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.

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.

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

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.

London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Victoria and Albert Museum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Captivating Beauty of Covent Garden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tremendous Tower of London

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.