Buckingham Palace
Home to Queen Elizabeth II when she is resident in the city. Hundreds of years of Royal heritage all under one roof.
Surprisingly new to London, but the London Eye has rapidly become a major London icon. It is a great way to see and rejoice at the beautiful city.
Tower of London
One of the oldest relics from London’s history. Harking back to William the Conqueror’s invasion in 1066, this very famous tower has seen many executions, including Anne Boleyn (second wife of King Henry VIII).
Covent Garden
A really vibrant square with a great collection of shops offering tea, clothes, jewelery. There has been a market here for the last 500+ years, and sometimes it is as though the past echoes of traders past are still around! If you are lucky, you can catch a live performance of opera, music or jugglers.
Trafalgar Square
Since the pigeons have been banned from the square, it has lost some of its grubby character. But the gleaming, pigeon-free square has Nelson’s column, and of course the water fountains. The National Gallery, Chinatown and St James’ Park are all a short walk away.
Hyde Park
One of the biggest in London with a lake for a leisurely boating experience. Go for a jog, relaxing stroll or bird watching (of the winged kind!)
Oxford Street
Even though some parts of this famous street need a lick of paint, it is still a huge attraction for the sheer variety of shops. A favourite is Selfridges, on the marble arch side.
St Paul’s cathedral
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren but had to be partly rebuilt after World War II, it is a stunning piece of architectural genius.
Houses of Parliament
If you wan to see the epicenter of British politics, the Houses of Parliament is the ideal place to see the policy-making centre. Not to forget the machinations, back biting and power games played within these walls.
Modern Tate
Cutting edge art exhibitions ensure the Modern Tate’s place in London’s icon of cool!
To be honest, you will probably need 2 weeks in London to see all of these iconic tourist sites. A tip: check out http://www.londonpass.co.uk and buy a family pass which will give you discounts to over 100 attractions and also include transport cost as well if required. London can be very expensive and any way to save money whilst enjoying your holidays is welcomed.
June 10th, 2008
Tushar Mathur 

