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.

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.

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 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.

Westminster Abbey London

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.

Tower Bridge

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

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

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

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.

London Sightseeing Tours

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

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.