London is the capital of England and is located right on the Thames river. The roots of London go all the way back to Roman times, and there is plenty to see and do to interest any first time or experienced traveler. Here are some of the top tourist attractions in London.

The British Museum

The British Museum has art on display from the prehistoric times to modern times. Some highlights include the Rosetta Stone, mummies from ancient Egypt, and somes sculptured from the Parthenon.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a gothic abbey church that opened in the year 1090. There are many famous British people buried there, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Charles Dickens.

The National Gallery

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square shows paintings spanning from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free but some of the exhibits require getting tickets ahead of time to get entry.

The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is the place to go if you want to seen some very big animals. They have a permanent collection of dinosaur bones, and even a life sized blue whale. They also have smaller but no less interesting animal collections, such as a 40 million year old spider.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is a great tourist attraction because it is the residence and workplace of the royal family. The palace is owned by the British state, so sometimes the palace hosts garden parties and receptions that include some 50,000 guests. The changing of the guard is the reason that most tourists head to the location, which is a big ceremony that happens every day during the summer and every other day during the winter.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern sits right on the edge of the Thames river and houses both modern and contemporary art. The building was originally a power station so it has a pretty unique shape. The museum is free but some of the exhibits require tickets to get into.

The London Eye

The London Eye is one of the most popular tourist locations. It has 32 different pods in a giant wheel shape that takes guests on 30 minute rides where there are unparalleled views of the river and the city beyond. While on the journey you can see 55 different attractions all from inside the pod.

Tour of London

The Tour of London has a 900 year history and is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It has been a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, a zoo, a jewel house, and a zoo. You can go inside the building and check out a medieval kings bedchamber or look at the Crown Jewels.