London

During the summer months, Buckingham Palace — the official residence of The Queen — opens the doors of its elegant State Rooms to the public. As well as proving a very fancy backdrop for many an official royal engagements, the rooms contain some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings, sculptures and fine French furniture.

Take a tour of the Palace of Westminster, also referred to as the Houses of Parliament, and experience 1,000 years of history. Visitors are welcomed into the building through Westminster Hall, before following in the footsteps of the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament. Marvel at the Victorian splendour of the Lords Chamber and see the famous green benches in the Commons Chamber. Audioguides and tours are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin.

At a staggering height of 135 metres (443 ft), The London Eye offers a superb view of the capital's most famous attractions. A full rotation around the observational wheel in one of the glass capsules lasts some 30 minutes and it is so popular that each year it receives more visitors than the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids of Giza. And once you've taken a 360-degree ride on the wheel you'll understand why.

Enjoy the Perfect Introduction to London. Embark on an adventure with Big Bus Tours. Our Non-stop London sightseeing tour allows you to soak up the city's atmosphere with ease. Relax and enjoy fascinating facts about London's rich culture and dramatic history as you pass its famous landmarks and attractions. And, on selected Red Tour buses, pick up tops tips from our experienced guides to help you uncover London’s secrets and stories. Our bus route has been carefully planned to ensure that you'll capture all the best sights of London, including Big Ben, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace.

Tower of London is one of the most famous fortified buildings in the world. It's also a mysterious place full of dark secrets, strange stories and historic relics. Here you can admire the priceless Crown Jewels, explore the Medieval Palace, visit the infamous Bloody Tower, and go on a tour with a Yeoman Warder to learn about the many executions that took place here.

Soho is an absolute must-see, since it's so multifaceted. Dean, Frith, Beak, and Old Compton streets are lively around the clock, and long-running Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club can be found here. Shaftesbury Avenue attracts theatre-goers, while Carnaby, Oxford and Regent streets and the iconic Liberty's department store are there for your shopping needs. Music shops, small cafes and quaint bakeries are on every corner! The energetic streets of Soho are the most popular nightlife destination. The neighbourhood still retains a somewhat risqué vibe with bars, cafes and restaurants that cater to hip crowds of international creatives. Soho is also known as the centre of LGBTQA+ community, so don't miss out on all the gay and lesbian party spots in the area.

Locals know King’s Cross as one of the city’s busiest train stations serving much of the country since 1852. The place became internationally famous when Harry Potter used the station on his train journey to Hogwarts. Take a picture with a trolley disappearing into the brick wall and get some wizarding memorabilia from the Potter-themed souvenir shop.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the original open-air theatre where playwright, William Shakespeare, first staged many of his famous plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Midsummer Night’s Dream. On the banks of the Thames, just a few hundred yards away from its original location, the Globe stages classic and modern interpretations of Shakespeare's works as well as of brand new plays. There is also an exhibition with audio guides available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese as well as expert guided tours.

The Natural History Museum houses hundreds of amazing exhibits from the natural world in one of London's most beautiful landmark buildings. Highlights include the popular Dinosaurs gallery, the model blue whale and the Cocoon specimen centre special. Events and debates are held in the Darwin Centre high-tech Attenborough Studio, where you'll have the chance to meet important scientists.

Step into the magical world of Harry Potter and visit the film sets where the movies were shot in the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter. On the tour, you can nose around Dumbledore's office, enter the Great Hall, walk down Diagon Alley, see how they made Harry Potter fly on his broomstick and watch special effect animatronics come to life. A must-do for fans of the world's favourite wizard.

Uncover the legend of the notorious Jack the Ripper on a spine-chilling London night tour. Follow your expert guide through the dimly lit backstreets of Whitechapel and listen to the disturbing tales and conspiracy theories surrounding one of history's most infamous serial killers. See the streets of Victorian London brought to life with innovative RIPPER-VISION™ projections.