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

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 Canal Museum And Party Venue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.