Brief information about the sights of London. The main attractions of London: photos with names and descriptions. London National Gallery

London attracts people with its unique architecture and beauty. The city of fogs is very popular among tourists from different parts of our planet. The Greenwich Meridian passes through the capital of Great Britain. Here you can be in two parts of the world in just a few minutes. Only in this city the bus causes a storm of emotions among tourists. After all, the red bus is already a symbol of Great Britain. Let's talk about the popular sights of London, what to see and where to go.

The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is located in Westminster. He is quite famous all over the world. The structure is named after the late husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert. The Albert Hall has the shape of an ellipse. The red brick building is crowned with a glass dome on a metal frame, and on the facade of the concert hall, quotes from the Bible are laid out using mosaics. Inside the Albert Hall is made like an amphitheater. The building can accommodate up to 5500 thousand people. The second largest organ in the whole country is installed here.

The Albert Hall hosts art exhibitions, various events, sports competitions. But the building gained its fame thanks to the numerous concerts of popular musical groups. Since the beginning of the opening of the Albert Hall, there have been big problems with acoustics. However, over time, this issue was resolved with the help of special panels. They were fixed under the ceiling of the building.

The locals have already nicknamed the panels "flying saucers". You can get to the Albert Hall by tube to South Kensington Station. Or by bus number 9, 10. It is simply impossible not to notice the building. Opening hours from 9 am to 9 pm daily. A ticket to the Albert Hall for adults costs about 13 euros, for children about 6 euros, a family ticket can be purchased for about 30 euros. The tour lasts 70 minutes.

Big Ben

The huge clock tower towering over the Thames is a symbol of the city. Many believe that it is she who is called "Big Ben". However, in reality, Big Ben is a huge bell on a tower. In ancient times, bells were given names. So they called the symbol "Ben", in honor of Benjamin Hall. They say that it was this man who supervised the installation of a huge bell.

Subsequently, the tower itself began to be called by this name. Although its real name is the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. The height of the structure reaches 96.3 meters. The clock on it is the largest in the world. There are 4 dials that are rotated to 4 cardinal directions. Big Ben's clock is the most accurate in the world. The huge bell will get a crack. As a result, his sound became peculiar.

The tower looks majestic and beautiful. In the dark, it all glows especially gorgeous. Near the sights are always crowded. In addition, there is a busy traffic of cars. The situation worsens over the weekend. If you decide to visit this place, it is better to go on weekdays. You can get to Big Ben by subway to Westminster station.

Or by bus to the stop "Parliamentskaya Square". Tourists are not allowed to climb the tower. Since it is part of the Westminster complex, which belongs to a public institution. Available only to British citizens. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.

British museum

This is a place of collection of works of art from ancient Greece, Rome, Ancient Egypt. It houses the work of masters from all over the world. Engravings, drawings, ethnography, coins and medals - all this can be seen in one of the largest museums in the world. The building has been under construction for 24 years. But during World War II, the museum was partially destroyed. Therefore, many exhibits were taken out of here. The restoration of the structure and the return of works of art took many more years. In museums, you can see wooden sarcophagi with animal mummies. Reliefs depicting scenes of battles and hunting evoke delight and grandeur.

Only in the British Museum (British Museum) there is an opportunity to see the sculptural portraits of the emperors Augustus and Hadrian. Fans of numismatics should definitely visit the coin room. And connoisseurs of painting will be happy to see here the works of Michelangelo, Botticelli, Durer, Raphael, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. You can get to the museum by underground to the stop "Tottenham Court Road" or "Holborn". Or by bus in that direction. Opening hours from 10:00 to 17:30 every day.

On Friday, some departments are on duty until 20.30. Entrance to the museum is free. Russian-speaking guides work here. In the British Museum, Nights at the Museum are very popular. They come here 4 times a year. Each time a new theme is given. During such an excursion, it is possible to listen to interesting stories all night long. It is simply impossible to see all the exhibits at once. There is a cafe and a souvenir shop on the territory of the museum.

Westminster

The House of Parliament Westminster is famous all over the world. This is a huge and beautiful complex, which is located on the banks of the Thames. Its two famous towers, Big Ben and Victoria, stretch high into the sky. The building of impressive size is striking in its beauty. It feels the strength and power of Great Britain. Westminster was open only to British rule for many years.

Excursions to the Parliament House were allowed only in 2004. Visitors are allowed here during the parliamentary recess from August 7 to September 16, throughout the year on Saturdays. Inside the building you can see the royal gallery with paintings and sculptures, the royal wardrobe, the chamber for disputes. The main attraction of the Houses of Parliament is Westminster Hall.

You can get to Westminster by metro to the station of the same name. The tour is free. It starts when a group of 16 people is recruited. Visiting hours at Parliament House are from 10:00 to 16:00 from Monday to Friday. Saturday from 08.45 to 16.45. To avoid queues, you can book tickets online in advance.

The cost of the tour is about 30 euros for adults. A child ticket can be purchased for 13 euros. Children under 5 years of age are free to enter. Discounts are available for students, pensioners and groups of 10 or more. If you want to save money, you can order an audio tour. Its price is 10 euros cheaper.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

Museum of the most famous Sir Mr. Sherlock Holmes (The Sherlock Holmes Museum) is located at 221B Baker Street in Westminster County. It is located in the most ordinary 4-storey building. From afar, the museum is not noticeable, it can be recognized only by the sign and the queues of tourists. At the bottom of the house-museum is a gift shop. Above is the sitting room and bedroom of the sir himself.

On the third floor are the rooms of the mistress of the house, Mrs. Hudson and Dr. Watson. On the top floor there is an exhibition of wax figures. It consists of numerous detective heroes. Here you can meet Professor Mariarti himself, Irene Adler, the Baskerville dog or a corpse on the floor. There is a bathroom in the attic. Photography is allowed in the museum.

Visitors are happy to pose against the backdrop of their favorite character's home. Here you are allowed to sit in armchairs by the fireplace. And on a special table, props are always ready: Sherlock's cap, pipe and magnifying glass. You can get to the museum by subway to the Baker Street station. Just a few minutes walk to it. The museum is open every day except Christmas holidays.

A ticket to it costs about 7 euros for an adult and 5 euros for a child. It is better to go here on a tour in the morning. There are many who want to see Sherlock Holmes' house. With a large crowd of people, moving around the museum is quite difficult. And photographing anything is even more difficult. Opening hours from 9.30 to 18.00 hours.

Piccadilly street

Piccadilly is the most famous street. It is located in one of the oldest districts of the city - Westminster. The street is always quite busy, it is full of people, tourists and residents of the capital. Piccadilly was named after tailor Robert Baker. He made his fortune tailoring piccadilly collars. Baker purchased a piece of land in the area and built a house called Piccadilly Hall. As a result, the streets were built up with rich mansions of wealthy people. Such houses became known as "Piccadilly". Here and today there are many houses-clubs, the entrance to which is forbidden to ordinary people.

Everyone who got to the capital of Great Britain should take a walk along Piccadilly. The street is huge, clean, with incredibly beautiful houses and shops. Especially beautiful here in the evening. When the city lights up, Piccadilly's mansions blaze with colorful lights. And boutiques cannot but attract attention. Shop windows are carefully designed here. Each little thing, jar, casket attracts special attention. The eponymous square in Piccadilly is one of the favorite meeting places of the British. Here very often they make appointments or just friendly meetings.

The well-known cafe "Royal" is located on the street. Creative people like to meet here: artists, writers, poets. Getting to Piccadilly is easy. Transport interchange here is one of the best in the world. Several major roads lead to it. The fastest way to get to the famous street is by subway to Picadilly Circus or Green Park stations.

District City

The City of London is another of the most ancient areas. It is located in the heart of the capital of England. The area has an amazing status, it is not subject to royal authority. The head of the City is its mayor. And, if someone from the royal authority decides to come to this area, they can do this only with the permission of the head of the City. It has its own rules and laws.

The City is officially the smallest county in the UK. The boundaries of the district are separated by special columns. The population of the City is also the smallest, about 10,000 people. The area was founded by the Romans about 2000 years ago. At that time Great Britain was still part of the Roman Empire. Many streets of the City follow the roads that were laid by the ancient Romans.

There are a lot of historical monuments in the area. Here are the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Exchange, Leadenhall Market. Old buildings in the City alternate with new buildings. Infrastructure development has not stopped here. There are many office towers in the area: Heron, Lloyd's, Mary-Ex 30, Walkie-Talkie, Tower 42. The largest complex of the capital, the Barbican Center, was built here. The architecture of the City is an incredible mixture of all ages and styles.

It is definitely worth visiting this area. Visiting the attraction on weekends or in the evening does not make any sense. It may happen that you are alone on the whole street. The area is beautiful when there is a lot of work around. However, during peak hours, the metro suffers from a large number of people. So choose your time of visit carefully. It is convenient to get to the area by metro. There are quite a few stations: Barbican, Tower Hill, Liverpool, Mansion House.

Tower

The Tower of London is located on the north bank of the Thames. It is considered the best-preserved building in Europe. Over the entire long history of the Tower, for all the years they could not be taken by storm. The thickness of its walls reaches 4.5 meters. The castle has a difficult history. The complex was inhabited by royalty. Noble and rich people were also imprisoned here. The Tower was both a home and a prison at the same time. It keeps traces of human tragedies and deaths.

The Tower is surrounded by myths and legends that are already difficult to distinguish from the real history of the castle. A black crow is considered a symbol of misfortune and misfortune of the complex. According to legend, he appears on the territory of the complex before any tragedy. The castle leads in the number of ghosts living in it. The British claim that the ghosts of royalty who have met death live here on the territory of the complex.

Tower fascinates and intimidates at the same time. A huge castle, which repulsed many enemies, rises above the Thames. It is especially beautiful at sunset. Roads on the territory of the complex are made of stone blocks. Therefore, you should take care of comfortable shoes. There are many tourists in the Tower. Those who have a london pass are skipped out of the queue. So, it is better to buy tickets in advance. Opening hours of the complex from March to October: from 9 to 17.30 from Tuesday to Saturday.

From November to February, the castle is open from 9:00 to 16:30. On Sunday and Monday, the Tower receives tourists from 10 to 17.30, regardless of the season. The castle is closed on Christmas holidays. An adult ticket costs about 5 euros, for children about 4 euros. A family ticket costs about 15 euros. You can get to the castle by metro to Tower Hill station or by bus number 15, 42, 78, 100.

Tower Bridge

Another symbol of England, strict and beautiful at the same time, is the famous Tower Bridge. It captivates visitors at first sight with its impressive size and stunning architecture. The bridge was built in the 19th century when London became an imposing commercial and industrial center. Two Gothic towers of the building, as well as possible, convey the whole English spirit.

The bridge is in harmony with the nearby Tower. It becomes its continuation. Inside the bridge, between the towers is a museum. Previously, it was a pedestrian zone, but later it was closed due to the increased cases of thefts in such a deserted place. The towers can be reached by stairs or an elevator. The lifting mechanism can also be seen. He is huge.

You can take pictures on the bridge. But metal structures and glass greatly hinder this. Therefore, most knowledgeable tourists do not climb the towers. Beautiful landscapes can also be seen from other bridges. In the gallery of the building there is an exposition of photographs with various bridges of the world. There is also information about them here.

Tower Bridge is open every day from April to September from 10:00 to 18:30. From October to March from 9.30 to 18.00 hours. A ticket for adults costs about 10 euros, for children - about 4. For a child under 5 years old, admission is free. Tower Bridge is in the center, next to Tower Castle. Tower Hill metro stop or bus number 42, 100, 15, 78.

Globus theatre

The Globe is the very first theater in the capital of Great Britain. It was erected on the site where its predecessor used to be. At the beginning of its history, the Globe was only a small area in the form of a circle, surrounded by a fence. This building burned down completely. And the authorities erected a house in its place. The new theater building was built a few meters from the old one. It was opened in 1997. The architects tried to make the theater as close as possible to the very first building.

Inside there are three tiers of balconies with seating. Near the stage, you can enjoy the performances only while standing. The way the performances were watched in the old days by poor people who did not have money for sitting tickets. Microphones and spotlights in the Globe are fundamentally not used. To create an atmosphere similar to the one that reigned in the ancient theater.

You can buy tickets online or buy in advance. Despite the fact that the Globe does not work in winter, excursions to it are still carried out. The theater is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Times change during the theater season. Entrance for adults costs about 18 euros, for children - about 11. Children under 5 years old enter for free. You can get to the Globe by taking the subway to the Cannon or Mansion House stop.

Theater Royal Covent Garden

Covent Garden is considered the largest opera house in the UK. It got its name in honor of the square on which the theater was built. In 1808 the building burned down. But in just 9 months it was restored. To return the money spent on repairs, the authorities raised the price of tickets. However, after a 2-month public boycott and disruption of performances, they gave up and were forced to reduce prices to the old level. Once again, a fire in 1986 destroyed Covent Garden for the second time. In this case, the recovery took about two years.

Excursions to Covent Garden (Covent Garden) two. The first is called "Behind the scenes of the theater." She acquaints tourists with the everyday life of actors and preparations for new works. A ticket for adults costs about 14 euros, for children - about 10 euros, for students and pensioners - about 13 euros. The second tour is called Velvet, Gilding and Glamour. It introduces travelers to the architecture and history of the building. A ticket for adults costs about 12 euros, for children - about 10 euros, for students and pensioners - about 9 euros. You can see the interior of the theater, and at the same time enjoy the opera, from 18 to 217 euros. You can get to Covent Garden by bus 9, 13, 15, 23, 139 and 153. Or take the Underground to Covent Garden Station.

Trafalgar Square

The main square of the capital of Great Britain - Trafalgar Square - gathers residents of the city for all the big holidays of the country. It is named after the Trafalgar victory by Admiral Horatio Nelson. The monument to the admiral is located in the center of the square, surrounded by 6-meter lions. Each animal is a symbol of Nelson's victories in battles. Also here you can see the monument to Charles I.

From it, the British count the distances. The monument is located in the central point of the capital. There are 4 pedestals at the 4 corners of the square. On the tops of 3 of them are monuments to George IV, General Napier and Henry Havelock. Surprisingly, pedestal 4 was empty until 2005. After it was replaced by various sculptures, including living ones.

So far, in 2010, a model of the Victoria ship, where Admiral Nelson died heroically, was installed on the pedestal. Pigeons were one of the symbols of the square. Over the years, thousands of birds have lived on it. Until in 2007 the authorities forbade feeding them. Now there are almost no pigeons. The square is located in the center of the capital at the intersection of three streets: Mall, Strand and Whitehall. You can get to it by bus number 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 24 and many others. By metro you can get to the stations "Charing Cross", "Embankment".

Abbey Route

Abbey Route can be called "the street where dreams come true." This place is loved by young people and creative people. The British gave her a second name, which sounds like "The home of love and art." Fans of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Duran Duran come here to see the place where their idols recorded their songs. Abbey Route is home to Amy Recording Studios, a world-famous recording studio.

The most popular place on the street is the intersection, the image of which was captured on the latest The Beatles disc. All tourists take pictures here. Even drivers are sympathetic to this, giving way. The zebra in this place is the only one in the world that has a webcam with live broadcast to the Internet.

The building at the intersection of Abbey Road and Grove End Road is an unofficial monument to the Beatles. Here you can see a sign with the inscription: "Abbey Road NW8 City of Westminster". It was often stolen by the band's fans. Therefore, the sign had to be tightly mounted into the building at a sufficiently high height. The building near the inscription is painted every three months, but the Beatles graffiti appears again and again. You can get to Abbey Route by subway to St. John's Wood. Nearby there is a bus stop - "Abbey Road Grove End Road". Walking along Abbey Route is free. But if you want to listen to information and entertaining stories, you can buy a ticket for a tour of the streets. Its cost is about 88 euros.

Westminster Abbey

The world-famous monastery - Westminster abbey - is the main shrine of Great Britain. It is located next to the Palace of Westminster. It is here that the royal people of Great Britain are crowned, married and buried. This is a very large and beautiful building, made in the form of a Latin cross. The monastery has two large towers and a huge variety of carved arches.

The rich interior is decorated with wonderful stained-glass windows. Here you can see the magnificent frescoes of the 12th century. The floor of the abbey impresses with its wonderful mosaic. Inside the monastery is more like a tomb. There are more than three thousand tombstones here. Among them, the tombs of kings, monarchs and great people of the kingdom. Charles Dickens, Isaiah Newton, Lord Byron, Charles Darwin, Robert Burns found their rest in the abbey.

In the monastery there is a coronation throne, which is called the "Stone of Destiny". Brass music concerts are often held in the abbey. Photographs and filming are not allowed inside the cathedral. Deciding to visit the cathedral, you need to take care of your clothes. You will not be allowed in shorts and short skirts. The abbey also has a rule that advises against bringing preschool children to avoid unnecessary noise. The monastery is located in the center of Westminster.

You can get to it by tube to Westminster or St. James's Park. The opening hours of the abbey are Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 15.30, Wednesday from 9.30 to 18.00, Saturday from 9.30 to 12.30. The entrance fee is about 23 euros for adults. For children, a ticket can be bought for about 7 euros. Entry for children under 11 is free.

Buckingham Palace

This palace differs from hundreds of similar monuments in that it is still a functioning royal residence. The palace was originally owned by the Duke of Buckingham, who later sold it to George III. Construction and decoration stretched out for almost a century - and the ballroom was completely finished only by the middle of the nineteenth century. Over the past years, the interiors of the palace have changed scenery more than once, only luxury has remained unchanged.

Not only the palace itself is an attraction, but also the traditions that "surround" it. For example, the changing of the guard, which is perhaps the most recognizable ceremony in the world. Admission to the ceremonial halls will cost adults (from 17 years old) £24.00. Visiting the palace is possible starting from 09.30. But closing times vary. This usually happens around 6pm.

Kensington Palace

This is the most modest and comfortable of the modern royal residences in England. Today it belongs to the Prince and Princess of Cambridge. It is noteworthy that the mistresses of the palace are always women. Moreover, women who changed history. Once it was under its vaults that Queen Victoria was born, and a little later, the echo of Princess Diana's footsteps began to spread through the spacious halls. But behind the seemingly inconspicuous facade hides paintings, unique interior items and historical halls. Pay special attention to the tapestries and paintings on the ceilings and walls.

In the center of the palace, in the middle of the revived history, there is a stunning installation, which is rightfully considered a real miracle of scientific and technical thought. Of course, we are talking about Shining Lace - a light installation, for the creation of which not only 12 thousand Swarovski crystals were spent, but also 4 kilometers of luminous wire. In the summer (from March to October) the palace is open to the public from 10.00 to 18.00, in winter - until 16.00. The cost of an adult ticket will be up to £19.50.

St Paul's Cathedral

The highest point and concurrently the largest Anglican church in Europe is the official residence of the local bishop. The building that you can see today is the fifth variation on a similar theme - the previous three were destroyed during fires, and the fourth was completely plundered by the Vikings. The dome of the cathedral is something that you simply cannot help but pay attention to. In the original plan, it was not there, and therefore the designers needed all their ingenuity to organically weave an exact copy of the dome of the main basilica of Rome into the project.

St. Paul's Cathedral opens its doors to tourists at half past nine in the morning, and closes at half past five. On Sundays, the cathedral is open only to parishioners. The cost of an adult entrance ticket (from 18 years old) is £18, if you are part of an excursion group - £16. When you book your ticket online, you can save up to £2.

Oxford Street

Welcome to the busiest shopping street in Europe! Sooner or later, any guest is thrown into its orbit, which, however, is not surprising - it is here that several extremely popular tourist routes pass, and the local pricing policy is such that a middle-class person will leave here with a thousand rustling packages, but without significant damage to his budget. This area appeared on the map of the city in the sixteenth century, when a section of the old Roman road began to be built up with cheap houses.

This is how urban slums appeared, which at first were the venue for public executions, and then (after the introduction of a corresponding ban) the center of the trading life of middle-class craftsmen. Today there are more than 300 shops here. Don't try to look into everything - local policy is to put things at the door that best reflect this establishment.

Therefore, you can immediately understand whether this place is suitable for you or you can safely move on. Oxford Circus, Marble Arch and Bond Street - these underground stations all go to Oxford Street and they are all literally crowded. Be especially careful when walking along Oxford Street - this street breaks all records for petty theft.

Charles Dickens House Museum

To date, this is the last of the surviving houses where Charles and Catherine Dickens lived. At first glance, it becomes clear that this house is a stronghold of Victorian England - its spirit, the life of the old school. The restorers did a great job of conveying the mood of a lived-in, warm nineteenth-century house with a cute living room, a long dining table, a magnificent bed hidden under a canopy, and various kitchen utensils.

There is also a writer's office with his personal belongings. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. This schedule is maintained throughout the year, except in December, when the museum is open seven days a week. The cost of an adult ticket is £9.50.

Soho area

In Soho, you can meet a contingent of completely different kinds: from students to the marginalized. This area lives up to its reputation as the liveliest place. His appearance is associated with Henry VIII, a fan of women and hunting. It is believed that the name came from the hunting call "So-ho". The atmosphere of the area has developed historically - Soho has always been a kind of buffer zone between the aristocratic quarters and the mob quarters, and therefore mainly immigrants, people of creative professions and marginals settled here.

Today there are very few residential houses, and finding these inconspicuous courtyards is quite difficult. Basically, clubs, bars and sex shops are concentrated here. Soho is lively at any time of the day or night, so if at four in the morning you decide that the party is not over yet, feel free to head here. Soho is also worth a visit for gourmets - here you can find the most colorful set of cuisines and restaurants in the world at fairly liberal prices.

Mary X skyscraper

The forty-story, fully glazed Mary X skyscraper was named after the street on which it stands, but its official name is the gherkin, that is, "cucumber". The inhabitants named it in a similar way because of the greenish tint of the glass and the corresponding shape. Against the backdrop of historic London, this skyscraper looks extremely futuristic. Innovative methods were used to create it. So, load-bearing structures made in the form of a grid were used, which made it possible to make the building more economical in terms of maintenance.

And the abundance of glass solved three problems at once: the problem of ventilation, heat preservation, as well as lighting - after all, the building is literally filled with light in the daytime. For the uniqueness of the project, the team of engineers received a number of prestigious European awards. The entrance to the tower is not open every day, but if you are lucky, the entrance to the observation deck is free. Cafes and restaurants are located on the last three floors.

Leadenhall Market

The oldest market of Foggy Albion does not lose its relevance. Back in the days of Londinium, as the Romans called it, there were shopping areas here, and Leadenhall Market itself appeared on the city map in the fourteenth century to quickly become one of the fastest growing retail outlets. By the beginning of the nineteenth century, its importance could no longer be denied, and the city authorities announced a competition. The winner got the opportunity to bring to life their design for a building for Leadenhall.

As a result, we got a huge shopping pavilion with long galleries and a glass roof decorated with hundreds of details. If you experience a vague feeling of deja vu, being under the shadow of the glass vaults, know that this feeling was quite justified - this is where the "magical" London was filmed in the first part of the Harry Potter saga.

Skyscraper Shard

Shard has become one of the newest architectural landmarks of the capital. The construction of this glass pyramid was timed to coincide with the start of the 2012 Olympic Games. "Shard of Glass" fully justifies its name - thousands of glass panels sparkle in the sun. As a rule, tourists can enter the skyscraper building from 10 am to 6 pm from Sunday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 10 pm on other days, but such working hours are unstable.

It all depends on whether any events will be held, and therefore, before visiting the skyscraper, check the working hours for the current day. The full cost of the visit (for one day) is 32 £. You can go up to the observation deck (from the 68th to the 72nd floors) and use the bar for free. If it is too cloudy at the time of your visit to prevent you from enjoying the view, you will be entitled to claim your money back.

London National Gallery

One of the largest art galleries in the capital looks somewhat more modest than the same Louvre, but it is more structured. Paintings from the twelfth to the twentieth centuries are exhibited here, with representatives of schools exclusively in Western Europe being in focus. The gallery was opened at the beginning of the nineteenth century and has already managed to change its location.

The last move was forced - there were more and more paintings, and it was necessary to start the construction of a new building. Soon, at the northern end of Trafalgar Square, the Wilkins-authored building, known to everyone today, appeared. More than two thousand exhibits have been collected in the halls, and therefore it will be almost impossible to get around everything in a day.

It’s better to decide right away whether you want to get to know Van Dyck, one of the titans of English classical painting, or you are interested in Van Gogh’s paintings. If you wish, you can listen to audio lectures or ask the museum staff for more information. The gallery is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily. On Fridays it closes at 21.00. The entrance is free.

Madame Tussauds museum

Marie Tussauds was able to brilliantly put into practice the knowledge she received while her mother worked as a housekeeper for Philip Curtis, a recognized master of the wax figure. At first, Tussauds traveled with her silent companions through the cities, and then decided to settle in London. She originally opened her museum on Baker Street, but then moved it to Marylebone Street, where it is today. Since its opening, the museum has not changed its concept.

Rising stars of our time appear in collections immediately, but also quickly disappear if the glory of the real prototype begins to fade. The Liverpool Four, Star Wars characters, Benedict Cumberbatch and Marilyn Monroe sit comfortably alongside politicians and kings. Modern technologies make the figures a little more alive.

So, Jennifer Lopez blushes charmingly. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays. On weekends it opens at 9. A standard ticket will cost you £35 if you buy it at the box office and £29 if you buy your ticket online.

This is a historical museum, which is located deep underground. Medieval instruments of torture are collected here, which continue to evoke horror. The museum opened at the end of the twentieth century. The first batch of the most terrifying people and non-humans in history made a lasting impression on the public. Since then, little has changed - thanks to the improvement of the technical base, the museum continues to make its guests tremble with fear.

In addition to torture instruments, the modern exposition includes "live performances". You can see with your own eyes how ugly and unsightly some of the realities of medieval London were: the fire of 1666, the plague, wars. And you will find yourself in the very epicenter of events.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm. Tours start at 11am on Thursdays. On Saturdays, the last tour starts at 6 pm and on Sundays at 5 pm. You can book tickets directly on the website.

Tate British Gallery

The gallery was based on the personal collections of Sir Henry Tate, who owned one of the world's largest collections of examples of English art from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. It is noteworthy that the opening of the gallery became possible only due to the fact that Henry Tate is the creator of cotton candy, and the expected popularity of this delicacy made him a very wealthy person.

Gradually, the collections grew so much that it became necessary to separate them: works of the classical period remained in the old premises on Trafalgar Square, while objects of modern art moved to the new premises on the banks of the Thames.

Today, the old power plant, which houses the galleries, has become a cult tourist destination. Entrance to the gallery is free. Tickets are only required for special exhibitions. From Sunday to Thursday the gallery is open from 10 am to 10 pm. Fridays and Saturdays - until 18.00.

Hyde Park

This park usually has a rather lively atmosphere. Everyone is well aware of such a national British trait as restraint, and they have probably heard the expression “hard upper lip” at least once. The faces of these people will not flinch, no matter what happens! This does not apply to two things - football and Hyde Park. As you know, English fans are among the most furious in the world, and as for Hyde Park, there is the so-called Speakers' Corner, where anyone can climb the podium and speak on any topic.

There are only three prohibitions: microphones, calls for violence and obscene language. Therefore, do not deny yourself the pleasure of joining the flow of sincerity. The park itself has the appearance of a typical, slightly careless English park - imposing and picturesque. No French symmetry - only calmness and relative riot of nature.

Serpentine Lake is located in the very center of the park - people often walk barefoot on its shore, and swimming is not forbidden in the lake itself. Nearby is a small contemporary art gallery of the same name. The park is open daily from 5 am to midnight.

The London Eye (or the Millennium Wheel) was built in time for the millennium celebrations. By the time construction was completed, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, however, today this status has passed to a similar structure, but already in Singapore. There are a total of 32 transparent cabins in the Ferris wheel, each of which can accommodate up to 25 people at the same time.

You can also choose a cabin for two and enjoy a kind of romantic walk. The start times for the London Eye vary quite a bit throughout the year, but it typically opens at 10am and closes between 6:30 and 9:30pm. The cost of an adult ticket is £25.20. When ordering tickets online, you can save up to 15% of the amount.

Thames

The Thames is not just another river. English monarchs built their palaces on its banks in order to get home faster. It was this waterway that made London one of the largest port cities in Europe. The Thames has been a source of inspiration more than once. So, the amazing impressionist Claude Monet created a whole series of landscapes on a similar theme. The English painter William Turner did not lag behind him. It was along the Thames that three well-known people traveled with their dog, and Dickens' heroes often walked along its banks.

It's time for you to enjoy the beauty of this glorious river. Buy a ticket on one of the ferries plying along the water stream and try to feel the majestic article of the bridges (Tower, London, Waterloo and others), take a look at the most striking sights from a different angle: the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, St. Paul's Cathedral and many other.

St. Pancras station

After restoration in 2007, the Sant Parnas station, located right in the city center, quite confidently began to compete with other attractions that claimed the title of the most romantic place in the city. The building in which the station is located was built back in the Victorian era and has fully retained its charm.

This is a kind of “matryoshka”, because the station itself is located in an arched landing stage, and a neo-Gothic building was built around it, in which the hotel was located. True, today under the arches of the station from the nineteenth century there is no trace left - only naked modernity. There are trains to the mainland from St. Parnasse Station.

Today, it takes about two hours to get from Paris to London. King's Cross (famous among fans of the Harry Potter universe) and St. Parnassus are united by the presence of an underground station, in whose name the names of the stations are organically combined.

Wembley Stadium

Wembley is one of the largest sports grounds in the world. It was built on the site of a truly legendary 1923 arena. However, the new stadium turned out to be a worthy receiver - it impresses with its size and level of technical equipment. Even on the outskirts of the stadium, an elegant arch, which is a carrier, catches the eye. It supports the roof, which "opens" with three petals. Even if you are not a fan of football, you will not be indifferent.

In addition, Wembley has repeatedly become a stage for world-famous stars. Today, tours of the stadium are held especially for guests. The cost of a basic ticket is £19. The tour schedule is flexible. It depends not only on the type of ticket you have purchased, but also on current events. On average, tours start at 10 am. The last tour, as a rule, finds its audience by 2 pm.

Harrods department store

The most fashionable department store, unfortunately, is beyond the reach of most guests, but a walk through it is quite comparable to going to a museum, because the luxury and aristocracy, which the interior literally screams about, are reminiscent of the decoration of royal residences. However, this is not far from the truth. Since the first third of the nineteenth century, Oscar Wilde, Princess Diana, Sigmund Freud, Elton John, Madonna and others have been regular customers of this department store.

However, in Harrods there is something besides design and brands - shows, festivals and cooking shows are regularly held here. Be sure to look here at Christmas - the extravaganza of the action taking place here is difficult to compare with anything else. The department store is open from 10 am to 8 pm on all days except Sunday. On Sundays it opens at half past 12 and closes at 6 pm.

Flea market in Portobello

Portobello Road is considered one of the most popular market streets in the world. It crosses the Notting Hill quarter horizontally, which means that more than three kilometers of open stalls, shops, tents and just street vendors await its guests. But this is not how he managed to win his name. The real Portobello begins on Saturday, when sellers and connoisseurs of antiques gather here.

The local antiques market is the largest in the world. It is noteworthy that three centuries ago there was a farm on this site, which bore the very poetic name of Portobello, which symbolized the victory over the Spanish city of the same name.

In the Victorian era, this area was built up with small houses - blue, red, lilac - and the urban landscape gradually began to take shape. Today you can wander around the market for hours. Here you can find everything from faded tickets for the Rolling Stones concerts to Meissen porcelain.

Brick Lane Flea Market

Shopping fans often ignore the presence of truly colorful street markets that dictate their fashion trends. And Brick Lane Market is one of them. The street where the market is located is part of the Bangladeshi community, which was once the Jewish ghetto. Such historical realities left their mark on the appearance of this place.

People come here for two things: curry and conceptual fashion. The local array of restaurants that serve this dish will amaze you. As for fashion, you can find everything here: from vintage clothes of expensive brands (which for some reason are sold by the Japanese) to vintage Art Deco magazines and everything related to high art. Photographers and artists often appear here, finding inspiration in the chaos and variegation of colors of this market.

London is considered one of the most interesting European cities, which is visited by about 10 million tourists a year, which is approximately the same as its population.

Visitors to London are attracted by its centuries-old history and traditions, architectural appearance and unique flavor of the city, cultural events and modern entertainment, which it offers in abundance and wide variety.

Ferris Wheel - London Eye

The capital of Foggy Albion is famous for its architectural ensembles and historical monuments, theaters and art galleries, world-class museums and vast parks. Here, each of you can find for yourself something that will be deposited in your memory for the rest of your life and will constantly encourage you to return here at least once more.

London - briefly about the main

The largest metropolis of the British Isles, which is the capital of England and the entire United Kingdom of Great Britain and North. Ireland (usually abbreviated to United Kingdom in English) is located in the southeast of Great Britain at the mouth of the River Thames. Founded by the Romans in 43 AD.

Its modern name goes back to the word "Londinium" (this is what the Romans called the city), the origin of which is not exactly established and has quite a lot of different versions, the most popular of them are as follows: from lat. sl. Lond (wild place), from the Celtic Llyndid (Llyn - lake, Dun - fortification) or from Londo (cruel, violent). Many versions, however, agree that the name belongs to the pre-Roman period and was borrowed by the Romans from the local population.

Southwark Cathedral

As you can see, the history of London has almost 2 thousand years. During this time period, he visited the capital of Britain, England, Great Britain, the British Empire, for about a century was the largest city in the world, survived many fires, epidemics, the Great Depression, the bombing of the 1st and 2nd World Wars, the Great Smog, numerous ups and downs in economic and cultural terms. And here there are very special traditions and atmosphere, which are now its most important distinguishing feature.

Today it is the main political, cultural and business center of Great Britain, in which the authorities and justice are concentrated, there are many temples, museums, theaters, galleries, etc. The city's economy makes up about a quarter of the country's economy. London is one of the world's financial centers, it is one of the most important centers of international business life and an important international air transport hub.

Geographically, the city consists of 33 districts - the City, which is its business center, and 32 more administrative districts. Until 1889, only the City area was officially considered London, the outer boundaries of which had remained virtually unchanged since Roman times. Now London includes all 33 districts, further subdivided into Inner (City plus 13 districts) and Outer London (the remaining 19 districts).

Globus theatre

London is the capital of museums, theaters and fashion

Despite the fact that the age of London is about 2 millennia, there is not much evidence of such a respectable age in its architecture: the city is practically devoid of ancient and medieval buildings, palaces and castles of the Renaissance. There are very few buildings built more than 4 centuries ago in the capital. And yet in London, in all its appearance, style and rhythm of life, the centuries-old history, adherence to traditions and national flavor are sharply felt like in no other metropolis in the world. All this makes it a desirable destination for travelers from different countries who come to see and visit museums, palaces, parks, squares, theaters and many other beautiful and interesting places in the British capital.

Sights and monuments of architecture

• Most of London's listed buildings are located in Westminster. The Tower, the architectural ensemble of Greenwich, Westminster Abbey, the Church of St. Margaret, the Palace of Westminster, the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew Gardens are classified as World Heritage Sites and are included in a special list of UNESCO. In addition to them in London, we definitely recommend seeing Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Windsor Castle, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Martin's and St. Margaret's Churches, the Millennium Dome, the Cucumber skyscraper.

Tower Bridge

• Museums and galleries of the capital of Foggy Albion number in the hundreds - in London there are more than 300 interesting places with content that meets the most diverse tastes and interests. You can visit the British Museum, which is the most significant repository of archaeological finds; the Victoria and Albert Museum, which houses the largest collection of works of arts and crafts; National Gallery with one of the world's brightest collections of paintings. As well as the Museum of the Moving Image (film and television museum), Madame Tussauds (wax museum), Natural Science Museum, Transport Museum, Sherlock Holmes Museum, Fire Department Museum or any other London museum, according to your own interests. In August and September, a significant part of the premises in Buckingham Palace opens for visitors, and tours of the Parliament buildings and the Tower are constantly held.
• London theatres. This is a haven for theatergoers and a feast for their sensitive souls: the Royal Main Theater, Covent Garden, Her Majesty's Theatre, the National Theater in South Bank, the Globe, the English National Opera, the Albert Hall, the Coliseum, etc. Mainly in the West End concentrated theaters famous for their musicals.

Tower of London

• Views of London and the most attractive places for walking. You can get aesthetic pleasure without visiting museums, theaters or galleries, just walking around the city and enjoying the views. London has a great variety of the most beautiful and world-famous streets, boulevards and squares. Visit Trafalgar Square, stroll down Piccadilly, turn into Baker Street to visit Sherlock Holmes, shop in Oxford Street, Bond Street or Knightsbridge, look down Abbey Road for the recording studios where Pink Floyd recorded, Beatles, other legendary bands and performers.

If you love spending time outdoors, spend it in one of London's parks. The most famous and attractive of them are Lee Valley, Hyde Park, Green Park, St. James, Greenwich Park, Regent's Park, Bushy Park, Richmond Park. In the western part of the capital are the extensive Kew Botanical Gardens. London Zoo and London Aquarium are of great interest to travelers.. It is also interesting to stroll through the pavilions of the Warner Brothers film studio, where you can, for example, see the scenery for the Harry Potter films.

To see London from different angles, take the London Eye Ferris Wheel and then walk through the London Underground. So you can get the most complete and varied experience.

National Gallery

• One of the first associations that come to mind in connection with London, for most people on the planet, is rainy London weather, smog and fog. Indeed, precipitation in this city is a common occurrence at any time of the year, and rain is the most frequent guest. This is facilitated by the temperate maritime climate of London and quite moderate temperature differences (in summer - 14-23 degrees, in winter - the average temperature is 4 degrees and does not fall below zero very often). Even winters here are usually damp and foggy. As for smog, in recent decades, thanks to the Clean Air Act adopted in the mid-20th century, the UK capital has seen a very significant decrease in the degree of air pollution.
• Public transport in London is bright red double-decker buses that look very colorful on the streets with old buildings of past centuries. And, of course, memorable black taxi cabs. London public transport (trams, buses) operates around the clock, plus, in addition to round-the-clock bus routes, there are also night (additional) ones that repeat the routes of different metro lines (it is closed at night).

St Paul's Cathedral

• London ceremonies. The most popular London ceremony among travelers is the mesmerizing spectacle of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It is produced exactly at 11.30 am, from April to August - daily, the rest of the year - every other day. Also every day, in the evening, at 21.50, you can watch the closing ceremony of the Tower, called the Ceremony of Keys. Once in London in September, you can capture the Thames Festival, which includes a carnival, torchlight and costume processions, exhibitions, concerts, street theater performances, a gastronomic festival, fairs, acrobatic shows, fireworks, dances, etc. The spectacle is simply enchanting.
• Shopping in London. Since the 19th century, this city has become one of several centers of world fashion, and, unlike other fashion capitals, it has become famous not for women's fashion, but for men's fashion. Brands such as Burberry, Paul Smith, Ben Sherman, Fred Perry and others have gained a high reputation and popularity all over the world, annually attracting fashion connoisseurs here for expensive quality shopping or seasonal outlet sales.

Buckingham Palace

• Pubs and restaurants. In terms of culinary delights, London has become famous for its cosmopolitanism: you can choose cuisine for every taste (English, Eastern European, Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Italian, French, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, Russian, etc.), culinary geography continues to expand. Prices - for every wallet: the most expensive restaurants are concentrated in Westminster, the most affordable and democratic - in Soho. There are quite a lot of vegetarian restaurants in London (separate vegetarian dishes will be offered in any regular establishment). And, of course, let's not forget about the famous London pubs, where many residents and guests of the city like to skip a pint or two of ale (beer) in the evening - it is for them that lovers of this foamy drink from various countries come here.

Palace of Westminster

It is almost impossible to describe (and even just give a general idea) about all the sights and features of London in one material, as well as to visit (learn, see) them within one, even the longest and richest tour.

Attractions London

London Attractions attract many tourists. The capital of Great Britain is located in its southeast, at the mouth of the River Thames. The city with a population exceeding 8 million is one of the largest in the world. It is one of the leading financial centers of the planet.

Piccadilly Circus, 1946

City `s history

starting point history of the creation of the city of London it is generally accepted that the appearance in 43 AD. e. Romans in the British Isles. At the end of the 1st century the Roman trading settlement acquired a fortress wall, beyond which the city did not cross for a whole millennium. With the fall of the Roman Empire, London also experienced desolation. Then the North Germanic tribes began to move here - the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians, who gradually suppressed the resistance of the local Celtic tribes of the Britons. The first signs of revival are noted with the beginning of the 7th century. For the next several centuries, the Normans (Vikings) and Anglo-Saxons alternately owned the city.

In 1066, the army of the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror, landed on the British Isles. Having defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, he was crowned the first English king in London's new building, Westminster Abbey. Then a royal residence was built in the city, later called the Tower, the Palace of Westminster and a stone bridge. Over the next few centuries, the Anglo-Saxons and Normans (not to be confused with the Normans) merged into a single English nation.

Piccadilly Circus, 1972

In the Middle Ages, London experienced a brief French invasion, the plague of 1348 that wiped out half the population, and sack by rebellious peasants led by Wat Tyler. The decline was interrupted in the 16th century. This was facilitated by the defeat of rivals at sea - Antwerp, and especially Spain, whose "Great Armada" was defeated by the British in 1588. The country became the mistress of the seas.

Another blow to the city was dealt by a grandiose fire in 1666, which destroyed many medieval buildings. Burnt Cathedral of St. Paul was restored at the beginning of the 18th century, then landmark buildings were erected - Westminster Bridge and Buckingham Palace. The railway, the first subway (in 1863) and, especially, the sewerage system (in 1865), which put an end to cholera outbreaks, gave a new impetus to the development of the city. Industrialization turned London into a major industrial center and the population passed the million mark.

The Victorian era (most of the 19th century) is the heyday of London. It was intensively built up, and the population reached 6 million. But many buildings were destroyed by German bombing at the beginning of World War II. The post-war period is characterized by large immigration from the former colonies of the British Empire. And already in the XXI century. several ultra-modern structures were built in the city, which will be discussed below.

The main historical and archaeological museum of the British Empire

London Attractions

TO main classical architectural and historical sights of London relate.

• Westminster.
• Tower.
• Cathedral of St. Paul.
• British museum.

Tomb of Elizabeth I

Westminster

This historic district is the political center of Great Britain. Here are located top sights in london:

• royal residence - Buckingham Palace;
• Parliament sitting at the Palace of Westminster;
• Westminster Abbey;
• Trafalgar Square.

You can start exploring the iconic places of the area by taking the London Underground to the St James Park stop.

The parade of the Horse Guards and the colorful changing of the guard ceremony take place daily from 11 a.m. They were observed by almost everyone who visited London. But few of them saw the luxurious interiors of the palace. Collections of paintings from the royal collection are exhibited in the Gallery of the same name during the Queen's holidays in August and September from 10 am to 6 pm. Ticket price - 16.5 GBP (pound sterling).

The symbol of London is the Palace of Westminster with the bell tower Big Ben. It was successfully recreated in the 19th century. instead of the original building, which burned down in the Great Fire of 1666. On the opposite side, the palace is crowned by the Victoria Tower, through the gates of which the queen passes to deliver the throne speech in Parliament. Other traditions are honored as well. So, the Lord Chancellor is still sitting on a bag of wool, and parliamentarians who address the speaker must wear hats. The easiest way to get to the Palace of Westminster is by tube, getting off at Westminster or Victoria stations.

Cathedral Church of St. Petra is the official name. This outstanding monument of English Gothic was founded in 1065 and completed until the 16th century. The facade and interiors of the building compete in splendor. The cathedral is the place of coronations and burials of British kings. In Poets' Corner there are graves (not always real) of famous Englishmen - Newton, Dickens, Shakespeare, Thackeray, Milton, Chaucer, Burns, Handel and others.

Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

You can visit the cathedral for 20 GBP from 9:30 to 16:30, on Wednesday - until 19:00, and on Saturday - until 14:30. Sunday services are held for parishioners. The nearest tube stations are St James's Park or Westminster.

The central square of London was named in honor of the battle won by the English fleet near Cape Trafalgar. On a high column in the center is a 5-meter figure of the hero of the battle, Admiral Nelson. Around the statue are beautiful sculptures and fountains. In the corner of the square there is a model of the ship on which the admiral was mortally wounded. And from the monument to King Charles I, all London distances are measured. Near the square are Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square metro stations.

Traditional poppy field in front of the walls of the fortress

Other attractions

The palace and fortress in London's Tower Hamlets is a thousand years old. For a long time the building was a prison and even a place of execution of noble people, including kings. Some visitors say that they saw the ghosts of the executed here. The current Tower is a royal treasury, an armory and a residence for elite guests. Guardians of the building in luxurious uniforms are guides and living exhibits for visitors. Not far from the Tower is the bridge of the same name - a landmark of the British capital. It is especially beautiful in night illumination.

You can get to the Tower by metro to Tower Hill station or by buses No. 15, 42, 78, 100, RV1. Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. (depending on the season), and on Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. A regular entry ticket costs 25 GBP.

Eastern part of the Cathedral

Cathedral of St. Pavla is located in the City area. The structure was built according to the project of the architect Christopher Wren from 1675 to 1710. Outside, the grandiose triple dome 120 m high attracts the attention of tourists. Many surprising things can be seen inside - columns breaking to the ceiling, a false second floor, the famous Gallery of Whispers heard within a radius of 30 m, the best English organ. In the right tower is the main bell "Big Paul", the sound of which is carried for 37 km. Two prominent military leaders are buried in the cathedral - the Duke of Wellington and Admiral Nelson.

Tourists who have overcome 560 steps to the Golden Gallery are rewarded with a wonderful panorama of the city. You can get to the Cathedral by metro to St. Paul's. Opening hours - from 9:30 to 16:30, except for Sunday reserved for services. The ticket costs 14.5 GBP.

Many are interesting museums in london. The most famous - has been operating since 1753. The geography of its 7 million exhibits is incomparably wider than the name. In the Ancient Egypt section, the Rosetta Stone and the statue of Pharaoh Ramses II stand out. In the ancient Greek exposition, one can see, in particular, Parthenon marble slabs. The museum can be visited from 10:00 to 17:30 for free. And you can get to it by getting off at the Russell Square, Holborn metro stations, or by buses No. 7, 55, 19, 22b, 8, 38, 25, 98.

Museum building and entry line

Private museums

In London, there is the main wax museum, founded back in 1835 by a sculptor. In its exposition there are over a thousand well-known characters, classified by type of activity. The organizers did their best when creating the "Cabinet of Horrors". In it, in the semi-darkness, maniacs and death masks of those executed on the guillotine are presented. To enhance the impression, museum attendants in dark robes suddenly jump out of the darkness and grab the hands of visitors. Those of them who especially liked it here are given the opportunity to spend the night for 100 GBP.

To visit the museum, which is open from 10 to 17:30, you need to purchase a ticket for 28.8 GBP. And you can get here by metro to the Baker Street station, or by buses No. 13, 18, 27, 30, 74, 82, 113, 139 and 274.

Another famous museum is dedicated to Sherlock Holmes. Letters to the famous detective at 221B Baker Street are still coming. Now this apartment has also moved to the museum, located nearby - in building 239. The museum, which is open from 10:30 to 18 hours, can be visited by paying 6 GBP. Directions - by subway to Baker Street.

City Hall lobby

Modern architecture

In the current century, several buildings in the postmodern style have been built in London. Modern London architecture causes a lot of controversy. Adherents consider these buildings new sights, and opponents say that they spoil the architectural appearance of the city. Two buildings were built according to the designs of one of the founders of the high-tech style, architect Norman Foster. He explains the unusual shape of his buildings with environmental considerations.

The new building of London City Hall - City Hall, was built next to Tower Bridge. It was put into operation in 2002. The twisted facade of the 10-story building is reminiscent of a sliced ​​egg. The narrowness of the upper floors contributes to better illumination of the lower ones. There are no air conditioners in City Hall either: in summer the building is cooled by groundwater coming from a special well.

Mary Ax Tower

Foster's other creation is the 40-story City Tower, opened in 2004. The Gherkin's mesh structure has a maximum width of 57m at the 17th floor, narrowing to 25m at the very top. The green glass panels allow the sun's rays to pass freely, and the rounded design minimizes wind currents. A third of the building's glass panels are darkened, giving it a swirling effect. The nearest metro station is Aldgate. You can only get inside during Open House London days in September.

Skyscraper "Shard", reaching 310 m - the tallest building in Western Europe. The building, designed by the Italian Renzo Piano, has been operating since 2013. The name (“Shard of Glass”) fully reflects its appearance. The last 4 of the 72 floors are reserved for sky-high (in the truest sense of the word) viewing platforms for visitors.

It is better to purchase tickets in advance, after checking the weather forecast: heavy cloud cover can interfere with a long-range view.

The nearest metro station is London Bridge, buses No. 43, 48, 141, 149, 521. Visiting hours are from 10 to 18, and on Thursday-Saturday - until 21 hours. Ticket price - 26 GBP.

Evening on Leicester Square

Things to do in London

Evening relaxation in London

The British capital is interesting not only for its architectural and historical sights. Where to go in London at night? The most popular among tourists are several options.

Where can you go from London on a free day? Excursions are organized from the city to see nearby attractions. You can also visit them on your own.

• The famous Stonehenge (train to Salisbury, from there by shuttle bus). There are no cafes in its vicinity, so you need to bring food with you. You have to pay 15 GBP for the ticket.
• Dover (by train from St Pancras station), where you can see the famous chalk cliffs, as well as the ancient Castle, a ticket to which costs 17 GBP.
• Windsor (Waterloo Station to Windsor & Eaton Riverside). The city castle is one of the royal residences. At 11 o'clock there is a changing of the guard. You can get inside from 10 am to 4 pm only if there is no royal family in it. The price is 15 GBP.
• Canterbury (by train from St Pancras or Waterloo East), where the main Anglican church, Canterbury Cathedral, is located. The entrance ticket costs 7 GBP.

London is quite an old city. It was formed by the ancient Romans in 43 BC. e. and named Londilium. The city developed and grew rich. He gave the world famous mathematicians, physicists, engineers and other scientists. The British were ahead of many countries in the development of scientific thought. The first line of the London Underground opened in 1863. It was the first subway in the world. A wooden escalator still operates at one of the stations. The advanced solutions of English engineers in many areas are impressive.

The first thing that catches your eye - double-decker buses and red telephone boxes, a lot of cyclists. And the road traffic lives by some rules of its own, different from our world. Pleasantly impressive a large number of gardens and parks. Many museums and galleries open their doors for free.

Cricket and polo, golf, boxing - these are the most popular entertainments of the British. A rowing regatta on the Thames is a favorite sport.

London is full of beer pubs and cozy cafes. Here they traditionally eat oatmeal in the morning, they love pudding and meat baked in the oven.

The modern city seems to live in a real fairy tale. It is hard to imagine it without Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth, princes, princesses. Entire crowds gather to watch the changing of the guard ceremony of the court guards. London is hard to imagine without Shakespeare, without Sherlock Holmes and Baker Street. London is Westminster Abbey, the Tower, which remembers the history of the city in great detail. London is everyone's favorite Beatles, Deep Purple, Sting.

Sights of London - PHOTO

The 900 year old fortress remembers almost the entire history of England. At various times, she had to be the residence of kings, a prison, a zoo. On its territory there was a mint and a treasury. Now it is a unique museum complex. In addition to medieval architecture, interiors, ancient traditions and ceremonies have been preserved here, old legends and prophecies are still honored. And the court ravens, which have become a symbol of the castle, have been officially granted since the reign of Charles II. It is also said that in the halls of the castle you can meet the ghost of Anne Boleyn, or some other monarch, beheaded in the Tower.

Nearest hotels: Tower of London

St. Peter's Church in Westminster and St. Margaret's Church are strictly in the Gothic style. It took several centuries for the masterpiece of architectural thought to become what it is today. Thin, graceful towers, rushing up, amaze with their elegance and at the same time severity. The internal lace vaults make you forget that they are made of stone and by human hands. The abbey has beautiful stained-glass windows, many sculptures, jewelry, unique tapestries, works of art, and an organ. The main Anglican church is closely connected with the royal court. Almost all the coronations of English monarchs have taken place here since 1066. The abbey keeps the history of all of England; the color of the English nation is buried here - from kings to scientists and poets.

Nearest hotels:

In the halls of the museum, you can easily meet a cat in uniform - this is a museum employee and keeper of rarities, of which there are countless. To see all the expositions, you need to spend 3-4 days, its area is 6 hectares. The museum has much to be proud of. The richest collection of Egyptian antiquities is located in London. The gallery stretches for almost 92 m. Here you can see the Rosetta stone, thanks to which it was possible to read ancient writings, a huge number of household items, luxury, a collection of mummies. The ancient history of Greece, Rome, a large collection of art objects from Africa and Asia is quite widely represented.

Hotels near British Museum

In August and September, the Royal Palace is open to tourists, and visiting the crowned person is an unforgettable personal holiday. The tale begins already with the royal gates and the guard ceremony. The halls of the palace invite you to see the Queen's personal collection, including works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Michelangelo, Vermeer, a collection of porcelain, antique furniture. There are 775 rooms in total. 8 pounds worth a tour of the royal stables, where you can see a golden carriage, a transparent carriage for weddings, and if you're lucky, then the royal horses.

Hotels and inns:

The Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames is capable of lifting 800 people to a height of 135 meters at the same time. It was dubbed the London Eye because from here the whole city is in full view, and it is visible for 40 km around. Each capsule weighs 10 tons, is equipped with a seat, a 4D cinema. The creators have equipped the wheel with a unique lighting, and at night the light show will bring many pleasant moments.

Hotels near Ferris wheel

The Big Ben clock tower has become not only a symbol of London, but of the whole of Great Britain. It was built in 1859. The big bell behind the Big Ben clock gave the tower its name. However, in 2012 it was decided to rename the building in honor of Queen Elizabeth. The Clock Tower boasts the largest four-sided chiming clock in the world. Inside, at a height of 55 m, there is a complex clock mechanism. Craftsmen are constantly monitoring not only the gears - temperature, air pressure - everything is important when it comes to the accuracy of the movement. Sometimes a coin is placed on the pendulum to adjust the time and restore the deviations.

Nearest hotels: Big Ben

The bridge was commissioned in 1894. The opening ceremony was attended by Prince Edward of Wales and his wife. The advanced development for that time made it possible to raise the bridge in just 1 minute. Inside the towers, in addition to the stairs, there were elevators. This made it possible for residents to cross the Thames even during the passage of ships. Currently, expositions dedicated to the history of the bridge are open in the galleries of the bridge, in the towers you can see Victorian rooms, go down to the engine room of the bridge and look at the lifting mechanisms. Tower Bridge itself is a great observation deck. From here you can take great pictures. It is very beautiful at night in the garlands of illumination.

Hotels near Tower Bridge

Hyde Park has become famous as a venue for political rallies and protests. There officially exists the so-called Speakers' Corner. Anyone can try himself as a tribune, defending the most unusual ideas. Parades and processions, city holidays are held in the park. On the territory of the park there is an artificial lake in the form of a snake - Serpentine, a gallery of modern art. Horse trails have been broken. Sometimes an unusual cemetery is opened for tourists, where pets are buried.

Hotels near

In the center of the square stands a 40 m column of General Nelson. Cast lions stand around it, fountains beat. There are 4 pedestals on the sides of the square. Three have statues of great men of England. The fourth pedestal was first used only in 2005. On New Year's Eve, the main Christmas tree of the country is set up here, which is always sent as a token of gratitude by the Norwegians for their help during the Second World War. Until recently, Trafalgar Square could be called Pigeon Square. There were up to 35 thousand birds here at the same time. Due to the fact that cleaning the area has become a big problem, the city authorities have officially banned the feeding and domestication of animals.

Hotels near Trafalgar Square

10. St. Paul's Cathedral

Under the dome of this cathedral there are three unusual galleries - stone, gold and whisper gallery. The latter is named so because of the acoustic effects. The dome itself repeats the top of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and is a kind of landmark of London. There are 17 bells in the church bell tower. Brass music concerts are often held here. The interior of the cathedral was changed in 1860. Parishioners established a special fund for the needs of the cathedral. Today, the interiors of the church impress with mosaic masterpieces, openwork lattices, and sculptures. Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married here.

Nearest hotels: Paul's Cathedral

London, despite its calmness and measured lifestyle, attracts the attention of not only tourists, but also migrants from Europe. The population of the UK is only 44% of the indigenous people, while the rest are attracted here by romantic rainy weather, beautiful architecture, Michelin-starred restaurants and fashionable shops known all over the world.

If you want to hear the correct and beautiful English speech, feel the history of England and see the sights of London with your own eyes, this city will convey to you the noble and refined atmosphere of this amazing country better than others.

Historic sights of London

Big Ben is a clock tower that appeared in London, a city whose inhabitants value punctuality so much. Built back in 1288, the building is famous for its hundred-meter height and amazing accuracy of time transmission - the error does not exceed two seconds per day.

Interestingly, the caretaker, during whose work the clock was one second late, was about to be fired. Big Ben is a symbol of England, it is against its background that TV reporters begin to conduct news programs and, under its ringing, celebrate the New Year in London.

We offer you to get acquainted with the sights of the whole UK. It will be exciting!

The British initially considered the Tower Bridge to be ridiculous and ugly, but now it is impossible to imagine England without this landmark of London, which is rightly considered the main decoration of the city. The architect, inspired by the gothic culture of the Victorian era, began its construction in 1886.

It received this name due to the fact that it has a similar design to the Tower of London, which is located nearby. 8 years after the start of construction, the Prince of Wales himself and his wife attended the opening ceremony.

The Tower of London was built as a castle for King William, but during the reign of the Tudor dynasty it became a dungeon for two wives of King Henry VIII, and later became a prison for other prisoners. The Tower also gained a sad reputation because of the 22 executions that took place here, according to official sources.

At one time, this building functioned as a mint and a royal menagerie. Now there is an armory, seventeenth century royal jewelry, including crowns and scepters. And the black crows flying here are still considered to be the guardians of the mysterious, and in the dark, even the sinister tower.

Westminster Abbey is of great historical value for tourists and residents of the city - this monastery hosted the coronation of all the rulers of England. Now the abbey serves as a burial place for many famous personalities - Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, David Livingston and other prominent people. A curious feature of this place is also the casts made from the faces of the royal families of all generations.

The Palace of Westminster is a castle whose history dates back to 1042 and has always served as a home for royal families. It has only been possible to visit this building since 2004, so if you want to visit its oldest parts, it is better to do it at the end of August, since the British Parliament sits there throughout the year. Solemn ceremonies are held here, at which Queen Elizabeth II herself is present.

Buckingham Palace currently serves as a residence for the Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, and in the 18th century it was built for the Duke of Buckingham, who was later bought from him by the King of England, George III, and settled there with his family.

But more than others, Queen Victoria contributed to the decoration of this palace, which glorified it and made it another must-see sight of London. More than 800 apartments, luxurious gardens, restaurants, police and hospitals made the palace almost an entire city for royalty.

Kensington Palace was built in 1605 by the Earl of Nottingham. Queen Victoria was born in the palace, and later it became the residence for Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Many parts of it can be visited - the reception hall, the apartments of Queen Mary II, the royal dressing room of the youngest daughter of Charles I, the famous 18th century fashionista Anne Stuart, and the beautiful gardens near the palace.

St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the tallest buildings in the world, with a dome of 118 meters in height. Now here is the residence of the Bishop of London. The history of the life of the cathedral begins in the XVIII century, when it had to be reconstructed after the bombing during the Second World War. It is also known for the burial within its walls of the greatest people of British history - Churchill, Fleming, Nelson and others.

The British Museum of the History and Culture of Mankind was founded in 1753 and contains more than 50 thousand paintings, sculptures and other objects of art, testifying to the development of England since the era of Ancient Egypt. The museum has more than 100 exhibition halls, and what cannot but please its visitors is that museums in London are free, so you can safely set aside a few days to study the exhibits.

Hampton Court is a palace donated to King Henry VIII in 1529, the interior of which was commissioned by the monarch himself. Later, the building served as a residence for King William III, and now it houses the Royal Chapel, where services are held. There are many mystical stories about this landmark of London and there is even a book about the ghosts of Hampton Court.

It is believed that the spirits of wives who did not die of their own death still roam the castle, but the most sinister is King Henry III, who appears only during a thunderstorm. Children will be interested in a maze of shrubs almost two meters high and in costume performances.