Uniquely diverse with a touch of class, it truly is a bucket list destination for any traveler.

You’ve just landed in London; your cruise starts tomorrow but your vacation starts now. London’s rich history, instantly recognizable landmarks and focus on arts and culture leave no one wondering why it’s one of the worlds most popular destinations. Uniquely diverse with a touch of class, it truly is a bucket list destination for any traveler. An experienced cruiser knows to arrive in any port at least a day beforehand to give themselves enough time to prepare to set sail, the other advantage being early is travelers get plenty of time to explore the embarkation city. In this article, we’re going to cover CruisePlus’ top sights to see and favorite things to do in London.

Westminster Abbey

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A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without seeing at least one iconic landmark. The first on our favorites list is Westminster Abbey. This historic place of worship is considered to be one of the greatest examples of Early English Gothic architecture. The original Abbey was built sometime between the 960s and early 970s but was abandoned a number of years later. Between 1042 and 1062 King Edward began rebuilding St Peter's Abbey as a royal burial church and it was consecrated a week before his death on December 28, 1065. Today, the only some small areas including part of the monastic dormitory are believed to be part of the original building.

The modern church began construction around 1245 and final additions including the western towers were completed in 1745.

Shakespearean Globe

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Built to resemble the original venue as closely as possible, patrons of the theatre are at the mercy of the London weather. Even in the rain, enjoying a show at the Globe the way it was originally meant to be enjoyed is an incredible experience. Tours of the Globe are offered every half hour and well worth the small fee for entry.

Tower of London

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You can’t miss the Tower of London which is actually made up of 22 towers.  This building has such a rich history as a royal residence, armory, treasure, zoo and most notably a prison where many royalty and noble people met their untimely demise. The tower holds a group of captive ravens. This is a long-standing tradition of the Tower and it is thought that if the ravens were to escape or be lost that the city and crown would fall.

London Eye

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The sights in London are countless so why not get a view of the whole city by taking a spin on the London Eye? This Giant Ferris wheel is 135 meters tall and located on the south bank of the river Thames. Each of the 32 passenger capsules can hold up to 25 people and provide a spectacular bird's eye view of London’s scenic skyline.

London Zoo

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A trip to the London zoo is a fun activity for visitors of all ages. From the smallest of critters to exotic creatures, this is not your typical zoo. The innovative team at London Zoo are constantly coming up with new ways to display animals’ behavior in their natural habitats. One interesting activity allows guest to sleep in a small cabin located near the lion’s den and have special torch-lit tours of the zoo at night.

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There are countless sights and activities in London. One could spend a year in the beautiful city and still not see it all. It's our hope that you’ll enjoy some of the sights and activities in this article and take advantage of them the next time you book a London cruise with CruisePlus. Even if London isn’t on your itinerary, be sure to ask one of our knowledgeable travel consultants about interesting sights and activities in your vacations ports of call. Call us today at 1-800-854-9664