WESTMINSTER & LONDON EYE CITY GUIDE

As you sail from Westminster Pier you will find yourself between many of London’s most iconic structures.

The area of Westminster is home to many of London’s most iconic landmarks and milestones in the history of the city. Free Tours by Foot will introduce you to every single one of them!

Here are the sites they cover on the tour:

North Bank
On the north bank lies the Houses of Parliament and the bell tower that contains Big Ben, the clock with the world’s most famous ring! Next to it are the Gothic Revival turrets of one of the world’s oldest parliaments, perhaps the oldest. Often called the Mother of Parliaments, and sometimes by other names, it is well worth a visit.
A very short walk away is Westminster Abbey, founded in 960 AD, its most significant part a 13th century Gothic structure. The Abbey has been the location of all coronations since 1066 and several Royal weddings too. It holds the tombs of Kings, Queens, and other famous Britons along with the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Whitehall, the broad avenue which runs from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square, is lined by government ministry buildings and is where Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister is to be found. In the centre of Whitehall lies the Cenotaph, a memorial to all soldiers who have lost their lives in service of the country and the site of the Remembrance Day ceremony every November.
Back on the riverbank you’ll find Cleopatras Neeedle, an ancient Eygyptian obelisk that is guarded by two lions. It has a twin in New York which is located in Central Park.

South Bank
Towering over the River Thames is one of London’s most modern landmarks, the London Eye. Visited by millions every year, it stands some 135 metres tall, it is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and started a trend that has been copied by many cirties around the world. It is also used as the centrepiece of the New Year’s Eve fireworks, an event best watched from the decks of one of our special cruises which are great favourites with Londoners and tourists alike. Book early to avoid disappointment!
To the side of the Eye is County Hall, the old headquarters building of the Greater London Council. The building has long been emptied of politicians and now is home to the the London Sea Life Aquarium and the London Film Museum.
Travel east and you come to the Southbank Centre complex which is made up of the Royal Festival Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Haymarket Gallery. Also nearby you’l find the National Theatre.
A little further along is a landmark that is puzzling to sightseers from overseas but makes sense to Brits. The Oxo Tower! Now the venue for a stylish restaurant with great views over the Thames it’s quite a long way from the origins of the humble stock cube that paid for its building.