Every year Master Card prepares a list of the most visited cities in the world based on number of visitors and other relevant data. London was the city that topped the list most of the years. Only in 2017, Bangkok took the first place while London slipped sightly to second place. However with more than twenty million visitors London is surely a magnet that attracts millions from all over the world. The emergence of budget airlines and decreasing cost of air tickets ensures more and more people visit the city of their dreams, London. People book Mumbai to London Flight tickets at low cost or fly in from other corners of the world to spend time in historic and grand London. But what are the attractions that draw people to London in droves, here is a list of top attraction for which people flock to London.
Buckingham Palace
Hordes of visitors flock to Buckingham Palace every year to experience imperial royalty. Buckingham Palace is the residence as well as the administrative headquarters of the Monarch of the United Kingdom and was originally constructed in the year 1703. The Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors in the summer months except for the Queen’s private quarters.
Nineteen state rooms where the Queen and other members of the royal family host guests for state visits are accessible to general visitors.. Each of the rooms are historic and have fascinating stories to tell.
Outside the Palace there is another iconic experience for which visitors are ready to wait for hours.
This is the famous Changing of the Guard Ceremony which takes place daily during the summer months between April to July at 11.30 in the morning. During the rest of the year the Changing of Guards Ceremony takes place every alternate day
A visit to the Buckingham Palace is some moments spent experiencing a slice of royalty.
The London Eye
Another landmark that is synonymous with London is the London Eye another icon of London that straddles majestically over the skyline of the city. It is a giant ferris wheel that which gives panoramic views of the city. The London Eye is four hundred and forty three feet tall while the wheel has a diameter of three hundred and ninety four feet. Millions head to the London Eye every year to experience the thrill of its ride.
The Big Ben
The Big Ben is another landmark of London which is a favourite with visitors. The Big Ben an iconic landmarks of London is a clock tower. The huge bell inside the clock tower is known as Big Ben.
The bell weight a massive thirteen tons in weight. The tower consists of four clock faces, one on either direction and dazzles at night when it is illuminated. Each of the dials spans a diameter of about seven metres while the minute hands are about four metres long. The Big Ben has rarely stopped and even when the Commons Chamber was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War, the Big Ben continued ticking. The Chimes of the Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC in 1923 and the tradition continues to this day. The chimes of the Big Ben are sure to resonate in your ears when in London.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is at once a mysterious and eerie place owing to the dark chapters of history associated with it. The prisoners who were jailed here and the grim executions that took place combine to give the place an eerie ambience.. But on the other hand the Tower of London also houses the famous Crown Jewels which includes the famous Kohinoor Diamond. Another favourite haunt of visitors is the Tower of London.
Madame Tussauds
Though over time Madame Tussauds has opened in many cities of the world, the charm of the original in London holds sway and draws visitors to its fold. Visitors are awed by the life like wax statues of celebrities from across the world. Everyone is there from Prince Charles to Abraham Lincoln, from Kate Winslett to Lance Armstrong, from John.F.Kennedy to Yoko Ono.
The Tower Bridge
In many ways the Tower Bridge is the face of London. A sight that is familiar to billions across the world. The Tower Bridge has been seen in countless commercials and films. Considering this no visitor to London can leave without seeing this landmark. The Tower Bridge was built during the period 1886-1894. The bridge is a combination of a drawbridge and a suspension bridge. It is built across the famous Thames river very close to the Tower of London.
The London Bridge
Is there anyone who has not heard of the nursery rhyme, ‘London Bridge is falling down”. In many ways the London Bridge has been an iconic landmark of the city and easily identifiable by millions across the globe. Various bridges that spanned the Thames river across history have been called London Bridge. The current structure was built in the 1970’s while the oldest structure that probably existed was a bridge built by the Romans.
These attractions and many more unique experiences that it offers is the reason why London is among the most visited cities in the world.
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