The stretch of the Thames alongside the Houses of Parliament is the only restricted area of the river, due to obvious security concerns. River traffic must keep to the east bank.
Climb the 528 steps up to the dome and visit the Golden Gallery for stunning panoramic view of London and the Thames.
The London Tower Bridge offers great views up and down the Thames River. When you start your climb, look out the north tower for a great view of the Tower of London.
TRAVEL FACT: This historic castle is open daily with tickets that will get you access to the tower with guided tours and live historical re-enactments and exhibitions.
Go at around 3pm and linger until 4pm when the Abbey Choir practices. You can listen to them in the Nave. Self guided audio tour is free and an excellent way to explore the Abbey and learn the history
Take a stadium tour and visit the museum for access to areas normally reserved for players and officials!
Visit the megastore before or after matchday, never at matchday. It will be to overcrowded. But it's a nice shop for every Chelsea fan. :-)
Whether you support Arsenal or not, always a great stadium to go to watch great football.
The next best views of London after Primrose Hill - worth a trek to the top by the Royal Observatory for the breathtaking panorama.
‘Platform 9 and 3/4 ‘ is a site of pilgrimage for fans of Harry Potter, as this is the place of departure for the Hogwarts Express. A luggage trolley ‘disappearing’ through a wall marks the spot.
The MI6/SIS HQ features in Die Another Day (2002) in an establishing shot between scenes of James Bond talking with M in the disavowed agent safehouse and Q introducing 007 to his new car. Read more.
Big Ben refers to the 13 ton bell in the clock tower of Westminster Palace. Opinion is divided as to whether it was named after the then Commissioner of Works, or a famous prize-fighter of the time.
There are free tours of this art deco building 5 times a day (so long as there's no events). Worth it to see inside the temple.
So, it's totally touristy, ok, but it's still the heart of London. You can just sit here and think about how lucky you are to be in such an awesome city.
Top tip. Head right on up to the top floor for gorgeous balcony views and lots of tables for freelancer types.
