Seven London landmarks you might see on the way in from the airport

You will not see all of them, and that is the point

Which landmarks you pass depends on the road your driver takes, and that depends on the airport, your destination, the time of day and what the traffic is doing. So this is a guide to what you may see and roughly where, not a promise. Every figure below is checked against published sources; the places to look are hedged because the route is not fixed.

1. Hyde Park

You may see it on routes that reach the West End along Park Lane or the Knightsbridge edge, including many journeys in from Heathrow, and from the north through Marble Arch.

It covers about 350 acres in the middle of the city and it has been open to the public since 1637, when Charles I opened it. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was held here, and Speakers' Corner, near Marble Arch, has been a place for open debate since 1872. It has also hosted large concerts, including Pink Floyd in 1968 and Live 8 in 2005.

2. The River Thames

You may see it on almost any journey that crosses the river, which includes most routes from Gatwick and from the south into central London. Which bridge you use decides the view: Westminster, Vauxhall, Chelsea, Tower and London Bridge all frame the city differently.

The Thames is more than 200 miles long. London's stretch is only a small part of that, and it is the part that most visitors will remember.

3. Battersea Power Station

You may see it on routes from the south that cross the river near Vauxhall or Chelsea Bridge.

It generated electricity from 1933 until the last section closed on 31 October 1983, and it is Grade II* listed. After decades of plans, it opened to the public again on 14 October 2022 as a mix of shops, homes, offices and places to eat. A Northern line station opened beside it in 2021.

4. The Shard

You may see it from many points in central and south-east London, especially on the approaches to London Bridge, because nothing nearby comes close to its height.

At about 310 metres it is the tallest building in the UK. It was designed by Renzo Piano, inaugurated in July 2012, and its public viewing platform opened on 1 February 2013.

5. Canary Wharf

You may see it straight away from London City Airport, which is about 3 miles east of Canary Wharf, and from many routes through east London.

One Canada Square, the tower most people picture, is 235 metres tall and was completed in 1991. The whole district stands on former docklands: building began in 1988, so most of what you see is less than forty years old.

6. The O2

You may see it on the Greenwich Peninsula in south-east London, across the river from the Docklands side, on some journeys from London City and from the east.

The white dome began as the Millennium Dome, and the exhibition inside opened on 1 January 2000. It reopened as The O2 on 24 June 2007. The canopy is 365 metres across and is held up by twelve steel masts about 100 metres tall. You can walk across the roof on the Up at The O2 route, which opened in 2012.

7. The Wembley arch

You may see it on journeys that pass through north-west London, for example on roads near Wembley such as the North Circular, if the arch is above the rooftops from where you are.

The arch is about 133 metres high, spans 315 metres, and carries much of the weight of the stadium's roof. The stadium opened in 2007 with 90,000 seats. The old twin towers it replaced were taken down in 2002.

Want a particular view?

Your driver chooses the quickest and safest road. If there is something you would like to pass, mention it when you book or tell your driver at the start. A scenic detour can add time and may change the price, so agree it first. For a longer look, hire a chauffeur by the hour or read about our sightseeing tours.