From Tower Bridge to the City
TOWER OF LONDON
The Tower of London is one of the city's most iconic and popular landmarks.
Adobe Stock
The tower - which gives its name to this fortress, housing the Crown Jewels - was built by a ... Norman!
In 1078, William the Conqueror wanted to establish his new power with this imposing building, to the east of the City.
Royal palace, then prison and place of execution, it now houses the “Beefeaters” (guards in traditional costumes), seven crows and some ghosts ... We discover an armory, instruments of torture and 23,578 precious stones, including 444 on the famous crown of Saint Edward.
Good to know:
this is one of London's biggest and most popular attractions, so arrive early or after 3pm and take the Beefeaters' guided tours.
For great views of the River Thames, take a stroll on the battlements or, right next door, the glass walkway over Tower Bridge.
St Katharine's & Wapping, EC3N 4AB.
Metro
: Tower Hill.
Daily from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., opening at 10 a.m. on Monday and Sunday.
Adult price: £ 26, child: £ 12.90.
BARBICAN
Barbican spans 15 hectares in the City.
Adobe Stock
We hate it or we love it: the brutalist complex of the Barbican leaves no one indifferent.
Built in the 1960s and 1970s by the Corbusean architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, it covers 15 hectares in the City and includes 2,000 apartments, lakes, and a cultural center.
The latter houses a cinema, concerts, design and pop culture exhibitions, restaurants and a tropical greenhouse, open free of charge on weekends.
The center offers tours of the complex, crossed by walkways, which are accessible via stairs from Moorgate and Barbican stations.
They also lead to the ruins of the London Wall and the Museum of London.
Great and free, it tells the story of London.
Barbican Center, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS.
Subways
: Barbican or Moorgate.
Daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., open on weekends at 11 a.m. or noon on public holidays.
Architecture Tour price: £ 15, exhibitions adult price: from £ 15, and £ 5 when subscribing for free to the Young Barbican offer (14-25 years old).
ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL
Measuring almost 110 meters high, St Paul's Cathedral in London is the second largest cathedral in the world.
Adobe Stock
This baroque Anglican cathedral is one of the great pride of Londoners who have rebuilt it four times since 604, on its hill overlooking the City.
The current version, completed by Christopher Wren in 1711, notably served as the setting for the wedding of Charles and Lady Di.
As soon as you enter, you are struck by the grandeur of the nave, leading towards a gigantic dome.
It is the jewel of the building, adorned with mosaics, added at the request of Queen Victoria.
111 meters high, the dome offers extraordinary panoramas to the brave who climb its 528 steps.
They are rewarded with breathtaking views of key London landmarks, including the Tate Modern opposite.
Before leaving, go down to the crypt where Admiral Nelson rests.
Good to know:
Saint-Paul is quieter at the start of the morning or at 5 p.m., during magnificent vespers.
To see the cathedral from a different perspective, finish with a panoramic cocktail at the extravagant The Ivy Asia.
St. Paul's Churchyard, EC4M 8AD.
Metro
: St Paul's.
Daily 8.30am-4.30pm.
Adult price from £ 17, 6-17 years old: £ 7.20.
South Bank
THE SHARD
Opened in 2012, The Shard is a neo-futuristic skyscraper in the district of Southwark.
Originally called "The London Bridge Tower", Londoners now call it "The View".
Adobe Stock
A 309-meter glass stalagmite, the Shard is the tallest building in the UK and stands proudly above the Borough Market foodie.
It houses offices, apartments and The View from the Shard.
This attraction has three observation platforms that will blow your mind.
They also host yoga sessions and a
silent disco
.
Good to know:
you can also enjoy spectacular panoramas at one of the chic tables at the Shard, at Ting's, at the Shangri-La hotel, for example, which serves a dizzying
afternoon tea
.
The View From The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, SE1 9SG.
Tube
: London Bridge.
Daily 10 am-10pm (times vary on certain days, mentioned on the site).
Adult price from £ 27, 4-15 years old: £ 25.
Ting at Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard.
Afternoon Tea: £ 59.
TATE MODERN
Tate Modern, the former power station that has become a cultural center and museum, is a representative monument of London.
Adobe Stock
On the banks of the Thames, near Borough Market and Shakespeare's Globe Theater, is the UK's most visited site: the Tate Modern, a large museum of modern and contemporary art, housed in a former power station.
The impressive Turbine Hall hosts monumental installations (October to March), such
as Olafur Eliasson's
Sunset
.
It is the heart of the museum, between the original building, Natalie Bell, and the Blavatnik Building, dating from 2016.
Which one to visit?
Both, my general!
Nathalie Bell for modern exhibitions and collections (from Pablo Picasso to Mark Rothko), and Blavatnik for the post-1960s period. Their restaurants and terraces are also worth a detour.
Good to
know:
on weekends, avoid the crowds by arriving early or late.
Free evenings are organized on certain Fridays, mixing music, workshops and conferences.
Bankside, SE1 9TG.
Tube
: London Bridge or Southwark.
Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m.
Free access to the permanent collections.
Adult exhibition price (depending on the exhibition) from £ 13, 12-18 years old: £ 5.
SOUTHBANK CENTER
The largest cultural center in Europe, the Southbank Center offers quality programming: classical and contemporary music, theater, dance, art exhibitions ... Adobe Stock
This brutalist fortress is located on the south bank of the Thames (South Bank), between the Tate Modern and the London Eye.
Opened in 1951, it brings together several cultural venues, including the Hayward Gallery and the Royal Festive Hall.
Its avant-garde spirit is illustrated through its programming, ranging from classical music to contemporary art, including theater, dance and its festival, Meltdown.
The Southbank Center is rarely crowded, yet offers a plethora of activities, especially for children.
We spend whole days there, taking a break in its elegant audiophile bar-restaurant, Spiritland or at its
street food
market
.
Belvedere Road, Bishop's, SE1 8XX.
Metro
: Waterloo or Embankment.
Daily, except Tuesday for the Hayward Gallery, hours vary depending on the location of the center.
Many free events.
Adult exhibition price (depending on the exhibition) from £ 13.50, 12-16 years old: £ 7.
LONDON EYE
London Eye, the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, is set up opposite Big Ben.
Adobe Stock
Temporarily installed to celebrate the year 2000, the largest Ferris wheel in Europe continues to turn in front of Big Ben, strong in its popularity.
If you hate queuing, tourist attractions, and altitude, go your way.
But, if the idea of admiring the iconic monuments of London from 135 meters high appeals to you, get on board!
The wait with a standard ticket is at least 30 minutes: the duration of one turn of the wheel.
Once on board one of the 32 capsules, you don't know where to look.
We admire Big Ben and the Parliament under our feet, then we have fun spotting the other monuments.
On a clear day, you can see up to Windsor Castle!
Note:
the trip at sunset is even more magical and the lines are shorter ...
The Queen's Walk, Bishop's, SE1 7PB.
Metro
: Waterloo.
Daily 10 am-8.30pm (times vary depending on the days and seasons).
Adult price from £ 27, 3-15 years old: £ 22.
Central London
BIG BEN AND PARLIAMENT
Only residents of the United Kingdom are permitted to enter inside Big Ben, while the Houses of Parliament offer fascinating tours for tourists.
Adobe Stock
Under construction and silent until 2021, the famous clocktower of Parliament - Elizabeth Tower aka Big Ben - usually sets the pace for Londoners' life with its chime.
His bell rings every hour, audible for six kilometers around.
It is from her that comes the name of Big Ben, undoubtedly linked to Benjamin Hall, member of the Parliament, in charge of the installation of the bell-tower in 1858.
Only residents of the United Kingdom are permitted to enter inside Big Ben, while the Houses of Parliament offer fascinating tours for tourists.
They open onto Westminster Hall, with a spectacular 13th century oak ceiling, followed by richly decorated rooms including the House of Lords.
Note:
it is possible to attend parliamentary sessions for free, arriving at 1 p.m. to avoid long queues.
UK Parliament, SW1A 0AA.
Metro
: Westminster.
The opening days and hours vary.
A visit is usually guaranteed on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Guided, available in French, adult: £ 26.50, 5-15 years: £ 11.50.
Audio guide, adult: £ 19.50, 5-15: free with a paying adult, or £ 8 for each additional child.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Westminster Abbey was chosen to be the site of the royal coronations, it has become one of the most famous temples in London.
Adobe Stock
16 weddings and 38 coronations took place in this prestigious abbey.
A stone's throw from Parliament, Westminster Abbey was consecrated in 1065 and rebuilt in Gothic style in the 13th century.
No selfie sticks here - photos are prohibited - but splendors like the chapel of Edward the Confessor, housing the golden shrine of the founder of the abbey and the throne used for coronations.
It is also a burial place for thousands of British kings and personalities, including Charles Dickens.
Among its unmissable spots are Lady Chapel with vaults like lace fans, and the Diamond Jubilee galleries which reveal a sublime view of the nave.
Good to
know:
to save yourself the wait, be there at the opening or before, or come on Wednesdays at the end of the afternoon: the groups desert the abbey and the tickets are cheaper.
20 Dean's Yard, SW1P 3PA.
Subways
: Westminster or St. James's Park.
Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (closing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday), Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Adult price from £ 21 (some tickets include free entry for children), 6-16 years: £ 9.
NATIONAL GALLERY
Like many other museums, the National Gallery is accessible free of charge for all year round.
Adobe Stock
The
Madonna on the Rock
by da Vinci,
Caravaggio's
Supper at Emmaus
and
Van Gogh's
Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers
are just a few of the thousands of masterpieces to admire for free in this museum in Trafalgar Square.
These treasures, retracing the history of painting in Europe, date mostly from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, but the great landscape painters and impressionists also attracted many people to the east wing.
Vast, the National Gallery is rarely full, especially if it is early morning.
Good to
know:
take advantage of a free guided tour, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday.
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN.
Tube
: Charing Cross.
Daily 10 am-6pm (Friday until 9pm).
Free access to the permanent collections.
Some exhibitions are paying for adults: £ 8-16.
BRITISH MUSEUM
The British Museum in London is one of the oldest museums in the world and one of the most visited with 5 million visitors per year.
Adobe Stock
Archeology and ethnology fans, this museum is for you.
Opened in 1759 in central London, with the collection of doctor Sir Hans Sloane as its foundation, the British Museum is interested in the history of mankind.
Among the 80,000 objects on display (1% of the collection), from all continents, we find mummies, the sculptures of the Parthenon, a giant from Easter Island and the Rosetta Stone, which was used to decipher hieroglyphics.
You won't be able to see everything, so opt for a guided tour (Saturday and Sunday at 11am or 2pm), or come back.
Good to
know: the
second most visited attraction in the United Kingdom, the British Museum can be explored more pleasantly on a weekday morning, and on a Sunday rather than a Saturday.
A word of advice, use the north entrance.
Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG.
Subways
: Holborn, Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Russell Square.
Daily 10 am-5.30pm, or 8.30pm on Fridays.
Free access to the permanent collections.
Tours and exhibitions from £ 14.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
If there was only one monument to see in London, it would undoubtedly be Buckingham Palace.
Adobe Stock
Nothing is more iconic of London than Her Majesty's Guards at Buckingham Palace, in red tunics and bear hair hats.
You can see them in action during the traditional Changing of the Guard - every day in June-July or Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from August to May - around the royal residence between 10:30 am and 11:30 am.
Stand in front of the palace gates from 9:30 am for a good view, or around 10:30 am, on Birdcage Walk and The Mall.
Good to know:
to enter Buckingham Palace, take advantage of the summer opening (from July to the end of September) and stroll through the gardens and sparkling reception rooms, the State Rooms.
The rest of the year you can book an exclusive tour with a glass of champagne and
goodies
.
Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA.
Subways
: St James' Park or Hyde Park Corner.
Changing of the guard: daily or every other day depending on the season, 11 a.m., free.
Summer visits, daily, every 30 minutes from 9.45 a.m. to 2.45 p.m.
Adult price: £ 36.50, 5-17 years old: £ 21.
Exclusive two-hour State Room tours, variable dates announced on site, price: £ 85.00.
Chelsea and Kensington
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM (V&A)
The V&A is the world's largest art and design museum.
Adobe Stock
Founded in 1852 on the initiative of Prince Albert, husband and cousin of Queen Victoria, the V&A is the largest museum of decorative arts in the world.
Its formidable red and white stone building in the French Quarter of South Kensington has 145 galleries, rich in Asian art, sculpture, textiles and ceramics.
In this Ali Baba cave, we come
across
Canova's
Three Graces
, Gallé vases, Constable's paintings, but also thousands of costumes, jewelry and haute couture clothes that make
fashionistas
dream
.
Exhibitions, dedicated to icons of fashion, design and music, should be booked well in advance.
Note:
if you miss the boat, try your luck at the opening, new tickets are sometimes on sale.
You can always have a coffee in the sumptuous restaurant, decorated among others by William Morris, or stroll in the pretty courtyard garden.
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
Tube
: South Kensington.
Daily 10 am-5.45pm.
Free access to the permanent collections.
Adult price for exhibitions (depending on the exhibition) from £ 15, 12-17 years old: £ 13.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The 25-meter whale skeleton in the lobby of the Natural History Museum.
Adobe Stock
Behind its splendid neo-Romanesque facade, adorned with terracotta animals, this neighbor of the V&A has something to amaze the whole family.
The first thing you'll see upon entering the majestic lobby is a 25-meter blue whale skeleton, and right next to it in the dinosaur room is a larger-than-life T-Rex robot.
Opened in 1881, the Natural History Museum examines the history of living things through ancient specimens, some collected by Charles Darwin, and modern nuggets, such as his earthquake simulator.
Note:
the museum is very popular, especially during school holidays and weekends.
It is a good idea to open or come after 4 pm, preferring the entrance on Exhibition Road, which is often less traveled.
Also book one of the special activities such as “Dino Snores” pajama nights: the night at the museum!
Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD.
Tube
: South Kensington.
Daily 10 am-5.50pm.
Free access to the permanent collections.
Dino Snores for adults: £ 185, 7-11 years: £ 65.
KENSINGTON PALACE AND KENSINGTON GARDENS
Kensington Palace is one of the Royal Palaces of London.
It can be partially visited, and serves as a residence for some members of the royal family.
Adobe Stock
This elegant palace - acquired in the 17th century by the royal family, and refurbished by the architect of St. Paul, Christopher Wren - was the residence of Lady Di, and now that of Kate and William.
But the star here is Victoria, whose statue looks at you at the entrance to the palace.
She lived there until her enthronement at age 18 and her childhood is at the heart of the visit, from her exquisite wardrobe to the Cupola Room where she was baptized.
This room, topped with a dome, is in the sumptuous “State Rooms”, the king's private quarters, which can be accessed by a theatrical staircase.
If royalty isn't your cup of tea, take a stroll (for free) through the sprawling gardens that surround the palace, such as the lovely Sunken Garden or the Diana Memorial Playground.
Kids will love his pirate ship.
Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX.
Tube
: High Street Kensington.
Daily 10 am-6pm.
Adult price: £ 15.30, 16-17 years: £ 12.20, 5-15 years: £ 7.60.
Travelogue
The easiest way to get around London is by underground.
Adobe Stock
Move
The easiest way to use public transport is to have a free contactless card abroad.
Instead of charging you the price of a ticket for each trip on the tube (£ 4.90) or bus (£ 1.50), Transport For London adds up all the trips made on a single card and compiles them as an advantageous package, daily or weekly.
This system also works with an Oyster Card or Visitor Oyster Card to be credited (Pay As You Go).
These electronic smart cards cost £ 5, including a deposit you can collect.
They have different benefits: you can register an Oyster Card and have your credit transferred in case of loss, while a Visitor Oyster Card comes with discounts on some attractions, like the Emirates Air Line cable car.
Convenient
Among the tourist passes that save time (they sometimes skip the line) and money, we have chosen the following two:
London Pass
,
if you plan to do at least four of the most expensive activities a day.
You pay by the day for free access to 80 museums, paid exhibits, key sites, cruises and buses, as well as discounts at select shops and restaurants.
Adult 1 day pass: £ 79
London Explorer, if you have a specific schedule and like to take your time.
Select 3, 5 or 7 attractions among 20 and you have 30 days to enjoy them.
Adult 3-attraction pass: £ 64.
Choose according to what activities you want to do, for how long, knowing that you won't be able to use the London Pass at the London Eye, or the London Explorer at The View From the Shard and Tower of London.
Read also: Brexit: what changes for French travelers
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/KMEYMJKESBAZBE4MRBAM4TGHIQ.jpg)
