London Things to Do Tips by bren1125

Tower of London Tower of London Review

Tickets may be purchased at the Tower or any London Underground Station.

Entry includes: Beefeater tours, The Crown Jewels, The White Tower, The Medevial Palace.

Tower closed 24-26 Dec and 1 Jan

Allow at least 2-3 hours for this site.

There is a restaurant on the premises as well as kiosk with snacks.

You can apply in writing for a FREE pass to the Ceremony of The Keys. It takes place every night at 9:35 pm. After each of the Tower gates has been locked, the "Last Post" is sounded and keys are secured in the Queen's House.

Write to: The Ceremony of the Keys
Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London
London EC3N 4AB
UK

Include: Name, address of all attendees, the date you want to attend (2 alternate dates)
Enclose a self addressed envelope and and International Reply Coupon
(from Post Office)

Address: Tower Hill, EC3

Directions: Tower Hill tube
Bus-15, 25, 42, 78, 100, D1

Phone: 0 20 7709 0765

Speakers Corner in Hyde Park Hyde Park Review

Hyde Park used to be a royal hunting ground, venue for duels, executions, horse racing and once a large potato field during WWII. Now it is for sunbathers, joggers and boaters on Serpentine Lake.

On Sundays, head for Speakers Corner. Where scholars, crackpots, philosophers, eccentrics, religous freaks and all manner of people will air their views on a multitude of subjects. It's great fun and sometimes you can learn a lot or not, but it is Free!

Take a picnic and enjoy the afternoon!

Address: Park Lane, Bayswater Road, Knightsbridge

Directions: Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Lancaster Gate tubes

British Airways London Eye London Eye Review

The London Eye is the world's highest observation wheel. It's slow moving flight last for 30 minutes and has breathtaking views of London.

You stand in a steel and glass capsule and can peek into the backyard of Buckingham Palace and on a clear day can see across seven counties.

Open daily. 10am 8pm Closed 25 Dec
Admission Adult L9

Address: Westminster

Directions: Waterloo or Westminster tube

Phone: 0870 5000 600

The Monument Great Fire of London Monument Review

The Monument built to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666 was built over 300 years ago.

It has 311 steps to the top and is a moderate hike but for those of you with knee problems you might want to skip this. The views are spectacular at the top. It is open every day with the last addmission at 5:40 pm. It cost L1.50 for adults. You can buy a joint ticket for the bridge and the monument

It is about a 10 minute walk from Tower Bridge experience.

Address: Tower Hill

Directions: Tower Hill

Phone: 0171 626 2717

Thames River Cruise by Catamaran River Thames Review

Catamaran Cruisers 50 minute river cruises.

You can do either:

a point to point cruise:which operates between Embankment and Greenwich Pier. Operates daily. Adult L6.70 return free.

or a one hour circular cruise: which departs from Westminster Pier to St Katherine's Pier, with four stops en route. Operates daily Adult L6.00

You depart from either the Embankment Pier or Waterloo Pier and travel down the river in an enclosed ferry.

The tour is narrated in English with headsets for other languages.

You can see the Houses of Parliament, The London Eye, Shakespeares Globe, St Paul's, Tate Modern, Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Other sites are pointed out during the tour as well.

The winter timetable only has 6 ferry times so book it early.

Traveling alone made this very helpful to get my bearings.

Directions: Enbankment Pier or Waterloo Pier

Sherlock Holmes Museum Other Museums and Galleries Review

Small museum reconstructed of Sherlock Holmes' actual house.

Open daily 9:30am - 6:00pm Closed 25 Dec

Adult Admission L6

Directions: Baker St tube

Phone: 020-7935 8866

Website: http://www.Sherlock-Holmes.co.uk

National Gallery National Gallery Review

The cash strapped National Gallery, located at the edge of Trafalgar Square, has one of the world's most impressive art collections.

Famous paintings include Cezanne's The Bathers and van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding.

Entrance is free.
Open daily 10am-6pm Closed 24-26 Dec

Address: Trafalgar Square, WC2

Directions: Charing Cross or Leicester Square tubes

Phone: 0 20 7747 2885

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

St Paul's Cathedral St Pauls Cathedral Review

This is where half of the world saw Charles and Di tie the knot in 1981.

It's famous dome, the second largest in the world, after St Peter's in Rome.

The Light of the World by Holman Hunt is the most famous work of art, but it also contains fabulous carvings, statues and mosaics.

Remember to speak quietly in the whispering gallery, words spoken close to it's walls are carried to the other side of the dome.

Open for sightseeing Monday-Saturday, 0830-1630, last admission 1600.
But for services only on Sunday. If you wish to attend services you will be allowed to enter.

There is a Cathedral Shop (Crypt) which has a wide selection of gifts and souvenirs.

There is also the Crypt Cafe and Restaurant open daily but in December hours vary.

There is disabled access located on the south side of the Cathedral (Mon-Fri 0900-1715)

Address: St Pauls Churchyard, EC4

Directions: St Pauls tube

Phone: 0 20 7236 4128

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

Abbey Road Westminster Abbey Review

The Beatles. A trip to London without going to Abbey Road-sinful. An easy trip by the tube and an easy walk from the station. When you arrive you will find flowers and other trivia left by the fence in front of the studio. Take a picture walking across the street without your shoes on.

Address: City of Westminster

Directions: St James's Park tube

Phone: 0 20 7654 4900

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

Changing of the Guard Buckingham Palace. Review

London's surviving pageantry can be found in the ceremonial Changing of the Guard.

A hugely popular event, which takes place daily during the summer (April-July) and on alternate days for the remainder of the year.

There is no ticketing so arrive early. It takes place inside the railings of the forecourt to Buckingham Palace. For a good view position yourself near the railings or the Victoria Memorial.

During the 45 minute ceremony the New Guard in their winter gray tunics (red-other seasons) are accompanied with a band (when the Queen is in residence) that replaces the Old Guard with a detachment left at the palace as the remaining New Guard march on to Saint James Place.

Address: The Mall, SW1

Directions: Green Park tube