights of the permanent exhibition include the Dinosaur Gallery and the 30 m long skeleton of a blue whale. The collections are thematically distributed across the Life and Earth Galleries, the Darwin Centre, and the Wildlife Garden.

Since 1881, visitors have been able to admire biodiversity, natural history specimens, and dinosaur skeletons here. And as an additional incentive: Admission is free here as well.

Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 5:50 PM | Closed: December 24 - 26. Admission: Free

With the royal palace and Westminster Abbey, only some of the magnificent historical buildings of the city on the Thames have been mentioned. The British metropolis has much more to offer and is definitely an exciting destination for a weekend trip.

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