Last year, London broke its own record and welcomed more than 10.4 million visitors just in the first six months. (Road Genius: London Tourism Statistics)
As someone who has always had the dream to visit London, I feel extremely delighted to say that fortunately, I got the chance to cross this wish off my bucket list. And, I finally got to explore the places that I had once pinned on my vision board.
But after my first (but definitely not the last) trip to this beautiful city, I can say that visiting this place for the first time can be overwhelming. There is too much to see and do and not enough time, for most travelers, to experience it all.
If you are also planning a short trip to London but do not know where to go, this guide is for you.
Here I will share some of the most exciting destinations in this magnificent city that you cannot miss at any cost.
Tower Bridge
People often mistake it for the London Bridge, but Tower Bridge is London’s most famous bridge. There are so many interesting facts about this marvelous piece of architecture, which I learnt from the amazing tour guides there, who spread their knowledge in a welcoming manner.
Also, this place has a glass floor, walking across which is an experience in itself. Imagine walking on a transparent floor at a significant height and looking below to see others – pretty cool, right? If you also like the idea of it and wish to see more of London’s best attractions, check out The London Pass.
Tower of London
Moving on to another well-known sight in London that is worth seeing, the Tower of London. This engineering masterpiece was built in the 1070s and has a rich and extremely fascinating history.
If you are also a history fanatic like me, this place should definitely be on your list when in London!
London Eye
Any London trip is incomplete without viewing the London Eye. It doesn’t matter if you prefer to ride this wheel or just admire it from afar, this is a must-visit place for first-time visitors.
With that being said, the views when riding the London Eye are incredible, and it made the perfect addition to my Instagram account.
INTERESTING TIDBIT The London Eye is 135 meters tall and has a diameter of 120 meters. It has 32 capsules and a ride takes 30 minutes. The entire wheel weighs more than 1,000 tons.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Like the other locations mentioned in this post, St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of London’s most famous buildings, and for good reason. Both the inside and outside of this place look like something straight out of a movie.
Again, great pictures can be taken at this place. Plus, if you have strong legs, or even the newfound tourist’s motivation would work, you can climb the almost never-ending staircase to reach the top, which is truly stunning.
The Shard
Alongside the historical marvels of London, you can observe the modern rivals that have helped bring this city into the twenty-first century. And among these is The Shard, which is a fantastic building that offers great views across central London to anyone willing to go inside and climb to the top.
Like the other London attractions that we have discussed, The Shard also creates a city break that will be engraved in your memories forever.
DO YOU KNOW? Based on a survey, most visitors to London are from the United States, followed by France and Germany.
Big Bus Tours
There are various options for travelling through London, such as the underground, buses, and even boats. But, trust me, there is no better way than the big bus tours, especially for first-time visitors. These bus rides offer the perfect blend of getting around the city while learning some interesting facts about this place, along the way.
To Wrap Things Up
As we discussed in this article, London is an amazing city to visit. Yes, it can be quite confusing and overwhelming to navigate through the places and decide on what to see, especially if you are visiting for the first time.
To make sure your time there is unforgettable, consider seeing some, if not all, of the tourist attractions that have been listed above. Also, I would highly recommend getting the London Pass. It is the ideal solution that allows you to check out over 100+ attractions in London and the rest of the UK, for just using a single ticket. ,
So, do not forget to add this to your list of “essentials” when visiting London.
