London Landmarks Guide

Famous London Landmarks

From the chimes of Big Ben and the towers of Tower Bridge to the pageantry of Buckingham Palace and the heights of the Shard, explore the iconic sights and attractions that define the capital's skyline and story.

Iconic London Sights

10 famous landmarks
Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, LondonHistoric Landmark
Westminster

Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament

The iconic clock tower — officially the Elizabeth Tower — rising above the Palace of Westminster on the banks of the Thames, home to the UK Parliament and one of the most recognised silhouettes in the world.

The Great BellElizabeth TowerPalace of Westminster
Tube:WestminsterEst. 1859
Tower Bridge in Tower Hamlets, LondonHistoric Bridge
Tower Hamlets

Tower Bridge

The instantly recognisable Victorian bascule and suspension bridge over the Thames, famous for its twin Gothic towers, high-level glass walkways and a lifting roadway that still opens for tall ships.

Bascule lifting deckGlass floor walkwayTwin Gothic towers
Tube:Tower HillEst. 1894
Buckingham Palace in Westminster, LondonRoyal Residence
Westminster

Buckingham Palace

The London residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarch, famous for its balcony appearances, the Changing of the Guard ceremony and the opulent State Rooms opened to visitors each summer.

Changing of the GuardThe State RoomsThe Royal balcony
Tube:Green ParkEst. 1837
The London Eye in South Bank, LondonObservation Wheel
South Bank

The London Eye

Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, turning slowly above the South Bank of the Thames and offering 40-kilometre panoramic views across the capital from its glass capsules.

135-metre heightGlass capsulesPanoramic city views
Tube:WaterlooEst. 2000
Tower of London in Tower Hill, LondonHistoric Fortress
Tower Hill

Tower of London

A historic royal fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site on the north bank of the Thames, home to the Crown Jewels, the legendary ravens and nearly a thousand years of history as palace, prison and stronghold.

The Crown JewelsYeoman WardersThe ravens
Tube:Tower HillEst. 1078
St Paul's Cathedral in City of London, LondonCathedral
City of London

St Paul's Cathedral

Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece crowning Ludgate Hill, an English Baroque cathedral famous for its vast dome, the Whispering Gallery and its role as a symbol of London's resilience.

Wren's great domeWhispering GalleryThe Golden Gallery
Tube:St Paul'sEst. 1710
The Shard in London Bridge, LondonSkyscraper
London Bridge

The Shard

Western Europe's tallest building, a soaring 310-metre glass spire beside London Bridge station, home to offices, restaurants, a hotel and the capital's highest public viewing gallery.

The View from the Shard310-metre glass spireSky-high dining
Tube:London BridgeEst. 2012
Westminster Abbey in Westminster, LondonAbbey Church
Westminster

Westminster Abbey

A magnificent Gothic church and UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been the coronation church of English and British monarchs since 1066, and the burial place of kings, poets and scientists.

Royal coronationsPoets' CornerRoyal weddings
Tube:WestminsterEst. 1090
Trafalgar Square in Westminster, LondonPublic Square
Westminster

Trafalgar Square

London's grand civic square at the heart of the West End, dominated by Nelson's Column and its bronze lions, and framed by the National Gallery and the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Nelson's ColumnThe bronze lionsThe Fourth Plinth
Tube:Charing CrossEst. 1844
Piccadilly Circus in West End, LondonPublic Square
West End

Piccadilly Circus

The bustling road junction and public space at the heart of the West End, famous for its dazzling illuminated advertising screens, the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain and its statue of Eros.

Illuminated billboardsStatue of ErosWest End theatres
Tube:Piccadilly CircusEst. 1819
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Discover the best of the capital

London's landmarks are just the beginning. Explore the city's most popular parks, pubs, restaurants and local businesses across all 32 boroughs.