Travel Britain Guide
Travel Britain: London Attractions
London offers so many different things that you will never be able to see and do them all. But whatever you want to do when you go to London you will be able to. There are monuments and museums, zoos and gardens, nightclubs, theater, music, and various other things to do in this city.
London also offers a great mixture of history and modernism. There are over 500 galleries and museums. You can see everything from the Crown Jewels to the Parliament.
Another historical place of interest that you should see before leaving London is Westminster Abbey, which is the burial place of kings, poets and scientists. It is only a short distance from Buckingham Palace where you can see the famous changing of the guards. St Paul’s Cathedral is another must see place that rivals the most beautiful churches in France and Italy.
If you would much rather have the Wall Street feel that you can get in New York then be sure to visit The City. This place is much more historical than Wall Street which boasts being around before money was ever invented.
You’ll have no problems finding old ancient inns that date back thousands of years. If you are looking to take a nice stroll through a park then you’ll have no shortage with the St. James Park, Hyde Park or Regents. The Holland Park also offers the opera house and Japanese Gardens while Kensington offers the world famous gardens and the Royal costume collection.
If you are looking for a more trendy area you can visit Covent Garden. This is a fabulous area that offers theatre, shops, street performers, and trendy restaurants, bars and clubs. This area is also home to the Royal Opera House.
Many people come to London to check out the markets. These are centuries old and are perfect for finding antiques especially at Portobello Road. Borough Market is over a thousand years old and offers the infamous ostrich burger.
After a fun filled day of hopping around the markets you are going to be hungry. Head over to the West End to discover an array of pubs. After a nice meal you can catch a show here that competes with the best of Broadway. Often times these shows start in London and end up moving to New York.
If museums are your thing be sure to catch The Victoria & Albert which is named after the 19th century queen and her companion. London also offers the Natural History museum, the Science museum and the world famous British Museum.
There are also many modern attractions that are worth seeing. The London Eye was built at the turn of the millennium and has the largest Ferris wheel in the world. The Tate Modern is a museum that has paintings of the famous painters of the 20th century including Picasso and Matisse.
Tags: london, Travel BritainLondon – Kew Palace and Gardens
“It’s good to be king!” announced the Austrian ruler in Amadeus. Well, it wasn’t so bad to be a wealthy merchant either. Kew Palace, known at Dutch House until 1827, was built in 1631 for the Dutch merchant Samuel Fortrey.
Mr. Fortrey’s descendants wisely leased the Jacobean mansion to Queen Caroline in 1728 for 99 years for ‘the rent of 100 and a fat doe’. The Queen made an excellent bargain.
For the price, she received a palace and gardens that are now the rival of any in the world. Though small by contemporary standards the 21m(70ft) by 15m(50ft) structure has been recently restored to its former splendor. The ten year project has had stellar results, even down to some excellent and unique Flemish brickwork.
Renovated to the period of 1804 when it was the home of King George III, there are now on display uncovered secret rooms and exhibits of the monarch’s many interests in art, science, music and the like. (Yes, that king. The one who gave ‘the colonies’ all the trouble. Apparently, he didn’t find it that good to be king.)
Included is the restored doll’s house of the princesses as well as numerous paintings that would have been seen daily by the king, his wife Queen Charlotte and their fifteen children. (Yes, that’s fifteen.) The second floor is very much as it was 200 years ago.
Open to the public since Queen Victoria’s decree, except for the restoration interval, the palace has several other attractions. Not least of these are the world-famous Royal Botanic gardens outside the palace.
Beginning as a mere nine acres in 1751, the plants and grounds have, well, blossomed to its current three hundred. It’s estimated that the gardens house as much as 12% of examples of the world’s known plant species.
Ever popular is the Chinese Pagoda with its excellent view of the landscape, erected in 1761. There are six large Victorian greenhouses, such as the glass and iron Palm House from 1848. Palm House was one of the first uses of wrought iron on a large scale.
Not far away is the Crystal Palace erected for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Temperate House, twice the size of Palm House, was added in 1860.
The Grass Garden is one of the more unusual offerings for a botanical museum, housing over 600 varieties of grass. There’s even the fascinating Wood Museum explaining to visitors how paper is manufactured.
Kew has long been home to extraordinary botanical science. The first successful effort to cultivate rubber trees outside South America took place on the grounds.
But there are more modern efforts as well. In 1987, Kew gained the Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened by Princess Diana. The structure houses experiments carried out within 10 different climate zones in the interior.
While at the Palace and Gardens don’t miss seeing Queen Charlotte’s cottage. At the right time of year, bluebells cover the grounds.
Kew Palace and Gardens is about 45 minutes outside central London on the District Line, Kew Gardens Station. The grounds are a 10-minute walk from the station. You can rest after the walk, though. Just hop the trolley that takes you around to the eight zones into which the 300 acres is divided.
Tags: king george iii, victorian greenhouses, chinese pagoda, wife queen charlotte, royal botanic gardensFun Activities to do on an England Vacation
Where are you headed to this year? Are you considering an England vacation? If you do, then it is one of the most promising tours that you can ever have. Being on a vacation is indeed a memorable event for you and your loved ones. So whether you are going out of the country with your friends or with your family members, there is one vital thing that comes around and that is your trip will involve spending money. However, you don’t have to worry that much because whatever amount that goes out of your pocket is equaled by the most unforgettable enjoyment, fun, and thrill! After all, England is such a vast place that the attractions therein are worth visiting.
Fun Things to Keep You Busy during Your Stay
Alright so you are looking forward to your stay in England. Of course the best place to visit is the famous city of London. Here are the top ten activities that should make up your list.
Go to the British Museum. Whether or not you are a history bug, the British Museum will surely fascinate you. It houses more than fifteen million of artifacts so the visit will open your eyes to its rich historical accounts as well as provide you with an educational experience. Its numerous collections will never fail to perk up your mood and if you get tired, you can always head towards the museum caf.
Capture the wonder of London Bridge by dusk. Being one of the renowned London icons, the bridge itself stands majestically across the River Thames. The river flows peacefully despite the traffic jam over the bridge. Take photos of it at dusk and you will definitely love the scenery!
See the Big Ben and the Clock Tower. The clock tower is considered to be the biggest four-faced chiming clock with a captivating structural design. The Big Ben on the other hand is the gigantic bell that is inside the clock tower.
See for yourself the changing of the Queens’ Guards. Be sure not to miss this chance of witnessing the changing of the guards at the Buckingham Palace.
Tour the Westminster Palace. If you head to London on the summer months, you can grab an opportunity of getting into the palace and hearing of its educational and historical commentaries.
Go shopping at Harrods. Whether you want to buy or simply look around, this shopping place is truly worth your time. In here you will likewise see the memorial sculptures of Dodi Al Fayed and Princess Diana.
Walk around Trafalgar Square. You may not be able to feed the pigeons as it has been already banned yet the open square provides a great place for taking a walk.
Pay homage to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Gothic architecture may have been destroyed by the fire in the year 1710 but it currently stands beautifully with fantastic facades. Don’t forget to pass by its Whispering Gallery too.
Visit the London Eye. Take a full view of the city as you ride this Ferris Wheel.
Sit and marvel at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Plays and educational tours are offered therein so you may commemorate the historical essence of this place.
So, are you already up for the fun and adventure that an England vacation holds for you?
Tags: buckingham palace, buckingham palace tour, river thames, westminster palace, chiming clock