London, also known as "Greater London", belongs to the England region of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the capital and largest city of the United Kingdom and the political, economic, financial, cultural and educational center of the United Kingdom. It is located in the southeast of the United Kingdom and the center of the basin of the same name in southeast England, 40 miles from the mouth of the Thames River, with a total area of 1,572 square kilometers.

　　London is one of the world's most famous tourist destinations. This ancient and modern city has a rich historical and cultural heritage. As the capital of the United Kingdom, this city is also a leader in fashion, literature, technology and other aspects.

　　Main attractions:

　　1. Big Ben

　　Star of many a film’s establishing shot, Big Ben is the best-loved of London's monuments, affectionately nicknamed for the 13.7-tonne bell housed within the Elizabeth Tower. A recent facelift has seen Big Ben's clock restored to its full Victorian glory as it towers over the parliamentary shenanigans of the Palace of Westminster.

　　2. Westminster Abbey

　　Every English coronation since 1066 has taken place at this soaring abbey, along with 16 royal weddings. It’s also an imposing final resting place for monarchs, poets and great thinkers – including Elizabeth I, Charles Dickens and Stephen Hawking.

　　3. Tower of London

　　The top spot goes to the Tower of London, one of the world’s most famous fortresses and home to the priceless Crown Jewels. Built as a royal residence and prison nearly 1,000 years ago, there are some fascinating stories within its walls.

　　4. St Paul’s Cathedral

　　One of the London skyline’s most iconic landmarks, St Paul’s Cathedral rose majestically out of the ashes of the Great Fire of London and has since survived two World Wars as well as bearing witness to innumerable state funerals, royal weddings and other national occasions. Designed, of course, by the mighty Sir Christopher Wren, its huge gilded altar and 17th-century Grand Organ should be considered London sightseeing essentials.

　　5. Buckingham Palace

　　Buckingham Palace is the main residence and office of the British monarch in London. It is located in Westminster. It is one of the venues for British national celebrations and royal welcome ceremonies, and is also an important tourist attraction. Buckingham Palace is also an important gathering place during celebrations or crises in British history.

　　6. British Museum

　　With artefacts spanning two million years of human history and culture, the British Museum is an enormous cabinet of curiosities. From Egyptian mummies to antiquities, there are 80,000 objects on display, cherry-picked from a collection of over eight million pieces.

　　7. The London Eye

　　The London Eye, full name British Airways London Eye, is located on the banks of the Thames in London, England. It is the world's first and as of 2005 the largest observation wheel. It is one of London's landmarks and famous tourist attractions.

　　8. The Natural History Museum

　　The Natural History Museum in London is located in South Kensington, London. It was officially opened to the public in 1881. In fact, including the history of its predecessor, it has a history of more than 250 years. It has 75 million specimens of animals, plants, fossils and minerals, making it the largest natural history museum in Europe.

　　9. Tate Modern

　　Set inside an imposing former power station on the South Bank of the Thames, the building that houses the Tate Modern is a work of art in its own right. Admire its glorious red-brick facade and soaring chimney stack before stepping into the cavernous Turbine Hall, a vast five-story space that has hosted commissioned installations from the likes of Ai Weiwei, Anish Kapoor and Louise Bourgeois.

　　10. London's West End

　　London's West End is one of the two major theatre centres in the world, along with New York's Broadway. It is an international stage for performing arts and a synonym for the British theatre industry. As the cultural and entertainment centre of London, the West End is home to a variety of theatres, concert halls, shopping malls and dining options, making it a great place for tourists to enjoy London's nightlife.