The City of London has plenty of things to see and do, but so much of it's history can be seen just by seeking out some of the landmarks that commemorate significant events throughout the timeline of the city. There are also numerous more recent landmarks such as the
Shard, The BT Tower (still referred to as The Post Office Tower) and
Battersea Power Station. It would be difficult for you to go far on a walk without seeing one of it’s many famous landmarks.
Build between 1886 and 1894, Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in the country. This huge structure crossing the River Thames is certainly one of the best known and most loved attractions. The bridge has a long history, but the change that made it into what we know today occurred in 1977, when the bridge was painted red, white and blue to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee, before then it had been painted a greenish-blue colour. Still operational as an opening bridge, the road crossing can be closed in order for the roadway to be lifted up to allow large boats to come through and enter the City of London. For the vast majority of the time though it remains closed, allowing visitors and locals alike a superb route across the River Thames using this magnificent piece of Victorian engineering.
The ancient Egyptian obelisk of Cleopatra's Needle is one of one of four of it’s kind around the world, with two of the others in New York and Paris, whilst the fourth of the family remains in it’s home nation of Egypt. Dating to almost 3,000 years old, the needle was brought to the London to commemorate Lord Nelson's victory at the Battle of the Nile and Sir Ralph Abercromby's victory at the Battle of Alexandria in the 1800's. At around 21 metres tall, the needle is one of the finest examples of ancient architecture you will find and one of the few that you can find outside of a museum worldwide. If you look at its base you can see damage from a World War One bomb.
Trafalgar Square houses one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks in Nelson's Column. Built to commemorate the admiral's successes in naval battles, the plaque at the base of the column was cast from captured French guns. Standing at a height of 170 feet, Lord Nelson has a watchful eye over the bustling Trafalgar Square and is guarded by four intricately sculpted lions, giving a real sense of just how important Nelson was and still is in British history, and why he was chosen to be immortalised on the column in the centre of the capital of the nation that he fought for.