Top 10 London Landmarks: My Must-See Picks, Visited First-Hand

★1 Big Ben & Parliament - London’s Most Famous Landmark

Opening times?: Guided tour during recess: 9 AM to 4 PM (Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat) – Guided tour outside recess: 9 AM to 4 PM (Sat only) – Self-guided tour during recess: 9 AM to 4.15 PM (Mon-Sat) – Self-guided tour outside recess: 9 AM to 4.15 PM (Sat only) – Recess is during the 1st week of Jan, middle two weeks of Feb, two weeks around Easter, last week of May, 1st week of June, last week of July, all of Aug, 2nd half of Sep, 1st half of Oct, 2nd week of Nov and last two weeks of Dec
Price?: Guided tour: Adult £40; Young adult (16-24) £30; Child (5-15) £20; Infant (under-5) free – Self-guided tour: Adult £31; Young adult (16-24) £24; Child (5-15) £12; Infant (under-5) free
Time required?: A typical visit takes 1½-2 hours

Big Ben is London’s equivalent of the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Coliseum in Rome… if you grab yourself a selfie standing under it then everyone will immediately know where you’ve been. Can you think of a more spectacular government building than the Houses of Parliament?

And if you think the outside is impressive then just wait until you get inside – the rooms wouldn’t look out of place in a palace. Because technically that’s exactly what it is: a Royal palace. Its proper name is the Palace of Westminster, and some of the rooms are designed to parade the monarch into the House of Lords.

Most tourists are happy to take a photo of the outside and move on, but I definitely recommend going on a Saturday tour. If you don’t want to spend any money then you can watch MPs debating in the House of Commons for free. You can even get yourself a free ticket for Prime Minister’s Questions.

★2 Tower Bridge - Go Inside and Walk Over the Glass Floor

Opening times?: 9.30 AM to 6 PM (Mon-Sun); Last entry 1 hour before closing
Price?: Adult £18; Senior (60+) £13.50; Child (5-15) £9; Infant (under-5) free
Time required?: A typical visit takes 45-60 mins

The mock-gothic Tower Bridge was actually constructed in the 19th-century. It might look medieval, but under that stone cladding are steel struts. You’d never know that by standing on the riverbank, though – it’s one of London’s most theatrical pieces of Victorian architecture.

I always recommend skipping the exhibition because it’s just a few movies and a look at the old engines, but you still might want to go inside for the view. They’ve installed a strip of glass floor up there now, so if you’re feeling brave you can walk across and see the thundering buses and lorries under your feet.

★3 St. Paul’s Cathedral - London’s Most Beautiful Landmark

Opening times?: 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon-Sat); Last entry 30 mins before closing
Price?: Adult £24; Senior (65+) £21.50; Young adult (16-17) £9.50; Child (6-15) £9.50; Infant (under-6) free; Family (1ad+up to 3ch) £33.50; Family (2ad+up to 3ch) £57.50
Time required?: A typical visit takes 2 hours

Big Ben might be London’s most famous landmark, but St. Paul’s Cathedral is definitely the most beautiful. And just think… if it wasn’t for the Great Fire of London then we never would have had it, because it was built by Christopher Wren after everything else had been burned to the ground.

There are lots of interesting things to see inside, like the tombs of Nelson and Wellington in the crypt, but you’ll get the biggest thrill from climbing up the domes. The first 257 steps will take you up to the Whispering Gallery, which got its name from a bizarre acoustic effect which lets you hear what people are saying on the other side of the dome. The next steps are a bit harder to climb (and a bit scarier too!), but will give you a great view of the skyline outside.

★4 Tower of London - The Most Historic Landmark

Opening times?: 10 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon & Sun, Jan-Feb, 1st half Nov & 2nd half Dec); 9 AM to 4.30 PM (Tue-Sat, Jan-Feb & Nov-Dec); 10 AM to 5.30 PM (Mon & Sun, Mar, May-1st half Jul, Sep-Oct & 2nd half Nov-1st half Dec); 9 AM to 5.30 PM (Tue-Sat, Mar, May-1st half Jul, Sep-Oct); 9 AM to 5.30 PM (Mon-Sun, 2nd half Jul-Aug); Last entry 1 hour before closing
Price?: Adult £37; Senior (65+) £29.50; Young adult (16-17) £18.50; Child (5-15) £18.50; Infant (under-5) free
Time required?: A typical visit takes 3-4 hours

So Big Ben is the most famous landmark, St. Paul’s is the most beautiful… but the Tower of London is definitely the most historic. Parts of this World Heritage Site are 1,000 years old.

Every tourist has heard of Traitor’s Gate and the Bloody Tower where Richard III had the two little princes smothered in their beds, but what about Tower Green? That’s where Henry VIII executed his wives. Another popular place to visit is Waterloo Barracks where they keep the Crown Jewels.

I definitely recommend joining one of the Yeoman Warder tours because then you’ll get led around by one of the actual Beefeaters. And if you’re very organised and plan your holiday six months in advance then try and get hold of a free ticket for Ceremony of the Keys.

★5 10 Downing Street - Look Through the Gates to See the Prime Minister

Opening times?: Closed to the public
Time required?: A typical visit takes 5 mins

They don’t allow tourists to walk down the actual street anymore (it’s been blocked off by a steel gate), but it’s still worth standing outside Downing Street to try and see the Prime Minister.

What you need to do is peer over the shoulders of the big burly policemen and look for a black door halfway down the street with a lamplight hanging over the top – that’s No.10, the official home of the British PM. If you’re lucky you might see a fleet of black cars driving out with the PM inside.

★6 Buckingham Palace - My Pick for Changing the Guard and the Summer Opening

Opening times?: 9.30 AM to 7.30 PM (Mon-Sun, early Jul-Aug); 9.30 AM to 6.30 PM (Mon & Thu-Sun, Sep); Last entry 2 hours before closing
Price?: Online in advance: Adult £33; Young adult (18-24) £21.50; Child (5-17) £16.50; Infant (under-5) free · On the day: Adult £37; Young adult (18-24) £24.50; Child (5-17) £18.50; Infant (under-5) free
Time required?: A typical visit takes 2-2½ hours

Windsor Castle was the late-Queen’s favourite home, but Buckingham Palace is still the one that every tourist wants to see. They stand outside the railings and stare up at the famous balcony, then take a photo of the soldiers marching back and forth during the famous Changing the Guard ceremony.

Tourists can only go inside during the Summer Opening (Jul-Sep), where you’ll get to see the Throne Room and big Ballroom and then sit on the garden veranda sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea.

★7 London Eye - For The Best View of Big Ben

Opening times?: 10 AM to 8.30 PM (Mon-Sun, Jul-Aug, 2nd half Oct & mid Dec); 11 AM to 6 PM (Mon-Sun, Sep-1st half Oct, Nov & early Dec); 9.30 AM to 9 PM (Mon-Sun, late Dec)
Price?: Online in advance: Adult £32.38; Child (2-15) £29.31; Infant (under-2) free – On the day: Adult £37; Child (2-15) £33.50; Infant (under-2) free
Time required?: A typical visit takes 30-50 mins for the queue, plus 30 mins for the actual ride

London Eye is the newest building on this list, but it very quickly became one of our most popular landmarks.

As one of the largest observation wheels in the world it gives visitors a 360 degree view of the skyline for up to 25 miles. You get a great view of Big Ben and Parliament (maybe the best view of them from anywhere in London), and a distant view of Buckingham Palace nestled behind the trees of St. James’s Park.

★8 Nelson’s Column - The Heart of Trafalgar Square

Time required?: A typical visit takes 5 mins

Nelson’s Column commemorates the life of Admiral Nelson – the naval hero who ruined Napoleon’s invasion plans by beating his fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. Unfortunately he also got shot at his moment of victory, hence this dominating monument in the centre of the city.

Whilst you’re standing in Trafalgar Square you might like to visit the National Gallery on the northern edge, or walk through Admiralty Arch and up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament are only a short walk down Whitehall.

★9 Westminster Abbey - Full of Historic Royal Tombs

Opening times?: 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM (Mon-Fri); 9.30 AM to 4 PM (Sat); Last entry 1 hour before closing
Price?: Adult £31; Senior (65+) £28; Child (6-17) £14; Infant (under-6) free; Family (1ad+1ch) £31
Time required?: A typical visit takes 2 hours

Westminster Abbey probably deserves a much higher place in my list for its historical significance, but as a landmark it’s not as iconic as Big Ben, Tower Bridge and St Paul’s. So that’s why it only made No.9.

This is where you’ll find the tomb of Edward the Confessor, our only Royal saint, and Henry V, the victor at Agincourt. Or how about Edward III, the original chivalrous knight? Or Elizabeth I, the queen who defeated the Spanish Armada?

★10 Piccadilly Circus - Visit at Night for the Lights

Time required?: A typical visit takes 10 mins

The final spot on my list goes to Piccadilly Circus, or, more specifically, the lighted advertising signs around it. If you return to this area at nighttime then you’ll get one of the best photos of London.

The Eros fountain is a popular meeting spot for tourists. They stand on the side and ask a passerby to take a photo of them in front of the lights.

Updated by Craig Cross

on 28 October 2026. Times and prices updated on 22 July 2026

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London Squire book London Squire guidebook – Check out my guidebook available to buy at Amazon, Apple and Kobo. I’ve personally visited 210 London landmarks, attractions and hotels and collected all of my reviews, example itineraries, handy practical info, and advice about using the buses and trains into an eBook, along with 675 original photos