Here's a very quick tour of London's most well known landmarks.
Buckingham Palace is possibly the most famous of London's landmarks - it has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. The palace is a centrepiece of Britain’s constitutional monarchy and culture. You can catch the changing of the guards for free, or if you want more you can take a guided tour of the State Rooms (warning - it's very pricey).
Other Royal residences you can visit include Kensington Palace and Hampton Court.
Go on a 30-minute ride and experience a breath taking view of London. This giant Ferris Wheel opened in 2000 with a structure of 135 metres tall, making it the highest in Europe. Tip: take a trip on a summer evening for a sunset view from above, or ride in the wintertime and spot all the Christmas markets and skating rinks in London.
Tickets are here - there are also many bundle deals giving you entry to other iconic tourist attractions in London if you want to make a weekend of it.
The Tower Bridge Exhibition explores the Tower’s history and uncovers its secrets. You can enjoy stunning views of London from its spectacular high-level walkways, 42 metres above the River Thames. Inside, films, displays and hands-on exhibits chart the whole, fascinating history of Tower Bridge and how it has operated over the years.
Book tickets here - and remember to use your student discount!
The Shard is hard to miss - it's the tallest building not only in London, but in the whole of Western Europe.
Take a trip to the top for 360° views stretching 40 miles across the city. At a height of 800ft (244m), the viewing platform is almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London. Find tickets here.
The Shard isn't the only way to get a great view of the city, though:
- Sky Garden is free to enter, and offers fantastic views of the city. Tickets are released every Monday, so keep an eye out and book a slot here.
- Take a trip up to One New Change's roof terrace for views of St Paul's Cathedral (another landmark to tick off) and the London skyline. It's free and it's a hidden gem.
- Walk up The Monument to the Great Fire of London. It's a forgotten landmark and even has a tube station named after it. Entry is under a fiver and although the walk to the top is steep, you'll be rewarded with a great 360 view for a fraction of the price of The Shard.
The iconic Tower of London has been part of British history since the early 1080s when William the Conqueror started building a massive stone tower at the centre of his fortress. Through the centuries that followed successive monarchs added to this London landmark which has acted as fortress, palace and prison.
The Tower of London is also home to the world famous Crown Jewels. They are the greatest working collection of Crown Jewels in the world and priceless symbols of British Monarchy.
Book tickets here - students can purchase tickets at the concession rate.
Big Ben
Big Ben has been under repair for a while, but luckily for you it's now back and free of scaffolding. You can't 'visit' Big Ben as such, but you can admire it from the outside.
Shocking fact: Big Ben isn't actually called Big Ben. That's just a nickname for one of the bells inside - it was actually called The Clock Tower, until 2012 when it was renamed The Elizabeth Tower.
If you're really keen to keep up to date with when you can take a tour, you can sign up to the tower's newsletter (no, we're not joking, it really does have its own newsletter).