Of course, the first city that comes to mind for international students who want to study in the UK is London. London is one of the most popular metropolises in the world and is full of experiences for students. There are many historical places you can visit in the city, where the new and the old are perfectly synthesized.
BIG BEN – TOWER OF ELIZABETH
Big Ben is London's famous clock tower and is named after its 13-ton bell. The sound of the bell can be heard easily from 14 kilometres away. It has 11 floors and is 96 meters high. Big Ben is located next to the Palace of Westminster and is the second largest tetrahedron clock in the world.
In 2012, when the Queen ascended the throne, its name was changed to Elizabeth Tower, but the name Big Ben is used more. Since 1859, the clock has stopped only once. The reason for this pause is World War II.
London is one of the symbolic places that should be on your travel guide. Thanks to its easily accessible location, it is the most visited place in London.
WESTMINSTER PALACE
The Palace of Westminster was built in 1016 on behalf of the royal family and is now home to the British Parliament. There are 1100 rooms in the palace. The Palace of Westminster is located on the banks of the River Thames. In this way, the view it offers to its visitors is worth seeing. There are 3 towers in the palace. These towers;
• Victoria Tower
• Big Ben
• Central Tower
Since the Palace of Westminster has a parliament, you can visit the palace in July, August, September, October and on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Visiting hours are between 09:00-17:00.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
The present construction of Westminster Abbey was built in 1245 by King Henry III. But it is a historical building where important events have been held since 1065. Weddings, funerals and coronations of the royal family have been held at Westminster Abbey.
The coronation of William I in 1066 was held in this monastery and coronation ceremonies of the royal family have been held here ever since.
The wedding of Englan's Prince William and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, took place at Westminster Abbey. This wedding was also broadcast live.
The tombs of the 17 dynasties of the royal family are also located in Westminster Abbey. The tombs of Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin are also located here, although they are not members of royalty.
Audio guides accompany you throughout the trip so you can explore every point of Westminster Abbey. This service is offered for free.
Visiting hours vary according to the months and days. It is also closed to the public at royal events, national celebrations and commemorations. For this reason, before you go, you should get information about whether it is open to visiting or not.
LONDON EYE
The London Eye is a Ferris wheel with a height of 135 meters. It is one of the symbolic constructions of London. The London Eye is also known as the Millennium Wheel. It is located on the banks of the River Thames. It was built in 1999.
London eye has 32 capsules and the capsules have a capacity of 25 people. London eye was built with high technology. In this way, it is quite safe. 1 tour of the Ferris wheel takes about half an hour.
Visiting hours are from 10:00 to 20:30.
SAINT PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
St Paul's Cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and its construction began in 1675. It belongs to the Anglican denomination and is the largest religious building in London. It is both the Episcopal centre and one of London's top tourist attractions. It needed to be renewed many times due to the damage it received.
It has witnessed important events such as the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, the anniversary celebration of Queen Victoria, the 80th and 90th birthdays of Queen Elizabeth.
Visiting hours on Monday-Saturday are between 08.30-16.30, it is open to visitors except for the praying hours. The last entrance is at 16.00.
If there is a special event, it may be closed on certain days of the year. For this reason, you should check whether it is open to visitors before you go.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
At the beginning of the 18th century, by order of the Duke of Westminster, a mansion was built on the site where the palace now stands. It remained in private ownership for 150 years but It was bought by George III for his wife in 1763. For this reason, it began to be called the "queen's house". Buckingham Palace has been the official address of the royal family since 1837 when Queen Victoria ascended the throne.
If you visit at 11:00 in June and July, you can find the opportunity to watch the changing of the guard ceremony.
Visiting hours are between 09.30 and 19.00.
KENSINGTON PALACE
Away from the fog and humidity of the Thames, this palace was purchased by King William and Queen Mary in 1689 because King William had asthma. Since the 17th century, England has been home to kings, queens, dukes and duchesses. The last owners of the palace are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Kensington Palace is open to the public, and all parts can be visited except the private apartments.
Visiting hours are between 10.00-16.00 between 1 November and 28 February, and between 10.00-18.00 between 1 March and 31 October. Last entrances are allowed 1 hour before the end of visiting hours.
TOWER BRIDGE
Tower Bridge is one of the landmarks of London. The feature of the bridge is that it can be opened and closed. Tower Bridge could be built in 8 years with 432 workers working every day. The bridge, which used to run on steam energy, is now powered by electricity. It is located on the River Thames.
Visiting hours are between 10.00-18.00 in summer and 09.30-17.30 in winter. Last entrances are allowed half an hour before the end of visiting hours.
