London Things to Do Tips by 807Wheaton

Explore St. Paul's Cathedral St Pauls Cathedral Review

There are two things I remember best about St. Paul's Cathedral . The interior reminded me of the Vatican. Even though it is called a Cathedral it is not a Catholic Church. The other part of the Cathedral that is memorable is the crypt below the church. Here you will see the graves of heros and famous personalities such as Admiral Nelson, Duke Wellington, and Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul's. His tomb is surrounded by family members and other scientists, artists and musicians.

After this visit to London I read the book, "London" by Edwurd Rutherfurd. This great book goes into tremendous detail about building St. Paul's Cathedral and that there was an actual attempt to make the alter resemble the Vatican.

Address: St Pauls Churchyard, EC4

Directions: St Pauls tube

Phone: 0 20 7236 4128

Website: http://www.stpauls.co.uk

Shopping at Harrods Knightsbridge, Kensington and Kensington Palace Review

When we went to Harrods I was amazed by some of the things I saw. The store is so huge that it even had a place to buy meat, fresh meat. It was hanging up from hooks. There also was a bakery there and a sign asking customers to use the tongs to pick up the baked goods!
Thanks to VT member tabby222 for this neat picture.

See the British Museum - No Charge British Museum Review

Our plan to tackle the British Museum was simple; we picked out three major things to see and then we hunted them down. We saw the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase and the Lindow Man, the bog mummy. The museum is divided into three main floors. Free plans are available at the information desk.
My advice for a visit to the British Museum is to pick out certain things you want to see. By picking out three things we were able to see a lot of the Museum as we followed the plans to each place. Because we didn't just walk around and see random things in this huge place, I very distinctly remember each thing we saw.
Thanks to no1birdlady and tabby222 for help with pictures!

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Directions: Holborn tube

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

Website: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Tower Bridge and Tower of London Tower Bridge Review

Directly South of the Tower of London, spanning the Thames River is Tower Bridge.
The bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 by the City of London Corporation to link the sourtheastern suburbs with the city of London.
The Tower of London, however, was built almost a thousand years ago and has endless stories and tales about its past. It is the oldest palace, fortress, and prison in Europe.
William the Conquerer created this great fortress at the place the Roman Emperor Claudius had built a fort almost a thousand years earlier. Traces of the Roman Wall can still be seen in the Tower.
Famous personalities imprisoned in the Bell Tower include, Sir Thomas More, two of Henry VIII's daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Mary and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Modern day prisoners are the Ravens. Their wings are clipped so they cannot fly. The legend is that when there are no ravens in the Tower the British Commonwealth will fall.
Probably the most impressive thing I saw there was the collection of Crown Jewels.
Even William the Conquerer would be awestruck by the fact that 2.5 million visitors tramp through the Tower of London. The "travelators" a slowly moving conveyer are an Ingenious way to accommodate the ever-growing crowds as they que along to see the jewels. They provide everyone with a good, equal look at the collection.

I added a website that is really quite good and tells much, much more about what has gone on over the centuries here at the Tower of London.
www.toweroflondontour.com

Address: Tower Bridge Road, EC3/SE1

Directions: Tower Hill or London Bridge tubes

Phone: 0 20 7626 3065

Website: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk

The Underground Cabinet War Rooms Other Museums and Galleries Review

This is one attraction that could very easily be missed. We were completely fascinated by seeing the subterranean chambers used by Winston Churchill, his cabinet and military advisers during the worst of the German bombing raids in the Second World War. At the end of the war the doors were shut and everything was left as it was for nearly 40 years.
All the maps they used are still on display, the memos and correspondance from Churchill to Franklin Roosevelt are all there; all you have to do is step into it to be transported back in time.
Now over 250,000 people a year pass through the war rooms. It was a remarkable experience and I'm glad we knew about it before we left London the last time we were there.
The War Rooms continue to expand and as recently as 2003 nine rooms called The Churchill Suite were opened to othe public.

Directions: Entrance on Horse Guards Rd. by St. James Park. Located in the basement of the Treasury Building.

Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_War_Rooms

Big Ben - One of London's best known landmarks Houses of Parliament and Big Ben Review

Actually Big Ben refers to the 13 ton bell that is hanging in the tower. Big Ben is lit up at night. When Parliament is in session at night a light shines above the clock face.
The tower is not open to the general public.

Address: Parliament Square, SW1

Directions: Westminster tube

Website: http://www.parliament.uk

Find out about your heritage at Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey Review

We took a guided tour through Westminster Abbey and it was really wonderful. We learned so much about England and the people that are buried there. Most are people of great reknown. Over 3300 people are buried here, including 152 year old Thomas Parr. Poet Geoffry Chaucer, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Lawrence Olivier, Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens are buried here.

The formal name for Westminster Abbey is The Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster. Westminster Abbey is right next to Parliament. 1045 to 1065 was the date that Edward the Confessor built a church for the Benedectine Monks in the Norman form of Romanesque. 1245 to 1272 Henry III began tearing down the Roman style to replace it with the new Gothic style. In 1745 the top parts of the western towers were completed, to designs of Christopher Wren.

Here you can see the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots. Even though she was a fervent Roman Catholic this is not a Catholic Church. Westminster Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the archdiocese of Westminster. Henry VIII transferred jurisdiction from the Pope to the crown. In 1540 he dissolved the Benedictine Abbey and designated Westminster as a cathedral. This is a "Royal Peculiar" .You can check all this out on the web site listed below.

Address: Deans Yard, SW1

Directions: St James's Park tube

Phone: 0 20 7654 4900

Website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org

The River Thames Runs Through It River Thames Review

Just strolling around, or following the River Thames brings you to many different places and intersting sites. We saw the Thames wide in the city of London and more narrow away from the city near Windsor where there is a place to relax and even picnic!

Marble Arch near Hyde Park Marble Arch & Speakers Corner Review

This famous landmark in London is the gateway to Hyde Park.
Inside the park there is a place, Speakers Corner where anyone can get up and talk about something that concerns them. There were a few people listening to the fellow that we saw the day we strolled through Hyde Park.

Address: Oxford Street/Hyde Park, W1

Directions: Marble Arch tube

Buckingham Palace inside and outside Buckingham Palace. Review

The second time we visited London we were able to go inside Buckingham Palace. We were absolutely floored by the amount of fine pictures and works of art assembled over four centuries by successive sovereigns. The State Rooms are in regular use and the style and manner in which the works of art are shown reflect their original purpose. The Royal Collection is owned by the Queen. When Windsor Castle was damaged by fire Buckingham Palace was opened as a way of collecting funds to help pay for the restoration of Windsor. You can pay for your admission with a credit card.

Two other parts of Buckingham Palace, the Queens Gallery and the Royal Mews are open to the public also.
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace is held daily in the spring and summer but during the autumn and winter guard mounting takes place on alternate dates, so be sure to check and see what day this event will occur. It never happens on very wet days.
The guard will not come down the street if there is an unoccupied car sitting on the street.
Sometimes a car will be removed, and towed away so that the Changing of the Guard can procede.

Address: The Mall, SW1

Directions: Green Park tube

Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page378.asp