Destination - London

“You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

Samuel Johnson

London Skyline

I like London, it has charm, and cobbled streets, lots of history, and they speak the same language as us – well sort of anyway. My first trip to Europe was to London in 1989 when my daughter was going to school in London and I went over for a visit. So I have fond memories of that trip and all the fun we had. My husband did not go with me on that trip, so in 2003 he and I went back for a visit. I’ve only been there the two times, but I enjoyed both trips.

Changing of the Guard

There are certainly lots of sights to see, and things to do. I will hit the main ones that are not to be missed, and then I would like to talk about getting out of London, because there is so much to see nearby also.

Before I start I would like to point out that you can buy a London Pass which will cover the entrance fee to most of these things. It will save you quite a bit of money to have the pass. It will get you into 55 attractions, historic buildings, museums and art galleries, including the London Bridge and Tower Bridge experiences, Windsor Castle, British Museum, Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, St. Paul’s and the Thames River Cruise.

Tower Bridge

1. The Tower of London remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in London. Complete with tales of historical drama, infamous Beefeaters, the Crown Jewels and the Royal Armorys, a visit to the Tower is a must for all first time visitors to London.

St. Paul's Cathedral

2. Tower Bridge Exhibition. Built in 1894, this is one of the best known and most iconic bridges in London. Visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition and you'll not only learn about the history of the Bridge but you'll also enjoy breathtaking views of London from the high-level walkways - a perfect photo opportunity.

3. St Paul's Cathedral is another popular tourist attraction in London and it’s one of the most beautiful too. Climb the 530 steps from the cathedral floor to the Golden Gallery, also known as the Whispering Gallery, for panoramic views of London.

Cafe in the Crypt
St. Martin of the Fields Church

4. Trafalgar Square is named after Admiral Lord Nelson and his statue dominates the square from 167 feet above it. Four majestic bronze lions, each 20 feet long and 11 feet tall guard the base of Nelson’s column.
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TIP - Across from the square is the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. My daughter took me there for several meals back in 1989. It was a place she could go that was inexpensive and had really good food. They are still serving good food today. It is downstairs in the 18^th century crypt, thus the name Café in the Crypt. It is a favorite of locals and tourists. All dishes are freshly prepared on site and are very reasonably priced. They serve breakfast Monday – Saturday. Lunch, dinner and afternoon tea are served every day. They have Jazz Nights on Wednesday at 8:00PM.

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London Eye & Thames River

5. The London Eye is on the bank of the River Thames near Waterloo Station. It is the biggest observation wheel in the world. It will, over 30 minutes, make a full circle and thus give you a splendid view of London. Of course, the best time to ride this is on a clear day, something you can’t always find in London. Some say that this modern wheel is a blight on the landscape in the middle of such a historic city, but it is worth going up in, there are some wonderful views from up there.

6. Thames River Cruise. The banks of the River Thames are lined with iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Canary Wharf and many more. Weaving through the heart of London the Thames River Cruise really is the best way to see the city.

Stage of the Old Globe in London

7. Tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, an identical reconstruction of the original building which housed Shakespeare’s theatre in London. This open-air playhouse can be found on the banks of the Thames River and features an exhibition dedicated to the plays and the writer.

8. The British Museum - This national institution attracts millions of people each year. You will find almost everything under one roof starting with collections from Egypt, Greek and Roman art, China, old Mesopotamia, Antiques, coins and medals, prints and drawings, Renaissance and Anglo-Saxon Britain, etc. The sheer size of the museum (2.5 miles of galleries) should warn you to wear a good pair of walking shoes and be prepared to spend most of the day there.

Victoria & Albert Museum

9. The Victoria & Albert Museum - This is the home of applied arts. Due to the sheer variety and scale of exhibits there is bound to be something to grab your attention. It has the world`s largest collection of Indian art outside India, Chinese, Islamic, Japanese and Korean galleries, more Constable paintings than the Tate; seven Raphael masterpieces and a sizable collection of miniatures, watercolours and medieval and Renaissance sculpture, as well as a splendid collection of Samurai swords.

Harrod's food hall

10. Harrods Department Store is something you should definitely check out. For me this is more fun than any museum. What I love about Harrods is their food hall. It is the finest grocery store in the world, with such wonderful foods to explore. And if you are there around Christmas they have the best chocolates and other types of sweets all dressed up for the holidays. It is a very upscale market place, and I love to look at all the interesting foods and wines.

There are so many other places to visit, such as, The Parliament House, Tate Gallery of Fine Art, The National Gallery, Covent Garden, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace (which you can see, but you can’t go into), and some fine parks throughout the city. You will want to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which can get quite crowded. We actually enjoyed the Changing of the Horse Guard ceremony more, partly because there were no crowds.

Tas Restaurant

You should definitely take in a play while you are there. It is one of the best places in the world to see a play. Going to London and not seeing a play would be like going to New York and not seeing a play. There is a half-price ticket booth in Leiscester Square. And if you want to have dinner before or after the play, I have a suggestion, a place my husband and I really enjoyed and it was near the theatre district. Tas Restaurant at 22-23 New GlobeWalk. Tas Pide is a traditional Anatolian dish based on a recipe dating back thousands of years. Freshly made dough, resembling the shape of a boat, is baked in a wood fire oven producing a crispy outer crust. A variety of highly flavoured, aromatic fillings provide the topping.

Windsor Castle

If you only have a few days in London then you will concentrate your sightseeing to the city. But if you are there for longer then I suggest you take some day trips to some places nearby. You have to remember what a small country England is. You can make London your base and see so much of England by making day trips out of the city. Some day trips that would be easy to make from London include Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Canterbury and Leeds Castle, Brighton, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Cambridge, and Stratford on Avon. Getting there is easy. The trains run regularly to every one of these places, and all are less than 2 hours away, most less than an hour.

Windsor Castle. Located just outside of London, is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It has been the official residence of the British sovereign for over 900 years and the amazing State Apartments are a favourite with London tourists

Hampton Court

Hampton Court Palace was the home of King Henry VIII. Not only is this one of the most breathtaking and legendary of all London palaces, it also boasts stunning gardens, a world famous hedge maze and more than one ghost.

Both of those castles are open to the public for tours and besides reaching them by train, you can reach these castles by taking a boat tour up the River Thames. You should probably only take the boat one-way because it takes quite a bit longer, so return by train. Both of these destinations can be booked as a day tour through a tour company also.

Canterbury

My favorite nearby city is Canterbury. The big draw for many is the Cathedral which is quite pretty and you should definitly take a look at it. But for me it was the charm of the city with its tudor-style buildings, cobblestone streets and charming shops. We took in the city and nearby Leeds Castle in one day, the train stops right at Leeds Castle on your way back to London. Leeds is one of the most stunning castles to visit, set on 500 acres of beautiful parkland. Well worth a visit.

Leeds Castle - rated one of the top castles of the world

Stonehenge

Stonehenge and the city of Salisbury are also a short train ride away. Salisbury has a famous cathedral also, although not nearly as spectacular as others you have or will see. The main attraction in this area is Stonehenge. It is a short bus ride from the city, local buses or a taxi can take you out there. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones. They are believed to date back to 3000 BC.

Brighton Beach Pier

The city of Brighton is another day trip possible from London and the main attraction there is the Pavilion. It is only an hour train trip from Victoria Station. It is a famous seaside resort and charming city on the south coast of England. It has a wonderful pier that you should stroll out on, and the beach is right there. It is a very rocky beach, no sand. There are some charming shops in town. But the one thing you should see is the Pavilion. Built for the Prince Regent, later King George IV, in stages between 1787 and 1823, the Royal Pavilion is remarkable for its exotic oriental appearance both inside and out. This magnificent royal pleasure palace was revered by fashionable Regency society and is still a distinctive landmark for vibrant Brighton & Hove today. The Royal Pavilion is also home to some of the finest collections and examples of the chinoiserie style in Britain.

Brighton's Royal Pavilion

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Stratford Upon Avon is where Shakespeare was born and raised. You can take a tour of the town, and everything Shakespeare, or do it on your own. You can visit the house he was born in and grew up in. The other houses you can visit are Anne Hathaway's Cottage (childhood home of his wife), Mary Ardens Farm (childhood home of his mother), Hall's Croft (where his daughter Susanna lived with her husband), and Nash House which is where his granddaughter lived and which has the complete work of Shakespeares as well as beautiful gardens and grounds. You can also take a boat ride on the River Avon.

Punt boat on River Cam

Cambridge is a university town with a host of diverse and intriguing attractions to keep everyone happy. With its narrow medieval passageways and 801-year-old university, it is more than just a college town. It's easy to get around the city and there is always something new to see and do in the city. Historic and contemporary buildings to visit, world-renowned museums, fantastic theatre and live music. My favorite memory of Cambridge was punting down the River Cam in a flat-bollom boat. You glide by the "backs" of the beautiful Cambridge University. You can hire someone to do the punting, or you can take a lesson and learn how to do it yourself. When my daughter and I did it, we took the easy route.

So take a few day trips if you have the time, and see more than just London. But don't skip London, it has a lot to offer.

*Some pictures taken from the internet