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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to London. Located on the banks of the River Thames, London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. You will be able to discover the city with this audioguide (audioguides).
London was founded under the rule of the Roman Empire between the 1st and 5th century AD. By the 3rd century, Londinium, as it was then known, was an important port city with some 50,000 inhabitants.
In the 13th century, nearby Westminster was declared the center of government. A subsequent trade boom with Europe consolidated the city’s claim as the capital of the kingdom.
During the 15th century, London developed a sizable textile industry, and its port became its primary distribution center. The expansion of maritime trade, which was established by the Tudors and continued by the Stuarts, meant that by the mid-17th century, London’s population had surpassed 500,000.
A devastating plague epidemic killed 70,000 people in 1665. A year later, a gigantic fire destroyed four-fifths of the city. This led to the construction of the new London, much of which can be seen today.
A large part of modern London is from the Victorian era. Until the beginning of the 19th century, the capital resided within the limits of the medieval city which had a perimeter of one square mile.
WESTMINSTER PALACE
Saint Edward the Confessor ordered the construction of a palace on the borders of the River Thames to use as his residence at the end of the 11th century
A fire destroyed part of the building in 1529 which prompted the residing king, Henry VIII, to move to another palace. Since then, it has been used by the two Houses of Parliament and the Court of Justice.
Another terrible fire, this time caused by a stove in the House of Lords, almost completely destroyed the palace in 1834.
After the catastrophe, the palace was rebuilt from the ground up, and the few structures that remained were conserved.
During World War II, the Germans succeeded in bombing the House of Commons.
At present, the palace consists of about 1,200 rooms. Within them, with the audioguide (audioguides) we can see a collection of artworks and artifacts that tell of the Parliament’s history, including portraits, statues, furniture, and adornments from the era.
The palace is flanked by Big Ben and the Victoria Tower, an imposing spire that houses the originals of all Parliamentary legislature since 1497.
In the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster, members of the upper chamber of the United Kingdom convene on nearly one thousand seats arranged along red benches.
The lords or peers, whose number is not capped, are not elected by the people and do not receive a salary, except for certain allowances. Attendance at sessions is voluntary. There are spiritual lords, including 26 archbishops and bishops, and temporal lords, appointed for life by the King in recognition of their services to the Crown. The Lord Chancellor presides over the sessions. Opposite his throne is a red cushion known as the 'Woolsack', a tribute to the historical importance of wool in British commerce.
The House of Commons brings together the 650 members of the lower chamber, although there is seating for only 438 on green benches. The government sits on the left and the opposition on the right. At the centre is a black wooden chair imported from Australia, where the Speaker sits to maintain order during often heated debates. On the central table lies a mace, symbolising authority, and a suggestions box is available for the public.
Westminster Hall is the only part of the original palace to have survived in its original form. Until the 19th century, it served as a court of justice where, among others, the trials of Thomas More and William Wallace were held.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
The origins of Westminster Abby date back to 1065 when the construction was a humble Benedictine monastery. Later, it was rebuilt in a Gothic style in the 12th and again in the 16th century. At the end of this period, the Benedictine monks dissolved the Order, and the monastery passed into the hands of the English Crown.
The Abbey has been the scene of numerous coronations and burials for members of the English monarchy. The funeral of Princess Diana is perhaps the most well-known.
Inside the main hall of the Abbey is King Edward's Chair, where all new monarchs must sit during their coronation. The Stone of Scone once lay just below the chair, which was a precious stone the Scottish used in their own coronations.
This stone was stolen from the Scottish by the English in the 13th century. In 1950, it was taken back again by Scottish nationalists.
Conflict over the stone ended when it was split in two so that both sides could retain a piece. However, in 1996 the English Prime Minister decided to return the fragment that resided in Westminster Abbey to its place of origin, the Edinburgh Castle.
A highlight of the interior are the tombs and mausoleums of British kings and queens, as well as those of notable Britons such as Lady Chapel, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.
One of the most well-known sections is "Poet’s Corner": with the audioguide (audioguides) you can find the tombs of the literary greats such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, and Rudyard Kipling.
The entrance to Westminster Abbey is marked by the memorial stone for Winston Churchill and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, placed in 1920 in tribute to those fallen in the First World War and always surrounded by red poppies. At the west door stand ten statues of 20th-century martyrs, most notably that of Martin Luther King.
The monument to Robert Peel honours the Home Secretary who in 1829 founded the Metropolitan Police Service, whose members became affectionately known as ‘Bobby’s boys’. Hence the term 'bobbies' still used for London police officers.
During the Second World War, the Abbey suffered only limited damage, when incendiary bombs ignited the lantern roof, causing beams and molten lead to fall inside. Fortunately, pews and sacred furnishings were quickly removed, and damage was minimal.
Several elements of the coronation ceremony date back to the time of Edward the Confessor. The monarch enters the Abbey bearing various regalia, including the Sword of State. After being anointed with holy oil, they are invested with St Edward’s Crown, followed by the traditional proclamation of ‘God save the King or the Queen’ accompanied by fanfares and cannon salutes from the tower.
Traditionally, a banquet was held in Westminster Hall following the coronation. The first televised ceremony was that of Elizabeth II in 1953, and the most recent, that of Charles III, took place in 2023. The event was widely criticised for its cost to the British public, which amounted to 87 million euros and included musical performances by Lionel Richie and Katy Perry.
THE TOWER OF LONDON
Next stop of this audioguide (audioguides), the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror as a fortification towards the end of the 11th century and it has evolved ever since.
The complex is composed of several buildings protected by a double wall and a defensive moat, with the White Tower serving as the central building.
The fortification has had numerous different uses over time.
It was a prison for more than 900 years. Anyone who went against the crown was locked up here in horrible conditions and possibly tortured.
Executions were occasionally carried out here. The condemned included aristocrats, ousted kings and clerics accused of treason. Some of those remembered here for having lost their head include Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and Baron William Hastings.
Stories of ghostly apparitions have emerged from these events. The most famous is that of Anne Boleyn, whose mortal remains rest in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula which lies within the Tower. It is said that in 1536, her spirit was seen walking around the chapel holding her detached head.
The tower guards the Crown Jewels, a collection of crowns, weapons, armor, sceptres, and jewels which the Queen continues to use for important ceremonies today.
Some say that during the Second World War, the Crown Jewels were secretly taken to Montreal in Canada, along with gold bullion from the Bank of England, for fear of being ransacked during a German invasion.
The tower has also served as a weapons warehouse, a menagerie, a public archive, a Royal Mint, and an observatory.
A total of 35 Yeoman Warders have guarded the Tower of London since 1845. These soldiers, who live within the medieval fortress and also serve as tour guides, were historically paid partly in meat rations, which earned them the nickname ‘beefeaters’.
Perhaps the most unsettling residents of the Tower, however, are its ravens. The appointed member of the guard known as the ‘Ravenmaster’ is responsible for their care. According to legend, should the colony of birds ever leave the Tower, it would mark the beginning of the fall of the monarchy. To ensure this never happens, the ravens have their wings partially clipped.
Tower Green was the site of execution for high-ranking prisoners, including two of Henry VIII’s wives, while common criminals were publicly executed at Tower Hill. The Queen’s House is now the official residence of the Governor of the Tower.
Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler’s deputy, was imprisoned in the Yeoman Gaoler’s House in 1941. Prisoners arriving by river entered through Traitor’s Gate. The Bloody Tower owes its name to the belief that the two heirs of Edward IV were murdered there by their uncle Richard, who assumed the throne following their disappearance.
Tourist visits to the fortress began in the 18th century during the reign of Charles II, when the public was first granted access to the Crown Jewels and the armoury collection. For more than 600 years, the ‘Ceremony of the Keys’ has taken place daily at 9:30 pm, during which the main gates of the Tower are formally locked.
TOWER BRIDGE
Numerous bridges needed to be built to expand the city to the other side of the River Thames. The government decided to create a great new drawbridge in 1875 to avoid disrupting waterborne traffic. Powered by steam engines and pressurized water cylinders, the system was revolutionary at the time.
A corresponding museum, located in the two towers around the bridge, explains how this novel system works. Also, a 42-meter high glass walkway has been installed which allows visitors to cross with the audioguide (audioguides) and to peer down at the traffic, pedestrians, and boats of the Thames below.
The steam-powered hydraulic machinery of Tower Bridge, dating from the Victorian era, remained in use until 1976, when it was replaced by an electric system. The bridge now raises in just three minutes, creating a clearance of 40 metres in height and 60 metres in width. During its busiest period, this operation was performed up to five times a day.
The original engine rooms can be visited on the lower level of the structure, while the Tower Bridge Exhibition on the upper level presents the history of its construction, which had an initial budget of one and a half million pounds sterling.
The spectacular final battle in the film Spider-Man: Far From Home takes place on Tower Bridge. It is also featured in scenes from other films such as The Mummy Returns and Sherlock Holmes.
PICCADILLY CIRCUS
Famous for its bright neon signs, Piccadilly Circus boasts a wide range of entertainment options such as restaurants, shops, theaters, and nightclubs.
The name comes from a local tailor called Robert Baker. In the 17th century, Baker specialized in a type of collared shirt known the Piccadilly. He became very popular in London and constructed his residence, Piccadilly Hall, in the plaza. Over time, the area began to be known as Piccadilly. Later, the word "Circus" was added, which is common for circular plazas in Britain.
In the center is a landmark commonly referred to as the Eros Fountain. However, the statue presiding over it does not represent Eros, but rather Anteros, his twin brother and a symbol of selfless love. The statue was erected in memory of the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury for his humanitarian work and his commitment to the rights of factory workers and miners.
During the Second World War, the statue was temporarily removed to prevent its potential destruction.
Piccadilly Circus is surrounded by grand classical buildings, including those along Regent Street designed by Reginald Blomfield, a prominent architect of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Also noteworthy is Burlington House, originally a private mansion built in the 17th century, now home to the Royal Academy and five other scientific societies.
This square in the West End has also been one of the hubs of London’s artistic scene for over a century. The Criterion Theatre, dating back to 1874, is an underground independent theatre with only its box office and foyer visible at street level.
The former London Pavilion Music Hall, now a shopping centre, once hosted major musicals in the early 20th century. In 1923, it began displaying the first advertising signs that eventually became one of the square’s hallmarks. Much like New York’s Times Square, these advertisements are now showcased on large digital LED screens known as the Piccadilly Lights.
In the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the young wizard and his friends Ron and Hermione flee through Piccadilly Circus, pursued by Lord Voldemort’s followers. The climactic scene of An American Werewolf in London also takes place in this square.
The audioguide (audioguides) of London continues in the next stop.
SAINT PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
Saint Paul’s has been a worship site since ancient times. In 604, a wooden church was built in honor of the Apostle Saint Paul on the site of an ancient Greek temple, making it the oldest church in England. In 1666, a great fire which lasted four days devastated the center of the medieval city and destroyed the church. Years later, it was rebuilt to become the grand cathedral you can see today.
Getting inside with the audioguide, a large dome takes center stage. At 85 meters high, it was inspired by the dome which Michelangelo designed for Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The interior is composed of three circular galleries: the Whispering Gallery, which is known for its incredible acoustics, the Stone Gallery, and the Golden Gallery, which boasts excellent views of the city with the audioguide (audioguides).
The crypt is also part of the Cathedral structure. Within it lie the remains of historical British figures such as Admiral Nelson, Alexander Fleming, Winston Churchill and the Duke of Wellington.
During the Second World War, it was bombed several times which destroyed the great altar and part of the crypt, while the dome shifted laterally by a few centimeters. One bomb even landed within the structure without exploding. Thankfully, Royal engineers managed to deactivate it before the cathedral was totally destroyed.
Some of Britain’s most notable contemporary events have taken place within the cathedral such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding, and the funerals of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
St Paul’s, located in the heart of the City of London, the capital’s financial district, is the fifth cathedral to be built atop Ludgate Hill, a site of worship for over 1,400 years.
Christopher Wren was the most prominent and prolific architect during the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire. He was tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of 52 churches. His grand design for St Paul’s Cathedral clashed with the conservative preferences of Dean William Sancroft, forcing Wren to simplify his original concept.
He had to add the towers in 1707, the balustrade in 1718, and design the transepts and cruciform layout in the medieval style. Nevertheless, he succeeded in endowing the cathedral with a monumental character. The substantial budget was financed by a tax on coal imports.
In 1913, British suffragettes fighting for women’s voting rights attempted to damage the cathedral’s throne, but the bomb was discovered before it could explode.
Martin Luther King, the American civil rights leader, delivered a sermon at St Paul’s in 1964 before a congregation of 4,000 during a brief stopover en route to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
A bust inside the cathedral commemorates T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, the First World War hero who fought alongside the Arabs against the Turks—events later depicted in David Lean’s acclaimed film.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
The British Museum began thanks to the physicist and collector Hans Sloane. After his death, he donated his entire collection of 80,000 artifacts to the British State so that they would endure throughout history.
His collection included about 40,000 books, various paintings, and antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Middle East, and America.
The museum was initially located in the Montagu House. However, the rapid growth of the collection through new purchases and donations required it to be moved to the current building.
Today, the museum contains more than seven million items from all corners of the Earth, that you can discover with the audioguide (audioguides). Highlights include the Greek Gallery with fragments of the Parthenon, the Egyptian Gallery with statues of pharaohs, sarcophagi, and mummies, as well as the famous Rosetta Stone.
Due to a lack of space, its natural history collection was moved to the Natural History Museum. Later, the British Library became independent from the museum.
Facing the threat of another war, a bomb proof storage bunker was built on the outskirts of the city in 1933 to protect the largest and most important works.
The museum was bombed six times which damaged its exterior and interior. One of the most significant losses was a collection of some 250,000 books which were destroyed by fire.
At the heart of the British Museum stands the largest covered public square in Europe, the Great Court. Originally intended as a garden in Robert Smirke’s architectural plans, the space became home to the museum’s library department. When this department was relocated to the new British Library building, the redesign of the vast circular courtyard was entrusted to Norman Foster, and the renewed space was inaugurated on 6 December 2000.
Foster’s work is particularly notable for its glass and steel roof, composed of 3,212 uniquely shaped glass panels. At the centre of the Great Court is the restored interior of the Reading Room, a globally renowned reading space first opened in May 1857. Over 62,000 people attended its debut, each having to request a ticket from the chief librarian. Among its visitors were Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin (under a pseudonym), Bram Stoker and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
One of the museum’s most famous artefacts is the Rosetta Stone, discovered in 1799 by French soldiers during an excavation in the city of Rashid, near Alexandria. This stone slab, inscribed with the same text in three scripts, provided the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. Following Napoleon’s defeat, the stone passed into British hands.
THE LONDON EYE
The London Eye was built in the year 2000 to celebrate the turn of the millennium. For this reason, it is also known as the Millennium Wheel.
The Ferris wheel stretches 135 meters high and has 32 cabins, the same number as there are districts in London. Each cabin weighs 10 tons and can accommodate up to 25 people. There is no cabin 13 as this number is considered unlucky,
The wheel moves 26 centimeters per second, making for a 30 minute round trip with the audioguide (audioguides).
The initial plan was to dismantle the wheel five years after its inauguration. However, the city decided to maintain the structure as it had become symbolic to London.
In 2024, the London Eye marked its twenty-fifth anniversary by achieving several records. The observation wheel became the most visited paid attraction in London, with 3.5 million visitors. It also became the most photographed, with 3.48 million hashtags posted on Instagram, surpassing both Big Ben and Tower Bridge.
The structure, reminiscent of a bicycle wheel, features 80 spokes made from six kilometres of cable. The wheel’s frame was transported in sections along the River Thames, and two 60-metre-long cables anchor it to concrete foundations in Jubilee Gardens.
The wheel rotates continuously, but its slow speed allows passengers to board without the need for a complete stop. On clear days, one can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions from its highest point—reaching as far as Windsor to the west and the sea to the east.
BIG BEN
Construction on Big Ben began the same year as Westminster Palace, directly after the great fire of London in 1834.
Although it is commonly known as Big Ben, its real name is actually Elizabeth Tower, which was given in 2012 to honor the queen serving 60 years on the throne. The real Big Ben is, in fact, the 14-ton bell inside.
The 106-meter tower has four clocks with a seven-meter diameter, one on each side. At its base, with the audioguide (audioguides) you can read a Latin inscription that says: “Oh Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria I.”
Big Ben is considered among the world’s most reliable clocks because it rarely stops working. Even throughout the Second World War, it would dutifully tell the time. However, many Britons remember the New Year's Eve of 1962 when an accumulation of snow on the clock hands caused revellers to do the countdown around 10 minutes after midnight.
At present, Big Ben suffers from a half-meter lean which is caused by terrain conditions and the extension of the London Underground.
Prior to its most recent renovation, access to Big Ben’s tower was restricted to UK residents. Those interested had to request tickets through their Member of Parliament, which would be issued approximately six months later. Since 2023, access has been granted to the general public, provided they are physically capable of climbing the 334 steps to the top. Tickets are released on the second Wednesday of each month in limited group sizes, meaning waiting times can still be quite long, as in the past.
The chief commissioner responsible for installing the bell in 1858 was Sir Benjamin Hall, from whom the name Big Ben may have derived. The original bell, cast in Whitechapel, cracked during a sound test. The second bell also bears a fracture.
Every five years, specialist high-access workers clean the clock’s hands and dial from the outside. The BBC continues to broadcast the chimes of Britain’s largest clock in some of its hourly bulletins.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Buckingham Palace has been the residence of the British Royal Family since 1837. Currently, it is occupied by Queen Elizabeth II and is the site of official ceremonies and state visits.
It was built in 1703 for the first Duke of Buckingham. Some 60 years later, King George III acquired it as his private residence.
During the reign of Queen Victoria, the palace became the official residence of the monarchy. For this reason, a statue was installed in her honor, which can be seen presiding over the plaza opposite the palace.
The palace was bombed more than seven times during the Second World War because the Nazis believed destroying it would demoralize the nation.
The palace features 777 lavish rooms and the most extensive private gardens in London.
Its 19th-century Georgian style interior houses a large portion of the Royal Collection, which is an extraordinary set of artistic works.
The interior of the palace can only be visited with the audioguide (audioguides) in summer when the queen moves to another residence. On such a visit, you can see the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, and the Queen's Gallery.
The Changing of the Guards attracts thousands of visitors every year. Dressed in colossal fur hats, the guards perform a pompous ceremony in the central courtyard accompanied by a military band.
The Royal Guard has been protecting Buckingham Palace since the royal family took up residence there in 1837. During spring, summer and autumn, they wear red uniforms, while in winter they don grey attire. The King’s Guard is also stationed at St James’s Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.
The Changing of the Guard ceremony begins at 11 o’clock and reaches its highlight when the captain of the old guard hands the palace key to the captain of the new guard, symbolising the transfer of responsibility.
When the King or Queen is in residence, the Royal Standard is flown above the palace. When they are absent, the Union Jack is raised instead. In 1990, the royal family agreed to open the palace to the public in an effort to restore public support after various controversies involving some of its members.
The Mall is the ceremonial avenue linking Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, running alongside St James’s Park. In the time of Charles II, it was a popular promenade for the royal court. It was redesigned in 1911 by Sir Aston Webb, becoming the setting for official state ceremonies.
On the opposite side of the park stand the neoclassical palaces of Carlton House and Carlton Gardens.
During the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Queen Elizabeth II appeared in a video alongside actor Daniel Craig, who portrayed James Bond in the film series. Agent 007 escorted Her Majesty on a helicopter flight from Buckingham Palace to the Olympic Stadium. The Queen only agreed to film the scene on the condition that the rest of the royal family would not find out until it was broadcast.
HYDE PARK
Spanning over 140 hectares, Hyde is the largest park in central London. The grounds once belonged to the Abbey of Westminster until King Henry VIII seized them to use as his private hunting grounds.
It opened as a public park in the 17th century.
Hyde Park held a famous international event known as the Great Exhibition in 1851. An enormous construction dubbed the Crystal Palace was built and later demolished to house the event.
An interesting section of the park is Speaker's Corner. Here, every Sunday morning Londoner’s meet to debate various issues. All kinds of topics can be discussed, so long as no one strays from the law. During the Second World War, it became famous as the only place in the city where people could speak freely about Hitler or Churchill without fear of reprisal.
The park houses some interesting monuments and memorials such as the Holocaust Memorial, the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, and the Peter Pan Statue that you can find with the audioguide (audioguides).
In addition to the verbal duels held at Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park was, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, a favourable setting for armed duels and ambushes.
Its location and vast size have made the park a spectacular venue for large-scale concerts, many of which have been free to attend. On the 5th of July 1969, just two days after the death of their guitarist Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones delivered an electrifying performance here, captivating an audience of 250,000 fans.
On the 18th of September 1976, Queen held a free concert in Hyde Park at the end of their 'A Night at the Opera' tour as a gesture of gratitude to their fans. There was no limit on attendance, and many spectators had to climb trees to see the stage. Others threw objects to encourage those in front to sit down. Freddie Mercury’s band played past their allotted time, and the police, in an effort to prevent further incidents, threatened to arrest them if they did not end their performance.
In 1730, Queen Caroline, wife of George II, ordered the construction of the Serpentine, an artificial lake used for rowing and bathing. This man-made lake separates Hyde Park from Kensington Gardens. Each morning, ceremonial gun salutes are fired in the park, and soldiers march through it on their way to the Horse Guards Parade.
CAMDEN MARKETS
Next stop of our audioguide (audioguides), the Camden Markets are a set of six markets within the district of Camden Town. After beginning as a small flea market, they later became a craft market known as Camden Lock.
Currently - in addition to a large number of clothing, footwear, music, and accessory stores - mobile and permanent food stalls sell cuisine from all over the world. The facades of these stalls are famous for their wonderful decorations.
Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, and Amy Winehouse are just some of the famous Britons to have called Camden home.
On the 14th of September 2014, the day British singer Amy Winehouse would have turned 31, a life-size bronze statue of her was unveiled at the entrance to Camden’s Stables Market. Since then, it has become a pilgrimage site for her fans, who lay flowers or pause to pay tribute.
The buildings of Stables Market were originally Victorian-era horse stables and warehouses, notable for their brick vaults and arches. In the 1970s, the trade in goods along the Grand Union Canal declined, and these buildings were transformed into what they are today — a space filled with hundreds of stalls offering handmade crafts and fashion.
The neighbourhood was the cradle of London’s punk movement in the 1970s and 80s. Iconic bands like The Clash, the Sex Pistols and the American band, The Ramones performed in venues such as The Roundhouse, a former locomotive warehouse. Beyond the shops in Camden selling all manner of punk memorabilia, it is not uncommon to come across a group of punks on the canal bridge holding up the classic sign: “Help a punk get drunk”.
SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE THEATRE
This is a replica of the original 1599 theater where Shakespeare presented his most famous works to the public.
During the middle of a performance, a fire started in one of its thatched roofs and completely destroyed the theatre.
A second theater was later built. However, the Puritans closed all London theaters in 1642, including the headquarters of the Shakespeare Company. As a result, the building was subsequently demolished.
At the end of the 20th century, Sam Wanamaker, a great Shakespeare admirer, managed to raise sufficient funds to reconstruct the theatre.
Currently, the theater puts on shows between May and October, as was the case during Shakespeare’s time, that you can enjoy with the audioguide (audioguides).
At the current Globe Theatre, constructed with 600 oak stakes joined together without nails or screws, just 200 metres from the remains of the original Globe, guided tours are offered that recreate the atmosphere of the Elizabethan era, taking visitors back 400 years in time.
The roof of theatres in Elizabethan times only covered half the structure, meaning that if the weather turned bad, the performance would be cancelled. The commoners watched the plays standing in the pit near the stage, while the wealthy sat in the upper gallery. The box was part of the scenery, and a trapdoor on the stage floor allowed for the disappearance of objects or characters.
The film Shakespeare in Love, starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow, portrays the creation of the play Romeo and Juliet by a young William Shakespeare, commissioned by the owner of the Rose Theatre — the first theatre established in Bankside.
Bankside was an area outside the jurisdiction of the City, located on the other side of the Thames. It became a haven for theatres, which sought to escape the strict moral regulations of the London authorities, and it also saw the rise of shady businesses and dubious activities.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Trafalgar Square was built in 1830 to commemorate the victory of the British navy against the French and Spanish during the Battle of Trafalgar.
In the center is the Nelson column, which honors the admiral who died in battle while commanding his fleet.
Stretching 50 meters high, the column is guarded by four bronze lions who, according to legend, were built from the fused cannons of the French fleet.
With the audioguide (audioguides) you can see that various statues of famous historical figures are spread throughout the square such as George IV, James II, and George Washington. The latter is placed on land brought in from the United States, thus fulfilling the president’s wish to "never set foot on British soil again."
To thank the British for their support during the Second World War, Norway donates a giant tree every Christmas which towers over the square.
The National Gallery, London’s largest art museum, presides over the north side of Trafalgar Square. On the parapet by the museum’s entrance steps, plaques were installed in 1876 displaying the standard units of British length, such as the inch, foot, and yard. These plaques are flanked by the busts of three admirals.
On the south side of the square stands Charing Cross railway station, the central point from which all road distances to other locations across the island are measured.
To the west of Trafalgar Square rises Canada House, home to the Canadian High Commission, while to the east stands South Africa House, which houses the South African Embassy.
Mayor Ken Livingstone banned the feeding of pigeons that soiled Trafalgar Square and promoted its use as a venue for city celebrations. Now in its third decade, West End Live has become a London tradition — the largest free musical theatre festival in the city, held over a weekend in June in Trafalgar Square.
KENSINGTON PALACE
Kensington Palace has been the residence of the British monarchy since the 17th century.
During that time, it has been inhabited by William III, Queen Victoria, and Prince Charles and Princess Diana until their divorce. Diana would later live there with her children until her death. Currently, it is the residence of the Dukes of Cambridge when they are in London. Their official residence is in Wales.
Several important historical events regarding the royal family have occurred here. For example, Queen Anne died from a stroke caused by overeating, King George II passed away when a vein exploding while he was on the loo, and the palace was the scene of the coronation of Queen Victoria.
Inside, the king's apartments are decorated with the works of Tintoretto and Van Dyck, the tapestries of Mortlake, and the Court Dress Collection where you can see with the audioguide (audioguides) the history of courtesan attire.
The gates of Kensington Palace have become a place of tribute to Princess Diana, where her admirers leave bouquets of flowers.
The Cupola Room hosts the investiture ceremony for members of the Order of the Garter, the oldest chivalric order in the United Kingdom, inspired by the legend of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. Queen Victoria was also baptised in this room.
Between the palace and Hyde Park lies Kensington Gardens, a park of over one hundred hectares where oaks, birches, and exotic plants grow. In the south-eastern corner of the gardens, visitors can explore the Serpentine Gallery, a former tea house that now hosts contemporary art exhibitions — some of them open-air.
To the south of Kensington Gardens, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spearheaded the creation of a district dedicated to the arts and sciences. This area is home to the Royal Albert Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, and the Natural History Museum.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
The next interesting place of the audioguide (audioguides) is the Natural History Museum. This museum’s collection is composed of more than 70 million specimens and objects related to the natural world.
It was built in the late nineteenth century to accommodate the excessive number of items (such as skeletons and fossils) in the British Museum.
Within its exhibition spaces are the recreation of a life-size blue whale and the skeleton of a diplodocus. The museum also displays the evolution of our planet, the evolution of man, earthquake and volcano recreations, and a scientific exhibit called the Darwin Center.
The building of the Natural History Museum was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and reflects the Victorian era’s fascination with collecting. The first part of the museum was built in two phases: one in 2002, dedicated to taxonomy and housing 450,000 jars of specimens, and another in 2009, which brought together 28 million insects and six million plants.
The second part of the museum is devoted to the Earth Galleries, which showcase the geological composition of the planet.
The museum has transformed its entrance into an educational path that summarises the planet’s evolution over the past 2.7 billion years. The access route, which runs beneath a replica of a dinosaur skeleton, is lined with ancient stones and plants. Each metre walked represents five million years of Earth’s history, illustrating — in proportion to this interactive timeline — the brevity of human existence. The new entrance also emphasises the importance of fighting climate change in order to preserve our habitat.
THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON MONUMENT
This monument was built in memory of the Great Fire of London and commemorates the reconstruction of the city.
The fire started at the Thomas Farynor Bakery at dawn on September 2, 1666. The Farynor family, who were inside the house when it began, managed to escape. However, their maid was not so lucky and became the first victim of the disaster.
The great fire lasted four days, destroying thousands of houses and historic buildings. The number of deaths remains unknown.
The fire burned out of control until strong winds had subsided. London troops used gunpowder to create firebreaks and thus prevent its expansion.
The monument is built on the site of St Margaret’s, the first church to burn down, and has a height of 61 meters, the exact distance to the bakery where the fire began. At the top of the column is an urn in the shape of a flame, which contains ash from the original fire.
At its base, if you get closer with the audioguide (audioguides), you can read some Latin inscriptions which recall the catastrophe as well as the construction of the monument.
Following the fire, architect Christopher Wren was tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of the vast majority of the 87 churches destroyed, including St Paul's Cathedral. In addition to designing the commemorative monument — completed in 1677 — Wren also developed an urban plan intended to prevent the spread of future major fires.
However, Parliament rejected the proposal, and the city was rebuilt along the same network of narrow streets that had existed since Roman times. What was approved, nonetheless, was a law mandating that buildings be constructed with brick and stone instead of the highly flammable timber.
The Great Fire is considered such a pivotal event in London’s history that it is taught in schools across the country. Unsurprisingly, the reconstruction took fifty years to complete.
To reach the viewing platform of the Monument, one must climb 311 steps. From the top, the views of the river, the cathedral, and the City of London’s financial district are spectacular, thanks to the monument’s height and prime location.
THE OLD OPERATING THEATRE MUSEUM
This old operating theatre is located in the garret of the Church of Saint Thomas. Within it, surgical experimentation of great medical significance took place.
The Saint Thomas’s Hospital is mentioned in 13th-century writings as a place where the poor could be treated.
In the late 17th century, London’s first operating theatre was built into the hospital’s herb depository. The poor who fell ill in the streets and could not afford an operation came here. The church monks experimented on them to learn more about anatomy as very little was known at the time. The opposite was true for those with money, however, who preferred to undergo their operations on their own kitchen tables instead.
Operations were done without anesthesia, so the monks gave their patients alcohol or opium to dull the pain. By the 19th century, medical students sat on the grandstands around the surgeon to record the details of each operation.
Inside, you can see with the audioguide (audioguides) various items related to these experimental surgeries, including instruments used to perform amputations and other operations.
The original wooden herb garret, where The Old Operating Theatre was established, was once used for drying and storing medicinal herbs. Access to this early surgical theatre — the oldest surviving operating theatre for female patients in Europe — is gained via a narrow spiral staircase with 52 steps, its handrail no more than a simple rope.
The museum includes an old apothecary, where remedies for modern ailments are prepared using traditional methods. Proceeds from the sale of these products are used to support the maintenance and conservation of the museum.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY
The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and is the most important art collection in all of London.
Thirty-eight paintings from the private collection of banker John Julius Angerstein were the first pieces the British state bought to create an art museum. Afterward, the collection proliferated due to more purchases and donations.
At present, it is comprised of more than 2,300 works which showcase the evolution of art, from the early Renaissance period to the Post-impressionism movement. Highlights that you can enjoy with the audioguide (audioguides) include:
• Renaissance and Mannerism: Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian, Holbein, and Veronese.
• The Baroque period: Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Velázquez.
• Rococo, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: Cézanne, Goya, Monet, and Van Gogh.
The museum closed during the Second World War, and many of its works were evacuated to Wales to avoid potential damage from bombing runs.
The National Gallery, which houses over 2,000 works of Western European paintings, welcomes more than five million visitors each year.
The Sainsbury Wing is dedicated to the early Renaissance period, spanning from 1260 to 1510. In the West Wing, visitors can admire works from the High Renaissance, between 1510 and 1600, including paintings by Titian and El Greco. The North Wing covers up to the year 1700, featuring artists such as Rubens and Rembrandt.
The East Wing hosts the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists up to 1900, with notable works by Van Gogh, Renoir, and Turner.
To celebrate its bicentenary, the institution held a raffle for its own version of "Night at the Museum"—slightly less hectic than the one experienced by actor Ben Stiller in the well-known film. The prize included dinner for two at the gallery’s restaurant, curated by Michelin-starred chef Locatelli. Once the museum had closed to the public on the night of 9 May 2025, the lucky winner became the first to visit, accompanied by the Director of Collections and Innovation at the National Gallery, the newly reopened Sainsbury Wing exhibition following its renovation.
After spending the night in a bed positioned at the entrance of the Sainsbury Wing, the guest enjoyed an exclusive breakfast among the works of art, before the Gallery reopened to the public.
The gallery had previously opened its doors overnight for special exhibitions dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh.
APSLEY HOUSE
This mansion is located within Hyde Park and was built for the Baron of Apsley. Later, the Duke of Wellington would acquire and renovate it.
Inside, the decor the Duke of Wellington personally selected remains intact. Even though he was not an art aficionado, he held a magnificent collection due to all the gifts he received for his military achievements. The collection you can see with the audioguide (audioguides) consists of more than 200 works by artists such as Velázquez, Van Dyck, Rubens, Brueghel the Elder, and Goya.
Highlights include a four-meter statue of Napoleon, pieces of Portuguese silverware, and a set of Sevres porcelain that once belonged to Louis XVIII.
The Duke of Wellington’s art collection is on display in the ten rooms of Apsley House that comprise the Wellington Museum. The basement and ground floor are filled with honours and personal items belonging to the Duke, including his death mask, along with a significant collection of Chinese porcelain. On the first floor, visitors can admire the paintings that Wellington amassed over his lifetime. The works are arranged chronologically and stylistically in various rooms, the most spectacular being the Waterloo Gallery.
The mansion was remodelled by architect Benjamin Wyatt, who added two false Corinthian porticos and covered the original red brick façade with golden stone. Apsley House was known as Number 1 London, as it was the first building seen upon entering the city.
ST. JAMES'S PARK
Named in memory of the Saint James Hospital where leprosy patients were treated, the leafy St. James’s Park is considered the green lung of London.
King Henry VIII became interested in the land in the 16th century and converted it into his private hunting ground.
Later, King James II introduced exotic animals into the park such as camels, crocodiles, pelicans, and even an elephant.
At the end of the 17th century, it was turned into a French garden, gradually achieving the appearance you can see today with the audioguide (audioguides).
In the park is an artificial lake which is home to flora and fauna typical to the region. Within it are Duck Island and West Island. On the latter, a skeleton was found in 2011 and an investigation determined it had been there for three years. It turned out it was the remains of an American citizen who was obsessed with the Queen. His fixation consumed him, and he ended up dying on the tiny island in an attempt to be as close as possible to Her Majesty.
The lake in St James’s Park was drained during the First World War to allow for the construction of a Ministry of Shipping building. Once the building was demolished in 1922, the park regained its artificial pond. From the bridge crossing the lake, visitors can enjoy an excellent panoramic view of Buckingham Palace.
On the other side of The Mall—the ceremonial avenue leading to Buckingham Palace and running alongside St James’s Park—lies Green Park, a former hunting ground of Henry VIII, with centuries-old oaks. In the 18th century it was used as a duelling ground, and during the Second World War it served as a vegetable garden.
St James’s Palace, located to the north of the park, was commissioned by Henry VIII in 1530. Only the Tudor-style gatehouse remains today. The building has borne witness to over 500 years of key events in the life of the British royal family. Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in its chapel, and King Charles III was officially proclaimed monarch at the palace, where he lived with his sons until 2004.
St James’s Park has been chosen as a filming location for movies such as Match Point, 28 Days Later, and 101 Dalmatians.
SHERLOCK HOLMES MUSEUM
Since opening in 1990, this museum has been dedicated to the stories of the famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tells us that Sherlock Holmes, along with Watson and Mrs. Hudson, lived at 221 Baker Street between 1881 and 1904. Fittingly, the museum is located at this address, and you can visit it with the audioguide (audioguides).
The three-story house is decorated exactly as it was described in the novels. Every little detail pays homage to the stories of Sherlock Holmes.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum occupies a four-storey Georgian townhouse built in 1815, which operated as a lodging house for many decades. The building is now protected for its cultural and architectural significance. A ‘bobby’ in period uniform stands guard at the entrance. Gas lamps enhance the Victorian atmosphere inside the museum, where visitors are welcomed by a guide dressed as Mrs Hudson, Holmes’s landlady.
Stamford, a mutual acquaintance of the detective and the doctor, arranged a meeting between them at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, as both were seeking accommodation. The following day, they visited what would become their new shared home. Watson moved in that very evening, followed by Holmes the next day.
The first Sherlock Holmes story to be published was A Study in Scarlet, which appeared in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in 1887 after being rejected several times. The Holmesian canon, referring exclusively to works written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, includes four novels and 56 short stories.
THE MILLENIUM BRIDGE
Next stop of the audioguide (audioguides), the 325-meter Millennium Bridge is London’s only pedestrian bridge.
The bridge opened in the year 2000 to much hype among Londoners.
However, just two days later, a design error forced its closure due to excessive wobbling as people tried to cross it. Once extensive readjustments to the structure had been made, it finally reopened in 2002.
On the north side of the Millennium Bridge, visitors arrive at the City and St Paul’s Cathedral, while on the south side they reach Bankside, with the Tate Gallery and the Globe Theatre among the main attractions.
The architectural firm of Norman Foster and sculptor Anthony Caro designed a shallow suspension bridge. This innovative structure ensures that the support cables never rise more than 2.3 metres above the deck, allowing pedestrians to enjoy uninterrupted panoramic views while crossing. Fibre optic cables run along the length of the bridge and illuminate at night, forming a gleaming ribbon of light over the Thames.
One hundred thousand people crossed the bridge during its opening weekend. To address the vibration problem caused by synchronised footfall, small dampers were installed beneath the deck.
The film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince begins with the dramatic collapse of the Millennium Bridge.
CITY HALL
Inaugurated in 2002, London’s City Hall is characterized by its futuristic oval shape. At 45 meters high, it boasts an innovative and energy efficient design. Upon climbing its unusual helical staircase with the audioguide (audioguides), you will reach a breathtaking lookout from where you can see many of the city’s famous monuments.
The government of London, consisting of the Mayor, the Greater London Authority, and the Assembly, relocated to City Hall in 2022. The building, formerly known as The Crystal, was designed by Wilkinson Eyre in 2012 for a German multinational.
The oval-shaped steel and glass structure has no defined front or back, reducing exposure to direct sunlight. Architecture 00 was responsible for adapting the 45-metre-high building to meet the high sustainability standards pursued by the city. Two-thirds of the roof is covered with solar panels, and tanks with a capacity of 60,000 litres collect rainwater for reuse. The result is a 50% energy saving.
City Hall is open to all Londoners. The Chamber is the main hall where the Assembly holds its sessions, which the public may attend from the surrounding gallery. On the sixth floor, there is a meeting room available for citizens to reserve on weekends.
The building features bright, spacious areas for public events, such as London’s Living Room on the ninth and tenth floors. The upper levels, offering an excellent view of the Royal Docks, are reached via a futuristic spiral staircase. Londoners can also observe public employees at work, as the meeting rooms for various committees are enclosed by glass walls.
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
This landmark theater was constructed as a tribute to Prince Albert who died of cancer. His wife Queen Victoria inaugurated it in 1871. The highlight of the building is the impressive glass dome.
Throughout the year, the hall hosts more than 400 shows of varying types: concerts, conferences, tennis matches, awards ceremonies, and the well-known Festival of Remembrance which pays homage to fallen British soldiers.
On this stage, there have been concerts from Wagner and Rachmáninov, a conference held by Albert Einstein, a standout performance from Bob Dylan, and even a Eurovision Festival.
The Royal Albert Hall is classified as a Grade I listed building, denoting exceptional interest — the same level of heritage protection as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
This colossal red-brick circular auditorium, with a capacity ranging between 5,000 and 8,000 people depending on safety regulations, was constructed to promote the arts and sciences, as proclaimed by the mosaic on its façade, rather than specifically for concerts. The hall’s acoustics were subject to heavy criticism until they were significantly improved in 2004.
During the Second World War, the building’s glass-domed roof was painted black to prevent German bombers from using it as a navigational reference.
A few years ago, an exclusive twelve-seat box near the one reserved for members of the Royal Family was offered for sale at three million euros. The purchase entitled the buyer to use the box for a period of 849 years.
The Royal Albert Hall archive documents the venue’s history up to the present day, including posters and programmes spanning over a century. It also holds an extensive collection of objects, documents and artworks related to events and concert halls.
Each year, from mid-July to mid-September, the Royal Albert Hall hosts the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, popularly known as the Proms, organised by the BBC and dedicated to classical music.
THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM
Last point of this audioguide (audioguides), the Imperial War Museum takes us on a tour of all the great conflicts throughout history, with an emphasis on the awful consequences they entail.
The museum showcases military artifacts, weapons, vehicles, tanks, airplanes, and even an atomic bomb. It also holds official documents from various battles, as well as an abundance of photographic and audiovisual material.
The basement is the most exciting section of the museum. Here, you can see battle reconstructions of both world wars, complete with original artifacts. There’s also a small but harrowing exhibition dedicated to showing how children escaped the horrors of war by attempting to turn them into a game.
The lower floor of the Imperial War Museum features permanent exhibitions exploring the art of warfare and the impact of conflict on civilian life. A reconstructed trench from the Great War offers visitors an immersive experience, transporting them to the front lines of battle.
The museum’s main gallery showcases First World War artillery and tanks from various armies, while the fourth floor is dedicated to paintings and drawings with wartime themes. Indeed, the Imperial War Museum holds the second largest collection of British art after the Tate Gallery.
Nearly 3,000 objects on display convey the personal stories of those who created, preserved or used them during the two world wars.
King George V supported the establishment of the Imperial War Museum to house artefacts from the First World War. The collection was first opened to the public in 1920 at the Crystal Palace before relocating in 1936 to its current home in the former Bethlem Royal Hospital for the mentally ill.
Greeting visitors in the entrance atrium is a ‘Spitfire’ fighter plane from the Battle of Britain, accompanied by five other aircraft.
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