London Attractions
Palaces and towers, free world-class museums, royal parks, family days out and the Olympic legacy: London's attractions, with honest advice on tickets, timing and what is worth it.
London has more world-class attractions than most visitors can see in a single trip. Some, like the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey, charge admission and are worth booking in advance. Others, including many of the city's greatest museums and all of the Royal Parks, are free.
We have divided the attractions into five groups: landmarks and historic buildings, museums and galleries, parks and gardens, family days out and experiences, and the Olympic Park in Stratford, which grew out of the London 2012 Games. Each guide explains what there is to see, how long to allow, how to buy tickets and how to avoid the worst queues. Short on time? Start with our itineraries for one day or three days in London, and see which sights are completely free.
Landmarks and Historic Buildings
Palaces, cathedrals, towers and bridges: London's great buildings, with what to see inside, how to book, how long to allow and the best free ways to enjoy them from outside.
The Tower of London
Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders and nearly a thousand years of history.
Buckingham Palace
State Rooms in summer, and what you can see all year.
Changing of the Guard: Times and Best Spots
Where to stand, when to arrive and how to check the schedule.
Kensington Palace
State Apartments, royal history and the palace gardens.
Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's palace, the maze and the gardens by the river.
Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower
The bell, the tower and where to see it best.
Houses of Parliament Tours
Tours, debates from the gallery and the security check.
Westminster Abbey
Coronations, royal tombs and Poets' Corner.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Museums and Galleries
Many of London's greatest museums are free to enter. How to see the highlights without getting lost, when the crowds are thinnest, and which paid museums are worth the ticket.
The British Museum
The highlights, and a plan for a two-hour visit.
The Natural History Museum
Hope the whale, dinosaurs and how to beat the queue.
The Science Museum
Space, flight, Wonderlab and planning a family visit.
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
Design, the cast courts, exhibitions and the garden café.
Imperial War Museum London
The world wars, the Holocaust Galleries and a century of conflict.
London Museum: Smithfield and Docklands
The city's own museum, and its move to West Smithfield.
The National Gallery
The paintings not to miss, and a one-hour route.
Tate Modern
The Turbine Hall, the collection and the free view.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Parks and Gardens
London is one of Europe's greenest capitals. The Royal Parks, the wild heaths and the great botanical gardens, with what to see, where to eat and how to get there.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
The Serpentine, the Italian Gardens and big seasonal events.
Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
Rose gardens, the canal and a famous free view.
St James's Park and Green Park
Pelicans, palace views and the royal walk.
Richmond Park
Wild deer, a protected view and Isabella Plantation.
Hampstead Heath
Parliament Hill, the ponds and Kenwood House.
Kew Gardens
Glasshouses, the treetop walkway and the seasons.
Greenwich Park
The best free view in south London, and deer behind a fence.
Battersea Park
A boating lake, a peace pagoda and a zoo small enough for toddlers.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
Family Days and Experiences
Studio tours, zoos, river cruises, walking tours and the experiences that make a London trip memorable, with honest advice on which ones are worth the money.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter
Booking, getting to Leavesden and what you will see.
Harry Potter Filming Locations in London
Platform 9¾, Leadenhall Market and other spots to visit.
ZSL London Zoo
The animals, the tickets and a sensible route.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
What is inside, the tickets and the combination deals.
The London Dungeon
The shows, the scares and the age advice.
City Farms and the Best Playgrounds in London
Free farms and playgrounds where children can run.
Thames River Cruises
Sightseeing boats, dinner cruises and trips upriver.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours: Which One to Choose
How they work, and the public buses that do the same for less.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.
London 2012 and the Olympic Park
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games transformed a corner of East London. What remains today, and how to visit the park, the stadium and the venues where the athletes competed.
London 2012 Olympics and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Today
What the 2012 Games left behind, and how to visit it.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit
A viewing deck and a very long slide.
London Aquatics Centre: Swimming Where Olympians Raced
Swim in the Olympic pool designed by Zaha Hadid.
London Stadium: Tours, West Ham and Event Days
Football, concerts, tours and getting there on event days.
A Walking Route Through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Two hours, Stratford to Hackney Wick, past everything that matters.
East Bank and Stratford Cross: The Newest Part of the Park
V&A East and Sadler's Wells East have arrived. What is open now.
The Lee Valley VeloPark
You can ride the Olympic track. What a session costs and how to book.
The Copper Box and What Happened to the Other Venues
What survived, what was dismantled, and what you can walk into.
Photos in this list: photographer and licence for each image are listed on our image credits page.