10 Must See Places in London - Part 1

When visiting a place for the first time, it’s imperative that you compile a list of places that you MUST see. I made this list when I was about to tour the main attractions in Central London. I considered using a tour guide for my fist trip but then I realized that most of them were charging about £60 per person just for them to drop you off at a site and leave you there by yourself. I opted instead to just get a day pass (£10) and print out all the train directions (from TFL) for the sites I wanted to visit.

Most of the tourist attractions are in very close proximity to each other so it was worth the £10. Numbers 1-7 are the closest to each other in distance and can be traveled to within a day; for numbers 7-10, you might want to consider spending a day at each one of the locations.

This travel post has been split up into two parts and I'll be posting the second part soon.

1. Buckingham Palace

Located in Westminster, Buckingham palace is the official residence of the monarchy and the venue of most state events. I wonder if the queen actually lives there. Don’t expect anything hugely attractive or fascinating about the palace; it’s quite boring if you ask me but it’s nice to have a picture in your collection of the palace right?

St. James Park

This park is right next to Buckingham Palace. It is absolutely gorgeous in the fall as it is draped with beautiful fall foliage of various colors. It’s a perfect place for a picnic.

Westminster Abbey

This church is a 10 minute walk from Buckingham Palace. Founded in 960 and formally known as the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, it’s one of the most notable religious gothic buildings in the UK. It has been the traditional place of coronation since 1066 and also a burial site of seventeen monarchs. The church contains paintings, stained glass, pavements, and other artifacts.

Big Ben – UK Parliament

Big Ben is also within the vicinity of Westminster; the name Big Ben is often used to describe the tower, the clock and the bell. The tower was renamed The Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to celebrate the queen’s diamond jubilee year. In the parliament’s backyard is the gorgeous Thames River; the view is absolutely breathtaking.

London Eye

The London Eye is Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel (443 ft. tall and 394 ft. wide) with 3.5 million visitors every year. It was established 1999 and it adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The London Eye is also within walking distance from Big Ben.

To be continued...

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