As the buzzing capital city of the United Kingdom, London enjoys a lot of superlative titles, such as
“England’s biggest city” and “best place on earth to experience musical theater”, among many others. As such, London is also home to a huge concentration of famous landmarks, and every year, tourists flock to this amazing city to see the sights. From the most recognizable clock tower in the world to one of the largest ferris wheels one earth, here are London’s most awesome landmarks.

Big Ben

Attached to the British Houses of Parliament, this clock tower, affectionately known as “Big Ben”, is easily London’s most recognizable landmark and probably the most famous clock tower in the world. Interestingly, “Big Ben” is actually the name of the largest bell inside the clock tower, which resounds on the hour as it has since it was completed in 1858.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

The beautiful white dome of this, London’s most well-known cathedral, can be seen from many vantage points across the city. An active Anglican church, St. Paul’s Cathedral was built in the 1600s and was, for most of its early history, the tallest building in London.

Buckingham Palace

The official residence of the Queen and the British royal family, Buckingham Palace is also the place to go for visitors who want to catch a glimpse of the changing of the guard (and their funny fur hats). The interior of the palace is open to visitors, including the impressive State Rooms, the Royal Mews and the Queens Gallery. If you just want to see the changing of the guard, arrive outside the gates at 11:30 am any day and you can watch for free.

London Eye

One of the world’s largest ferris wheels, the London Eye puts the old circus wheels to shame with its huge capsules that can fit almost 30 people standing inside. With huge windows, each capsule soars up to some 440 feet, offering a stellar view as one of the tallest structures in London. The Eye is an unmissable sight along the shores of the River Thames as it flows through Central London.

Tower Bridge

Immortalized in children’s rhyme as “London Bridge”, the iconic matching towers of this bridge make it one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Though it has never, in fact, “fallen down”, Tower Bridge is incredibly old, having been completed in 1894. Though it makes a wonderful photo opp from afar, it is also possible to venture inside the platform that connects the bridge’s two towers for a totally different view.