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The 12 Best Attractions in London (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 12 picks

The best attractions in London in 2026 are the Tower of London and its Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey, the British Museum, St Paul's Cathedral and the Churchill War Rooms. Add the London Eye and Tower Bridge for views, Shakespeare's Globe for theatre, and Greenwich, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Palace for a half-day out.

Book timed tickets online for the paid sights: it's usually cheaper than at the door and lets you skip the ticket queue. Many of the big museums are free (see our free things to do in London). Westminster Abbey and St Paul's close to sightseers on Sundays for worship, but you can attend a service for free.

1. Tower of London — Tower Hill, The City

Nearly a thousand years of royal history, the Crown Jewels and the Yeoman Warders.

$$$ UpmarketBest for First-timers · Families

The Tower of London is a fortress, palace and prison begun by William the Conqueror, and the best single history lesson in the city. The Crown Jewels, the White Tower's armour collection, the ravens and the walk along the walls each deserve time.

Join a free Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) tour soon after you arrive — they're funny, theatrical and full of stories. Allow at least three hours.

Good to know: Go straight to the Crown Jewels at opening time, before the queue builds.

Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB

Google Maps Website

2. Westminster Abbey — Westminster

The coronation church of English monarchs since 1066, packed with royal tombs.

$$$ UpmarketBest for First-timers · Couples

Westminster Abbey has hosted every coronation since William the Conqueror and is the burial place of monarchs, poets and scientists, from Elizabeth I to Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Poets' Corner and the Lady Chapel's fan-vaulted ceiling are highlights.

Add a ticket for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the triforium for views over the nave and Westminster. The included multimedia guide is good; allow two hours.

Good to know: Attend Choral Evensong for free to hear the choir in the building — it's a service, not a tour.

20 Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA

Google Maps Website

3. British Museum — Bloomsbury, Soho & the West End

Two million years of human history under one roof, free to enter.

Best for First-timers · Families · Budget

The British Museum holds one of the greatest collections anywhere: the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton Hoo treasure and the Lewis Chessmen. The glass-roofed Great Court alone is worth a visit.

It's too big to see in one go, so pick three or four galleries and leave. Entry to the permanent collection is free; major exhibitions are paid.

Good to know: Book a free timed entry slot online at busy times, and use the quieter Montague Place entrance at the back.

Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG

Google Maps Website

4. St Paul's Cathedral — City of London

Wren's masterpiece, with a dome you can climb for one of London's best views.

$$$ UpmarketBest for First-timers · Couples

Sir Christopher Wren's cathedral, finished in the early 1700s, dominates the City skyline. Inside, the mosaics and the crypt (with Nelson and Wellington's tombs) impress, but the climb is the thing: the Whispering Gallery, then the Stone and Golden Galleries outside the dome.

It's 528 steps to the top Golden Gallery, with no lift beyond the lower levels. The views over the Thames, Tate Modern and the City towers are worth every one.

Good to know: Cross the Millennium Bridge afterwards to Tate Modern for the classic view back at the dome.

St Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD

Google Maps Website

5. Churchill War Rooms — Westminster

The underground bunker where Churchill ran the Second World War, left as it was in 1945.

$$$ UpmarketBest for First-timers · History

Beneath the Treasury building, the Cabinet War Rooms were sealed at the end of the war, and the Map Room still has its pins and coloured phones. A large museum of Churchill's life is built into the same complex.

It's one of London's most absorbing museums and gets very busy. Allow two hours, and book a timed ticket in advance.

Good to know: Book the first slot of the day; the narrow corridors are much more atmospheric without crowds.

Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ

Google Maps Website

6. London Eye — South Bank

A slow half-hour rotation over the Thames with Parliament and the city laid out below.

$$$ UpmarketBest for Families · First-timers · Couples

The London Eye's glass capsules take around 30 minutes to make a full turn, with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament directly across the river and views to the Shard and beyond on a clear day.

It's best at sunset or on a crisp winter day. Combine it with a walk along the South Bank to Tate Modern and Borough Market.

Good to know: Book online for a set time slot; it's cheaper and the walk-up queues can be long.

Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB

Google Maps Website

7. Tower Bridge — Tower Hill / Bermondsey, South Bank & Borough

The Victorian bascule bridge, with glass-floored walkways high over the Thames.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Families · First-timers

Walking across Tower Bridge is free; the paid Tower Bridge experience takes you up to the high-level walkways, with glass floors looking down on the traffic and river far below, and into the Victorian engine rooms.

It sits next to the Tower of London, so the two make an easy pair for a morning.

Good to know: Check the bridge-lift times on the official site and time your visit to watch a ship pass through from the glass floor.

Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP

Google Maps Website

8. Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard — St James's, Westminster & South Kensington

The King's London home, with the Changing of the Guard outside and the State Rooms open in summer.

$$$ UpmarketBest for First-timers · Families

The Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace is free and takes place at 11am several days a week. Arrive early to stand by the railings or along The Mall.

In summer, usually from July to September, the State Rooms open to visitors, with paintings from the Royal Collection and the gardens. Tickets sell out, so book ahead.

Good to know: Check the Household Division's online calendar before you go; ceremonies are cancelled in bad weather or for state events.

Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA

Google Maps Website

9. Shakespeare's Globe — Bankside, South Bank & Borough

A faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare's open-air theatre, where you can still stand in the yard.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Couples · First-timers

The Globe recreates Shakespeare's 1599 playhouse a short walk from the original site. Guided tours run most days, but the real experience is a play: open-air, lit by daylight, with cheap standing tickets in the yard in front of the stage.

In winter, plays move to the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse inside the same complex. Good for anyone with even a passing interest in theatre.

Good to know: Standing 'groundling' tickets are the best value in London theatre — bring a waterproof, as umbrellas aren't allowed.

21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT

Google Maps Website

10. Royal Observatory Greenwich — Greenwich Park

Stand on the Prime Meridian, then take in the best view of London's skyline from Greenwich Park.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Families · First-timers

The Royal Observatory, at the top of Greenwich Park, is home to the Prime Meridian — longitude 0° — as well as Flamsteed House, historic telescopes and the Peter Harrison Planetarium.

Make a half-day of Greenwich with the Cutty Sark, the free National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Market. The view from the park over the Queen's House and Canary Wharf is free.

Good to know: Come by Uber Boat (Thames Clipper) from central London for a scenic river ride.

Blackheath Avenue, London SE10 8XJ

Google Maps Website

11. Kew Gardens — Kew, Richmond

The world's most famous botanic garden, with Victorian glasshouses and a treetop walkway.

$$ Mid-rangeBest for Families · Couples

Kew is a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering a huge area of glasshouses, lawns and woodland. The Palm House and the Temperate House are the stars, and the Treetop Walkway gives a view through the canopy.

Give it at least half a day. It's on the District line and the Overground at Kew Gardens station, or by Thames riverboat in summer.

Good to know: Visit on a weekday morning in spring for the blossom without weekend crowds.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE

Google Maps Website

12. Hampton Court Palace — East Molesey

Henry VIII's Thames-side palace, with Tudor kitchens, state apartments and the famous maze.

$$$ UpmarketBest for Families · History

Hampton Court combines Henry VIII's Tudor palace with Christopher Wren's baroque wing for William III and Mary II. The Great Hall, the Tudor kitchens and the formal gardens are highlights, and the hedge maze is a favourite with children.

It's around 35 minutes by train from Waterloo to Hampton Court station, across the bridge from the palace. Allow a full afternoon.

Good to know: Leave time for the maze and the riverside gardens; check the day's events at the entrance.

Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey KT8 9AU

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is the number one attraction in London?

The Tower of London is the most popular paid historic attraction, and the British Museum, which is free, is the most visited overall. For a first trip, many people start with Westminster — the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey — then walk the South Bank to Tower Bridge.

Is the London Pass worth it?

Only if you plan to visit three or more paid attractions a day; London's biggest museums are free, so the pass rarely pays off at a relaxed pace. Compare the attractions you actually want with their individual online prices first.

How many days do you need to see London's main attractions?

Three full days covers the essentials: Westminster and the West End on day one, the Tower, Tower Bridge and the South Bank on day two, and a museum morning in South Kensington or Bloomsbury plus Greenwich or the Globe on day three. Five days lets you add Kew, Hampton Court or a day trip from London.

When can you visit inside Buckingham Palace?

The State Rooms usually open to the public in summer, roughly mid-July to late September, with tickets sold through the Royal Collection Trust. The Changing of the Guard outside is free and runs several mornings a week all year.

What attractions in London are best for kids?

The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Tower of London (ask for a Yeoman Warder tour), the London Eye and Hampton Court's maze are the surest bets. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a short train ride outside London.

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