Sightseeing Westminster, London

Westminster is a major sightseeing area in London. It is located within the City of Westminster, a borough of London with city status. Visitors to Westminster come to view the seat of the British Government, for here you can find the famous Palace of Westminster (1 on Map) - also called the Houses of Parliament.

Location Map of Westminster

At the Palace of Westminster, you will see the tower that houses Big Ben (2), the famous bell (although the tower itself is often mistakenly called Big Ben too).This is the most iconic and recognizable image of Britain throughout the world.

Westminster Abbey (3) and the Church of St Margaret (4) are two other important tourist attractions in Westminster. Together, these places are recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Also within this part Westminster is 10 Downing Street (5), the official residence of the Prime Minister of Britain, Whitehall (6)), the street that houses mostly government buildings including the Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (7), and the Cenotaph (8), a memorial to those who died in the world wars. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom at Middlesex Guildhall (9) is also located in Westminster.

Along the bank of the River Thames is Victoria Embankment. Westminster Pier located here has boat services up and down the River Thames.

Spanning the River Thames is Westminster Bridge. From here, you can get wonderful views of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and other important sights. On the other side of the river is South Bank, in the borough of Lambeth. Here, you find County Hall, a huge building that today houses the Saatchi Gallery, London Aquarium and the Dali Universe. Also within a stone's throw away is London Eye (10), the famous observation wheel.

Getting there

The nearest stations of the London Underground include the St James's Park Tube Station and the Westminster Tube Station. Buses to Westminster include 11, 12, 24, 159, and 453.