Westminster & City of London

The Palace of Westminster — better known as the Houses of Parliament — is the epitome of London and British democracy. The neo-Gothic masterpiece on the Thames bank (1840–1870, architect: Charles Barry) houses the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Most famous is the Elizabeth Tower with its bell Big Ben — technically, "Big Ben" is only the 13.5-ton bell, not the tower, but this pedantry interests no one.

Highlights

• Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben): 96 meters high, four dials each 7 meters in diameter. The chime is known worldwide — heard on the hour and a goosebump moment when standing right next to it. Photo tip: From Westminster Bridge, especially at night when the tower glows golden.
• Parliament Tour: When Parliament is not in session (mostly Saturdays and during holidays), guided tours of the magnificent Westminster Hall (1097!), the royal Robing Chamber, and both chambers are possible. Admission: £28. When Parliament is in session, you can watch debates for free from the visitor gallery — a fascinating spectacle.
• Westminster Hall: The oldest surviving hall of the palace (1097) with the largest medieval hammer-beam roof in the world. Here, Charles I was sentenced to death. Free access during tours.

Westminster Abbey is not just a church — it is the coronation site of every English and British monarch since 1066, the burial place of 17 kings and queens, and a pantheon of British history. Here, William the Conqueror was crowned, Elizabeth I and Mary Stuart were buried, Darwin and Newton were laid to rest, and the coronation of King Charles III (2023) took place.

Must-See

• Poets' Corner: The most famous corner of the Abbey — graves and memorials for Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Austen, Brontë, Kipling, Tennyson, Handel, and dozens more. A literary pilgrimage site.
• Coronation Chair: The Coronation Chair (1296) is the oldest throne still in use — every monarch since Edward II has been crowned on it.
• Tomb of the Unknown Warrior: Right at the entrance — the most moving spot in the Abbey. An unnamed soldier from World War I, buried in soil from France, over whom every visitor steps. Even the Queen laid her bridal bouquet here.
• Lady Chapel: The Henry VII Lady Chapel in the east wing is a masterpiece of late Gothic Perpendicular architecture — the fan-vaulted ceiling is breathtaking.

Practical Information: Admission: £27 (cheaper online). Opening hours: Mon–Sat (Sundays only services, free entry for services!). Audio guide included. Allow 2 hours. Photography is not allowed inside.

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the British monarchs since 1837. 775 rooms, 78 bathrooms, the largest private garden in London, and the most famous facade in the world — the royal home is a monument of British power and pomp.

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is London's most famous free spectacle. Soldiers of the Household Division in their red tunics and bearskin hats march from Wellington Barracks to the palace, accompanied by military music. The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes and takes place daily in summer (April–July) and every other day the rest of the year at 11:00 AM. Free, but: Arrive at least 30 minutes early to secure a good spot at the fence. Best location: right at the palace fence or at the Victoria Memorial.

State Rooms

In summer (July–September), when the king is not in residence, the State Rooms are open to visitors — the splendid reception rooms with paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto, the Throne Room, and the Ballroom. Admission: £30. Book tickets in advance! The garden is also accessible and surprisingly expansive.

The Tower of London is almost 1,000 years old and has served as a royal fortress, prison, execution site, treasury, zoo, mint, and armory over the centuries. No other place in London condenses so much history into such a small area. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

The Highlights

• Crown Jewels: The Crown Jewels sparkle in the Jewel House — including the Imperial State Crown with over 2,800 diamonds and the Cullinan I (530 carats, the largest cut clear diamond in the world), set in the Royal Sceptre. A conveyor belt carries visitors past the showcases — one could watch for hours.
• White Tower (1078): The oldest part, built by William the Conqueror. Today: the Royal Armouries with medieval armor, weapons, and the Line of Kings (royal figures in original armor).
• Tower Ravens: Six ravens permanently reside in the Tower — according to legend, the kingdom will fall if the ravens leave the Tower. Therefore, their wings are clipped. The Ravenmaster personally takes care of them.
• Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters): The Tower's warders in their iconic uniforms offer free tours (included in the admission price) full of black humor and bloody stories. A must-do!
• Tower Green: The private execution site — here, Anne Boleyn (Henry VIII's second wife), Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey lost their heads. A glass installation now marks the spot.

Practical Information: Admission: £33.60 (cheaper online). Opening hours: Daily 9–5:30 (summer), 9–4:30 (winter). Book online in advance — the queues can be enormous in summer. Allow at least 3 hours. Yeoman Warder tours start every 30 minutes at the main entrance.

Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge (1894) is London's most photogenic structure — a Victorian drawbridge with two neo-Gothic towers that open for passing ships (about 800 times a year). Many tourists confuse it with London Bridge (which is plain and modern) — Tower Bridge is the one with the towers.

• Tower Bridge Exhibition: Visit the engine rooms (Victorian steam engines!) and the glass walkway between the towers — 42 meters above the Thames, with a transparent floor. Not for the faint-hearted! Admission: £12.30.
• Bridge Openings: The schedule for bridge openings can be found on towerbridge.org.uk. Watching from the South Bank as the mighty bridge wings lift is a fascinating spectacle.

St Paul's Cathedral

Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece (1675–1710), built after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The dome — the second largest in the world after St. Peter's Basilica — has dominated the London skyline for over 300 years. Here, Prince Charles and Diana married (1981), and the state funerals of Nelson, Wellington, and Churchill took place.

• Whispering Gallery: In the dome, at 30 meters high — whisper against the wall, and your counterpart on the other side (34 meters away!) hears every word. An acoustic marvel.
• Golden Gallery: The highest accessible point — 528 steps up (no elevator!) for a 360-degree panoramic view over London. The effort is worth it.
• Crypt: Graves of Nelson, Wellington, and Wren himself. At the architect's tomb, it reads: "Si monumentum requiris, circumspice" — "If you seek his monument, look around."

Practical Information: Admission: £23 (cheaper online). Sundays only services (free entry, but no sightseeing). Allow 2–3 hours.

Trafalgar Square

London's most central square, named after Nelson's naval victory at Trafalgar (1805). Nelson's Column (52 meters, with four lions at the base) dominates the square. Around it: the National Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields (church with free concerts), and the view down Whitehall to Parliament. On New Year's Eve and during major sporting events, the square becomes the city's meeting point.

National Gallery

One of the most significant art collections in the world — and completely free. Over 2,300 paintings from the 13th to the 20th century: Van Gogh's Sunflowers, da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks, Turner's seascapes, Monet's Water Lilies, Botticelli's Venus and Mars. Room 34 alone (the Impressionists) is worth a visit to London.

Tip: The free tours (daily, 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM) are excellent and last 1 hour. For a quick overview: the "30 Must-See Paintings" route on the website.

British Museum

Only a 15-minute walk north lies the British Museum — one of the largest and most important museums in the world, free of charge. Over 8 million objects from all of human history: the Rosetta Stone (the key to deciphering hieroglyphs), the Parthenon Sculptures (the Elgin Marbles — Greece wants them back), Egyptian mummies, the Lewis Chessmen, and the entire history of humanity under a spectacular glass roof (The Great Court, Norman Foster, 2000).

Tip: The museum is huge — plan at least 3 hours, enthusiasts a whole day. The Egyptian department (Room 4 and 62–63) and the Rosetta Stone (Room 4) are the main attractions.