An Amateur Blogger in London

London, England’s capital city and arguably the most well-known destination for those visiting from outside of the United Kingdom. The iconic city is divided into a number of different boroughs that are connected by tube stations, making this metropolitan haven easy to explore and perfect for those looking for culture and 24/7 thriving life!

Hyde Park has a central location and is one of London’s eight Royal Parks, making it a perfect starting point to go sight-seeing or to take a breather from the busy concrete jungle for a while. You’ll see plenty of wildlife, including swans, herons and bizarrely, colonies of exotic birds that have somehow made their way there. The park also houses the Marble Arch, Speaker’s Corner and the Serpentine River, which is actually a lake that was created in the 1600s. With good weather, you can hire a boat and head out on the water. For any film buffs, Hyde Park was the location for England’s first known moving pictures and has been used in many films since. With its rich history and infamous name, Hyde Park needs to be on your checklist if you’re going to London!

Big Ben – or Elizabeth Tower, to give it its formal name – is the emblem of London, if ever there was one. The site is a grand clock tower that forms part of Westminster Palace, also known as the Houses of Parliament due to it being the meeting place for the U.K.’s parliament. Don’t be confused if you head there; Westminster is a borough of London but it was given a separate ‘city’ status. The clock has been used since the 1800s and is a English icon. Another icon is the famous London Eye, an observation wheel that provides users with amazing views out over the city (and it is the tallest observation wheel in the whole of Europe). Both of these attractions are very popular and absolute musts if you’re looking for some ‘classic London’ sights.

Kensington Gardens is another must-see oasis in London. Home to Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial and the Serpentine Gallery, the park has Long Water lake on one side and the Royal Albert Hall on the other. Picturesque walks and iconic sights are a given here and the park is only a short walk from the Natural History Museum. There is plenty to do nearby, making this famous site worthy of a visit.

The Tower of London is another infamous attraction for those visiting London. First built in 1066, this historic castle is great to head to if you are looking to get more insight into London’s past. Having stood for just under 1,000 years, the Tower has existed through many different periods and houses certain artefacts that may be of interest, such as the Crown Jewels. The Tower also has a reputation for being the stomping ground of ghosts, the most well-known being Anne Boleyn, who was famously murdered there. If you believe that there ever was a place that housed ghosts, the Tower would undoubtedly be one of them, due to the countless deaths on the grounds over time and the years it served as a prison. For the historical significance alone, the Tower is worth passing by.

Continuing on from famous, historical sites in London, don’t forget Buckingham Palace if you make your way around the city. The building became a palace during the 1700s and is the official residence of the U.K.’s monarchy. The building is another British icon and one of London’s most popular attractions, despite only being open for public visiting during selective times and dates during a few Summer months. Another spot to head to is the British Museum, which has been established since the 1700s and is free to enter. It houses over 8 million objects and artefacts from all over the globe. With one of the most extensive collections worldwide, the museum is an intriguing spot to visit.

Regent’s Park, another royal park, was established in the early 1800s and boasts incredibly beautiful, well-maintained gardens, as well as The Open Air Theatre, tennis courts, a dedicated wildlife area and the stunning Triton Fountain. The park is almost 400 acres all in all and has been used in many films, including the first ‘Harry Potter’ film and ‘An American Werewolf in London’ (which inspired the title of this post, incidentally). It also offers a large boating lake, which is usually surrounded by swans, geese and herons, and it is close to Madame Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes Museum.