We have always seen London celebrating New Year’s on television

To experience it live, we bought our tickets and flew to London on December 30th. Among the attractions, London can certainly be called the richest capital city in Europe. We stayed for 5 days and still couldn’t visit many places. London stands out with its own culture and architecture. The houses, buildings, and shops are built in an architecture that you can only see in England. On one hand, the buildings create a gothic and pessimistic atmosphere, but on the other hand, they also have a neat and disciplined style. London, the city of a 2000-year-old culture. Besides history and culture, London is also an ideal place for shopping and having fun. One could say it is a city that never sleeps.

Speaking of London, I would like to particularly mention the “London Underground.” It is practically impossible to drive around London by car. Moreover, foreign vehicles are prohibited from entering tourist areas; they can only access certain areas. With the Underground, you can reach every corner of London. The trains depart every 2 minutes. It is also affordable in terms of price. You purchase an Oyster Card, which is essentially a ticket. With it, you can pay up to a certain daily limit, and once you exceed that limit, no money will be deducted from your account. There is also an app that you can download on your phone to easily and conveniently navigate anywhere in London. Lastly, I will make a few recommendations and discuss some attractions. Due to the large number of tourists, I recommend buying your tickets for museums and palaces online in advance to save time. Even if you buy them online, you still have to wait for about an hour due to the crowds. Therefore, you cannot visit more than 1-2 places per day anyway. You can plan your days and itinerary accordingly.

Before going to London, I asked friends how it was, and they always said, “it’s expensive.” The pound is very strong, and even the euro loses value against the pound. I absolutely agree with this statement, London is expensive, so plan accordingly.

Attractions in London

Madame Tussaud’s

The world’s most famous wax museum. Here, you will come across personalities from art, music, film, politics, and sports. From David Beckham to Muhammad Ali, from Gandhi to Atatürk, wax figures of globally renowned individuals are exhibited here. You can have a good time and take funny photos. Originally, the figures were displayed in a house in London in 1802, but the museum was established and relocated to its current location in 1928. You need to reserve tickets in advance and be punctual. If you arrive too early, you cannot enter and have to wait for the entry time.

HMS Belfast (Warship) Museum

The warship currently located in the Thames, in front of the Tower Bridge, was launched in 1938. It belongs to the class of light cruisers. It was the longest warship of its time. It is the only warship that has survived from World War II and has endured until today. It was used as a warship until 1965 and converted into a museum in 1971. Even during the war, it was hit by German warships but did not sink and later sank many warships. It was involved in the Normandy landings and the Korean War. In the ship used as a museum, you can find a lot of information about naval history. The ship consists of 5 levels where you can get an impression of sailors’ lives.

Tower Bridge

A bascule bridge over the Thames. It can be considered one of the symbols of London and Britain. It is a historic bridge that every tourist wants to see. The construction took 8 years and was completed in 1894. Large ships can pass under the bridge by opening it. The bridge’s mechanism operated with steam until 1976 when it was switched to electricity. Information about it is displayed along with cylinders in a small museum at the bridge’s exit. The bridge is open to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. An average of 40,000 vehicles cross this bridge daily. You can go inside the bridge and climb up to the upper level. On the upper level at a height of 43m, you can not only enjoy a beautiful view but also receive information about the bridge through videos. When you are on top of the bridge, you can walk on glass floors and observe buses and pedestrians from below. It is recommended to visit both at noon and in the evening.

Westminister Palace

Since 1512, it has been the home of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. In the parliamentary building, there are 650 Members of Parliament in the House of Commons and 800 Lords. The members of the House of Commons are elected, while those in the House of Lords inherit their title. The House of Commons drafts bills, while the Lords approve them and turn them into laws. However, the powers of the Lords are limited as they cannot reject all bills but are bound to certain laws. The parliamentary building is only located in a part of the palace. There are also areas in the palace that belong to the royal family. The palace, situated on the banks of the Thames, is built in the Gothic style. You can visit both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as the areas belonging to the royal family, and receive information in various languages. What impressed me particularly is the concept of the “British Empire where the sun never sets.” The British Empire had so many colonies that when the sun set in one country, it rose in another, hence it was referred to as the empire where the sun never sets. When visiting the Palace of Westminster, one can feel the grandeur and power of the empire by looking at the walls and the ceiling. Although not obvious, when exploring the palace, one can realize that it is one of the countries that govern the world. I recommend planning half a day for this. Note that photography and videography are not allowed in the House of Lords.

Buckingham Palace

The royal palace where the Queen lives and works. It was built in 1705 by the Duke of Buckingham and later converted into a palace. The palace consists of 775 rooms and houses personal belongings of the Queen and an art collection. Important statesmen from different countries are received here. Although it is a royal palace, it is simple and modest. The “Changing of the Guard” takes place daily or sometimes every two days at 11:00 am, where the Royal Guard’s changing of duty occurs. It is a tradition that has been around for 700 years and lasts for about an hour. It is recommended to go there at the mentioned time and arrive an hour early, as the spots from which you can take good photos may be occupied.

Big Ben

The famous clock tower of London. More precisely, Big Ben is the name of the bell located inside the tower, weighing 13.5 tons, making it the largest and deepest of the five bells. Big Ben is an abbreviation for the “Great Bell.” The sound of the bell echoing in the surroundings is referred to by the British as the “voice of Britain.” The tower is located right next to the Palace of Westminster. The clock tower has been continuously operating since June 11, 1859. It is known worldwide as a symbol of Britain. In 2012, it was renamed the “Elizabeth Tower” to honor Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year reign. It is a must-visit when you are in London.

London Eye

It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, standing at 135 meters. It is located right on the banks of the Thames. Construction began in 1998 and it was opened in 2000. The London Eye consists of 32 capsules equipped with ventilation and air conditioning. Each capsule can accommodate around 25 people. A complete rotation takes 25 minutes. Especially when you reach the top, you are rewarded with a magnificent view of London and the Thames. You can also enjoy the view of the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben from above. Even if you have made a reservation in advance, you may have to wait for about an hour as the queues can be up to 500 meters long. So, plan enough time accordingly.

London Dungeon

A museum that tells the dark history of London over the past 1000 years in a dungeon. The museum opened in 1974 and showcases the bloody and horrifying history of London. You walk through dark rooms and learn historical information as you move from one place to another. In the museum, you will find information about the Great Plague of London in 1665-1666, the Great Fire of London which burned 5/4 of the city in 1666, the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper from 1888, as well as detailed information about Queen Mary and the Scottish cannibal family Alexander Bean. Additionally, various forms of torture and court proceedings spanning 1000 years are portrayed by theater actors. It was one of the most interesting places of our trip

 

Sea Life (London Aqarium)

Right next to the London Eye is an aquarium. It houses over 500 different species of animals. Here, you can take a journey into the depths of the sea and experience the underwater world up close. From green sea turtles to stingrays and piranhas, to sharks, you can observe many marine creatures up close. The aquarium consists of 14 sections. On some days, there are also performances. It is recommended for anyone interested in the underwater world.

Streets and Districts

During your stay in London, you should definitely visit Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, China Town, Harrods, and the Regent’s Canal. Especially for shopping enthusiasts, I recommend Harrods.

 

Conclusion

London is definitely a place that should be seen. Due to the variety of attractions, you should plan at least 4 days. A must-try is having an English Breakfast, English Tea, and Fish & Chips. During our trip, I noticed that people, in general, are relaxed. You don’t feel the everyday stress that you experience, for example, in Germany. In London, many people of Muslim faith or wearing headscarves work. As tourists, we were always received friendly and warmly during the 5 days. Unlike other European countries where foreigners often don’t feel a sense of belonging, here everyone behaves like English people. They also have a specific way of speaking where they roll their words. Since my English is not good, I was additionally confused when they spoke in such a peculiar manner. Luckily, I had two English teachers with me, so I didn’t have to play Tarzan. Due to a lack of time, we couldn’t visit all the places worth seeing, but I recommend Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the British Museum, and the Sherlock Holmes Museum. If you want to relax and have a drink in the evening, I recommend “Beirut Nights”.