The London List: Places to Visit

London is a vast city with lots to see and do, so many things that it can be difficult to know where to start. This guide offers a brief look at some of the sites that should be at the top of your sightseeing London list.

Buckingham Palace

Quite simply, you cannot go to London and not visit the home of the Royal family. Buckingham Palace can be found a short walk away for the Montcalm Hotel Marble Arch, at the end of The Mall and is seen to be one of the most iconic structures in the world. Outside the palace standing tall are the classic Queen’s Guards who will allow you to take photographs with them however, it is true what they say, you cannot make them smile. For several months of the year, Buckingham Palace opens its door to the public and you can view some of its 775 rooms including several bedrooms, staterooms and grand staircases before heading to the expansive gardens. There is a small charge to enter the palace, however, it is well worth it.

The London Eye

A famous icon in London’s landscape, the London Eye stands an impressive 135m high holding 32 pods which can take 800 people in a single rotation. It covets one of the most beautiful views of the city that spans for miles; on a clear day it is possible to see Windsor Castle while at night you can see the glorious twinkling lights of a city that barely sleeps. Just don’t forget to take your camera to capture some incredible panoramic views.

ZSL London Zoo

What is not to love about taking a trip to the zoo, especially one as grand and packed full of animals as ZSL London Zoo. It can be found in Regents Park, a 30-minute trip from the Montcalm Hotel Shoreditch and is the oldest scientific zoo in the world. It opened the very first children’s zoo, aquarium and reptile house and it has an interesting history as it was home to the now extinct Quagga and the bear that was behind the inspiration of A.A Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. It is now home to a vast array of wildlife ranging from gorillas, crocodiles, tigers, elephants, snakes, lions and bugs. If you are travelling with little ones, head over to the Animal Adventure section of ZSL where they can interact with domesticated species such as rabbits, pigs, llamas and goats and explore animals from all over the world, such as meerkats, aardvarks and porcupines.

West End

For a true London experience, you must watch a show on the West End. The theatre business is thought to be the beating heart of London, with some shows such as Les Misérables having run for over 30 years. It is one of the city’s most profitable ventures as there are a plethora of plays, musicals and performances to see all year round. If you’re not a fan of an all singing, all dancing cast, the Globe theatre is just a short distance away over the Thames where you can watch a Shakespearean play in its classic setting, or you could simply take to a theatre to watch a wonderfully dramatic performance featuring a famous actor from the movies, the choices are endless.