1. The Most Famous Buildings
St Paul's Cathedral
I'm taking you to the famous church first. It's no secret that St Paul's Cathedral is the city's favorite! First was a wooden church built in 604, but it was destroyed by fire soon after. The cathedral, which was rebuilt afterward, survived for 600 years and became a holy place for Christians, but it was destroyed by the great London fire in 1666. This fire has already destroyed 80 percent of London... But the story of the church doesn't end here. In 1675, it was rebuilt using the old version as an example, and it took 36 years. Many historic events in London have been held at the cathedral since then. Churchill's funeral was moved here, peace ceremonies were held here after the first and second world wars, Charles and Diana's wedding was here, Queen Elizabeth's birthdays were celebrated here...
An impressive 111-meter-high dome, impressive history, and magnificent structure certainly justify its name.
London Eye
In a moment, I'll transport you to the millennium from centuries ago. The London Eye was designed for the millennium celebrations and was officially opened on 31 December 1999. It was originally supposed to last five years, but after intense interest, it became permanent. London's most famous building is visited by about 4 million tourists a year.
The Shard
305 meters high and 82 floors high, this building was completed in 2012! Shard's architect says it was inspired by church towers and masts, but the structure looks more like a switchblade, he's right. The building, which resembles broken glass and reflects London's silhouette on its exterior, changes color with the seasons and weather. On the outside, there are 11 thousand glass panels. For 10 thousand pounds a night, you can stay in a suite or eat in a luxury restaurant.
The Walkie Talkie
There's an official name for this building: 20 Fenchurch Street, but it's more commonly known as the Walkie Talkie. Like old-time cordless phones, this is my favorite. The building was finished in 2014, so it's still pretty new. A great place to see London is the Sky Garden on the 35th floor. You'll also find stylish restaurants, cafes, and working areas. I'd like to share an interesting fact about this 160-meter-long building. In the original plan, the building was supposed to be 200 meters tall, but was shortened to improve visibility of St Paul's and the London Tower. The synthesis of old and new in London is what I love. While interspersing modern structures, they haven't damaged the city's historical texture. It takes a lot of work and effort to plan.
The Gherkin
Originally called 30 St Mary Ax, this building is known as the Gherkin. It's 180 meters long and was finished in 2003. One of the city's best examples of contemporary architecture.
City Hall
Armadillo is the nickname for the old City Hall. Until December 2021, this was the London mayor and councillors' workplace, but they moved to The Crystal building in the Royal Docks in December.
Tower Bridge
Over the River Thames, a collapsible bridge connects traffic on both sides. It's called Tower Bridge because it's near the Tower of London. Two large towers connect the bridge, which opened in 1894. The bridge opens and closes about 50 times a day, letting big ships cross.
Big Ben
We can call Big Ben a superstar because it's the first icon that comes to mind when London is mentioned, and it's in almost every London movie. Elizabeth Tower is its official name. Big Ben is also the name of the bell, but over time it became a symbol for the whole structure. It was the biggest clock in the world when it was completed in 1859, designed in the neo-Gothic style. UNESCO has listed the clock as a world heritage site.
2. London's Best Sights: Where To Go?
My five best alternatives for seeing London sights, except for the last one, are all free. If you're curious about sights, you should watch my "The London Scene" video on my YouTube channel.
1. One New Change
A shopping mall in the heart of the city, but it's the terrace that makes it special. From here, you can see St. Paul's Cathedral the best. As soon as you get out of the elevator, the visual feast begins! The London Eye and Shard are also visible from here. It's great to spend time here, especially in summer. You can watch the scenery here for free, without reservation, and it's relatively quiet. For me, this is the most important thing...
2. The Garden at 120
The Fen Court Building has a garden on the terrace floor :) Again, no reservations, free, and still pretty quiet. It's in a great location where you can see the Shard, City Hall, Thames, Tower Bridge, Walkie Talkie, and Gherkin. It's definitely worth a visit.
3. Sky Garden
Imagine a garden with a variety of plants on top of a skyscraper. Free admission to this garden with the best view of London!
The Sky Garden at Walkie-Talkie is a wonderful place to soak up the sun against the River Thames while dazzling with its interior design. You just have to get your free ticket from the website at least a week in advance.
4. Royal Observatory Greenwich
You get a great view of London from the royal observatory in Greenwich! The biggest advantages are being outdoors, not having to worry about tickets, and having an excuse to come to Greenwich.
If you're wondering how to get here from the city center, you can take the DLR line from Bank Station. After you get off at the Cutty Sark stop, you'll need to walk for about 15 minutes. You'll find out all the details in the video about Greenwich.
5. Uber Boat on the River Thames
It's a little more expensive than other public transport options, but in exchange you get unique London views. You won't use it every day, so I recommend going in sunny weather with an Uber Boat. Make sure you sit by the window!
I recommend buying tickets online in advance, because at the box office they may turn you down as "there is no room". Here's a link to the route you want to take, don't take this risk. You can buy one-way or round-trip tickets. The Greenwich - Westminster trip cost me GBP 8.70 (one way). It takes about an hour to drive this route. In between, they stop at a lot of ports. Oyster card is also accepted, but I haven't used it yet.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the sights and get to know the city a little better.
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