Top London Attractions

London is one of the culture capitals of the world and is brimming with exciting things to see and do. Take a breathtaking trip on the London Eye, explore the amazing collections in museums as diverse as the Tate Modern and Natural History Museum or immerse yourself in the history of the city at Westminster Abbey or the Tower of London. You can book attractions through LondonTown.com or find out more about our top picks below.

London Eye

Jubilee Gardens, South Bank, SE1
When the Millennium Commission announced their intention to build an observation wheel that would stand 135 metres over the city of London, people were initially cynical. But the London Eye has turned out to be the finest and most popular new attraction in London since Queen Victoria's Great Exhibition. The London Eye now welcomes between 3.5 and 4 million guests every year. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the London Eye is a feat of modern engineering, both beautiful to look at and from. It is the tallest observation wheel in the world, allowing you to see one of the world's most exciting cities from a completely new perspective.

Current events at London Eye

Valentine's Champagne Cruise event Saturday 11th February until Tuesday 14th February
TIMES 11th-13th: 4.45pm | 14th: 4.45pm, 5.45pm, 6.45pm, 7.45pm, and 8.45pm PRICING £20, £18 in advance
Snuggle up to your loved one and set sail down the Thames... More about this event

Valentine's Cupid Capsule event Saturday 11th February until Tuesday 14th February
TIMES 11th-13th: 11am-8.30pm every half hour, 14th: 11am-10pm every half hour PRICING £325, Rose Champagne upgrade £348
Treat your loved one to a romantic private capsule on the... More about this event

All events at London Eye

National Gallery

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
The National Gallery is visible in its full glory in the heart of the pedestrianised Trafalgar Square. Its permanent collection houses some of the world’s most important paintings from as far back as the 13th century. Gaze upon the works of greats such as Titian, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Raphael and Van Gogh. Built in 1832-1833, in an attempt to outshine Paris’s Louvre, it aspires to make art accessible to all with free admission, a central location and extended opening hours. The important thing in planning your visit is not to try and see everything. You could spend a week wandering through its hallowed halls, and still miss many of the greatest works of European art.

Current events at National Gallery

National Gallery - Permanent Collection event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free, additional charges for special exhibitions
Located on Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of European paintings in the world. Masterpieces on permanent... More about this event

Tintoretto: Talk event Wednesday 8th February
TIMES Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 1pm-1.15pm PRICING Free
A talk about the Italian artist.... More about this event

Veronese: Talk event Wednesday 8th February
TIMES Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 1.30pm-1.45pm PRICING Free
A talk about the artist's life and work.... More about this event

Dickens's Struggles With The Old Masters: Talk event Thursday 9th February
TIMES Thursday 9th February 2012 - 1pm-1.45pm PRICING Free
Nicholas Penny discusses the author's references to paintings.... More about this event

Corot: The Four Times Of Day: Talk event Friday 10th February
TIMES Friday 10th February 2012 - 1pm-2pm PRICING Free
Jo Lewis and Rachel Dow discuss the painting and lead a drawing class.... More about this event

All events at National Gallery

Tate Modern

Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
Tate Modern is London's most visited and innovative gallery, housed in a former power station the space itself is as much as an attraction as its collections and exhibitions. The journey there is an adventure in itself, take the tube to Blackfriars, cross the river on the 'Blade of Light' Millennium Bridge, and admire the startling contrast between historic St Paul's Cathedral and this uber modern art gallery. The interior is a glorious, unpretentious playground of modern art, as appealing to children and amateurs as it is to adults and art experts. Permanent collections includes works by Bacon, Matisse, Rothko and Andy Warhol as well as the best of contemporary British art.

Current events at Tate Modern

Photography: New Documentary Forms event running until Saturday 31st March 2012
TIMES 1st May 2011 to 31st March 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Photographs by Luc Delahaye, Mitch Epstein, Guy Tillim and Akram Zaatari in which the artists explore a variety of subjects through documentary photog... More about this event

The Unilever Series: Tacita Dean event running until Monday 9th April 2012
TIMES Mon-Thu, Sun 10am-6pm, Fri & Sat 10am-10pm, closed Dec 24-26 PRICING Free
Berlin-based English visual artists Tacita Dean undertakes the 12th commission in More about this event

No Lone Zone event running until Sunday 13th May 2012
TIMES 27th January 2012 to 13th May 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Contemporary sculpture, videos, photographs and installations exploring the relationship between history, nature and politics, by Teresa Margolles, Ci... More about this event

Yayoi Kusama event running until Sunday 20th May 2012
TIMES 8th February 2012 to 20th May 2012 - Various Times PRICING £10 (Adults), £8.50 (Concessions)
Well-known for her repeating dot patterns, influential Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama first came to prominence ... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 1: Maya Deren And Me event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Fri 7.00
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 2: Hammer Super 8 event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Sat 7.00
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 3: For An Active Cinema event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Sun 5.00
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 4: Hammer Expanded event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Sun 7.00
... More about this event

Barbara Hammer Programme 5: Resistance event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Thursday 9th February 2012 - 6.30pm
... More about this event

All events at Tate Modern

St Paul's Cathedral

Ludgate Hill, EC4M 8AD
Sir Christopher Wren's mighty St Paul's Cathedral draws the eye like nothing else in London, even though the City's skyscrapers now tower above it. The centrepiece of the great reconstruction of London after the great fire of 1666, it is still the spiritual focus of Great Britain. Royal weddings and birthdays, the funerals of Britain's leaders and services to celebrate the ends of wars all take place beneath the famous dome. The cathedral miraculously survived the Blitz in World War II and served as an inspirational symbol of strength. Explore the medieval relics in the crypt, the gorgeous Victorian mosaics, and up to the staggering views of London from the top of the dome.

St Paul's Cathedral - Tickets and Information

Southbank Centre

Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Love it or loathe its modernist architecture, the Southbank Centre is the capital's cultural epicentre. A prime example of 1960's concrete 'carbuncle' design, the centre offers three theatres, three concert halls, two art galleries, two cinemas, cafes, bars, shops, a Saturday book market, wicked spaces for skateboarding and BMXing and stunning views of the river. Listen to some of the world's best live music at The Royal Festival Hall. Watch a 3-D movie or blockbuster at the BFI IMAX Cinema, or catch a cinematic classic at the BFI (formerly the National Film Theatre). Enjoy first class theatre at the National Theatre and soak up the atmosphere as live music and street theatre take place on the riverside.

Current events at Southbank Centre

Love Letters Straight From Your Heart event running until Tuesday 14th February 2012
TIMES 7.30pm, Sun 6pm PRICING £20
With Valentine's Day round the corner, love is at the fore front of many Londoners' minds. Love Letters Straight from ... More about this event

Hidden City event running until Monday 31st December 2012
TIMES Various PRICING £16 per team
Hidden City offers a unique and quirky way to explore London. Based around the concept of a treasure hunt, explorers simply need to find their start p... More about this event

Alice Oswald: Talk event Wednesday 8th February
TIMES Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 7.45pm PRICING £10, concs £5
The poet discusses Memorial.... More about this event

Euan MacDonald: Open Tuning event running until Tuesday 14th February 2012
TIMES 14th January 2012 to 14th February 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
A multimedia installation exploring the perception of sound, featuring the video 9,000 Pieces, which examines the mechanics of piano-testing in a Shan... More about this event

David Shrigley: Brain Activity event running until Sunday 13th May 2012
TIMES 1st February 2012 to 13th May 2012 - Various Times PRICING Feb 1-21 £7, concs £5, ages 12-18 £4.50, Feb 22-May 13 £9, concs £7, ages 12-18 £6.50, inc adm to Jeremy Deller: Joy In People
The first major London-based survey of the artist's practice, featuring drawings, photography, sculpture, animations, paintings and music all comment... More about this event

All events at Southbank Centre

British Museum

Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG
Founded in 1753, when Sir Hans Sloane left his collection of 71,000 objects of interest, the British Museum's charter insists that it be open free of charge "to all studious and curious persons." The museum expanded rapidly in the nineteenth century, and now contains around 7 million objects, some more than 10,000 years old. Spend an afternoon exploring the relics of ancient Egyptian and Greek empires and come face to face with mankind's greatest cultural achievements. Walk through the impressive columned entrance, through Lord Norman Foster's breath taking glass domed Great Court and wander the seemingly endless corridors and displays. The museum is a treasure trove of objects from the whole world and the entire span of human history and prehistory.

Current events at British Museum

Grayson Perry: The Tomb Of The Unknown Craftsman event running until Sunday 26th February 2012
TIMES 6th October 2011 to 26th February 2012 - Various Times PRICING £10, concs £8, disabled carer/accompanied under 16s/mems Free
Vases, tapestries and a richly decorated cast iron coffin-ship by the Turner Prize-winning artist are showcased alongside objects from the museum's c... More about this event

Landscape, Heroes And Folktales: German Romantic Prints and Drawings event running until Sunday 8th April 2012
TIMES 29th September 2011 to 8th April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
More than 1000 prints and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries by artists including Caspar David Friedrich, Philipp Otto Runge, Wilhelm Tischbein... More about this event

Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam event running until Sunday 15th April 2012
TIMES Daily 10am-5.30pm, Fri 10am-8.30pm PRICING £12 (Adults), Free (Children Under 16 & Members)
One of the five pillars of Islam central to Muslim belief, Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim ... More about this event

Mine to Medals event running until Sunday 9th September 2012 PRICING Free
For some this British Museum exhibition may be as close as they'll get to an Olympic gold medal - despite th... More about this event

Music In Chinese Art: Talk event Wednesday 8th February
TIMES Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 1.15pm PRICING Free
Iside Carbone discusses the subject.... More about this event

Treasures From Temples, Tombs And Palaces: Talk event Wednesday 8th February
TIMES Wednesday 8th February 2012 - 1.15pm PRICING Free
Mary Ginsberg discusses the museum's collection.... More about this event

Journey To Mecca event running until Thursday 9th February 2012
TIMES Fri 6.30 PRICING general admission Free
In 1325, Moroccan scholar Ibn Battuta travels from Tangier to Mecca on his first epic pilgrimage to Mecca. Over the next 29 years, the scholar travels... More about this event

Hoshino Yukinobu: Manga At The British Museum event running until Sunday 8th April 2012
TIMES 29th September 2011 to 8th April 2012 - Various Times PRICING Free
Drawings and prints from the manga series Professor Munakata's British Museum Adventure, including concept and preparatory sketches.... More about this event

All events at British Museum

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD
Originally designed as an offshoot of the British Museum, the Natural History Museum is a fascinating and impressive place to visit. This beautiful gothic building houses one of the world's largest collection of dinosaur skeletons. These fantastic creatures dominate the main halls, towering above the awed faces of visitors and are a source of endless fascination to all ages. As well as these the museum offers exhibitions and activities, a collection of over 70 million natural history specimens, some of which are kept on display to the public, and the revamped geology museum, with its exciting interactive displays. Great fun for adults and a must see for kids.

Current events at Natural History Museum

Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year event running until Sunday 11th March 2012
TIMES Daily 10am-5.50pm, last adm 5pm | Open late last Fri of the month, except Dec PRICING £9 (Adults), £4.50 (Concs & Children 4-16), £24 (Family - 2 adults & 3 children), Free (Children 3 & Under)
Some photographers wait for weeks in order to catch that one great action shot, some set up elaborate timing systems, others have simply seen an oppor... More about this event

The Frozen Archive: Talk event Thursday 9th February
TIMES Thursday 9th February 2012 - 2.30pm-3pm PRICING phone for prices
A talk about how the polar ice caps are used to determine what is happening to Earth's climate.... More about this event

Love In The Natural World: Talk event Tuesday 14th February
TIMES Tuesday 14th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING phone for prices
A talk about love in the wild.... More about this event

Behind The Lens: Meet A Wildlife Photographer: Talk event Wednesday 15th February
TIMES Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING Phone for prices
A photographer discusses their work.... More about this event

The Valley Of Silence: Talk event Saturday 11th February until Saturday 18th February
TIMES 11th February, 16th February and 18th February 2012 at 12.30pm-1pm and 2.30pm-3pm PRICING phone for prices
A talk about field work and the work taking place in the Costa Rican tropical forest.... More about this event

All events at Natural History Museum

Tower of London

Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB
For a thousand years the Tower of London has protected, threatened, imprisoned and occasionally executed the people of London. Originally the fortress of the hated Norman conquerors, built with imported white stone from France, it has been through many different incarnations in its life; the bloody tower where Richard III allegedly murdered his nephews, a patriotic symbol, home to British monarchs and armies, a prison and in modern times a treasury museum and UNESCO World Heritage site. The biggest draw for visitors is the crown jewels: crowns, sceptres, plate, and the two largest cut diamonds in the world are among the objects in the collection. The medieval palace, traitors gate, the beefeaters, and the ravens make visits wonderfully atmospheric.

Current events at Tower Of London

British Sign Language Tours event Sunday 19th February
TIMES Sunday 19th February 2012 - 10.30am-4.30pm PRICING £18.70, child £10.45, concs £15.95, family £51.70
A BSL-interpreted tour of the Tower.... More about this event

Tower Twilight Tours (Over 12s) event running until Wednesday 29th February 2012
TIMES 8th Feb, 15th Feb, 23rd Feb and 29th Feb 2012 - 7pm-8.30pm PRICING £25, 10% discount for historic royal palaces members
... More about this event

All events at Tower Of London

Westminster Abbey

Parliament Square, SW1P 3PA
The setting for every coronation since 1066 and the burial ground for kings, statesmen, scientists, musicians and poets, Westminster Abbey is a true Medieval masterpiece. Stunning gothic architecture, the fascinating literary history represented by poets corner, the artistic talent that went into the statues, murals, paintings and tombs, and the fantastic stained glass, combine to make Westminster Abbey the most enduringly stunning of London's churches.

Current events at Westminster Abbey

History And Eternity: Signs Of Transcendence: The Beyond In The Ordinary: Talk event Thursday 23rd February
TIMES Thursday 23rd February 2012 - 6.15pm-7.30pm PRICING Free
Vernon White discusses the meaning of eternity and the hope of heaven.... More about this event

History And Eternity: Images Of Resurrection: Time, Space And Bodies In Eternity: Talk event Thursday 1st March
TIMES Thursday 1st March 2012 - 6.15pm-7.30pm PRICING Free
Vernon White discusses the belief of life beyond death.... More about this event

History And Eternity: Transforming The Present: Future Hope In The Here And Now event Thursday 8th March
TIMES Thursday 8th March 2012 - 6.15pm-7.30pm PRICING Free
Vernon White discusses how we can affect the future.... More about this event

All events at Westminster Abbey