World
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Some London Attractions?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

As a major European capital, not to mention as the beneficiary of royal patronage, London is the locus of a vibrant cultural scene. London attractions cover the full gamut of possible offerings, including performances, tours, and celebrations of many kinds.

With over 100 performing arts venues, you are likely to find something to your liking while you are in London. Among the London attractions in the realm of music, for example, the Proms — or more formally, the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts—is an yearly festival of fine music throughout the summer at the Royal Albert Hall. Both fine local musicians and international guests perform classics of the repertoire and new works. Ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra based at the Barbican and the London Philharmonic Orchestra based at Royal Festival Hall perform a yearly season of music. The BBC—British Broadcasting Corporation, has five orchestras, and each of the these orchestras has a resident group of singers, which is only the beginning of the immense array of vocal ensembles in London.

Sculpture on the Prime Meridian, near Greenwich Park.
Sculpture on the Prime Meridian, near Greenwich Park.

Theater and musical theater are another noted element of London attractions. The commercial theater district is in the West End, while repertory theater can be found at the National Theatre and Globe Theatre. The Fringe includes small theaters, mostly of the pub theater variety.

Among the 250 museums that are considered among the core of London attractions, are included the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. More focused offerings can be found at, for example, the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, which features a collection of toys or the National Maritime Museum, which focuses on sailing, as well as the Design Museum, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussaud’s, the famous collection of waxworks, and the Tower of London. Art galleries are also found in abundance, including the National Gallery and the Tate Modern.

Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, United Kingdom.
Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, United Kingdom.

Beautiful gardens are another of the London attractions that form part of the city’s appeal. Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, Hampstead Heath and Chelsea Physic Gardens are examples of the possibilities. The spring and summer also brings several major flower shows, including the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the Chelsea Flower Show. Another type of garden that many visitors appreciate is the zoological garden, and the London Zoological Gardens are found in Regent’s Park.

The Battersea Power Station in London.
The Battersea Power Station in London.

Architecture is another noted feature that draws people to London. Churches and cathedrals by Sir Christopher Wren, Paddington Station, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminster where Parliament is housed, and the other palaces, and Covent Garden and other designs by Inigo Jones all are found worthy of viewing.

Districts of London that are enjoyable to visit include Soho, Regent Street, Picadilly Circus, Oxford Street, and the City and the Square Mile. Landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Millennium Dome are also appealing.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Grivusangel

I'm such an Anglophile, I don't know that I'd ever see everything I wanted to see in London! I know I'd have to go to Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Kensington Gardens. I'd also love to see the Victoria and Albert Museum -- particularly the fashion exhibit. And of course, I'd have to see the British Library. I might have to rent a room there.

Going to London is definitely on my bucket list!

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Sculpture on the Prime Meridian, near Greenwich Park.
      By: Štěpán Roh
      Sculpture on the Prime Meridian, near Greenwich Park.
    • Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, United Kingdom.
      By: David Holt
      Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, United Kingdom.
    • The Battersea Power Station in London.
      By: Imants Ozolins
      The Battersea Power Station in London.
    • The Parliament of the United Kingdom, which is composed of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, meets in the Palace of Westminster on the Thames.
      By: Fyle
      The Parliament of the United Kingdom, which is composed of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, meets in the Palace of Westminster on the Thames.
    • Big Ben and red telephone boxes are London attractions.
      By: CJPhoto
      Big Ben and red telephone boxes are London attractions.
    • The Globe Theater is a popular London location for repertory theater.
      By: david hughes
      The Globe Theater is a popular London location for repertory theater.
    • Visitors to London may see members of the Queen's Guard at royal residences.
      By: lionel11
      Visitors to London may see members of the Queen's Guard at royal residences.
    • The Tower of London houses, among other things, the Crown Jewels, the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh, and the White Tower, built for William the Conqueror in 1078.
      By: Mapics
      The Tower of London houses, among other things, the Crown Jewels, the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh, and the White Tower, built for William the Conqueror in 1078.
    • The Old Bailey courthouse is free and open to the public.
      By: Alex Yeung
      The Old Bailey courthouse is free and open to the public.
    • Buckingham Palace -- the official residence of the British royal family -- is a popular sight in London.
      By: bayu harsa
      Buckingham Palace -- the official residence of the British royal family -- is a popular sight in London.
    • London is a center of culture and history with more than 250 museums.
      By: tmsphoto
      London is a center of culture and history with more than 250 museums.