Ten sights first-timers should not miss in London

The British capital, majestic London, remains one of the best tourist magnets on the European continent. Still, the history of the city is so rich and diverse that it can be quite difficult to enjoy it in one visit.

That's why Lonely Planet has compiled a list of must-see sights in London for those who are new to the city. With this list, you will definitely not get lost among the hundreds of interesting places that are really worth visiting in this wonderful capital.

Tower of London

The historic fortress was built almost 1,000 years ago. Its foundation is attributed to the Roman Emperor Claudius, who built a wooden fort here. During its existence, the Tower has been rebuilt several times, and has served as a prison, a zoo, a mint, and a royal arsenal. Now it is an extremely interesting museum, and the building has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Buckingham Palace

The official London residence of the British monarchs has been a landmark of the city since 1703. A spectacular changing of the guard takes place here every day at 11:30, and every year the palace hosts about 30,000 tourists who are shown the magnificent garden and some of the rooms inside the building.

Big Ben and Palace of Westminster

Perhaps the most famous clock in the world is the one on the tower of the Palace of Westminster. It was built in 1858 and opened a year later. The clock faces the four cardinal points; they are made of 324 pot opal glass, the hour hands are cast iron, and the minute hands are made of copper. The Palace of Westminster is now the seat of the British Parliament. Many of its rooms are open to tourists.

Westminster Abbey

The formal name for this building is Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminste. This is the traditional place of coronation of the British monarchs and burial of the monarchs of England. According to a legend, this church was founded in 616. The modern building of Westminster Abbey is considered a pearl of Gothic architecture.

London Eye

A walk through modern London is impossible without visiting this huge Ferris wheel. It offers a stunning panoramic view of the city.

St. Paul's Cathedral

This building is one of the main symbols of London and the Church of England in general. Now the cathedral is the residence of the Bishop of London. Famous historical figures are buried in the cathedral: Admiral Horatio Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Lawrence of Arabia, Winston Churchill, and others.

Tate Modern

This place should be the first on the list of contemporary art lovers. It presents works of world contemporary art from the Tate's collection, which were created from 1900 to the present. All the most relevant works are exhibited here.

British Museum

And this spot is for lovers of historical art and culture. The British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world. It houses eight million pieces, from the Rosetta Stone to the Elgin Marbles, and it gives an extraordinary insight into world history. The best thing about it is that it is free to visit.

Natural History Museum

The British Empire has always been famous for its special attitude to science. And this is reflected in the collection of the famous Natural History Museum. Here you can see skeletons of prehistoric animals, including the famous 26-meter-long skeleton of a diplodocus Dippy, and many more wonders created by nature. This museum is also free to visit.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The collection of the museum, founded by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, contains a wide variety of masterpieces of decorative and applied arts. Here you can see examples of design from all eras and all continents, paintings, textiles, photographs and sculptures.

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