Tower of London

Garrison, jewel house, king’s bed champers, zoo, royal palace, defensive structure, offensive structure, prison and place of execution – this 900 year old structure is a gold mind for lovers of history. The Tower was built by William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest, and stands as an ever looming example of the Norman Conquest. Discover layers of history as you explore the 27 m tower and all of its different complexes. To truly experience the Tower of London I recommend getting a tour, because guides really do unlock a lot of interesting historic, architectural and cultural aspects of the Tower of London.

Tower of London, England, UK by Garry Knight

London Eye

The London Eye soars 135 meters into the London sky to give viewers 25 mile view of London in every direction. This world famous ferris wheel is one of the best ways to experience London’s skyline, but is a particularly stunning view if you go from sunset to night fall. More than 10,000 people visit on average per day, so plan to deal with crowds. Each capsule holds 30 people per vehicle, so don’t expect to get to intimate at this site. Due to the popularity of this site, I recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Maybe even consider paying for the premium tickets that allow you to skip through the lines.

London Eye at Sunset by Garry Knight

Shakespeare’s Globe

This theatre is based off of the plan of the Globe Theatre where many of William Shakespeare’s plays were first staged. Shakespeare also happened to co-own the Globe Theatre. The original Globe Theatre burned to the ground in 1613, but 400 years later the theatre was rebuilt. Due to the authenticity of design there are no seats for the crowd, so if you catch a show be prepared to stand through the entire performance.  Every year there are seasonal festivals outside of the theatre that can be quite entertaining if you just happen to be in town.

The Globe Theatre, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

Buckingham Palace

You know that we couldn’t skip this internationally recognizable landmark when writing about London. The Buckingham Palace is the famous royal palace where Queen Elizabeth II currently resides. Although the royal family still uses some of the house, a lot of it is open to the public. Visitors can admire different memorabilia of gift to the throne, including drawings from Salvador Dali. The 29 acre gardens are also available to visitors for those who want to take an outdoor stroll in royal style.

Buckingham Palace, London, England, UK by Leonard Bentley

National Gallery

Located in Trafalgar Square, this gallery offers a huge range of art that dates from 1260 to 1900. Few places in the world exhibit so many important paintings in one place. The admission is free to all, and make sure to check for their extended opening hours. The Gallery is huge, so do not try to see everything in one visit. It is best to pick out a handful of exhibits you want to see then work your way from there. One could spend an entire week with no rest wandering the Gallery and still miss some of the exhibits.

Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, London, England, UK by Garry Knight

Holly Williford is a travel writer who has gone to several places all around the world. She has just booked a tour to the landmarks of Senegal and South Africa with Palace Travel.

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London aerial photo, England, UK by Doc Searls

The only problem with planning London trip is the cost that this city could have. Especially if you’re from European countries where the change euro/pound is not so convenient, the good planning of your London tour is crucial.

Start to cut the transfer costs such as Airline Company choosing low cost ones and considering bus transfer to City center. Bus transfer can be cheaper than trains, give you a more panoramic view of the landscape and also let you choose other airports where low cost Airline companies arrive at such as London Stansted. Plan also how many quarter you would like to visit creating your personal city tour and the list of the most important places. After this try to count how many subway trips you should pay. If they are too many consider to buy an Oyster card that can be charged at your arrival and save you money and time.

Moreover while you list all the attractions, museum or restaurants you want to visit always take a look at their site: they can give you the chance to book online your seat or your ticket giving you a great advantage to save time and have a free space for the last minute ideas, photos or snacks. This is particularly suggested for well known attraction like London Eye where you can find yourself bottled in a very long cue to take the ticket and then to jump on their experience.

Planning your London trip on your own needs of travel and city tour will help you to manage in a correct way your money, your time and have the best of the most unique capital of the world also in a weekend escape!

Bio: Valentina is a weekend traveler who enjoys low cost trip to take street photography of unique places in Europe.

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Tower Bridge, London, UK by siddhu2020

When to visit

Spring and summer (somewhere from April till August) are normally considered to be the best times to visit this magical city. Though even during this time layering in clothes is advised. Personally though, I love the British winter- when you can actually feel the spirit of London dwelling in every nook and corner of its streets.

What not to miss

The city definitely deserves leisurely visits to many of its endowments. However, there are a few things that are blasphemous to miss. If you are on a scheduled trip, make note of a few things that ought to be visited. There are always the guided tours, but again personally, I prefer discovering a city at my own pace. Do the basic background research but then let the city itself make you discover her. Be impulsive; turn a street you don’t the destination of. Eat everywhere- from the most delectable restaurant to small eateries to roadside kiosks. Let the city guide you where to go next. But even among these, the must-dos include the following-

• It would be a sacrilege to come from London without visiting the abode of the Queen- the Buckingham Palace. Experience the royalty first hand. The State rooms in the palace are open to visitors during a few months of the year.

Buckingham Palace & Queen Victoria Memorial, London, UK by shining.darkness

• If looking for a good time to able to appreciate all that the city offers, take a walk along the embankment form the London Eye to the Tower Bridge.

• Go up the London Eye (preferably at night) to get a spectacularly breathtaking view of the city.

• A bit hidden jewels of the city include the Churchill War Rooms and markets like the Borough Market, Spitafields, and Portobello etc.

• If you’re with the love of your life, the Kew Gardens are not to be missed at any cost. The entire city is spotted with several fascinating gardens. But the Kew Gardens, the royal botanic gardens, is the best place for a couple to spend a quiet, blissful evening.

Temperate house at Kew Gardens, London, UK by Heather Cowper

• When in need of a little solitude, choose to walk by yourself in the Hyde Park- watch life go by and sit around for a little introspection and retrospection.

• For the shopaholics, London brings in some special gifts. The Selfridges, the King’s Road and Notting Hill/Westbourne Grove bring you the best of fashion, interiors and technology. Shop around and have fun!

Moving around the city

The amazing transport facilities in the city make it easy to move around at any time of the day and even at night. My personal favourite being the feet, I always prefer walking around the city to take in the true flavour of the place. There are also the options of the 8000 buses, the trams networking 39 stops around the city, the black cabs and the underground tubes. If your budget allows, you can always go for a little luxury like hiring a Bentley chauffeur in London.

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View of London from London Eye, England, UK by André Zehetbauer

The British Airways London Eye is simply an opportunity that mustn’t be missed. It is the largest observation wheel in the world and has, somewhat unrealistically, been compared with the Eiffel tower in Paris. From here you can ride in one of the many viewing pods around the huge wheel and see all along the River Thames and across London. The ride takes some time to complete and is a good way to get your bearings in this fantastic city. From the top you can visualize where all of the main attractions are located which makes reaching them on foot far easier. Also make sure to take note of the famous bridges over the River Thames as they were the predecessors of this truly wonderful engineering feat.

The British Museum is another must see place in London and entry here is free of charge-therefore it is perfect for a day trip to London. Thought to be one of the world’s best human history and culture museums and is home to around 8 million pieces the British Museum has something that will interest everybody. Just the building itself is worth seeing with its 44 columns that resemble the temple of Athena Polias and the famous reading room that was redeveloped in 2001. Remember entry is free so you can come and go as often as you like. There is no need to spend all day here, just look at a few galleries and then return another time to view some more.

British Museum, London, England, UK by Ana Paula Hirama

Of course no visit to London would be complete without taking a trip to Buckingham palace. This is the official London residence of the Queen and is also where she chooses to do most of her entertaining. You can see the palace from the Royal mews quite easily and for free and this is where the famous photographs are usually taken from. There is also access to the palace museum for the public, however this isn’t always opened and it is advisable to check before you make the journey. One of the best and most famous parts of the palace is its guards, the life guards, and once a day it is possible to watch the changing of the Queens Life Guard on Horse Guards Parade and outside the palace’s gates. This is an absolutely great spectacle and a real video and photo opportunity not to be missed.

So make sure that you come to London as these are just a few of the hundreds of great things that are on offer, many of which are free of charge.

Autor Bio: This article was produced by Catalita G.  She lives in London and the places mentioned above are some of her favorites. Catalita runs the travel blog Channel Voyager, where you can get more ideas for trips to London (did you know the term in Danish is Rejser til London).

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Trafalgar Square, London, UK by Michael Gwyther-Jones

Attractions

London has so many different attractions to offer and the same is true for England itself. In London you can find Buckingham Palace, which you can also visit during summer time when the Queen of England goes to summer in one of the many castles around the country. If you are into history and art, then you must pay a visit to the National Gallery, which is right in front of Trafalgar Square, whose obelisk of General Nelson is photographs by millions of people every year. Not too far from Trafalgar Square, there is the House of Parliament that faces the Thames River. If you wish to have a good view of London in its complete splendor, then the best idea would be to take a ride on the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel of Europe. The tour takes about half hour so you can sit comfortably on the benches inside the sphere and take pictures of London seen from above.

If you wish to see more than just London, then renting a car will come very much in handy. London is not too far from other major cities and attractions in England. For example, a drive of only one hour and a half will take to you Cambridge and with even less time than that you can reach Stonehenge to see the breath-taking stones that have been there for centuries.

More Attractions and Restaurants

If you decide to make London your main stop, then you will be very busy going around making sure you see everything this beautiful city has to offer. For example, if you happen to catch a sunny day in London, then you must pay a visit to Hyde Park or Green Park so that you can enjoy a day in nature. London is a metropolitan city and for this reason offers its visitors a wide range of different types of cuisines, especially Indian, Chinese and typical British food, such as fish and chips. This way, you can rest assure that you will be able to find something that tickles your taste buds.

This was a guest post left by Aronno, a writer and travel lover. London offers so much to its tourists, from relaxing atmosphere to adventurous attractions. The city has a lot to offer and you can visit all the wonderful attractions by driving there in the comfort of your hired car from Daddy Car Hire. For more information regarding London please visit http://www.daddycarhire.com.

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Black London Cab by James Barrett

Plan Your Travels

Planning your time in London is crucial. London is such a small town, however it is considered to be overcrowded and traffic is not exactly swift moving. However if you choose to take your own vehicle into town, parking becomes another issue you have to consider. In London parking spaces are limited, even if you were able to find one, paying for parking spaces can be ludicrously high. Then comes in the dreaded congestion charge fee. If you drive into Central London during peak times you will be required to pay the congestion charge fee. This was brought in to reduce traffic and emissions coming into London.

Ordering a Cab

So why bother with all that stress when you can just get a cab. Getting a cab in central London is very straightforward. There are many trustworthy and reputable cabbies in London, some even offer to take you on a tour themselves! It is all part of the London experience, cabbies are some of the most bubbly people you can meet.

Ordering a cab is easy. As London is so fast paced cabs are always at the ready for you!. In the heart of London there is no way you will not find a cab lurking around somewhere. Black cabs are considered to be more expensive than other independent companies. Black cabs are more reputable than other cabs however, this good service and swift delivery comes at an extra price. Other independent businesses such as Orderacab, provide you a service that compares local cabbies in your area and comes up with the best price for you. This is a great device as it helps people find where they are going at the cheapest price.

Getting a cab is probably the best alternative to driving into central London. You are worry free once you enter and leave the cab. As a driver you are cautious as to where you should park your car. With a cab you are just dropped off to your destination with nothing to worry about.

The article is written by Michael O’Donnell who writes for the online London taxi booking service orderacab.co.uk.

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It’s not just young children that benefit from day trips, older children and even young adults will learn something by travelling into London for day trips too. There is so much to do that you’ll never get bored. There are museums, theatres, famous boats and the River Thames, monuments and bridges, not forgetting Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace. Also, many of these places are free to visit, so no extra money is being spent unnecessarily.

Big Ben & London Eye, England, UK by Adalberto.H.Vega

Children learn about the history of the city of London each day, so why not give them the chance to visit and view the place they are learning about with school trips to London? This will give them a chance to learn more by doing something exciting, such as activities and walks, rather than sitting in a boring classroom all day.

Although children are the hardest to please when it comes to learning, by giving them something fun to do and helping them learn will surely keep them happy. Giving the children something that will help them learn about the history of where they live and that involves lots of activities, for example. Want all of this? Then send them on school tours of London with their school!

Many children don’t often get the chance to travel into London with parents due to work or other commitments. These tours and days out will give children the chance to see what London is all about for themselves and will give them the opportunity to see first-hand what it entails, rather than watching videos and looking at photos.

Getting children to remember what’s being taught is always a struggle, so by giving them the chance to travel to London, have fun and learn, they should (hopefully) remember and appreciate what they are being taught more.

School Trips To Londonare easily arranged through the child’s school, and are reasonably priced for any parent, giving children the opportunity to view London and learn about its history in a more enjoyable way. This also gives them the chance to learn about different methods of transport used in and around the city – a hot topic for young kids, learning about trains, tubes, cars, bikes, boats and buses.

Children like to venture through places they are unsure of, so by giving them the chance to venture to London, you are giving them the opportunity to go on a huge adventure, whilst learning along the way. This gives the child an improved knowledge of their surroundings and history but enjoyment of being somewhere new and exciting.

Have you ever stopped to think about how your child may benefit from school tours of London? Well, giving children the opportunity to travel to London, will allow them to learn, have fun and grow up, knowing that London is not such a scary place to be, and that you don’t have to stay local to have fun or to learn.

Enjoy stress free school tours to European and other worldwide destinations with Voyager School Travel. Call them on +44 (0) 1273 827 327 to know more!

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Hit the markets

Nothing captures the buzz and character of London more than its bustling markets. Colourful, cultural and packed full of bargains galore, whether you’re looking to uncover chic gems in the vintage clothes stalls of Camden, sample the sights, smells and tastes of Whitecross Street Food Market or hunt for treasure in Brixton, there are plenty of unique and tempting markets all across London which are at their best during the week, away from the tourist-trapping weekend trade.

London Eye and Panorama, England, UK by Elliott Brown

Soak up the views

Whether you’re a hard-nosed Londoner who knows the Tube map like the back of your hand, or an innocent tourist clutching your guidebook, the chances are you’re often in too much of a rush to really soak up the unique beauty of this city. A day off is a fantastic chance to take a step back and just drink it all in. The London Eye may be one of London’s most recognisable icons but it is also one of the best ways to get a great view of the famous buildings, landmarks and skyline that lie all around you.

Explore the quirky side of life

As well as its glitzy tourist attractions and mainstream entertainment, London really excels itself when it comes to underground culture and off-beat antics and there are plenty of ways to explore this side of the city – you just have to know who to ask. The Alternative London Tour will show you some of the best street art and unique cultural history of East London, while Ghost and Murder Walks can help you uncover the darker sides of London’s spooky underbelly.

London Fields, Hackney, Egland, UK by Charles Hutchins

Hit the park

A day off means relaxing and getting away from the daily grind. Luckily, London is blessed with plenty of green spaces which means you don’t need to travel far to be able to chill out on the grass or enjoy a rejuvenating wildlife walk. If you’re planning what to do with your bank holiday, then a barbecue is often the first thing that springs to mind, but for many Londoners access to a garden comes at a price. But fear not, if sparking up the barbie in your front room fills you with fear, then you can always head off to Highbury Fields in Islington or London Fields in Hackney, two parks which permit barbecues in designated areas.

This article has been produced by FollowUK. The place to follow UK Bank Holidays 2013 dates, not to forget dates for special occasions and important events.

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Palace Pier

Built in its original form in 1823, the Palace Pier has had a stormy past, having been knocked down or had major destruction affecting the structure of the pier around 10 different times! It has therefore been re-built on a number of occasions, most notably in 1899 when it re-opened at a grand cost at the time of £27,000. It has since been re-branded as a fairground-type attraction with a number of rides at the end of the pier, arcade games and traditional fairground games like tin can alley and hook a duck. There are also lots of amazingly traditional British delicacies to try like fish and chps, candy rock, cockles and Mr whippy Ice Cream, not to mention candy floss, doughnuts and crepes! Click here for opening times and more information on the Palace Pier.

Brighton Pier, England, UK by Paul

Brighton Wheel

This relatively new Brighton attraction was opened in October 2011 and was previously built as an attraction on the site of the 2012 World Cup in South Africa, it was then shipped over to the UK. Once inside one of the 36 pods you can see a number of Brightonian landmarks such as the Brighton Pavilion and on a clear day even the Isle of Wight. It actually moves at a relatively faster pace than the London eye, although it does offer you at least three wheel rotations per ride. Tickets are not too expensive either starting at £8 for an adult there, but you can find a 10% discount online.

Brighton Wheel, England, UK by Jim Linwood

Royal Pavilion

This fantastic attraction completely unique to Brighton was the ‘holiday home’ of George IV, also known as the Prince Regent and he started building it in 1786. It is now a great place for people of all ages to discover some royal treasures and beautiful paintings and interior designs of the grand rooms. A special mention must go to the music room, which has stunningly exquisite chandeliers and wall paper patterns and designs, certainly not to be missed!

Royal Pavilion, Brighton, England, UK by Stuart Boreham

Meeting Place Café

As a Brightonian myself, one of the best things to do on a lazy weekend is to stroll along the beach and work up an appetite so you can treat yourself to a delicious spread at this particular favourite café of mine. They have a selection of enticing homemade cakes and they even do a traditional cream tea. A tradition of mine is to have a plate of cheesy chips and sit on the quaint plastic chairs tucked behind the bright yellow windbreaker and people watch as the sun beats down. But make sure you don’t let the seagulls and pigeons snatch your treats! It’s all part of the fun at this great British institution.

Meeting Place Cafe, Brighton, England, UK by Jeremy Tarling

The Lanes

A mecca for vintage clothes shoppers, the North and South Lanes offer a multitude of choice and variety at a whole range of different prices. From well-known vintage stores like Beyond Retro to little thrift stores that sell anything from binoculars to melamine home ware, at all manner of prices. I love going to these unique stores to get pieces that nobody else has and to truly be an individual, Brighton is certainly full of them!

Big Yellow Shop – The Drum Cavern in the North Laines, Brighton, UK by Dominic’s pics

If you want to get to Brighton from London it is best to catch the fast train from Victoria station which only takes about an hour and you can always get the Gatwick Express to London Victoria if you’re coming from the airport itself. Brighton Station is not far away from the seafront and main city centre and most places are within walking distance once you get there. The main motorway leading into Brighton is the A27 then A23, all making this city an easily accessible destination.

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London Eye, UK by Jim Bahn

The first place is the British Museum. From the prehistoric all the way to modern times, you can get a sense of how far London has come. There are many good things about this. Many find that the basic entry into this museum is free which saves on money.

Another place to travel to and visit would be the Tate Modern. This is where you can see all sorts of Britain’s more contemporary works of art. This you will notice has a very distinct shape to it. This is because this business used to be the power station. There is a restaurant in here. Coming here is free for you all.

There is the National Gallery which is free to get into and tour as well. This is where rafters that come from Western Europe are that holds paintings that date back to the 13th through the 19th century. This is where you can find art work from Van Gogh, Botticelli, Renoir, and many more famous artists. Those of you who have a thing for art will love it here.

However, you might have a thing for history. There is much history in the Natural History Museum. This is free to come and see as well. Here is where the tallest and some of the most rare animal remains are. There is a blue whale in here. There is a very old spider that you can go to see in here. Many learn quite a few things when they come to this museum.

There is the EDF Energy London Eye. This allows you to see London from the sky. You can get tickets online. There are thirty two capsules that weigh ten tonnes. This can hold up to twenty five people. This will show you about fifty five things that London is famous for and it only takes you thirty minutes to do.

Those of you who love science might love the Science Museum. This caters to all your senses. They show you the latest things that have come out in science for the past three hundred years. Some areas in here do ask that you have tickets, but to get in is free to all.

There is the Victoria and Albert Museum. Here is where you can find great things from all around the world. These are artifacts that date back in time. They have a bit of everything. Its free to get in here to see everything that there is. To go with this, you might like to go and see Madame Tussauds. This area lets you take pictures with the life like replicas of these famous people from Lady Gaga to more.

You might even like to go see the area where the castle is. Here you might get a chance to see her. You never know. There are still many more things to do and see when you go to London. It’s filled with many things to learn about and many things to experience. Don’t miss out on these.

Bio: This post was written by Chris an outdoor enthusiast working for Simply Hike an online retailer of outdoor clothing and Hunter Wellies.

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