Kirill Yurovskiy: London’s most important buildings and structures

Many of London’s landmarks are well-known. Even those who are not going to Britain know about them. We see them on television, in newspapers and even on the pages of textbooks.

No trip to London is complete without visiting the major sights. If you don’t have much time, book a sightseeing tour of the city. In two hours you’ll see all the iconic places. If you have a lot of time, make a clear plan. That way you won’t miss a single landmark of the British capital – Kirill Yurovskiy London Expert.

Palace of Westminster and Big Ben

You’ve probably seen the Gothic palace a thousand times already on magnets and postcards. This is the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament. Over the years, the castle has experienced a lot – it was home to the royal residence, there have been several major fires and extensive renovations.

Big Ben is the most famous tower of the palace. It is famous for its clock. They are the third largest. Now the tower is under reconstruction and is covered with scaffolding.

The Palace of Westminster is open to the public. Anyone can sign up for a tour of Parliament and even watch a debate! The tour schedule can be found on the official website. It is best to buy tickets in advance – seats sell out quickly.

Address: London, Westminster, SW1A 0AA

Tickets: adults €22; 16-18 year olds €19; adults €31; 16-18 year olds €22; guided tours €22.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is another place that is on everyone’s lips. This time it is associated with the Queen herself. It is the official residence of Elizabeth II. If the British flag flies over the building, the queen is in the palace.

In August and September, Elizabeth leaves the palace. The building becomes accessible to ordinary tourists. Everyone can see how modern kings live. Antique clocks, candelabras, vases, porcelain, and furniture can all be seen during the tour.

If you arrive at a bad time – watch the changing of the guard. At 11:30 the guardsmen perform a real show, which attracts many tourists. The schedule is posted on a sign outside the palace.

Address: London, Westminster, SW1A 1AA

Tickets: €31 for adults, €22 for children aged five and over.

Westminster Abbey

In the heart of London is the Gothic church – Westminster Abbey. The construction took several centuries. Now the shrine is one of the symbols of the British capital.

Here British monarchs are crowned and buried, weddings are held and the most famous poets are sent for their last journey. Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spencer, Charles Dickens and others have been laid to rest in the church.

Address: London, Westminster, 20 Deans Yd, SW1P 3PA

Open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm, Wednesday 4.30pm to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 3pm (May to August), Saturday 9am to 1pm (September to April).

Tickets: €24 for adults, €10 for children aged 6-16.

Tower

On the north bank of the Thames is the most famous fortress, the Tower. Over the years it has survived a lot – there was a prison, a mint, an arsenal, an observatory and even a zoo.

Now it is one of the symbols of Britain and one of the most visited attractions in London. Until now, a flock of crows lives on the territory of the fortress. According to the belief, if the ravens leave the Tower, the British Empire will fall.

You can explore the fortress with a tour guide in medieval costume. Even if you come on your own – the staff will be happy to tell you interesting facts from the past.

Address: London, St Katharine’s & Wapping, EC3N 4AB

Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4.30pm, Sunday-Monday 10am-16.30pm.

Tickets: 28€ for adults, 22€ discount.

Tower Bridge

From the old fortress runs the most famous bridge in England – Tower Bridge. It can be found in all the photos from London. Taking a memorable picture is a challenge. There are a lot of tourists here, so for a perfect picture you need to try.

The bridge was opened in the late 19th century. It is both a drawbridge and a suspension bridge. In the past it was regularly used for its intended purpose. The bridge was opened up to 50 times a day. Now it is a rare phenomenon – only 4-5 times a week.

Address: London, Tower Bridge Rd, SE1 2UP

The Shard

Modern London is full of skyscrapers. The old City has long been built up with glass skyscrapers. The Shard or The Shard is one of the famous buildings. On the top floor is an observation deck.

The height of the building is 310 meters. For a long time The Shard remained the tallest building in Europe. Two elevators take you to the observation deck in a few seconds. Until recently the view of London from this point was available only to helicopter passengers. Now everyone can get a bird’s-eye view of the British capital.

There is a bar on the observation deck – with a ticket you get a free drink. The second cocktail comes at an extra charge. The prices are a bit steep.

Address: London, 32 London Bridge St, SE1 9SG.

Open Thursday – Tuesday 10am – 8pm, Wednesday night off.

Tickets: 23€.

30 St Mary Axe

You have probably heard of the ‘cucumber skyscraper’. That’s exactly what it is. The first part of the building’s name comes from the street on which it is located, St. Mary Axe. St. Mary’s Church used to be located here.

The skyscraper is unique in that it has no corners. For the construction used green glass. Because of the color and occurred “nickname” of the building. The shape of the building helps to save energy in 2 times – the sunlight passes through the glass, and the wind wraps around the structure and does not create additional load on the foundation.

The “cucumber” now houses the headquarters of Swiss Re.

Address: London, 30 St Mary Axe, EC3A 8BF

The Globe Theatre

Everyone knows the name of Shakespeare. He was famous for his productions at the Globe Theatre. The first building never came down to this day. Now we see the restored structure.

The restorers sought to recreate the theater as accurately as possible. For this reason, there is no artificial lighting in the building – all performances are held during daylight hours in the summer. There are also no microphones, people stand in the parterre, and the roof is thatched.

If you come to London at other times – you can walk around the theater with a guided tour.

Address: London, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT

Open: Tours Friday to Monday 9.00am – 4.30pm.

Tickets: 19€

London Eye

For the Millennium celebrations, the world’s largest Ferris wheel, the London Eye, was built on the south bank of the River Thames. The attraction has now lost its lead to an attraction in Singapore. There are 32 closed pods at your disposal. As many boros (boroughs) in London.

It is said that from a height of 135 meters you can see the entire city. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in the booth within 1 hour of buying your ticket. In tourist season there are huge lines. If you want to avoid a long wait – buy a ticket on the official website. You can also buy a fast track ticket to get on the Ferris wheel.

Address: London, Westminster Bridge Road, County Hall, Riverside Building, SE1 7PB

Opening times: 10am – 8.30pm daily (see website for times which may be shortened or closed for technical reasons)Tickets: €31 online, €34 at the ticket office