London Things to Do Tips by smschley

The site Trafalgar Square sits on started off as Charing, and then Charing Cross after a memorial cross that was placed there, and even during the Middle Ages it was a central meeting place. The nearby underground station is still named Charing Cross. Today it is the largest square in London,

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The square was renamed Trafalgar Square to commemorate Admiral Horatio Viscount Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. A British national hero, Admiral Nelson, was killed as he defeated the French and Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This victory stopped Napoleon’s plan to invade England. In the center of the square is the Nelson’s Column, a column that is 185 feet high, with a 17 foot statue of on top of Nelson himself.

The square also contains a large number of statues and two fountains added in 1939. Surrounding the square are many important buildings. On the north side is the National Gallery; on the east side the square is bordered by the Canada House; and at the north-east corner is the St. Martin-in-the-Fields parish church.

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Address: Trafalgar Square, WC2
Directions: Charing Cross or Leicester Square tubes, -
It is located at the intersections of Pall Mall, The Mall and Charing Cross Roads.

Sir Aston Webb created Admiralty Arch, situated at the entrance to The Mall and the southwest corner from Trafalgar Square, in 1910 as part of the National Monument to Queen Victoria. The triple triumphal arch forms part of the ceremonial approach to Buckingham Palace, but the central arch is opened only for state occasions

The facade reads:
ANNO:DECIMO:EDWARDI:SEPTIMI:REGIS
VICTORIÆ:REGINÆ:CIVES:GRATISSIMI:MDCCCCX:

If my 1 year of high school Latin still works it something like:

"In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen Victoria, from most grateful citizens, 1910."

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Address: Charing Cross
Directions: .

Horse Guards sits on the site of Henry VIII's tournament ground or 'tiltyard' and has held a guardhouse since 1649. It was placed at its present spot because of the layout of the roads in the vicinity as protection for Whitehall Palace. The current building stems from 1750 after the previous guardhouse fell apart due to fires and storm damage.

Horse Guards originally was the main entrance to Buckingham Palace and royal processions traveling through Whitehall still pass under the arches of the building. Incidentally only members of the Royal Family are permitted to drive through the central arch.

The Queen is colonel-in-chief of seven regiments, which are collectively known as the Household Regiments. Out of these, three Foot Guards regiments take it in turn to guard Buckingham Palace, whilst two Cavalry regiments guard the Horse Guards Building on Whitehall. All of these regiments take part in the daily ceremony known as the Changing of the Guard. Technically the name includes both the guards of Buckingham Palace and those at the Horse Guards Building, but in more common usage the name Changing of the Guard refers to the ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, whilst the ceremony that involves the Horse Guards is known as the Horse Guards Parade

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The parade ground of Horse Guards is dominated by the ivy-covered Citadel, a bomb-proof structure built beside the Admiralty in 1940. This was in response to the constant threats of German bomb attacks. At the time it was used as a communications headquarters by the Navy. The building work started in 1938 but many modifications continued to take place throughout the war. In late 1940 a bomb-proof shield was formed by filling the sub-ground floor above the basement with reinforced concrete. In the winter of 1940-41 a concrete slab 3 ft thick and reinforced with steel rails and tramlines was installed above the basement

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Address: At the Horse Guard

Located in Whitehall, stands the Cenotaph, a memorial to those Commonwealth citizens who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

Cenotaph means 'Empty Tomb', and was originally designed as a temporary structure, but in 1920 it was recreated in marble and this is the memorial still standing. On Remembrance Sunday (the nearest Sunday to the 11th of November which is the anniversary of the end of the 1914-1918 war) a ceremony is held to pay a minute's silent tribute to the Commonwealth citizens who lost their lives in both World Wars. Wreaths and artificial poppies are laid at the Cenotaph by the Queen; Prime Minister; other members of the Royal Family; representatives from Parliament; Commonwealth Countries; the Armed Forces and many organizations of ex-service men and women.

For several weeks before the 11th of November, poppies are made by disabled ex-servicemen. The poppies the UK's symbol of remembrance and citizens purchase and wear poppies in their buttonholes in memory of the war dead. A short service is followed by two minute's silence and then a procession by those who took part in the Second World War and other conflicts since then.

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Address: Whitehall, SW1
Directions: Charing Cross or Westminster tubes
Website: http://www.number-10.gov.uk

One of the best known Streets in London is Downing Street. No. 10 with its famous black front door has been the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister since 1732, when King George the second presented the property to Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister. However, at the moment Tony Blair, the current Prime Minister, lives at No 11 as this is a larger property.

No. 11, home of the Chancellor of the Exchequer since 1806 and No. 12, home of the government’s chief whip, are all that remains of the original 17th century terrace. The other buildings in the street date from 1868. Unchanged externally, this brick built terrace of interconnecting houses has been modernized internally over the years to accommodate, as well as the many offices required, the Cabinet room on the ground floor and a flat on an upper floor occupied by the Prime Minister’s family.

Until a few years ago it was possible to walk along Downing Street, but following terrorist activities, former prime minister Margaret Thatcher request the installation of the railings and police guard to prevent anyone from entering the street

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Address: 10 Downing Street

On the night of the 16th of October, 1834 the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. The new Palace incorporated a clock tower, but the next 25 years saw many problems. It wasn’t until September 7th 1859 that the 316ft clock-tower finally became fully operational.

"Big Ben" does not refer to the whole clock tower, but to the huge thirteen ton bell that can be found inside the clock. The clock mechanism, alone, weights about 5 tons. The figures on the clock face are about 2 feet long, the minute spaces are 1 ft. square; and the copper minute hands are 14 ft. Long. The consensus today seems to be that it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, a heavy politician who was the Parliamentary Commissioner of Works. .

The next 114 years of the clock's history were relatively quiet and Big Ben soon developed a reputation for accuracy. The accuracy of the Clock is controlled using old pennies, to speed or slow the gears. In 1906, the gas lighting of the dials was replaced by electric lighting and in 1912, electric winding was introduced.

In 1976 a completely unanticipated event occurred which almost caused the complete destruction of the clock. At 3:45am on the 5th of August 1976 as the clock started to chime, metal fatigue in the shaft connecting the chiming train to its fly fan caused the shaft to break. It was necessary for the chiming train to be reconstructed from scratch which took almost one year to complete.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Westminster tube

The Houses of Parliament is better called The Palace of Westminster. The original palace dating back to the times of Edward The Confessor was burnt down on the 16th of October, 1834, leaving only Westminster Hall and one of the Towers the Jewel Tower remaining. At the newly married Prince Albert's request, artists created designs depicting British history to decorate the new palace.

Westminster Hall itself is a particularly fine example of a medieval hall, over 240 long, accessible to the Public only with Guided Tours. Public Access is also available to the Public Galleries. The two imposing towers, well known landmarks in London, are the clock tower, named after its thirteen ton bell called Big Ben, and Victoria tower, on whose flag pole the Union Jack flies when parliament is sitting

Since 1834 it has housed parliament which consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. For those who wish to watch a rowdy debate in one of the Houses, a guided tour can be arranged in advance. Alternatively, there are special guided tours of the building in August and September.

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Address: Parliament Square, SW1
Directions: Rail: Charing Cross and Waterloo Underground: Westminster Station
Website: http://www.parliament.uk

I can honestly say that Westminster Abbey has to be the most impressive church I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to take a step and not bump into or walk on-top of the tomb or monument of someone from England’s past. Over three thousand people are either buried or memorialized in Westminster Abbey. Notable among these:Sir Isaac Newton Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Tennyson, Browning, and Dickens to name a few. Also there is a monument to the Unknown Warrior, whose grave, close to the west door, has become a place of pilgrimage.

This resting place of the English royalty it is one of the most visited churches in the Christian world. Edward the Confessor first built a church on the site after the Pope absolved him from his vow to visit Rome. The earlier buildings on the site were demolished and the new church finished and consecrated in 1065. The Norman Abbey only survived for two centuries. In the middle of the 13th century, Henry III decided to pull down the Norman Abbey and rebuild it. The only trace of this monastery is to be found in the round arches and massive supporting columns of the Undercroft in the Cloisters. This new church remained as part of the Catholic Church until the accession of Queen Elizabeth in 1559 when the catholic monks were ejected and replaced by a Protestant Dean.

Westminster has been the site for all but two coronations since William the Conqueror with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII. Though today monarchs are now buried at Windsor Castle, it was the site of practically every royal burial for the 500 years, from 1066 until George II. In September 1997, the last large ceremony took place as millions of people around the world saw the inside of the Abbey when TV crews covered Princess Di's funeral service. Sights to take in during an abbey visit include the Coronation Chair, where all bar a few monarchs have been crowned since 1066, the Tomb of Mary Queen of Scots and the 10 statues of 20th-century martyrs.

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Phone: 0 20 7654 4900
Address: Deans Yard, SW1 - St James's Park tube
Directions: While Westminster seems to be more of a mausoleum than anything else, it still serves as a place of worship with services on Sundays. If you are cheap like me this may be of benefit since services are free, but there is a charge to visit at other times.
Website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org

St. James' Park is the oldest and most royal of the 9 Royal Parks of London. It has 3 palaces at its borders: the Palace of Westminster; St. James's Palace; and Buckingham Palace.

It runs the entire length of The Mall and was originally bought as a marsh by Henry VIII, who had it turned into a deer chase 1532 and built a hunting lodge that became St. James' Palace. It was James I, however, who began the menagerie of wildlife including pelicans, crocodiles, and gallon-a-day wine drinking elephant.

After his exile in France, Charles II had formal gardens laid out, with avenues, fruit orchards, and a canal. Lawns were grazed by goats, sheep, and deer. He also graveled the Mall, where he played Pell Mell, a French version of croquet. He then opened it to the public. In 1828 George IV redid the park resulting in a 93 acre park changed from its formal French design into the English style with blossoming shrubs and generally naturalizing the gardens. Creating curving paths that affords the best views of Whitehall and Westminster. He also had the canal turned into a graceful lake, which was cemented in at a depth of 4 feet in 1855.

Now the most ornamental park in London with good views of Whitehall rooftops, St James's Park is a popular place to stroll. At the Buckingham Palace end there is a cafe providing refreshments and a playground. The bridge over it gives a view of Buckingham Palace, especially at night when the palace is floodlit

The park is also an important natural reserve and migration point for over 1,000 birds and waterfowl from 45 species. Two full-time ornithologists are employed to look after them. The park is particularly famous for its pelicans living on Duck Island.

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Directions: The closest tube stations are St. James's Park, and Westminster.