London is a city that keeps its visitors spellbound every time with its numerous historical and cultural landmarks, a city that houses all manner of tourist attractions, perhaps only too many to be able to savour them all, especially if your stay is limited to a few days only. We’ve compiled a list of the most notable and noteworthy landmarks of the city that you simply must see.
Trafalgar Square is one of the most important and most highly-frequented squares in London. It was designed in 1830 to commemorate Britain’s victory over the fleets of France and Spain at the Battle of Trafalgar. Apart from being a popular meeting place for Londoners, it is also the setting of many cultural and historical landmarks of London. The center of the square is where Nelson’s Pillar is situated. Built in 1843, this monument commemorates the life of Admiral Nelson, who was the supreme leader of Britain’s army during the Battle of Trafalgar, and who lost his life during this event.
Covent Garden is a charming London neighborhood which boasts a large number of shops, markets and balconies for tourists to drink tea on. The place is also a hub of street artists who often have great performances of all sorts. Looking back, the area where Covent Garden is located once belonged to the Duke of Bedford. In 1631, it was converted into a public garden, and thirty years later the first shops were opened in the area. These shops offered fruits and vegetables, and were very popular among the locals for their fresh produce. Soon after, flower shops began springing up in the area, which prompted the unstoppable growth of the area, until the 19th century, when it all culminated with the construction of a market which had departments and sections that offered all that you could want.
Located in the Kensington gardens, this palace has been the residence of the British Royal family for more than 300 years. Since the 17th century, Kensington Palace has been the home of several generations of the royal family, including King William III, Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Soon after King William III took power in 1689 in a revolution, he started looking for a better royal residence. This decision didn’t come out of royal whim, but as a result of consulting with several doctors who were worried about the King’s chronic asthma and its impact on his wellbeing.
Chinatown was originally situated in the east of London, where it first sprang up in the 17th century, when many Chinese sailors moved there. Until the start of World War One, a significant number of Chinese shops appeared there, offering food and other supplies for the sailors. When World War Two started, and in the years after the war, the area was completely demolished as Europe was in shambles, and finding work as a sailor became very difficult, especially for foreigners. Some of the sailors and merchants from the area returned to their homes in China, while others found work in other areas during the difficult financial situation of the mid-20th century.
Globe Theater, famous as Shakespeare’s Globe, is one of the most famous theaters, even though it is only a replica of the theater where Shakespeare’s dramas were acted out. The original theater was constructed in the 16th century, with Shakespeare’s plays being always on offer. At the time, the establishment was the most popular and most successful theater in London. It was precisely during the acting out of one of Shakespeare’s plays that the Globe caught fire in 1613 and the entire roof and the supporting wooden beams were engulphed in flames.
