London is a major cosmopolitan city. Like New York London has many similarities. London has several parks and attractions tourists and locals visit year around. I already featured some places to visit in London in my recent post which you can read here. Since I only covered some of the attractions and tips for any tourist I thought it would be nice to add some more tips in a new post. So, without futher adieu let’s dive in on some of the parks in London and a big list of places to visit in London.
Parks in London
Despite London’s bustling urban environment, it boasts beautiful parks like Hyde Park and other green spaces, offering great spots to unwind. Among the many places to visit in London, these parks provide a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, making them perfect for relaxation and leisure activities.
- St James’s Park/ The Green Park: Located next to/ around the Buckingham Palace. It’s one of the city’s historical parks. Not that big, but a place where people seem to spend their time on warmer days.
- Hyde Park: This park is huge and it is in the heart of London. It’s a favorite park to visit by both tourists and locals. While we visited this place it reminded us about Central Park in New York. The park had a lot of locals jogging and tourists just soaking up the relaxing atmosphere in a nice park like this one. Since our visit was in Autumn the leeves had nice colors. In the middle of the Park there is a pond that had dozens of birds and swans. Also, in the park you can find Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain.
- Kyoto Garden (in the middle of Holland Park): Near Hyde Park you may find this lovely Japanese style garden. Some say that it is best to visit this garden during Spring, when the cherry trees are blossoming or during Autumn, when the garden has vibrant autumn leaves.
- The Regent’s Park/ St John’s Lodge Gardens: One of the city’s calmest green spaces. Located on the north side of London.
A list of 12 attractions/ places to visit in London
London has lots of things to do, see, and eat. To make your life easier, here are some places to visit in London that you might want to consider. The prices shown here are based on the information from the respective attractions’ websites in December 2024. I will update the prices at the beginning of 2025 for those attractions that currently only have 2024 prices. Each attraction includes a link to its official website for your convenience, making it easier to plan your visit to London.
Big Ben
Big Ben refers to the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, and also to the clock tower at the north end of London’s Palace of Westminster. Pro Tip: You can visit the inside of the clock tower (called Big Ben Tour). Visitors must be at least 11 years old and able to climb 334 steps. The tour lasts 90 minutes, and earplugs are provided due to high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells. Restrooms are available only at the start and end of the tour. The tours are only in English.
If you’re looking for places to visit in London, the Big Ben Tour is a must-see. This iconic landmark offers a unique glimpse into the history and mechanics of one of the most famous clocks in the world. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience when exploring places to visit in London.
The next set of tour tickets will be released on Wednesday 11 December at 10:00 for tours running in March 2025.
Prices: £30 (adults), £15 (children aged 11-17).
Tours open: Monday to Saturday (but you can view Big Ben from the outside free of charge at any time and day of the week).
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, located in London, serves as the official residence and main office for the UK’s monarch. Buckingham Palace is open every summer for visitors. In 2025 the opening dates are from 10th July to 28th September. The last admission from July to August is 17.30 and in September 16.30.
Prices (2025):
Day | Time |
|---|---|
10 July – 31 August | 09:30-19:30 |
1 – 28 September | 09:30-18:30 |
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a well-knowned attraction that is a sight to see both in the daylight and in the evening.
Prices (2024): £13.40 (adults), £6.70 (children)
Open (2024): Daily from 9:30 to 18:00 (last admission 17:00)
Prices (2024): £25.45 (adults), £12.70 (children), children under 5 years are entry free, £22.90 (seniors 65+, students, disabled + 1 assistant)
Day | Time |
|---|---|
Monday-Friday | 09.30-15.30 |
Saturday | 09:00-15:00 |
Day | Time |
|---|---|
Sunday-Monday | 10:00-16:30 |
Tuesday-Saturday | 09:00-16:30 |
| Last timeslot: | 15:00 |
Day | Time |
|---|---|
In the Summer | 10:00-22.00 |
Sunday-Wednesday | 10.00-19.00 |
| Last entry | 1 hour before closing |
Day | Time |
|---|---|
Sunday-Thursday | 11:00-18.00 |
Friday Saturday | 10.00-18.30 |
| Last entry | 45 min. before closing |
Closed on Christmas Day 25th
The Friends Experience
You know the Friends TV-show from the 1994 – 2004? One of my favorite shows and probably for a lot of other people as well. The Firends Experience allows you to visit a recreated set of iconic scenes that you have seen in the TV-show itself. The Friends Experience is available in multiple cities around the world (New York, Las Vegas, London, Sydney, Paris, Sao Paulo). The one in London is located a bit from the city centre. Close by is the IFS Cloud Cable Car and The O2 Arena.
Prices: from £20 (adults), £10 (children 11-15), £5 (children 4-10), £18 (seniors 55+, military personnel, NHS and Emergency Services, students), £65£ (VIP), children under 4 years entry is free of charge.
Flexible tickets (arrive at any time): £40 (adults), £20 (children 11-15)
Day | Time |
|---|---|
When open | 10:00-19.15 |
Saturday | 09.00-18.15 |
| Last entry | 1h 15 min. before closing |
Day | Time |
|---|---|
Monday to Thursday | 07:00-21:00 |
Friday | 07:00-23:00 |
Saturday | 08:00-23:00 |
Sunday and bank holidays | 09:00-21:00 |
Conclusion
That’s all for now! Next time, I’ll provide insights into the London public transportation system and share great tips for navigating the city. It was the way we traveled around the city and it was easy to use, which is why I highly recommend using it. Stay tuned, and I hope to see you here again next week!
If you enjoyed this guide to places to visit in London, including its top attractions and parks, don’t forget to share it with your friends and leave a comment below with your favorite places to visit in London. Happy exploring!
This post has been enhanced using AI for text improvement.