If you're lucky enough to know someone who works inside, you can get a little tour of Portcullis…read moreHouse. I like the glass ceiling that lets in some natural light. Lunch at the cafe is great as well - nice fresh hot dishes for astoundingly low prices. Funny mix of school groups and lots of government workers in suits.

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.

Clarence House is the current residence of Prince Charles and Camilla and former home of Queen…read moreElizabeth, the Queen Mother before her passing. Since Prince Charles and Camilla do live here, Clarence House is only open 1 month of the year in August. However, if you buy tickets and sign it and get it stamped at the end of your visit, it's good for unlimited future visits for one year (though really, it's good for all of August next year because they're not open year-round). The tour is 45 minutes long and each tour is a bit different. Your guide will go over highlights that they're interested in, so if you get a different guide, you'll learn, hear, and see different tidbits and aspects of each room. Even though there are several stories, you only experience the rooms on the first floor. At the end of your tour, there is a gift shop for souvenir purchases. Beware of the condescending gentleman (if you can even call him that!) at the register who provides a snoot attitude when he deems you haven't purchased enough to receive a paper bag.

Famous as the London home of the late Queen Mother. Now the official residence of the Prince of…read moreWales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Pre-booked guided tour with a timed entrance. Small group views The Entrance Hall leading to the Lancaster Room. The Morning Room has been re-decorated by the Prince of Wales. Favourite along with the Dining Room. No photography is allowed in the grounds. Small gift shop. Wheelchair users can view all rooms.

We had arranged a walking tour through London Walks of Westminster Abbey and it was worth it. I am…read moresure the audio guides provided with admission are decent (we used similar ones at St Paul's) but the guided tour was excellent. The history and the beauty of the building makes this along with St Paul's must sees in London. Because this tour was preset for mid afternoon the building was very crowded. If we had done this on our own we would have gotten the first time slot of the day. I am sure it would have been a bit less crazy. It was fascinating to see who is buried or memoralized here. You could spend hours here there is so much to absorb.

Westminster Abbey was one of the highlights of our visit to London. We arranged for a special…read moreMedieval Monastery tour of the Abby that included learning in-depth history. The 90 minute tour cost £15 plus general admission. We booked on-line two weeks in advance. We arrived early with our tickets stamped for opening at 9:30. Security staff scans and queues up visitors by ticket times and there was a line that had well over a thousand people waiting to enter. All general admission visitors are given a headset with a wonderful guided tour upon entering. There is a logical pathway to follow and learn about the Abbey. Hannah was our private tour guide. She was wealth of information about the history of the Abbey and the people that were important. As part of the tour we had access to parts of the facility that were not part of the normal tour route. We were also allowed to sit in the choir seating for a brief lecture. It was invigorating to sit where royalty had been. The tour is fabulous and very worth the money. The Abbey is mostly French Gothic, but a mix of styles as different King's added on sections and chapels during their reigns. Much of the Abbey was restored after the damage caused by looting after the Reformation and additional damage caused by the WWII Blitz bombing. Most of the stained glass has been replaced. The history dates back over 1000 years and we saw evidence of an ancient door and uncovered mosaics. There is a lot to see, including graves of many notable people and royalty. Restrooms are available towards the end of the tour (but expect a line). There is a cafeteria and several gift shops. Current renovations are adding additional guest restrooms. Wear comfortable walking shoes, expect uneven floors. Arrive a bit early to go through security. I highly recommend a visit. I wouldn't bring young children.

Excellent place to see the changing of the guard!! Make sure to arrive around 30 minutes prior,…read morethey do not let anyone on the street FYI. I believe the time was 10:45 to see them come in. Super fun! But it gets very crowded

Henry the eighth built this Palace on the grounds of the old Saint James hospital in the early…read more1500's. The lush St James Park hides the palace. This is currently the Royal Court. Princess Anne uses the palace as her residence & office.

Dear reader, Big Ben…read moreis one of those London landmarks that you have seen countless times in photographs, yet somehow remains magnificent when you are actually standing beneath it. The Elizabeth Tower is enormous, beautifully detailed, and every bit as grand as one expects from an icon that has spent generations casually dominating the London skyline. The entire Westminster setting adds to the experience. With the Houses of Parliament, the Thames, and Westminster Bridge surrounding you, there are fantastic views from nearly every direction. Hearing the famous bells while standing nearby only adds a little British theatre to the occasion. My tip: do not simply stand directly underneath it and leave. Walk across Westminster Bridge for one of the best views back toward Big Ben and Parliament, especially if you want photos that capture the whole scene. Go early in the morning if you can, before Westminster reaches peak human traffic. If you want the ultimate experience, you can actually tour inside Elizabeth Tower and climb 334 steps to the belfry. Tickets are released three months ahead, so planning in advance is essential. A magnificent London landmark and absolutely deserving of its reputation.

I'm not going to try and add on anything else as most here have spelled it out. Big Ben is historic…read moreand no trip to London is complete without seeing it. I've had the opportunity to run the London Marathon a few times, as most recent as 2025, and running by Big Ben along the race course is a thrill, and makes for a terrific photo op. A great memory! It's iconic, period.

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.

Trafalgar Square is a place very fond in my heart and memories as I loved visiting as a kid (photo…read moreincluded). In recent years, they've cracked down on feeding pigeons and are far less than in the 1990s during my first visit. Sad for me as I love pigeons as my great grandad had messenger pigeons during WWII. Despite there being less birds to sightsee, there are plenty of performs and a stunning picturesque fountain to take photos. Well worth the visit if you find yourself in London!

An incredible journey and look into colonial English history. The size and immensity of Trafalgar…read moreSquare does the photographs justice - it's huge! Lovely fountain, the lions are incredible and stand the test of times. Nelson on the perch, one looks up, gets a bit dizzy, and ponders... just how on earth did they make that thing?! Relaxing, safe, but like any city watch your valuables and be aware. Grab a snack from nearby, walk to the square, sit down, relax and enjoy the scenery.

Seriously. You. Must. Do. This. The Victoria Tower is the…read moretallest tower in the Palace of Westminster and it houses the Parliamentry Archives. It includes the fascinating hole in the floor looking down on the Sovereign's Entrance which they use to know when to raise to royal standard as the Queen steps off the coach and looking down through does make you feel a little seasick. Also it includes the Acts Room. Absolutely fascintating tour that lasts about half an hour or so. You can book in advance to go and use the Archives search room, but tours of the Tower come up from time to time (usually on IanVisits). In the meantime there is the online tour to whet your appetite: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/online-tours/virtualtours/victoria-tower/

When you're walking down past the Westminster Abbey to get some really cool pictures of the…read moreParliament house and you notice this really old 3 story house, it's the Jewel Tower. This tower dates back from the 14th century. It's now run by the English Heritage so it's now a museum. The London Pass gets you in for free, but it's pretty cheap already if you don't have the pass. Because this tower is right across the street from the Parliament, the exhibit inside the tower pretty much talks about the Parliament, the laws, and how the Parliament it is at the present time. So you get to know a little bit of history and you know how laws are passed in Britain. Neat stuff.

The Jewel Tower in London dates back over 700 years and is one of only two surviving sections of…read morethe medieval Royal Palace of Westminster, the other being Westminster Hall. It was built in approximately 1365 to house the treasures of Edward III and its alternative name was the King's Privy Wardrobe. It is a small three storey building constructed of stone, which stands across the road from the current Palace of Westminster. The bottom floor of the tower features a 14th century ribbed vault. It was located at the far southern end of the palace complex, and was built into the palace's defensive walls but was detached from the main buildings, which explains its survival of the great fire of 1834 which destroyed most of the palace. It displays an exhibition about the history of Parliament 'Parliament Past and Present', and the second floor includes panels telling the story of this small but important building. The third floor continues with the more modern role of the tower as the home HQ of the British weights and measures. It currently costs £3.20 to enter (adults). This is a bit expensive, even for london, for what you actually get. Apart from a few display boards, albeit new, and a few artifacts from history, you will be in and out within 20 mins and onto your next site. The site contains a small shop but no visitor toilets.