London Drum

Famous London Landmarks

London’s famous landmarks include Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s, plus Tower Bridge and World Heritage Sites like the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey

★★★Big Ben

Big Ben - London’s most recognisable landmark is the most famous clock tower in the world, but did you know that ‘Big Ben’ is actually the name of the bell?

★★★Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace has been the monarch’s residence since Queen Victoria. The public are allowed in the State Rooms during the summer

Cleopatra’s Needle

Cleopatra’s Needle - This ancient Egyptian obelisk is London’s oldest landmark, carved for Pharaoh Tuthmose III in 1475 BC – making it nearly 3,500 years old

★★★Covent Garden

Covent Garden - Covent Garden’s piazza used to be a fruit and flower market, but now it’s a place for street entertainer, cafes, boutique shops and market stalls

★★★Downing Street

Downing Street - If you peer through the big black iron gates of Downing Street then you can see No.10’s famous front door where the British Prime Minister lives

★★★Globe Theatre

Globe Theatre - The Globe is a perfect replica of the theatre in which Shakespeare performed his plays. There’s an interesting museum about his life underneath

★★★Guildhall

Guildhall - This building dates back to the days of Dick Whittington, and is where the Lord Mayor of London holds meetings with the City of London’s Aldermen

★★★Harrods

Harrods - Harrods is the most famous department store in the world. Check it out at nighttime when the outside is illuminated by thousands of lightbulbs

★★★Horse Guards Parade

Horse Guards - The parade ground is used for big events like Trooping the Colour, and tourists enjoy taking photos of themselves standing by the horseboxes

★★★Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament - The Houses of Parliament are a World Heritage Site and the amazing decor inside rivals the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace

★★Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace - London’s third palace was home to William III and Queen Victoria. Princess Diana lived here as well. It was also home to William, Harry and Kate

★★★Leicester Square

Leicester Square - In the heart of London’s West End where you’ll find a lot of pubs, clubs and the biggest cinemas where they hold all the premieres

★★★London Eye

London Eye - This huge observation wheel opposite Parliament is one of the most popular landmarks with tourists as you can see as far as 25 miles

Mansion House

Mansion House - The Lord Mayor is allowed to live inside Mansion House during his/her term of office. It’s most spectacular room is the famous Egyptian Hall

Marble Arch

Marble Arch - Marble Arch stands at the end of Oxford Street, but it once had a more prestigious spot - it was originally the front gate of Buckingham Palace

★★The Monument

The Monument - This tall stone obelisk commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666, and stands close to the spot where it began in Pudding Lane

★★★Nelson’s Column

Nelson’s Column - One of London’s most famous landmarks stands in Trafalgar Square and commemorates the death of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar

★★★Old Royal Naval College

Old Royal Naval College - The Old Royal Naval College was built by the architect Sir Christopher Wren and is worth visiting to see the famous Painted Hall inside

★★★Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus - Piccadilly Circus is London’s equivalent of Times Square, and is famous for its huge neon lights and the Eros statue atop the fountain

★★★Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall - The Royal Albert Hall is another iconic London landmark. This classical music venue is popular for its annual Prom Concerts season

★★Royal Courts of Justice

Royal Courts of Justice - This gothic building was built by the Victorians in the 1870s. It has a cathedral-like interior and some atmospheric wood-panelled courtrooms

★★★Royal Exchange

Royal Exchange - The Royal Exchange is one of the finest sights in The City, but it’s actually nothing more than a shopping centre, filled with boutique shops

★★Royal Hospital

Royal Hospital - Another building by Christopher Wren, the Royal Hospital is now home to the Chelsea Pensioners and has a painted Great Hall inside

★★Royal Observatory

Royal Observatory - If you visit the Royal Observatory and stand with one foot either side of the Meridian Line then you’ll be standing in both hemispheres

★★St James’s Palace

St. James’s Palace - This palace is one of the London’s most historic landmarks, built by Henry VIII nearly five hundred years ago. It is not open to the public

★★★St Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral - No list of London landmarks would be complete without mentioning Wren’s masterpiece. Don’t forget to visit the Whispering Gallery

★★★The Shard

The Shard - The tallest building in London has public observation decks are on the 68th-72nd floors - one of which is partially open to the windy weather

★★★Temple Church

Temple Church - The Round Tower of Temple Church dates back to the Knights Templar, and is famous for the stone knights that are entombed under the floor

★★Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge - This is one of the most popular photospots for tourists. It was built by the Victorians and the drawbridge opens up for boats a couple of times a day

★★★Tower of London

Tower of London - This important World Heritage Site is 1,000 years old. The Tower of London is home to the Beefeaters, Traitor’s Gate and the Crown Jewels

★★★Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square - Home to the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square is a short walk from Parliament, Covent Garden and Leicester Square

★★Wellington Arch

Wellington Arch - Built to honour the Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, and stands opposite his former home Apsley House

★★★Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey - It dates back to Edward the Confessor and is the setting for Royal weddings, Royal coronations, and the burial place of England’s monarchs

★★Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral - The most important Roman Catholic church in England has a 273-feet campanile bell tower with an observation platform