The Tower of London and other London, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

The Tower of London , located on the northern bank of the Thames River, was built about 1078 by the Norman invader, William the Conqueror.

It was used alternately as a fortress, royal residence, prison and even a zoo in its early years.

Today, it is maintained as an arsenal with a garrison, and is open to the public, as you all know.

The well – preserved Norman and medieval structures cover nearly 7.2 hectares.

Opening hours:
Mar-Oct: Mon-Sat 09.00-17.00 Sun 10.00-17.00
Nov-Feb: Tues-Sat 09.00-16.00 Sun-Mon 10.00-16.00
Closed at Christmas and on New Year’s Day

Admission £12.00 (discount) - since it's valid all day, you can always share it with/ lend it to somebody else.

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: Tower Hill tube

Buses: 15, 25, 42, 78, 100
Website: http://www.armouries.org.uk/tower/

The complex of walls, towers and other buildings are grouped around the White Tower, built by William I.

It got its name from the white stone, but it was later whitewashed to maintain its colour.

Here you can find out more on the history of the Tower.

Open Sun-Mon 10am
Tues-Sat 9am
Last admission 5pm

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: Tower Hill tube
Website: http://www.armouries.org.uk/tower/

The Yeoman Warders, who are also known as Beefeaters, are guards of the Tower. They're clad in their traditional Tudos uniforms.

They give daily tours of this popular tourist attraction.

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: Tower Hill tube
Website: http://www.armouries.org.uk/tower/

To the north of the White Tower are the Waterloo Barracks, where the Crown Jewels are displayed. Most of the regalia was dispersed during the Commonwealth, so most of the present collection dates from after the Restoration. The oldest crown is St. Edward's Crown and the oldest piece in the regalia is the Spoon used at the coronation of King John in 1199.

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: Tower Hill tube
Website: http://www.armouries.org.uk/tower/

Tower Bridge spans the Thames River from the Tower of London to Southwark on the south side of the Thames. It was the only movable bridge crossing the Thames when it was completed in 1894.

The bridge was designed by Sir Horace Jones and built by Sir John Wolfe Barry.

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Phone: 0 20 7626 3065
Address: Tower Bridge Road, EC3/SE1
Directions: Tower Hill or London Bridge tubes
Website: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk

The Houses of Parliament, officially called the New Palace of Westminster, is the seat of the British Parliament.

Parliament consists of the House of Lords, whose members sit there by their right or birth, and the House of Commons, where the elected members of Parliament sit.

The buildings on the east bank of the Thames River were built (1840-1860) after plans by Sir Charles Barry, on the site of the medieval royal residence. Westminster Hall (1097) is all that remains of the original palace.

The buildings cover an area of more than 3 hectares and contain 1100 apartments, 100 staircases and 11 courts.

The exterior is impressive with its three massive towers: Victoria Tower (102m), Middle Tower (91m) and Saint Stephen’s, or the Clock Tower (98m). When Parliament is in session, the light burns in the Clock Tower, or by day, a flag flies from Victoria Tower.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Westminster tube
Website: http://www.parliament.uk

Big Ben is the great bell in the Clock Tower on the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. It was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, London’s chief commissioner of works in 1858 when the bell was hung. The bell weighs 13.5 tons.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Westminster tube
Website: http://www.parliament.uk

Westminster Abbey, that is the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, was begun by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 13th century.

William the Conqueror was crowned here on Christmas Day in 1066, and since then all English sovereigns, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII, have been crowned here, and most were buried here until the early 19th century.

Here you can find the Coronation Chair as well. The chair has been used for all the coronations in the Abbey since 1308.

Entry to the Abbey is through the North Door, which leads into the North Transept, known as Statemen’s Aisle, because of its many monuments to 18th and 19th century politicians.

There’s also Poets’ Corner with many tombs and memorials to great writers, musicians, actors and scientists, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens Newton and Darwin.

Leaving the church by the west door, you can find 10 statues of 20th century Christian martyrs in niches above the entrance. One of them is Martin Luther King.

Opening times:
Mon-Fri: 09.00-16.45
Sat: 09.00-14.45
Museum Daily: 10.30-16.00

Admission: £6.00 (discount)

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Phone: 0 20 7654 4900
Address: Deans Yard, SW1
Directions: St James's Park tube

Buses: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 109, 159, 211
Website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org

It serves as the parish church of the House of Commons.

The present building, by Robert Stowell, dates from 1485-1523, but was refaced in the 18th century.

Samuel Pepys, John Milton and Winston Churchill were all married in this church.

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Directions: opposite the Houses of Parliament, next to Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace , official town residence of the British monarch since 1837, is located near Saint James’s Park. It was built by John Sheffield, first duke of Buckingham and Normandy, in 1703. The palace was purchased for the royal family in 1761 by George III.

The neoclassical structure was remodeled by John Nash in 1825. In 1856 a ballroom was added, and in 1913 a new east front was built.

Buckingham Palace has about 600 rooms and 20 hectares of gardens.It is open to the public during August and September.

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Address: The Mall, SW1
Directions: Green Park tube

Buses: 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 185, 211, 239, 507, C1, C10