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About London

Quaint, sophisticated and warmly welcoming, London beckons the traveller into a land pleasantly evocative of royalty, legends and a bygone era carried forward into posterity by the city's spectacular architectural and cultural landmarks.

London, anchored in an impressive history dating back to the Romans, has inherited two-millenia worth of culture and development, and its evolution into one of the largest financial centres of the world as well as a remarkable melting pot for diverse ethnic groups makes for an interesting study. Marking its own unique and influential stamp in the fields of education, politics, art, fashion, literature and entertainment, London has emerged as a metropolis of global renown and sway. Traces of the city's long history permeate every aspect of life in London and this is evidenced nowhere more clearly than in the sweeping range of its architectural splendours. Awe-inspiring remnants from the Middle Ages like the impressive Westminster Abbey and the imposing Tower of London graciously rub shoulders with structures built in the Early Modern, Late Modern and Contemporary periods. In this city of legends, ancient churches coexist with ambitious skyscrapers and this spirit of acceptance of diversity overflows to the city's inhabitants too. London's openness towards ethnic and religious diversity is such that every guest to the city can't but feel immediately at home in the city's all-encompassing texture of multi-ethnicity.

With so many attractions for the traveller, London can stump one with its sheer variety of sights and attractions. We at Eurostar have put together a list of three must-visit aspects of the city that the indecisive voyager can profit from.

Eurostar suggestions:

• The Tower of London:
This World Heritage site is a historic fortress that overlooks the north bank of the river Thames. Having served in the past as a fortress, a royal palace, a zoo, a dreaded prison and, infamously, as a site of torture and execution, it now houses such treasures as the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. This ancient structure has also gained notoriety as the most haunted building in England! For a detailed look into the past, sign up for a guided tour and you'll be conducted through the tower by the tower guards, known as Beefeaters, who themselves make an impressive picture in their quaint scarlet-and-gold Tudor costumes.


• The Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben:
The towering facade of this impressive example of Gothic architecture easily inspires awe and admiration and more so because the ornate, gilded clock tower it shelters houses the famous thirteen-ton bell that is known affectionately the world over as the Big Ben. A trip to London is incomplete without a visit to this fabulous historic building.


• The Tower Bridge:
This iconic symbol is crossed by over 40,000 people (including pedestrians) every day. More than a century old, this suspension bridge has twin drawbridges, or bascules, weighing around 1,000 tons each. These bascules are raised more than 1000 times a year to allow the smooth passage of river traffic on the Thames. Crossing the bridge by foot on its high-level walkways is highly recommended for the splendid views of the river and the city's famous landmarks that it affords.