London Science Museum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mesmerizing London Parks and Royal Gardens

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Westminster Abbey London

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

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

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

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

National Maritime Museum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Victoria and Albert Museum

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.