London's Top Attractions

Westminster Abbey

The most exciting church in the land is the final resting place for the men and women who built Britain. Its great Gothic hall continues to play a part in the formation of the kingdom, having hosted nearly every coronation since 1308.

Buckingham Palace

Not the prettiest royal palace, but a must-see for the glimpse it affords of modern royal life. The opulence of the state rooms open to the public provides plenty to gasp at, and don't forget the collection of china and carriages at the Queen's Gallery and Royal Mews next door.

St. Paul's Cathedral

No matter how many times you have been before, the scale and elegance of Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece never fail to take the breath away. Climb the enormous dome, third largest in the world, to experience the freaky acoustics of the Whispering Gallery, and higher still for fantastic views across London.

Tower of London

The Tower is London at its majestic, idiosyncratic best. This is the heart of the kingdom -- with foundations dating back nine centuries, every brick tells a story, and the axe-blows and fortunes that have risen and fallen within this turreted mini-city provide an inexhaustible supply of intrigue.

British Museum

If you want to journey through time and space without leaving the confines of Bloomsbury, a visit to the British Museum has hours of eye-catching artifacts from the world's greatest civilizations, including the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, and the Sutton Hoo treasure.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

You can catch a Shakespeare play almost every night of the year in London. But standing on a floor of leaves and sawdust, and watching an offering from the Great Bard in a painstakingly re-created version of the galleried Tudor theater for which he wrote is a special thrill.

Greenwich Meridian Line

Home of maritime London, Greenwich has a special charm. Most fun is climbing up to the Royal Observatory, surrounded by acres of green and magnificent river views, and straddling western and eastern hemispheres at 0° longitude.

Hampton Court Palace

This collection of buildings and gardens won over Henry VIII to become his favorite royal residence. Its Tudor charm, augmented by touches from Wren, and a picturesque upstream Thames location make it a great day out -- not even dour Oliver Cromwell, who moved here in 1653, could resist its charms.

Tate Modern

More of an event than the average museum visit, Tate Modern, housed inside a striking 1930s power station, is a hip, immensely successful addition to the London gallery landscape. Passing judgment on the latest controversial temporary exhibit inside the giant turbine hall has become almost a civic pastime among art-loving Londoners.

National Gallery

Whatever the collective noun is for a set of Old Masters -- A palette? A canvas? -- there are enough here to have the most casual art enthusiast purring with admiration. When you've finished, enjoy the newly pedestrian Trafalgar Square on the doorstep.

London's central parks

With London's green spaces so broken up, it seems churlish to pick out only one. The four central parks are all within walking distance: pick St. James's Park for fairytale views; Green Park for hillocks and wide boulevards; Regent's Park for its open-air theater and the London Zoo; and Hyde Park for rowing on the Serpentine Lido.