Discover more about London’s landmark buildings

There’s no doubting that London is home to a great number of fantastic landmark buildings that are famous throughout the world. Each of these fantastic feats of engineering and construction has a unique story to tell.

The Millennium Dome started out life as the brainchild of John Major’s government and was taken on and grandly up-scaled when Tony Blair came to power in 1997. The idea behind it was that it would host a Festival of Britain which would bring the country together to help celebrate the new millennium at the end of 1999. A little known fact about the Dome is that it was originally earmarked to become a football stadium after the millennium exhibition had finished, with Charlton Athletic and Fisher Athletic both rumoured to be the new tenants. This never materialised and the impressive structure is now known as the O2 Arena, and plays host to many music and sporting events.

The London Eye is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and stands at 135 metres tall, giving unrivalled views across the entire city. Giant wheels like this are not new to London; back in 1907, the Great Wheel of London in Earls Court was demolished. The London Eye has 32 capsules in total which offer truly unique panoramic views of London and it has proven to be a hugely popular tourist attraction since opening to the public in March 2000, drawing over 3 million visitors each year.

The Tower of London sits on the north bank of the River Thames and has a rich and illustrious history. Over the centuries it’s been used for executions, as a public records office, the Royal Mint and is now home to the coveted Crown Jewels. No mention of the Tower of London would be complete without the Ravens. These majestic birds are thought to have been in residence at the Tower for centuries and are themselves a major attraction along with the famous Beefeaters who solemnly guard the Tower.

Big Ben is undoubtedly the most famous chiming clock in the UK, but the name actually refers to the nickname of the main bell within the clock tower. A survey published in April 2008 by the BBC saw Big Ben voted as the UK’s most famous landmark and its position, almost 100 metres high above the Palace of Westminster makes it impossible to miss.

These are just some of the remarkable buildings and structures that punctuate London’s famous streets and it’s easy to see why this capital city is so popular with overseas tourists and UK residents on short breaks. In addition to these landmarks there are so many restaurants, theatres, shops and hotels in London that the city can truly be considered as the complete great destination package.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.