London, the bustling capital, is one of the many attractive places in England offering a plethora of sightseeing opportunities to tourists arriving here in large numbers each year. Each area of London has something unique to offer with an endless number of sights including interesting museums, marvellous palaces, exotic parks and gardens, mesmerising boat trips along the River Thames and some great historical monuments. One single post is not enough to describe the beauties that abound here, but I shall try to do justice.
One of the most famous London attractions is the Tower Bridge, which is a little over a hundred years old. This fascinating bridge with its twin drawbridges, weighing 1,000 tons each, has risen up a million times to allow ships to pass through. Electric motors replaced the original steam engines and drawing up of the bascules took not more than 90 seconds. The massive cruiser HMS Belfast, which opened bombardment of the Normandy coast on D-Day can be viewed from the Tower Bridge.
Located on the northern bank of the River Thames is the famous Tower of London that has served several purposes in the past. More well-known as a torture house and a house of misery with its horrendous ‘Traitors Gate’ and the torture chambers, Tower of London was also once an armoury, a menagerie, a mint and an observatory.
It is also renowned as a place that houses the Crown Jewels that have been here since 1327 and opened for public viewing after Charles II allowed them this privilege. The notable 317-carat diamond from India ‘the Kohinoor’, which adorned Queen Victoria’s crown, is also on display here. The Tower of London has recently been included in UNESCO’S list of World Heritage Sites.
The ornate Gothic style architecture of the Houses of Parliament and the impressive Clock Tower, most famously known as the ‘Big Ben’ are also worth visiting. The opening of parliament takes place in great splendour, with the Queen riding to Westminster in her state coach to open a new session of parliament each year in mid-November. During the summer recess, when the parliament is not in session, visitors can buy tickets to tour the inside of the building. However, visits are restricted to certain areas of the building only.
Buckingham Palace, the royal residence of the Monarch in London since Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne, is one of the major tourist attractions in London. Millions of visitors come to visit the palace with hundreds and thousands of them thronging to the palace gates each morning to view the ‘Changing of Guards’, which is a spectacular event worth waiting for.
Trafalgar Square is another popular tourist attraction, with its four imposing bronze lion statues guarding the Nelsons column and the Church of St-Martins-in-the-Fields. Other notable attractions include the St. Paul’s Cathedral, an iconic landmark built in 1710 and noted for its brilliant interiors and the breathtaking acoustics in the Whispering Gallery, including the 1695 organ.
If you wish to get a panoramic view of London, then the London Eye is what you should target, as you can get one of the most spectacular views of London from the massive transparent capsules that revolve round on a gigantic wheel. The ride takes about 30 minutes to complete and if you are lucky and the day is clear, you can get a 25-mile view of London. Also, you can get a great view of London from the Observatory at Greenwich.
Museums worth visiting include the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, The National Gallery, Tate Gallery of Modern Art among various other museums and galleries. Visitors travelling with family can also visit the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, which have exhibits that can be great fun for children.
Among parks, the most prominent is Hyde Park, located in a strategic area that makes it easily accessible and close to main shopping centres. One such well-known shopping area is Knightsbridge with its high-end privileged store ‘Harrods’. A store that is a must see even if you cannot afford to buy anything there. Kensington Gardens, which is a part of Hyde Park houses the Kensington Palace, another historical palace worth visiting.
Other parks include Green Park, St James’s Park, Regents Park, the well-known Kew Gardens where you can view botanical wonders, Richmond Park and a number of others that you may wish to see.
Madame Tussaud’s, the famous Wax Museum is also one of the places on a traveller’s itinerary. You can view a magnificent range of wax models of great personalities, politicians, Hollywood celebrities, sport stars and other eminent people of various countries. If you are one of those looking for some spooky fun spots, the London Dungeon, the Clink, which is an old time prison and the London Experience are some places you can visit.
The Sea Life Aquarium near the London Eye is a great place for children as there are several interesting marine exhibits here. The sharks are the real stunners in the aquarium. Amusement parks in London include the Chessington Park, which is an amusement park and zoo, both in one and Thorpe Park.
Being in London and not visiting the theatre is like leaving your visit incomplete. There are numerous theatres in London, which have year long performances with some going on for years. You can choose to watch one of the gala musicals or one of the other plays, which include the famous Shakespearean plays that are held in the prestigious Globe Theatre.
Travelling around London is not difficult, as the city has an amazing network of underground trains called the ‘Tube’ that get you to places without the least hassle. Buses and taxi services are available too. It is best to get yourself an ‘Oyster Card’, which is a pass for travelling on the tube and buses. This card makes it cheaper for you to travel around, as concession rates apply when you travel using the Oyster Card.
London is a hub for a multi-cultural race, as people from various parts of the world are settled here. Hence, a diverse culinary experience is available here. From the traditional English food to Turkish, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Caribbean, Indian, Sri Lankan and more, you will find food to excite your palette.
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