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London Landmarks – 18 Famous Places in Photos

Home » United Kingdom » England

Updated: February 23, 2021 by The Planet D

London Landmarks – 18 Famous Places in Photos
london landmarks in photos

All of our lives we’ve seen reference to the famous London Landmarks. Top London attractions have been featured in movies and TV shows, in magazines, and even sporting events and commercials.

When we had the chance to visit London, we were excited to explore all of the iconic landmarks and attractions that London had to offer.

There is so much to see and do!

When you go to London next, be sure to put all of these famous landmarks of London onto your list!

London England is a city that we’ve always wanted to visit.

Famous London Landmarks That you Cannot Miss

Contents

    • 1. Tower Bridge – Number 1 London Landmark
    • 2. Big Ben is the most famous London Landmark
    • 3. Houses of Parliament
  • Royal Landmarks of London
    • 4. Tower of London
    • 5. Buckingham Palace – The Royal Residence
    • 6. Westminster Abbey – Famous Church
    • 7. Painted Hall – Most Beautiful London Landmark
    • 8. Trafalgar Square
    • 9. St Paul’s Cathedral
    • 10. The Globe Theatre
  • Modern London Landmarks
    • 11. The London Eye
    • 12. The Shard
    • 13. Piccadilly Circus
    • 14. Tate Modern
  • London Landmarks – Transportation and Communication
    • 15. Black Cabs of London
    • 16. London Underground
    • 17. London Landmarks – Red Double Decker Buses
    • 18. London Landmarks – The London Phone Booths

1. Tower Bridge – Number 1 London Landmark

London landmarks | tower bridge

Many people mistake the Tower Bridge for London Bridge. But London Bridge is actually the plain and unassuming Bridge of London.

It is Tower Bridge that is the star and is one of the most iconic landmarks of London.

Crossing London Bridge will take you close to the Tower of London.

2. Big Ben is the most famous London Landmark

london landmarks in photos big ben

Everyone associates Big Ben with London.

Big Ben is located at the houses of Parliament. You can’t miss it.

The Clock Tower stands tall over the Parliament buildings containing a giant bell that ways 13 tons!

Fun Fact: Big Ben was completed in 1859 and is one of five bells located within the clock tower.

3. Houses of Parliament

london landmarks | houses of Parliament
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben

The Palace of Westminster is where Britain’s The Houses of Parliament are located on the River Thames.

You can see Big Ben standing above the building that dates back to 1860.

Royal Landmarks of London

4. Tower of London

tower of london | famous london landmarks

The Tower of London is another historic landmark in London. Throughout the centuries it was an infamous destination where many a royal awaited their fate.

Famous prisoners included Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, Lady Jane Grey and Rudolph Hess, Hitler’s second in command.

Fun Fact: The Tower of London has always housed important items of the British monarchs and it still houses the royal family’s crown jewels today.

5. Buckingham Palace – The Royal Residence

famous london symbols | buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Royal Family.

When we visited London, we stood among the crowd waiting for the changing of the guard. It was fun to see and a must for first time visitors to London.

6. Westminster Abbey – Famous Church

landmarks of london england | westminster abbey

Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in the world and definitely at the top of London’s famous landmarks.

We all know it from the famous royal weddings that have taken place here. Most recently Prince William and Kate.

7. Painted Hall – Most Beautiful London Landmark

london landmarks in photos painted hall

One of our favourite days in London was visiting the Greenwich Meridian at the Old Royal Navy College.

Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a great way to spend the afternoon.

The star attraction for us was The Painted Hall, a massive hall with baroque painting dating back 300 years!

8. Trafalgar Square

london landmarks in photos painted hall

After watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palaces, we walked along the mall to another of London’s famous landmarks, Trafalgar Square.

It’s a fantastic place to hang out and meet up with friends. Trafalgar Square has been used for protests and demonstrations throughout history.

It is also where Londoners celebrate ringing in the New Year just like New York’s Times Square.

9. St Paul’s Cathedral

st pauls cathedral | famous landmark of london

Located on the North Bank of the River Thames, St. Paul’s cathedral dates back to 1710. But the earliest church that stood on this site was in 604.

10. The Globe Theatre

famous landmarks of london | The globe theatre

Having gone to college or Music Theatre, I always heard my professors reference productions at the famous Globe Theatre of London.

This cultural landmark dates back to 1599 when Shakespeare’s theatre company built the original building.

A replica of the 16th century Globe Theatre was built a mere 750 feet from the original site.

Modern London Landmarks

11. The London Eye

famous london landmarks

It’s funny to think that a Ferris wheel has become the landmark that is most synonymous with London, but that is the first thing that comes to my mind when picturing London.

It is so popular, that many cities around the world have designed waterfronts around Ferris Wheels of their own.

Located on the Thames, the London eye is one of the more modern London landmarks on the water. Be sure to give it a ride for some of the best views of London.

12. The Shard

london england landmarks | the shard

One of the most modern London symbols is the Shard.

The 95 story glass skyscraper was completed in 2012 and towers above London.

We’ve come a long way since 1710 when St Paul’s Cathedral was the tallest building in London.

13. Piccadilly Circus

london landmarks | picadilly circus

Located in London’s West End, Piccadilly Circus is a far cry from its origins in the 1600s.

The heart of London’s shopping district, Piccadilly Circus has held on to the tradition of showcasing billboards since 1908. But today it is one big neon sign.

While Trafalgar Square may be where new year’s celebrations take place, it is Piccadilly Circus that reminds everyone on New York.

14. Tate Modern

landmarks of london | tate modern

The Tate Modern is one of the largest modern art museums in the world. It is part of the Tate museum family, comprised of Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate St. Ives, and Tate Modern.

It’s free to visit and making it Britain’s most popular museum!

The Museums of London are all considered important landmarks of London.

From the Natural History Museum to the British Museum, London has and array of world class museums to visit.

Read about the Top 5 London Museums to visit

London Landmarks – Transportation and Communication

15. Black Cabs of London

landmarks of london england | black cabs

Like the old yellow cabs of New York, the London Black Cabs are synonymous with the city.

There are still thousands of Black Taxis in the city and drivers of these cabs take a rigorous test to become certified.

16. London Underground

on the way to the airport | bus london transit

Why is the London Tube a landmark in London? Well it was the very first passenger underground system in the world dating back to 1863.

It’s also the best and most affordable way to get around London. I know we were excited to first ride the Tube and its iconic sign can be seen throughout the city.

Take the London underground to see all of London’s famous landmarks!

17. London Landmarks – Red Double Decker Buses

double decker tour buses | london landmarks

There are red tour buses around the world today, but the original double decker buses originated in London.

They are considered the national symbol of England, so you can count on them not going anywhere.

18. London Landmarks – The London Phone Booths

red phone booths are still an enduring london landmark

They may be disappearing due to nobody needing a telephone anymore. But when we saw the red phone booths of London, we were so excited!

There was once tens of thousands of red phone booths in London, today, the city has managed to preserve nearly 10,000 phone booths for mostly decorative purposes.

Do you have any favourite London Landmarks that we should add to our list?

For more London travel information to help your London itinerary, check out these links below.

  • Where To Stay In London – A Guide to The Best Areas and Places
  • 3 Days in London – The Ultimate London Itinerary
  • How to Get from London Airports to the City
  • 22 of the Top Things to do in London, England
  • London’s Top 5 Alternative Attractions
  • The Top 5 Museums in London you Have to See

If you are planning a trip to England, make sure to check out our UK Travel Guide

Many people plan their London travels with a trip to Paris, visit these Paris articles to help plan more of your itinerary
  • How to Visit Paris on a Budget
  • Three Days in Paris Itinerary
  • Free Things to do in Paris
  • What to do in Paris at Night
  • Visiting the Catacombs of Paris – An Underground Labyrinth of Death
  • Famous People Buried in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery of Paris
  • Paris Closures, When to Avoid Museum and Attractions
london landmarks in photos
england travel guide

Where To Stay In London – Guide to The Best Neighborhoods

Londons Airports How to get from them to the city

How to Get from London Airport to City Centre

3 Days in London itinerary

3 Days in London – The Ultimate London Itinerary

the best things to do in london england

22 of the Top Things to do in London, England

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About The Planet D

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine, the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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Comments

  1. Alex S says

    May 8, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    I’ve personally visited London, but only for work so didn’t really get a chance to explore it in it’s pureness. Besides the landmarks London seems to be a breeding ground for the next upcoming music genre. From the Beatles to Prodigy the music that comes out of Great Britain is AMAZING! Being able to experience a show for the next upcoming music style and saying years later that you were in London and got to see experience it before anyone else would be cool to say the least.

    Reply
  2. Davide says

    August 21, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Amazing pictures from an amazing city…Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • debndave says

      August 23, 2013 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  3. El Boquerón Viajero says

    February 7, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Congrats!! They are really amazing!

    Reply
  4. Maria of Culture-ist says

    January 11, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Gorgeously Gothic and beautiful use of HDR. What type of editing software do you typically use?

    Reply
    • debndave says

      January 11, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Maria, Glad you enjoyed the photos and thanks for the compliment on the HDR Processing. Currently I am using Photomatix pro with other processing, including NR, done in Photoshop with Nik EFex.

      Reply
  5. Chris says

    November 17, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Thanks for the response to my question. Not. Will not visit here anymore.

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm

      What question did you ask Chris? We normally respond and may have missed it. We have a lot of comments come through each day on several different and sometimes miss a few. Sorry that we missed yours.

      Reply
  6. Garrett says

    November 17, 2011 at 8:02 am

    Oooh, gotta say the last one is my favorite – the foreground/background contrast is intense.

    You guys are getting good (and by good, I mean fantastic)!

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 17, 2011 at 11:13 am

      Thanks Garrett. It’s all Dave, he’s the fabulous photographer in this partnership!

      Reply
  7. Chris says

    November 15, 2011 at 10:37 pm

    Do you use Photo shop after you are done in Photomatix? Found a great 3 page free tutorial and was all excited until I got to page 3 and everything went over my head. Even the basics of digital are a struggle for me.

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 17, 2011 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Chris, Sorry we missed this question. Yes, we do use photo shop after Photomatix. For noise reduction and sharpness. Keep going with the HDR, you’ll love it.

      Reply
  8. 50+ and on the Run says

    November 13, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    Wonderful photos! They are so good it at once inspires and depresses me, lol. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 13, 2011 at 10:06 pm

      Thanks 50+, I hope that they didn’t depress you too much, and instead inspired you go get yourself to London:)

      Reply
  9. Bret @ Green Global Travel says

    November 7, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Hey guys, just “Stumbled” onto this today. Exceptional work!

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 7, 2011 at 10:32 am

      Thanks Bret, glad you found it.

      Reply
  10. saket srivastav says

    November 5, 2011 at 6:19 am

    outstanding pics

    Reply
  11. !Can says

    November 2, 2011 at 7:05 am

    I was there last year but your photos inspired me to go once again. A lots of good memories and beautiful architecture.

    Reply
    • debndave says

      November 2, 2011 at 10:19 am

      Thanks !Can. We want to go back again too. You need a lot more time than a week in London and we barely scratched the surface.

      Reply
      • !Can says

        November 3, 2011 at 5:25 pm

        A week is simple not enough, but that is probably with every capital on the planet.
        Btw, you pictures are great, you have unique style.

      • debndave says

        November 5, 2011 at 10:00 am

        You are so right! A week is never enough to see anything:)

      • Dave and Deb says

        January 20, 2017 at 8:52 am

        Thanks and you are so right! A week is never enough.

  12. Jade says

    October 14, 2011 at 5:35 pm

    Wow! These photos literally take my breath away! The coloring, light and wide angle – especially on the Big Ben and St. Paul’s photos – is absolutely gorgeous. You have a great artistic eye!

    Reply
    • debndave says

      October 15, 2011 at 5:07 am

      Thank you very much Jade. I was very inspired photographing London and I am so glad that the photos turned out as I hoped they would.

      Reply
  13. Erica says

    September 22, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    Loving these!

    Reply
  14. Matt says

    September 17, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Love the tones in the sky, could use the “Big Ben” photo as a state of the nation photo with the current recession issues. London is a place I have often worked but never spent any spare time in. One of the things I want to correct when I go to the UK in November.

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      September 18, 2011 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Matt, thanks for the feedback. Hope you have a great time revisiting London in November. It’s always more fun being a tourist than being in a city for work for sure!

      Reply
  15. Brock - Backpack with Brock says

    September 8, 2011 at 9:33 am

    Stunning photos you two! The clouds are really haunting!

    Reply
  16. Ciki says

    September 8, 2011 at 5:23 am

    My eyes are hurting from the beauty! Friggin amazing!! 😀 Congrats on your 1million-th view D&D!!

    Reply
  17. Don Faust says

    September 7, 2011 at 11:28 pm

    The chain link fence with London Bridge has a great perspective. Like it!

    Reply
  18. jenjenk says

    September 2, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    this is so gorgeous it hurts my eyes!!! 🙂

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      September 9, 2011 at 1:45 am

      Aw, cheers and thanks Jen!

      Reply
  19. Erin says

    August 27, 2011 at 12:46 am

    I love how you incorporated the fence + lock into the last photo!

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      September 2, 2011 at 1:05 am

      Cheers, thanks Erin. It was the lock that caught my eye.

      Reply
  20. Simona says

    August 10, 2011 at 6:06 am

    Amazing pictures! I love London and these photos gives justice to the beauty of the city! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Charu says

    August 9, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    I am trying to learn HDR but using simple Light Room post processing techniques on current photos. I find if you don’t know how to post process correctly the photos come out weird–you guys really know your HDR techniques. How many levels of bracketing do you use?

    Reply
  22. wandering educators says

    August 8, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    incredible photos. WOW!

    Reply
  23. Mack Reynolds says

    August 5, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    these are some really great photos. i love what you did (or appeared to do) with the sky. it looks so gray and fluffy. i really love the colors in all of these, and how some of the stuff is blurry, but not too blurry. good job.

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      August 6, 2011 at 12:23 am

      Thanks Mack! Much appreciated.

      Reply
  24. Annie says

    August 2, 2011 at 12:55 am

    I especially love the last shot! Those love locks all over Europe are so cool!

    Reply
  25. Cam says

    August 1, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    Another great collection Dave!
    Man, I gotta learn HDR processing – really creates originaly pics (though I really like your composition and creative angles too – especially the last one and the Eye)

    Reply
  26. Lori Henry says

    August 1, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    Just stunning, Dave.

    Reply
  27. Merav | AllWays Car Rental NZ says

    August 1, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    OK. So I’m sitting here thinking to myself, when I go visiting my parents next year, perhaps I should go through London and stop there for a few days? Hard decisions! Beautiful, amazing photos, Dave.

    Reply
  28. Andrea says

    August 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm

    Gorgeous! I haven’t been there in six years but we’re visiting soon – can’t wait

    Reply
  29. Bodlagz says

    August 1, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    Love that last shot, no pun, does “lock of love” have any meaning. Looks like it could have been taken any time, the only thing which betrays it’s modernity is the padlock.

    Reply
  30. Raymond @ Man On The Lam says

    August 1, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    Those photos are scary good! Very awesome!!

    Reply
  31. Joya says

    July 30, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    These are the most gorgeous photos I’ve seen of my favorite city!

    Reply
  32. Marlieke says

    July 29, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Wow, I lreally like them! I’ve seen and made many pictures of the buildings in London, but these are very fascinating.
    My favourite is St. Paul’s in B&W.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      July 29, 2011 at 4:07 pm

      Thanks Marlieke. We’re looking forward to going back to really explore more of London. 1 week while planning for the Mongol Rally is not enough time.

      Reply
  33. Chelsea says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:37 am

    Wow, these are stunning photos! Great work.

    Reply
  34. Wakeybluenose says

    July 29, 2011 at 9:17 am

    Wow! these are awesome. I live in London & these make me want to go out and explore. Good work

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      July 29, 2011 at 4:10 pm

      Hey Wakeybluenose, Thanks for the compliment. That means a lot when someone from the city enjoys the photos. We definitely can’t wait to come back. Cheers!

      Reply
  35. Thai Tour Guides says

    July 29, 2011 at 3:33 am

    Wow! These pictures look so great – hyperrealistic in a way that they are even enhanced by fantasy! What kind of camera do you use?

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      July 29, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Thai Tour Guides, I use a Canon 5D MKII it is the HDR processing that give the fantasy feel. Cheers and I’m glad that you like it.

      Reply
  36. Migrationology says

    July 28, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    Awesome photos Dave, love that last shot of the fence and lock!

    Reply
  37. Debbie Beardsley says

    July 28, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Every time I see your pictures it reminds me how much I need to learn about taking awesome photographs! These are pretty spectacular. I especially loved the Painted Hall – beautiful.

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      July 29, 2011 at 4:12 pm

      Thanks Debbie, that painted hall was pretty beautiful in person. London has some fascinating landmarks and we only just barely scratched the surface.

      Reply
  38. Sid Vic says

    July 28, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Wow! Absolutely amazing photographs!

    Reply
  39. Wai Tsui says

    July 28, 2011 at 10:22 am

    Wow! You do have a knack for making those HDR photos!

    Reply
  40. Ray says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:15 am

    These are so cool!

    Reply
  41. Matthew Karsten says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:00 am

    The Tower Bridge shot behind the fence is amazing. 🙂

    Reply
  42. Sarah Lee says

    July 28, 2011 at 8:54 am

    I love these photos! Great job, Dave.

    Reply
  43. Natalie says

    July 28, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Amazing photos. I don’t like London but in those photos you bring a mysterious aura to the place.

    Reply
  44. Journey Photographic says

    July 28, 2011 at 6:50 am

    Great shot! I love the black and white shot of St Paul’s, and the Painted Hall picture reminds me I’ve never been inside the Old Royal Naval College – some day!

    Reply
  45. Dean says

    July 28, 2011 at 5:21 am

    Amazing photos as always. Incredible!

    Reply
  46. Roy Marvelous | Cruisesurfingz says

    July 28, 2011 at 5:00 am

    Very nice! What post-production software did you use?

    Reply
    • davendeb says

      July 28, 2011 at 5:10 am

      I used a combanation of Photomatix Pro for processing and the Nik Software bundle for Noise Reduction. Glad you enjoyed them.

      Reply

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Hi we’re Dave and Deb, a Canadian adventure couple who left our careers in the film industry 10 years ago to travel the world. We’ve been to 115 countries on all seven continents and were named one of the top travel influencers on earth by Forbes.

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