Am I currently binge-watching season four of The Crown? Of course, I am! Have I spent the better half of my Sunday curled up on my couch obsessing over London and the monarchy? Right again!
Because of this recent glued-to-the-screen type of weekend, I’ve found myself inspired to visit London! Whether you love the hit Netflix series The Crown or you’re obsessed with Princess Diana, season four of The Crown should have you itching to visit all the famous landmarks appearing on the show. On your next trip to London, these are the top five landmarks you should visit to fulfill all of your royalty dreams. Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links, which means when you purchase something using one of these links I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
1. Buckingham palace
It’s no surprise that Buckingham Palace should be first on your list! While no season of The Crown was allowed to film at the famous palace, that shouldn’t stop you from paying a visit when in London. Buckingham Palace is the official royal residence of Queen Elizabeth II and the monarchy.
Even if you can’t go inside Buckingham, it’s still a sight to see from the outside. Plus, you can’t miss the opportunity to take a photo with one of the Queen’s guard. Side note, I was curious what the royal guards make in a year, and honestly not too shabby at $55K. Also, snag this typically sold out tour before your trip!
2. Westminister Abbey
Just as stunning as the palaces, Westminister Abbey is right up there on a crown tour of London. Westminister is a church that appears in The Crown a few times. It’s where Queen Elizabeth was crowned and where 16 kings and queens of England have been laid to rest including Princess Diana.
Their website encourages people to visit by boasting it’s a church “that’s touched the lives of kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains since 960 AD.” You can attend mass or private prayer for free and they’ve even recently allowed pictures to be taken inside for personal use. I recommend doing this skip the line tour where you’ll tour the house of Parliament and Westminsiter Abbey.
3. St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral sits on the highest point in London and is one of the most easily recognized landmarks, but that’s not why you should visit. For those watching The Crown season four, you’ll easily recognize St. Paul’s Cathedral because it hosted the wedding of the century, Prince Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana.
It was quite scandalous at the time that the two didn’t marry at the Royal Church, but according to British tabloids, they needed proper seating for the extravagant show that was to happen. The Cathedral holds 3,500 people!
4. Hyde Park
Hyde Park, located in central London, has a few ties to the monarchy and The Crown series. In season one of The Crown, Hyde Park Corner was the title of episode two. It was a code word used within the monarchy to let others know of King George VI’s passing without gaining unwanted media attention at the time.
Princess Diana was also spotted multiple times in Hyde Park. Have you seen those pictures of her rollerblading taken by the British tabloids with the epic headline Princess of Wheels? That was in Hyde Park. Hyde Park even has a dedicated fountain named after her.
5. Kensington Palace
If you are well versed with the monarchy or you’ve recently flown through season four of The Crown, you know exactly who has lived in Kensington Palace. The people’s princess, of course, Princess Di. Today, Princess Eugenie resides there and you can actually tour some areas of the estate. Or, any true Royal obsessed fan will book this tour to sip tea inside Kensington Palace!
Are you watching The Crown? Let me know if you are just as intrigued as I am of the royals!
