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Below are our top ten visited sights in London -
for a full list of most London sights then click
here.
1.
British Museum |
Great Russell Street, EC1
0171 636 1555
Holborn or Russell Square
A fabulous collection of classical antiquities, archaeological finds, prints, drawings and
coins, gathered from the furthest reaches of the British Empire. Famous exhibits include
the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles; the manuscript collection includes everything
from the Magna Carta to Beatles lyrics. The Museum's unparalleled collection of mummies,
coffins, funerary stauettes, amulets and Books of the Dead is on display in the Roxie
Walker Galleries. When you visit, check at the information desk for the current
exhibitions - they are always well worth seeing.
Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00; Sun 12.00-18.00; free |
2.
Madamé Tussaud's/Planetarium |
Marylebone Road, NW1
0171 935 686
Baker Street
Renowned life-size waxworks museum featuring the famous and the infamous; includes the
gruesome Chamber of Horrors. New models are added all the time; look out for the Time 100
People of the Century exhibition. The Planetarium features shows daily from 12.20 (10.20
on weekends); call 0171 486 1121 for details.
Daily 10.00-17.30; combined tickets £12.95/ £9.80 concs/ £8.50 children
Madamé Tussaud's £10.50/ £8 concs/ £7 children
Planetarium £6.30/ £4.65 concs/ £4.20 children |
3.
National Gallery |
St Martin's Place,
Trafalgar Square, WC2
0171 747 2885
Charing Cross
An enormous collection of over 2000 works of art, representing all the leading schools of
Western European painting from the 13th to the end of the 19th century. The quality and
range of the pictures on display is remarkable. Don't miss the Micro Gallery, where you
can see any painting in the collection and print out a reproduction.
Daily 10.00-18.00, Wed till 21.00; free |
4.
Natural History Museum |
Cromwell Road, SW7
0171 938 9123
South Kensington
One of London's greatest museums, showing nature through the ages and housed in a
magnificent building. First stop should be the giant dinosaur skeleton in the massive
central hall (look up; the ceiling is beautifully painted) the and the rest of the
collection of assorted dinosaur bits and pieces. The museum also holds a fake, full-size
whale, some very educational a-v displays on every subject from insects to conservation,
an extensive collection of stuffed animals and the Creepy-Crawlies exhibit, which features
an ant colony in a 6-metre-high termite mound. Split between the Earth Galleries and the
Life Galleries, this one of London's most imaginative and enjoyable museums. Daily 10.00
(Sun 11.00)-17.50; £6.50/ £3.50 concs/ children under 16 free; free after 16.30 (17.00
weekends)
The splendid interior of St. Paul's Cathedral |
5. St
Paul's Cathedral |
St Paul's Churchyard, EC4
0171 236 4128
St Paul's
Christopher Wren's masterpiece, completed in 1610, is the fifth cathedral to be built on
this site (the last one was destroyed during the Great Fire). The cathedral somehow
survived the Blitz and has come to be a towering London symbol. Try out the Whispering
Gallery; the hardy can climb the 627 steps to the dome for an unparalleled view over
London. A breathtaking building and an unmissable sight. Mon-Sat 08.30-16.00; galleries
10-16.00; £4/ £3.50 concs/£2 children |
6.
Science Museum |
Exhibition Road, London SW7
0171 938 8080
South Kensington
World-class museum of scientific discoveries crammed with information and packed with
child-friendly displays. Have a look in the Space Gallery and the Apollo 10 command
module. Leave the children at the Launch Pad playing interactive flying games and see the
Time section, which traces the technology of clocks, or the Medicine sections on the
fourth and fifth floors. One of London's best; well worth visiting and revisiting.
Daily 10.00-18.00; £6.50 adults/ £3.50 concs /free children; extra charge for some
special exhibitions |
7.
Tate Gallery |
Millbank, SW1
0171 887 8734
Pimlico
Splendid neo-classical exterior and contemporary Clore Gallery extension house national
collections of British paintings (dating from the 15th century) from all periods as well
as a respected collection of international modern paintings and sculpture. The Art Now
space is dedicated to changing displays by young contemporary artists. The Tate Gallery of
Modern Art is due to open in the former Bankside power station in May.
Daily 10.00-18.00; free (charge for for special exhibitions) |
8.
Tower of London |
Tower Hill, EC3
0171 709 0765
Tower Hill
The Crown Jewels, the Bloody Tower, the site where Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for 13
years, inscriptions carved by people on their way to the executioner's block, the
Beefeaters, the ravens, Traitor's Gate and an excellent display of arms and armour: the
Tower is almost as old as the millennium and is an integral part of London's history. A
good introduction is provided by the entertaining (free) guided tours hosted by the
Beefeaters, who are apparently limitless sources of information about every aspect of the
Tower.
Tues-Sat 09.00-16.00, Sun & Mon 10.00-16.00, March until 17.00; £11(call for child
and concessionary rates) |
9.
Victoria & Albert Museum |
Cromwell Road, SW7
0171 938 8500
South Kensington
Houses the world's greatest collection of decorative arts, which includes a huge silver
collection, porcelain, sculpture, portrait miniatures, the Raphael Cartoons and Oriental
and classical treasures. The Dress and Jewellery collections are popular. 145 glorious
galleries to get lost in.
Daily 10.00-17.45; £5/£3 concs |
10.
Westminster Abbey |
Broad Sanctuary,SW1
0171 222 5152
St James's Park
An architectural masterpiece, first consecrated in 1065 as the Norman church built for
Edward the Confessor, with subsequent bits added by Henry III in the 13th century, Henry
VII in 1503 and, finally, Hawksmoor in 1745. Throughout its existence, the Abbey has been
linked to Royalty: every king and queen of England has been crowned here since William the
Conqueror in 1066. Many are also buried here. The interior of the church is stuffed with
monuments to statesmen, scientists, musicians and poets. Can close at short notice, so
it's best to phone ahead to check. The Jewel Tower and St Margaret's Church, on the same
site, are well worth a visit, too. Verger-guided tours every day (£3); call ahead for
times.
Mon-Fri 09.30-15.45, Sat 09.30-13.45, closed Sun, except for worship; £5/£3 concs/£2
children
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