With a population of nearly nine million and sprawling over 600 square miles, the capital of the United Kingdom is of course packed with history - which you could spend years exploring - along with exciting shopping, dining, culture, and entertainment. Much of London's top "attractions" are concentrated in the center city - especially Westminster, the City, and the West End - but are scattered across various other areas such as Kew, Bloomsbury, Kensington, Hyde Park, Richmond, Notting Hill, Greenwich, North London, and more. But here are the top half dozen sites you should definitely include on your bucket list if you're visiting for the first time:
Tower of London
This historic fortress on the north bank of the River Thames dates back to 1066, and has over the course of nearly a millennium served as a royal residence, a prison, an armoury, the royal mint, and a treasury (which it still is to a certain extent, as home to the royal crown jewels).
Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster, home to the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Big Ben, also dates back to the early 11th century, but the current premises were inaugurated in 1876 after an 1834 fire destroyed the original medieval palace (although Westminster Hall is one part of the original complex which survived the great fire). Visitors may tour the legislative chambers and even attend sessions (although visits are currently suspended due to the coronvirus/COVID pandemic).
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Located in the City of London and completed in 1710, Sir Christopher Wren's relatively restrained English Baroque masterpiece is London's largest church and one of its most recognizable buildings (especially thanks to its dome). Within the soaring interior you'll find crypts to some of Britain's most illustrious historical figures, and visitors may among other things attend services and climb up to the dome.
Royal Borough Of Kensington
Next on our list is the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. This is a great place to visit whether you're a tourist or a resident. There are many popular and beautiful places to eat, drink, shop, and participate in many events in this vibrant community. One of the most famous venues in the city is the Buckingham Palace, so if you like royal history and architecture, then you will love visiting Kensington and Chelsea. There are many museums to see as well including the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Chinatown
There are many wonderful restaurants to choose from as well as many unique shops. Many tourists love to spend time shopping in this area. There are also many parks and other great public places to visit in the city.
Camden Town
Camden is located in central London and is about 30 minutes from the heart of the city. Many events and attractions are held at this location including horse racing, concerts, theatrical performances, and conferences. Some of the popular shops include the West End Theatre and the Theatre Museum.
Greenwich South London
Greenwich in South London is a great place to go shopping. There are many top branded shops to choose from as well as many lower budget stores. Many tourists come to visit the Royal Observatory. There are many interesting historical places to see as well as beautiful gardens
London Shopping
When it comes to shopping, you will find there are hundreds of top retail stores to visit e.g Styleeon. You can shop till you drop at some of these amazing locations. The Oxford Street store is one of the most popular retail stores to visit. Other popular locations to shop at include Oxford Street Records and Oxford Street Circus.
London Theater
Theatre is something that many people enjoy. As a result, there are many places where you can go to see a show. There are also cinemas around the world. Some of the top cinemas include the West End in London, the Odeon in Leicester Square and the Almeida in Leicester Square. Some of these cinemas are known for showing films that have won many awards.
London Dining
Finally, if you love food then you will want to eat at one of the top restaurants in the world. The city of New York is known for its top restaurants. Among them are the restaurants at Central Park, Sushi Bar and Momofuku Sushi Bar. Many of these fine dining locations are located in New York's Times Square. If you love fine dining then you should visit some of these top restaurants in the world including Momofuku, Central Park and Sushi Bar.
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