Tower of London and British Museum are top attractions in the capital

London weekend getaways

Event: The Tower of London
Date: All-year-round
Location: The Tower of London

The capital's top attractions are as popular as ever among tourists enjoying London weekend getaways, the latest statistics suggest.

While the city's vibrant cultural scene sees dozens of new exhibitions or shows are opening each week, figures from VisitEngland show that it is the old favourites that remain the biggest draws.

The Tower of London held onto its crown as the top admission-charging attraction, welcoming 2.4 million visitors over the course of 2009.

St Paul's Cathedral also remains a popular attraction among visitors on London weekend getaways, with Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece welcoming 1.82 million people last year alone.

Meanwhile, the British Museum is still the number one free attraction in the city, with 5.57 million visitors in 2009, while the National Gallery welcomed 4.78 million people over the same period.

The Tower of London dates back to the Norman Conquest of England, with the historic White Tower having been built by William the Conqueror in 1078.