Top 8 attractions in London to Visit in 2020
Are you flying into London in 2020? London is one of the best vacation destinations in the world because it has many tourist attractions- museums, Royal palaces, cinematic tours, and much more. Entry to some attractions will be costly but some attractions are entirely free. London is suitable for all kinds of travelers too. So, in this post, I have made a list of top 8 attractions in London that should be visited in your 2020 trip!
- London Eye
London Eye or the Millennium Wheel is known as Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and it is located on the banks of Thames River. This was opened to the public on 9th March 2000. The design came from a husband-and-wife team of architects- Julia and Marks Barfield under a European project. It was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel with a height of 443 ft. until 2006 and after that the London Eye lost its place to the Star of Nanchang which measured to a height of 525 ft. London Eye is the perfect place in London to soak up the mesmerizing views as there are no mountains in the city. Views are offered up to 25 miles from the London Eye deep into the countryside. It takes thirty minutes to complete one revolution and each 32 ovoid capsules holds around 25 passengers.
A quick tip: If you have a layover, or a couple of hours before check-in or after check-out at your Airbnb or hotel, consider using London luggage storage.
2. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen in London, and it is open to the public in summer months when the Queen is not there. It is located in Central London. You can arrange for the Buckingham Palace tour- the 19 state rooms, the throne room (which is used as backdrop for royal wedding photos), grand staircase and the art gallery (containing fine arts by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Vermeer) are included in the tour. The changing of guards with big hats as they stand still is the most impressive, while the garden areas are also beautiful; two long roads leading to a circle, where in the middle you can see a nicely sculpted statue known as Victoria Memorial. You will need more than 2 hours to explore the whole palace with 775 magnificent rooms. It is better to book the tickets early for the summer visit to this breathtaking gorgeous Palace Buckingham.
3.Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, earlier known as the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster is a building with spectacular gothic architecture. It is located to the west of the Palace of Westminster in London. This building was used as a coronation site for every coronation since 1606, and it has been used in baptisms and royal occasions. That makes it over 700 years old! At the top of the Abbey you’ll find the Queen’s art gallery and a collection of artifacts including authentically costumed effigies of monarchs. This stunning building with incredible history was also used as a burial site for many poets, writers, scientists, heroes and royal family members. There are 10 bells in Westminster Abbey that are rung in different tones. It receives over one million people annually and you must plan on spending at least 2 hours here.
4.Tower of London
The Tower of London is an internationally famous monument and one of England’s most iconic structures, used throughout its 1000 years of history as a royal palace, an armory, a prison, an execution chamber, a treasury, and as a home for the Crown Jewels of England. Know more about the prison life through Yeoman Warder tours, meet the ravens or the guardians of the castle and see the crown jewels which are being displayed here since 1661.
5. Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge was built between 1886 and 1894, as a suspension bridge in London to cross the River Thames. It is one of the most iconic symbols in the city of London. The bridge is built with two bridge towers tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and it is a part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition along with the Engine Rooms. You can learn more about the Victorian period engineering styles in the Engine room, and soak in the panoramic views underneath, when walking along the high-level walkways & glass floors in the bridge. However, this is not for the faint hearted as it is situated 42 meters above the River Thames!
6.Warner Bros Studio
Warner Bros Studio’s Harry Potter tour is a must visit in London if you are a Harry Potter Movie fan! You can see how the film was produced, get behind the scenes to see the sets & props used for the movies. The tour will start at the Great Hall and as you go you will explore all the places in the movies- the forbidden forest, Dumbledore’s office, 9 3/4 platform of Hogwarts express, Diagon Alley, Gringotts Bank and much more! You can also have a chance to ride a magical broom, be seated in the Hogwarts Express and get your face on a ‘Most Wanted’ Poster. The first tour starts at 10:00 am and the last tour will be around 4:00 pm-6:30 pm. It takes about 4 hours to complete a single tour.
7.Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London that was founded by the world famous wax sculpture Marie Tussaud. It is one of the most visited museums in London as it displays the wax figures of famous figures and television/movie characters. So, this is all about taking the perfect photograph with your favorite wax figure! The wax figures are so real looking, that you will forget you are standing near one. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum has more than 300 wax figures including the Harry Potter, the incredible Hulk, Spider Man, Captain Marvel, Harry & Megan, Queen Elizabeth II, Adolf Hitler and Bollywood stars like Sharukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and many more.
8.The Shard
The Shard, which was known as the London Bridge Tower is a 95-storey skyscraper that was designed by the world famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. It has one of the best restaurants in London and offers you the best view of the London city! The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, and the viewing gallery and open-air observation deck on the 72nd floor is a must visit- you can chill here with a drink and enjoy the breathtaking views of London at night if visited in the evening.
Now, how are you going to book flights from Sydney to London? You can book online through Cathay Pacific. Team Cathay Pacific’s mission is to make the most out of your travels…so this applies when you fly from Sydney to London as well. You can book tickets on this website https://www.cathaypacific.com.