London Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities Guide

recommended places to visit and things to do in Central London


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working headquarters of the British monarchy and scene of the Changing of the Guard ceremony

  • historic house
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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iconic neo-Gothic building, seat of the British government with world-famous clock tower; various visiting options

  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • virtual tours
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  • archeology
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  • art
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  • ceramics
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  • history
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  • social history

large, world-class museum with spectacular glass-roofed Great Court and extensive galleries containing some of the world's greatest treasures

  • fortress
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  • historic house
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • jewellery
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  • politics
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Europe's best preserved medieval fortress, inextricably linked with centuries of British history and home to the British crown jewels

  • art gallery
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  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • fashion
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  • furniture
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  • jewellery
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  • photography
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a treasure chest of art, design and artefacts spanning some 3000 years.

  • historic house
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  • place of worship
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • World Heritage Site
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magnificent church, burial place of many kings, queens and other historic figures and scene of royal coronations since William the Conqueror.

  • art gallery
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • art

major international art gallery with more than 2,300 European paintings, dating from the 13th to the early 20th century, housing several iconic masterpieces

  • place of worship
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • architecture
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Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece built between 1675 and 1710, with its famous dome that survived WWII bombs and memorials to many historic figures

Tate Modern

London SE1

  • art gallery
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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featuring a permanent collection of contemporary art and a programme of exhibitions of modern works from artists around the world

  • historic house
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  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • architecture
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  • geology
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  • nature

magnificent building housing 80 million specimens from across the natural world, arranged in four zones around a giant central hall

Science Museum

London SW7

  • museum
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • history
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  • industrial heritage
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  • social history
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  • medicine
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  • science
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  • technology
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  • transport

famous for its interactive exhibits, this museum has seven floors of exhibits covering the development of science and technology

The London Eye

London SE1

  • viewpoint
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • pre-booking advised
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  • shop

world's tallest observation wheel, offering spectacular views across London's landmarks during a 30-minute "flight" in a climate-controlled capsule

  • museum
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • history

the collection includes banknotes, coins, silver, books, documents etc with interactive displays bringing the whole story to life

  • art gallery
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • art
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the gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world and aims to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media

  • art gallery
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  • park
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  • free admission
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  • seasonal opening
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  • café
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  • art
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set in Kensington Gardens, this seasonal gallery showcases an innovative programme from contemporary creatives from across the world

Apsley House

London W1

  • art gallery
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  • historic house
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • English Heritage
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  • shop
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beautiful Georgian building, once known as "No 1 London", former home of Duke of Wellington, housing wonderful collections of art, silver and porcelain

  • art gallery
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boasting exhibitions which are among the finest examples of modern art in Europe, with a regular changing programme of fine art, photography and design and including talks and workshops

  • leisure facility
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • film
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  • music

the British Film Institute IMAX theatre has the largest screen state-of-the-art cinema in Britain. It is more than 20 metres high and 26 metres wide, seats 477 and shows incredible large-format films

  • museum
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  • history
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  • World War II
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  • politics

fascinating underground bunker complex, from which Winston Churchill conducted resistance to Nazi Germany during WWII, with exhibition about Churchill's personal and political life

  • art gallery
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • art
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  • theatre
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  • TV

founded in 1946, the institute aims to encourage contemporary art in its widest form with ever-changing exhibitions and performances

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