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Buckingham Palace
2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Buckingham Palace

9.4
4.6/5
2.1k reviews

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and the venue for the royal family's state events and major ceremonies. The palace has nineteen state rooms used to receive visiting heads of state and hold official ceremonies, furnished with paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculptures by Canova, and exquisite Sèvres porcelain and English and French furniture. The tour route connects magnificent halls such as the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room, and the Green Drawing Room. The gallery linking these rooms is about 50 m long and hangs paintings by masters such as Rembrandt, Rubens, and Vermeer, making it the essence of the Royal Collection. The highlight of the entire tour is the Throne Room. The archway and canopy were designed by architect John Nash, inspired by his experience in theater set design, creating a highly dramatic visual effect. The pair of thrones in the hall were used in the coronations of Elizabeth II and Charles III respectively, and the official portraits specially created by painters of the King and Queen are also on permanent display here. The Throne Room once served as the backdrop for the wedding photographs of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and to this day remains the venue for court ceremonies such as investitures. The changing of the guard ceremony in the palace forecourt is equally captivating. During the ceremony, a detachment of guards marches from Wellington Barracks to the palace accompanied by music, relieving another detachment to become the King's Guard—a classic scene for experiencing British ceremonial tradition.

London · 88.2km from Canterbury
Tower of London
2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Tower of London

9.3
4.7/5
1.1k reviews

The White Tower will present visitors with some of the Tower of London's most complex and challenging histories. Opening in 2027, this story-led interpretation - centres on the lives of Tower prisoners, Anne Boleyn, John Gerard, and Josef Jakobs and will be complemented by authentic artefacts associated with historic torture. The Tower of London stands majestically on the north bank of the Thames. It is a Norman fortress ordered by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and served as a royal palace, fortress, armory, mint, and prison for over 900 years. Queen Anne Boleyn was executed within its walls, and the future Elizabeth I was imprisoned here before her coronation. The unsolved mystery of the two young princes' disappearance in the "Bloody Tower" remains to this day. With its gripping royal history, it is an essential stop for understanding British history. · Savor the rich historical and cultural ambiance of the Tower of London, and listen to the legends and mysterious stories behind it. · Admire the exquisite royal jewelry, coronation crowns, and scepters in the Jewel House, and exploreWhite pagoda(the White Tower) houses world-renowned royal armory collections and treasures. · Don't miss the guided tour by the Yeoman Warders to learn about the tower's iconic thousand-year history. △The Tower of London is a castle that initially served as a royal palace, later taking on various roles such as a fortress, armory, execution ground, and prison. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. This site imprisoned high-profile prisoners like Elizabeth I and witnessed the execution of many nobles. △Tower of London'sThe treasure house displays the jewels, coronation crowns, scepters, swords and other treasures of the British royal family. Travelers slowly pass through on the automated walkway during the visit, while large screens above the glass display cases explain the history of these treasures and their role in coronation ceremonies. Pictured is the imperial crown containing 23,578 gemstones, which is exquisitely beautiful. △Get a close-up view of the exquisitely carved rare armor in the white pagoda and experience the time-honored royal culture. △In addition, you will see many ravens during your visit, some of which are kept by the government but have their wings clipped; it is said that as long as there are ravens in the Tower of London, England will not suffer invasion.

London · 84km from Canterbury
Windsor Castle
2026 Europe 50 - Best Things to Do

Windsor Castle

9.6
4.7/5
1.4k reviews

• Stroll through the family castle of the Windsor dynasty • View the exquisite treasures in the state suite • Enjoy the audio guide and savor the beauty of the castle Windsor Castle sits on a hill on the south bank of the Thames and is one of the official residences still in use by the British royal family today. The castle was first built by William I in the 11th century, and after subsequent expansions and renovations by many monarchs, it blends a variety of architectural styles, including a Norman fortress, a medieval palace, and Georgian state apartments, and is also one of the few medieval castles in Europe that are still inhabited today. The castle is divided into the upper, middle, and lower wards. The upper ward centers on the state rooms, which display famous paintings, armor, and fine furniture collected by monarchs over the centuries, including works by masters such as Holbein, Van Dyck, and Rubens; the Waterloo Chamber was built by George IV to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, and its walls hang portraits of allied monarchs and commanders. The upper area also houses Queen Mary's Dolls' House, created by architect Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s, with exquisitely detailed interiors that even include electricity and running water. The central area is marked by a round tower, which was originally built of wood and later rebuilt in stone. Today, it houses royal documents and a photography collection, and the moat garden below the tower is planted with roses and other flowers. St. George's Chapel in the Lower Ward is a masterpiece of English Gothic architecture, founded in the 15th century and renowned for its magnificent stone fan vaulting and stained glass windows—looking up at the vaulting is an unmissable experience when visiting. The chapel is also the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, has hosted numerous royal weddings, and is the burial place of several British monarchs.

United Kingdom · Windsor

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The London Pass [includes Tower of London/London Eye/Tower Bridge/Westminster Abbey and 100+ popular attractions/local experiences/dining]
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Bustronome London panoramic glass double-decker sightseeing bus restaurant with British cuisine lunch/dinner options
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Aqua Shard restaurant reservation service in London, UK
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London: Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop
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London: VIP Kensington Palace Gardens Tour & Royal High Tea
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London Cable Car
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Outdoor Yoga Class at Brighton's Sea front
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[Chinese/English private charter] Bristol round-trip + Seven Sisters cliffs + Eastbourne town
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What travellers say about Canterbury

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lilianna03093 September 2026
5.0
After visiting Windsor Castle and Chatsworth House (Darcy Estate), we then visited Buckingham Palace. If you could only visit one palace in the UK, it would have to be Buckingham Palace. Photography is not allowed inside the royal palaces, as is the case with Windsor Castle, so we could focus on the guided tour. The gift shop after the Buckingham Palace tour has some limited-edition items available only there, making great souvenirs. I bought a Buckingham Palace + Royal Horse Stables combo ticket. The product page stated that visiting the Royal Horse Stables allowed direct entry to Buckingham Palace, but this wasn't actually the case. The State Rooms and the Royal Horse Stables are exchanged at two separate locations, not far apart. However, the ticket exchange and verification are handled by different people, and the verification personnel strictly adhere to the reserved time. The Royal Horse Stables houses the Golden Carriage used exclusively for coronation ceremonies, which is worth seeing; there are also carriages for tourists to ride in and take photos.

Buckingham Palace

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徐生姜🍺29 October 2026
4.0
Westminster Abbey is honestly not highly recommended unless you want to see the graves of royalty or famous people, like Newton and Hawking, whom we found there. But if you don't enjoy visiting graves, there's no need to go.

Westminster Abbey

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M14***4912 October 2026
5.0
The must-see exhibit is the Royal Jewels exhibition. A basic understanding of British history is recommended for a truly worthwhile visit. From here, you can see Tower Bridge and The Shard. It's easily accessible by the Underground.

Tower of London

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Elaine32822 August 2026
5.0
Getting from London to Windsor by bus (702 green line) is very convenient, even without taking the train. Photography is prohibited inside the church and castle. Seeing Queen Mary's Toy House reminded me of the inspiration for many miniature landscape designs in China. I personally think it's well worth a visit. Buying tickets is also very convenient. If you want to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, enter the castle around 1 PM to find a good spot.

Windsor Castle

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You can give The London Pass [includes Tower of London/London Eye/Tower Bridge/Westminster Abbey and 100+ popular attractions/local experiences/dining] and Bustronome London panoramic glass double-decker sightseeing bus restaurant with British cuisine lunch/dinner options a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include [Chinese/English private charter] London round-trip + Dover white cliffs + Canterbury + Westgate Gardens, Round-trip from London + Seven Sisters cliffs + Canterbury [in-depth tour] (Chinese/English private charter), and London round-trip | Canterbury ancient town + White Cliffs of Dover 1-day tour [Chinese-English private charter] adjustable itinerary. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 6 November 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Canterbury is around USD 605.95 – USD 646.35. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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