What to see in London, itinerary including the main monuments and places of interest, including Big Ben, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Palace of Westminster and London Eye.
Tourist information
Capital of the United Kingdom, London is one of the main European metropolises, with inhabitants belonging to different cultures and nationalities, which make it a great cosmopolitan city.
Kensington Palace was the royal residence until its transfer to Buckingham Palace, the last ruler to live there was Queen Victoria.
The palace, built in the seventeenth century, and later remodeled in neoclassical style, houses the offices and private outbuildings of some members of the royal family.
The apartments of Queen Victoria and the collections of ceremonial dresses of the queens from 1760 onwards can be visited.
The Tower of London is a military fortress founded by William the Conqueror, whose core dates back to 1066, while the White Tower, the actual tower, is from 1078, extensions were made in the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and nineteenth centuries century has been restored.
The complex has been used over the centuries as a royal palace, prison, mint, observatory and treasure chamber.
Inside there are the British Crown jewels.
In the tower there are 8 crows whose wings have been trimmed, since according to legend, if they flew away, it would be a sign of ruin for the empire.
Hampton court palace is located about 25 km south west of London on the bank of the Thames.
The Royal Palace, built between 1514 and 1520, was the private residence of Cardinal Wolsey, expropriated by Henry VIII when he decided to carry out expansion works.
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The Queen's guests are still housed in the interesting building, complete with beautiful gardens.
The Cathedral of San Paolo, an Anglican church located in the City, was built between 1675 and 1708 in a classic and baroque style, designed by the architect Christopher Wren.
Buckingham Palace, which is the official residence of the sovereign of the United Kingdom, is famous from a tourist point of view for the changing of the guard and, although relatively new compared to other royal palaces and castles of Great Britain, it is the symbol of the British monarchy.
The palace is not owned by the queen but is a state property.
During the months of August and September, the west wing of the building is open to the public.
Kew Palace, a simple building located within magnificent botanical gardens, was the royal residence for the three daughters of George II and the family home of King George III.
The Banqueting House, is a construction designed by Inigo Jones completed in 1622.
The banquet hall is enriched with paintings by Pieter Paul Rubens.
In this building the wedding between Anna Boleyn and Henry VIII was celebrated.
Palace of Westminster, where the House of Commons and the House of Lords are located, since the twelfth century it was the residence of the rulers and, since 1547, it is the seat of Parliament.
It was rebuilt after a fire in 1834, according to the design of Sir Charles Barry, in neo-Gothic style.
Damaged during the Second World War, it was rebuilt again in 1948-50 again on designs by Sir Barry.
Big Ben, which is the palace's clock tower, built in neo-Gothic style and 96 meters high, takes its name from the bell, which in turn owes its name to Sir Benjamin Hall, who was the supervisor during the tower construction work.
The main bell rings the hours, while the other 4 bells perform a particular musical aria every quarter of an hour, which can be heard within a wide range.
What see
Westminster Abbey, located not far from the palace of the same name and in predominantly Gothic style, since 1066 has been the place where the coronations and burials of British sovereigns take place.
The British Museum displays human works, from prehistory to modern times, with collections from all over the world.
Famous objects are the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon and Portland Vase sculptures.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum is one of the major international museums with collections from all over the world.
Special exhibitions and daily visits are organized.
Tate Modern is the British national museum of modern art.
Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, on the bank of the River Thames in London, this museum displays important works by famous artists, such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalì, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois.
The National Gallery offers one of the largest collections of European painting in the world, with paintings by authors from the European West, ranging from 1250-1900, including works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Cezanne and Van Gogh .
Special exhibitions, conferences, videos and audio-visual programs, interesting events for children and adults are also held.
In the Natural History Museum there is a collection of animals, with interactive exhibits including the one on dinosaurs.
London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, offering passengers spectacular panoramic views of over 55 of London's most famous landmarks.
The viewing of the first 3D movie about the city of London is included in the ticket price, full of many engaging special effects.
The Science Museum is one of London's largest science museums in the world.
Victoria and Albert Museum celebrates all things of art and design, with collections of ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewelry, photographs, sculptures, fabrics and paintings.
Madame Tussauds, where to interact with some of the most famous faces in the world, from Shakespeare to Britney, influential personalities from the world of entertainment, sport, politics and Royalty.
National Maritime Museum represents one of the largest maritime museums in the world, where models, paintings and trophies from every continent of the world are contained.
It is possible here to deepen the maritime traditions of London and study the controversial history of trade across the Atlantic Ocean.
Young people will be able to try their hand on a professional simulator ship, to understand the consequences of negligent behavior during ocean navigation.
Trafalgar Square is a square in London dedicated to the memory of the Battle of Trafalgar, carried out in 1805, when the allied fleets of France and Spain were defeated by the Royal Navy led by Horatio Nelson.
In the center of this square is the Nelson column and, during the Christmas period, it is the backdrop for a giant Christmas tree, twinned with the equally large one located in the Grand Place in Brussels in Belgium.
The obelisk in Trafalgar Square in London depicts the eye of the dragon, which tradition has it as a fighter against his opponent Henry VII of England.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in London, a masterpiece of Victorian engineering, completed at the end of the nineteenth century.
It is a mobile bridge, which is raised on the occasion of the passage of large boats and other special events.
The two large towers, characterized by spiers and connecting walkways, have the function of supporting the mechanical part necessary to move it.
On the bridge there is the museum The Tower Bridge Exhibition, where all the history is illustrated and described, with the possibility of seeing the large steam engine, which supplied the necessary energy to the mechanism, used until 1976, when it was replaced by a modern electric motor.
From the pedestrian passage open to the public it is possible to enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the River Thames.
For an even better view of the city, you can climb the three hundred steps or take the lift to reach the top of the two towers.
