London Things to Do Tips by angiebabe

Festivals and events at Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square Review

Particularly during the summer there are festivals and special events to bring the communities here in London together - Poland Day, Canada Day, Holi Day, the Passion of Easter, the list is quite long but to see what is coming up when you are going to be in London and what you could mark in your diary to not miss check out the London Planner monthly magazine either online or pick one up from various locations around London and the UK.

Website: http://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-maps-and-guides/london-planner

Search through the National Trust Handbook....

Website: http://https://join.nationaltrust.org.uk/join/start?campid=PPC_Membership_Google_Membership

Visitor INformation for London and Britain

THIS WONDERFUL SERVICE TO BRITAINS TOURISTS HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN - A GREAT SHAME BUT THE LONDON PLANNER MONTHLY MAGAZINE IS STILL IN PUBLICATION - IT CAN BE VIEWED ONLINE, SENT TO YOU IN THE MAIL NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY - AND CAN BE ACQUIRED IN PERSON AT A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT ARE IN THE LIST ON THE WEBSITE WHICH IS IN THE LINK IN THE LOWER BOXES IN THIS TIP

Check out the British Tourist Office, or also called the Britain and London Visitor Centre at 1 REgent ST, just down from Picadilly Square - well recommended for all the travel info you want - a monthly publication which i regularly go in to get, called the London Planner , is available and gives you almost everything you want to know about getting around London and whats on to see - special events for the month, the exhibitions that are on and where to see them -
- also whats most recommended if you have to priotorize your time - and budget.
It will give some idea of where to eat and also has some discount offers advertised too.

In the centre is also info for out of town travel - brochures covering district to district around the UK and also various booking centres who can actualy make bookings for you.

Information can also be accessed from the internet for you if necessary.

Address: 1 Regent Street, London,sw1 4xt

Directions: 200 m south of picaddilly circus square and underground (exit 3)

Other Contact: www.visitbritain.com

Phone: blvcinfo@visitbritain.org

Website: http://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/getting-around-london/london-maps-and-guides/london-planner

A day out at Windsor castle and Eton

The Queens next best castle, or perhaps even the best, is actually Windsor and very very recommended - excellent art gallery and Queen Marys doll house is amazing. Only 45 mins or so by train from London but allow 2-3 hours for the castle and or St Georges chapel - and also the cute streets next to the castle. Also a walk along the Long mile is rather nice in good weather.

In season Queen Victoria's Frogmore House along the Long Walk has a special 2 day opening which is an excellent visit - the interior and the memorabilia of her rather artistic children and grandchilden is impressive amd gardens beautiful - I think it was July when I went.

Then back down the hill and across the river is Eton! cute buildings along the road up to the university buildings - so really you need another couple of hours for that. but a very worthwhile day out!

China Town at Chinese New Year Chinatown Review

A visit to China Town is pretty good at any time of year - theres some good Chinese supermarkets that supply products from various Asian countries - and theres of course the Dim Sum restaurants - or all you can eat buffet restaurants here - not just Chinese but some proffering to be Vietnamese and Korean as well.

A good chinese bookshop here too.

Chinese New Year is a good time to visit when the rather smallish 'China Town' swells in size and really starts vibeing, gets decorated in red lanterns and all things celebratory - this year particularly ornate and rather profusely decorated.

There is a Chinese New Year Parade held that comes down from Leceister Square to Trafalgar Square - always held on a Sunday and usually the closest Sunday to the actual CN Year date. Now attracting thousands of spectators its a very popular event and well worth getting early to for a good viewing spot.

Florence Nightingale Museum

This year, after being in London - and working in London as a nurse! - for over 10 years, I finally made it to the Florences Nightingale Museum - and what an excellent museum!

This is such a well put together collection of history, information, facts and memorabilia on Florence Nightingale's life and the progression from her influence to what is nursing is today - along with the significance in her day and through the years since of her efforts - and many interesting photographs, artefacts and memorabilia.

Well worth a visit - a good two hours is needed as a minimum really to do justice to such a great museum with so much very interestingly put together information.

It is in a very easy to get to position as well - I for some reason had thought it was much further around behind buildings on the St Thomas Hospital site but it is actually only just across Westminster Bridge past St Thomas Hospital and turn right and it is just there - along with sign posts.

You can sign the Gift allowance for tax purposes and that will entitle you to reuse your ticket for any further entry for the rest of the year - thats a pretty good deal!

Interesting range of souvenirs available from fridge magnets to old postcards of Florence Nightingale funeral carriage for example, to the favourite lavendar soap used by Queen Victoria (which I splashed out on) to mugs, pens and pencils and teatowels...even stethoscopes!

Ladies and gents loos along with wheelchair friendly facilities - an excellently put together museum!

Directions: Across Westminster Bridge from Parliament and Big Ben - past St Thomas Hospital and first right - its signposted well and then first turn on the right just after

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (or 'Kew Gardens') Parks and Gardens Review

A friend of mine phoned me last week from Kew Gardens to tell me i must get myself there as the place was stunning! - full swing spring - but i couldnt muster up a visit until today (too much work and travel!!) and sadly the peak had past but the spring flowers do continue but instead of the place being one mass of spring blooms they are now in areas around the park.

A great thing about Kew Gardens are not only the seasonal highlights such as 5 million different bulbs which flower in spring ie snowdrops which are the first flowers to appear in spring, crocuses(2 million bulbs of them!) and daffodils, camellias but also the all year glasshouses such as the Palm house which has has the worlds highest indoor plant, and the Princess of Wales conservatory where you can see 10 climatic zones with plants from orchids to cacti. Ive been to see the amazing orchid and tropical exhibition with over 200,000 plants on display which are on beginning of each year.

Theres also Kew Palace with its own Queens Gardens to see too.
Entrance is a bit expensive at about £13 or like me today a late entry ticket for £6.70, but good value is a season ticket with unlimited visits for £35!! there are reductions if you are a student or over 60 or with a disability. If you enter with a Disabled ticket then you are entitle to have someone come in free with you as a carer.
Kew Gardens is also part of the 2 for 1 scheme with National Rail - 2 people travelling to London with National Rail tickets can obtain a brochure thats usually at all railway stations, fill in a voucher thats in the back and present at the attraction such as Kew Gardens and get entry for 2 for the current one charge of £13.90 - you must have your valid travel tickets with you though and a travel cards on an Oyster card dont count......a very good deal!

2009 PRICES HAVE GONE UP QUITE A BIT ALREADY - DAY TICKET IS NOW £13, LATE ENTRANCE IS £10 AND AN ANNUAL TICKET IS £39. 2011 prices have now gone up to £13.90

Address: Kew Road, Kew

Directions: take overground train to Richmond and then bus 65 to kew gardens or underground to Kew Gardens tube station , and follow the signs about 5-10 mins walk.
you will see it marked clearly though on ref maps for london

Phone: (0044)02083323333

Website: http://www.kew.org

Harrods at night Knightsbridge, Kensington and Kensington Palace Review

Address: Knightsbridge

Amazing Architecture - Regent Street Soho and the West End Review

London really has amazing architecture - all over the place you can find it! Both old and modern contemporary.

Walking from A to B and on to C and so on puts you in such a better position to see the buildings and what such an array of architecture and design amongst the buildings of London than relying too much on the Underground trains to travel with. (though that is of cultural and architectural interest too!)

From Picadilly Circus on up Regents Street and up Shaftesbury Ave there are lovely to stunning buildings to see around here - including Oxford Circus and on to Robert Adam's All Saints Church, the BBC building and on up to Regents Park. It continues through to the streets behind too of course - and another favourite street of mine is Harley Street in behind Oxford Circus.

An amazing gift to the public! British Museum Review

Address: Great Russell Street, WC1

Directions: Holborn tube

Phone: 0 20 7323 8299

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