5 Essential Things to do While Visiting London

London is a very modern European city with a fast-paced style and every convenience a visitor could want. And yet London has deep and rich cultural roots to charm those visitors, with unique nooks such as the thousand-year-old Borough Food Market or any number of art and historical museums. There is always some new activity happening in London, making it a destination people return back to time and time again. But there are 4 reasons why you have to visit London in addition to any of its most recent offerings: the London Eye, the Tower of London, fabulous historical museums with free admission, and Stonehenge.

Take a Ride in The London Eye

The London Eye is a great introduction to the city for newcomers. Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, the London Eye welcomes more than three million guests every year to rise over the banks of the River Thames at a height of 443 feet. Visitors inside the attraction can look out across the city at many different landmarks in panoramic 360 degree views. Each of the ride’s 32 capsules can carry 25 people.

Tour The Tower of London

The Tower of London is the historical castle that holds the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. The jewels are on display for visitors to see. It is also a great place to learn about London’s history through the different exhibitions at the palace, including a fortress display, “Prisoners at the Tower,” and exhibitions about royal life. “Royal Beasts” shows the story of the exotic animals that were kept within the confines of the palace in what was effectively the city’s first zoo. The historical information on display at the Tower of London is exhaustive and highly captivating for anybody wanting to learn about London’s history.

Learn About History and Culture in Free Museums

London has some of the best museums in the world, many of them free of charge. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Modern Museum and the National Portrait Gallery all offer free admission, with only a limited number of exhibitions requiring extra fees. These are some of the best museums in existence: the Tate Modern Museum has British art dating from around 1500 to the present and the Natural History Museum has 22 exhibits to tell the scientific and cultural story of mankind.

Contemplate the Mystery of Stonehenge

Stonehenge, constructed in three phases between 2200 B.C. and 1200 B.C., is a truly unique landmark of stones aligned to the midsummer sunrise. It was probably built by astronomer-priests as an astronomical observatory. Some believe the stones are aligned to capture psychic energy forces. No matter what you believe though, it is truly a sight to behold, and one of the world’s most famous landmarks. It is a bit of a drive from London, about 1 hour and 40 minutes, but it is well worth the trip.

Have a Pint in a Pub

The best way to experience life in London is by visiting any local pub and having a pint of whatever is on tap. Surely there will be Guinness in all of the bars in London, but there are also endless varieties of other delicious beers to try. If you’re lucky enough to be in a pub during a football match, it would be wise to root for the team everyone else is rooting for and have a blast!