London is an old city (nearly 2000 years, from AD43) and is one of the most loved for its historic sites, buildings, and imagery. From the almost mystical view of the Houses of Parliament above, as seen from the River Thames, to the thousands of other sights, there is always something more to see. Here is our list of significant historic places or exhibitions of historic subjects to go and take a look at. It is far from exhaustive so don't just go by our list. We have tried to include some notes on what to expect and how much we recommend the visit on a 5 star system (5 stars means go for it in a big way!)....
 

The Crown Jewels and the Tower of  London
Tower Hill, EC3
Nearest tube station: Tower Hill or Fenchurch Street.
Price Guide: 9.00 UK pounds

• Expect very,very, long queues!
• Quite expensive!
• You get to see some fancy, expensive, diamonds.
• Reserve an afternoon.
• Star rating: **

Tower Bridge (World famous bridge - it opens!)
SE1
Nearest tube station: Tower Hill or London Bridge
Price guide: 6.00 UK pounds to go inside.

• Free to look at from outside.
• Tower Bridge Experience takes you inside.
• Interesting displays
• How the bridge works.
• Amazing views of  London along elevated walkways.
• Take your camera
• Reserve: 2 to 3 hours.
• Star rating: ****

Buckingham Palace (London residential palace of the Queen of England)
SW1
Nearest tube station:St. James Park or Victoria.
Price guide (tours only from August 7th to end of September) 9.50 UK pounds.

• You don't actually go in (most of the year!) - but muster outside!
• It's Free!
• You get to mill around the gates with lots of other nice tourists.
• You get to see the Queens Troops through the gates.
• Reserve a couple of hours.
• Star rating: ***

• Go in winter time if possible or expect crowds and queues.
• The London Planetium is there too - get a joint ticket - see both!
• You get to see some fab people.
• Don't buy ice-cream outside - it's too dear!
• Reserve a morning or afternoon to see both. (plus planterium!)
• Star rating: *****

• Scary place showing the horros of living in London in times gone-by.
• Near London Bridge.
• Queues but they move quickly.
• Can be depressing to see how cruel we were.
• Not for the squeamish!
• Reserve 2.5 hours (excluding queue time)
• Star rating: ****

• Its free.
• Feed the pigeons.
• Everyone who comes to London sees it.
• Reserve 1 hour
• Star rating: **

• Expensive: they charge once to go in with additional charges to see the galleries.
• Survived the Blitz on London.
• Terrific dome.
• Good if you like holy places.
• Reserve 1.5  hours
• Star rating: ***

• Situated close (but not on) the original site.
• Reconstructed to look like the original.
• See a perfomance there for best visit.
• Reserve: 3 hours
• Star rating: ***

• Full size reconstruction of St. Francis Drake's ship.
• 23 years a travelling museum.Circumnavigated the globe
• Authentic atmosphere.
• Crew members tell stories of the seas.
• Reserve: 2 hours
• Star rating: ****

Greenwich

• An historic naval  place in East  London
• 0 degree longtitude.
• Worth a whole day out in itself.
• Maritime Musuem, Observatory, Cutty Sark ship.
• Has a sea-faring / seaside feel!
• Old and probably the greatest contribution to London history.
• Reserve: a whole day or a long afternoon!
• Star rating: *****

• Where Winston Churchill led the war for the UK.
• Map Room, Churchill's bedroom, hotline to the Whitehouse.
• Underground!
• Rooms kept as they were in 1940s.
• Reserve: 2 hours
• Star rating: ****

• A very old and unchanged theatre
• See the long-running 'Lady in Black'.
• Spooky. The most spooky in London.
• Amazingly - only two actors.
• The theatre adds to the atmosphere.
• You will be talking about it for years.
• Reserve: an evening (and a seat - always full!)
• Star rating: ****

• Magnificent building.
• Seat of UK goverment.
• Public gallery.
• Reserve 3 hours
• Star rating: ***

• Probably the oldest bookshop in the world
• Still very 'old world'.
• Search for elusive books.
• If you love books - go there!
• Reserve: 2 to 3 hours to browse.
• Star rating: ***

• Everyone from England's  past painted here?
• Good place for those who like pictures of historic figures.
• Reserve: 3 hours.
• Star rating: ***

• The shop where the rich and famous buy stuff.
• Take loads of money or...
• Just get one of their carrier bags and bluff it!
• Reserve: 2 to 3 hours.
• Star rating: ***

• The shop with terrific food halls.
• Massive range of International foods.
• Biggest cosmetics hall in Europe.
• Very, very fashionable!
• Reserve: 2 to 3 hours.

Star rating: ***

Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road, SW7.
Nearest tube station: South Kensington.
Price Guide: 6.00 UK pounds, 16.00 UK pounds for family ticket.

• Probably the finest Natural History museums in the world.
• Loads of Dinosaur fossils - stunning!
• You probably need a week there but...
• Reserve: a long afternoon.
• Star rating: *****

• Almost as good as the Natural History museum.
• Kids get lots of buttons to press.
• Reserve: a long afternoon.
• Star rating: ****

• Buskers, good food, crafts.
• Bustling... great on a summer's evening!
• Reserve: an evening in summer or a Sunday afternoon!
• Star rating: ****

• Cinemas galore!
• Crowds here at 3.00 am on a hot summer night.
• Planet Hollywood cafe around the corner.
• Reserve: an evening and a seat for a new film.
• Rating: ****

• Home of Chinese restaurants in London.
• Probably the best place to eat in all of  London!
• Pick one that looks less glitzy - probably the best price and best food!
• Dinner time 18 dish buffets for 5.00 UK pounds!!!!
• Reserve: 2 hours and a table.
• Star rating: *****

• Probably the most interesting gallery in London.
• Home of Turner paintings, and controversial ones too.
• Traditional English painters and modern painters work.
• Lovers must see Rodin's 'The Kiss' (if you are in love - you will 'feel' this sculpture!)
• Reserve: 3 hours
• Star rating: ****

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