One of the world’s most visited cities has a special place in my heart. It’s where I spent three weeks of my summer in 2009 for a quick study abroad program, and it really was the experience of a lifetime. We were required to take a three-unit course while we were there, so it required a few hours of sitting in a classroom per week plus field trips, but we still had plenty of time to explore the city on our own. During our one free weekend, many students took the two-hour train ride to Paris, while a few others went to Amsterdam. On another weekend, the whole student cohort was taken to the city of Oxford on an organized trip with the professors. If you ever get a chance to visit, you should stay at least a week because there is that much to see and do. However, if you only have three or four days to spend here, its amazing underground transportation, the Tube, will get you everywhere very quickly. I visited a second time the following year, this time with my mom, and we were able to squeeze in the main attractions in just three days. Even after visiting other cities in recent years, London is still one of my favorites because it has so much to offer- great shopping, a reliable and clean transportation system, world-class museums and so many different types of cuisine.
Main Attractions
- Tower Bridge– the city’s most recognizable bridge, close to Tower of London.
- Tower of London– historic castle that was used as a royal residence, prison and armory, and is now a museum and home to the crown jewels.
- Buckingham Palace– current royal residence.
- British Museum– one of the largest (and one of my favorite!) anthropology museums in the world. They have millions of artifacts that cover many of the world’s cultures. Admission is free!
- Victoria and Albert Museum– world’s largest applied art and design museum. My favorite part was the Casts Room that houses a cast of Trajan’s Column (original is in Rome).
- Trafalgar Square– large square named after a battle won by the British during the Napoleonic Wars. There is a column in the center that is guarded by four lion sculptures.
- National Gallery– located in Trafalgar Square, this art museum houses thousands of paintings from many time periods. Don’t miss The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, Rokeby Venus by Diego Velasquez and The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Westminster Abbey– to say that this church is one of the most important landmarks in the city is an understatement. Not only are many historical figures buried here, but it has hosted several royal weddings and every monarch coronation since William the Conquerer’s in 1066. It is also where Princess Diana’s funeral was held.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral– the current St. Paul’s was built on top of the original that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. It has also hosted many funerals, national celebrations and even Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles.
- Natural History Museum– I visited the museum during my study abroad trip and it is a super fun place to visit even as an adult! There are thousands of specimens on display, including some collected by Charles Darwin.
- Palace of Westminster– home to the famous clocktower, Big Ben, and the two houses of the Parliament.
- British Library– world’s largest library by number of items catalogued. This was the last place I visited on my study abroad trip and what I remember most about that visit was seeing one of the original copies of THE Magna Carta and handwritten Beatles lyrics on display.
- Museum of London– a fun museum dedicated to the city’s history from its beginnings as a Roman settlement to modern times.
- Piccadilly Circus– intersection of two streets that is now one of the city’s most well-known landmarks. It’s basically like a smaller version of Times Square with the digital billboards, tourist shops and restaurants.
- King’s Cross Railway Station– for all Harry Potter fans! In the last few years the station has added a Harry Potter shop and right next to it are the famous Platform 9 ¾ sign along with the luggage trolley appearing to disappear into the wall for the perfect photo op!
Shopping
- Harrod’s– the department store of all department stores! Definitely an experience just walking through it.
- Old Spitalfields Market– food, clothes, beauty products, and more!
- Oxford Street– the equivalent of New York’s 5th Avenue.
Day Trips
- Oxford– beautiful city and home to the University of Oxford. If you are a Harry Potter fan, I recommend paying a small fee to tour one of the university’s colleges, Christ Church, as a few of its landmarks were used in the films.
- St. Alban’s– small city not far from London that was an original Roman town. I only visited the cathedral with my study abroad class, but if you get a chance to go, you can see what is left of a Roman wall and theater.
