1. Westminster for a glimpse into London politics

Westminster is the political center of London and where you will find both the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. But more on that in a moment. Westminster Abbey is open to the public and you can walk in the footsteps of famous icons like Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. That being said, this is also where royal weddings take place and where famous kings, queens and soldiers went about their business. As for the building itself, Westminster Abbey is a remarkable piece of architecture and you can even attend mass which is held several times every day.

2. Cruising the Thames for a new perspective

Flowing right through the heart of the city, the Thames has been bringing industry to London for many centuries. In fact, this river was of central importance during both World Wars and back as far as Roman invasions. For this reason, there is much to see and learn along the river and a cruise is often the best way to experience this history. Just so you know, this cruise would take you past the London Eye and Tower Bridge and even the Houses of Parliament. Either way, it’s a great way to see the city and a totally different perspective of the London you might see on foot.

3. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Is a trip to London really worth it without a visit to Buckingham Palace? More specifically, how could you not want to see the changing of the guard?

Buckingham Palace has been the home of the Royal Family since the mid-1800s and has more than 700 rooms. However, outside of the palace, you can watch one regiment take over from another in a historic tradition that takes place twice daily. If for nothing else, you might want to see the iconic bearskin hats in person and catch a quick snap next to these imposing characters who are notorious for never breaking their facial expression.

4. Tower Bridge & the Tower of London

Similarly, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are two more of the most famous landmarks in the city. Tower Bridge, often mistakenly called London Bridge, is the historical bridge with its two iconic towers. It used to be the sole river crossing since Roman times. The actual London Bridge is about a half mile away, doesn’t have the towers and opened in 1973. Meanwhile, the Tower of London was founded in 1066 and was initially a prison before converting to a castle. You can even go inside this historic building and witness the Crown Jewels and many more ancient crafts.