Houses Of Parliament and other London, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

The Houses of Parliament are The House of Commons and The House of Lords. This is the UK Government - where Members of Parliament (MPs) debate, argue and moan.

The Palace of Westminster predates all that, as a Royal Palace.
Note: Public Tours in Summer!

Big Ben is infact the huge bell that rings like a dull gong each hour, and not the Clock Tower.

Outside you often see Politicians giving interviews to the press. Security is obviously getting tighter thanks to global events and fears. Understandably.

Best viewed from across (or on) the River Thames, and particularly good flood-lit at night. Lots of traffic during the day, and crocodiles of school children, bored and bemused.

Combine with a trip to see Downing Street (Home and Offices of The Prime Minister, Tony Blair for now) and Whitehall (Government Civil Service).

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

Visit this World Heritage Site - the largest and most diverse collection of plants in the world.

Kew Gardens isn't just a beautiful green vegetated sanctuary from the noise and pollution of London streets - its not just orchids, glass houses, trees and aquatic gardens - its a research database of global plant diversity. Now, to me, that is more important in this fragile planet of ours than the Taj Mahal and Waterfalls. It is life on our planet - and Kew is that - and its right here in London - struggling amongst the pollution.

Please do visit - its going to change your life - for the better. It may help save our future.

For an excellent website about Kew visit Kew Gardens now. To visit Kew in person is easy - its 10km south west of the city centre in Richmond, on the banks of the River Thames.

Its open every day - all details on the website.

I'd just like you to know - my dad came from Richmond and though I was born in Wales - I spent many happy holidays visiting aunts and grandmother - who took me to Kew, and the Cutty Sark (Greenwich), Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the River Thames at Westminster.

Then, years later, I studied my Masters in Imperial College - London.

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Phone: 0 20 8332 5655
Address: Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AB
Directions: Kew Gardens tube

Richmond - a nice town - now absorbed into Greater London.
Website: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

What a bridge - lifting like that to let ships by - and such a destinctive, creation. There is only one - and it is magical - please see it.

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Phone: 0 20 7626 3065
Address: Tower Bridge Road, EC3/SE1
Directions: Tower Hill or London Bridge tubes
Website: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk

I need open space in cities - so in London I gravitate towards the parks and the River.

Ever wondered why it is always River Thames and not Thames River?

Pronounced Tems, by the way.

Best way to see many of the icons of London - Tower of London, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Westminster, Parliament, Flood Barriers, Greenwich, Docklands, ...

If you cannot walk the distance, take a cruise.

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The Tower of London now guards the Crown Jewels, 900 years of history and much intrigue. Its also packed with tourists.

Built to the orders of William the Conquerer in 11 Century, after his defeating of King Harold at the Battle of Hastings (1066), The Tower became the Power House of England. It began as The White Tower and was extended over the years by Edward I, becoming an impregnable prison, armoury and Safe storage of The Crown Jewels.

To view the Crown Jewels, join the queue and process as on a conveyer belt, glimpsing the expensive symbols of power, like the royal Sceptre with the world's largest diamond (530 carat Stone of Africa), as you pass by. No time to stop or ponder.

Nobles and Queens were imprisoned here, some beheaded, ariving through Traitor's Gate off the River Thames, leaving in a coffin.

The Tower's future may rest in the nesting fancy of some birds - The Ravens (as the story goes) - but it is presently a major tourist attraction, packed with foreign tourists, and is another icon of London, of England, of Royalty and Power, Murder and Corruption. Good stuff!

Home of The Beefeaters - These Yeomen Warders are now tourist attractions and tour guides, upholding myths and legend, but were originally King Henry's bodyguard and loyal protectors - maintaining their loyalty included extra rations of meat. I bet he slept with one eye open.

Try to avoid the crowds. I would prefer to take it easy and not join a procession - so I would visit off-season or just see it from the outside. I can live without seeing Crown Jewels. What if they are replicas anyway? Do they hold intrinsic beauty worth queing for, or are they merely symbols of power? If so, do I need see them?

Having seen them I'd answer "no" but then I went and queued and then regretted the waste of my time. There are better things to see with precious little time in London. I lived there, so had plenty. Maybe one hour for the Tower and Tower Bridge is about all you really want.

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Phone: 0 20 7709 0765
Address: Tower Hill, EC3
Directions: See the Tower Website for details.
Website: http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/tower_home.asp

Westminster Abbey is stunningly beautiful and still impressive today - but what must it have been like when it was built - in the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries?

The Abbey is home to the "Coronation Chair", where Royalty is crowned since 1066. It has also witnessed numerous other royal occasions such as weddings and funerals.

The Abbey site has been a church for over a thousand years but it was Henry III in the thirteenth century,who started the Gothic style we see today.

The Abbey is the final resting place for Kings & Queens including Edward I, Henry III, Henry V and Henry Vll who built a magnificent Lady Chapel here.

"The shared vault containing Elizabeth I and her half-sister Mary I (‘Bloody Mary’), and the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots are echoes of the bloodstained and turbulent Tudors."

For more information, follow the web link below:

Entry charges: £8 pounds for Adults.
See website for details.

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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

Going round the Cutty Sark (Tea Clipper) as a child introduced me to tea, adventure and a fantasy world of pirates, exploration, ... a world now filled with Disney .

Cutty Sark is the last remaining Tea Clipper in the world - I didn't know that! - It's fun, romantic and rich in history. A welcome change from the bussle of city life.

Maritime Greenwich is a World Heritage Site - so how can you miss it?

Greenwich Observatory may be stuffed by light pollution but it is still Greenwich Mean Time, and the prime meridian - and the views of the city are great!

Great pubs and atmosphere in this town that was seperate from London before the sprawl of Greater London absorbed it. It started as the Palace for Kings, and its military and navel connections live on. It may be a bit out of the centre - so read about it now!

As well as the above web link, try Greenwich Guide for info, pictures, etc.

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Address: Greenwich, SE10
Directions: Cutty Sark DLR (docklands railway)
Greenwich, South of the River Thames.
Website: www.greenwichwhs.org.uk
Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

Good atmosphere and free entertainment - always good for some banter and stand up comedy. The cutting edge of entertainment and well worth trying.

Hold on to your wallet!

You will be cajouled to cough up money all the time - but don't have to!!

Shops are expensive, but its a fun place to spend a few hours and a great meeting place.

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It may be the Queen's home, in London. It is also beautiful and epitomises Britishness. To walk the Mall is to be in London.

From Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace - A secret aiplane runway for the queen, should she need it. Little things like this make Britain (UK) what it is.

To watch the sentry guards sweating in their fur hats, to peak through the railings hoping for a glimpse of royalty. This is London. A bit sad really - but I did it and so does everyone else! Of course, nowadays you can pay to go in. Silly me, thinking that is what my taxes were for. Thank you Mam.

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Address: The Mall, SW1
Directions: Green Park tube

Windsor Castle, the River Thames, Eton College (Posh School), Windsor Racecourse and The Great Park (Polo)

Mix with royalty, or those who wish to hang around royalty.

I once was watching Prince Charles playing polo on the Great Park. No security - is that still so. Anyway - I got close enough to hear what he said when he missed an open goal (blue blood - the air was blue!). Fun!

Eton is very nice - very enjoyable to walk down - makes a lovely day out from London centre.

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Directions: can go by train, coach or get the underground all the way.
Website: http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/