London Things to Do Tips by Gypsystravels

Located here on the Thames River is the famous Tower Bridge which is now a museum. Pay a visit to the museum which is well worth the modest admission fee.

The Tower Bridge's image is synonymous with London. Other than Big Ben, the bridge is probably the most recognizable attraction in London. It is certainly the most decorative and spectacular bridge spanning the Thames and is also a functioning drawbridge. It was painted blue in honor of Queen Victoria's favorite color.

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Phone: 020 7940 3985
Address: Fenchurch Street, SE1
Directions: Tower Hill or London Bridge tubes
Website: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk

The Tower of London is the most visited and best known of England's castles. Many people recognize it as a prison, however the Tower has served numerous purposes including palace, garrison, treasury, fortress and execution site since its construction around 1078. It has housed the Crown Jewels of England for the past 600 years.

The Tower of London is actually a concentric-type castle and by the 13th century, it had more or less the form it has today. The inner (built by Richard I and Henry II) and outer wards (built by Edward I) are separated by two fortified curtain walls and the entire complex is encircled by a deep moat. The irregular, square outer wall is divided from its counterpart by a narrow lane. 13 separate towers make up the Norman fortress, including the centrally located White Tower, which likely gave the castle its name. Tower Wharf stands between the moat and the River Thames. In all the castle encompasses 84 acres of land.

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Phone: 0171-709 0765
Address: Tower Hill EC3
Website: www.tower-of-london.org.uk

The Palace of Westminster consists of the House of Commons (elected) and the House of Lords (not elected- hereditary and nominated).

Parliamentary government in the United Kingdom is based on a two-chamber system. The House of Lords (the upper House-not elected) and the House of Commons (the lower house-elected at least every 5 years) sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles. The legislative process involves both Houses - the Commons and the Lords.

The main functions of Parliament are to examine proposals for new laws, provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government, scrutinize government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.

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Phone: 020-4219 3000
Address: London SWI
Directions: Westminster
Website: www.parliament.uk

Located here on the River Thames is the famous icon of London, the Clock Tower of Westminster Palace (most commonly known as “Big Ben”). The 96-m (316-ft) tall Gothic Revival tower was built between 1840-1860 following the 1834 fire which destroyed most of the original Westminster Palace. There are four large clock faces and five large bells which chime their tune every 15 minutes. The name Big Ben was derived from the largest of these bells, the 13 tonne Great Bell of Westminster.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Westminster tube
Website: http://www.parliament.uk

St. Paul's is the Cathedral of the Diocese of London. The original site is believed to have been founded by King Ethelred of Kent and was endowed with Tillingham Manor in Essex for Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons. It burned down in 675 and was rebuilt only to be destroyed and rebuilt again following a Viking ransacking in 962.

The interior of the cathedral is beautiful. A seperate admission fee is charged to climb to the top of the dome but the climb and the views are well worth your efforts.

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Phone: 020 7236 4128
Address: St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4
Directions: St. Paul's, Mansion House
Website: http://www.stpauls.co.uk

Britain's monarchs have changed their official residences throughout the centuries from The Tower of London to Westminster to Whitehall to Kensington and St. James's, and finally to Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace is now the official London residence of the reigning monarch. The royal residences or palaces were individually tailored to suit each monarch, consequently subjecting the buildings to virtually incessant remodelling, rebuilding and repairs.

The palace is surrounded on three sides by parks, St. James' Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. There are also 40 acres of gardens on palace grounds, complete with statuary, pool and fountain. Queen Elizabeth's own private suites overlook Green Park, a lovely, tree-lined preserve virtually overflowing with daffodils in the spring.

Between St. James' Park, the oldest of the nine royal parks, and Green Park lies The Mall. The Mall begins at the gates of Buckingham Palace and ends at Trafalgar Square. It is the route most commonly taken by royal processions on state occasions.

The royal family lives here at the palace when in London. They are: Their Majesties the Queen, Elizabeth II and her husband/consort, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh; their daughter, Princess Anne; their eldest son, Prince Charles of Wales; their second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and their youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Princess Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex. The second in line for the throne, Prince William of Windsor, is the first son of the late Princess Diana of Wales and her ex-husband Prince Charles of Wales. The other son of the couple is Prince Harry.

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Phone: 020 7321 2233
Address: The Mall, SW1

The men you see around Buckingham Palace and around London are not only ceremonial guards. While upholding the traditions of the past, they perform duties throughout the world as professional soldiers and are known as some of the most elite and skilled soldiers in the British Army. The responsibility of guarding the Sovereign by the Household Troops dates back to the time of Henry VII (1485-1509). They take an active role in protecting their Sovereign and at night they patrol the grounds of both Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace. These are some of the best soldiers in the British Army and have fought in many major areas of conflict since the 17th Century.

The Household Division is made up of seven Regiments and comprise of the Household Cavalry Regiment, The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals along with five other Regiments of Foot Guards, the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, The Scots Guards, the Irish Guards and the Welsh Guards.

Following is the breakdown of the dress code for the Guards:

Life Guards - Wear a metal helmet with a white plum on the helmet, red tunic no buttons

Blues & Royals – Wear a metal helmet with a red plume on helmet, blue tunic no buttons

Grenadier - Wear a bearskin cap with a white plume worn on the left, red tunic singly buttons

Goldstream - Wear a bearskin cap with a red plume worn on the right, red tunic, pairs of buttons

Scots-Wear a bearskin cap with no plume, red tunic threes of buttons

Irish - Wear a bearskin cap with a blue plume worn on the right, red tunic, fours of buttons

Welsh - Wear a bearskin cap with a white/green/white plume worn on the left, red tunic, fives of buttons

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Website: http://www.changing-the-guard.com/guards.htm

Westminster Abbey is known the world over as the resting place of Britain's monarchs as well as the location for coronations and pageants. Inside the Abbey you'll find some of the best examples of medieval architecture in all of London.

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Phone: 020-72222 5152
Address: Broad Sanctuary SW1
Directions: Westminster
Website: www.westminster-abbey.org

The Jewel Tower also known as the “King’s Privy Wardrobe” is only one of two surving sections of the medieval Royal Palace of Westminster, the other being Westminster Hall. Approximately built around 1365 to house the treasures of Edward III, the building is constructed of stone and is three storeys high. It stands across the road from the Palace of Westminster. Just adjacent to the tower you can see the remains of a moat.

The site is currently managed by the English Heritage and contains an exhibition called "Parliament Past and Present". The historic records of the House of Lords were stored here until 1834 they were removed and can now be found in the Victora Tower.

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Phone: 0 20 7654 4900
Address: Deans Yard, SW1
Directions: St James's Park tube
Website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org

Established in 1753, the British Museum is the oldest museum in the World.

The museum was built to house the collections of the physician Sir Hans Sloane. One of its most famous and important pieces is found in the main entrance hall, The Rosetta stone.

The British museum is free to the public, making it a perfect place to visit again and again.

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Phone: 0 20 7323 8299
Address: Great Russell Street, WC1
Directions: Holborn tube
Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk