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My London Top Attractions in 3 DaysDay 1, Fri May 15 2015
Hour Where Recommended Visit Time
1. 09:00 Tower of London 2 hours, 45 mins
2. 12:10 St. Paul's Cathedral 1 hour
3. 13:25 Tate Modern 2 hours
4. 15:50 London Eye 2 hours
5. 18:00 Houses of Parliament & Big Ben 30 mins
6. 18:30 Westminster Abbey 1 hour
7. 19:35 Churchill War Rooms 1 hour, 15 mins
09:00 Tower of London Rating: Landmark
Visit Time: 2 hours, 45 mins
The Tower of London is in fact the oldest fortified castle
in
Europe, it is located on the bank of the Thames next to
Tower Bridge and from the moment you are greeted by the
Beefeaters (Yeoman Warders) in their traditional garb you
will feel like you have stepped back in time. Within the
grey
fortified walls are a number of attractions which can keep
you busy for a couple of hours at least.
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Tube: Tower Hill
Website: www.hrp.org.uk
Opening Hours: Mar to Oct, Tue to Sat 9:00 am -
5:30 pm, Sun and Mon 10:00 am - 5:30 pm (last
entry at 5). Nov - Feb, Tue - Sat 9:00 am - 4:30
pm, Sun and Mon 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (last entry
at 4)
Admission: Adult - 19.50, Child - 9.75
Phone Number: 0844 482-7777
Address: Tower Hill, The City, London
The first fortress built on this site was a Roman fortress
and
you can still see the remaining Roman wall. The Tower of
London began as King William's castle founded in 1078, and
the White Tower dates back to this period, later in 1240
King
Henry III moved in. He too made extensive renovations and
additions to the complex. With the White Tower as its center
more structures were added and the fortress became
multi-purpose. It was not only a palace residence but also a
prison, royal mint, zoo and treasury.
The tower's top ten highlights include:
The oldest part of the Tower and anThe White Tower
iconic symbol. Take the wardens tour which runs daily at
10:45, 12:45 and 14:15. Also see the Chapel Royal of St.
John. Shakespeare's scene with the two young princes
locked in the Tower from Richard III was set here.
See the dazzling crown jewels whichThe Crown Jewels
are still used in ceremonies, royal weddings and coronations
today.
Housed in the former army officers'The Fusilier Museum
quarters, historic artifacts are displayed from the history
of
this famous military division which was formed in the Tower
of London in 1685.
See where Anne Boleyn, Lady JaneThe Tower Green
Grey and other privileged prisoners were executed in the
tower away from the eyes of the public.
the palace is furnished in recreatedThe Medieval Palace
medieval furniture and artifacts. See how Henry III and
other
royals lived; see the grand fireplace and royal bedchamber.
British coins were minted at theThe Coins and Kings
Tower for 500 years, see historic coins and learn about the
minting process.
A display of authentic knight's armor,The Line of Kings
some mounted on life-size wooden horses. The armor dates
back to the Tudor period and was first put on show in 1688.
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Take advantage of the entertaining and informative Yeoman
Warder Tours which run every half hour and are included in
the price of your ticket. See if you can spot any of the 6
resident ravens which live on the Tower grounds. Legend
has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will
fall and so 7 ravens (6 plus one spare) have one wing
clipped to prevent them flying too far away. To see some
typical British pageantry book ahead of time for the
Ceremony of the Keys. The tickets are free but must be
reserved. The 700 year old ritual involves the Chief Warder
decked out in his finery locking up the Tower by lantern
light
as the sun sets. Note that the use of mobile phones within
the Tower of London is prohibited.
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Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Admission: Adult - 16.00, Child - 7.00
Phone Number: 020 7236-4128
Address: St. Paul's Churchyard, The City, London
1.9 KM, 24 minutes by walking
12:10 St. Paul's Cathedral Rating: Churches
Visit Time: 1 hour
This landmark cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and
construction took 36 years until its completion in 1711. However
there
were five previous churches which stood on this site, the first
dating
back to 604AD. Three times the previous churches had been
destroyed by fire and rebuilt and the building we see today
was
constructed following the Great Fire of London in 1666. The
church
stands on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city and is the
seat of
the Bishop of London. Among the auspicious events held at
the
cathedral were Winston Churchill's funeral and the wedding of
Charles
and Diana.
Distinct features of the church include the dome which is the
second
largest in the world; it reaches a height of 111 meters and
weights
approximately 66,000 tons. The dome is supported by eight
arches
and is crowned by an 850 ton lantern. Visitors can climb the 560
steps
to the top of the dome to get awesome views of the city. As
you
ascend within the dome there are a series of galleries, the
first is the
Whispering Gallery which earned its name due to its great
acoustics.
The next gallery is the Stone Gallery which is 53 meters from
the
ground and protrudes on the exterior of the dome above
columns
which circle the dome. The Golden Gallery is just beneath the
lantern
and is the highest point that visitors can climb.
Within the church the Baroque decoration includes mosaics on
the
ceilings which were added in 1890, above the altar is the
baldachin
which was rebuilt in 1958 following bomb damage during WWII.
The
tomb of John Donne was the only part of the church to survive
the
Great Fire of London in 1666 and it dates back to 1631. The
church
holds valuable works of art including Henry Moore's Madonna
and
. Famous people buried in the cathedral include the Duke
ofChild
Wellington, Admiral Nelson and Christopher Wren as well as a
number
of memorials to important figures like Florence Nightingale and
T. E.
Lawrence. On the western faade is a large portico topped by
a
decorated pediment. The tympanum relief (1706) depicts the
conversion of St. Paul.
1.0 KM, 13 minutes by walking
13:25 Tate Modern Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 2 hours
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Tube: Southwark, Mansion House, St. Paul's
Website: www.tate.org.uk/modern
Opening Hours: Sun to Thu 10:00 am - 6:00 pm,
Fri and Sat 10:00 am - 10:00 pm (last entry to
exhibitions 45 min before close)
Admission: Free, charge applies only for special
exhibitions
Phone Number: 020 7887-8888
Address: Bankside, London
London's top museum of modern art houses works of
artrepresenting a range of modern art movements includingfauvism,
surrealism, abstract, impressionism, Op Art,minimal art, conceptual
art, pop art and more. The art datesfrom the 1500s to present day
and includes both British andinternational modern and contemporary
art. Visitors can seework by Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Degas, Ernst,
Warhol, Miro,Magritte and Pollock. There are paintings, murals,
prints,drawings, photography, film, performance and sculptures.
Inaddition to the extensive permanent collections there
aretemporary exhibitions displayed on the 3 and 5 floors;rd
thtemporary exhibitions of large scale specially commissionedworks
by contemporary artists and a collection of British artfrom the
1500s.
The Tate Modern is part of the Tate Museum family whichincludes
four major sites, the original Tate opened in 1897and in 2000 the
present Tate Modern was opened. The TateModern is the most visited
museum in the world and apartfrom the fine art work the building
which houses themuseum is an attraction in itself. Housed within
the formerBankside Power Station the gallery retains much of
theoriginal building's character. The impressive entrancethrough
the Turbine Hall once housed the power plantengines and is a
massive 152 meters long and 35 metershigh, another distinctive
feature is the tall central chimney.The galleries are housed in the
former boiler house andfurther expansions are planned for the
museum using theplant's former redundant oil tanks.
The museum has been organized so that you are taken on ajourney
through the significant stages of the development ofmodern art. The
art on display has been chosen for itsunique contribution to the
history and development of art.Recently work from Latin America,
South-East Asia andEastern Europe has been included in the
collection. Thanksto the frequent rotation of displays between the
Tate Britain,Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St. Ives there
isalways something new to see.
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With almost 70,000 works of art by more than 3,000 artistsyou
should plan your visit so that you get to see thehighlights of the
museum and the pieces which interest youmost. Check-out the
curator's pick of the museum highlightswhich includes 195 works.
Among the top picks are Whaam!By Roy Lichtenstein; Weeping Woman by
Picasso; Warhol'sMarilyn Diptych; The Lady of Shalott by John
WilliamWaterhouse; Recumbent Figure by Henry Moore andWater-Lilies
by Claude Monet. So you can see by thisimpressive list of the
crme-de-la- crme of artists andartwork why the Tate Modern has
earned its stellarreputation.
Admission to the Tate Modern is free except for
specialexhibitions. You can download a map of the massive 6
levelmuseum from the museum website. There are two eateriesin the
museum, the caf on the 1 floor and a restaurant onstthe 6 level
where you can get stunning views across thethriver and city from
large panoramic windows. The TurbineHall has been closed for part
of 2013 and will be open againin early 2014.
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Web: www.londoneye.com
Tube: Waterloo, Westminster
Admission: 18 adults, 14 seniors and students,
9.50 children 4-15
Phone Number: 0870/5000-600
Opening Hours: daily from 10:00am untill 9:00pm
in the summer (9:30pm in July-Aug) and untill
8:00pm during the winter
Address: Millennium Jubilee Gardens, SE1, South
Bank
1.8 KM, 23 minutes by walking
15:50 London Eye Rating: Landmark
Visit Time: 2 hours
Among all the historic attractions of London the London Eye is
one of
the more recent and contemporary attractions. The Eye is a
huge
Ferris wheel located on the edge of the Thames River in the
Jubilee
Gardens. The wheel was built as part of the millennium
celebrations
and has changed name several times due to different ownership
and
sponsoring, at present it is officially called the EDF Energy
London
Eye. The wheel took 1.5 years to build and was designed by
David
Marks and Julia Barfield. It is constructed from 1700 tons of
steel and
has foundations made with 3000 tons of concrete.
The wheel is 135 meters high and has a diameter of 120 meters,
it
was completed in 1999. The wheel has 39 sealed egg shaped
capsules which can each hold up to 25 people. Each capsule is
8
meters long and weighs 500kg. In each capsule there is
air-conditioning, seating and interactive screens which give
information about the sites you can see below in London. One
full
revolution of the wheel takes about 30 minutes and at ground
level the
passengers get on and off without the wheel actually stopping;
as the
Eye rotations at such a slow rate (26cm per second).
From the capsules passengers have a 360 view of London and
most
of the famous landmarks can be seen from the wheel. There are
a
number of combination tickets available for the wheel as well
as
tickets which include a boat ride down the Thames which brings
you to
the Eye.
0.8 KM, 11 minutes by walking
18:00 Houses of Parliament & Big Ben Rating: Landmark
Visit Time: 30 mins
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Tube: Westminster
Web: www.parliament.uk/visiting
Opening Hours: Tours: Aug, Mon, Tues, Fri, and
Sat 9:15am-4:30pm, Wed and Thu.
1:15pm-4:30pm. Sep - Mon, Fri, and Sat
9:15am-4:30pm, Tues, Wed and Thu 1:15am -
4:30pm.
Admission: Free except from tours which cost 15
(must book ahead)
Phone Number: 020/7219-4272
Address: St. Stephen's Entrance, St. Margaret St.,
Westminster, London
The building widely referred to as the Houses of Parliament is
actually
called The Palace of Westminster. It is located on the banks of
the
River Thames and is the place where Britain's House of Lords
and
House of Commons convene.
The site where the Palace of Westminster stands today was
originally
the site of an 8 century Saxon church called West Minster
(westth
monastery). In the 10 century the royals paid an interest in the
siteth
and when Edward the Confessor came to power in 1042 he moved
his
court to Westminster and had a Benedictine abbey and royal
church
built.
Under William the Conqueror Westminster Hall was built, it is
the
largest hall of its kind in Europe. Westminster gained
importance and
grew as different kings made additions to the edifice. In 1265
the two
houses of parliament were created, the House of Lords met at
Westminster while the House of Commons had no permanent
location. In the 13 century King Henry III made several
alterationsth
including the Queen's Chapel, Queen's Chamber and the
Painted
Chamber or King's Chamber which have survived. St. Stephen's
Chapel (1184-1363) was redesigned over the years with
beautiful
glazed windows, a vaulted wooden roof and walls covered with
murals
in scarlet, green and blue shades. In 1365 King Edward III had
the
Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft completed; it was here that the
royal
court and household prayed. In 1547 the House of Commons
joined
the House of Lords also meeting at the palace thus
Westminster
became the undisputed central seat of government.
A fire destroyed the palace in 1834 and the only parts of the
original
medieval palace which survived are the Cloisters, Chapter House
of
St. Stephen's, Chapel of St. Mary's Undercroft, the Westminster
Hall
and the Jewel Tower which was built in 1365. After the fire a
new
neo-Gothic structure was designed by Sir Charles Barry and
Augustus
Welby Pugin and completed in 1870.
The parliament building has three towers, the octagonal
Central
Tower; Victoria Tower and the most famous Elizabeth Tower.
Victoria
Tower (1860) stands opposite Elizabeth Tower, here the records
of
both houses of parliament have been kept since 1497. During
the
parliamentary year the British flag is flown on top of the 98
meter high
tower.
Big Ben is the name of the bell which hangs in Elizabeth Tower
which
is at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. The tower
is
commonly referred to as Big Ben, it is 96 meters tall and UK
residents
can climb the 393 steps to the belfry. The square tower bears
the
famous four clock faces of the Great Clock of Westminster. The
clock
faces of this accurate time piece are 7 meters in diameter and
the
hour hands are 2.7 meters long. Within the belfry there are five
bells,
four strike the Westminster Chimes on the quarter hour and the
largest
bell, Big Ben, strikes on the hour.
UK residents can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament,
observe
parliamentary debates and even climb up into the Big Ben
belfry.
Foreign visitors can tour the Parliament building on Saturday
and
during the Summer Opening, they can also watch debates and
committee hearings when Parliament is in session.
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Tube: Westminster, St James's Park
Web: www.westminster-abbey.org
Hours: Mon - Tue and Thu - Fri 9:30 am - 3:30
pm. Wed 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. Sat 9:30 am - 1:30
pm
Admission: Adult: 18.00 Child: 8.00
Phone Number: 020/7222-5152
Address: Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London
0.1 KM, 2 minutes by walking
18:30 Westminster Abbey Rating: Churches
Visit Time: 1 hour
This religious edifice is where royal British coronations and
burials are
held, it is officially a place of worship owned by the royal
family. The
Abbey stands next to the Houses of Parliament on the edge of
the
River Thames and parts of the structure have survived since
1050
although the building began as a shrine established here in
616.
Edward the Confessor had the Abbey built here in order to
redeem
himself in the eyes of the Pope after the king failed to take a
required
pilgrimage. The Abbey was completed in 1065. Christopher Wren
and
Nicholas Hawksmor were responsible for the addition of the
two
western towers in the 1700s. The original style was Romanesque
but
between 1245 and 1517 it was redesigned in the Gothic style.
Parts of
the King James Bible were translated here and later the New
English
Bible was compiled here.
The building is famed for its medieval architecture and features
like
the coronation throne. In the Abbey you can see the Poet's
Corner
where the likes of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and
Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. Among the royals entombed here
are
Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary and King Henry III. Other famous
Brits
buried in the Abbey are Charles Darwin, Henry Purcell, Sir
Isaac
Newton and David Livingstone. Above the Great West Door you
can
see statues of ten 20 century Christian martyrs including
Oscarth
Romero, Martin Luther King Junior and Dietrich Bonheoffer. The
relics
of the Royal Saint Edward the Confessor are kept in the
Sanctuary
and the shrine attracts pilgrims who come to pay homage to the
saint.
The beautiful Chapel House was built in the 1200s and restored
by Sir
George Gilbert Scott in 1872. The octagonal chapel has eight
shafts
supporting a vaulted ceiling. Within the 11 century
vaultedth
undercroft is the Westminster Abbey Museum which has been open
to
the public since 1908.
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Tube: Westminster
Web: www.iwm.org.uk
Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am - 6:00pm; last entry
at 5:00pm
Admission: 17 (includes audio guide)
Phone Number: 020/7930-6961
Address: Clive Steps, King Charles St.,
Westminster, London
0.4 KM, 6 minutes by walking
19:35 Churchill War Rooms Rating: Historic Site
Visit Time: 1 hour, 15 mins
Churchill War Rooms are one of the five branches of
thewell-known Imperial War Museum. The museum reveals theCabinet
War Rooms, an underground structure that wasused by the command
center of the British governmentthrough the Second World War.
Cabinet War Rooms
The Cabinet War Rooms were constructed in 1938, but theywere
opened and become operational later in August 1939,soon before the
outburst of war. They were used throughWorld War II, before being
neglected after the surrender ofJapan in 1945. After the war ended,
the true historicsignificance of this structure was realized, which
in turn ledto the preservation of the Cabinet rooms.
The highlight of the museum is a 15 meters (50 foot)interactive
table that provides visitors with an access toscanned materials,
predominantly from the archives centerof Churchill. The museum won
a prize in 2006, which isknown as Council of Europe Museum.
Approximately300,000 tourists pay a visit to this legendary place
everyyear.
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Day 2, Sat May 16 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time
1. 09:00 Tower Bridge 1 hour
2. 10:25 Trafalgar Square 30 mins
3. 10:55 National Gallery 2 hours
4. 13:05 Covent Garden 1 hour, 30 mins
5. 14:35 Transport Museum 1 hour
6. 15:45 British Museum 2 hours, 30 mins
09:00 Tower Bridge Rating: Landmark
Visit Time: 1 hour
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Tube: Tower Hill
Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
Opening Hours: Apr - Sep, daily 10:00 am - 6:00
pm. Oct - Mar, daily 9:30 am - 5:30 pm. Last entry
half and hour before closing
Admission: 8
Phone Number: 020 7403-3761
Address: Tower Bridge Rd., The City, London
Tower Bridge, London crosses the Thames River next to the
Tower of London, the stunning iconic drawbridge is often
confused with another Thames bridge referred to in the
children's song "London Bridge" is falling down. In the late
1800s Tower Bridge was one of the bridges constructed to
carry the masses of pedestrians and vehicles wanting to
cross from one side of London to the other. The City of
London Corporation needed an innovative design and so
they held a competition to which 50 designs were submitted.
The chosen design was devised by Horace Jones and John
Wolfe Barry, it took 8 years and 432 construction workers to
complete the bridge in 1894. To avoid disrupting the river
traffic the tower was to be a bascule or see-saw bridge
which could be raised to let tall ships through. Today the
bridge is still raised about 900 times a year to allow tall
vessels to pass by. The bridge can be raised 83 from its
horizontal position.
Two piers were sunk into the river bed to support the weight
of the 11,000 tons of steel which formed the bridge
framework. The two towers on either side of the river were
joined together by elevated walkways. Finally Cornish
granite and Portland stone covered the framework making
the appearance more appealing and protecting the frame.
Originally hydraulics were used to raise the bridge using
steam power from the engines in the Engine Rooms within
the base of the towers. Today the hydraulics are produced
using electricity and oil rather than steam.
Visitors to Tower Bridge today can walk or drive across and
you can also visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition. A visit to
the
Tower Bridge Exhibition begins with an animated video
explaining the bridge's history. Then visitors can walk
along
the upper walkways which are 42 meters above the river.
From here there are spectacular views across London. The
East Walkway (there are two parallel walkways) is home to
the "Great Bridges of the World" photo exhibit which
features more than 20 of the world's greatest bridges. In
the
West Walkway the "This is London" exhibition displays over
60 illustrations by the painter Miroslav Sasek from his
classic children's book This is London. Next visitors enter
the Victorian Engine Rooms where the original equipment
used to raise the bridge can be seen as well as a virtual
recreation of a bridge lift. The latest exhibition is shown
here
called Art at the Bridge #4.
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Tube: Charing Cross
Address: Westminster, London
If you're visiting with children you can download the Guy
Fox
Explore Kit which will enhance their experience at the
bridge. Families can save quite a bit on entrance tickets by
purchasing the family ticket for 12.5 instead of 8 for
adults
and 3.4 for kids. The easiest way to reach Tower Bridge is
by underground train to the Tower Hill station.
4.2 KM, 24 minutes by transit
10:25 Trafalgar Square Rating: Activity
Visit Time: 30 mins
Trafalgar Square is a traffic intersection in central London,
the large
square at its center is used for many major events and
celebrations in
London. During the 14th to 17th century the square was the
courtyard
of the Great Mews stables for Whitehall Palace. In the 18th
century
when the mews were cleared away, John Nash began designing a
new street connecting Charing Cross and Portland Place, this
street
formed the open square in the Kings Mews area and in 1830
the
square got its present name. The National Gallery on the square
was
designed by William Wilkins; in 1838 Charles Barry developed
plans to
create an upper terrace by the National Gallery connected to a
lower
level square by a sweeping staircase. In 1843 Nelson's Column
was
designed by William Railton and in 1845 it was erected on the
lower
level square. Fountains and statues on the square were designed
by
Barry and Sir Edwin Landseer designed the bronze lions which sit
at
the base of Nelson's Column.
Nelson's Column marks the center of the square, the
Corinthian
column is 51.6 meters tall and at the top is a statue of Lord
Nelson
who died in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
Further renovations were made to the square in 2003
including
increased pedestrian areas, a caf and public toilets. Also on
the
square is St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Edith Cavel statue.
The
square was once famed for its pigeons which would flock here to
be
fed by tourists, today feeding the pigeons is illegal according
to bylaws
as the birds were deemed a health hazard and threat to the
square's
art work. The square is a popular venue for social and
political
protests.
The square has 4 plinths (stone pedestals intended for statues)
they
hold a bronze equestrian statue of George IV; a statue of
General Sir
Charles James Napier; Major-General Sir Henry Havelock and
the
fourth Plinth in the north-western corner of the square is used
to
display commissioned art work.
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Web: www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Tube: Charing Cross or Leicester Sq
Admission: Free, some charged may apply for
temporary exhibitions
Phone Number: 020/7747-2885
Opening Hours: Sat-Thu 10:00am-6:00pm. Fri
10:00am-9:00pm
Address: Trafalgar Sq., WC2, West End
0.0 KM, 1 minutes by walking
10:55 National Gallery Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 2 hours
At this museum you can see the country's collection of 13 to 19
th th
century Western European paintings. The museum first opened
its
doors in 1824 during the reign of King George IV. He had the
museum
set up in the former home of a Russian banker and the purchase
of
the house came with the deceased's art collection; 34 paintings
which
formed the core of the new museum's collection. The collection
grew
to a massive 2,300 paintings which are now housed in a grand
neo-classical building on Trafalgar Square. Since the museum's
move
to Trafalgar Square the building has had several renovations
and
extensions added like the East Wing added in 1876 and the
Sainsbury
Wing added in the 80s.
The collection is arranged roughly in chronological order
starting with
the oldest works which greet visitors at the museum entrance.
The
oldest works in the museum are by Giotto and Jan Van Eyck.
Significant masterpieces by Titian and Michelangelo represent
the
Renaissance artists. The collection includes 17 century art
andth
works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens and Caravaggio. More
recent
works are by impressionist and post-impressionist artists like
Van
Gogh and Renoir. Other works are by Turner, da Vinci, Claude
Monet,
Hans Holbein and Botticelli. In addition to the permanent
collection
there are regular temporary collections, activities, lectures,
guided
tours and audio-visual presentations.
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Web www.coventgardenlondonuk.com:
Tube: Covent Garden
Phone Numnber: 020/7836-9136
Address: The Piazza, London
0.6 KM, 9 minutes by walking
13:05 Covent Garden Rating: Square
Visit Time: 1 hour, 30 mins
Today Covent Garden is a London district located between
Martin's
Lane and Drury Lane; but Covent Garden is best known as the site
of
the city's oldest market where there are now boutique stores,
classy
restaurants, theatres, a place to see street performers and shop
in
typically English markets. In the 13 century a 40 acre kitchen
gardenth
belonging to the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster covered
the
Covent Garden area, the garden provided fresh fruit and
vegetables to
the city for over 700 years. In 1540 the land was slit up by
the
monarch and given to a number of rich and powerful Earls. In
1630 the
Earl of Bedford commissioned Indigo Jones to build elegant homes
on
the land and London's first public piazza. It was here that St.
Paul's
Church was built and where London's first Punch and Judy Show
was
staged. The Theatre Royal was built on Drury Lane and many
famous
London actors were buried in St. Peter's Church; in 1732 the
Covent
Garden Theatre was built. A regular vegetable market was
established
on the Piazza which grew to be the most important market in the
city.
In 1870 a glass roof was installed to cover the market, this
roof
remains today. Many of the original historic buildings
remain.
Among the attraction at Covent Garden are the Royal Opera
house,
Covent Garden Square (Piazza), St. Paul's Church, local pubs,
the
London Transport Museum, the Theatre Museum and the many
markets. A number of markets include the Apple Market where
you
can buy hand-made arts, crafts and antiques; the Jubilee
Market
(Jubilee Market Hall at 1 Tavistock Court) a general market
including
antiques, clothing and household goods and the East
Colonnade
Market (East Piazza) where hand-made soaps, jewelry, leather
goods,
clothing, art and sweets are sold. On Thursdays there is a Real
Food
Market on the East Piazza.
For entertainment there are the street performers, opera,
ballet,
classical music and art galleries all on offer at a number of
Covent
Garden venues.
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Web: www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Tube: Covent Garden
Admission: 15.0 for adults, 10 for seniors and
students, entrance is free for children 15 and
under
Phone Number: 020/7379-6344
Opening Hours: Sat-Thu 10:00am-6:00pm. Fri
11:00am-6:00pm
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, WC2, West End
0.0 KM, 1 minutes by walking
14:35 Transport Museum Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 1 hour
In the 1920s, the London General Omnibus Company made
the decision to preserve an early motorbus and two
Victorian horse buses so that future generations would be
able to appreciate the technological advances that
accompanied the beginnings of the twentieth century. Thus
was born London's Transport Museum. In the 1960s, the
Museum of British Transport was housed in an old bus
garage in the area of South London known as Clapham and
eventually was moved to west London and Syon Park in the
1970s. Then, in the early 80s, the London Transport
Museum found its current home, occupying the Flower
Market at Covent Garden. When London Transport was
renamed Transport for London in the early 2000s, the
museum changed its name to London's Transport Museum,
but it continues to strive to fulfill its mission of bringing
the
history of London's transportation to life.
The Covent Garden's architecture boasts beautiful iron and
glass structures that are quite reminiscent of Victorian
railway stations, and thus seem to be the perfect home for
the historical collection which features transport devices
beginning with steam engines and horse power to today's
more modern green technologies. With the many impressive
contraptions that the museum has on display, you won't
want to miss the 1829 omnibus reconstruction, London's
first trolleybus, or one of the steam locomotives that
served
as part of the world's original underground railway.
Additionally, the museum has a beautiful collection of
posters, signs, and logos that have been used to promote
public transportation over the years.
The museum is extremely kid-friendly with educational
stations built for the young as well as the young at heart.
Plus, it features miniature trams, tubes, trains, buses, and
trails that are perfect for the little's explorations. As a
bonus,
children under 16 receive free admission, and food and
drinks can be found in the Upper Deck Cafe.
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Tube: Russell Sq., Holborn, Tottenham Court Rd.
Website: www.britishmuseum.org
Opening Hours: Galleries - Sat to Thu 10:00 am -
5:30 pm, Fri 10:00 am - 8:30 pm. Great Court - Sat
to Thu 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Fri 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
Admission: Free
Phone: 020 7323-8299
Address: 18 Great Russell St., Bloomsbury,
London
0.8 KM, 11 minutes by walking
15:45 British Museum Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 2 hours, 30 mins
This museum has been open to the public for 255 years; the
collections span more than two million years of human history
from a
number of cultures and include about 8 million pieces. The
museum
covers Egypt and Sudan; Greece; Rome; Middle East; Prints;
Drawings; Prehistory; Europe; Asia; Africa, Oceania; the
Americas;
Coins; Medals; Conservation; Scientific Research; archives
and
libraries. A number of countries claim ownership of pieces in
the
museum and controversy has arisen over pieces which were
brought
back to Britain from former colonies. These controversial
pieces
include the Elgin Marbles (statues from the Parthenon) claimed
by
Greece; Benin Bronzes and the Rosetta Stone claimed by
Egypt.
Among the museum highlights is the Rosetta Stone, the only
surviving
piece of a large stone slab engraved with different languages
which
helped to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. It is thought to date
back to
196BC. The Portland Vase is an 28cm high cameo-glass vase from
1
century Italy. Other museum highlights are the Assyrian
Wingedst
Bull; sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens; an Easter Island
statue;
Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.
The museum has been renovated and expanded over the years
and
today boasts 92,000m of exhibition space. The museum building
has
a Greek Revival faade and other special features are the
Round
Reading Room (1857) which has the 2 widest dome in the
world;nd
the King's Library; the Duveen Gallery specially designed by
John
Russell Pope to hold the Elgin Marbles and at the center of
the
museum is the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court with a beautiful
glass
roof.
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Day 3, Sun May 17 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time
1. 09:00 Queen's Gallery 1 hour
2. 10:05 Buckingham Palace 2 hours
3. 12:10 Green Park 15 mins
4. 12:45 Hyde Park 30 mins
5. 13:30 Kensington Gardens 1 hour, 15 mins
6. 14:55 Kensington Palace 1 hour, 45 mins
7. 17:05 Victoria and Albert Museum 2 hours
8. 19:10 Natural History Museum 2 hours, 30 mins
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Tube: Victoria
Web: www.royalcollection.org.uk
Admission: Adult- 9.50, Child- 4.80
Phone Number: 020/7766-7301
Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:30pm
Address: Buckingham Palace, Buckingham
Palace Rd., SW1, West End
09:00 Queen's Gallery Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 1 hour
The Queens Gallery, a public art gallery in London which
showcases paintings, statues and other artifacts from the
personal collection of the Queen. Located on the west side
of the Buckingham Palace, the gallery was built after this
side of the palace was bombed during the Second World
War. It displays a rotating persentation of four hundred
paintings out of the queens collection.
Some of the items displayed are the personal Dolls house
belonging to Queen Mary (made by Lutyens), a Ming vase
from China, a Golden tigers head from India, and some
paintings such as the Deluge by Leonardo Da Vinci, Apollo
and Diana by Lucas Cranach, Christ and St. Mary
Magdalene at the Tomb by Rembrandt. The collection also
holds some statues such as Mars and Venus by Antonio
Canova, a bust of George II by Roubiliac, or that of Henry
VIII as a young boy by Mazzoni.
Check out the web site before you come if you want to know
what exactly is presetned.
The gallery is opened daily from 10:00am to 5:30pm.
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Tube: Victoria, St. James's Park, Green Park
Web: www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit
Opening Hours: Aug daily 9:30 am - 7:00 pm (last
entry at 4:45 pm). Sep daily 9:30 am - 6:30 pm
(last entry at 3:45).
Admission: 19
Phone Number: 020/7766-7300
Address: Buckingham Palace Rd., St. James's,
London
0.2 KM, 4 minutes by walking
10:05 Buckingham Palace Rating: Palaces
Visit Time: 2 hours
This is the official residence of the British monarch, Queen
Elizabeth
II; it is used for official events, State occasions and
ceremonies by the
Royal Family. The palace is conveniently located close to
central
London and accessible by the London underground. The palace
is
surrounded by public Royal Parks: Green Park, St. James Park
and
Hyde Park.
The royal home has the largest private garden in London. The
faade
is in the French neo-classical style and was part of architect
John
Nash's design. The palace building covers 77,000m and key
rooms
include the Music Room, the Blue, Green and White Drawing
Rooms,
Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. Works by Vermeer,
Rubens,
Rembrandt and other masters are displayed in the Picture
Gallery
which connects the State Rooms together. In the semi-state
apartments are the 1844 Room, the Bow Room and the Red and
Blue
Chinese Luncheon Room. The rooms are decorated with antique
furniture and valuable art.
The building was originally a townhouse belonging to the Duke
of
Buckingham in 1705; in 1761 King George III bought the property
and
through the 19 century the palace was extended and
renovated.th
When Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 the
palace
became the monarch's official residence.
Tourists come to the palace to watch the pageantry of the
Changing of
the Guard performed by the Royal guards who wear their
distinctive
red uniforms and black tall furry hats. During the ceremony (at
11:30
daily in summer and every other day in winter) the guards march
from
nearby Wellington Barracks to the front gate of the palace and
replace
the Old Guard of their duty. On special occasions like a
coronation,
wedding or jubilee the Royal family comes out onto the balcony
on the
East front of the building to greet the crowds of supporters in
the street
below. The public can tour the palace state rooms during the
Summer
Opening in August and September. The public can visit the
Queen's
Gallery where there are exhibitions of work from the Royal
Collection.
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Tube: Green Park
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Phone Numbers: 020/7930-1793
Address: Piccadilly, SW1, West End
0.3 KM, 5 minutes by walking
12:10 Green Park Rating:Parks &
Gardens
Visit Time: 15 mins
Located in the City of Westminster and covers a
19-hectares between Hyde Park and St. James Park, Green
Park is part of the open stretch that goes from Whitehall to
Notting Hill and is rich with a variety of flora. Although
it
misses the lakes, ponds and architecture that can typically
be found in the Londons public parks it is still a charming
park to visit, especially given its convenient location just
opposite Buckingham Palace's. The pedestrian walk known
as the Queen's walk was originally laid out for Queen
Caroline, George II's wife. The walk leads to a reservoir,
which is said to hold St James Palace's drinking water. The
park has a long history from being the burial ground for
lepers to being the hunting ground for 18th century
highwaymen. This park is an important historical landmark
and as such it is well maintained and opened to the public.
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Tube: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge,
Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch
Web: www.royalparks.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Daily 5 am--midnight
Phone Number: 030 0061-2000
Address: Hyde Park, London
1.7 KM, 22 minutes by walking
12:45 Hyde Park Rating:Parks &
Gardens
Visit Time: 30 mins
This is London's largest public park covering 360 acres; it
opened in
1637 and is joined to Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St.
James
Park. For years the parkland was used for royal hunting until
1637
when King Charles I opened the park to the general public. In
1825
Decimus Burton designed the park layout.
A large lake wends its way through the park, the Serpentine lake
was
constructed in 1730 and today is use for boating and swimming.
Once
the Serpentine reaches Kensington Gardens it becomes Long
Water.
The Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a playful water
feature
resembling a shallow stream where kids can paddle and splash in
the
water. Horse riders can find a 6.4km bridle path, Rotten Row
which
dates back to William III when the king wanted a safe, short
cut
between Kensington Palace and St. James Palace. It was also
the
first lit public road in England. Since the 19 century
Speakers'th
Corner on one corner of the park has been a place where anyone
can
stand on their soap box and declare their beliefs, protests or
political
opinions. Nearby is marble Arch (1827) which was originally
a
gateway to Buckingham Palace.
The park is adorned with statues including Still Water which is
a 10
meters tall bronze work by Nic Fiddian-Green. Next to this work
is an
equestrian statue of Genghis Khan created by Dashi Namdakov.
There is also a statue of Achilles (1822); a memorial to 7/11;
the
Reformers' Tree mosaic; a memorial to William Henry Hudson;
St.
George fighting the dragon and a statue of Isis by Simon
Gudgeon.
The park has playgrounds, open lawns, fountains, a long
pergola,
more than 4,000 trees, flower beds and restaurants. You can
go
boating on the lake, cycle, play tennis and even swim. From
November to January there is ice skating in the ark.
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Tube: High Street Kensington, Lancaster Gate,
Queensway, South Kensington
Web: www.royalparks.gov.uk
Opening Hours: Daily 6:00am-dusk
Phone Number: 030 0061-2000
Address: Kensington, London
1.2 KM, 15 minutes by walking
13:30 Kensington Gardens Rating:Parks &
Gardens
Visit Time: 1 hour, 15 mins
Thelovely Kensington Gardenswhich borderwith the Hyde
Parkwell deserves a spot in any trip itinerary to London.
Like the Hyde Park, the Kensington Gardens was also a
royal garden and was later opened for the public. The
Garden is somewhat more quietthan Hyde Park and less
crowded. This piece of greenery is a perfect location for a
stroll or picnic under the shades of the lovely trees.
Kensington Gardens most noteworthy view is the
Kensington Palace which was the birthplace of the Queen
Victoria and was the former residence of the Late Princess
Diana.
While in the park, look for thepartially hidden statue of
Peter
Pan which is here as a reminderto the Boy who never grew
up. It was also the garden which was where the shooting of
the film Finding Neverland featuring Johnny Depp as the
famous J.M. Barrie had taken place. The park has been the
location for many other films such asBridget Jones
Diary,Edge of Reason, Wimbledon and many others.
Apart from being a film favorite location, Kensington
Gardens is a nature lovers perfect park. You will find swans
swimming in the lakes and the beautiful Italian fountain
garden in the midst of the garden. Kensington Garden is
considered to be more formal than the Hyde Park as it is
only open during the day. This garden is an excellent place
for joggers, morning walkers and cyclists. On a fine day,
you
will even find many sunbathing or enjoying a picnic.
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Tube: Queensway, High Street Kensington
Web: www.hrp.org.uk
Opening Hours: Mar-Sep, daily 10:00am-6:00pm;
Oct-Feb, daily 10:00am-5:00pm. Last entry one
hour before closing
Admission: 15.00
Phone Number: 0844/482-7799
Address: The Broad Walk, Kensington
GardensKensington, London
0.8 KM, 11 minutes by walking
14:55 Kensington Palace Rating: Palaces
Visit Time: 1 hour, 45 mins
Kensington Palace, although not as big as a Buckingham
Palace and not as inviting and lovely as the Hampton Court,
it is still a royal residencewell worth a visit. It is located
in
Kensington Gardens and housed along the years the British
Royal Family since it was purchased and made into a
palace back in the 17th century. It was he official house of
the Duchess from Cambridge in London, Prince Harry of
Wales, the Duchess and Duke of Gloucester as well as
Prince and Princess Michael. Its most famous resident,
however, was Princess Diana who lived here after her
divorce. Today, Prince William and his wife Catherine
Duchess of Cambridge use this as their official residence.
The State Apartments, are open to the public and provide
some impressive galleries with three permanent exhibitions
that mostly displays the history of the people once lived in
the palace -from Queen Victoria through Queen Anne and
George II this is a good way to get a quick glimps of the
rotal family over the last few centuries.
Some of the highlights would be the King's Staircase
holding the trompe l'oeil painting along with the impressive
King's Gallery. Once you have done with the tour inside the
palace, dont miss the gardens outside as those are lovely
and inviting just the same.
There is a nice caf in the Orangery which is the perfect
location for an afternoon tea or a small snack.
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Tube: South Kensington
Website: www.vam.ac.uk
Opening Hours: Sat - Thu 10:00 am - 5:45 pm, Fri
10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Admission: Free, charges may apply for some of
the exhibitions
Phone Number: 020 7942-2000
Address: Cromwell Rd., South Kensington,
London
2.0 KM, 24 minutes by walking
17:05 Victoria and Albert Museum Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 2 hours
This museum is named after Queen Victoria and her husband
Albert, it
is the largest museum of decorative arts and design on the
planet and
holds more than four and a half million pieces displayed
over
51,000m. The museum was established in 1852 and came to its
present location in 1857. The architecture of the building
spans
several eras and has a number of special features like the
ceramic
staircase designed by Frank Moody; the terracotta and brick
pediment
on the north face of the building; Victorian fireplaces; the
Edwardian
faade and the many modern galleries which have been added
more
recently. There is a central garden designed by Kim Wilkie which
is
used for temporary exhibits, a summer time caf and as the venue
of
the museum's annual V&A Village Fete.
The museum collection is spread throughout 145 galleries; it
holds
objects from around the world and some date back 5,000 years.
The
sections of the museum include Art Deco, Arts and Crafts,
Baroque,
Gothic, Medieval, Modernism, Neo-Classicism, Renaissance,
Rococo
and Surrealism. Among the subjects covered are architecture,
furniture, painting, theatre, textiles, books, fashion and glass
among
others.
Some of the highlights include the Medieval Renaissance Gallery,
the
Jewelry Gallery and the galleries which tell the story of
British history
through the country's art and design. In addition there is the
Iranian
Ardabil Carpets; paintings by William Morris; the 16 century
Greatth
Bed of Ware; historic photos of the royal family taken by Cecil
Beaton;
paintings by John Constable; an excellent exhibition of costumes
by
century and Tippu's Tiger, the painted wood carving from 16
centuryth
India of a man being attacked by a tiger.
The museum is open late of Fridays, there are regular free talks
and
tours, workshop activities, "hands-on" exhibits and there is a
section
called the Museum of Childhood.
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Web: www.nhm.ac.uk
Tube: S. Kensington
Admission: free
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:50pm. Sun
11:00am-5:50pm
Phone Number: 020/7942-5000
Address: Cromwell Rd., SW7, Southwest London
0.3 KM, 4 minutes by walking
19:10 Natural History Museum Rating: Museums
Visit Time: 2 hours, 30 mins
This museum is dedicated to life, nature and science, it holds
more
than 70 million items and covers botany, mineralogy,
paleontology,
zoology and entomology. The huge and rich collection has been
built
up over many years with some items having been collected by
Charles
Darwin. The collection began as early as 1756 and finally
settled into
its present location in 1881. The Natural History Museum was a
part of
the British Museum until 1963. The Geological Museum which
stood
adjacent to the museum was absorbed in 1986 and the building
underwent several stages of renovations as the collection
continued to
grow. The museum won the Best of the Best Museum and
Heritage
Award in 2013.
The must-see sights in the museum include "Dippy" a 32 meter
long
replica of a Diplodocus Carnegii skeleton. The giant dinosaur
is
housed in the museum's central hall. In the Large Mammals Hall
you
can see the skeleton and model of a blue whale which is 25
meters
long. Another giant is Archie, an 8 meter long giant squid
caught off
the Falkland Islands in 2004. Outside on the museum grounds is
a
Wildlife Garden where insects are allowed to breed. The
Treasures in
the Cadogan Gallery is a collection of 22 of the most unusual
exhibits
in the museum like the fossils of dinosaur teeth; the Emperor
Penguin
Egg which was brought back from the Antarctic by Captain Scott;
a
first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species and the
intricately
carved 17 century Hans Sloan's Pautilus Shell. In the Visions
ofth
Earth Gallery there is an avenue of sculptures tracing key
figures in
Earth's history and mythology. In the Images of Nature exhibit
there is
a treasure of nature paintings. The insect exhibit of creepy
crawlies
fascinates both adults and kids. The Cocoon is in the Darwin
Center,
here you can immerse yourself in nature and science through
real
specimens, interactive displays and state-of-the-art
displays.