London is a huge city, and a tourist could spend days if not weeks exploring. However, if you find yourself in London for only a short period of time and want to make the most of that, let me guide you on a 4-hour walking tour that will take you past many of the iconic sites that I consider a must see!
I will preface by saying you’ll need some solid walking shoes, water to keep you hydrated, perhaps some snacks to keep your energy levels up, a rain jacket as it’s London and you just never know, and lastly some patience, to navigate the throngs of tourists throughout the route.
1. Tower of London
- Founded by William the Conqueror, with the White Tower built in 1078.
- Home of the Crown Jewels which you can see on a tour of the Tower.
- The Tower was London’s first zoo and was even home to a polar bear at one point.
- The Yeoman Warders known as the Beefeaters have protected the tower for centuries.
- The Tower has always had resident ravens who live there, and legend has it that should the ravens ever leave the Tower, London would fall.
2. Tower Bridge
- Commonly mistaken for London Bridge.
- Was only completed in 1894 under the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
- The bridge was only recently painted in blue in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Sier Jubilee.
3. HMS Belfast
- Led the fleet on D-Day prior to the allied invasion in Operation Overload.
- Played an active role in the Korean war.
4. London Bridge
- Original bridge built in 43AD.
- Has actually fallen down several times (whether it was Viking attacks, The Great Fire, Ice Damage), which led the nursey rhyme we all know today.
- Older version of the bridge was sold to an American businessman in 1968 and was later rebuilt in Arizona (Lake Havasu City).
5. Borough Market
- Located in Southwark, one of London’s oldest suburbs.
- Due to its proximity, a market of some kind has been in existence in the location for over 1000 years.
- Currently operating on its current site since 1756.
- Has over 100 stalls covering 45 acres.
6. Golden Hinde
- Full size reconstruction of the galleon ship captained by Sir Francis Drake.
- First English ship to circumnavigate the globe between 1577-1580 sponsored by Queen Elizabeth I.
7. Shakespeare’s Globe
- Reconstruction of original The Globe Theatre built in 1599.
- Open air theatre where you can still watch Shakespeare productions.
8. Tate Modern
- UK Modern Art Museum.
- Located in the Bankside former power station.
- 5.7 million visitors per year and one of the top 10 most visited museums in the world.
- Main Collection is free to visit.
9. Millenium Bridge
- Steel suspension pedestrian only footbridge.
- Inaugurated 10 June 2000 by Queen Elizabeth as part of the UK Millenium celebrations
10. St. Pauls’ Cathedral
- Current Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren after the original was burned in the Great Fire of London.
- One of the biggest domes in the world with a whispering gallery at the top that transmits the quietest whisper across the dome.
- 528 steps inside the Dome to the top to take in Panoramic views of the city
- Location of then Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
11. London Eye
- 4th largest Ferris wheel in the world.
- Full ride around takes 30 minutes.
- Built as part of the London Millenium celebration.
- 32 capsules on the Eye – one for every borough in London.
- Most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK.
12. The Palace of Westminster
- Commonly referred to as the Houses of Parliament.
- Royal Palace built in the 11th century and used to be the primary residence of the Kings of England until it was destroyed by the Fire in 1512.
- Serves as the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
- Retains its status as a royal residence.
- Monarch opens Parliament each year.
13. Big Ben/Elizabeth Tower
- The Elizabeth Tower is mistakenly referred to as Big Ben, but Big Ben is the name of the Great Bell in the Clocktower.
- The Tower is 164 years old.
- Big Ben weighs 13.7 tons.
- There are 399 steps in the tower to climb to the top to see Big Ben
- The minute hands on the tower clock face are 14ft long, the height of a female giraffe.
14. Westminster Abbey
- Established in the 10th century by Benedictine Monks.
- Current abbey started by Henry III in 1245 and is one of the most important gothic buildings in the country.
- Coronation Church for the British Monarch since 1066. A total of 40 monarchs have been crowned here with the most recent being King Charles III in June 2023.
- There have been 77 Royal Weddings, including Prince and Princess of Wales (William and Kate).
- 3300 people have been buried or commemorated at the abbey including 17 British monarchs and prominent historical figures like Sir Isaac Newtown and Charles Dickens
15. The Mall
- Ceremonial route between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
- Road surface coloured red giving the effect of a giant red carpet leading up to the Palace.
16. Buckingham Palace
- Originally built by the Duke of Buckingham and at the time was called Buckingham House.
- Bought by King George III for his wife Queen Charlotte to provide her and the family a private home close to St. James Palace (Royal Residence during that time).
- Queen Victoria was the first monarch to use the home as a Royal residence and was then renamed Buckingham Palace.
- Union Jack flag flies over the palace when the monarch is in residence.
17. Horse Guards Parade
- Originally built by King Henry VIII as a jousting courtyard.
- Now used as exercise grounds for the Royal Horse Guard as well as the location for the annual Trouping of the Colour.
18. Royal Horse Guards
- Royal Guard has been kept here since 1660 when the original guard house of the old Palace of Whitehall was on the site.
- Headquarters to the Household Calvary Mounted Regiment who provide troops for the King’s Life Guard.
19. 10 Downing Street
- Has been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1735.
- In 1997 Tony Blair moved into 11 Downing Street, as number 10 was too small for his family. The following prime ministers have lived at number 11 as well.
20. Trafalgar Square
- Considered the center of London.
- Named after the famous battle of Trafalger which was the British Naval Victory in the Napoleonic War led by Sir Admiral Nelson.
- The two fountains found in the square were actually built to deter crowds from gathering.
- The giant Christmas tree on display every year in the square is given to the United Kingdom from Norway.
- In the southeast corner of the square when facing the National Gallery is the world’s smallest police box. The box could accommodate up to 2 prisoners.
21. Leicester Square
- Home of London’s Big film premieres at the Odeon Theatre.
- Adjacent to the Westend theatre district.
- Bustling tourist area with restaurants, clubs, bars and casinos.
22. Piccadilly Circus
- Major traffic junction and public space in London’s West End.
- Busy and overcrowded tourist area with ½ million people passing through daily.
- Particularly known for it’s large video display which has been in existence since 1908. The Coca Cola is the longest running advertisement shining brightly since 1955.
Need more help? I’ve shared the landmarks on this Google map.
Let me know how you get on, leave a comment on my YouTube video of my London walking tour.