18 Inspiring and Iconic London Landmarks You Cannot Miss

Last updated: 26 June 2023

After all these years in London, I rarely get tired of seeing quintessentially famous London landmarks. Working in central London a few days of the week, I sometimes go out of my way to walk through the likes of Somerset House or Trafalgar Square to see the latest art installation, cultural attraction or on the hunt for those old London street lamps of an era gone by. 

The ear-to-ear smile on my face as we drive down the Mall (early morning is best!) when it feels like the road is your own, heading straight for Buckingham Palace, or walking along the footpath of the Thames to see iconic London locations like Tower Bridge, cloud-piercing skyscrapers such as The Shard which modernise the ancient skyline once dominated only by the great St Paul’s Cathedral.

Exploring the capital is simply incomplete without ticking off some of these most iconic and famous London landmarks.

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1. St Paul’s Cathedral

One of my favourite places in London, St Paul’s is the work of the great Sir Christopher Wren. The stunning Baroque church designed by Wren in 1673, after the original was destroyed in The Great Fire of London.

As one of London’s most important religious sites. This London landmark should be on everyone’s to-visit list.  There are many different parts of the Cathedral to discover, from the underground crypt to the Golden Gallery, 111 metres above London.

Read More: Visiting St Paul’s Cathedral

For the best view: Take the elevator to the top of One New Change shopping centre. There’s a free viewing platform at the top with uninterrupted views of the Dome!

Views of the interior: Climb the stairs to the Whispering Gallery and look straight down onto the Nave, or head further up to The Stone and Golden Galleries.

2. Tower of London

Once a royal palace, a prison, an armoury, even a zoo! This London landmark tower is one of the world’s most famous fortresses and is over 950 years old!

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With prime position on the frontage of the River Thames, the Tower of London now one of the hottest visitor attractions in the City of London, and home the Crown jewels, said to exceed exceed £20 billion in value!

A visit to The Tower isn’t complete without meeting the ravens.  The Brits are rather a superstitious people and the old adage says that ‘if the ravens leave the Tower the Kingdom will fall…’ As a result, there are a flock of resident ravens at the Tower. Their caretaker, the Ravenmaster.

The Tower has been the site of many high profile executions. Most famously, King Henry VIII had his second wife, Anne Boleyn, executed within the Tower just three years into their marriage.

Best seen: Inside the fortress walls.  For a free view, the best view of this London Landmark is from the viewing platform just near the street known as Petty Wales.

Bonus!

If you’re planning your trip to this London landmark well in advance, see if you can get into the Ceremony of the Keys.

The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual of pomp and circumstance, the ceremonial locking and unlocking of the gates of the Tower. This time-honoured tradition takes place every evening (except one) at 9:53 pm since the 14th century.

The only exception occurred one evening during The Blitz in Second World War.  As London was being bombed, the Warders were knocked off their feet by a nearby impact. A comprehensive apology was written to the King the following day for being slightly late locking the Tower!

The ceremony itself is fairly short. There is a lot of dialogue between the sentry and the Yeoman Warder, as the Tower doors are locked up and the King’s Keys are passed on the for safekeeping.

Book Tickets for Ceremony of the Keys

The tradition is extremely exclusive with strict instructions given to visitors on conduct, photography ban and general behaviour.  This incredibly popular formality is incredibly affordable, but as a result very hard to get tickets. We booked our tickets 6 months in advance! 

Locations Mapped!

All the locations in this post have been saved into this Google Map for easy reference.

3. Big Ben

If someone says Big Ben, you instantly think of the iconic clock tower next to the Palace of Westminster which overlooks the River Thames. The bell that dongs on the hour or when the BBC News starts every evening. There’s no denying Big Ben is an iconic landmark of London

Did you know that Big Ben is actually the physical bell inside the clock tower which was once simply known as the Clock Tower or St Stephen’s Tower, but was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

If you’re living in London (sorry overseas visitors) it is possible to climb inside the structure by writing to your MP. However, the 5 year renovations which prevented the tours from running will be finally completed this year. This should hopefully see a return a welcome return of the public tours in the winter of 2022.  You can sign up to the Big Ben newsletter to be informed when tours begin again. 

Best view: Skip the chaos of Westminster Bridge.  The best spot to see Big Ben is either from Parliament Square Garden opposite Westminster Abbey, or across the river on the embankment footpath that runs along the Thames just in front of St Thomas’s Hospital. Right near the CJD Memorial Plaque is a great spot as it also captures Westminster Bridge.

4. Houses of Parliament

Internationally referred to as the Houses of Parliament as it’s the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the UK. The correct name for this London landmark is actually the Palace of Westminster.

It’s incredible to think you can follow in the footsteps of HRH Prince Charles and HRH Prince William who opened the 2022 State Opening of Parliament as Counsellors of State on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II , or see inside and discover the Commons and the Lords Chambers.

Without a special invitation, the only way to get inside is via a tour, which usually lasts about 90 minutes. Tours generally occur on Saturdays and some weekdays when Parliament is not in session – that’s most of the summer!

Best view: Similar to that of Big Ben, it’s best to skip the chaos of Westminster Bridge.  A boat along the Thames is a great spot to see this great London landmark, or across the river on the embankment footpath that runs along the Thames just in front of St Thomas’s Hospital. There’s a park bench on the embankment which is slightly elevated giving a great perspective over the Thames.

5. Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has been the location for Britain’s coronations since 1066. From William the Conqueror to King Charles III. All but two monarchs have been crowned in the Abbey (if you’re interested that’s Edward V and Edward VIII who were never crowned). 

The venue for Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, and the final resting place for over 3000 people including seventeen British monarchs including King Henry V and all the Tudors except for Henry VIII, notable people such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Isaac Newton, Edward the Confessor and Charles Dickens. Most recently the notable scientist Stephen Hawking had his ashes interred at this London landmark following his death in 2018.

Best view: For the exterior aim for the Crimea and Indian Mutiny memorial or the grounds just outside St Margaret’s Church.

The best of the interior? There’s no single stand out piece in my opinion. One should see all of it.  The Rose Window in the South transept, Memorials in Poets Corner to so many household names, Shakespeare, Newton, Oscar Wilde and more.

6. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of the most impressive and recognisable structures in the capital which has spanned the River Thames since 1894.

As it is one of the most visited attractions in London and continues to be a working bridge to this day.

Inside there is a fascinating exhibition which delves into the significant moments in the Bridge’s history including how it was built, and its impact on the River Thames.

Best place to see it? Make a day of it and take a picnic to Potters Fields Park or grab a photo from the footpath the bridge for a close-up view. Narrow lanes and London traffic, I don’t recommend cycling over it! 

7. Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837.

From the exterior, note and admire the famous Royal balcony which has been used to mark celebrations since 1851, such as Trooping the Colour, the Sovereign’s official birthday parade and Royal weddings. As well as special events of national significance such as the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain all marked by Royal presence on the balcony. 

With 775 rooms including 52 bedrooms for the Royals and their guests, and almost 200 bedrooms to accommodate staff, Buck Pal as it’s fondly referred to by the Brits is very much a working building and the centrepiece of the UK’s constitutional monarchy. Book your tickets for the Royal Mews

If you’re wanting to get past the imposing wrought iron gates, it is possible to visit this London landmark with a visit to the State Rooms and walk in the same corridors as Royals and foreign Heads of State.  Tours run in the British summer and for a limited number of tours in December, January and at Easter.

Best view: Stand on the highest point of the Victoria Memorial outside the palace or head right up to the gates for a gate-free photo of the King’s Guard.

8. Trafalgar Square

A public square in the heart of London, Trafalgar Square’s name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars with France and Spain in 1805.

The centrepiece of the Square is Nelson’s column, a 5m high Grade I listed granite statue which stands on a bronze platform made from old guns from the Woolwich Arsenal Foundry.

In the corners of the Square stand four plinths for statues. Three of them are adorned with bronze statues of General Napier, Major General Havelock and King George IV. The fourth plinth remained empty for many years. It is now used to showcase world-class contemporary artworks. During our time in London we’ve seen:

• a bronze sculpture of a boy on a rocking horse,
• a blue rooster,
• a skeletal riderless horse,
• a human hand in an exaggerated thumbs-up gesture,
• a recreation of a lamassu sculpture, a winged bull and protective deity that stood on the outskirts of Mosul in northern Iraq from 700 B.C. It was destroyed in 2015 by Isis. 
• “THE END”, a giant swirl of whipped cream with a cherry on top alongside a fly and a drone. The drone contained a camera which live streamed footage to a dedicated website.
• And most recently, “Antelope”, a sculpture created by Samson Kambalu, reproduces a 1914 photograph of John Chilembwe, a Baptist preacher from Malawi, and John Chorley, a missionary from Europe. The sculpture depicts a larger-than-life John Chilembwe wearing a hat and standing next to a life-sized John Chorley during a time when wearing a hat in front of white people was forbidden.  

Other things worthy of noting in Trafalgar Square include the information panel just near the cafe on the square which outlines how surveyors used to check Imperial measurements such as ‘Perches’, ‘Chains’ and other archaic measures against feet and yards.

Head to the southeast corner of Trafalgar Square to see what was once probably the smallest police box ever built. Originally a lamp, built in 1826, a century later, Scotland Yard installed a telephone line and light which the police could use to call for assistance. Sadly now, it’s no longer in operation.

Best view: Head up to the steps of the National Gallery and look straight down towards Nelson’s Column

9. Regent St/Piccadilly Circus

Regent Street is the centre of London’s shopping scene. With its Grade II listed facades and the crescent shaped road, Regent Street is home to numerous flagship stores, and receives visits from millions of tourists every year.

At the end of Regent Street is Piccadilly Circus. An open circular space on a busy junction which is often filled with traffic, pedestrians, and tourists surrounded by bright video displays and neon signs. The name Piccadilly Circus, comes from the Latin word circus meaning circle.

Notable buildings surrounding this landmark include the London Pavilion and Criterion Theatre and the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, also known as the statue of Eros, which was actually created as an image of his brother, Anteros, the Greek God of Selfless Love.

The central location of Piccadilly Circus means it’s within walking distance to many other London landmarks and attractions including Trafalgar Square, National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

Best view: The crescent shape of Regent Street is best captured from the middle island of the road, while the bustling life of Piccadilly Circus can be viewed from the windows of Lilywhites, a 5-storey sportswear emporium located on the Circus.

10. The Monument

Tucked behind Monument tube station on Fish Street Hill is a Doric column which is simply known as The Monument.  Built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the fire and celebrate the rebuilding of the City after it was mostly destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The Doric column contains a spiral stone staircase of 311 steps leading to a viewing platform. Sitting atop of the column above the viewing platform is a golden urn from which flames emerged, symbolising the Great Fire.

Read More: Climbing The Monument in London

Standing at 61m, it’s the exact distance to where the fire began. If you were to lay down the Monument it would land at the exact point at a bakery on Pudding Lane when the Great Fire began.

Best view: The best view of the monument is the corner of King William St and Monument St. If you choose to climb to the top you will be rewarded with 360 degree views and on the way down you are given a certificate to mark the occasion!

11. London Eye

The London Eye has tough competition on the Thames and yet still stands out as one of London’s iconic landmarks. A cantilevered rotating observation wheel on the South Bank, the London Eye is reportedly the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom. Book tickets for the London Eye.

Take a ride in one of its 32 capsules, and from the top of the 135m (443 ft) wheel you’ll be rewarded with gloriously unimpeded 360 degree views over London up to a distance of 40 km, or even as far as Windsor Castle on a sunny day!

Best view: Across the Thames along the embankment footpath will reward you with a full view and great reflections over the river.  

Alternatively, go closer. Try the southern end of the Jubilee Gardens near Belvedere Road or immediately underneath the Eye for a macro viewpoint.

12. Maritime Greenwich – Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, & Old Naval College

Maritime Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to significant architecture and landscape. This combined with scientific endeavours and a royal association the area tells the story of Britain at sea, and is the home to the Prime Meridian.

Read More: Cutty Sark – The World’s Sole Surviving Tea Clipper 

Stroll through the ensemble of buildings including the Queen’s House, the Royal Observatory and the Old Royal Naval College. Continue on to Greenwich Park which holds protected by statutes to ensure no buildings can be built which may obstruct the view of the City of London from this point.

Best view: I love the view of the Old Naval College from the balcony of the Queen’s House or the wrought iron gates on Romney Road.

For an aerial viewpoint head up Greenwich Park where the highest most point of the park rewards with perfect views of east London and some of the London landmarks mentioned in this post.  

13. Museums – British Museum, V&A, NHM & Science

It’s not possible to single out any one museum as the best in Britain. London is home to a number of major world class museums, if you have time, I’d encourage you to explore the lesser-know, the quirky museums London has to offer.

Read More: 9 of the Best Museums in London

For the purposes of this post, I’ve picked four of my favourites.  Each hold their own secrets which from 5000 year old Egyptian mummies to ground-breaking scientific discoveries, ancient carpets, to the gems from the world’s most famous literary figures. Individually, they’re all landmarks in London worthy of your time and even if you can only discover one, or spend an hour at each.

Best view: Everywhere. They’re all individual and iconic exteriors are worthy of some time. Pay attention to the pediment outside the British Museum, or the striking Romanesque architecture that is the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.  

Inside they’re all incredible, with corners of beauty and elements for the culturally curious. Look up as you enter the Great Court at the British Museum, it’s the largest covered public square in Europe! While over at the Natural History Museum, say hi to Hope, the Blue Whale and head for the Hintze Hall.  

14. Skyscrapers – The Shard, The Gherkin, & The Walkie Talkie

The skyline of London is almost unrecognisable compared to what it looked like a decade ago as huge office towers continue to be erected in the City.

These London landmarks are often known by a nickname or simply by their address. Iconic buildings with names like the Gherkin, the Cheesegrater, the Walkie Talkie and the Shard just to name a few. Book tickets online to visit the Shard.

Many of these new sky rise buildings need public space in their plans in order to get building approval. This leads to fantastic spaces like the Sky Garden which offer viewing platforms with 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London.

Read More: Brunch at the Shard

Best view: Somewhat bemusingly, the best view of the Shard is from the Walkie Talkie, and vice-versa.  The best view of the Gherkin is from 110 Bishopsgate (aka Heron Tower).

15. Cemeteries – The Magnificent Seven

Eerie and historical, some consider cemeteries spooky and far from the traditional London landmark.

Did you know in that seven cemeteries were established in an almost perfect circle outside central London (although most are Zones 1 or 2 nowadays) in the mid 19th century to alleviate overcrowding in small parish churchyards.  These are known as the Magnificent Seven. 

• Abney Park
• Brompton
• Highgate
• Kensal Green
• Nunhead
• Tower Hamlets
• West Norwood

Fascinating and poignant London’s cemeteries have a classic gothic charm for centuries having been featured in literary, in many films such as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Goldeneye, Johnny English just to name a few.

Read More: What to expect from a visit to Highgate Cemetery

Stroll through the grounds of any of these cemeteries to get a glimpse of London’s past. Highgate is home to the final resting place for Punk revolutionary Malcolm McLaren, artist Anna Mahler and writer Mary Anne Evans who is known by her pen name George Eliot and probably Highgate’s most famous resident, philosopher Karl Marx.

Best view: In them!  Most of the Magnificent Seven are free to stroll through at your leisure.  Highgate runs guided tours to both sides of the cemetery.

16. The O2

The most modern landmark in this list, the O2 is pitched on the Greenwich Peninsula in South-East London. Formerly known as the Millennium Dome, the O2 is part music, sport, comedy, entertainment venue, and a shopping outlet.

With a circumference of 365m, it is possible to climb the dome-shaped canopy which is supported by a cable network attached to the twelve yellow masts.

Best view:

For an aerial view of the O2 and several other landmarks mentioned in this post, take the extremely affordable cable car, the Emirates Air Line across the Thames.  For an up close and personal view of the dome, get yourself on a climb and walk over it yourself!

Read More: What’s it like to climb the O2?

17. Shakespeare’s Globe

An Elizabethan playhouse made famous by William Shakespeare, on the south bank of the River Thames. 

The original theatre was built in 1599, destroyed by fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, and then demolished in 1644. The modern Globe Theatre is a reconstruction based on the 1599 and 1614 buildings.

Accommodating 1,400 spectators, the venue’s popular standing tickets enable crowds to stand in front of the stage for just £5. Of course there are more comfy seats from galleried bench seating.

Read More: Take Our Free Walking Photo Route of London

Explore this London landmark on one of the theatre’s tours, focusing on the history, and how the “Wooden O” works today as an imaginative and experimental space.

Best view:

Take a river boat and get off at Bankside Pier.  Just before the boat docks, you’ll see the Globe from the same perspective as Londoners have over the centuries.   

18. Somerset House

One of my favourite places in the city, Somerset House is a spectacular Neo-classical building sitting between the Strand and the river Thames, near Waterloo Bridge.

The Georgian building is a centre of excellence for culture and the arts dating back to 1776.

The stone courtyard hosts an impressive ice rink in winter. During the summer months fountains dance in the courtyard, open-air concerts and movies, art and design exhibitions. There are free guided tours available which explore spaces usually hidden to visitors.

Best view: Starting on the Strand, walk through the centre arch and stop before you get to the end. From here enjoy a full view of the forecourt including the statue of George III.

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Happy travels, and don’t forget your umbrella! ’tis London after all!

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