Visitors to the city of London will be excused for feeling overwhelmed by the number of sights and tourist spots within the city. It may take you a couple of weeks, and a whole lot of travelling, to visit just half of the museums, parks, galleries and castles within the city’s borders.
If you are a tourist looking to maximise your time or a London dweller looking to rediscover some of your city’s highlights, consider taking a walk down the South Bank of the river Thames.
If you start out at Westminster tube station you will be in full view of the Houses of Parliament and London’s most well known landmark – Big Ben.
Big Ben, so named because of the 13 ton bell, towers above the Palace of Westminster where the British Parliament resides. It was designed in 1840 by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, after the previous palace burnt down. Close by you will see the towers of Westminster Abbey.
Since 1301 each monarch including Elizabeth II has been crowned here. Many historic figures are also buried in the Abbey including Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Chaucer, Alfred Tennyson and Charles Dickens.
Continue towards the South Bank by crossing the Westminster Bridge and turn left towards the impressive County Hall. This building once housed the home of London’s elected government, but now holds the London Aquarium, the Dalí universe and the London Movieum. The Movieum is currently hosting a photographic exhibition on The Beatles (until 30 July). This exhibition marks the opening of a permanent new photographic exhibition space at the Movieum, The Getty Images Gallery.
