London Places

A Peep in the London Aquarium

2010-03-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

Address: County Hall,
London SE1 7PB,
United Kingdom

Opening Day: Daily

Entry Tickets: Adult £17.50

Contact: +44(0)20 7967 8000
Website: www.sealife.co.uk

New SEA LIFE Aquarium has a huge collection of marine life from all around the globe. UK has about 28 aquariums to flaunt, and the New LIFE Aquarium is among its best preserves. The collection at this aquarium is a great source of knowledge, besides being a place for great entertainment. It is extended on three floors, all of which have a collection of water tanks, displaying a huge variety of animal life species. The collection is divided in 14 different zones, which has marine life coming form different types of water. The New SEA LIFE Aquarium has an intriguing collection of animals from Indian Ocean, Pacific ocean, Thames River, ponds, freshwater etc. Here you can expect to see 400 species of fishes, Whales, seahorse, sharks, octopus etc. Your journey through a tunnel made of glass will let you a thrilling journey from underneath the sea. You can get involved in various activities while on your way through the glass tunnel. You can feed marine animals and watch them taking dip and playing.

The collection at New SEA LIFE preserves a lot of marine life from extinction, and brings them for the people to see. It is really interesting to see so many marine life living in a created suitable environment, which gives them a feel of their natural habitat. This aquarium is a must visit while you are here. It will give you an opportunity of adding up something to your knowledge, while entertaining yourself. Choose to be a part of this thrilling London attraction, which is a sheer fun to be at. It is very suitably located at the centre of the city which allows a lot of sightseeing tours in London.You can travel to the Kensington tube station, which will leave this attraction really close. You can also choose to live in this part of London, which give you access to varied famous attraction of London like you can follow the Royal Ceremony of Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. There is a mélange of options available with the Westminster hotels London. Choose from the hotels which range from cheap to luxury hotels.

Visit the Houses of Parliament in London

2010-03-23T01:49:00.000-07:00

The Houses of Parliament in London has two bifurcations, the House of Lords and the House of commons. From the regime of King Edward, the houses of Parliament have been located at the present day Westminster Hall. Since then, it has frequently suffered fire and destruction. But every time it was erected again, to support the meetings of these houses. It was reconstructed in the year 1870 in an impressively contemporary gothic fashion, to refurbish the burned down structure of 1834. Today the structure of the Houses of Parliament has some of specific features that are worth visiting while planning for the things to do in London.

Westminster Hall: Westminster Hall is situated by the side of River Thames near the famous London attraction Westminster Abbey London. It is the most original section of the Houses of Parliament, with the ceiling and pillars of King Edward’s time retained through the years. You can visit here by boarding a tube to Westminster tube station. You will get some suitable lodgings over here among the Westminster hotels.

Victoria Tower: Victoria Tower is a small tower running up to 98 meters, which chronicles a history of the House Parliament. It has a store of annals following since its reconstruction of this hall in 15^th century.

Big Ben: Big Ben is the famous bell of London situated at the Westminster Hall. You will be able to see an illumination in its mansion during the ongoing session of parliament. It is a heavy bell that weighs in tones.

Central Lobby: Central Lobby is the place where the people come together to make a plea in the favor of their interest.

House of Lords: You will be able to visit the House of Lords, where the lords meet to decide on the matters of public interest. It is an elegantly built structure, built in a gothic fashion.

House of Commons: the House of Commons is a less grandly drawn structure, but worth a visit to see the functioning of the political set up of the London.

Grisly Places at London

2010-03-15T21:48:00.001-07:00

London has a deep and a mysterious history. As mystery often has a ghastly and a macabre depth, you will be able to relate it with the horrid preserves that it stores. You can explore some of the most erring sights that are sure to thrill you to your heart. You can pay a visit to these spots of London, to pry deep into its agonizing truths. Scare yourself to the level of euphoria.

Museum Of London

Museum of London will give you a look in to the past of medieval era. Re-explore the past by going through its visual gruesome realities. It traces the past which handed the regime from Romans to Saxons. You will also be able to visualize the decapitated Charles I which brought him a scary death. Get goose bumps at the meticulously haunting presentation of life since 1600 at London Museum.

Tower of London

Elegance with horror retained through the ages, you will find the scenes as spectacularly terrifying as the facts that are related to its past. With a history of execution, imprisonment and torture, you will find brutality that is related to it, along with the treasure stored in its mansion. Tower of London is situated near the Tower Bridge of London, which is also a famous attraction of London.

Jack the Ripper Terrain

You can trail the footsteps of Jack the Ripper, the ill-famed serial killer that laid off many lives. His steps are yet not faded by the past that can still be followed after more than a century. At the Jack the Ripper Ghost walks, you will be able to see how London cherishes its brutal past, just the way it has its heritage celebrated. Enjoy this piece of entertainment whose history backs up to 1888.

London Dungeon

London Dungeon is a famous spot for people with macabre interests. There are rides which can take you through a life time experience in London. The thing that translates this place to a more scary definition is the reality of incidences that are associated with it. You will find all the haunting realities of London clustered over here.

London Bridge Hitching Past with Present

2010-03-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

History Running Along the London Bridge

London Bridge with a history of destruction and reconstruction is as old as the history of human civilization. You will find the London Bridge running above the river Thames, joining the ends of City of London and Southwark. London Bridge was a Roman construction, built in 50 AD. After a sequel of attacks by the conquerors, it saw destructions and reconstruction many time. It was rebuilt in 20^th century, after 600 years.

The London Bridge of the Present Day

The London Bridge that today stands erect, on the river Thames, hitches the history of London to present. After a long history, it continues to be used by a huge number of people, daily travelling through it. It is a crucial center of London, joining the history with the present, while conjoining the people of two different parts of London. While you are at London add a visit to this London attraction of world fame. Here you will enjoy a sightseeing of beautiful Thames River at the sides of the bridge. You will be able to have an excellent view from 140 feet above the water level. London Bridge will also allow you a view to the Butler’s Wharf, the Docks, the ships sailing on the Thames River from all around the world and the quaint Silver jubilee walk. All these are the beautiful spots of London, much loved by the visitors. You will find London Bridge quite accessible as London Bridge tube is situated quite close to this attraction, so you can commute through the tube. You can find some suitable accommodations with nearby London hotels. Search for suitable lodgings at Holborn Hotels, which have some of the finest luxury hotels of the area. There are other attractive London places as well that you can visit. You can visit some landmark buildings like The Tower Bridge, Southwark Cathedral and City Hall, located close to London Bridge. Also enjoy spending some time at Britain at War Experience and the London Dungeon. After spending a precious time at theses attractions, you can go for a leisure shopping at the Borough Market.

London Sports for a Nimble London Travel

2010-03-02T00:35:00.000-08:00

London is heaving with fun-filled activities and sporting ventures. Whether you are looking forward to brag yourself as a champion on the tennis court, hoot over at any of the golf courses or take a splash in water, the great outdoor sports in London offer everything you desire. Let us throw light on the types of sports you can go for if you are traveling to London.

Cycling

It is a unique experience to break free and explore the capital on a bike. You can experiences paddling down the hidden streets of London, whiz around at the Hyde Park or get set go along the banks of River Thames. The London Bicycle Tour Company will help you with bikes of different models to hire on either hourly or per day basis. You can even try a guided tour in case you are hesitant for going alone.

Go Karting

Feel as if you are ready to give the famous celebrity Lewis Hamilton a real run for his money. Go-Karting is one such sport that ignites even the most introverts, rational and relaxed type humans to speed up hard and win. Revolution Karting in the East End gives you the adrenaline pumping that brags 650 meters of track. They also offer unique packages.

Golf

A summer specialty in London, Golf offers the chance for you to gently follow your ball around the course with the warm sun gazing at your back. Apart from an urban sprawl, London also possesses a wealth of a green open space along with one or two golf courses resting among the trees.

Horse Riding

There is no other better way than riding on a horse’s back in summers. You can refresh yourself by invigorating speed of gallop and flying manes. Hyde Park Stables provide riding boots and hats free of cost and the stable advises you to wear casuals and sensible shoes.

Apart from these London is also known for hosting several sports events and will be hosting Olympics in 2012. It is already much talked about for organizing the FA Cups, Wimbledon Tennis Championships, University Boat Race and a lot more.

Follow the Royal Ceremony of Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace

2010-02-23T02:02:00.000-08:00

Changing the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace is a part of England’s rich heritage and glorious past. The old regiment of Buckingham Guards is changed with the new regiment of soldiers, every morning at 11:30am. A new group of Royal Guards of Buckingham Palace can be seen overhauling the previous regiment, replacing them at the end of their duty in the Birmingham Palace’s courtyard. These Queen guards are intensively clad in an elegant red jackets and black bear skin uniforms. You can witness the ceremony in all its pomp and show during the morning hours. These guards chronicle the bearing of responsibility, of looking after the great fortresses of Buckingham Palace since the regime of Henry VII in 15^th century.

As the ceremony of changing the guards Buckingham Palace commences, the guards mounted on horse backs ride past to the Mall, with the drums beating to announce their royalty. This old regiment returns and stands firm at the side of the Forecourt. The new regiment enters from the Wellington Barracks, and stands in the front of the old regiment. The two regiments present arms to the Captains and salute him with their swords. This spells the formal change of guards. The ceremony is duly followed with the music of trumpets and drums. The Changing of the Guards in February 2010 will take place on 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27. You can follow the ceremony closely by taking up lodgings near this London attraction. There is a mélange of London luxury hotels as well as budget hotels in this area, largely driven with the spirit to serve and make you comfortable.

The Seven Divisions of the Regiment:

· The Coldstream Guards

· The Scot Guards

· The Irish Guards

· The Welsh Guards

· The Grenadier Guards

· The household Cavalry Regiment

· The Life Guards and The Blue and Royals

These Queen guards have a great History in the field of virtual wars in British army. Role of these guards includes guarding the fortresses of Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace. They also serve to guard the Queen, on special occasions, so you will not be able to see them during that time. You can travel Buckingham Palace through Tubes. Board a tube from these tube stations- Green Park tube, Piccadilly Circus tube, Hyde Park Corner tube, Victoria tube or Lynton Hotel tube.

Luxury Hotels in London to Make Your Trip Memorable

2010-02-16T00:42:00.000-08:00

If you are planning your vacations in the heart of England, then you can look forward to rejuvenating yourself in the soothing ambience of luxury hotels London. There is a train of plush hotels willing to accommodate you with elegance and comfort. They also serve you with the best eateries, refreshments, pools and banquets. These best luxury hotels London can bring a spun and delight to your life. Here is a list of 4 best possible options to spend your vacations at.

The Langham London

Location: Portland Place, Regent Street, West London.

The Langham London is an exquisitely developed Hotel with elegant and classy interiors. Here you get several appendages with exquisite lodging facilities. Revive yourself near the oasis with aesthetically casted surroundings, minibar, dazzling cocktail bar, sauna baths, steam rooms and swimming pools.

Softifel London St James

Location: Waterloo Place, London.

Sofifel London St James presides at the very heart of London. Its structure and interiors elaborate the legacy of English culture and the contemporary French elegance. A commingling of traditions. The quality of services is outstanding. Here you are also served with French Brasserie cuisine, which serves you with the delicacies right from the excellence of Chinese kitchenette. Its standards are evident in its services.

Bagiloni Hotel London

Location: Hyde Park Gate, Kesington, London.

Bagilion Hotel London allows an ethereal view from the windows, where you can see beautiful gardens and palaces. Baglioni is a commingling of English and Italian culture. Its interiors will give a relaxation at being in total ease. It has Brunello Restaurant, which serves you with salubrious Mediterranean meals. Your all needs are taken full care of with spa, swimming pools and wine and a personal butler at your service. Its is believed to be one of the finest 5 star hotels in London.

Windsor Castle - A Glance at the British History

2010-02-09T03:36:00.000-08:00

Where: 114 Campden Hill Road, W8 7AR, Kensington, London

Telephone: 020-7766-7304, 08712587330

Timings: Mar to Oct - 9:45 am to 5.45 pm
Nov to Feb- 9.45am to 4:15 pm

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington, Holland Park , Notting Hill Gate

Entry Cost: £14.80 for adults
£8.50 for children (below 17 years)

The royal Windsor Castle is one of the finest, most elegant and luxurious places of the world. The aristocrat family of England has always been delighted in inhabiting it. From William to Edward III every king and queen has lived in this castle. You can trace out their signs in the marks left by each passing era of these regimes in Europe. The royal building has aesthetically designed interiors, ornamented with international paintings and portraits. Windsor Castle still continues to be guarded by the royal soldiers, whom you can witness marching in the morning hours. You will find gardens surrounding the castle as a huge source of beauty, which actually carries an ambience of the golden history that England beholds. You will be driven on a horse pulled regal carriage, through this garden. You can have a thrilling overview of this castle from the top of the royal tower. You can also explore Queen Mary’s Doll House Collection, St George’s Chapel and State Apartments. The sightseeing of Windsor castle comes as a special treat to the history and nature connoisseurs. After a long tiring day of fun and exhaustion, you can refresh yourself with a modest meal at Windsor Castle pub, with burgers, steaks, and veggie cooks. You should make “Visit Kensington castle” a must entry in your things to do list, while you are in London.

Windsor Castle has an immensely drawn structure, supported with a well developed transport networking. Many tube stations and railway stations are available to make commutation easy for the people, filling in from all around the world to see this magnificent place. You can also visit other places near by Windsor Castle through these tubes. Visit- Dina princess of Wales playground, Linley Sambourne house, Kensington roof gardens or Notting Hills all of which fall within 15 minutes of walk. You can find accommodations easily, as Kensington London hotels are easy to find and most comfortable to lodge in. You will easily get access to hotels from cheap to luxurious at Kensington, depending upon what you are looking for.

The Royalty Talks Through Kensington Palace

2010-02-02T03:05:00.000-08:00

Where: Kensington High Street

Timings: Summers - 10 am to 6 pm

Winters - 10 am to 5 pm

Ticket: Adult - £ 12.30

Child - £ 6.15

Student - £ 10.75

Senior - £ 10.75

Family - £ 34.00

Under 5yrs - Free

Kensington Palace is an imperial residence resting in Kensington Gardens in London. Serving as a proud residence of the Royal British Family since the 17^th century, the palace is presently the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Harry and his cousin Zara Phillips also reside in the palace.

The splendid State apartments are open publically and include a display of the Dresses worn by Diana and Princess Margaret’s passion for fashion.

History

The early 17^th century building originally built was constructed in Kensington village as Nottingham House for the Earl of Nottingham. In 1689, the Jacobean building was bought by from William III and was further extended by Sir Christopher Wren.

Kensington Gardens

Once the private gardens, the Kensington Gardens is presently a Royal Park in London. Covering an area of circa 111 hectares, the park offers open spaces forming a continuous green lung in the central point of London between Kensington and Westminster.

Visiting the Palace

Some of the historic spaces in the palace are open to be visited for the visitors and inhabit the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection which includes hats and handbags on display. The collection also includes more than 70 hats as well as accessories which belonged to Elizabeth II. The Queens Apartments has been restored after its damage during the war.

Visitors need to walk for 10-15 minutes from High Street Kensington Underground Station. They can enjoy the meals at the street or even at the restaurants offered by Kensington Hotels in London. These hotels in London also offer a comfortable stay.

Fortnum and Mason: The Departmental Store of a Unique Kind

2010-01-27T02:24:00.001-08:00

Fortnum and Mason is a department store and Royal Warrant holder as well. Also known as Fortnum’s, the store is situated in central London and has two other branches located in Japan. Headquartered at 181 Piccadilly, it was established at the same place in 1707 by Hugh Mason and William Fortnum but is now privately possessed by Wittington Investments Ltd. The store has been recognized not only in the region but in the entire globe for offering finest quality of goods. It has held a number of Royal Warrants for the past 150 years.

Established as grocery store, the reputation of Fortnum was built on supplying the best quality of food. A rapid growth was observed in Victorian era and developed as a department store. Today, it is also an eminent tea shop.

History

William Fortnum’s grandson, Charles started serving Queen Charlotte in 1761 and the affiliation of the Royal Court led to an increase in the business. The store started stocking specialties like ready to eat meals. The emporium supplied spices, dry fruits etc to the officers of Britain during the Napoleonic Wars and the Victorian era.

The store was acquired by W. Garfield Weston, a Canadian billionaire who also became it7s Chairman. He specially made a four ton clock in order to be installed above the prime entrance of the store with the motive of lending a tribute to its founders. After the death of Weston in 1978, the store is being run by his grand daughters Kate Weston and Jana Khayat.

The store was revamped in 2007 to celebrate its 300 years of existence.

Fortnum’s at Present

The store is famous as purveyor of fine foods, wine, hampers and tea. An award winning bar and the funkiest ice cream parlor are the assets to its collection of five restaurants. To add to the awe of quality, is the breath taking atrium of the store.

Benjamin Franklin Houses - Conserving History at Trafalgar Square

2010-01-19T02:09:00.000-08:00

Where:
Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NF

Telephone: +44 (0)207 839 2006

Benjamin Franklin House is the only home of Benjamin remaining on the globe at a stone’s throw from famous Trafalgar Square in the heart of the London city. The Father of United States and the renowned scientist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor Dr. Franklin lived in the house for approximately 16 years from 1757 to 1773. The house was built in 1730 and is currently open to public as a museum.

The history speaks of the excitement and ambiguity of the years spent by Benjamin in London where a lot of episodes took place in the rooms of the house. Staging of drama faultlessly puts together live performances along with radical sound, light and projection technology.

Student Science Center

Student Science Center is explored by the visitors from schools in London. The center features practical experimentation with the scientific discoveries by Franklin in London putting together the past and current knowledge. The Student Science Center encompasses the Discovery Room, Medical History Room and Demonstration Room.

Robert H. Smith Scholarship Center

The top floor of the House is occupied by the Scholarship Center and is considered to be the center for study of the various subjects pursued by Franklin. Almost 40 volumes of his writings have been produced and analyzed by scholars of Yale University.

Historical Significance

· Franklin worked and lived here for almost 16 years on the eve of American Revolution

· First de facto US Embassy: possesses an exclusive place in Anglo-American history

· The son in law of Franklin’s landlady ran an anatomy school from here

Conservations

The Benjamin Franklin House preserves various original features which include original ceilings, floorboards and fireplaces with a few modifications. The conservation policies which are presently working emphasize on the minimum modern intrusion.

If you are one on the tourists staying in any of the Westminster hotels in London, then this attraction would be the most nearest to watch.

Chislehurst Caves in London: An Experience of the Gothic Era

2010-01-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

Remember the gothic fiction by Marry Shelley or the Famous Five by Enid Blyton? They used to take us so very close to the genres of mystery and fantasy. The same is brought forth by the Chislehurst Caves in the south eastern fringes of London. You can get hold of a lantern and experience a new world of mystery, fantasy and adventure altogether underground.

Location

Situated at a short walk from Chislehurst Railway Station, Caves can be found in Caveside Close near Bickley Arms Public House.

History

Though named as caves, it has been articulated as a warren of dark ducts carved by hands from the chalk stretching over 20 miles dug over a period of 8000 years in search of chalk and flint. Mining was last performed here in 1830’s. The mines became more accessible in 1865 due to the local railway which resulted in giving this place in London, recognition of a “tourist attraction” in London. The caves also acted as a venue for hire to host several underground concerts in 1900’s. The caves are also used for shooting for films.

Facilities

Guided Tours

You will be hospitably escorted by the experienced guides of Chislehurst Caves on a unique lamp lit tour narrating explicably the Druids, Saxons and Romans. Experience the charisma of the Caves Church and the Haunted Pool along with much to be seen rather than talked about.

Kids Party Venue

One of the most nonpareil kids party venues in London, the place offers a private tour of the cave for your kid’s birthday party followed by a buffet in the Caves Restaurant.

Restaurants

It possesses a licensed restaurant which offers a huge variety of meals and snacks along with the traditional English breakfast or merely a cup of tea.

Visiting Hours

Wednesday to Sunday : 10 am to 4 pm

Relish the Flavors at Restaurants in Oxford Street

2010-01-05T21:27:00.000-08:00

Oxford Street is one of the most famous streets in London in all respects whether its food, restaurants, shopping or luxury Oxford Circus hotels. It is a very important thoroughfare in the capital in the city of Westminster. As we mentioned above that it is complete in itself when it comes to shopping as it houses major department stores and numerous brands flagships. It is ideally known as the major shopping street in London.

Similarly, if we talk about good quality food, Oxford Street again comes first in the list featuring variety of restaurants serving the best of all cuisines. Here are some of the best restaurants to relish the flavors of the British food.

John Lewis: Brasserie & Bistro
This is an undersold department store thus giving eating options to shoppers as well. There is a choice of two eateries. You can relish the flavors of the substantial dishes including burgers, pastas etc. As far as the Bistro is concerned, it’s completely a different story as in-store dining goes along with stylish surroundings serving a compact menu of salads and gourmet.

The Loop
This highly stylish party venue in London is quiet lively and the ambiance gets completed with four bars, a club and a restaurant. You can also enjoy happy hour cocktails including margarita & passionate, cosmopolitan and wines as well.

Aberdeen Steak Houses
This is yet another famous British restaurant located in Oxford Street and it has outlets all over London serving all kinds of British food, however a great emphasis is being given on beef. The restaurant also serves vegetarian dishes as well along with non-smoking areas. Private parties can also be arranged.

Iguazu
This licensed restaurant can be found at Selfridges serving varieties of South American and vegetarian dishes as well.

Illustrious Museums in London

2009-12-29T03:53:00.001-08:00

A visitor to London can never leave without visiting the cultural places in London such as London museums. A tourist could spend more than a few trips to the city by just visiting the museums and he will still be left more to see. As far as museums are concerned, there are more than 200 museums and the good thing is that most of them are free. Moreover, vast majority of them have first-rate facilities, incorporate interactive exhibits and most of these are child friendly. Museums are spread all across London and planning to visit the most popular ones is an excellent way of checking out certain parts within the capital city.

Some of the renowned museums are:

The Victoria and Albert Museum: This one stands out as it is the world’s largest museum featuring decorative designs and arts. The museum houses more than 4.5 million items on a display and has a collection of items going back 3,000 years comprising everything from ceramics, weapons, paintings, sculptures, photography and lot more. The museum building is structured on a 45,000 square meters of floor space.

Natural History Museum: This is again one of the most popular museums in London and is based in a purpose-built cathedral like building. It used to be a part of the British museum, however, the collection in the museum was growing too large, and thus the current building got opened in 1881 and became independent.

The Tate Modern Museum: It is Britain’s national museum housing international modern art and is a part of a new group known as Tate. The collection consists of works of contemporary art and international modern art dating from 1900 onwards.

London Science Museum: This museum is a major London tourist attraction on the South Kensington. It now holds collection of over 300,000 items including remaining of steam engines and first typewriter etc.

Walk Through Time With Historic Buildings in London

2009-12-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

London is well known for various historical sights and some world famous must sees. Visiting London can be an unforgettable experience for those who are interested in visiting some historic places. As far as the places to visit are concerned, the capital city is of great importance as there are several historic buildings which can be seen here. Here are some amazing historic places in London to visit:

Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII is the most important person that has been associated with this majestic palace. This royal palace in London Borough of Richmond is in the South west of the capital city. The palace has not been lived in by the British family since 18^th century. Today, the palace is open for public and is now counted as one of the famous historic landmarks of London. It has become a major tourist attraction in London which does not receive any funding from the Crown or the Government.

The Tower of London
This historic palace is Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress. This is a scheduled monument ideally located in Central London, England on the northern bank of the well known river Thames. Today, this popular historic palace is taken care by an independent charity.

St. Paul’s Cathedral
This is an Anglican Cathedral located within the city of London. The present building dates back from the 17^th century and the cathedral sits on the highest point of the city. However, the cathedral was originated as the trading post of Londiniums by Romans on the famous River Thames. Above all, this is one of the most visited sights in the capital city.

Benjamin Franklin House
This is the only surviving residence of the founding father of the United States and is now turned into a museum in a terraced house in Craven Street closely located to the Trafalgar Square.

These are some of the well known historic places in London which are a must visit for everyone traveling to the capital city.

Labels: London attractions, historic buildings in London, London tourism, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The tower of London

Kew Gardens in London

2009-12-15T03:16:00.000-08:00

Kew Gardens are among the popular London attractions and one of the great botanical gardens of the world. These Royal botanic gardens offer a great day out for everyone as it is spread across 300 acres of land, ideally positioned on the West of London. The gardens host some enthralling sights which will keep you amazed and will fill you with wonder. Those who love green areas, Kew Gardens are the best place for them to relax their mind, body and souls. These botanic gardens are not only about greenery, however, several interesting buildings including a royal place. It also hosts large glasshouses housing tropical plants ranging from few years to several hundred years.

There are plants and trees from all over the world including outdoor and indoor restaurants as well including one in the Orangery building. Moreover, it proves to be an ideal venue for summer concerts. In the year 2003, Kew Gardens became a World Heritage Site and is illustrated as a historic landmark. The significant periods of the arts of gardens can be shown from 18^th to 20^th centuries. In 1840, these gardens were adopted as a national botanical garden. It showcases 9000 other plants from desert, mountain cliffs and rainforests.

The Gardens has some striking additions such as the Davies Alpine House and the Sackler Lake Crossing. The place offers a complete family entertainment package as there are climbers and creepers for children to enjoy along with interactive play zones unrevealing the planet’s history in the Evolution House. This London place has been voted as one of the best London attractions attracting more than 1.3 million visitors annually as it boasts of several unique plantations. The visitors to the gardens can now experience special attraction from above with Xstrata Treetop walkway and the new Rhizotron.

The Fan Museum

2009-12-01T21:21:00.000-08:00

The Fan Museum is located in Greenwich London and is undoubtedly the first ever museum dedicated entirely to “fans”. The museum was set up to keep the art of fan making alive. The Fan Museum is used as a centre of academic research and conservation too. The museum is home to more than 4000 objects related to fan making or fans. Each item is distinctly different and unique. Apart from the permanent display of its objects, the Fan Museum also features many temporary or seasonal thematic exhibitions many a times during the year (usually every 4 months).

The one of its kind museum holds the largest collection of fans dating back to the 11^th Century. The museum also has been a home to some of the finest exquisite fans from the 18^th and 19^th century. You can explore more than 3500 antique fans including a variety of ceiling fans, etc at the museum.

The Fan Museum was first opened to the public in the year 1991 and ever since has been amongst one of the busiest London attractions. The English Tourist Board and the National Art Collections Fund awarded, The Fan Museum, for its contributions to the arts and tourism in the first year of the museum’s opening. The Fan Museum has a gallery, a Japanese garden, a pond, a stream and a gifts shop. The museum also features a Greenhouse which is termed as the ‘orangery’ and is highly appreciated for its wall paintings.

The oldest fan at The Fan Museum is believed to be belonging to the tenth century. Conversely, the collection of fans dating to the 18^th and 19^th century is equally impressive. The Fan Museum also has a reference library and fan-making classes, held at the museum premises.

The Fan Museum is administrated by a charitable trust and over the years has been sponsored by the London Tourist Board, the foundation for sports and the arts, the national art collections fund, English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Heritage of London Trust and by many individuals and corporate supporters.

On the 8^th of June in the year 2005 some of the fans were stolen from The Fan Museum. The theft reportedly took place around 2:45 pm BST. According to the sources one entire cabinet was broken and the fans were removed. The thief was apparently about 6 feet tall, aged around 35 years, a Caucasian male. The thief was never caught and is still at large.

The Fan Museum was privileged as The Duchess of Cornwall accepted to be the Patron of the Fan Museum on 7^th of January 2009. The day was also special in history as the Duchess of Cornwall was the first member of the Royal family to visit The Fan Museum. The Director and Founder of The Fan Museum - Helene Alexander, gave a personal tour to the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Fan Museum remains open all days of the year and only remains closed on the Good Friday and Easter Sunday and Mondays. The museum opens on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm BST and 12:00pm to5:00pm BST on Sundays.

The museum charges a £4 entrance fee for adults, £3 for children under 16 and children under 7 are admitted free of charge. There are special concessions of £3 for senior citizens and students with identity cards. On Tuesdays, handicap or disabled visitors and Old Age Pensioners (OAP) are admitted free of cost. Also afternoon tea is served in the Orangery from 3pm onwards on Tuesdays and Sundays.

The nearest London Underground stations are the Cutty Sark tube station, Deptford Bridge DLR station and the New Cross tube station. The closest mainline railway stations are Greenwich Station which is half a kilometer and Maze Hill Station which is under a kilometer from the museum.

The Fan Museum won the Gold medal at the Visit London Awards 2006. Also, the museum is housed at a building which was erected in the year 1721, which is a grade II building according to the British standards. The museum is situated in the Greenwich World Heritage Site in South East London and is easily accessible by the road, rail and the London Underground.

London St Paul’s Cathedral

2009-11-25T23:31:00.000-08:00

St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most popular and the biggest church in London. This Cathedral is located in Central London, city’s commercial region. The St Paul’s Cathedral is also globally renowned for its dome which is one of the biggest and the most beautiful in the world. The phenomenal interiors of St Paul’s are also a major attraction of the city. These interiors include the glittering mosaics, spectacular view towards the quire and the convoluted stone carving.

This popular attraction has witnessed several significant ceremonies which include the funerals of Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill and the royal weddings of Prince of Whales, Lady Diana Spencer and Prince of Charles. The renowned dome of the St Paul’s has become an iconic feature of London attractions.

Admission tickets to the St Paul’s Cathedral will cost you around 11£ per person. St Paul’s Cathedral is well connected to the major parts of the city through the St Paul’s London Underground which is located within the walking distance from the cathedral. The Cathedral also offers a well known restaurant offering a variety of traditional festive food especially during Christmas. The shop in the Cathedral also offers a wide range of gifts and offerings which you can buy for your loved ones. Besides this the region is covered with several restaurants, night clubs etc some of which are listed as under:

Restaurants near St Paul’s Cathedral

· Yo Sushi

· Paternoster Chop House

· Strada

· Café Rouge

· Mustard

Attractions near St Paul’s Cathedral

· Museum of London

· Smithfield Market

· Bridewell Theatre

· The Barbican Theatre and Art Gallery

· The Tate Modern Gallery

Tickets for Cathedral are available till 3:30pm and the last entry to the gallery is at 3:45pm. Tickets for the Crypt and Floor of Cathedral can be issued till 4pm. So visit this mesmerizing and serene London attraction and enjoy the melody of Christmas Carols going on in the Cathedral these days.

London Museums - Geffrye Museum

2009-10-13T05:04:00.001-07:00

The Geffrye Museum is a museum located in Eastern London and is dedicated totally to British textiles, paintings, furniture and decorative arts. The museum features all the drastic changes that have been a part of the English domestic interiors. The museum houses items and designs dating back from 1600 till the present day. How is it different from the other museums in London? The Geffrye Museum lays stress on the middle class furniture and interior rather than the usual aristocratic and royal commissions which could be witnessed in other museums of decorative arts. The Geffrye Museum is located on the Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, London, England and it is a non-departmental public body. The museum as the name suggests is named after Sir Robert Geffrye who was the Master of the Ironmongers’ Company and the former Lord Mayor of London.

There are no entrance charges as the entry to the museum is absolutely free. The Geffrye Museum has a comprehensive reference library, furniture trade archive, eleven period rooms, walled herb garden, and front gardens. The furniture records are open to all, from enthusiasts to professionals.

The museum also holds various programmes, workshops, drama, music and seminars at its period gardens which include both the herb and the front gardens. These exhibitions carry all through the year and are theme based. The “Christmas Past” exhibition is the favourite amongst the crowd. In this exhibition the period rooms are decorated according to the Christmas theme so as to reflect upon the 400 years of Christmas Traditions in English households.

Museum History
The Geffrye Museum is established inside the premises of the former almshouses of the Ironmongers’ Company. The museum is surrounded by several gardens which make the ambience of the museum completely serene. Although the museum is situated in the East London which is a pretty busy place but still the area maintains peaceful tranquility.

The Geffrye Museum first opened to the public in 1914. The museum became an independent charitable trust in the year 1991 and since then the trust has done enormous work including revamping of period rooms and buildings. The trust also opened a new extension in the year 1998. The Geffrye Museum focuses on the urban London middle class. The class is not lavish and rich as the aristocrats and gentry but, it is well off to have a relaxed house with great furnishings and objet d'art. By the end of 19th century however, the middle class strata had expanded drastically. Businessmen and manufacturers too were included other than the architects, journalists and accountants.

Period Rooms
The collections are displayed in accordance to the time and fashion of particular century in its 11 different period rooms. These rooms depict various changing styles and how the urban middle class transformed at several levels of the British history. These period rooms represent living rooms which were known as parlours before and as drawing rooms now and throw a light upon various examples of textiles, furniture and decorative styles used in a particular period.

Timings and Prices
There is no charge or admission fee to the Geffrye Museum and gardens. The museum is open on Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00 pm BST and on Sunday and Bank holidays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm BST. The museum gardens are open from 1st April to 31st October every year during the museum hours. The museum shop remains open during the museum hours. The museum remains close on Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the New Year’s Day every year. The museum also remains close on all Mondays unless it’s a Bank Holiday. The museum has an in house restaurant which remains open from 10:00am to 4:45 pm BST.

If you are travelling by the London Underground then the nearest tube station is the Old Street Tube Station in Hackney. The museum is a 10 minutes walk from the station. Earlier the Shoreditch Tube station which has now been closed was the nearest tube station. Hoxton tube station is under construction and by early 2010 will be completed. The station would be situated right next to the east of the Geffrye Museum.

London Museums And Art Gallery

2009-10-08T00:25:00.001-07:00

The Horniman Museum was setup in the year 1901 by Fredrick Horniman in South London. The museum is located in Forest Hill in South London. The museum is believed to have been commissioned in the year 1898; however it only opened to the public in 1901. The Horniman Museum is designed by the great designer Charles Harrison Townsend in a most exquisite arts and crafts style. The museum has been a non-departmental public body ever since it opened. The museum is owned and administrated by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Also one very surprising fact about the museum is that the museum is constituted as a company and registered as charity under the British Law. This is amongst the most visited London Museums in the city.

History of the Horniman Museum
The Horniman Museum was founded by a great man called Fredrick John Horniman. Fredrick was a Victorian tea trader by profession. When he had first opened the museum, the museum only contained Fredrick’s collection of cultural artifacts, natural history and musical instruments. The museum like the name suggests is named after its found Frederick Horniman. Soon as a decade passed, in around 1911, another building was added to the west wing of the museum compound. The new building was also designed by Charles Harrison Townsend. The building was donated by Frederick Horniman’s son itself, Emslie Horniman. The Horniman Museum was closed in the year 1999 and underwent a drastic refurbishment. The museum re-opened to public on 14th June 2002. The Horniman Museum has also been awarded with the Chartermark National Award 2008 for Excellence Customer Service in public sector.

Places to be explored at the Horniman Museum
The Horniman Museum is also listed as a grade II conservatory in England. The place has a mini zoo and an aquarium which kids find very entertaining. Has a collection of musical instruments from literally from A to Z of instruments. From an Accordion to a Zuria Pepa Hornpipe, it has more than 650 different musical instruments from all over the world.

•    Natural History Gallery – Contains 250,000 objects related to natural history
•    Music Gallery – Over 8,000 musical instruments
•    Art Museums and Art Gallery- Holds 90,000 objects on Anthropology
•    Gardens - The gardens received Best Parks of the South East England region in 2005 award. Received Green Flag (Green Flag is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales) in 2007 for the fifth continuous year
•    Miniature Zoo- A popular attraction amongst the kids
•    Museum Aquarium- The Aquarium was opened in July 2006 and displays fish and oceanic objects including living displays of London pondlife, British seashore, South American rainforest and Fijian reef etc
•    Bandstand- Established in the year 1912 bandstand is a famous tourists attractions in London.

Museum Timings
Museum
The Museum is open all days of the year except from 24th to 26th December. The opening hours of the museum are 10:30 am to 5:30 pm BST all days of the week.
Garden
The Gardens are open all days of the year except for the Christmas Day. The gardens open its gates from 7:30 am to the sunset on Monday to Saturday and from 8:00am to sunset on Sundays.
Library
The Horniman Library as for now only runs on appointment basis as they believe that by that they can better anticipate your needs.

Entrance Free
There is no entrance charge or fee to the Horniman Museum or the Gardens. However, you might have to pay for some of the major temporary exhibitions being held at the museum premises.

Travelling to the museum
The Forest Hill is the nearest station and the Horniman Museum is a just a short walk from the station. You can take the rail to the Forest Hill station which just takes around 13 minutes from the London Bridge. There also other direct trains from Clapham Junction and London Victoria stations.
If you plan to travel by bus there are many buses that stop right outside the museum gates. Some of them are P4, 176, 185, 197 and 356.

The museum has transformed into a place for everyone with its latest renovation from 1999 to 2002. . In the Horniman Museum one can enjoy exploring the cultural and natural world.

London Canal Museum And Party Venue

2009-09-30T22:31:00.001-07:00

The London Canal Museum is one of the many famous London Attractions. The museum is located in the heart of London’s King’s Cross. The museum neighbours the Battlebridge Basin sited on the Regent’s Canal. The museum is sited in a building which was more of a warehouse, set up dating back to 1860. The building was used as a storehouse for the ice imported from Norway via the canal barge and ship. The London Canal Museum was only opened to the public in 1992 and ever since has attracted tourists.

History
Although the Mongol Dynasty had invented the canal system of travelling way back in the 10th century there is no concrete proof that the Chinese were the first one. The British made the Regent’s Canal reportedly in and around the 16th century and used it for trading and transporting goods. It was easier to load goods on the boat and transport them through the canals. The Regent’s Canal became famous by the day and night in 1790s and by the end of 1850; Britain was covered with over 4000 miles of navigable waterways. Soon the English started transporting 30 millions of freights every year. Canals were run by private companies and these employed groups of men with an intention of protecting the goods from any theft. They later became the Canal Police forces. After the Second World War, the canals were nationalized and the forces became a part of the British Transport Commission Police.

Admission Charges
The London Canal Museum charges a nominal entrance fee of £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and £2 for students, senior citizens and the unemployed. Children under the age of 4 are admitted free but should be at all times accompanied by an adult. Citizens over 60 are considered as seniors. To avail the students’ concession a student identity card must be produced.

Travelling to the museum
The nearest London Underground station is the King’s Cross tube station which is just a 4 minutes walk from the museum. Angel tube station and Euston tube stations are also nearby, the museum is hardly 15 minutes from these tube stations. If you choose to travel by the main-line railway stations then the King’s Cross Railway Station, St Pancras Railway Station, Eurostar Terminal and King’s Cross Thameslink Railway Stations are just 5 minutes away from the London Canal Museum.

Opening Hours
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm BST. It is open late on the first Thursday of every month till 7:30pm BST. It is also open on Bank Holidays. The last admission is 30 minutes before the closing time. The London Canal Museum remains closed every year on 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st of December for the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

Refreshment Shop
The London Canal Museum has a shop inside the museum premises which sells ice cream and canned cold drinks. Tea and coffee is also provided for groups of 10 or more if noticed beforehand. Unfortunately there is no other refreshment facility in the building; however there are many food outlets nearby within a 5 minute walking range.

Hire the museum
The London Canal Museum can also be hired for weddings, cocktail parties, business meetings, press launches, corporate training and conferences. The museum has an amazing Victorian building which makes it an awe-inspiring, one of its kind and unusual venue. If you are planning something out of the box for your party, the London Canal Museum is the perfect place for you to hire. The museum is situated in a quite corner near the King’s Cross, so you can have your corporate meeting in complete peace. You can also choose to have a lavish wedding here at the museum; arrive in a boat, depart in a boat or simply get married in a boat in the canal. The best part is that the museum is available to hire on all Mondays, and from 4:30 pm to 10:00pm BST on Tuesdays to Sundays. The complete building has Wi-Fi in case you need it for your business meetings. There is a small business room that is available for hire on all days as a venue.

London Science Museum

2009-09-30T05:34:00.001-07:00

London is the 9th largest metropolitan in the world and is located close to the Thames River. The city is capital to the United Kingdom and is amongst the most visited tourists destinations in the world. The city hosts a variety of tourist’s attractions and these London landmarks attract millions of tourists throughout the year from all over the world. The great Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Made Tussauds Wax Museum etc are some of the most popular London attractions. The city is extremely popular for its vivacious night life and is well known as an influential financial city in the world. This multi ethnic city celebrates a variety of events and festivals throughout the year. Besides the beautiful sightseeing and attractions the city is also popular as a stunning shopping destination. You can explore some of the globally renowned brands in the city. Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Bond Street are some of the best shopping districts in the city. The royal history, culture and traditions of England are admired in the entire world.

The remains of the imperial and majestic pasts can still be seen in the galleries and museums sited in the city. London is home to several museums and galleries. The British Museum, Albert and Victoria museum, Madame Tussauds, Clockmakers Museum, Design Museum, The Firepower, Florence Nightingale Museum, Imperial War Museum, National Gallery and Science museum are some of the most visited museums in London. All these museums are not just tourist’s attractions but are also a great source of information for the scientists, intellectuals and students from all over the world.

The Science Museum in London is one such museum which an extensive source of research. The museum is sited at one of the most sought after locations in the city in the region of South Kensington. It has an easy access from the South Kensington tube station. The museum is constructed in seven wide floors of a building with historical structure. All these floors display a variety of items from several varied areas of science. The collections at the museum are based on space travel, chemistry, biology, computing, photography, medicine etc. Some of the collections displayed in the museum are highly interactive. Besides the phenomenal permanent collection displayed at the museum you can also explore a variety of exhibitions in the museums. These exhibitions are based on several sciences and are extremely educative and informative.

Some of exhibitions currently displayed in the museum are listed as follows:

Ernie - The exhibition will last until 26th June and it displays the first ever machine that generated the winning numbers of the premium bonds. This Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment is one of the oldest machines of this kind. The machine caught the imagination of the public in Britain and the human characteristics in the machine were quite entertaining for the tourists. At the exhibition you can explore the actual development and its linking to the digital electronic computer which is a mind blowing experience.

Dan Dare and the Birth of Hi-Tech Britain - This remarkable exhibition will last till 25th October. It showcases the extraordinary foundation of the hi tech consumer society in Britain. During the scenario of war in Britain the city found huge advances such as penicillin, radar, jet engines and much more. At this exciting exhibition you can explore the role of technology in Britain after the war.

Wallace and Gromit present a world of cracking ideas – It is one of the most fun loving and family oriented exhibition in the museum. The exhibition will last until 1st of November and till then you can explore a variety of stories of innovation. It is organized to attract visitors of all ages and to further inspire the flair and creativity of the visitors.

The museum opens at 10 a.m. and is open till 6 p.m, seven days a week except for Christmas holidays. The guided tours by the guides of the museum are also available for the visitors. Although the entry to the museum is free of charge but charges are applicable for several special exhibitions, 3D cinemas and simulators.

Mesmerizing London Parks and Royal Gardens

2009-09-28T21:58:00.001-07:00

London not only offers vivacious and huge tourist’s attractions like London Eye and Buckingham Palace but, it also houses several green open spaces in almost all the areas of the city. London is one of the greenest metropolitans in the world. So while spending time in the city you can also explore the natural greenery, fresh air and wildlife at the parks and gardens in London. Here is the list of some of the most popular parks, gardens and picnic spots in the city where you can spend your weekends or you can explore these sights while London travel.

Hyde Park
Hyde Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the UK. The park is easily accessible from the Hyde Park tube station. It covers the area of around 350 acres and is home to a peaceful lake, more than 4000 trees, ornamental flower garden and a meadow. Besides walking you can also enjoy cycling, swimming, boating and skating at the Hyde Park. The park also hosts an onsite restaurant offering delicious food. You can also explore a variety of fascinating monuments and buildings in the park. The entry to the park is free of charge.

Regents Park
Sited close to the Regents Street, Regents Park is amongst the oldest royal parks in London. It is considered as one of the most happening London places. Here you can savor theatre, sports, music and several other entertaining performances. It houses some of the renowned award winning gardens, London zoo and fountains. You can also explore a variety of lakes, flower gardens, cafes and large playgrounds at the Regents Park. The Regents Park is in fact the largest outdoor sports area in the entire central London. The well known Open Air theatre at the park is one of the largest auditoriums in London.

Green Park
Green Park is located in the region of Piccadilly Circus, London. It is amongst the top 4 royal parks in the central London. The park is close to several popular London attractions such as Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and many more. It offers a tranquil sea of green and attracts millions of tourists and local Londoners. It is best suited for peaceful walks, sunbath or for picnics. The entry to the park is for 2.50 pounds for the adults though children can enter without the tickets. The park has easy access from the Green Park, Oxford Street and the Piccadilly Circus tube station.

Kew Gardens – Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are amongst the topmost tourists attractions in London. Sited in the region of Richmond, Surrey, the Kew Garden is also one of the most important research centres in the world. Scholars and scientists from several parts of the world travel to these gardens to research on the subject of Botany. The garden offers amazing botanical delights in an extremely peaceful and beautiful ambience. The garden covers a large area of around 300 acres and offer several facilities to the visitors. The entry to the garden is chargeable and the tickets can cost you around 12.25 pounds.

Greenwich Park
Located close to the Greenwich tube station, the Greenwich Park is also amongst the oldest royal parks in the city. It is home to a small herd of red deer and fallow which is the major attraction of the park. Greenwich Park offers some of the most remarkable views of the city including river Thames. The popular London places such as The Royal Observatory, Queens House, Old Royal Naval College and National Maritime Museum are also with the walking distance from the park. Several events such as jazz, theatre, sports and opera are also organized at the Greenwich Park.

So next time you are planning an evening with your friends or your family then do think about spending some time in the healthy and eco friendly atmosphere at the royal London parks.

London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum

2009-09-23T05:27:00.001-07:00

The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is situated in Brentford at the banks of the River Thames in West London right besides the Kew Bridge. The museum was originally a working pumping station till 1944. The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is regarded as The European Route of Industrial Heritage and an Anchor Point of ERIH. The Kew Bridge Steam Museum was opened to the public in 1975 by the efforts of Kew Bridge Engines Trust. It is amongst the most visited museums in the city.

History
The Kew Bridge Steam Museum was originally known as the Kew Bridge Pumping station which was established in the year 1838 by the Grand Junction Waterworks Company. The pumping station was set up after the closure of an existing pumping station at Chelsea because of the poor quality of water. The Kew Bridge Pumping Station expanded soon and by the end of 1944, the steam engine was replaced with four electric pumping sets and four Allen Diesel pumps.
With advancements in technology steam engines were completely replaced by latest pumping sets by the year 1958. It was decided by the Metropolitan Water Board that these steam engines would not be scrapped; and preserved to be displayed in a museum some time later. Later in the year 1973 Kew Bridge Engines Trust was found and thus, set up, what today is better known as the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.

Museum Café
The Café at the museum is a complete pleasure to be at. The café opens only on weekends from 11:00am to 3:30pm BST. Mouth watering meals are served from 12:30pm to 2:30 pm. The view from the café is also awe-inspiring. With so much serenity, wild flowers, wildlife and views of the river Thames, you are bound to be pleased at the café.

Pricing
The museum has an admission charge of £ 9.50 for adults and children under 16 are admitted free of cost. The children under the age of 16 however should be accompanied by an adult. There is a special discount for students and OAP (Old Age Pensioners) of £ 8.50. Proof of age and identity cards might be required in case of availing student’s concession.

Timings
The Kew Bridge Steam Museum is open all days of the year except Mondays and Bank Holidays. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00am to 4:00pm BST to the public.

Travelling to the Museum
The nearest London Underground stations are the Gunnersbury tube station, Kew Gardens tube station, Chiswick Park tube station and the Acton Lane tube station. The museum is just a 10 minutes walk from these tube stations. The closest transport to the Kew Bridge Steam Museum is via the Main-Line. You could take a train to the Kew Bridge Railway Station. The museum is hardly a 2 minutes walk from the station.

Free Car Park
The museum offers a free parking space to visitors. The parking space is big enough to accommodate 50 cars and the parking is available on first come first serve basis. The area of Key is surrounded by several luxury hotels.

Things To Do in Museum - Hire the museum
The Kew Bridge Steam Museum can also be hired as a venue for a birthday, wedding, conference or a cocktail party. Dinner is served in the Steam Hall which is a very spacious place for dining and dancing. The guests could also witness the world’s largest ever working beam engine, The Grand Junction engine at the event.

The museum is a perfect place to hold corporate events as well. It is just 20 minutes away from the Heathrow Airport and offers all latest in information and technology tools for business meetings. Meeting room up to a space for 45 delegates and evening reception for as many as 150 delegates is also available.

The Steam Hall makes an out of this world venue for hosting a wedding or a special birthday accommodating 150 guests for buffet style receptions and 120 guests for table seating. The Steam Hall Gallery is also available for hire from Monday to Sunday. Toddlers can have a great birthday at the Steam Hall Gallery. The museum has linked up with the best of caterers to match all your needs of a great party. The museum also offers Jazz bands to Rock bands and DJs according to the theme of your party.

Westminster Abbey London

2009-09-15T02:10:00.001-07:00

London the capital of United Kingdom is home to several tourists attractions. The beauty and pleasure that the city offers attracts millions of tourists almost every year. The city is well known for offering several shopping districts and is famous for its fashion statements. This well developed city also offers a great transportation system connecting almost all the parts of the city. London is a multi ethnic city and people from all parts of the world can be found in the city. London’s night life is also one of the major attractions of the city and is said to be the best after New York. It is often said that it’s hard to compete with London when it comes to the number of attractions.

Westminster Abbey is one such attraction that alone attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. The London tour is incomplete without exploring this beautiful London attraction. It is officially known as the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster. Westminster Abbey is a gothic monastery church which is more of a traditional venue of coronation. The venue is also well known as the burial site for the renowned English monarchs. This royal church does not belong to any of the family of the church – Parish nor Cathedral. The church is owned by the royal family of England. The church is located just a stones throw away from the Houses of Parliament and is within the walking distance from the Westminster tube station. The church is home to the glorious architecture of the ancient times and is must to explore for every tourist. The divine atmosphere of the church is simply serene and is extremely relaxing. The tourist can also explore the coronation throne which the same place where several renowned monarchs of England were crowned. Also enjoy the excellent works of famous Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, etc at the poet’s corner which is full of memorials to these legends of literature. Tombs of Catholic “Bloody” Mary and Protestant Elizabeth 1 are also present in the church and can be visited by the tourists. In the 20^th century the New English Bible was also kept here. The St Edward’s Chair which is the throne on which the sovereigns are seated during the coronation is also placed in the Abbey and reminds of the royal period of the Britishers.

Since, the medieval ages The Shrine of the St Edward who was the renowned Confessor has been the point of attraction in the Westminster Abbey. The church is open 6 days a week but, the timings differ for all the days. The Abbey is also open on Sundays but only for worshipping. The entry is free of charge for the children below 11 years of age and charges are applicable for the rest of the age groups. Though the attraction has several religious grounds but it is considered more of a historical site than a religious place. The church holds a variety of treasures belonging to the royal families. The paintings, textiles, stained glass are displayed in the church and can be viewed by the visitors. The gothic structure of the church is exceptionally stunning. The attractions also organizes several tours guided by some of the most experienced guides and audio guides in different languages such as French, German, Spanish, Russian etc are available at the venue. Special tours for large groups are also available at the church. Shops offering refreshments such as snacks, drinks etc are also available at out side the building as eatables are not allowed outside the building.

Within the Abbey the tourists can also visit the St Margaret’s Church, The Chapter House, the museum and the College Garden.

National Maritime Museum

2009-09-07T23:15:00.001-07:00

The National Maritime Museum was established in the year 1934 but was opened to the general public not until 1937. Like the name only suggests the National Maritime Museum is all related to nautical journeys of the English. The museum houses more than 2 million objects in its premises related to British naval heritage and culture. The museum is situated at Greenwich in Northern London. The National Maritime Museum spreads over an area of 200 acres. The National Maritime Museum is also termed as the NMM in short or abbreviationaticlly. The NMM is the largest maritime museum in the whole of United Kingdom and if it is to be believed, the largest museum of its kind in the world. This very historic museum is also a part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The National Maritime Museum is owned and administered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The museum is a non-departmental public body. The National Maritime Museum encompasses the Royal Observatory, 17th-century Queen’s House and Greenwich.

History
The National Maritime Museum was established after the National Maritime Act was passed in the year 1934. The creation of the museum is clearly mentioned in the chapter 43 of the Act. Sir James Caird had donated a large amount to the National Maritime Museum trust and the museum today stands because of his generous donations. The museum was first opened to the public on 27th of April 1937 by King George VI. It is believed that Princess Elizabeth who later became the Queen Elizabeth II had accompanied King George VI on the inauguration day.

Greenwich has been linked to navigation and sea history ever since the Romans landed on these lands. Henry VIII lived had lived in Greenwich and it is the year 1675 when Charles II had found the Royal Observatory. The Royal Observatory was established for “finding the longitude of places.” The Greenwich has been a centre of Astronomical study, the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian since 1884. Navigators all throughout the world till date set their watches and clocks to Greenwich’s time of day.

The Great Comet of 1843 painting by Charles Piazzi Smyth and The Bretagne by Jules Achille Noel in 1859 is both at display at the National Maritime Museum. The Museum holds more than two million items including British and 17th century Dutch maritime art, manuscripts, cartography; navigational instruments ship models and plans etc.

Pricing
All the three sites, namely, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House are open to public for free. There is no admission charge , however , an entry fee might just be charged for some temporary exhibitions held at the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House.

Timings
The National Maritime Museum , The Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory remain open all days of the week throughout the year from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm BST. The last admission is from 4:30 pm BST. The Royal Observatory courtyard however remains open till 8:00pm BST in the summer months. The last late opening day will be Monday 31st August.

It is recommended that you do not visit these galleries on Saturday and Sunday afternoons as 1:00pm to 4:00 pm BST are the busiest hours. You are advised to visit the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House gallerias earlier in the day if possible (10:00am to 11:30am BST), that is when there is no rush. Later in the day as soon as it is afternoon, the crowds come pouring in and the galleries become congested.

Closures
The National Maritime Museum, The Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House remain closed from 24th to 26th of December. All these three sites also close early on day ever of New Year, that is, 31st of December. These however remain open till late up to 12:00am BST on 1st of January and at the London Marathon every year. These sites also remain closed at the time of any maintenance work or if any filming is going on at the site.

The nearest London Underground stations are the North Greenwich tube station, Cutty Sark tube station and the Greenwich tube station. The National Maritime Museum is just a 5 minutes walk from these tube stations.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

2009-08-30T23:21:00.001-07:00

The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the largest museums of designs and decorative arts in the world. It is located in the region of Kensington and was founded in the year 1852. It is home to several collections of decorative arts, ornaments and much more. These collections of artworks were earlier displayed at the Crystal Palace. The building of Victoria and Albert Museum was designed by Sir Aston Webb and the cornerstone for the building was laid by Queen Victoria. You can also find a variety of European sculptures and tableaux including furniture work, porcelain, jewellery, textiles and much more. The Currie collection at the museum is renowned for French and Italian arms and armour. The outstanding artwork such as Chinese ceramics, Eumorfopoulos sculptures and jade from East Asia are also displayed in the collection. The popular national collection of British Water colours, prints, miniatures, drawings and much more is also displayed in the museum. Some of the most outstanding works of John Constable is also a part of the collection at Victoria and Albert Museum. The National Art Library is also extremely popular and is also a great resource of knowledge.

The museum holds a permanent collection of more than 4.5 million objects. Victoria and Albert Museum is sponsored by the department of Media, Culture and Sports. The museum is located close to several other renowned galleries and museums such as Science Museum, Natural History Museum and many more. The region in which the museum is sited is well known for its enormous culture, educational and scientific importance. The museum is divided into four departments of collections: Furniture, fashion and textiles; Word and Image; Ceramics, Glass, Metal works and Sculptures; Asia. These collections are of great importance for the scholars. These collections are further sub divided into sixteen display zones. Some of the artifacts in the collection are known to be more than 3000 years old. The Cast Courts at the museum are absolutely breathtaking and attract the major part of tourists. The museum displays and organizes a variety of exhibitions. The temporary exhibitions in accompaniment with the permanent display at the museum attract millions of tourists and scholars every year.

Some of the current exhibitions at the museum are listed as follows:
• Baroque 1620-1800 – Style in the Age of Magnificence:
It is displayed in room number – 38, 39 and north court in the museum. It displays one of the most luxurious fashions of the 17th and 18th centuries. The reflection of magnificence and intricacy of Baroque can be seen in the collection.

• Future Fashion Now – New designs from the Royal college of Art:
The exhibition mentioned above is all about the creative collection of the graduates from the royal college of art. The collection features around 50 outfits and is one of the most popular in town. You can also explore a variety of handbags and accessories along with the process of designing. The admission to the exhibition is absolutely free of charge.

• Capturing the Moment, Photographs by Reg Wilson:
The exhibition will be displayed till 10th January 2010 and the entry is free of charge. The collection is displayed in room number 104. The exhibition showcases the spectacular photographs from Britain’s most creative photographer – Reg Wilson. It shows all the aspects of performance process from studio to the main event.

• The Photographer’s Pilgrimage - Exploring Buddhists Sites in Asia:
In the exhibition you can explore the beauty of Buddhist sites in the remote areas of Asia. The collection includes some of the most excellent works of Joseph Lawton and Linneaus. The entry is free of charge.

• Contemporary Drawings:
The entry to the exhibition is free of charge and displays the collection of modern art by several sculptors, photographers and painters.

The Museum offers almost all the necessary facilities and is easily accessible from South Kensington London Underground.

Captivating Beauty of Covent Garden

2009-08-26T23:48:00.001-07:00

London - the capital city of United Kingdom is one of the most fashionable metropolitan cities in the world. When it comes to shopping in London, you have a wide variety of options. London’s Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Bond Street etc are some of the well known shopping destinations in London. The number is extremely large and thus it’s hard to talk about all the shopping districts in few words. So, let’s discuss about the Covent Garden which is one of the most visited entertainment districts in the city.

Covent Garden is one of the most vivacious districts in the London city. It offers outstanding shopping, street entertainments, excellent significant theatres, dazzling night clubs and more than 1000 restaurants, bars and cafes offering a wide variety of delectable cuisines.

Shopping at Covent Garden:
From stylish clothing’s to elegant accessories and unique antiques to cheap gif shops, you name it and this district has it. Agne’s B, All Saints, David & Goliath, East and Ellis Brigham are some of the most popular brands at Covent Garden if you are looking for some casual clothes. The district also offers a variety of designer brands offering latest fashions of clothes and accessories. Accessorize. Aldo, Betsey Johnson and Camper are some of the stores extremely renowned for their spectacular accessories. The place is also renowned for a great variety of men’s wear. Calvin Klein, Esprit, Field & Trek and J Simons are some of the most preferred brands for menswear.

Eating at Covent Garden:
Covent Garden is a home to a variety of restaurants, café’s etc. These restaurants offer a wide variety of delicious cuisines. With appetizing food they also offer a warm and homely atmosphere. Covent is one of the best places to go at for the foodies. Covent Garden Grill, Covent Garden Kitchen and Crème de la crepe are some of the restaurants known for serving British food. On the other hand Dacca, Masala Zone and Taste of India are some of the popular restaurants offering Indian food. Bella Italia, Fire & Stone are amongst the restaurants famous for pizza.

Theatre’s in Covent Garden:
Most of the theatres in London are located in Covent Garden. Adelphi theatre, Aldwych theatre, Fortune Theatre, Palladium theatre, and theatre Royal are some of the most renowned theatres in the region of Covent Garden. These theatres present a variety of performing arts such as comedy, opera, drama, musical shows, dance and much more.

Night Life in Covent Garden:
London is globally renowned to offer one of the best night life after New York. Several clubs, pubs, dancing dens etc are located in almost all the areas of London. Amongst all the happening districts Covent Garden depicts the London Life extremely well. A wide range of options are available in the district to enjoy the London night life. O2 Arena, Pop at O2, Jazz Café, HMV Apollo and Belushi’s bar are some of the renowned night clubs and bars.

Attractions around Covent Garden:
Some of the most visited London attractions are located in and around the area of Covent Garden. London Transport Museum, Theatre Museum, Royal Opera House, St Paul’s Cathedral, Photographers Gallery, Sir John Soane’s Museum, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery are some of the nearest attractions.

The district of Covent Garden is easily accessible from the Charing Cross, Waterloo, London Bridge, Kings Cross St Pancras and Victoria tube station. The area has an easy access from almost all the major airports through various public and private transports.

Piccadilly Circus Plaza

2009-08-24T02:15:00.001-07:00

Piccadilly Circus is one of the most popular hubs of entertainment in London. Sited in the area of Westminster it is the heart of the London city. The place was named after the famous Piccadilly Street by John Nash. Piccadilly is the most exciting areas in the city and its stifling crowd, blinking ads and vivacious night life makes it even livelier. The circus is decorated during the festive season which often adds to the beauty of the place. The statue of Angel of Christian Charity sited at the centre of the Piccadilly Circus is the most beautiful structure at the place. The Piccadilly Street is well known as the most elegant street in the city. It is home to several well known restaurants, pubs and night clubs. Piccadilly Circus is also famous for numerous theatres sited at the Haymarket, Shaftesbury, Coventry Street and Glasshouse Street. Some of the most popular entertainment and shopping areas of London are also located in the region of Piccadilly Circus. It is by far one of the busiest areas in the city. Piccadilly Circus is extremely popular amongst the tourists. The Piccadilly Circus tube station is also one of the most crowded London underground.

Piccadilly Circus comprises of four streets including – Piccadilly, Regents Street, Covent Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. The Shaftesbury memorial fountain sited at the centre of the circus is a famous London Landmark. Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, Soho and Shaftesbury are located just a stones throw away from the Piccadilly Circus. London itself has numerous attractions and some of the most popular amongst them are sited around the Piccadilly Circus. Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch, Liberty, St James Palace, Covent Garden, St James Park, Royal Opera House, Queen Victoria Memorial and Cleopatra’s Needle are some of the renowned London attractions located near the Piccadilly Circus.

Several sensational events are also organized at the Piccadilly Circus. Keb Darge’s Legendary Deep Funk is one of such events which is organized every Friday at Madame Jojo’s Westminster. The venue is within the walking distance from the Piccadilly Circus. This dance party is the favourite hub of the party animals and several dancers also participate in the event. The Getdown, Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, London Friday Night Skate, Lush Launch party at Pacha, Berwick Street Market and Marilyn are some of the other happening events in the area. Piccadilly Circus and the area around is also one of the best places to shop at. It is home to several globally renowned braded show rooms. Lillywhite’s sited within the distance of 1 minute is one of the most visited shops in the town. It owes a remarkable heritage and great brand image. Fortum and Mason, Zavvi - Virgin Megastore (Music store), Water stones Piccadilly (Book shop), Lush (Perfumes) and Simon Carter (Jewellery) are some of the other well known shops in the area.
Piccadilly Circus hosts a wide range of restaurants, pubs and bars. The region offers a variety of delicious cuisines from almost all the parts of the world. Some of the best and the most hygienic restaurants of London are located in the area of Piccadilly Circus.

Amongst all these eateries following is the list of the best amongst them:
• Japan Centre Restaurant Toku – Offers extremely appetizing Japanese cuisines in an outstanding environment. The restaurant offers great hospitality and best prices.

• Noura Central – Lebanese restaurant offering good quality food at exceptionally normal costs. It is one of the best restaurants in London and Paris and is well known for its services.
• Wagamama – Offers South East Asian Cuisine in a mesmerizing atmosphere.
• Chowki – Offering scrumptious flavours of Indian and south Indian cuisines.
• St Alban – Offering modern European Cuisine.
• Fortum and Mason- Well known Café and Delis. A fountain restaurant by the same name offers a wide variety of British cuisine.

Thus it can be said that Piccadilly Circus is the liveliest areas of London and is a must to visit whenever you tour London.

London Night Clubs

2009-08-20T00:29:00.001-07:00

The happening capital city of UK – London is amongst the most popular tourist’s destinations in the world. London night life is known to be the best after New York. It is home to several restaurants, pubs, night clubs, dancing dens, theatres etc. As London is a multi ethnic city, you can find a variety of delicious cuisines at the restaurants in the city. Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus, West End etc are some of the areas extremely popular for offering vivacious and electrifying night life. Some of the most excellent London night clubs listed below:

• Egg
Egg is one of the most popular night clubs in London. It is sited in the region of Kings Cross St Pancras. The night club covers a wide area and has 3 floors with a gorgeous terrace garden. The club also offers a well maintained swimming pool during the summer season. Egg is also involved in organizing events and can easily accommodate up to 1400 guests but, the minimum number of guests is 50. With a wide variety of rocking music, the night club also offers food, drinks and snacks. The place is well known for dance parties.

• Fabric
Fabric is amongst the most excellent night clubs in the city located at the Charterhouse Street, London. The club has an electrifying sound system in three different rooms. The most attractive feature of the club is the vibrating floor at the club, it is popularly known as the body sonic dance floor. The floor is attached to the 400 bass transducers that emit the melodious bass frequencies. It is also an ideal option for organizing parties and other events. The club also offers a variety of packages and membership schemes etc.

• The Forum
The Forum is situated in the region of Kentish Town, London and is the most popular amongst the youth. It offers a great sense of intimacy and has an exceptional design, architecture and décor. It is the first preference of the people who love watching live performances. Some of the best bands in the city perform at the club. Forum is one the few night clubs who hold a license of playing music for 24 hours. The club can easily accommodate 2500 guests. So all the clubbers, Forum can surely be the next night club on your list.

• Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound is a globally renowned name in the industry and was even rated at the sixth position amongst the top 100 night clubs. Sited in the Gaunt Street, London it is one of the busiest night clubs in the city. It offers a dominant and passionate clubbing environment. Ministry of Sound not only offers a dazzling DJ night but it also offers several DJ courses etc. With all such facilities in an extremely thrilling environment, Ministry of Sound has become one of the most successful night clubs in the world.

• The Kingly Club
London Groove is the trendiest night clubs in the region of London’s Soho. The club offers spectacular flashing dance floors with the music of all the rage. It is one of the most desirable venues in the city and is popular for its fine service, sushi, champagne and great music. With one of the coolest crowd in the city the club offers the best music by some of the renowned DJ’S. You can also plan a private or a corporate party at this happening venue. The club offers several membership packages and discounts.

So if you are looking for some of the vibrant venues where you can rock your night, then the clubs mentioned above are some of the best options available in the city. The London night life is so popular amongst the tourists that it is also one of the renowned London attractions.

Tremendous Tower of London

2009-08-19T02:34:00.001-07:00

London is home to several tourists attractions and thus is also one of the most preferred tourist’s destinations. Tower of London has been the royal fortress and palace of England’s Her Majesty. Though the Tower of London is no more a royal residence but it will officially remain a royal palace. It is one of the most popular attractions in London and is also a supreme landmark in the city. It is located close to the north bank of the Thames River. Sited in the region of London’s Borough of Tower Hamlets, it is easily accessible from the Tower Hill Tube station.

The place is commonly identified with the well known White Tower. It is a great example of the architecture of Norman military. It is said that the tower was founded by the renowned conqueror – Sir Williams when he affirmed his power and was protecting London.

The Tower offers protection to the city through its excellent defensive structure. It also provides a garrison and controls the citizens by the same means. The last military conquest took place at the tower and thus it is one of the most remarkable iconic landmarks of United Kingdom. The Tower of London is made up of ancient stones and has priceless jewels. It holds several astonishing stories from across the centuries. It always had a gloomy reputation as a palace of death and torture. Despite of this dark image it is an extremely enduring and powerful fortress. It has served as a zoo for several years in the past and had been an imperative armoury.

Sited at the centre of the Tower of London is the White Tower, built by the William in the year 1078. It is 90 feet high with four turrets above the battlements. The influence of the white tower was felt in the entire kingdom. The renowned bedchamber and the crown jewels at the tower are not worth missing. You can also explore the place where the prisoners wept and the heads rolled. The tower held several prisoners who belong to almost all levels of the society. This was the place of confinement of the prisoners and the graffiti left by several such prisoner can still be read. You can also explore a brilliant exhibition – Henry VIII – Dressed to Kill, which started on 3rd April 2009 and will last till 17 January 2009. The exhibition is organized at all three floors of the White Tower. In the exhibition a large number of objects that belonged to Henry VIII are on display. Explore the legend Henry VIII as a sportsman, the king and as warrior.

The exhibition also displays the great royal armouries. Several key paintings from the reign of Henry VIII are also displayed in the exhibition. The objects displayed in the exhibition are presented with new dazzling audio – video effects and lighting. The Tower of London has also been featured in films and documentaries. The attraction is open throughout the year although the timings are different for summers and winters. This summer explore the Tower with exceptional family friendly installations that will reveal the story of this great fortress. The stories of the tower under the attacks and the weapons and soldiers who defended it will also be interacted. The Imperial state crown and the Maundy dish which is still a part of the traditions of the annual monarchy can also be explored.

To add some more adventure you can opt for the Beefeater tour available at the attraction. In this tour the “Yeoman Warder’ which is the body of beefeaters will tell you some interesting stories of the people who guarded the fortress for centuries. You will surely be appalled and astounded by these tales. To brief it all the following lists will tell you what is not to be missed when you visit this royal London attraction:

• The White Tower
• Henry VIII – Dressed to Kill
• Crown Jewels
• Lady Jane Grey graffiti
• Yeoman Warder tours
• Prisoners exhibition
• Tower Green
• Ravens
• Medieval Palace
• Family Fun activities

A Ride to Central London

2009-08-19T01:56:00.001-07:00

Central London is one of the most popular regions in London. It is referred to the area located on the north south areas of the river Thames. The central London is widely spread and covers an area of around 26 square kilometers. It can e divided into three districts – the City, South Bank and the West End. Some of the major London places are sited in the Central London. The place offers some of the most sought after locations in the city. Central London is home to several well known London hotels, restaurants, bars, night clubs and several vivacious shopping districts. The theatres of West End are one of the major tourist’s attractions in Central London.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Central London:
• Buckingham Palace – This London attraction is open in summer season only. This year the royal palace is open for tourists between 26th July – 28th September 2009. It is easily accessible from the Victoria tube station and the price of the ticket is 16.50 pounds for adult and 9.50 pounds for children.

• London Eye – This magnificent wheel is one of the most popular tourist’s attractions in the world. Sited close to the river Thames it offers excellent views of the city. Embankment Tube station is the nearest tube station. The tickets for the London Eye flight will cost you around 17 pounds.

• Tower of London – It is one of the historical sights in United Kingdom and attracts millions of tourists every year. Tower of London is also one of the most popular iconic landmarks of London. It is easily accessible through Tower Hill tube station.

• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum – One of the most excellent wax museums in the world. Sited close to the Bakers Street tube station, London.

• London Dungeon – This terrifying traitor boat ride is an extremely adventurous ride. It will cost you 20 pounds approximately.

• London Aquarium – Located close to the Waterloo tube station and the entry will cost you 15.25 pound approximately.

• Tower Bridge – It is one of the most excellent vantage points in London. It hosts several exciting exhibitions throughout the year. It is just a stones throw away from the London Bridge Tube.

• Kensington Palace – This royal palace in the city was once a private country house now the tourists can also explore this beautiful and ethnic palace. The entry tickets are worth 12.50 pounds for the adults.

• St Paul’s Cathedral – St Paul’s is one of the most visited churches in London. You can explore this church at the price of 11 pounds.

• London Zoo – It is amongst the best tourists attractions in the city and has an easy access from the Chalk Farm tube station. The entry ticket for the zoo will cost you around 18.50 pounds.

Night Clubs in Central London
• Egg
• Fabric
• Future Fusion
• Heaven
• Ministry of Sound

Restaurants in Central London
• Greig’s Restaurant – Located in the Bruton Place and offers British Cuisine.
• Browns Bar & Brasserie – Situated at the Maddox Street, Mayfair and well known for European and Brasserie Cuisines.
• 1997 – Popular for Chinese Cuisine.

• 2 Amici Italian Restaurant – Popular for offering delicious Italian cuisine and situated at the Rochester Row.
• Bhatti – At the Covent Garden and offers delicious variety of Indian food.
• Taste of India – Catherine Street
• Tandoori Nights – Covent Garden offers Indian Cuisine.

Shopping in Central London
• Tottenham Court Road – Electronics
• Charing Cross – Books
• Denmark Street –Music
• Bond Street – Luxury Goods
• Covent Garden – Clothes
• Oxford Circus – Clothes and Accessories

Hotels in Central London
Central London houses several cheap hotels, luxury hotels and other comfortable accommodations such as:
• Hilton London Kensington Hotel ****
• Central House Hotel ***
• Marble Arch Inn Hotel *
• Ashley Hotel **
• Grange City Hotel *****

Central London is one of the most vibrant areas in London. It has something or the other to offer for every one. Besides night clubs, bar and restaurants there are several other means of entertainment such as theatres, malls and much more. So next time you visit London, Central London is the place where you can book your hotel.

Science Museum London - Globally Renowned Resource of Technology

2009-08-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

London is home to several art galleries and museums. Being the capital of United Kingdom, it has a rich, powerful and royal history and thus it has a lot of museums that still keep the memories of the royal history alive. Some of the museums and galleries in the city are globally well known and attract millions of tourists every year. Amongst all these London’s Kew Gardens, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Photographers Gallery, Tate Gallery and Science Museum are some of the most visited galleries and museums in the city.

Science Museum is one of the most globally renowned museums in the world and is well known for historic collections. Founded in the year 1857, it has a great glass building commonly known as Crystal Palace. The fund generated from the exhibitions held in Science Museum is used in the educational developments as it was initially suggested by its supporter Prince Albert. Science Museum holds more than 3, 00,000 items in its commendable collection. A collection based around a medical theme by Henry Wellcome is one of the most valuable collections in the museum. The museum also hosts a library which was once known as National Library of Britain for Technology, Science and Medicine. You can find several manuscripts, periodicals and early books in this library. This library is a great resource for scholar’s world wide. The medical collection of the Science Museum also serves the intellectuals globally.

The museum has recently launched a new section called Weellcome Wing, entirely dedicated to the Bioscience. The wide range and intensity of collection at the Science Museum makes it a leading centre for demonstrating the contemporary science in the world. The museum also includes several permanent and temporary galleries. The East Hall is the most appealing section and is also the first area seen by visitors in the Science museum. It is filled with a number of iconic steam engines which depict the story of the revolution in British industry. The Exploring Space Gallery in the museum is also one of the major attractions in the science museum. It exhibits a variety of rockets and items that were once used for space explorations.

Science Museum London is one of the most visited London attractions and is extremely popular amongst the scholars and students. The museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. The entry to the museum is free of charge but there is entry fee for some special exhibitions. The museum hosts a café and souvenir shop which is popular amongst the youngsters. It is easily accessible through several public transports and is within the walking distance from the South Kensington tube station. Educational group tours, events and resource material are also organized by the Science Museum. It is also well known for offering development and professional trainings to the teaching staff from all over the world. The museum is also renowned as a research centre and several facilities for the smooth progress of research are also offered by the museum.

Taking Back Sunday in London

2009-07-30T22:16:00.001-07:00

Taking Back Sunday is a globally renowned rock band which has its originally formed in New York, America in the year 1999. The first album of this band came in the year 2001 but, it did not do well initially. After the release of their first album, the band changed the line up of their artists. Soon after the change of the line up the second album known as – Tell All Your Friends was released. This was the actual flavour of success for the band. The band performed several stage shows along with other popular bands such as Brand New, The Used and many more. The band was also a part of the Vans Warped Tour held in 2003. In the middle of the career of this band two of the artists left the band and this departure led to a doubtful future of this band. Currently this outstanding rock band consists of the following performers –:

Lead Vocals – Adam Lazzara
Vocals, Guitar – Matt Fazzi
Drummer – Mark O’Connell
Lead Guitarist – Eddie Reyes
Bass, Vocals – Matt Rubano

The new group has also performed with several celebrated performers in some of the most successful tours in the history of rock music. Though the band is quite old now but, every time it comes with a new album it sounds as refreshing and rocking as ever. This probably is the reason of the huge fan following of the band and the unparallel popularity of the band. Taking Back Sunday has its origin in United States but, it is also well known in other parts of the world. The band recently had quite a few numbers of shows in UK and is still performing in the city. The group is ready to rock the floors at the music hub of Heaven in London. Following are some of the details of this forthcoming event-:

Date
4th August 2009 at 7:00 pm.

Venue
Heaven
9, The Arches, Villiers St
London WC2N 6NG
United Kingdom
(The venue is sited on the Villiers Street sited, easily accessible from the Charing Cross railway station.)

Price
17 Pounds approximately
Age Restriction

Children below 14 years are not allowed. Children between 14 – 15 years should be accompanied by adults.

Nearest Tube
Embankment tube station

Hurry up and book the tickets as soon as possible. You can visit the following site for more info on this concert and concert tickets:
“http://www.ticketswitch.com/tickets/slink.buy/lonnet/p.1CDJ/londonnet/london/heaven/taking-back-sunday.html”

Buoyant Bond Street

2009-07-28T21:51:00.001-07:00

London, besides being one of the most desired tourist destinations is also well known as a shopper’s paradise. The place is extremely popular for its trendy and elegant fashion statements. The city has various streets dedicated to shops offering clothes, fashion accessories, shoes, jewellery, books and almost everything that one could thing of purchasing.

Oxford Street, Regents Street, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Soho, Chinatown, Tottenham Court Road, Piccadilly and Bond Street are some of the most popular markets in the city. These streets are extremely crowded and attract millions of tourists every year. After Paris and New York, London is a hub of fashion industry.

Bond Street is one of the most visited streets in London. It is home to several brands such as Gucci, Armani and many more. Located in the region of Mayfair, it is easily accessible from the Bond Street, Green Park, Oxford Circus tube stations and several other public transports. You can find some of the most expensive and elegant shops in this market. It is a best place in London to get antiques, artworks and perfumes. Bond Street is also the major street in the region of West End, which is commonly known as a shopping district.

It has been a renowned street for shopping since the 18th century and thus it is also considered as a valuable part of history. Boutiques of several renowned and premium designers are also sited at Bond Street. Donna Karan, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Niccole Fahri, Ralph Lauren and Versace are some of the most premium names in this area. London’s Sotheby’s Auction House is also located at Bond Street. As far as the jewellery is concerned the street is particularly famous for diamonds and Tiffany, Cartier and Asprey and Garrard are some of the exclusive brands located in the region.

You can also explore various London attractions located around the Bond Street such as Royal Academy of Arts, Photographers Gallery, Liberty of London, Animation Art Gallery, Royal Institution of Great Britain and Allen Cristea. The Bond Street also offers a variety of entertainment venues such as the Queens Theatre, Prince of Whales Theatre, Leichester Square Theatre and much more. Several events are organized in the area all round the year. The place is also well known for dining and is home to several restaurants such as Sketch, Via Condotti, Patterson’s, Wild Honey, The Square and Hibiscus. Bond Street is also popular for night life. It truly illustrates the flavour London’s vivacious night life.

It is a home to several renowned pubs and night clubs such as Madame Jojo’s, Umbaba, Elysium, Molton House, Funky Buddha and Mahiki. London’s renowned fashion college – Cordwainers at London College of Fashion is also located close to the Bond Street. Several luxurious London hotels are also located at the Bond Street such as Grange Langham Court Hotel, Grange St Paul’s Hotel and many more. Thus it can be said the Bond Street is the best place for the fashionistas. It is extremely popular amongst the tourists and is often familiar as London’s most elite shopping destination. You can read about the other shopping districts in London in my previous post -

http://placesinlondon.blogspot.com/2009/06/oxford-street-londons-popular-shopping.html

Tower Bridge

2009-07-26T21:56:00.001-07:00

Tower Bridge is one of the most vivacious attractions in the city and it alone attracts millions of tourists every year. This beautiful landmark was named after its spectacular towers. This is also well known as Victorian Bridge and is more than 100 years old. This iconic landmark was creatively designed by the renowned architects – Horace Jones and Wolfe Barry. It took several years to turn this design into a reality and finally it was completed in the year 1894. This bridge is 197 feet long and is raised to a height of around 43 meter in order to allow the large ships to pass the bridge.

Earlier it was raised 50 times in a day but the number has eventually reduced to 5 times in a week.

You can observe a great view of Central London from the top of the tower. The experience of exploring the tower from inside is also outstanding. You can also discover the unique mechanism, with the use of which the tower is raised. The Tower Bridge should not be confused with the London Bridge, which is actually just the next to the Tower Bridge. It is easily accessible from the Tower Hill London Underground. Several exhibitions are also hosted at the walkways, twin towers and Victorian Engine room of the Tower Bridge.

The exhibitions are hosted and the history of the Tower Bridge is explained using interactive, films and photos. The walkways at the Tower Bridge offer astonishing views of the river Thames and several other renowned attractions. Thus the place is extremely popular amongst the nature lovers. The exhibitions at Tower Bridge are opened from 10:00 – 18:30 from the month of April – September. In order to make your tour even more exciting and memorable it is recommended to book the tickets well in advance. You can avail discounts on the rates of the tickets, if you are planning to visit in a group.

Behind the Scenes Tour, Introductory talks and Private evening tours can also be booked in advance. You can also take the assistance of experienced guides who can help to explore the tower in a better way. Several restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and bars are also sited around the Tower Bridge. You can also relish a great shopping experience at the London’s Borough Market and several other shops at the Southwark, which are within the walking distance from the Tower Bridge. London’s Tower of London, City Hall, HMS Belfast, Globe Theatre and the Monument are also located close to the Tower Bridge.

For more information read the following related post-
Tower of London.

Regents Street

2009-07-23T22:12:00.001-07:00

London is globally renowned for its latest fashion trends. You can explore several shopping streets in the city. Regents Street, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street and Oxford Street are some of the most popular shopping destinations in the city. Amongst all the above destinations Regents Street is the most popular amongst all the age groups. Situated between the Mayfair and the Soho, the region is always crowded. It is regarded as the trendiest areas in the city. Regents Street is located in the happening area of West End.

It is more common amongst the tourists in the city, though crowd also consists of the local Londoners. Regents Street is the most decorated and crowded during the Christmas celebrations. Regents Street is home to several buildings and almost all of them are guarded as Listed Building. All these buildings are together known as Regents Street Conservation area. There are several remarkable places and shops sited at the Regents Street. Let’s get to know something more about some of them:

Apple Retail Store: Opened in the year 2004, it is the best and the most stylish stores in the city. This was the first store of Apple group in the entire Europe. Today, the Apple retail store at the regent’s street is the largest retail store of Apple group in the entire world.
All Souls Church: Sited close to the Broadcasting House is the All Souls Church of Langham Palace. The church is one of the most popular and crowded in the city. This building was creatively designed by John Nash.

Broadcasting House: It is the home to the BBC headquarters. Besides BBC, various other radio stations also broadcast this building.
Austin Reed: You can find an atrium at the centre of Austin Reed, its glass lifts allows all the visitors to see across all the floors. From women wear to barber shop and unisexual beauty centre, you can find every thing at Austin Reed.

Aquascutum, Boots and Burberry are some other famous stores at the street. You can also relish delicious cuisines and drinks at the finest restaurants in the city, located at the Regents Street. Absolute Ice Bar, Apostrophe, Aubaine, Carnaby and Caffe Nero are some of the best eateries in the region of Regents Street. Parking facility is also easily available in this area. The place is within the easy reach from the Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus tube stations. You can also explore the Photographers Gallery and Animations Art Gallery located within the walking distance from the Regents Street. Thus net time you plan to visit London or you plan to shop in the city, Regents Street is a must to explore.

Chislehurst Caves

2009-07-21T21:29:00.001-07:00

Chislehurst Caves are London’s famous man made caves and are very popular amongst the tourists. These caves have been reportedly stood here through the history dating back to the year 1250 and made a silver mark for themselves in the London history. The Chislehurst Caves are located in the south eastern suburbs of Greater London. The Caves have been used as a popular film location. Famous movies like ‘Doctor Who and the Mutants’, ‘Seven Natural Wonders’, ‘Tribe’ and the ‘Merlin’ were shot here. The Caves have become a major tourist attraction in London lately.

History
The mines are rumoured to be initiated back in 1250. Last they were worked upon in the 1830s. During the First World War, the Caves were used as an ammunition depot for the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. The Chislehurst Caves have also been used for mushroom cultivation. The Caves were used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War. In no time, the Caves had transformed into a city. The underground city ran on electric lighting and had a chapel and a hospital. After the Victory Day in Europe (VE day) the caves were closed to the public.

Many musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd have also performed at the caves during the 1960s. Led Zeppelin had a huge media party organized at the Caves after the success of their first album. Lately in 2008, Cradle of Filth also shot a video for their music album in the Chislehurst Caves. The Caves have been used in a RPG game called ‘Labyrinthe’ recently.
Attractions at the Chislehurst Caves

Caves Church
Druid Altar
Haunted Pool

Facilities Chislehurst Caves offers

Gift Shop
There is a gift shop to help the customers take back souvenirs of the tour to Chislehurst. The gift shop also offers jewellery and collectables.
Free Car Parking
There are plenty of free parking spaces available for you to park your car, coach or motorbike.
Restaurant
The restaurant offers traditional English breakfast and lunch, prepares fresh meals and puts forwards daily specialties. The restaurant is famous for its Skull cakes and Bat cakes. The Caves Restaurant can also be booked for special occasions and parties.
Private Tours/Party and Advanced Bookings
Clubs and groups can book the Chislehurst for evening tours. These tours usually last a little longer than the normal 45 minute tour and are extendable up to one and a half hours.
The Chislehurst Cave can be booked for Birthday Parties to add a tint of ghost stories and excitement which includes buffet meal at the Cave Restaurant.
The Chislehurst can be booked in advanced for a private tour. This facility is mainly to cater to schools and educational institutes as the Caves tour provides an interactive infotainment about World War 2.

Location, Entrance Fee and Timings
The three most important things for a tourist to know:-
Where are the Chislehurst Caves located?
The Chislehurst Caves are located at the Old Hill, Kent, London.

What is the admission fee?
There is a £5 entry fee for adults. £3 fee for under 16 and free for children under 5.

What are the Chislehurst Cave timings?
The caves are open only 5 days a week every Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm BST. There are hourly guided tours too. The Chislehurst Caves however remains open on local school and bank holidays excluding Christmas and New Year.

How to travel to Chislehurst Caves?

One can walk from Chislehurst Railway station. It hardly takes 5 minutes to get to Chislehurst Caves and one can locate it easily around the Bikcley Arms public house.
If you plan your journey via bus, you can take 269 and 162 which would drop you to Chislehurst Station. From there you can just walk down to the Chislehurst Caves.
You can take tubes from Charing Cross and London Bridge to Chislehurst tube Station too.
And if you are taking your car around the city, remember to take A222 between A20 and A21. Take the Station road and then take a right turn for Caveside Close.

The Freud Museum in London

2009-07-19T21:57:00.001-07:00

London is home to several globally renowned museums and galleries. Natural History Museum, National Gallery, Science Museum, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Freud Museum are some of the most visited museums in England. The Freud Museum in London was opened in the year 1986. It is one the most popular London attractions. The museum is located in Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead. The museum features Freud family memorabilia, papers, books, couches and antiquities. The museum is open to public only five days a week on Wednesday to Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm BST.

History
The Nazi captured Austria in the year 1938. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, moved to London just after the invasion. He moved to Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead with his family, which is now where the Freud Museum stands. Freud expired the same year as he was in his eighties. The Freuds shifted all their belongings like their furniture, Freud’s psychoanalytic couch, Beidermeier chests, tables and cupboards. The museum’s collection includes Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Oriental antiques and a portrait of Freud by the great Salvador Dali. The museum is also an active member of London Museums of Health & Medicine.
The Freud Museum in London is not the “only Freud Museum” in the world. There is another Freud Museum in Vienna and the most recent in Pribor, Czech Republic. The Freud Museum in Pribor, was opened by the Czech president Václav Klaus and four of Freud's great-grandsons. The museum is dedicated to Sigmund Freud.

The museum is also filled with memoirs of Anna, his daughter. Anna lived there for more than 40 years and developed and studied psychoanalysis. She died in 1982 and before that she had done everything imaginable to pay her tributes to her dad, Sigmund Freud by transforming the house into the Freud Museum.

What is there in Freud Museum to be explored?

Freud’s psychoanalytic couch where Sigmund Freud’s patients used to sprawl.
Freud’s Library which contains Freud’s favourite authors including Shakespeare, Heine, Multatuli, Goethe and Anatole France. The library also includes books on literature, philosophy, art, psychology, medicine, history and psychoanalysis.
There are classic pictures collected by Freud himself on display too. They are the Riddle of the Sphinx and The lesson of Dr Charcot Oedipus
Photographs on the walls include famous people like Martha Freud (Sigmund Freud’s wife), Lou Andreas-Salomé, Maria Bonaparte (Princess), Ernst Von Fleischl and Yvette Guilbert.
Freud’s study also displays antiques from ancient Rome, Egypt, Orient and Greece. Collecting antiquities from all over the world was Freud’s second habit only after his addiction to cigars.

Dining Room
The Dining Room has Austrian country furniture and is full of paintings of the alpine region where Freud used to spend most of his holidays.

Conservatory
The Conservatory is at the backside of the building which was earlier a terrace or veranda. The museum shop is located here now.

Anna Freud Room
Anna Freud’s Room is located on the first floor. One can look at her work, her analytic couch, and also memoirs of her assistant Dorothy Burlingham.

Exhibition Room
The Exhibition Room is where the museum hosts exhibitions on contemporary art.

Video Room
There is a video room in the Freud Museum where the visitors can view video clips of the Freuds’ life and history.

Garden
The garden has all the plants Freud loved during the stages of his life. It has terracotta flower pot, hortense, roses, clematis, almond trees, curved bench and tables strategically placed in the shade. There also stands the pine tree which was knee-high at the time when Anna Freud had planted it.

Collections
The museum contains the finest antiques Freud’s house displayed. One can experience the magnificent carpets, Renaissance works of art and hidden collections like family photographs. The museum has 2,000 antiques in display.

Exhibitions
The Freud Museum can be hired for meetings, formal dinners and for filming. Art Exhibitions take place there every now and then.

Nearest Tube Stations
The nearest tube stations are Finchley Road (Jubilee & Metropolitan line), Swiss Cottage Tube and Hampstead Tube.

Admission Fee
The admission fee is £3.00 for adults and there is concession of £1.50 for children under 12.

At the Freud Museum one can experience Sigmund Freud’s life intimately. Many psychoanalysis students come to the Freud Museum to learn from the master.

What’s on at London Trafalgar Square

2009-07-12T23:30:00.001-07:00

London is amongst the most vibrant tourists destinations in the world. The city hosts a large variety of events every year. Besides sightseeing, shopping and exploring London places, to be a part of these events is apparently a must to do if you are visiting UK.

Trafalgar Square is one of the most popular London places which is not only known as an iconic London landmark or sightseeing place in London but it is also one of the best venue for several entertaining events in London. It is used for a wide range of events such as filming, demonstrations, photographic shoots, performances and promotional activities. The Fourth Plinth at the Trafalgar Square is especially renowned for hosting art, music and theatre events.

Events at Trafalgar Square

The Barber of Seville
The event will take place on the 15th of July 2009 at the Trafalgar Square. It will be the broadcast of the popular Barber of Seville – Royal Opera House. The opera art form itself is extremely popular not only in London but in the entire Europe and thus it is one of the most awaited events in the city. This opera event is absolutely free of charge.

Sightseeing Photography Tour - Guided Walk
This event is organized at the Trafalgar Square on every Tuesday from 1 pm to 5 pm. In the tour you can capture the beauty of several historic sights in the city. Some of these historic sights are the Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Statue of Eros, fourth plinth and many more highlights of this popular London place. You need to book the tickets for this event which will cost you around 75 pounds per person. The tickets can also be booked well in advance. The same event is held on every Monday exclusively for Women.

Antony Gormley’s One & Other – The Fourth Plinth
The event is going on at the Fourth Plinth and will end on 14th October 2009. This event will continue for 100 days, 24 hours without a single break. You can also visit the square and make the plinth your own. If you get selected by the sculptor Antony Gormley, you can occupy the plinth and use it as you like for demonstrations, performances etc. One and other is an event open to anyone and everyone staying in UK and is above the age of 16 years. To take part in the event you need to register online at oneandother.co.uk. Even if you are not living in UK you can go at the plinth and enjoying the event.

Facilities at Trafalgar Square

Café offering a wide range of locally sourced food and drinks.
Public Toilets.
Heritage Wardens to help the visitors and to provide information.

Getting Here????

Trafalgar Square is easily accessible from several parts of the city. Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Embankment are the nearest Tube stations from the Trafalgar Square.

Where to Stay????

The Grand at Trafalgar Square
It is a 4 star London hotel sited just a stones throw from the Trafalgar Square. This luxury hotel offers 63 opulent rooms with several contemporary room amenities such luggage storage, wireless internet, laundry and 24 hour room service. Business facilities are also available in the hotel.

Radisson Edwardian Hampshire
Located in the region of Leicester Square, this 5 star hotel in London is one of the most comfortable accommodations around Trafalgar Square. The hotel hosts 124 well appointed rooms with several facilities such as restaurant, terrace, luggage storage, fitness centre, business centre, currency exchange and much more.

Grange White Hall Hotel
It is amongst the best hotels in London sited in the ravishing region of Russell Square. The hotel has an easy access to several London attractions including Trafalgar Square. The hotel offers 60 en suite rooms and 8 conference rooms with several world class facilities.

All the above information might help you out while you explore the London city.

London Sightseeing Tours

2009-07-09T22:02:00.001-07:00

London, the capital of United Kingdom is sited close to the beautiful banks of the river Thames. The city has an affluent cultural heritage and the imperial traditions of the city have always created an impact on the world history. The city is home to several galleries, museums and tourist attractions. Besides London attractions, London sightseeing is also extremely popular amongst the tourists.

Let’s talk about some of the famous London sights and Sightseeing tours:

Chinatown
London’s Chinatown is one of the most vibrant locations in the city. The place is located between the Shaftesbury Avenue and Leicester Square, close to the renowned Soho. The region offers a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, café’s, night clubs and much more. All these happening places make Chinatown one of the most vivacious districts in London. Gerrard Street is the main drag of this district. Amongst the population of 80000 Chinese in London about 40% live in the Chinatown. During the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, papier- mache lion dance is performed at the streets of the city. This celebration itself is one of the biggest events in London. The Chinatown specifically is decorated beautifully during the celebrations. The renowned boutiques of the West End are also close to this London sight. It is easily accessible through the Leichester Square tube station.

Downing Street:
Downing Street is one of the most popular front doors in the entire world. It is the Prime Ministers Office, state events venue, venue for the cabinet and the residence for the family of the Prime Minister. The private flat of the Prime Minister – Tony Blair is on the second floor of the building. It is one of the most important places in London and thus is also a popular London sight for the tourists. At 10 Down Street you can also take an interactive tour offered at the sight by some of the experienced guides. During the tour you can explore all the 9 locations and their significance.

Fitzroy House:
Since the 18th century, Fitzroy House is one of the popular sights in England and is renowned for its artists and writers. Some of the best writers such as H.G. Wells, George Orwell, Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf were the inhabitants of the Fitzroy House. George Bernard who was a renowned Irish playwright also resided at the Fitzroy Square. It is a popular sight in the city and tours to the sight are organized very often. The sight opens at 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. but only by appointment and the admission to the sight is without any charge.

London Aquarium:
London Aquarium is amongst the most visited tourist attractions in the city and it is the first one of its kind in the entire England. At the London Aquarium you can discover one of the largest exhibitions based on the global aquatic life. This one of the largest exhibitions in England and attracts tourists from all over the world. It is also a great resource of research for the scientists. The exhibition at the London Aquarium is displayed in 2 million litres of water. By visiting the sight you can explore several aspects of the marine life.

Vinopolis – City of Wine:
Vinopolis is amongst the popular sights in the city and is well known as the City of Wine. The sight is located at the bank side and easily accessible through the London Bridge tube station. The sight offers a variety of delicious food and drinks. The tours at the sight will let you know all about wine. You can spend a day at the site and learn about the making of wine. During the tour you will get 5 tokens with which you can taste 5 types of wines. Several packages offering more tokens are also available.

These sightseeing tours in London are must to explore during your trip as they are not only interesting but are also extremely informative. These tours will make your trip even more joyful and memorable. You can also avail the London sightseeing pass and also attend the London walking tours.

London’s Old Operating Theatre Museum And Herb Garret

2009-07-07T21:47:00.001-07:00

If there is any museum in London which is different, strange and totally unusual it is the Old Operating Theatre. The museum has London’s most exciting and significant interiors and it is located in the Southwark, London near the London Bridge. The Old Operating Theatre Museum is located in the garret (Herb Garret) of St Thomas Church in Southwark which is located on the original site of the St Thomas’ Hospital. To go to the Old Operating Theatre Museum just park your car at St Thomas’s Street, London.

History
The Old Operating Theatre which is located in the heart of London is the oldest operating theatre in whole of the Europe dating back to the year 1822. The Museum has the inimitably set timber in Spanish architecture style. The Herb Garret is the part of the museum where you get to travel around the Roof space of the St. Thomas’s Church. Roof spaces of churches are usually not allowed access to the common man and are restricted to priests and nuns. By coming to the Old Operating Theatre one can also witness the classic styling of the Church Architecture.

The Old Operating Theatre was not known to everyone till it was opened for public. It was hidden in the roof of the Church and had wooden operating table and observation stands (from where students used to watch the surgery being performed). The Old Operating Theatre was open to all but then it accepted to offer medical or surgical treatment to people infected with communicable diseases. At the time of the great plague there were almost no patients treated. Another very interesting part is that the patients never took the spiral staircase in the Old Operating Theatre; they had to come from what is now the fire exit.

Why the Old Operating Theatre is called an operating theatre and museum?
The Old Operating Theatre is called an operating theatre because it served as an operation theatre to patients and surgeons long, long back. The wealthy patients were given treatment and were operated at home than in hospital. It was only for poor and most of the patients at the Old Operating Theatre were females.

It is also called a theatre because the operations were carried out in front of the audience usually consisting of students who had come to learn the art of surgery.
It is called a museum because, there is no surgery done there anymore and it is the first of its kind not just in United Kingdom but in whole of Europe. One can witness what tools the surgeons used for operations back in the 19th century.

How did the doctors (surgeons) operate back then in the days?
All operations were done without anesthetics since “anaesthesia” was only found in the year 1847. The surgeons used to perform the surgery as fast as possible since the patients were conscious during the operations. The opium and alcohol were however used to make the patients not feel the inflicting pain. It is said that the surgeons operated so fast that the entire operation would take less than a minute.

Most of the cases at the Old Operating Theatre were for amputations. The Theatre never carried out internal operations as it carried the risk of septic. The Old Operating Theatre restricted to only external amputations. The operating table used for such operations is still here at the Old Operating Theatre Museum and lies along with the sawdust box which was used for collecting blood.

A visit to the Old Operating Theatre Museum is such a tremendous experience. The spiral staircase, roof of an old church and the storage space for medicinal herbs are few of the many things to view in the Museum.

One can appreciate the advancements mankind has made in the field of modern technology and science looking at the museum. The Museum remains closed from 15th December to 5th January every year. There is a minimal admission fee and the museum opens daily from 10:30am to 5:00pm BST.

Londons Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

2009-07-05T21:28:00.001-07:00

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is amongst the most popular London attractions. Millions of people not just from England but, tourists from all over the world visit the attraction almost every year. The museum was established in the year 1802 by Marie Tussauds, when she came to England along with 35 wax figures. The museum was established at Baker’s street initially and then was eventually shifted to Marylebone in the year 1884. The collection at present location is updated frequently as per the world events and opinion of the public in general.

This renowned wax museum has several branches in various large cities. It is home to the wax figures of almost all the prominent personalities. Some of the Tussauds wax figures are mentioned below:

• Brian Lara
• David Beckham
• SachinTendulkar
• Kapil Dev
• Britney Spears
• Madonna
• Angelina Jolie
• Amitabh Bachchan
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
• Shahrukh Khan
• Salman Khan

It can be seen that from Hollywood to Bollywood, from sports to music and politics, you can find almost everyone at Madame Tussauds. It is strange but true that Gordon Brown – the British Prime Minister was stubbornly voted out by the general public and was not a part of the wax museum. Barack Obama on the other side was a part of the wax museum.

Fascinating Facts about the wax figures:

Usually it takes around 800 hours or even more for photographing, moulding, measuring, sculpting and painting.
The collection at the museum consists of around 400 wax figures.
The museum has already used around 2400 lbs of the special wax from Japan which a non melting wax.
The crucial data of all the celebrities remain to be a secret and are never revealed.
It takes around 4 months to complete a wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
A team of 20 or more artists are involved in the process of creating a wax figure.
To create one figure it costs 150000 pounds.
The largest wax figure at Tussauds is 15 feet tall and is of – The Hulk, a comic book hero.
The smallest figure at Madame Tussauds is just 20 centimeter tall and is of Gingy - The Gingerbread Man.
More than 500 million tourists have visited the museum since the time it was first opened.

The Madame Tussauds Museum is easily accessible from the Baker’s street tube station. The museum is open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The children below 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult aged above 16 years – as per the rules of the museum. Children under 5 years of age can enter the museum without any ticket charges. Pushchairs are not allowed in the museum and can be left at the collection point. You can also avail a discount on the tickets by booking the tickets online. The museum offers a special flexi ticket for those who are not confirmed about the time and date of their visit. These tickets are valid for one week and also allow you to enter through a fast track entry.

Madame Tussauds is also one of the most popular venues for organizing corporate events. The place offers five exceptionally interactive areas designed particularly to organize informal and formal events. These areas can be decorated as per your personal choice and the requirements of the event. The areas are fully equipped with contemporary designs of lighting and sound equipments. Madame Tussauds without a doubt is an extremely interactive experience where people can get close to their much loved celebrities. It is not necessary for you to be a renowned celebrity if you want a wax figure for yourself. You just need to pay 150000 pounds! Although this figure will not be displayed in the museum but, you can the figure throughout your life.

London Places To Go

2009-07-02T22:09:00.001-07:00

London is the capital of UK and reportedly the largest city in the European Union. London has been one of the major tourist attraction spots in the world and not just the United Kingdom. London has numerous places to observe and be awestruck at the same time by appreciating the exquisiteness and splendor of English craftsmanship.

Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is situated in central London. At its centre is Nelson's Column which stands guarded by four lion statues at its base. Statues and sculptures are on display in the square, including a fourth plinth displaying changing pieces of contemporary art and it is also a site of political demonstrations. The name reminds one of the Battle of Trafalgar which took place in 1805 where British naval forces defeated Napoleons’ forces. Trafalgar Square was originally named as “King William the Fourth’s Square” but George Ledwell Taylor changed it to what it is called today. Charing Cross, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus tube station are the closest London underground from the Trafalgar Square.

Buckingham Palace
London is full of attractions and has tourists flocking London streets all year round. Buckingham Palace is one such crowd puller. One can witness the changing of Royal Guards and Guards Parade on horses for free. There are daily guard changing ceremonies at Horse Guards Parade and Buckingham Palace which also makes it a good place for taking souvenir pictures. This London landmark is easily accessible from the Green Park, St James’s Park and Victoria tube station.

Big Ben
Did you know that Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the Palace of Westminster in London? All this time, I actually thought it was named Big Ben. It is the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock and just celebrated its 151st birthday this 10th April 2009. Big Ben is also popularly known as clock tower.

London Eye
Millennium Wheel is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe and is one of the most popular paid attractions in the United Kingdom. It is also known as the London Eye and has three million people visiting in one year. It was first formally launched by the Prime Minister at that time, Tony Blair, on 31 December 1999, although it was not opened to the public until March 2000.The London Eye stands 443 ft above the ground and from the top of London Eye one can see far off places in London.

London Bridge or Tower Bridge?
London Bridge is falling down; falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down? No it isn’t! London Bridge has been standing for more than 2000 years between the City of London and Southwark in London over the river Thames. It was first built in 50 AD by Romans and at that time it was made up of wood. In 1176 the timber was replaced by stone and it took 33 years to complete and finally was ready in 1209 during King Johns rule. Many people still call the Tower Bridge as London Bridge which is pretty ignorant because they are two different bridges. London Bridge is actually the next bridge upstream river Thames after the Tower Bridge. So what you picturize is when you think of London Bridge or Tower Bridge could be wrong. Why don’t you come down to London, see these bridges and find it out yourself?
London Bridge is a bridge between the City of London and Southwark in London, England, over the River Thames.

Madame Tussauds Museum
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London which is better known as The Wax Museum all over the world has life-size wax statues of celebrities from all round the world amounting from various spheres. You can find Barrack Obama, Mahatma Gandhi , Adolf Hitler , Fidel Castro , Benazir Bhutto , Oscar Wilde , Isaac Newton, Tom Cruise , Will Smith , Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan ,Michael Jackson , Britney Spears , David Beckham, Sachin Tendulkar in the midst of other few famous wax statues.
London is a wonderful place waiting to be explored by tourists. It has magnificent shopping districts, hotels and restaurants which provide out of the world services and unmatched class and quality.

O2 London

2009-07-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

London – the happening capital city of United Kingdom attracts millions of tourists from all the parts of the world. London is home to several party and entertainment venues. Amongst all these venues o2 Arena, London is one of the most crowded and entertaining destinations in the city. Located in the Peninsula Square, Greenwich, London it is easily accessible from the North Greenwich station on the jubilee line. There are several huge buildings in the arena and all of them have wide entrances. Shuttles from the O2 to the nearest tube station are also available. The venue opens at 9 a.m. and the timing for the last entry is 1 a.m. Tickets for the events etc are easily available at the O2 arena box office and indigoO2. This extremely large arena with the diameter of 365 metres has a height of 50 metres. The arena is as big as 10 St Paul’s Cathedral, 13 Albert Halls or 2 Wembley stadiums. Several modern facilities such as parking, security, chaplain etc are available in the arena.

The O2 London which is popular known as Millennium Domes is truly the world of a wide variety of entertainment under one roof. The O2 arena can easily accommodate around 20,000 people. The O2 arena is the most popular venue of live events and concerts. The hottest performances of the UK are held at this arena. Bon Jovi, Scissor Sisters, Britney Spears, Elton John, Justin Timber lake etc are some the globally renowned performers who have performed at the O2 arena, London. The arena can be easily transformed from a happening concert venue to a world class sporting arena. The arena dedicatedly works to promote the British sports. In fact the basketball and gymnastics finals of 2012 Olympics will also be held at the O2 arena. The indigoO2 is another entertainment venue within the O2 arena. It has the capacity to accommodate around 2400 people and is well suited for the comedy shows, live music concerts, television recording, club night or the corporate events. Several special events and exhibitions are also organized at O2.

Events in 2009 at the O2 arena-:

British Music Experience 24th June 2009 – 15 Jan 2010
This is one of the permanent exhibitions which is completely dedicated to the great history of the music in Britain. In this exhibition you can see that how the pop, rock, dance and other genres were actually formed. An educational programme is also organized in the arena where several concerts, workshops etc are held.

Kings of Leon + Glasvegas 30th June 2009
The Tennessean group known as the Kings of Leon is extremely popular for their rock concerts. You can be a part of this concert at the O2 arena on 30th of June from 7:30 onwards. Along with this you can also savor the performance of the Scottish band Glasvegas.

Sticky & Sweet Tour – Madonna, Paul Oakenfold - 5th July 2009
Be a part of the rocking concert of the sizzling and vivacious performer – Madonna along with the renowned and the topmost DJ – Paul Oakenfold from United Kingdom. Tickets to the concert are limited so hurry and book your tickets as early as possible.

James Taylor – 6th July 2009
James Taylor is a renowned singer, instrumentalist, song writer and an extremely talented personality will perform at the O2 arena on 6th July 2009 from 6:30 onwards. Visit the O2 website for the prices and availability of the tickets.

Michael Jackson - 13th July
People were desperately waiting to rock their evening in the live concert of the most popular performer of the world – Michael Jackson on the 13th of July. The rock star was to perform on 8th, 10th and 13th of July but, the concert is cancelled due to the un fortunate death of this pop star. Although you can never see him performing live now but his music will always remain in our heart and soul.

Besides organizing several dazzling events the O2 arena is also home to various impressive restaurants and bistros. You can also savor the delights of several delicious cuisines at the arena.

Natural History Museum

2009-06-30T21:30:00.001-07:00

London is home to several museums and galleries. The city is the capital of United Kingdom and is situated close to the river Thames. The city has a rich, royal history and glorious heritage. The galleries and museums in London attract millions of tourists from all around the world. Amongst all the well known museums and galleries Natural History Museum is one of the most popular tourist attraction in London. Natural History Museum is located at the renowned exhibition road and has an easy access from the south Kensington tube station. Opened in the year 1881, it is by far one of the largest and finest museums in the field of natural history. The museum displays several interactive such as dinosaurs, volcano experience, creepy crawlies, earth treasury, blue whale and many more. The entry in the museum is absolutely free of charge and the opening time of the museum is from 10: 00 – 17:50. The museum is open on all week days except from 24th – 26th December. Experienced guides are available in the museums to help you explore this spectacular museum even better.

The museum is globally famous for is phenomenal collection on natural history and is home to more than 70 million items. The collection at the museum comprises of earth and life sciences specimens. The collection is divided into five sub categories – zoology, mineralogy, botany, entomology and paleontology. It is also a globally well known research centre and specializes in conservation, identification and taxonomy. The Darwin’s collection in the museum is amongst the most valuable collection in the world. The Darwin live centre is a free event organized at the museum. It gives an opportunity to all the visitors, to talk to the scientists who actually work and exhibit the exceptional collections in the museum. The library at the Natural History Museum is also one of the best libraries in the city. It contains manuscripts, journals, books and artworks of science departments. The dinosaur skeleton exhibition is the most popular exhibition of this museum. You can also savor a variety of delicious food at the on sight restaurant at the museum.

The museum also hosts a well appointed snacks bar, café’s and picnic area offering extremely friendly atmosphere. The museum shop, dino store and earth shop at the museum offer a variety of souvenir, gifts and replicas. The museum also offers several facilities such as cash machine, telephones, toilets, first aid and information desk. Visitors are allowed to click photographs but its recommended not to take any sharp object inside the museum as your belongings are checked before you enter the museum. The museum organizes several exhibitions on a daily basis and the following are the exhibitions that will be organized from 8th June to 15th June:
• Tree
• Ida fossil cast on display
• Butterfly Jungle
• Wildlife Garden Workshops
• Pondbusters

The museum organizes several special exhibitions for the kids and students. It is extremely educational and interesting.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

2009-06-29T22:53:00.001-07:00

St. Paul’s Cathedral was founded in 604 AD in then Lundenwic which is now better known as London. The original cathedral was built at a site which was earlier a Roman trading post at the banks of the River Thames. It is considered as the first traditional Saxon cathedral. The cathedral was erected by Mellitus and it is amongst the most renowned London attractions. The St. Paul’s Cathedral is located on the Ludgate Hill in the heart of the City of London. The cathedral is also the seat of the Bishop of London. The current building has been standing dating back to the 17th century and is termed as the fifth ST Paul’s Cathedral. The St. Paul’s Cathedral is counted amongst one of the best tourist spots in London sightseeing. The beautiful architecture, ancient artwork and the awe-inspiring building designing, that too a millennium before the latest advancements in architecture could be even dreamt of, makes the cathedral amongst the churches in England.

It was believed that the St. Paul’s Cathedral stood on the same site of a previous temple dedicated to the goddess of Diana. That is what Geoffrey of Monmouth claimed too. He believed that it built after the Apollo Temple in Westminster. The cathedral was burnt to ashes in the “most fatal fire of 962”. It was found mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that the cathedral had caught fire because it was made of timber. People still believe it to be assumptions and a proper reason for the fire is not justified. Later the cathedral was built entirely in stone. Ethelred the Unready was buried in the cathedral premises. That cathedral also got damaged in a fire in 1087. The complete city had burnt then. Later another St. Paul’s Cathedral which is often termed as the Old St. Paul’s Cathedral was built. It is believed that Normans started building the cathedral right after the fire in 1087. Its completion almost took 200 years. And several parts were still lost in a fire in 1136.

The Old St. Paul’s Cathedral had become moldy by the mid of 16th century and the Great Fire of London in the year 1666 added insult to injury. The current cathedral started building in 1168 under Sir Christopher Wren and completed on his birthday, 20th October 1708. The Royal Family is known to have used St. Paul’s Cathedral for the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and the Lady Diana Spencer. Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee also was celebrated at the cathedral.

The St. Paul’s underground station is the nearest tube station to the St. Paul’s Cathedral. Britain’s memorial service also honoured the victims of the 9-11 attacks in the year 2001 at the St. Paul’s cathedral. The event was attended by U.S. ambassador William Farish and the Royal Family. The cathedral is open to public for free but there is a charge for non-worshipping attendees. St. Paul’s has an amazing view of the London city from the golden gallery. The cathedral is supposed to go a £40 million refurbishment on its 300 year anniversary. Sited quite close to London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, Grange Hotels is about to launch one more luxurious and glorious hotel in the capital’s financial district – Grange St Paul’s Hotel in next 20 days.

National Gallery

2009-06-28T22:12:00.001-07:00

The 9th largest metropolitan in the world – London, is the capital city of United Kingdom. The city has a rich cultural heritage. city attracts millions of tourists every year and is globally renowned for its numerous tourist attractions. The capital of United Kingdom is a multi ethnic city and thus there are several festivals and events celebrated in the city throughout the year.

The city has been an essential part of several movements in the history. Founded by the great Romans, England is well known for its glorious history, art and culture and thus you can also find numerous museums and galleries in London. National Gallery is one of the most reputed and popular amongst the tourists and the Londoners as well. Founded in the year 1824, National Gallery displays a rich cultural collection of more than 2300 paintings. Located in the area of Trafalgar Square, the gallery is easily accessible from Charing Cross and Piccadilly Circus tube stations. Like several other galleries in United Kingdom, the entry at National Gallery is also free of charge. The collection at the gallery is extremely encyclopedic and attractive. It displays the most significant developments in Contemporary western paintings. Earlier, almost all the art works at National Gallery were on permanent exhibitions but, now it’s not the case. The collection includes masterpieces by several European artists. Exhibitions are organized at the National Gallery very often. Here are some of the current exhibitions going on at the National Gallery:

Picasso: Challenging the Past ( 25th Feb – 7th June 2009)
The exhibition will be held from 25th Feb – 7th June 2009 at Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery. The admission to the exhibition has a nominal charge.
Picasso’s Prints : ( 25th Feb – 7th June 2009)
The Picasso’s Prints will be displayed in the room 1 of National Gallery. The entry for all the visitors is free.
Take One Picture: an exhibition of work by primary schools ( 27th April – 12th July 2009)
It will be held in the room C and no entry free will be charged.
Corot to Monet: A fresh look at landscape from the collection (8th July – 20 September 2009) Corot to Monet is an exhibition that beautifully illustrates the development of landscape painting in open air. The visitors will not be charged any admission fee.

The National Gallery opens at 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. throughout the week. Guided tours of National Galleries are available in the gallery. These tours are guided by some of the best and the most experienced guides of the gallery. They help you to explore almost every part and collection of the gallery. Tours are also specially designed for the families and children. Although these tours are extremely beneficial for the first time visitors but, you can also explore the treasures of this gallery yourself. You can also savor the delights of various luscious cuisines at the ‘Best British Restaurant’, The National Café and The Espresso Bar located in the National Gallery. Spectacular and stylish shops are also sited at the National Gallery, where you can shop some of the best individual collections. Level O, Sainsbury Wing, Level 2 Portico and Level 0, Main Building are some of the shops located at National Gallery.

Tate Modern – Truly Incomparable

2009-06-25T21:54:00.001-07:00

London is amongst the largest metropolitans of the world. UK is home to several renowned museums and galleries. Every year these museums attract millions of tourists. Entry is free at almost all these museums and galleries but, there are charges for some of the special exhibitions.

Amongst all the museums and galleries Tate Modern Art Gallery attracts the maximum tourists every year. Tate Modern is London’s National Museum and is famous for its exceptional collections of international contemporary art. Tate Liverpool, Tate Modern, Tate St Ives and Tate Britain are a part of the group of museums commonly known as Tate. Opened in the year 2000, it is sited at the former Power Station at Bank side and is easily accessible from Blackfriars and Southwark London underground. This spectacular museum organizes several exhibitions, events etc and displays exceptional art works. The museum is also renowned to showcase collections embracing photography. There are two ways to enter the museum – River Entrance and Holland Street from Turbine Hall. Several facilities such as concessionary tickets for disables, stools for sitting, telephones, rest rooms, lifts and baby care rooms are available in the museum. Tate Modern also offers the services of private tour, meal packages, Tate to Tate tours, exhibitions introductory Lecture, free guide tours, multimedia guides etc. Works of famous artists such as Dali, Picasso, Bacon and many more are displayed in the gallery.

In the recent past the works such as Roni Horn aka Roni Horn, Rodchenko and Popova: Defining Constructivism, Paintings from 1980’s, Nicholas Holobo, The Unilever Series: Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and many more were exhibited in the museum. Some of the upcoming events and exhibitions are listed below:

• Level 2 Gallery: Stutter ( 23rd April – 16 August )
In this exhibition you can explore a wide variety of artistic practices. Will Stuart, Michael Riedel, Dominique Petitgand, Anna Barham, Sven Augustijnen and Michelangelo Pistoletto are the artists of the Stutter. The exhibition will be held at the Level 2 Gallery from Sunday to Thursdays (10.00 – 18.00).

• Futurism ( 12 June – 20 September 2009)
An art movement – Futurism was launched by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, who was an Italian poet. It celebrates the contemporary worlds of technology and industry. This dramatic art movement can be seen in the Tate Modern from 12th June – 20 September 2009 from 10.00 – 18.00 (Sunday to Thursday).

• Per Kirkeby ( 17 June – 6 September 2009)
An exhibition consisting of paintings on canvas and hardboards, blackboards, paper, brick structures and bronze sculptures by the renowned Danish artist – Per Kirkeby can be explored at the museum from Sunday to Thursday ( 10.00 – 18.00) from 17th June till 6 September 2009.

You can also relish delicious meals and drinks at the Espresso bar at the level 4 of the Tate Modern Gallery. The snacks and sandwiches at Espresso are outstanding. It is open from 10.15 – 18.00 from Sunday to Thursday.

Oxford Street London’s Popular Shopping District

2009-06-24T22:54:00.001-07:00

London – one of the most desired tourist destination in the entire world. This capital city hosts some of the best night clubs, pubs and bars of the city. You can also savor the various means of entertainment such as theatres, musical shows, sports etc that the city offers. London is also known as the most fashionable city of the world. People from all over the world come to UK to shop the most stylish clothes and accessories. Several streets such as Oxford Street, Regents Street, Covent Garden, Bond Street and Piccadilly Circus etc are famous for the elegant shops and unique collection of clothes and accessories.

Oxford Street is also amongst the best tourist attractions of England as far as shopping in London is concerned. It is one of the busiest and the liveliest areas of the city. The place is easily accessible from Oxford Circus tube station. It is also close to the Marble Arch, Tottenham Court Road, Mayfair and Bond Street underground stations. The eventful region of Oxford Street London attracts most of the tourists. Almost all the shops in Oxford Street open at 10:00 in the morning and it remains open till 7:00 p.m. You can explore several departmental stores such as Selfridges etc in this area. Fashion Formal Hire, Ladies Wear, Children clothing, Fashion Maternity, Men’s Wear, and accessories, you name it and Oxford Street offers it. Most of the big departmental stores are located between Oxford Street and Marble Arch. Not only in London but, Oxford Street is also the busiest shopping street in the entire Europe. It is home to numerous branded showrooms as well as several small and cheap shops. It is surely not the most expensive shopping areas in London but quite a few cheap stores are also available in the region. Here are some of the most popular stores at Oxford Street:

• Adidas
• Selfridges
• John Lewis
• Debenhams
• Marks and Spencer
• House of Fraser
• Disney Store
• Topshop
• Nike
• United Colours of Benetton

Oxford Street is also well known for elegant and stylish jewellery. It is home to several renowned and designer jewel stores such as Leslie Davis, Fossil, Swarovski, Swatch, H Samuel and many more.

Several festivals such as Easter, Christmas etc are celebrated at the Oxford Street. The street is decorated with lights. The tradition is that in the mid of November a celebrity is invited to turn on these lights and then it remains on till 6th January. You can also relish the delights of various scrumptious cuisines at Oxford Street restaurants. Chopstix, KFC, Taza La Plaza and Carluccio’s Café are the most popular eateries in the area. The place is renowned for the tasty sandwiches that it offers.

From five star hotels to family run lounge, you can find a variety of accommodations in and around the Oxford Street. You can easily find several banks and cash machines in the area. The services such as currency exchange and internet café is also easily available in this area. Various shops for stationary and books are also located in this area. Following are the upcoming events organized at the Oxford Street:

• Shh! Exclusive Offers ( 15th May – 15 Dec)
• West End Style ( 16th May – 31 Dec)

Thus it can surely be said that Oxford Street is amongst the most popular attractions in London. So if you plan to shop in London then, Oxford Street is a must to explore.

Big Ben

2009-06-23T21:54:00.001-07:00

The great and the giant bell at the clock tower is popularly known as Big Ben. It is located in the lively region of Westminster, London. Big Ben is by far the largest four faced tower in the world and every year it attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. This chiming clock is also the third largest free- standing tower in the entire globe. This glorious clock tower was built in the year 1288 and was designed by Augustus Pugin. The structure of the tower consists of excellent brickwork and the upper part is framed spire of iron. The large faces of this Big Ben clock are about 180 ft from the ground. In London, this clock of this tower is extremely trustworthy as far as the time is concerned. It is often said that the clock tower keeps impeccable time and rarely stops. The phenomenal main bell in the tower is commonly known as the great bell, along with this enormous bell there are four quarter bells in the tower. These four bells play the quarter hours and are of G, F, E and B sharp. The 20 chime sequence played by the quarter bell is extremely melodious. Most of the people still identify the whole tower as Big Ben but actually the name refers to the great bell accommodated in the tower. A Latin inscription meaning ‘Lord save our Queen Victoria 1’ is imbibed on the base of each clock face.

The Big Ben London has now become a great and well known iconic Landmark of London, United Kingdom especially in the visual media. You can see this location in several films, shows etc where to depict the location of England, Bigben is shown. It has been a recognizable symbol of the country. The tower is also a renowned venue for the celebrations of New Year in London. The radio channels often tune to the chimes of the clock for a grand and harmonious welcome the New Year. Remembrance Day is another event celebrated in the city in which the chimes are broadcasted to mark the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh moth every year and the two minute silence is started when the chimes are heard. All the four chimes of the clock are illuminate every night and this adds to the beauty of the Big Ben tower even more. A unique light is also placed at the top of the clock which also illuminated when the parliament is in session.

The general public and tourists are not allowed to visit the clock tower; one can only see it from a distance. But, yes if you are a resident of United Kingdom then you can write an application to the MP of your region and arrange a visit for yourself. The applications should be sent well in advance at the following address:
House of Commons
Westminster, London
SW1A 0AA

Once you have got the permission to visit the tower you can book any of the tours at your own time preference. Tours for the residents are arranged at set timings of 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am and 2:30am from Monday to Friday. These tours can accommodate maximum 16 people at a time as the space is very less in the tower. But, it is not possible for the non residents to visit the clock tower in any way. Adjoining the Big Ben Clock Tower is the renowned Westminster Palace which houses the sessions of Britain Parliament. The parliament sessions held here can also be viewed by the tourists without any cost. You can also explore several other London attractions such as London Eye, Westminster Abbey, White Hall, Tower of London, London Aquarium and Country Hall Gallery etc. The Cinnamon Club, Ozu, Aji Noodle Bar and Spectrum are some of the most popular restaurants offering a variety of delicious cuisines. London Tower reminds of the royal and glorious history of Britain.

British Museum

2009-06-22T23:29:00.001-07:00

London – the capital of United Kingdom has a rich culture and heritage. The city is located near the banks of the river Thames and is renowned for its vivacious attractions. Every year the city attracts millions of tourists from England as well as other parts of the world. London is also a home to several art galleries and museums which are the popular London places. You can explore almost any thing and everything in the 300 museums and galleries of the city. They display art works ranging from hi tech contemporary articles and machines to the traditional collections. The city has a well developed transportation structure in fact, if you have a London Pass, no entry fee will be charged in most of the museums. You can also avail complementary museum guide books and audio tours if you hold a London pass. Though there are charges and entry fee for special exhibitions in some of the museums.

Although there is a wide variety of museums and galleries to choose from but, British Museum is amongst the most visited and the top 10 museums in London. Every year it attracts around 5 million visitors from all parts of England and overseas. Established in the year 1753, the collection at the museum depicts the culture and human history of Britain. It displays more than seven million objects which originate from all parts of the world. The collection at the British Museum is extremely comprehensive and exemplifies the human culture since the very beginning. The collections displayed in the museum are based on the works of the physician Sir Hans Sloane. You can explore a wide variety of engraved gems, books, drawings, coins, paintings etc in the museum. The Library of the museum is also popular amongst all age groups. The Greek and the Roman artifacts also attract several tourists. The museum is divided in several departments listed as under:

Ancient Egypt and Sudan
Middle East, Prints and Drawings
Coins and Medals
Prehistory and Europe
Conservation, Documentation and Science
Libraries and Archives
Controversy
Africa, Oceania and Americas
Greek and Roman Antiquities

Besides all these collections displayed under several departments, there are quite a items in the collection at the museum which is disputed. These disputed items include Elgin Marble, Benin Bronzes, Molds Golden Cape and Rosetta stone. Some of the astonishing glass objects that are a part of the collection are more than 3000 years old. The museum organizes exhibitions very often. You can check out the list of events that will be organized in this season:

Shah ‘Abbas The Remaking Of Iran’ ( 19th Feb – 14th June 2009) :
This exhibition will exhibit the 17th century Iran. You can discover the legacy and reign of the most powerful ruler of Iran – Shah Abbas, in this exhibition.
India Landscape ( 1st May – 27 September):
This exhibition features a variety of plants from the sub continent of India.
The Intimate Portrait ( 5th March – 31st May):
You can explore the portraiture of Regency Britain and Georgian in this exhibition.

So you can plan to visit the legendary British Museum in this season, also note that the museum is open from 10:00 – 17:30 everyday. On Thursdays and Fridays the museum opens a little late. The entry at the museum is absolutely free of charge.

The Magnificent Millennium Wheel London Eye

2009-06-21T23:56:00.001-07:00

London Eye is one of the highest observation wheels in the world. It is located in the capital of England – London and is amongst the top most tourist attractions in the city. It is considered as the most extra ordinary piece of contemporary architecture and engineering design. Opened in March 2000, this renowned millennium wheel was the creation of well known architects – David Marks and Julia Barfield. The construction of this wheel was completed by the manpower of 5 different countries in 7 years. Since then it is one of the best iconic landmarks in London. This tourist attraction is located between the Hungerford Bridge and Westminster Bridge, on the south of Thames. Every year more than 3.5 million tourists from England as well as rest of the world are attracted towards this spectacular and popular tourist attraction.

The wheel has an exceptional height of 135 meters above the river Thames which enables the passengers to see up to 40 km in all the directions and offer a 360 degree view. The wheel is backed by amazing backstay cables. Cables are stretching crossways to the rim and wheel of the structure and this marvelous support system holds the wheel in place. It has 32 capsules and all of them are completely air conditioned and are designed tremendously. The wheel and the capsule weight approximately 2100 tones. In one revolution, 800 passengers are accommodated by the wheel. Each capsule is well appointed with comfortable seating arrangements. The 30 minutes ride offered by London Eye is an excellent experience.

Tourists should try and visit this attraction on a clear day in order to savor the ride to the fullest. Tickets of the ride are easily available at the country hall. A customer information desk is also available to solve the queries of the tourists. Travelers should not carry their luggage along as the facility of luggage storage is not available in the premises. The authorities and staff at London Eye offer special services and personal attention to the disabled. You can also relish a delightful meal and wonderful shopping experience at several shops, cafes etc located at the country hall. These cafes offer delicious food and drinks of great quality and are also economical. London Eye is opened for the tourists from 10 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. everyday. The experience of this ride is similar to that of a space ship, in terms of height and structure of the capsule. The prices of the tickets vary with the ride that you want to take. You can select to explore the following:

Flights
You can take a 30 minute ride and view several London attractions such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and many more. This ride is known as Standard Flight and can be savored at normal price. To make your flight a bit more exciting, you can opt for Champagne Flight in which you are offered a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne while you enjoy the spectacular views of the city from a great height. Champagne Flight is a little more expensive than the normal standard Flight.

Fast Track
If you want to avoid the long and hectic queues, you can book or purchase a fast track ticket. This can be easily booked online and needs to be collected approximately 15 minutes before the departure time of your ride.

River Cruises
Under the river cruise of London Eye, you are offered a 40 minute ride of circular sightseeing cruise. You can savor this cruise throughout the year. The ride is given on a boat which is well appointed with covered and sun deck seating. London Eye Afternoon Tea Cruise, London Eye Lunch Cruise, City Cruise and Thames Cruises are also offered.

Private Capsule
To make your visit extra special, you can book a private capsule. This private capsule can be a romantic cupid capsule or a venue for ceremonies, business parties, children party capsule etc.

London Eye also offers several packages that combine the flight of the wheel, river cruise and several other benefits that can make your journey even more exciting and adventurous.

London Buckingham Palace

2009-06-19T02:15:00.001-07:00

The royal Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the England’s “Her Majesty”. It is the most renowned iconic landmark of the city and attracts millions of tourists, every year, from all over the world. The palace is situated in the area of Westminster and is well known for its magnificent history and charm. This legendary palace is also the busy headquarters of the monarchy’s regime. The palace has a great appeal and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. Buckingham Palace is the chief venue for the royal hospitality and state occasions. The place is also common for rallying at the times national crisis or celebrations. Almost all the royal ceremonies also take place at this palace.

This royal residence of Her Majesty is furnished and decorated with phenomenal work of art from all over the world. The original designs of the 19th century’s palace still survive and contribute to the beauty of the palace. The artifacts in this royal collection are also amongst the major art collections in the world. The interiors indeed are mesmerizing and imperial. The works displayed in the state rooms include the great works of several renowned artists such as Poussin, Rembrandt and Rubens. The palace has 775 rooms; this includes 19 state rooms, 188 staff rooms, 78 bathrooms and 52 guests’ bedrooms. Every year several esteemed guests are invited to this royal palace for various celebrations such as receptions, garden parties and lunches. The guests who are invited to the palace, the first step is to the grand hall and up the marble stairs of the grand stair case. You can also see the portraits on the walls as it was done by Queen Victoria.

The tourists can plan the visit any time from 26th July – 28th September 2009. During this period the Queen is on the tour to other parts of England. Several tours are also organized to visit this royal palace as it requires the guidance of experienced guides. These guides can offer the information of the history of the place and special insights. The tour lasts for around 2 hours and during the tour you can explore the state rooms, special exhibitions and the gardens. The special exhibitions organized during the summer’s displays various photographs, jewels, dresses and gifts that are presented to the queen by the people of the Commonwealth. Even the Garden of the palace is extremely beautiful and is described as a ‘walled oasis in the middle of London’. It is also the home to 350 diverse wild flowers and 30 different species of birds. The tour is generally ended with a walk along the south side of this spectacular garden. The lake at the palace is also extremely prominent.

Changing of guards is also a famous tradition of the palace. It can be observed by the visitors from the month of April – July. This renowned event takes place right in the front of the palace at 11:30 a.m. every day and is free of charge. This ceremony lasts for around 45 minutes and is a grand event for the tourists from over seas. During this event the new guard of the palace replaces the old guard of the palace and the duties are exchanged between them. The new guard is escorted by guard bands, lots of pomp and military music. The guard of the queen is dressed in a colourful bearskins and red jackets. If you want to get the best view of this ceremony, you should arrive early and stand near the railings of the Victoria Monument. After the ceremony the new guard leaves the detachment at Buckingham Palace and marches to St James’s Palace. Other then “Changing of Guards ceremony there are several other traditional ceremonies that take place at the Buckingham Palace, London such as State Opening of Parliament, Garter Day and Trooping the colour etc. All these traditions are symbolic and meaningful and they depict the cultural aspects of Britain.

You can also explore several other attractions after completing your tour at Buckingham Palace. Tourist’s attractions such as Westminster Abbey, Royal Mews, Apsley House and Big Benare located close to the Palace.

Discover the Vivacious London Attractions

2009-06-18T00:42:00.001-07:00

It is a known fact that London is right on the top, when it comes to attractions. You can easily find one attraction in almost every nook and corner of the city. Let’s get to know more about some of the most popular London attractions:

Royal Buckingham Palace

This Royal Buckingham Palace is the official residence of The Queen of England. It plays a dominant role in adding to the royalty and prestige of city. The entries to the palace are opened during the summer months, during this time you can explore the Royal Mews, State Rooms, Queens Gallery, Royal Palace Garden and several other things. A prestigious tradition of Changing of Guards is also a famous event that takes place in the month of April, May, June and early July.

London Eye
London Eye is one of the highest and the largest observation wheel of the world. It is amongst the most iconic landmark of the city. Designed by Julia Barfield and David Marks, this magnificent master piece is an exceptional combination of modern day design of architecture and engineering. The passengers in the capsules of the London Eye can see up to forty kilo meters in all the directions. The tickets are easily available and the experience is nothing less than what it is in a spaceship.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is one of the most renowned museums in the world and is amongst the most visited London attractions. In this wax museum, you can find the wax statues of almost all the famous and well known celebrities such as Madonna, Indira Gandhi and many more. The museum is open for visitors from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The entry fee is also nominal and on the top of it, the museum is easily accessible from several tube stations.

Big Ben
Built in the year 1854, the great grand bell of the clock tower, commonly known as Big Ben is another extremely famous London attraction. It is the 3rd largest free standing tower in the entire world. The four faces of the clock are illuminated at night and this view is simply magnificent and the bells play at the quarter hour. The common public cannot visit the clock tower, but the mesmerizing view at night, when the lights are illuminated, is a must watch for all the visitors.

Tower of London
Tower of London has always been a part of London’s renowned history. It was founded by William, who was the conqueror in the year 1066-67 and it holds various significant stories from across the centuries. The place was well known as a place of imprisonment and execution in the medieval times. The tower is opened round the year ad is easily accessible from several tube stations. So to take a feel of the England’s rich and legendry past, Tower of London is the perfect attraction.

London holds various other attractions and it is hard to pen down about all of them. In fact it is said that one can never explore the entire city and all the attractions that it offers, in just a single trip. One needs to visit several times to get a complete view of what the city is all about. So keep exploring and enjoying!