This research really helped me to have a great time in London and this is why I would like to share a few useful tips with you:

1.London has a lot to offer when it comes to beautiful tourist attractions and there is a long list of places that can be visited for free. Even though there are a lot of places you can visit without paying a fee, my advice is not to limit yourself only to these ones. From all the places I have visited in London, the most beautiful ones were those I had to pay an entrance fee for. I understood once again that nothing is for free in life and that we have to pay for the most beautiful things and experiences.

In conclusion, no matter what you choose to visit from the list of free tourist attractions, there are some places you should definitely visit because they are worth every penny. In this regard, I advise you to buy a ticket which includes several tourist attractions because this way you will save some money. For example, I chose the ticket which included 5 tourist attractions: Madame Tussauds, the Sea Life London, Shrek’s Adventure, the London Dungeon and the Coca-Cola London Eye. I have paid only 55 pounds for this ticket, but I would have paid almost triple if I had bought five different ones. In addition, this ticket can be used for a period of 90 days. The amazing Shard is another place you should definitely visit even though you have to pay an entrance fee. The ticket is a little pricey, but it is worth paying for. In case you want to benefit from a discount and save some money, you should book your tickets in advance.

2.Taking into account the high number of tourist attractions which can be visited in London, you should spend at least a few days in this city, in case you want to have enough time to enjoy the most important ones. My advice is to plan each day very carefully and check the schedule of each tourist attraction you are going to visit.

Unfortunately, I missed the changing of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace because I didn’t pay attention to an important detail, the schedule. However, it was not a great loss for me because I have seen a lot of these types of ceremonies in other big cities in the world. In addition, looking on the bright side of things, I had more time to admire its beautiful architectural details and enjoy the atmosphere created by the crowd of people gathered in front of the palace.

3.You should stay in downtown London because the most important tourist attractions are situated in this part of the city. In case you don’t want to take my advice and you will stay on the outskirts of London, you will pay more money on public transportation and you will also lose precious time.

In order to go from one place to another, you should use the subway, which is the most comfortable and the fastest means of public transportation. I advise you to buy a tourist card which allows you to choose the number of trips. You can add trips to this card whenever you want and in case you will not use all of them you can get your money back.

4.It is true that London has a lot of beautiful tourist attractions, but you should allow yourself to also enjoy the authentic vibe of the city. In order to do this, you should take your time to walk in the beautiful streets of London. Baker Street, Oxford Street or Regent Street are just a few examples in this regard. Not to mention that this will be a great opportunity to admire a lot of famous red telephone boxes, which are a symbol of London. You will also have the chance to see how people live in London. It will be very interesting to see a lot of locals dressed in suits who sit on grass in the parks or who stand in front of the local pubs and drink beer.

5.During your stay in London, try to taste as many local dishes as you can. Even though Londoners don’t eat very healthy, it will be a real treat to taste their traditional fish & chips, hamburger & chips, meat pies and their different types of English sandwiches. All these dishes seasoned with their local beer will make you plunge into the authentic atmosphere of London. When it comes to food, I advise you to eat only in the best pubs and restaurants and also in the local markets. Besides the pubs and restaurants, I also ate in Borough Market and in Portobello Market and the food was simply delicious.

I hope these simple tips will be useful in case you plan a trip to London.

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Situated atop Ludgate Hill, close to the River Thames, the cathedral seems to dominate the skyline with its impressive dome. It is said that St. Paul’s Cathedral has the second largest dome in the world and I have to confess that it was actually the first thing that caught my attention when I saw the cathedral. I still remember how tired I was that evening when I saw the dome for the first time. I was barely able to walk when I suddenly saw the silhouette of the cathedral, somewhere at the top of the hill. I stayed still for a few moments and I simply stared at that architectural masterpiece.

Its exterior is remarkable and it made me understand why the cathedral is considered one of the most famous and recognizable sights in London. In addition, St. Paul’s Cathedral played an important role in the history of London. From state funerals to royal weddings, the cathedral turned out to be the right place for all these important events. In case you didn’t know this is the place where Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer got married.

The interior of the cathedral is equally gorgeous and shrouded in a special vibe which gave me a feeling of deep inner peace. The floor and the walls of the cathedral portray important symbols and religious scenes. For example, the dome depicts eight scenes from St. Paul’s life. Besides admiring the beautifully painted interior, you can also go up the dome and explore the Whispering Gallery, the Stone Gallery and the Golden Gallery. You can also go down in the crypt and see the memorials of some historical British figures such as Sir Christopher Wren and Admiral Lord Nelson. A unique activity is taking a step back in time and enjoying a 270° film experience in Oculus, that brings 1400 years of history to life. This space uses projection technology to render fascinating images from the history of the cathedral.

You have to pay an entrance fee of £18 to visit the interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral, but it is worth every penny. As a tip, the ticket is cheaper if you buy it online. There are also a lot of events and moments of prayer, when the entrance is free of charge. All things considered, make sure you add this amazing cathedral to your trip list.

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If I had to describe this museum in just a few words, I would say funny moments and good mood.

The branch in London is located on Marylebone Road, very close to Baker Street Underground Station. Madame Tussauds in London was opened over 200 years ago and since then millions and millions of people have visited it and enjoyed its famous exhibits.

This interesting museum shelters a collection of more than 250 wax figures of celebrities such as: politicians, musicians, film stars, sport stars, inventors, Bollywood stars and so on. Among the wax figures you will also have the chance to “meet” the members of the Royal Family of the United Kingdom.

Taking into account the high number of celebrities, it will be practically impossible not to find a few of your favorite ones there. And what can be funnier than taking a lot of pictures of your favorite celebrities? Each wax work is perfectly rendered in the smallest details so that you have the feeling that the exhibits are actually real. It goes without saying how much work and how much passion is behind all these works of art.

The museum also offers other interesting experiences. For example, you can find out a lot of details about London’s rich history while you enjoy a taxi ride inside the museum. During the ride with this traditional black cab you can admire scenes of historical importance.

In case you want to save some money, I advise you to buy a ticket which includes visiting Madame Tussauds and also other important tourist attractions. For example, I chose a ticket which included 5 tourist attractions: Madame Tussauds, the Sea Life London, Shrek’s Adventure, the London Dungeon and the Coca-Cola London Eye. The ticket costs only 55 pounds but I would have paid almost triple if I had bought five different ones. An interesting detail is the fact that this type of ticket can be used for 90 days. Another advice would be to buy this ticket from Madame Tussauds because if you choose this type of ticket you will avoid standing in a line for hours.

All things considered, Madame Tussauds really deserves to be on your trip list. If I haven’t convinced you to go on this adventure yet, I’m sure that the following pictures will do a better job.

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This glass pyramidal building offers the most beautiful panoramic views over the entire city and it would be a pity to leave London without enjoying these views to the fullest.

This 95-floor skyscraper is the tallest building in London and it shelters some offices, restaurants and bars, hotel rooms, a sky boutique and also a viewing gallery and an open-air observation deck. The Shard was Irvine Sellar’s idea, a prosperous businessman who wanted to build the tallest construction in Western Europe. This is why Renzo Piano was hired to build this 309,6- meter high glass spire.

The building shelters the two highest public viewing galleries in London, an indoor viewing platform situated on floor 69 and an open-air Skydeck situated on floor 72. Both offer splendid 360-degree views for up to 40 miles and as I have already said, thanks to these views the Shard is considered a memorable experience in London. Dizzying heights, amazing panoramas, glass walls and a lovely restaurant create the unforgettable atmosphere that can be felt inside the Shard.

It is said that the color of the Shard is constantly changing depending on the weather and the season, due to the type of glass used in the construction of the building. Unfortunately(or fortunately ), I saw it only in the sun light and I can’t say more about its changing color.

The few hours I spent inside the Shard went by so fast because I have explored everything with great enthusiasm. An important detail you should take into account is to book your tickets in advance, in case you want to benefit from a discount and save some money.

All things considered, make sure you will not miss the amazing Shard if you are planning to visit London.

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Spending a few hours in this aquarium and exploring the underwater world was a great way to relax and recharge my batteries. This place offered me the chance to admire a variety of aquatic species. From the adorable penguins and the colorful clownfish to the lively sea turtles and the mysterious jellyfish, all the species are incredibly beautiful and interesting to watch.

Besides the multitude of marine creatures, the Sea Life Aquarium offers a lot of other interesting experiences. Admiring the UK’s biggest colony of piranhas, living the Rainforest Adventure, feeding the sharks or walking on a glass floor are just a few examples of the most famous experiences which can be lived inside this aquarium.

Even if a 15-minute snorkeling experience with the sharks might sound frightening, it’s a safe experience which gives you the chance to closely admire the Sand Tiger Sharks, the Black Tip Reef Sharks and the Brown Sharks.

The Ocean Tunnel offers you the chance to closely analyze a lot of aquatic species. The Atlantic Coasts is the perfect area where you can explore the mysterious creatures of the Atlantic Ocean. The Rockpool will give you the opportunity to touch a starfish or a sea anemone and the Seahorse Kingdom will give you the chance to learn a lot of interesting things about sea dragons or seahorses. Nemo’s Coral Reef will also give you the chance to plunge into the world of the beautiful coral reefs. These are only a few of the things that can be admired and experienced inside the Sea Life Aquarium, but believe me that this aquarium has a lot more to offer.

Even though it’s hard to decide, I must confess that my favorite experience was to admire the lovely colony of Gentoo Penguins at the Penguin Point. It was simply amazing to see the adorable penguins jumping in the water, swimming and kissing their pair.

In addition, the location of the aquarium makes it very accessible. The Sea Life Aquarium is situated on the South bank of the river Thames, near other famous tourist attractions such as the Coca-Cola London Eye, the Palace of Westminster or the Big Ben.

If I haven’t convinced you to visit this aquarium yet, take a look at the following pictures and I’m sure they will convince you to add the Sea Life Aquarium to your trip list.

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Having this idea in my mind I chose to plan my trip to London at the beginning of this summer and it seems that it has been an inspired choice. Even though the season is not necessarily a guarantee of good weather, especially in London, I was lucky enough to spend a few sunny days in this famous and vibrant metropolis.

London has a lot to offer and the sun shining in the sky is the only thing you need to enjoy this city to the fullest. The bright sunlight gives this amazing city a magical appearance and it also plays an important role when it comes to good mood and positive emotions. It goes without saying that I used this perfect weather to admire this lovely city in all its splendor.

It is true that it was a very active trip because I tried to visit as many tourist attractions as possible, but in the end, I lived an amazing experience in London. I have simply fallen in love with this beautiful city and for good reason. Interesting museums, fabulous palaces and cathedrals, impressive buildings and bridges, perfect views admired from the highest places in London and a lot of green spaces are just a few of the reasons why I love London.

There are no doubt a lot of reasons to fall in love with London, but after my experience there I would say that the following 20 reasons are the most powerful ones:

1.Enjoying a 360-degree panoramic view over the main tourist attractions in London, in one of the 32-high tech glass capsules of the Coca-Cola London Eye is a mandatory experience. This 135-meter tall wheel is one of the landmarks of the city. The world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel is simply amazing and the best choice in case you want to live an unforgettable experience.

2.Admiring the elaborate architecture of the Palace of Westminster in the sunshine is a real delight. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, the palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames and shelters the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The charming appearance of this palace has simply conquered my heart.

3.Discovering Westminster Abbey, the 700-year old iconic church of London is a must-see experience. This beautiful Gothic church is the place of coronations and other ceremonies of national significance. The notoriety of the church has increased a lot after it was used as the venue for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.

4.Admiring the architectural details of the imposing Big Ben was a difficult task because unfortunately, the tower is being renovated at the moment. Even so, it would be impossible not to feel a strong emotion when the clock tower strikes the hours. That sound made me realize how lucky I was to be in one of the most famous cities in the world.

5.Exploring the crowded Trafalgar Square is an authentic English experience. Enjoying the vibe of the crowd, visiting the small St Martin-in-the-Fields Church or admiring the paintings in the National Gallery are just a few of the things that I really liked doing in the largest square in London.

6.Spending a few moments in front of Buckingham Palace is another great experience. This beautiful palace is the residence of the UK’s sovereigns since 1837 and nowadays is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. The palace is also used for many official events and receptions held by the Queen. It was a real pleasure to spend a few minutes in front of this palace and admire its beautiful architectural details.

7.The view that can be admired from the 72nd floor of the Shard is another fabulous experience. I have always liked to admire cities from really high places and the Shard is definitely the best place to do this in London. This glass pyramidal tower is the place where I enjoyed the most beautiful views over the entire city. The Shard is a 95-floor skyscraper which shelters a few offices, restaurants, hotel rooms and also a viewing gallery and an open-air observation deck.

8.Tower Bridge is another emblematic place in London and a strong reason why I love this fantastic city. Considered one of the finest and the most famous bridges in the world, its architecture is really impressive. I went for a walk on this lovely bridge and I let myself mesmerized by the beautiful views over the River Thames and the surrounding areas. Tower Bridge is also a perfect place from where you can admire the Tower of London, another interesting tourist attraction. Near Tower Bridge there is also a small port where I enjoyed a few moments of relaxation.

9.Southwark Cathedral was a great surprise for me because I didn’t expect this building to be so beautiful. The exterior and the interior are both impressive and simple. London’s oldest Gothic building, Southwark Cathedral is remarkable because of its iconic crossing tower and its stained-glass windows. Nowadays, the cathedral shelters several tombs and monuments.

10.Borough Market is situated south of Southwark Cathedral. It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London. I really enjoyed walking around this market and admiring the diversity and the mix of cultures which define London. Eating in this market is quite an experience, because there are so many options you can choose from.

11.The lovely St. Paul’s Cathedral is the place where I felt deep inner peace. The exterior of the cathedral is really remarkable because of the dome which depicts eight scenes from St. Paul’s life. This is one of the largest cathedrals in the United Kingdom and it is also very famous because it is the place where Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer got married.

12.Taking pictures of my favorite celebrities at Madame Tussauds was one of the funniest experiences I lived in London. The museum exhibits a high number of wax figures of celebrities, including the Royal Family of the United Kingdom, but it also offers other experiences. For example, it was a pleasure to relax in a traditional black cab and discover London’s rich history through innovative scenes with wax figures.

13.Spending a few hours at the Sea Life Aquarium is another great experience. It is a real delight to explore this underwater world and admire the magnificent sharks, the colorful clownfish, the lively sea turtles, the mysterious jellyfish and a lot of other aquatic species. Admiring the UK’s biggest shoal of piranhas, enjoying the Rainforest Adventure, feeding the sharks or walking on a glass floor are among the most famous experiences offered by this aquarium.

14.Plunging into the world of Shrek and his friends is a really funny experience. Shrek’s Adventure is a museum where I had the opportunity to enjoy 12 themed live shows. The museum is divided into areas specially arranged to create fairytale settings. Each actor tells an interesting story through the eyes of a charismatic character. A lot of special effects and animation gave me the impression that all the stories were real.

15.The Dungeon Experience requires audience participation and it will prove to be different than anything you have ever tried. The Dungeon is a museum that brings together professional actors who play scary roles. The museum is divided into areas specially arranged to mimic historical events. I had the chance to enjoy 19 interactive shows which revealed scary and important moments in London’s history. The Torture Chamber, the Plague Doctor, Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel Labyrinth are just a few examples of shows.

Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed there

16.Walking in the beautiful Hyde Park is an experience I remember with great pleasure. Covering an area of 350 acres, Hyde Park is the largest park in London. Different species of trees and plants, ornamental flower gardens, large green lawns and a beautiful lake perfectly describe the beauty of this park. Swimming, boating, cycling, skating, horse riding, jogging or simply walking are just a few of the activities which can be enjoyed there. Besides the lovely green areas, Hyde Park shelters a few interesting tourist attractions such as: the Serpentine Bridge, the Joy of Life Fountain, Achilles Statue and Diana Memorial Fountain.

17.Taking pictures of the famous red telephone boxes is a common experience in London and I really enjoyed it. Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the red telephone box is a British icon. Even though different models were designed over time, K2 is the most famous one and it has become a recognizable symbol of London. In 2006, as part of a competition organized by the Design Museum and BBC Television, to find Britain’s favorite design icon since 1900, the Telephone Box was placed in the top ten by the British public.

18.London’s beautiful neighborhoods are another reason why I love this amazing city. I tried to discover London step by step and enjoy it to the fullest. Besides its central areas, Notting Hill is my favorite neighborhood in London. It was a real pleasure to walk in its coquettish streets, to admire the colorful houses, to enjoy the crowded coffee shops and terraces, to visit the beautiful St. John’s Church and to explore the Portobello Market.

19.Shopping in London comes in handy whenever you want to take a break from visiting tourist attractions. The famous Oxford Street and Regent Street are my favorite shopping areas in London. It was a delight to walk in these beautiful streets which are beautifully decorated with a multitude of British flags and bright billboards and to explore the numerous shops located here.

20.Last but not least, I can definitely say that I fell in love with the English pubs. Relaxing in a lovely atmosphere and eating a tasty dish seasoned with a local beer is a real treat. The traditional fish & chips, the hamburger & chips, the meat pies and the delicious English sandwiches are among my favorite local dishes. It is true that Londoners don’t eat very healthy, but their cuisine is simply delicious and it is definitely worth trying.

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