In Decorating the tree with treasured travel memories, I told the story of a favourite tradition where we buy a Christmas ornament on every family vacation. It’s a fun way to rekindle memories of our travels every year when we decorate our Christmas tree. Today, I continue the series with a look back at some of our must-see sights of London, my all-time favourite city.

I was born in England and lived there until I was nine. Even so, I never visited London until I returned to England several years after emigrating to Canada. Living in the north of England before the days of high-speed trains, it was a long drive or a long train ride to London.

Now, when I go back to visit England, London is always on my list of places to go.

London is a fabulous city. I have travelled a lot and I’d always put it at the top of the list of favourites. There is so much to do there and so much history, and it’s such an easy city to get around in thanks to the Tube.

When we visited England with our daughters for the first time in 2014, we spent five days in London. It had been quite a long time since I had was there and I was amazed at how much this already-bustling city had grown since I last visited in 1998.

While we were there, we picked up this Christmas ornament to add to our collection.

My 10 must-see sights of London

London Eye

The London Eye is one of the world’s largest ferris wheels. It was built to celebrate the millennium. The last time I had visited London, it was there—we actually saw it in pieces on the banks of the Thames—but it didn’t open to the public until 2000.

It’s a great way to get excellent views of the city on the 30-minute rotation.

Tower of London

If you want to see the famous Yeoman Warders—commonly known as “Beefeaters”—while in London, you’ll need to visit the Tower of London.

Built almost 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror, the tower has a grizzly history of murder and intrigue. It has served as a royal palace and a prison. But, in my opinion, the most fascinating thing about it is that it’s the home of the crown jewels.

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

There is no more-recognizable symbol of London than Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament along the River Thames. But, did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell in the clock tower, and not the tower itself? The tower was actually renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

I love to hear Big Ben chiming when in central London. But, the bells have been mostly silenced for the last several years while the tower undergoes maintenance. Good news though—Big Ben will chime again starting sometime in 2022.  

Cruise on the Thames

The second longest river in the United Kingdom, the River Thames weaves its way through London. A river cruise is an excellent way to see the city—and those famous bridges—from a different perspective. If you’re taking a trip on the London Eye, I highly recommend the combo ticket that also includes a 40-minute river cruise.

Kensington Palace and Gardens

Kensington Palace is full of royal history and is the London home of Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and their three children. The gardens at Kensington palace are colourful and beautiful. Kensington Gardens is one of London’s Royal Parks and it’s a great place to take a break from the bustle of the city. While you’re there, don’t miss the Peter Pan statue and Diana Memorial Playground.

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Harrods, Selfridges, M&Ms World

If you’re a shopaholic, you’ll love London. I’m not a huge shopping fan but there are three stores on my “must-visit” list.

• Harrod’s of Knightsbridge has to be seen to be believed. You could literally spend most of the day there. One of the things I loved about Harrod’s was the Christmas shop which used to be open year-round (maybe it still is). It’s where I bought the Christmas ornament featured at the top of this article.
• When we visited London, we had just finished watching Mr. Selfridge so a trip to Selfridges was at the top of our list. It didn’t disappoint. Interestingly, Selfridges has been Canadian-owned in recent years. It was owned by the Weston family who operate Loblaws—one of Canada’s largest grocery chains. They have put it up for sale in 2021 so I expect that Canadian connection will soon be lost.
• The last store on my personal must-visit list is the M&Ms World Store in Leicester Square. We love the M&Ms characters. Like their flagship store in New York’s Times Square, the London store did not disappoint with London-themed displays and souvenirs. It’s a fun place to spend an hour during your time in London.  

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is a public square in Westminster, named after Britain’s victory in the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson’s column—named for Lord Nelson who died during the battle—towers above the square.

The square hosts many public events and demonstrations. You’ll also want to look at the fountains, and snap a photo with one of the famous lions. Oh, and there’s a good chance you’ll see some pigeons!

St. James’s Park, The Mall & Buckingham Palace

I’ve lumped all these together because they’re all connected.

No-one does pomp and pageantry like the British, so make Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace a priority during your visit to London. Get there early, though. It draws a big crowd.

Photo by Mike Benna on Unsplash

After admiring the palace, take a stroll through St. James’s Park and along The Mall. Another of London’s Royal Parks, St. James’s Park includes The Mall—the site of those famous carriage processions for royal events like weddings and Trooping the Colour—and Horse Guards Parade. While in the park, look for the resident pelicans by the lake.

Abbey Road Studios

Who hasn’t seen the iconic crosswalk from the cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album? It’s an classic picture from a classic album. If you must follow in the famous footsteps of John, Paul, George and Ringo by walking across the zebra crossing, be warned! It’s a very busy road and the drivers don’t care much for tourists.   

Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station

This was one of the last sights we saw before leaving London.

My daughters are big Harry Potter fans. When we took the train to Paris from St. Pancras Station, we had to make a quick stop at Kings Cross to see Platform 9 ¾.

And, if you have time when in London, a day trip to the Warner Brothers Studio to see The Making of Harry Potter is a must-do for Harry Potter fans. I’m not a big fan of the films but I enjoyed my visit to the studio, and my girls loved it!

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I could add so much more to this list but I think I’ll leave it at these ten for now.

Have you been to London? What’s on your list of must-see sights of London? Tell me about them below.