London

London tourist attractions

Places of interest

This is a subjective list. See also: London attractions.

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• Chinatown
• Covent Garden
• Downing Street
• Horse Guards Parade
• Leicester Square
• The London Dungeon
• London Eye
• London Planetarium
• London Zoo
• Madame Tussaud's
• Piccadilly Circus
• South Bank
• Theatreland
• Tower Bridge
• Tower of London
• Trafalgar Square

Buildings and monuments

• 1 Canada Square (the centrepiece of Canary Wharf)
• 30 St Mary Axe (also known as "The Gherkin" and the "Swiss Re Building")
• Albert Memorial
• Alexandra Palace
• Bank of England
• Battersea Power Station
• British Library
• Broadcasting House
• BT Tower (Formerly known as the Post Office Tower and Telecom Tower)
• Buckingham Palace
• Bush House
• City Hall
• Clarence House
• Cleopatra's Needle
• Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
• Hampton Court Palace
• Lambeth Palace
• Kensington Palace
• Lloyd's building
• Marble Arch
• Millennium Dome
• The Monument (to the Great Fire of London)
• Nelson's Column
• Palace of Westminster (Parliament and tower containing Big Ben)
• Royal Albert Hall
• Royal Courts of Justice
• Royal Festival Hall
• Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Greenwich Meridian
• Royal Opera House
• Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden
• St Pancras Station
• St Paul's Cathedral
• Somerset House
• Syon House
• Temple of Mithras
• Tower 42 (formerly known as the Natwest Tower)
• Westminster Abbey

Museums and galleries

• See Museums and Art above.

Markets and shopping areas

• West End
• Knightsbridge
• Borough Market
• Portobello Road Market
• Petticoat Lane Market
• Brick Lane Market
• Covent Garden

There are many diverse shopping areas in various parts of London; see also London markets.

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Parks and gardens

:See also: London parks and commons.

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London is well endowned with open spaces. The eight Royal Parks of London are former royal hunting grounds which are now open to the public. Green Park, St James Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens form a green strand through the West End. Regents Park is on the northern edge of central London, while Greenwich Park, Bushy Park, and Richmond Park are in the suburbs. Many of the smaller green spaces in central London are garden squares which were built for the private use of the residents of the fashionable districts, but in some cases are now open to the public.

Related Topics:
Royal Parks of London - Green Park - St James Park - Hyde Park - Kensington Gardens - Regents Park - Greenwich Park - Bushy Park - Richmond Park - Squares

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Most of London's council-owned parks were developed between the mid 19th century and the Second World War. Examples include Victoria Park, Alexandra Park and Battersea Park. Some of the other major open spaces in the suburbs, such as Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common and Epping Forest have a more informal, semi-natural character. The leading paid entrance garden in London is the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew. Hampton Court Palace also has a celebrated garden.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Victoria Park - Alexandra Park - Battersea Park - Hampstead Heath - Wimbledon Common - Epping Forest - Royal Botanic Garden - Kew - Hampton Court Palace

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Other places of interest

• The Old Bailey The Central Criminal Court with famous trials but inconvenient for the unprepared tourist since personal items prohibited include bags and mobile phones.
• Tyburn was the location for many infamous executions by hanging. Now near the site of Marble Arch and Hyde Park.
• Battersea Power Station and the Millennium Dome are two architecturally interesting buildings which currently stand empty. However mixed use developments centred on both buildings are due to commence in 2005. The Millennium Dome will become an indoor sports hall, and Battersea Power Station will become a shopping and leisure facility.
• The Avenue of Stars is a walkway based on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honouring those who have made notable achievments in the entertainments industry.