The Tower of London was founded in 1066 due to the Norman Conquest of England. The Duke of…read moreNormandy, William the Conqueror, had amassed thousands of troops and hundreds of ships and landed in southern England. In October 1066, the reigning Harold II died during the Battle of Hastings and was succeeded by William the Conqueror as king. A series of further victories had cut London's supply lines, and its leaders had surrendered the city. William then initiated an extensive program to fortify the city, which included the construction of the Tower of London in 1066. From then, the Tower had continued to play a significant role in England's regal history. For centuries, monarchs would begin processions at the Tower to Westminster Abbey for their coronations. However, during the Tudor period, the Tower declined in its use as a royal residence. The castle would also serve as a prison for those considered politically undesirable. Under the order of King Henry VIII, the execution of Anne Boleyn occurred at the Tower in 1536. Her daughter, Elizabeth I, was also imprisoned there before she became queen under the order of Queen Mary I. Today, the Tower of London is a popular tourist attraction in the country. Its proximity to Tower Bridge and other attractions along the Circle and District Underground lines help in bringing in many visitors. There is no need to purchase admission if one is walking beside it to view its walls. Fortunately, there are outdoor signs available to learn a little about the history of what you're looking at.

When I visited London earlier this month, it was the first I'd been in London for almost 20 years…read more I don't remember if I went to the Tower of London when I was in London in 2007, but I do remember that I went on my very first trip to London when I was a little girl. I was heavily into my King Henry VIII phase then, and I wanted to see the site where two of his queens lost their lives. Visiting as an adult was interesting. Some things I remembered and some things I didn't. There's no question that this is an incredibly historic site. The site dates back to 1066, and then William the Conqueror built his castle, the White Tower, in 1078. Then the site was expanded by the kings that followed. The purpose of the site changed over the centuries: armory, treasury, menagerie, Royal Mint, public record office, home of the Crown Jewels... For a few centuries, it was the place the next king would spend a few nights leading up to their coronation. And under the Tudors, it became what I knew it as when I was in my Tudor history phase - a prison. Guy Fawkes was tortured at the Tower in 1605. Anne Boleyn was held and executed at the Tower in 1536. Henry VIII's fifth wife was executed at the Tower in 1542. Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower in 1554. Queen Mary I imprisoned her sister Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I, in the Tower for two months in 1554. It's a large site with several different buildings that explain and cover different eras and aspects of the Tower's history. Although I suspect the Crown Jewels are the highlight of many people's visit to the Tower, I really enjoyed and learned the most from the Medieval Palace (which has been preserved/reconstructed to demonstrate the palace where Henry III, Edward I, Eleanor of Provence, and Eleanor of Castile lived); the Chapel Royal of St Peter and Vincula (the final resting place of many prominent prisoners who were executed at the Tower); the Tower Hill Execution Memorial; the Bloody Tower (the tower tied to the imprisonment and disappearance of two young princes in 1483 and Sir Walter Raleigh); St John's Chapel inside the White Tower; and the Tower's ravens (legend says that the kingdom will fall if the resident ravens ever leave the Tower). It's a large property, and the map they provide is pretty terrible. So we just wandered and wandered. You need some time to do this, because there are towers and nooks and crannies - and every little corner of the property has something to teach visitors. I might be a little past my Tudor phase, but a visit to the Tower of London can still thrill this history nerd. A must include on an itinerary for a trip to London.

Our visit to Kensington Palace was unplanned and full of surprises. We were doing a walking tour…read moreand noticed that there were very few visitors and so we easily bought tickets and got right in (after a robust security search). From the outside, the Palace looks institutional to me. The building was built (actually a remodeled farmhouse) in the late 1600's by King William and Queen Mary. A formal garden surrounds the west entrance. I imagine that the garden is quite spectacular in the Spring. The tour includes visits to three "Chambers" with audio tour phones that were easy to use. The audio tour is excellent with lots of interesting information. The staff is friendly and offers talks on interesting aspects of the palace. The oldest chamber visit was that of Queen Mary II (wife of King William III). The Queen's Gallery was most interesting with a fabulous harpsichord that was being played by a member of staff during our visit. The gallery overlooks the lovely gardens. The room is filled with antique pottery and portraits of the Queen. She died in her nearby bedroom chamber at the age of 32 with the King by her side. The Chamber of George II and Queen Caroline is quite opulent. We heard a short and fascinating lecture on a unique wind monitoring device that is still operational today. Family portraits and Renaissance art fill the walls. The third chamber on the tour is that of Queen Victoria where she lived as a child. Some of her childhood toys and books are displayed. Visitors are encourage to play with recreations of toys and dress up clothes. The room of her birth is the final stop of the tour. A gift shop and cafe are available. It would be fun to have tea in the cafe and imagine dining with royalty. I was hoping to run into a few royals, but I didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend. There were few visitors while we were there, which was nice. Plan at least 2 hours (mostly walking) for the tour. GET the audio headsets (they are included with admission). Expect stairs. A restroom is available for visitors.

The first time my daughter and I visited London and we went to Kensington Palace, we got lost when…read moreleaving and ended up on a private street. The street required entry by a guard and we have no idea how we ended up there. The palace is absolutely beautiful and still functions as housing for the royals. We were able to add a memento for Princess Di at the White Garden which still acts as a memorial to her this day.

Around 1876, locals had petitioned for a new crossing east of the Tower of London to ease traffic…read morecongestion. With political support in the legislative process, the Corporation of London Act was passed in 1885 and authorized Tower Bridge's construction. It took about eight years to build the bridge (from 1886 to 1894). Tower Bridge is maintained by the City Bridge Foundation (established in 1282). Today, many tourists, commuters, bicyclists, and runners cross Tower Bridge on a daily basis. At times, it gets very crowded with not a lot of room to walk briskly. This also applies to cobblestone pathways by the Tower of London due to large tourist groups. There is a lot of space on both sides of the Thames to take pictures and gaze at the bridge. While running along the Thames, I saw a man painting Tower Bridge and surrounding skyline. This was near London Bridge, so it's nice to look at Tower Bridge from more afar.

Special Neurodivergent Hours and days…read more If you go on their website there are special neurodivergent hours and days. The Tower Bridge is a must see on trip to London. If you wait long enough they will raise the bridge for a ship.

Everyone has heard of Buckingham Palace as it is known to the home of the monarch,Royal…read morecelebrations and the Changing of the Guard. We did the State Room Tour which is only available from July-Sept. Breathtaking! So many priceless treasures. You definitely want to book your tickets in advance as it gets sold out. The checkin process was very easy as was going thru their security checkpoint. The only thing that was disappointing is No Photos are allowed in The Palace or on the Tour. The tour is a self guided tour with a head site that is provided. Small bags similar to what fits under an airline seat are allowed. After the tour you can visit the Garden Cafe or gift shop. Definitely a must stop in London!

We were exited about visiting the palace. The checkpoint and entrance is rather quick when you have…read morethe ticket online. The security is tight. The visit includes 14 rooms in the palace. We like the audio guide is included. We also like the opportunity to take the picture with the royal preset picture. What we don't like which the Royal collection and trust can improve are below. 1. No picture allow in the palace is kind of step back to ruin the interest of the visitors. Second the exit is a ten minute walks to the entrance if you decide to go back to front. Third the garden on the general admission is kind of let down. There are no flowers at all. Even the king bees hive cannot be seen because is block from view. Fourth the ice cream parlor blocks the possibility view to the palace from a distance view. I think the visit compare to many attractions in the London is not the best. Not sure to recommend this visit.

Absolutely a must-see tour if you're sightseeing in London…read more We've been lucky enough to have a few private tours. My daughter's ex-boyfriend is from London (he's still like family) and works within the Houses. He's got a higher level political position and it's always so special to see how his dream job continues to advance. So proud of that kid. It's always an honor to walk the halls, House of Commons, House of Lords, etc. There is so much history here and I learn something new each time we visit. The architecture is nothing short of spectacular.

A trip to London would not be complete without a visit to one of London's most famous…read morelandmarks--the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Weighing in at 13 tons, the clock tower's bell was cast in 1858 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The Houses of Parliament, officially known as the Palace of Westminster, is the seat of government in England. It is home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords and is where politics takes place. The seat of Britain's government for many centuries, it was also once the site of the royal Westminster Palace occupied by William the Conqueror. The best view of the parliament buildings can be had by crossing Westminster Bridge and looking back. If you're one of many looking to snap your photo with one of the most photographed buildings in the world, the best vantage point is from Westminster Bridge.

Magnificient 360 degree views of the London skyline from the 72nd floor including Big Ben, London…read moreEye and Tower Bridge. Champagne offered for a fee with your ticket. Fyi: prior to entry, everyone will be checked for contraband. Great attraction for everyone.

Pay $100 to have to fight to see out of a window. You are better off going to the hotel near by and…read moregetting a drink. Better view and cheaper Also line of 6 people to use the restroom, my nose unexpectedly started bleeding so I had to use a sink and it was a total nightmare

There are a lot of beautiful bridge pictures on this London Bridge Yelp page, and all of them are…read moreof the Tower Bridge, which you can indeed see from the London Bridge. The actual London Bridge has "fallen" and been rebuilt a number of times over its history, and the current incarnation is a generic concrete and steel box girder bridge built in the 1970s. It's still a good viewpoint of the Thames and Tower Bridge, and it serves its function as a central bridge of London. There isn't otherwise much to visit, but that's okay. If you were looking for Tower Bridge, it's a short, pleasant walk away.

Once you've taken in and walked across the nearby Tower Bridge there is just no comparison as the…read moreLondon Bridge is plain and basic by look and design. Sure, its a fully functional way to cross over the Thames and take in some sights and pictures but that's. London Bridge seems more famous by name and had been featured in songs and movies but the few times I walked across it while in town for the London Marathon it felt underwhelming. Still, the bridge is iconic with a long history and worth a visit.

Tip: I recommend riding the tube to get here. Piccadilly Circus tube station is conveniently…read moreunderground and it's affordable. Piccadilly Circus was an area that I frequented a lot during my visit to London in December 2013. It is a touristy place. I liked it for a number of reasons. Piccadilly Circus tub station is under Piccadilly Circus. I took the underground to get to this touristy site. It was a cheap, efficient means to get to and from the area. The area feels like Times Square (New York), or Yonge and Dundas (Toronto) with brightly lit screens and signs. You then realize that Piccadilly Circus established illuminated, giant advertisements since the early 20th century. What's special about Piccadilly Circus is that it's a junction where Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, the Haymarket, Coventry Street, and Glasshouse Street meet. Circus in the name doesn't mean seeing clowns and acrobats. Rather, it means a circle or roundabout. It makes sense when you see the statue of Anteros, which is also known as Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain. It gives you a good look at how the streets comprise this junction. Piccadilly Circus is close to these touristy spots: - M&M's World - Chinatown - Soho - Theatre district - Oxford Street (shopping) - Hop-on, hop-off stops Gone are these places that I enjoyed visiting: - Ripley's Believe It or Not - Angus Steak House I'm an M&M's fan, so I visited this place three times. I loved it so much! Shopping was great. You can find everything from phone accessories (I still travel with a USB cable with three different charging tips that I bought in London) to weed edibles. I liked the eclectic variety that was eye-opening at the time. I remember that there was a small winter fair at a park that I had visited nearby. I don't remember the name of the park or the fair. What I do remember is enjoying banoffee fudge for the first time. So good! It was fun being in this area. I'd love to go back and see how things have changed. If you've never been to Piccadilly Circus before, I recommend going at least once. (44)

Right in the hub of the city where you're pretty much close to everything. There's a tub station…read morethat has a stop. Right when you walk up, it's like coming out to time square but instead you're in London. The lights and shops make the experiences more fun. You're pretty much near Chinatown, theatre district, Oxford Street, new bond street where amazing shopping is. Also the hop on hop off bus stop here. As it's one of the tourist spot, you have your usual tourist places for food and shopping. Loads of souvenirs stalls everywhere. It was nice to be here for the holidays as the places tends to be covered in holidays lights and decorations. When they say it gets busy, they were not lying. It was beautiful walking around and just taking it in. Compared to the last time I was here, the holidays just makes it more cozy but freezing for an Angeleno. Traffic is busy so be cautious when you're crossing the street. Cars were pretty much all over the place. We tended to just followed everyone whenever we crossed the road. You can't come to London and not check this place out. Even though I've been loads of times, it's still always a must stop for me.