Visiting London - 5 Must See Places!

London - one of the greatest European cities, full of cultural monuments, great museums, beautiful gardens and excting nightlife. No londer that over 26 million people visit London each year. Every visit to London is an expereince of its own. London, no matter how many times you have been there you will always enjoy it, always find some new and exciting places to visit, things to do, people to meet. For those of you who have never been to London here are some of the attraction that have caught my eye. It is by far a complete list, there are so many more things to see, it is impossible to fit it in one Hub.

The Tower of London, a historic fortress and once a prison, is the city's most spectacular and popular attraction and for a good reason. Its construction was started by William I in 1066. What we see today is result of replacements, additions and tinkering with the design for almost 8 centuries.

The Tower has been a prison for Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I), St. Thomas More, Henry VI, Anne Boleyn (beheaded inside the Tower). The deaths of the sons of Edward IV in the "Bloody Tower" are considered among the most famous intrigues occurring at the Tower.

One of the greatest lures of the Tower are the Crown Jewels, a lavish and interesting collection of coronation ornaments and crowns as well as the Royal Armories, which provide one of the best collections of arms and armor dating from Medieval times.

A visit to the Tower can easily fill an afternoon if you want to see all there is to experience.

No visit to London should be left without going on the London eye! The 32 capsules carry around 10,000 visitors every day. The London Eye is 135 meters high which makes it the world's tallest observation wheel. When you're at the top, you can see a full 360 degree panorama of the city - a view you can't get from anywhere else so make sure you don't forget your camera! The London Eye works from 10am until 9 pm. In a clear day you can see up to 40 kilometers away in all directions. My personal favourite is a night ride - London at night see from 135 meters hight is a magical picture. It might be a good idea to book your tickets online so you save time.

The world-famous British Museum exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times from around the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection. Entry is free but special exhibitions may require tickets.

The Natural History Museum in London boasts with a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world, as well as the permanent dinosaur exhibition. See a life-sized Blue Whale, a 40-million-year-old spider and the amazing new Darwin Centre. Entry to the museum is usually free but some exhibitions may require buying a ticket.

You can't say you have been to London without visiting the Buckingham palace! The palace is Queen Elizabeth II's official residence and has been the official London residence of Britain's sovereign since 1837. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace have been opening to the public for the Annual Summer opening, in August and September since 1993. It was originally a way to pay for the damage from a fire at Windsor Castle but it was so pipular that it was left for every summer. Now visitours and tourist can enjoy the grand State Rooms as well as see many of the treasures of the Royal Collection: paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Canaletto; and beautiful examples of English and French furniture.

Officially known as Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben is one of the most iconic landmarks of London. The tower was completed in 1859 and is 96 meters high. There are a couple of theories where the nickname of the Clock Tower came from. The first theory is that it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall who originally commissioned the work and who was known as "Big Ben" in the parliament due to his stature.

A quite common misconception is that London is a city where the rain doesn't stop and the fog doesn't lift. But it is a beautiful and magical place, one that must be seen. Seeing these historical, magical and grand sights, staying in one of the many luxury hotels in London, experiencing the great and full of emotions London night life - all these things makes London a must see destination!