A Peep in the London Aquarium

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.