Top10 sights in London

London is an event for every city traveler. The energetic metropolis on the Thames looks back on a 2.000-year history back. Traces of the past can be found in royal palaces and other historic walls such as the Tower and monuments in Trafalgar Square. The present of London is also exciting. New trends are born in the English city. Modern architecture and cultural diversity characterize the image. There are numerous world-class stages and museums. In addition, red double-decker buses, tempting window displays, a colorful restaurant scene and cozy pubs await for social evenings. It is not boring for a second in London. The ten following sights make sure of that.

The Shard

At just under 310 m, The Shard at London Bridge station is the tallest skyscraper in western Europe. The glass and steel skyscraper is reminiscent of a gigantic (namesake) shard that seems to cut into the city's sky. The cone-shaped building was designed by the Italian star architect Renzo Piano. As many as three different viewing platforms give you a bird's eye view of London. Below is an open air floor in 72. Floor. Going up in the elevator that shoots up 6 meters per second. The view of landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the St. St. Paul's Cathedral is magical.

Tower Bridge with "The Shard

Tate Modern

In the already sparkling museum sky of London, the Tate Modern is a real star. Since its opening in 2000, it has become one of the world's most visited exhibition venues for modern and contemporary art. The museum is housed in a converted 1930s electricity power station in the Bankside district, complemented by a pyramid-like extension of idiosyncratically stacked bricks. The exhibitions in the oil tanks and the turbine hall of the former power plant are an architectural highlight in themselves. The collection includes works by big names like Picasso, Matisse, Pollock and Warhol. But also art installations from the 21. Century move in astonishment.

Westminster Abbey

Since the Norman William the Conqueror was crowned King of the English in Westminster Abbey in 1066, the abbey has been the country's coronation church. In addition, the imposing Gothic sacred building with its side chapels serves as a burial ground for monarchs, scientists, poets and other members of English high society. The physicist Isaac Newton found his final glorious resting place here, as did the writer Charles Dickens and the actor Laurence Olivier. During the day the entrance fees for Westminster Abbey are hefty. If you can wait until the evening service, the Evensong, you will enjoy a free choir concert of the highest class.

Magnificent: Westminster Abbey

Cutty Sark

At the dry dock of Greenwich lies at anchor a majesty of the seas, the Cutty Sark. The legendary tea clipper first set sail in 1869 and for decades was one of the largest and fastest ships on the trade routes between England and China. Even today, the Cutty Sark is considered a symbol of Britain's former naval power. Long ago, the three-master is a museum ship and tells in a multimedia exhibition about the world trade in 19. Century and life on board.

Kew Gardens

In the London district of Richmond, lovers of English garden culture will find their paradise. Here are the Kew Gardens, the royal botanical gardens, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. In addition to plant species from all continents and beautiful ornamental gardens, you will also discover the largest Victorian greenhouse in the world. An attraction for families with children is a tree top walk in 18 m height, on which you walk around between chestnuts.

Refreshing corner in Kew Gardens

Hampton Court

In the southwest of the city lies Hampton Court, the former favorite castle of the notorious Tudor King Henry VIII. In 1509 he ascended the English throne, married six times, broke with the Pope in Rome and founded the Anglican Church. The monarch was also a lover of good food and big feasts, as the huge kitchen wing of the palace with room for 250 cooks testifies to this day. About 1.000 rooms and halls as well as numerous turrets and ornate chimneys the castle has. Costume tours, jousting competitions and Hampton Courts' extensive collection of paintings, including works by Titian, Holbein and van Dyck, are also worth a visit.

Portobello Road

If you love junk, antiques and colorful clothes, visit London's oldest street market in Portobello Road. Hundreds of merchants invite you to browse and haggle every day. The nearly 2 km long street also charms with candy-colored house facades, pretty cafes and small bookstores. In the house with the number 22 once lived the famous English writer George Orwell. Through the romantic comedy "Notting Hill" with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Portobello Road has even gone down in film history. Every year in August there is a Caribbean carnival in the street with music and great samba parades.

Colorful life in Portobello Road

Sherlock Holmes Museum

The fact that Sherlock Holmes and his tricky cases are pure fiction is immediately forgotten in the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The Museum of Literature is located in a magnificent Georgian townhouse at 221b Baker Street, one of the most famous addresses in the world. This is where the master detective and his assistant Dr. Watson have lived between 1881 and 1904. Inside, the detailed study with Victorian furniture and all sorts of curiosities from Sherlock's detective life is particularly inspiring.

London Eye

On the south bank of the Thames, the London Eye is considered the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. About 135 m covers its diameter. The ride, also known as the Millennium Wheel, was originally erected as a millennium attraction and was to be dismantled after five years. But there is no question of that for a long time. The Ferris wheel is a real crowd puller. To avoid long queues, it is advisable to book a Fast Track ticket in advance. This takes you into one of the 32 glassed-in gondolas, where you move at a slow pace to lofty heights and enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the city.

London Eye at night

Wembley Stadium

The English are known to be crazy about football, at least most of them are. In London alone there are over a dozen professional clubs. Most famous venue in the city, if not the world, is Wembley Stadium in the Brent district. Its lawn is considered sacred. Football history has been written here several times. The new stadium, which was built between 2003 and 2007, is crowned by a white handle that can be seen from afar and offers space for 90.000 spectators. Fans of the round leather and the myth of Wembley should definitely take a stadium tour. It provides views of the giant round and behind-the-scenes insights. A visit to the dressing rooms of the English national team and a walk through the players' tunnel are included in the tour.