Parliament, the Abbey, the palace and the parks: the City of Westminster is where the nation’s ceremony happens, and every visit to London passes through it.
The City of Westminster is the heart of London for most visitors. It is a city in its own right, separate from the City of London to the east, and it contains most of the places that people think of when they think of London: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, the royal parks and the theatres and shops of the West End.
Westminster has been the centre of royal and political power in England for nearly a thousand years, since Edward the Confessor built his abbey and palace beside the Thames. Today it is where the nation’s great ceremonies take place, from coronations to state openings of Parliament. This guide covers twelve things to see and do, followed by the ceremonies worth planning around, a weekend plan, where to stay and how to get around.
1. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
The Palace of Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament, is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Most of the palace was rebuilt after a great fire in 1834, to a Gothic Revival design by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. Its long river front and towers are an unmistakable symbol of Britain.
At its northern end stands the Elizabeth Tower, which holds the great bell known as Big Ben. The name is often used for the whole tower and its famous clock. The tower was renamed in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the palace, was built in 1097 and survived the fire. Its huge medieval hammerbeam roof is one of the greatest in Europe. Kings have lain in state here, and famous trials have taken place under its roof.
Visitors can watch debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords from the public galleries for free, when Parliament is sitting. Guided tours of the palace run on Saturdays and during parliamentary recesses, and they must be booked. The palace, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important churches in the world. Every coronation of an English and British monarch since 1066 has taken place here, and it has hosted many royal weddings and funerals. The present Gothic building was begun by King Henry III in 1245.
The abbey is the burial place of seventeen monarchs, including Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, who lie close to each other. The Lady Chapel, built by Henry VII, has one of the most beautiful fan vaulted ceilings in the world. The Coronation Chair, made around 1300, is on display.
Poets’ Corner holds the graves and memorials of great writers, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. Scientists such as Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are buried in the nave. Near the great west door is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, an unidentified soldier from the First World War.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, high up in the triforium, display treasures from the abbey’s history, with views down into the church. There is a charge to visit, but services, including Evensong, are free. The abbey is very busy, so book tickets in advance and arrive early.
3. Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard
Buckingham Palace is the London home and office of the monarch, and one of the most famous royal residences in the world. It has been the official residence of British monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1837. When the King is in residence, the Royal Standard flies above the palace.
The Changing of the Guard is one of London’s most famous ceremonies. Soldiers in red tunics and bearskin hats march with a band to take over guarding the palace. It takes place on several mornings a week, but the schedule changes, so check before you go and arrive early for a good view.
In the summer months, the State Rooms of the palace are open to visitors. You can see the grand rooms used for state occasions, filled with paintings, furniture and treasures from the Royal Collection. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Next to the palace, the King’s Gallery shows changing exhibitions of art from the Royal Collection, and the Royal Mews displays the golden state coach and other royal carriages. The Victoria Memorial, in front of the palace, is a popular place to watch royal events. The Mall, the grand avenue leading to the palace, is lined with flags on state occasions.
4. Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
Trafalgar Square is one of the most famous squares in the world. It commemorates Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and his statue stands on top of Nelson’s Column, guarded by four huge bronze lions. It is a place for celebrations, protests and gatherings.
In one corner of the square, the Fourth Plinth displays a series of modern artworks, changed every couple of years. It is always a talking point. The fountains and the grand buildings around the square make it a lovely place to sit.
The National Gallery, on the northern side of the square, has one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world, and it is free to enter. Its treasures include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Turner, Constable, Rembrandt and many more. Seeing Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Constable’s The Hay Wain in person is unforgettable.
The National Portrait Gallery, around the corner, has portraits of famous British people from the Tudors to the present day. It reopened after a major transformation in 2023. Both galleries are free, with charges for special exhibitions.
5. The royal parks
Westminster is home to several of London’s royal parks, which give the city its green heart. St James’s Park, beside Buckingham Palace, is perhaps the most beautiful, with a lake, flower beds and views of the palace. Pelicans have lived in the park since the seventeenth century, when the first were a gift from a Russian ambassador.
Green Park, next door, is a quieter park of trees and grass, with deckchairs to hire in summer. Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London, has the Serpentine lake, where you can hire a boat or swim in summer. Speakers’ Corner, in the north east corner of the park, is a traditional place for public speaking and debate.
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is in Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens, next door, has the famous Peter Pan statue. In summer, Hyde Park hosts huge concerts, and in winter it hosts Winter Wonderland. Regent’s Park, in the north, has beautiful rose gardens and an open air theatre.
The parks are free to enter and open all year. They are lovely for walks, picnics and escaping the busy streets. Deckchairs can be hired in several of them.
6. Theatreland and Covent Garden
The West End is one of the great theatre districts of the world, with around forty theatres staging musicals, plays and comedies. Many of the theatres are along Shaftesbury Avenue and around Covent Garden, in grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Some of the longest running shows in the world are playing here.
Tickets for popular shows can sell out months ahead, but same day tickets and discounts are often available from the official ticket booth in Leicester Square. Many theatres also offer day seats. An evening at the theatre is one of the highlights of a trip to London.
Covent Garden, at the heart of Theatreland, is a lively area of shops, restaurants and cafés around a grand piazza. Street performers entertain crowds in front of St Paul’s Church, known as the actors’ church. The Royal Opera House, home of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, is on the piazza.
The London Transport Museum, also in Covent Garden, tells the story of London’s buses, trains and the Underground, and it is great for families. Soho, next door, is full of restaurants, bars and nightlife, and Chinatown is just around the corner. After a show, a car booked ahead saves the scramble for taxis.
7. Shopping in the West End
Westminster is one of the best places in the world to shop. Oxford Street is Europe’s busiest shopping street, with department stores such as Selfridges and hundreds of shops. Regent Street, with its grand curving terraces, has flagship stores and Hamleys, one of the oldest and largest toy shops in the world.
Liberty, just off Regent Street, is a famous department store in a Tudor style building, known for its fabrics and prints. Carnaby Street, nearby, was the centre of the Swinging Sixties. Bond Street is home to the world’s great luxury brands.
On Piccadilly, Fortnum and Mason, founded in 1707, is famous for its tea, hampers and food halls. The Burlington Arcade, one of the oldest shopping arcades in the country, has elegant shops and uniformed beadles who keep order. Jermyn Street is famous for shirt makers, and Savile Row for tailors.
The shops are very busy at weekends and in the weeks before Christmas, when the streets are decorated with lights. Early weekday mornings are quieter. With lots of bags, a car booked to collect you saves a struggle on the Underground.
8. Whitehall, Horse Guards and the Churchill War Rooms
Whitehall, the wide street running from Trafalgar Square to Parliament, is lined with government buildings. Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, is behind security gates halfway along. The Cenotaph, the national war memorial, stands in the middle of the street.
Horse Guards, on Whitehall, is guarded by mounted soldiers of the Household Cavalry, who sit on their horses in the archways during the day. The Household Cavalry Museum tells their story. Behind it, Horse Guards Parade is where the ceremony of Trooping the Colour takes place each June to mark the monarch’s official birthday.
The Banqueting House, across the road, is the only surviving part of the old Palace of Whitehall. Its ceiling was painted by Rubens, and King Charles I was executed on a scaffold outside it in 1649. It is one of the most important historic buildings in London.
The Churchill War Rooms, at the end of Whitehall, are the underground bunker from which Winston Churchill and his government directed the Second World War. The rooms have been preserved exactly as they were left, with maps on the walls. A museum tells the story of Churchill’s life, and it is very popular, so book ahead.
9. Tate Britain and the museums
Tate Britain, on the river at Millbank, has the national collection of British art from the sixteenth century to the present day. It is free to enter. It holds the largest collection of works by J.M.W. Turner in the world, in the Clore Gallery.
Its galleries also include paintings by Constable, the Pre-Raphaelites, Francis Bacon, David Hockney and many others. The museum hosts the Turner Prize exhibition in some years. It is less crowded than many London museums.
The Wallace Collection, in a grand house in Marylebone, is one of the finest private collections of art in the world, and it is free to enter. It includes The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals and a huge collection of armour. The courtyard restaurant is lovely.
The Royal Academy of Arts, on Piccadilly, holds major exhibitions and the famous Summer Exhibition. Apsley House, at Hyde Park Corner, was the home of the Duke of Wellington, and it was once known as Number 1 London. In Marylebone, the Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street and Madame Tussauds are popular with visitors.
10. The river and the Embankment
The Thames runs along the southern edge of Westminster, and the views from its bridges are among the finest in London. Westminster Bridge has the classic view of the Houses of Parliament, and across the river stands the London Eye. Walking across the bridge at sunset is unforgettable.
River cruises leave from Westminster Pier, heading east to the Tower of London and Greenwich and west to Kew and Hampton Court. Seeing London from the water gives a different view of the city. Tickets can be bought at the pier.
Along the Victoria Embankment, gardens run beside the river, and Cleopatra’s Needle, an ancient Egyptian obelisk more than three thousand years old, stands by the water. The Savoy and other grand hotels overlook the river. It is a lovely walk from Westminster to the Strand.
Across the river is the South Bank, with the London Eye, the Southbank Centre and the National Theatre, a short walk over the bridges. The river path continues east towards the City of London. It is one of the best walks in London.
11. Little Venice and Abbey Road
Little Venice, in the north west of Westminster, is a peaceful area where the Regent’s Canal and the Grand Union Canal meet. It has colourful narrowboats, waterside cafés and elegant white stucco houses. It feels far from the busy West End.
From Little Venice, waterbuses run along the Regent’s Canal to Camden, passing through Regent’s Park and the zoo. It is a lovely and unusual way to see London. You can also walk along the towpath.
Abbey Road, in St John’s Wood, is the home of the famous Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded most of their music. The zebra crossing outside, which appeared on the cover of their album Abbey Road, is one of the most famous crossings in the world. Fans come from all over the world to walk across it.
Please be careful when taking photographs on the crossing, as it is a busy road with real traffic. The studio walls are covered in messages from fans. Lord’s Cricket Ground, the home of cricket, is nearby, with tours and a museum.
12. Marylebone and Mayfair
Marylebone, north of Oxford Street, is one of the most attractive neighbourhoods in central London. Marylebone High Street has independent shops, cafés, restaurants and a famous bookshop in an Edwardian building. It has a village feel.
Mayfair, between Oxford Street and Piccadilly, is one of the wealthiest areas in London, with grand hotels, luxury shops, galleries and restaurants. Its quiet squares and streets are lovely to wander. Shepherd Market, a small square of pubs and restaurants, is a hidden gem.
Both areas have some of the best restaurants in London, from traditional British cooking to food from around the world. Many are small and popular, so booking ahead is a good idea. Afternoon tea in one of Mayfair’s grand hotels is a classic London treat.
The Handel and Hendrix museum, in Mayfair, is in two neighbouring houses where the composer George Frideric Handel and the guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived, centuries apart. It is a fascinating visit. The whole area is easy to explore on foot.
Where to eat and drink
Westminster has thousands of restaurants, from street food to some of the most famous dining rooms in the world. Soho and Chinatown are packed with restaurants of every kind, and they are lively late into the night. Covent Garden has plenty of places for a pre theatre dinner.
Afternoon tea is a Westminster tradition, served in grand hotels and at Fortnum and Mason. Marylebone and Mayfair have excellent restaurants, and the old pubs around Westminster and the Strand are full of history. Book ahead for popular places, especially at weekends.
Ceremonies worth planning around
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place on several mornings a week. Trooping the Colour, the grand parade for the monarch’s official birthday, is held on Horse Guards Parade in June. The State Opening of Parliament, when the monarch travels in a carriage procession to Parliament, happens at the start of each new session.
On Remembrance Sunday in November, the nation’s leaders lay wreaths at the Cenotaph. Great crowds gather for these events, so arrive early and expect road closures.
Where to stay
Westminster has hotels of every kind, from grand historic hotels on Park Lane and the Strand to smaller hotels in Victoria, Paddington and Marylebone. Staying in Westminster puts you within walking distance of many of the sights and theatres.
Victoria and Paddington are handy for airport connections, while Covent Garden and Soho are best for nightlife. Marylebone is quieter, with a village feel. For the Square Mile, see our City of London guide.
A weekend in Westminster
On the first day, start at the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, then walk through St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard. After lunch, visit the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, then spend the evening at a West End show.
On the second day, visit the Churchill War Rooms, then take a river cruise from Westminster Pier. In the afternoon, explore Covent Garden and Soho, or shop on Oxford Street and Regent Street, and finish with afternoon tea or dinner in Mayfair.
Getting there and getting around
Westminster has several major railway stations. Victoria has the Gatwick Express, with trains to Gatwick Airport in around thirty minutes, and trains to the south coast. Paddington has the Heathrow Express, taking about fifteen minutes to Heathrow, and the Elizabeth line, as well as trains to the west of England and Wales. Charing Cross and Marylebone also serve the area, and the Underground runs everywhere.
Heathrow is about fifteen miles west, around forty five minutes to an hour by road depending on traffic. Westminster is inside the Congestion Charge zone and the Ultra Low Emission Zone, and parking is scarce and expensive, so most visitors use the Underground, buses and walking.
A car booked ahead is the easiest way to travel between Westminster and the airports with luggage, especially early in the morning or late at night. For the Square Mile, see our City of London guide.
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