Best London Attractions to Include in Your Olympic Tour 2012

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This year, the city is fired up for the Olympic Games, so naturally, a visit to the Olympic Park is on top of everybody's list of things to do in London.

The competitions, the medals, the ceremonies, and all the spectacles that surround the Olympic Games are bound to enthrall and excite the millions who visit the city this year, and the venue itself is an amazing attraction in itself. With iconic structures like the Aquatic Centre, the Pringle, and of course, the Olympic Stadium, among many others, the Olympic Park is a fantastic showcase of architecture that is beautiful, functional, and ecologically friendly at the same time.

With the Games and the Olympic Park taking centre stage, walking tours of Olympic venues are very popular. However, they aren't the only London attractions worth seeing. Even if London were not hosting the Games this year, there simply is so much to see in the city. Amazing architecture, a thriving art scene, and fascinating London tours, among many other reasons, continue to attract millions of visitors each year.

Which of the city's attractions should you take time to visit while you're in London for the Olympics? We've listed a few for you to consider.

Visit the Tower

It would be a shame to visit London without visiting the castle that shares its name with the city. Standing on the North bank of the River Thames for over 900 years now, the Tower of London stands out from the rest of the castles in London

Since it was first built, the Tower of London has served as royal residence, armoury, menagerie, stronghold, and several other roles for the Kingdom. It is home to the fabled Ravens of the Tower, that, according to legend, should never leave the Tower, lest the Tower, and the Kingdom along with it, fall.

The Tower of London has also earned quite a reputation as a grim and forbidding prison. Many have been imprisoned within its walls, which have also seen the deaths of many of these prisoners. Among those who spent their last days imprisoned in the Tower are three Queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey.

Go to the market

Castles, churches, and other historical landmarks aren't the only attractions in the city. London is also dotted with dozens of different markets. Spitalfields, Portobello Road, Picadilly, and Camden are just a handful of the different markets you can visit in London. Some of the markets cater to specific niches, while others are general markets with goods that anybody can appreciate. Certain markets are open throughout the year, but many others are only around on weekends, or on specific times.

Whatever market you decide to go to, you're bound to find a bargain – just make sure you're take the time to look around and haggle. If you only want to do some window shopping, you're welcome to do that too. Whether or not you buy something, hitting the market is part of a true London experience.

Ride a bus

London is full of places you can visit and explore, and these attractions are scattered all over the city. Walking around London isn't an option – you need wheels. Taking a London cab is too expensive, but taking the tube means you don't see the sights while you're in transit. Fortunately, you can take the bus. Of course, not just any bus will do. If you hop on a London open top, you can get a guided sightseeing tour of the city, and for that day at least, you can hop on and off at any of the different stops on the route. If you take a London open top and do a bit of walking, you can see almost all of London's attractions, and explore some of them too.