London Attractions

One of London’s most consistently popular attractions, Madame Tussauds has the finest collection of wax models of contemporary and historical figures in the world.

Painstakingly created, each model takes up to three months to prepare, and, in the case of models of living subjects, must be indistinguishable from the actual person before being approved for display.

Madame Tussaud’s wax museum has grown to become a major London tourist attraction. It has expanded with branches in Amsterdam, Berlin, Las Vegas, New York City, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Washington DC, with an additional location scheduled to open in Hollywood in 2009.

Having started out, in 1834, as grocery and tea merchants in Stepney, East London, Harrods has become one of London’s premier West End shopping venues and one of the most famous stores in the world.

Known for top quality merchandise and impeccable customer service, Harrods provides everything from an on-premises bank to an exotic pet shop.

It is truly a “must-visit” on any London itinerary that includes shopping.

The closest airport is London Heathrow airport which is around 12 to 13 miles from Harrods and takes around 30 minutes by car.

They have excellent Airport Parking at Heathrow so leaving your car at the airport’s car park is an ideal solution to London’s parking problems.

The 768 million Millennium Dome, the world’s largest enclosed space, opened on the first day of the new millennium, January 1, 2000.

In the dome’s center was a massive stage area which presented multi-disciplinary performances attempting to tell the story of humanity.

Arranged around the perimeter of the dome are 14 themed zones which celebrate British ideas and technology and examine crucial choices facing mankind in the new era.

The Millennium Dome was the centerpiece of all Britain’s Millennium celebrations, but failed to draw the crowds predicted.

Originally, some suggested that the dome be torn down, but a proposal for a high-tech business park be erected under the tent area, creating an “indoor city” complete with streets, parks, and buildings was agreed and the O2 was born.

Buckingham Palace is the headquarters of the British Monarchy and is used as both a home and office.

Soon after George IV took the throne, he ordered that Buckingham House, the London home of his parents, be destroyed and a new, more suitable residence be built.

However, as Parliament was not willing to advance the £500,000 that George estimated would be necessary to construct an entirely new building, it was decided that Buckingham House should be renovated, instead.

John Nash was chosen to be the mastermind of the renovation, and even though the budget was fixed by Parliament at around £200,000, the project quickly expanded beyond anything provided for in the original estimate.

Constructed between 1886-94, Tower Bridge is one of London’s most recognized sights. It is the first of London’s Thames bridges and the only one which can allow the passage of shipping underneath.

The bridge was engineered to be a two-level span: the lower level, a draw bridge which elevates to permit tall river traffic and the upper level, twin walkways for pedestrians.

The electrical mechanisms for raising the lower bridge and the stairways for accessing the pedestrian walk are both contained within the massive towers.

The observation area in the north tower permits superb views of the City of London and the surrounding Docklands.

The Tower Bridge Museum in the south tower contains the original steam-driven machinery that was used to raise the bridge.

The legislative branch of the British government occupies what is officially called the New Palace of Westminster, situated on the original site of Edward the Confessor’s Palace of Westminster.

The neo-Gothic building was begun in 1840 and the first Parliament was opened by Queen Victoria in 1852. Victoria Tower at the south end of the building is, at 336 ft., the tallest square tower in the world.

Tucked into a niche along the west side of the building, is a statue of Richard I, Lionheart, striking a heroic pose.

One of the world’s most famous landmarks, Big Ben is the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. “Big Ben” was originally the nickname given to the 13 ton “Great Bell of Westminster,” but the term ultimately came to include the clock and St. Stephen’s Tower.