Historic Sites in Hendon

"Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London are my personal recommendations for travellers interested in English history, though a walk by Buckingham Palace might be a better place to spot one of the royals (or at least some handsome guards!). Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options."

"Throughout its history, the abbey has been home to every coronation since 1066 and has seen sixteen royal weddings, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Visitors to the abbey can take in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Poets Corner, as well as pay their respects to leading British cultural figures including Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Geoffrey Chaucer. With more than a million people visiting Westminster Abbey each year, it’s a great place to explore some of the greatest moments in British culture."

"The White Tower, popularly known as the Tower of London, is definitely one of the must-see historical landmarks in London. It was constructed almost 1000 years ago in 1097, and this old monument has been used as an execution site, prison, and royal residence. The walls of the Tower of London are rich in history, making it one of the most-visited English landmarks in the city."

"Discover the unique history of this medieval fortress, royal palace and infamous prison. 🏰 The Tower of London is home to the dazzling Crown Jewels 👑 and legendary Beefeaters 💂‍♀️ and ravens."

"The Tower Of London is an iconic London stop so make sure to see it during your 4 day London itinerary. Skip The Line At The Tower Of London And Crown Jewels and buy advance tickets here!"

"More than 1000 years of history can be discovered at London’s magnificent Houses of Parliament, stretching beautifully around the corners of Westminster and housing Big Ben. View it from the bank of the Thames and admire a building that continues to remain one of the capital’s biggest attractions, or head inside to delve into its past and present on a Houses of Parliament audio tour. You can also learn more about Big Ben with a free Elizabeth Tower talk."

"You’ll have to pay to take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, but there are other ways to get in if you just want to look around. Debates in the Commons or Lords have public viewing galleries, which you can queue up for on the day, and you can stay for as long as you like. You can also request tours or a free ticket from your MP but these are very limited."

"The Houses of Parliament—also known as the Palace of Westminster—is the seat of Britain’s political power. Completed in 1870, the Gothic-style building, and its Elizabeth Tower (housing the 13-ton bell, Big Ben) is one of the most iconic London attractions. Book a tour and get the political scoop on the House of Commons and House of Lords."

"The Wallace Collection is a London art gallery made up of the collection of the Marquess family. The art all dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and was gathered by five generations of the Marquesses along with Sir Richard Wallace, who was an illegitimate Marquess son. Today, the collection contains more than five thousand pieces."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Admission is free but you must book your visit in advance here. NEAREST METRO STATION: Bond Street"

"The Cutty Sark Museum is a maritime museum dedicated to celebrating the Cutty Sark, a historic sailing ship that, at its heydey, was the fastest ship on the seas. The British clipper ship was built in 1869, is part of the National Historic Fleet, and is one of only three remaining original composite construction clipper ships from the 1800s."

"However, today visitors can still see one remaining section of the palace complex, the Banqueting Hall (fee*) designed by famous architect Inigo Jones with a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Reubens. Today Whitehall is the center of the Government of the United Kingdom and you’ll pass a number of buildings home to various departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defense and the Cabinet Office. Along this street you’ll also find The Household Calvary Museum (fee*), located in the 18th century stables of the Horse Guards, which gives information on the history of the Household Cavalry and displays a small collection of uniforms and weapons."

"Highlights here include the State Apartments, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and the 15th-century St. George’s Chapel. You can also see the Changing of the Guards ceremony here on certain days which is a similar but much smaller version of the ceremony that takes place in front of Buckingham Palace."

"Calling itself ‘the artists’ gallery for everybody’, it was established in 1901 to give the people in the East End of London the chance to enjoy art. Over the years it has had exhibitions by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo, as well as contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Paul Noble, Thomas Struth, Sarah Lucas and Mark Wallinger. 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX Free entrywhitechapelgallery.org"

"For many years the East End has been a hub for artists and Whitechapel Gallery has been there for over a hundred of them. Its focus, however, is largely on what’s happening now and next. Although it’s not averse to a 20th century artists’ retrospective, its links with London’s working artist community is strong and ongoing, so it’s a great place to find work by new artists on their way to becoming household names."

"Founded in 1901 to bring art to the people of east London, it is now internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions, education and event programmes. In the past, the gallery premiered artists such as Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko."