London Sights for Guides

The Tower of London is one of the oldest buildings in the city — over 900 years old! It has been a royal palace, a prison, and even a zoo. Today, it’s famous for the Crown Jewels and the legendary ravens who guard the tower. Students will see the tower from the outside and learn about its dark and fascinating history. 

Were going to spend some time here before catching the ferry (times differ) go grab some breakfast and go to the toilet (be wary of times)

2. Tower Bridge

Now look at Tower Bridge! It was built in the 1890s and is one of the most photographed places in London. It can open in the middle to let big boats go through.

The towers are connected by walkways and decorated in blue and white. It looks like something from a storybook, doesn’t it?

Fun question: What do you think is under the road when the bridge opens? (Hint: big engines!)

Questions for students:

• What colours can you see on the bridge?

• Can this bridge open? Yes or no?

🔗 More info from Tower Bridge

4. The London Eye (Exterior View)

Behind us is the London Eye — a huge wheel built in the year 2000. From the top, you can see very far — up to 40 kilometres on a clear day!

It takes 30 minutes to go around once. Each glass pod holds about 25 people.

Questions for students:

• When was the London Eye built?

• Would you like to ride it? Why or why not?

Okay everyone, welcome to Parliament Square.

From here we have a great view of the Houses of Parliament and, of course, the famous Big Ben.

Now, a quick question—how many of you thought Big Ben was the name of the tower?

In fact, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the clock tower. The tower itself is called the Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The clock faces are enormous and beautifully detailed, with parts of the decoration highlighted in gold leaf, giving the tower its iconic appearance.

The current Palace of Westminster was rebuilt in the 19th century after the original palace was largely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1834.

That fire is often linked to the burning of old tally sticks—wooden records used for government accounting—which were being disposed of and accidentally set the building alight.

However, the history of this site goes back much further. A royal palace has stood here since the 11th century, and it became an important centre of government long before it evolved into the Parliament we know today.

Today, the Houses of Parliament are where Members of Parliament meet to debate and pass laws that affect the whole United Kingdom.

Because of that, this area has also become one of the main places for public demonstrations and protests—people come here to make their voices heard directly outside the seat of government.

So while it may look like just a landmark, this is actually one of the most important political buildings in the country.

Okay everyone, welcome to Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey is one of the most important religious buildings in the United Kingdom, and a central part of British royal history.

The current building was largely constructed between 1245 and 1269, during the reign of King Henry III, although an abbey has stood on this site for much earlier than that, dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries.

It is the traditional place where British monarchs are crowned. So if you’ve ever seen footage of a royal coronation, or a major royal wedding or national ceremony, there’s a very good chance it took place right here.

The Abbey is also a burial place and memorial site for many of the most significant figures in British history. These include scientists, writers, and monarchs such as Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Mary, Queen of Scots, among many others.

Because of its incredible history and importance, Westminster Abbey is considered one of the most famous landmarks in London and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Now, a quick extra point—just across the street you might notice a gold-painted post box. This is a special tribute to Olympic gold medalists from the area. When an athlete wins Olympic gold, a post box in their hometown is painted gold to celebrate their achievement.

It’s a small detail, but it shows how national achievements are recognised and remembered right across the country.

Okay everyone, welcome to this beautiful green space—this is the Queen’s Garden, part of the wider royal parkland area here in central London.

It also functions as a protected wildlife habitat, so despite being right in the middle of a busy city, it’s home to a surprising variety of birds and small animals.

As you can see, many of the animals here are quite used to people. Because so many visitors walk through the park every day, they’ve become fairly comfortable around humans and are often seen moving calmly through the gardens.

This is one of the things that makes London’s royal parks so special—you’re in a major capital city, but you still get moments of nature and wildlife right alongside it.

Okay everyone, welcome to Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the British monarch.

If you look up, you might notice a flag flying above the building. That’s the Royal Standard—when it’s flying, it means the monarch is currently in residence.

Outside the palace, you can often see the King’s Guard in their famous uniforms and tall hats, known as bearskins. If you’re lucky, you might also catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, where the soldiers formally hand over duties in a traditional display of military precision and music.

Now, look up at the balcony—that’s one of the most iconic spots in the entire palace. It’s where the Royal Family appears for major national celebrations, such as coronations, jubilees, and special public events watched by millions around the world.

Buckingham Palace itself dates back to the early 18th century, originally built as Buckingham House before being expanded over time into the grand royal residence we see today.

It’s also much larger than it looks from the outside, containing hundreeds of rooms, offices, and staff areas. In fact, it’s so big that it even spans multiple postal codes and includes facilities like its own post office.

So while it’s one of London’s most famous landmarks, it’s also a working building at the very centre of the British monarchy.

This is Trafalgar Square, named after a sea battle where Britain won against France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson is the man on top of the tall column.

The square is often used for events and celebrations.

Challenge: Can you find the smallest police station in London? (Hint: it’s in a corner!)

Questions for students:

• Who is the statue on the tall column?

• What kind of events happen here?

Known for its cinemas, street performers, and theatres, Leicester Square is the heart of London’s entertainment district. Students will enjoy a short period of free time here to explore the shops, take selfies with film statues, or simply soak in the atmosphere before the journey home.