If
you're visiting London
for the first time, you may arrive expecting a city that overflows
with pomp and pageantry. And few visitors will fail to be
impressed by the grandeur and history of such monumental sights
as Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's Cathedral. But that's only
a small slice of today's London. This cosmopolitan city has
everything from Bengali markets to Belgian restaurants to
hand-penned Beatles lyrics at the British Library. London
offers the best of British food, fashion and cultural pursuits,
but its multicultural population gives it an international
flair, as well. Nearly 40 ethnic groups with populations of
10,000 or more call London home. Together with a multitude
of visitors from around the globe, they give the city its
vibrant mix of languages, dress, festivals and lively street
life.
As for sightseeing, you can ogle orchids at Kew Gardens, the
crown jewels at the Tower, millennia of history at the British
Museum and spectacular views of the city from the London Eye
Ferris wheel -- all in a day. An interest in the arts or royalty
may be what draws you to London, but you don't have to be
an avid theatergoer or a history buff to enjoy yourself thoroughly.
Best of all, London is the kind of place you will want to
visit again and again, and each time you return, it will have
something new to offer.
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Big Ben
"Big Ben" is the name of the clock inside this
famous tower that also forms part of the Houses of Parliament.
Its impressive mechanism weighs in at over 13.5 tons, and
the pendulum, which beats once every two seconds, is 13
feet long and weighs 690 pounds. The clock was named "Big
Ben" after the First Commissioner of Works, and since
1885 a light above it has been lit while the House of Commons
is in session.
Buckingham Palace
"Buckingham Palace has been the official abode of British
royalty since 1837. The forecourt is the setting for one
of London's most popular and spectacular tourist events:
The Changing of the Guard. The Mews are working stables,
where you can see the Queen's horses and state carriages.
The Buckingham Palace state rooms are only open during certain
days in August and September in.
Tower of London
The Tower of London is mainly perceived as a medieval place
of imprisonment and execution. Nine hundred years of history
are embraced within the thick, turreted walls. Even though
the Tower's violent years are long gone, an aura of death
and medieval torture remains. Today, guided tours are available.
The main attraction for most visitors are the breathtaking
Crown Jewels. It is also a chance to see the legendary ravens
who live within the walls. Charles I decreed that six ravens
should always inhabit the Tower. Folklore has it that if
they ever leave, Britain will again fall to foreign invasion.
Interestingly enough, orders have been received to clip
their wings!
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square was built following the Battle of Trafalgar
in 1805. The man responsible for this famous naval victory,
which finally destroyed French naval power and secured Britain
from invasion, was Admiral Horatio Nelson. A column, with
an 18ft statue of Nelson at the summit, is the centrepiece
to the Square. At the base of the column are the renowned
Landseer lions. The National Gallery and the National Portrait
Gallery border one side of the Square, and it's a good place
to sit and soak up the atmosphere on a sunny day. The Square
is also famous for the large number of pigeons that congregate
there. It's one of the main places that overseas visitors
come to in order to be photographed.
Madame Tussaud's
The famous waxworks, started by Madame Tussaud in 1835,
are one of the most popular tourist attractions in London,
and usually have queues to match. Now they've introduced
a fast-track booking scheme, you should be able to bypass
the queues by pre-booking a time slot for a £1 surcharge.
Madame Tussaud learned her trade making death masks during
the French Revolution, and those of Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette are displayed beside the actual blade that beheaded
them. There are wax models of the famous and the infamous
from every walk of life, some of which are amazingly lifelike.
Changing of the Guard
The changing of the guard is common in most European capitals,
but nowhere is it more famous than in London. The new guard
leaves Wellington Barracks a few minutes before the change
and marches down Birdcage Walk to Buckingham Palace. The
actual ceremony (which lasts around 40 minutes) takes place
within the gates of the palace, so get there early to secure
a good vantage spot. In addition, the St. James's Palace
detachment of the Queen's guard marches to Buckingham Palace
at 11:15am and back to St. James's at 12:10pm.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is regarded as an architectural masterpiece
of the medieval period. It has been the venue for most of
the country's coronations since 1066 and for numerous other
Royal occasions. At present, it is still a church dedicated
to regular worship and to the celebration of great events
in the life of the British nation.
Hours
below are for the main entrance; call for specific hours
for the Chapter House and Pyx Chamber, both of which charge
a small additional entrance fee. Please note that last admission
is one hour before closing.
Great British Beer Festival
Organised by the Campaign for real ale, this huge event
is usually held at the end of July, beginning of August
and offers more than 200 British beers, more than 200 imported
beers from Europe and America, a range of ciders and row
after row of food stalls. There is a family room, and there
are organised beer tasting sessions throughout the event,
where, for a price, you get the chance to sample all of
the award winners from the show.
Kensington Palace
Queen Victoria was born in this palace in 1819, and Princess
Margaret and other royals still reside here. A Jacobean
mansion in Kensington Gardens (next to Hyde Park), Kensington
Palace was the London residence of the late Diana, Princess
of Wales. Visitor attractions include the state apartments
and the Royal ceremonial dress collection. Lunch and tea
are served in the Orangery or the Winter Cafe (depending
on the time of year), which is open from 9am-6pm daily.
Notting Hill Carnival
Every August, a Caribbean sway comes to West London for
Europe's largest street party. Steel drums, singers, eye-catching
floats and troops of costumed dancers all pulsate to the
beat. Throngs line the streets to watch this exceptional
extravaganza. Rap and reggae mingles with dance music and
other beats pumped out at deafening volumes as people munch
on Caribbean snacks. The parade route winds through Chepstow
Road, Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road.
The carnival is free but bring cash for plantains, patties
and Red Stripe beer.
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