London is one of the great capital cities of the world and if you are going to visit it there are 5 great London tourist attractions that you simply cannot afford to miss.

1. Number one on any tourists list has to be Buckingham Palace. Situated at the end of the world famous “Mall”, Buckingham Palace is the official residency of The Queen (Queen Elizabeth) and is probably one of the most easily recognizable buildings in the world. A “must see” event for any tourist to take in is the ceremony of “The Changing of the Guard” which takes place at 11:30AM every day in the summer months, and every other day in the rest of the year. It’s a wonderful sight, full of the famous British pomp and ceremony. Make sure you don’t miss it.

2. The second unique London tourist attraction is the Tower of London. Standing guard over the river Thames, the Tower of London was built over 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror. It has been a royal palace and a prison, and it was here that Queen Anne Boleyn (one of the wives of Henry VIII) was beheaded. It is also infamous for being the place of imprisonment for King Richard II, and Queen Elizabeth I, and it was also here that the “Two Princes” were incarcerated, never to be seen again. It is also the place that witnessed the interrogation of Guy Fawkes, whose failed gunpowder plot to blow up the houses of Parliament is still commemorated today on the 5th of November, a night of Fireworks and Bonfires known as Bonfire Night. On a less gloomy note, The Tower houses the incomparable “Crown Jewels” one of the most famous jewelry collections in the world, worn on occasion by Queen Elizabeth II at various state functions. The Tower’s other claims to fame are the famous Beefeaters in their special finery and regalia, and the Ravens of which it said that if they ever desert the Tower, London will fall.

3. The third London tourist attraction that just has to be seen is Tower Bridge. Situated next to the Tower of London, it strands the river Thames and is a wonderful piece of architecture and a brilliant piece of Victorian engineering. Built as the second crossing over the Thames (London Bridge was the original crossing), it is a Bascule bridge which means it can be raised (and still is today) to allow ships to pass underneath.

4. The fourth essential London tourist attraction is Maritime Greenwich which is sited amid stunning grounds on the banks of the river Thames. This is a world heritage site and houses the Royal Observatory. It is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and sits on the Meridian longitude line 0.

5. Finally, our fifth not to be missed London tourist attraction is of course The Houses of Parliament. Once again, situated on the banks of the Thames, it is a masterpiece of architectural design and has one of the easiest recognized visages anywhere in the world. It is where British Government enacts its workings and is also home to the famous Big Ben, the giant clock whose chimes are affectionately know the world over.