London Travel Guide – Tourist attractions and useful tips

Getting to know London

One of the great things about London is that most museums have free entry. So if you enjoy history and art, London may be just the place for you. Shopping is also well represented, with a great area from Piccadilly Circus stretching to Oxford Circus and beyond. If you’re into sports, football is a great thing in UK, and some major football clubs have their home stadiums in London, like Chelsea FC, Fulham FC or Tottenham Hotspurs. As UK is a monarchy, an incursion into royal life is also possible by visiting any of the palaces or checking the Queen’s Life guard changing ceremonies.

What you can do for free in London

Many of the museums in London are free to visit, so doing free stuff in London is easy, but choosing the most important places to visit could be trickier. Check next recommendations for a first timer in London:

1. Tower Bridge
   Undoubtedly the most iconic sight in London, the Tower Bridge offers some great photo shooting opportunities for any visitor. A paid entrance is also available for those looking to check the interior of the bridge and walk on top of it.
2. Big Ben
   Another well-known mark in London is the Big Ben – the clock tower right next to the Westminster Palace – the place of gathering for the British Parliament.
3. London Natural History Museum
   Many museums are free to visit in London, from the National Art Galleries to London Natural History Museum. We recommend a visit to the latest one for a beautiful incursion into evolution and science.

Top spots to visit

1. Tower of London
   The Tower of London is sitting right next to Tower Bridge. It has more than 900 years of history to show as a royal palace, prison and execution place. Tower of London tours are available daily, with tickets sold right there.
2. Buckingham Palace
   Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Queen. Tour this palace to discover extravagant State Rooms and exhibitions of famous paintings and sculptures, porcelain examples and English & French finest furniture.
3. London Eye
   The London Eye is one of London’s top tourist attractions and a ride here can offer you some amazing views over London and over 50 London’s most famous landmarks, from the nearby Big Ben all the way to St Pauls Cathedral and further.

Hidden spots to visit

1. London Dungeons
   If you are brave enough, take a ride into the dark past of ancient London. Live actors and special effects are here to offer an experience to remember.
2. Viewpoint from The Shard
   Enjoy a unique skyline of London with the perspective offered by the view point from The Shard’s observation deck, located at 244 m above ground.
3. Greenwich Observatory
   The perfect place to take a picture with one leg in the Eastern hemisphere and another in the Western hemisphere. Greenwich is the place where meridian 0 crosses.

Restaurants

London is a cosmopolitan city, with a mix of various world cultures. Local food may not be on everyone’s list, but the diversity of cuisines found here is amazing. No matter what you fancy for, from Indian food to Sushi, from Mediterranean to Chinese, Brazilian or Mexican, you will sure find some great options here.

When it comes to prices, there is food for all pockets. It also depends on the location you choose to have the meal. Central locations tend to be more fancy and more expensive, while the ones a bit further away from central London can offer a great deal for less money. If you want to try something special, try one of Gaucho’s restaurants for some Argentinian beef specialties.

Recommended time for visiting

London has a fairly rainy weather throughout the year, with cool summers and mild winters. Best times to visit the city are from spring to Autumn (April-September), since temperatures are at the most enjoyable throughout the day.