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The 10 Most-Visited Spots in London

The numbers are in, and all ten of the most visited sites in the United Kingdom in 2016 were in its capital, London, with art galleries, historic sites, and museums all earning spots on the list. If you're spending more time in the island nation, though, don't leave out other important places in Great Britain—Scotland's top attraction was National Museum of Scotland, while the Chester Zoo and the Royal Albert Hall also drew plenty of visitors. Counting down... This gallery was originally published in 2016. It has been updated with new information.
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    Royal Museums Greenwich

    Home to four museums—the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal Observatory, and the Greenwich Cutty Sark—the campus is a UNESCO World Heritage site. All of the attractions are within walking distance, so you can visit a 19th-century sailing ship; a 400-year-old house filled with Reynolds, Turner, and Hogarth works; the world’s largest maritime museum; and the Prime Meridian all in one trip.

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    Tower of London

    Move over, Buckingham: the Tower of London ranks as Britain's most-visited castle. The earliest parts were built in 1078, and even though it hasn't been a royal residence in centuries, there's still plenty to see—namely, the collection of dazzling jewels and crowns on the first floor.

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    Victoria & Albert Museum

    The V&A, founded in 1852, purports to be the world's largest museum of art and design, with more than four million objects in its permanent collection. If your time is limited, check out the rooms dedicated to fashion, and slow down with an elegant afternoon tea.

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    Science Museum

    Officially founded in 1857 as part of what is now the Victoria and Albert Museum, the London Science Museum offers hands-on learning about how technology, from medicine to farming to robots, has evolved over time.

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    Somerset House

    This gorgeous cultural venue on the Strand has a rotating series of art exhibitions and film screenings. It's also a mainstay of London Fashion Week, with shows staged here every season.

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    The Southbank Centre

    The Southbank Centre is a group of connected arts venues in a prime spot along the Thames. With stand-up comedy, film screenings, talks and lectures, and the annual Women of the World festival, Southbank is Europe's largest center for the arts.

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    Natural History Museum

    Science and nature lovers often make this destination their first stop in London. Between dinosaur bones, the model planets, the David Attenborough-narrated video about the Great Barrier Reef, and the stunning architecture, it's not hard to see why.

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    Tate Modern

    Housed in a former power station, the Tate Modern is one of the best places in the world to see—and experience—modern art. The museum's ten-story expansion, which opened in June 2016, boosted visitors numbers and gave art lovers even more to enjoy. You won't be able to miss the 23-foot sculpture by Ai Weiwei.

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    The National Gallery

    The National Gallery is home to more than 2,000 paintings from world-class artists like Goya, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Hogarth. It's also free to visit, like many museums in Britain, which keeps it popular with locals and travelers alike.

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    The British Museum

    Travelers have been flocking to the British Museum, home of antiquities like the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marbles, for decades. The museum topped out the attractions list for the 10th year in a row, with 6.4 million people passing through its famous atrium (pictured) in 2016.