London’s Top Five Indoor Attractions

London is absolutely magical in the winter, but as is usually the case around this time of year, it has a tendency to get incredibly cold.

And although there are plenty of outside London attractions that truly make the capital a special place, if your temperature threshold isn’t quite what it should be, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of fantastic indoor places to visit as well.

The city is known for its myriad of museums, galleries, palaces and amusement arcades that are renowned for putting smiles on the faces of those who are fortunate enough to be there.

If we were to list all of the great tourist attractions that stand in the heart of London, we’d have to write a book, so reluctantly, we have narrowed it down to just five.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is undoubtedly one of the best-known tourist attractions in the world. It is the home of the royal family, who are loved by citizens from all over the globe. The palace has over 775 rooms, some of which are open to the public to explore.

Recently it was reported that the hit TV show Downtown Abbey is due to be aired inside the palace. While you’re there, why not visit the Queen’s Gallery, located inside the palace? It is a permanent space dedicated to changing exhibitions from the royal collection, featuring paintings, sculpture and other works of art, in addition to precious treasures.

Queen’s Ice & Bowl

If you can’t quite get enough of royalty, why not take a trip to the Queen’s Ice & Bowl? Here you can bowl, ice skate, and perform smash-hit songs on the karaoke to your heart’s content. It is a great place for kids and families because it contains something for everyone. It also comes complete with its own bar, café and games arcade.

Charles Dickens Museum

If you have a love of literature and a love of museums, then it doesn’t get much better than the Charles Dickens Museum.

Not only does it allow you to take a behind-the-scenes look at the life of this famous writer, it exhibits over 100,000 items, from personal collectibles to artwork and manuscripts from some of his books.

Here you can see the story behind old favourites like Oliver Twist and Great Expectations and marvel at the exhibitions which include portraits of the man, manuscripts of his work and letters.

Tate Modern

But if art is more your thing, then why not pop along to the Tate Modern in London? It is the national gallery of international modern art for Britain.

World famous works by artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Ernst, Mirò and Giacometti are also featured here.

National Portrait Gallery

Another great place for art fans is the National Portrait Gallery. It is one of the largest museums dedicated to portraiture in the world, featuring famous men and women in Britain.

One of the current exhibitions is entitled Elizabeth I & Her People, which explores the remarkable reign of this famous monarch.