Most interesting and beautiful places in London
London is a city that has something for everyone. You can enjoy year-round sunny weather, explore one of the world’s most famous museums or even indulge in some retail therapy. Throughout London you will find many historical sites and landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and St Paul's Cathedral.
Here are some of the most popular places to visit:
One Hyde Park
One Hyde Park is a luxury residential development in Knightsbridge, London. It contains the most expensive apartments in the world and has been ranked as one of the top 10 most expensive buildings with an average price per square foot at £6,000 ($7,800). The building consists of 194 apartments ranging from £15 million to £130 million ($19m-$174m) each. The penthouse cost £75 million ($102m) when it was sold in 2014 to an anonymous buyer who remains unknown today. This makes it one of Britain's most opulent homes ever created.
The Shard
The Shard is the tallest building in the European Union. It was designed by Renzo Piano and has a height of 310 metres (1,017 ft). The Shard has 95 floors, with offices and residential apartments on its lower levels. The skyscraper was imagined as part of an ambitious plan for London's South Bank during Margaret Thatcher's premiership but due to financial constraints it remained unbuilt until 2009 when developer Sellar Property Group secured funding from State Building Society Qatar Holdings (QH) who own 80% interest in the project while Sellar retains 20%.
The London Eye
The London Eye is a large Ferris wheel on the banks of the river Thames, which opened in 1999. It has a height of 135 metres (443 ft) and can carry 1,800 passengers at any one time. The duration of 30 minutes (or one revolution) costs £25 per person and you can book tickets online or by phone.
The view from up there is absolutely breathtaking! You'll be able to see all over London as well as some other landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben in Westminster, Westminster Abbey near Parliament Square or St Paul's Cathedral near Cannon Street Station in The City.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen and the seat of the British monarchy. It is located in the City of Westminster, or just 'Westminster', on a site that has been continuously owned by royalty since William the Conqueror's day (1066). The palace has been the principal residence of British sovereigns since 1837, when King George IV moved out of St James's Palace after it suffered damage from fire. In addition to being a royal home it also houses:
- The throne room;
- A ballroom;
- A chapel for religious services;
- State rooms where foreign dignitaries are received;
Buckingham Palace was built during 1705-1726 by John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham and Normanby who was Lord High Admiral at that time. It was designed by architect William Windely who was hired by George I as his personal architect after he became king following George II's death in 1727.
London Zoo
London Zoo is a world famous attraction and has been open to the public since 1826. The zoo is located in Regent's Park, London, where it houses over 650 species of animals including some endangered species such as giant pandas, gorillas and tigers. The zoo is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day (December 25th), Boxing Day (December 26th) and New Year's Day (January 1st).
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is one of the most famous public squares in London. The square was named after the Battle of Trafalgar, a naval engagement fought off the cost of Spain in 1805. It is located at the crossroads between The Strand, Whitehall and Northumberland Avenue, with entrances on all four sides.
The square boasts statues of such famous figures as Horatio Nelson (a British naval commander) and Prince Albert (the husband of Queen Victoria). There are also several fountains which can be found along its perimeter including one dedicated to Lord Nelsons Column which stands at 41 meters high making it one of the tallest structures in all England!
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben Clock Tower
The Houses of Parliament is the meeting place of the House of Lords and House of Commons. The clock tower, which contains Big Ben, is one of London's most famous landmarks.
Big Ben is actually a nickname for the great bell in this clock tower; it was named after Benjamin Hall, who supervised its installation in 1856. In fact, there are four bells: two smaller ones called "quarter bells" that chime every quarter-hour; one larger than Big Ben called "treble"; and then there's ergo... well you get it!
St Paul's Cathedral
The cathedral is the second-largest church in the United Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710. The dome is the third largest in the world, after St Peter's Basilica in Rome and St Paul's Cathedral in New York City.
Kew Gardens/ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey (one of the world's most famous botanical gardens)
Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in southwest London, England. It shares its name with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a nearby attraction with which it forms part of an entity known as "Kew", but is not to be confused with these other entities. The original site at Kew was created by George III in 1759 and has been used for scientific research since 1840. It was opened to the public in 1891 after Queen Victoria had given some land back to The Crown (the British monarchy).
The gardens cover 28 hectares (0.7 sq miles) and are arranged within their own border: 'The World's Largest Collection of Living Plants'. They contain over 30,000 different kinds of plants across 1,200 taxa from all over the world - including many threatened species that have been rescued from extinction threats through cultivation at Kew - making it one of Europe's most important botanic gardens.
Soho Square, London W1D 4ND (the centre of London's theatreland)
Soho Square is a square in the Soho district of the City of Westminster, London. It is surrounded by Soho's best known entertainment and retail venues, including the former site of the Astoria music venue and cinema. The square has been described as "the heart of cinematic London" due to its proximity to several major film companies such as Pinewood Studios and Warner Bros., both within walking distance.
London is a city that never stops surprising and delighting its visitors. There's always something new to discover and explore in this great capital of the world. So if you're planning on visiting London soon, make sure to check out some of these amazing places!