Travel Guides > London, England, United Kingdom

London Travel

When most of us think of London, we dream of palaces and queens, stately cathedrals and people speaking very proper English. All of that is still very much a part of England's capital city, though in past years, London has become quite international.

Nonetheless, London is still a wonderful, regal city, steeped in history and brimming with culture. The most beloved attractions here still have something to do with royalty and it's easy to find museums and other landmarks that attest to London's ongoing role as one of the finest cities in the world.

Like many of Europe's great cities, there's so much to see and do in London that you'll need many days to do the city justice. You could spend a day or two just visited churches and another several days traveling from fine museum to fine museum. The wealth of attractions here is staggering.

Why not begin by visiting something truly British... Buckingham Palace. The official residence of the Queen, you can't go inside without an invitation but you can watch the changing of the guard, and during the summer when the Royal Family is away, you can stroll the gardens.

One of the finest museums in all of Europe is the magnificent British Museum. Started in 1753, this museum has grown to such a large size and contains so many artifacts and so much artwork that you'll need several days to visit. Don't let the name fool you. The incredible items within these walls come from throughout the world, not just England, and span many millennia.

Similarly, the Victoria and Albert Museum is the finest decorative arts museum on the planet. It houses everything from an amazing musical instrument collection to Italian sculpture to Indian art to a collection of clothing made for Anne of Cleves.

Both Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral are a must for visitors to London. Truly a wealth of English history is contained within the walls of the former, an early-English Gothic structure that's considered one of the finest ecclesiastical buildings ever constructed. St. Paul's, built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1710, is considered the architect's ultimate masterpiece.

The whole family will enjoy a trip to the Tower of London where you can hear gory stories of the immense amounts of blood shed here and cast an eye on the magnificent Crown Jewels. Kids will also beg for a ride on one of the city's newest attractions, The London Eye, a giant Ferris Wheel, sponsored by British Airways, that provides guests with an amazing view of the city.

For theatre-lovers, be sure to travel to the West End for the best of the London theater scene or visit Shakespeare's Globe Theater for classic works by the Bard. Classical music aficionados will also enjoy fine opera, symphony concerts, and much more, in this city which embraces the performing arts.