London historic buildings

For those wishing to discover historic sites in London, our city guide is designed to show you a great selection of historical places to visit in this popular tourist destination.

Founded by the Romans in 43AD, London became an important city in Roman Britain. Despite the destruction wrought by Boudicca in 61AD the city recovered and was a thriving centre of Roman life. Although little remains from this period, there are a few scattered Roman ruins, including parts of the Roman walls and the remains of a Roman theatre. After the Romans departed, the city’s influence waned until the site was refortified by Alfred the Great. The Norman conquest of 1066AD saw the city become increasingly important until it was established as the capital of England and the seat of power for the British monarchy – a fact reflected by the many royal palaces and homes which still exist today.

Over the centuries London has faced a multitude of threats - from plagues to the Great Fire of 1666 right through to the modern era and the German bombing of the city. Despite these challenges, London has continually grown, expanded and become a political, cultural and academic hub. Over the years many grand building projects have been undertaken, leading to a wealth of interesting and amazing historical places in London which can be explored today – making the city one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Once you’ve explored the historical sites of London you can use our itinerary planner tool to plan out your very own London history tour and then print off a free pocket guidebook. Our database of London's historic sites is growing all the time, but we may not cover them all. Remember, if you know of other historic sites in London, you can always add them to Historvius now by visiting our upload page.