Madame TussaudsMadame Tussauds is the most famous wax museum gallery
in the world, with more than 400 life-sized models of stars, famous
politicians, royals and sportsmen, as well as the most infamous
criminals the world has known. Inside the Museum the 'Spirit of
London' ride will take you through the city's history, introducing
you to those figures that have shaped the London of today, while
The Chamber of Horrors challenges visitors to enter and be
terrified. Also at the site is Tussaud's Auditorium, one of the
biggest in the world, ready to amaze visitors with its views of the
universe.Tower of LondonThe Tower of London is perhaps as famous for its
traditions as its imposing structure. It is guarded by a special
band of Yeoman Warders, known as Beefeaters, and dotted with
several large, black birds the Ravens. Legend has it that if the
Ravens ever leave the Tower, a great tragedy will befall England,
and to this day the birds are protected by Royal decree. The
Tower's history dates back to the 11th century, and each new
Monarch has played a role in its growth and development. It also
houses Britain's crown jewels, a spectacular display of some of the
world's finest gems and workmanship. The Tower is next to Tower
Bridge, another famous London landmark.Houses of ParliamentOriginally built for Edward the Confessor more than
1,000 years ago, the Houses of Parliament, or Palace of
Westminster, remained the principal residence of Britain's monarchs
for the next 400 years. Thereafter it became the administrative
centre of the country. In 1834 the great fire burnt everything
except Westminster Hall, and the present Gothic building was
completed in the 1840s. It is perhaps most famous for the clock
tower, St Stephens, which is commonly, but mistakenly called Big
Ben, after the name of the bell inside. Although Parliament is
closed to visitors during session, it is still a popular attraction
to tourists for its exterior architecture.Tate ModernHoused in the former Bankside Power Station, which has
been transformed by Swiss Architects Herzog & de Meuron into a
spectacular new modern building, the Tate Modern is Britain's new
National Museum of Modern Art. It showcases an exhaustive
collection from 1900 to the present day, including works by Dalí,
Picasso, Matisse, Rothko and Warhol, as well as exhibitions by
contemporary artists. There is also an exceptional roof café, which
affords spectacular views over London and an impressive gift
shop.National GalleryThe National Gallery has an imposing and regal façade
stretching across the northern side of Trafalgar Square, and houses
over 2,000 paintings from every major European school of painting
from the 13th to the 19th century. It was opened in 1938 at its
present location, which was chosen for its situation between
London's wealthier West End and poorer East End, as a 'gallery for
all'.British MuseumWith more than 6,000 historical objects from all
around the globe, the British Museum houses one of the world's
greatest collections of antiquities, including the Parthenon Frieze
or Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone and the Roman Portland Vase
dating from the 1st century AD. In 2000 the great court was
reopened with an incredible glass roof covering two acres, and
stairwells leading down to the Reading Room, which has been
completely restored.London EyeAt 443ft (135m) tall, and weighing more than 250
double-decker buses, the London Eye is the most spectacular new
addition to London's skyline. With incredible views of most of
London's major attractions, and an opportunity to put the city's
geography into perspective, it is a must see for all visitors.
Originally conceived by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield
as an entry for a millennium landmark competition, the project took
six years and the expertise of hundreds of people from five
European countries to turn it into a reality.Shakespeare's GlobeSituated on the bank of the Thames, just 656ft (200m)
from the site of Shakespeare's original Globe theatre, this
fantastic recreation will transport visitors back to the time of
the very first productions of Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth
Night. The reconstruction took a total of 10 years to complete; at
a cost of over £40 million and now houses a professional theatre
company responsible for regular productions of Shakespeare's famous
plays. Adjacent to the theatre is the Globe Exhibition, presenting
graphic information about the reconstruction of the theatre and
bringing to the fore the life and works of Shakespeare with
interactive displays and live demonstrations. Visits to the
exhibition include a tour of the theatre.Buckingham Palace and the Queen's GalleryNo visit to London would be complete without
experiencing the pomp and ceremony of the changing of the guard at
Buckingham Palace, but now visitors can actually get a peek inside
during the annual summer opening of the State Rooms, and see some
of the Queen's private art collection at the newly opened Queen's
Gallery. Originally the town house of the Dukes of Buckingham,
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London home of
Britain's monarchs since 1837. Look to see whether the Royal
Standard (not the Union Flag) is flying, which indicates that the
Queen is in residence.HarrodsHarrod's, which proprietor Mohamed Al Fayed calls his
'Palace in Knightsbridge', promises one of the most extravagant and
luxurious shopping experiences in the world. With 22 restaurants,
and a wide range of departments and services across its seven
floors, it is easy to see why this is the shopping choice of
London's social elite. With its prominent position on Brompton
Road, Harrod's is hard to miss, especially at night, when the
entire façade is illuminated with a grand total of 11,500 light
bulbs.Camden MarketCamden Market is one of the most exciting shopping
experiences London has to offer. Even if you're just browsing, the
market is definitely worth a visit with its huge variety of food,
antiques, bric-a-brac and clothing stalls, bars, nightspots and
crowds of people ranging from the beautiful to the bizarre.
Although the punk scene in London has gone underground, it still
seems to flourish here, and you're sure to bump into some
interesting characters.GreenwichThis is the home of the Greenwich Meridian, which
splits the globe into East and West and is responsible for setting
the world clock on zero degrees latitude. Greenwich has a host of
attractions including Greenwich Market with its variety of arts,
crafts, food and bric-a-brac, Sir Christopher Wren's Royal
Observatory and the National Maritime Museum. Greenwich Park is
beautifully landscaped and is ideal for a picnic lunch. The famous
tea-clipper, the Cutty Sark, was damaged by a fire in May 2007 and
has been closed to the public.London DungeonTake a trip through London's dark and gruesome
history, meet Jack the Ripper and see what became of his victims,
or see the chaos and destruction caused by the great fire of
London. The London Dungeon brings history's most notorious killers
and evildoers back to life in an experience definitely not for the
faint-hearted. Beware: some of the exhibitions have a nasty way of
coming alive and jumping out at the unsuspecting
visitor.St Paul's CathedralThe great dome of St Paul's Cathedral has been a
distinctive landmark on the London skyline for centuries. Built in
1673 by Sir Christopher Wren, after the previous St Paul's was
burnt to the ground during the Great Fire of London, it is the
greatest of several cathedrals dedicated to St Paul that have
occupied the site for more than 1,400 years. The crypt at St Paul's
is one of the largest in Europe, and it houses more than 200 tombs,
including those of Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Wren
himself. The Cathedral has hosted many significant ceremonies in
London's history, including the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill,
the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana and most recently the
Queen's Golden Jubilee.Piccadilly CircusOne of London's best known, but most overrated sights,
Picadilly Circus is at the junction of Picadilly, Regent Street and
Shaftesbury Avenue and is surrounded by neon advertising and
fast-food restaurants. However with its Tube station, Picadilly
Circus is a good starting point for shopping in the West End, being
near to Jermyn Street, Saville Row and Bond Street. London's
Theatreland is centred on Shaftsbury Avenue and Soho and China Town
are also within easy walking distance.BrightonBrighton is unquestionably England's most spectacular
seaside resort town. Made popular in the 18th century, when the
Prince Regent (later King George IV) chose it as the site for his
holiday palace, the bizarre and fantastic onion-shaped Brighton
Pavilion, it is still famous for its frivolous entertainment venues
and enviable nightlife. An eclectic combination of Regency and
Victorian architecture gives Brighton a unique air, with winding
village lanes crammed with antique and jewellery shops and its
flamboyant East Pier stretching out over the sea sparkling with
thousands of lights from its funfair and amusement
arcades.CanterburyThe historical cathedral city of Canterbury, with its
narrow streets and walkways, is best explored on foot. It is the
home of Christianity in England, and has been the ultimate
destination for pilgrimages in England for centuries, as described
in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The famous Canterbury Cathedral is
one of the most impressive and evocative in England, it was here of
course that Thomas à Becket was martyred in 1170. Visitors can
explore the ruins of the original abbey of St Augustine, who
brought Christianity to England more than 1,400 years ago, or visit
the Canterbury Tales Pageant and meet some of Chaucer's famous
characters. For an insight into the cities of medieval England
climb the original West Gate Tower, which is still intact, for
breathtaking views across the city.Leeds CastleSet atop a lake in a picturesque valley in Kent, with
imposing battlements and a 500-hectare Tudor garden, Leeds Castle
has been described as 'the most beautiful castle in all the world'.
Once a residence of British Queens and a playground for King Henry
VIII, it has been open to the public for 25 years, revealing the
majesty of a bygone age. With so much to explore, Leeds Castle
requires a full day for visitors to tour the castle, get lost in
the maze and picnic in the gardens or dine in one of the
restaurants and tea rooms.WindsorThe charming town of Windsor sits on the River Thames,
20 miles (32km) west of London, and is dominated by the magnificent
Windsor Castle, the world's largest and oldest occupied castle. The
castle was built by William the Conqueror almost a thousand years
ago and has been lived in by English monarchs ever since; although
Buckingham Palace is the Queen's best known residence, Windsor is
her favourite and is where the Royal Family spend their weekends.
Highlights in the castle include the wonderful State Apartments,
and the Waterloo Chamber, built to commemorate the British victory
over Napoleon at Waterloo. St George's Chapel is one of the finest
examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the world and
contains the tombs of numerous English sovereigns including King
Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I and King George V. Many of the
castle's rooms contain priceless works of art, including works by
Rubens, Holbein, Van Dyke, Rembrandt and Lawrence, as well as fine
tapestries and porcelain, sculpture and armour. The 500-acre (200
ha.) Home Park, sits at the back of the castle and includes the
site of Frogmore, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were laid
to rest. Beyond is the vast expanse of Windsor Great Park, a
popular place for walkers. Over the river from Windsor is Eton
College, the world famous school founded by Henry VI in 1440, and
today you can still see students walking around in their
tails.Hampton Court PalaceSituated on the banks of the Thames, 14 miles (23km)
southwest of London, Hampton Court is perhaps the most spectacular
royal palace in England and makes a great day-trip from London. The
palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey in the early 1500s, it later
became King Henry VIII's principal residence and remained the
centre of royal and political life in England until 1737 where many
important events took place. Visitors can see King Henry VIII's
Great Hall, King William III's State Apartments, designed by Wren
and completed in 1700, and the unmissable Tudor Kitchens, which
remain largely unchanged since the 16th century and no doubt used
to cater for raucous banquets. The palace is probably most famous
for its grounds and the famous maze, which has entertained children
since it was planted in 1705.City FarmsThere are a number of city farms that offer the
perfect day out for children in London, giving them the opportunity
to learn about nature in a fun environment. Deen City Farm offers
pony rides, scavenger hunts and supervised water-fights for kids to
enjoy, as well as a café and farm shop for parents.London Parks and GardensLondon has a number of beautiful parks and gardens
where children can play outdoors while their parents relax. A
picnic lunch and a blanket can make this a very enjoyable day out.
Richmond, St James' and Green Park are home to lots of squirrels,
and kids may even spot a deer or two. Crystal Palace Park's huge
dinosaur sculptures never fail to impress, and the Peter Pan statue
at Kensington Gardens is another favourite.Museums for KidsThere are ample child-friendly museums in London,
featuring children's activities, educational facilities and fun
displays. The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum have
dinosaur bones, an earthquake simulator and a Moon landing module
to entertain kids, the Victoria & Albert Museum offers 'Free
Art Fun' activities and themed backpacks, while the Museum of
Childhood has great toys and games to play with.London Bus TourChildren can be taken to view all the major
sightseeing attractions in London on a big, red double-decker bus.
Depending on the route selected, kids can marvel at such impressive
structures as Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and the
Tower of London, to mention just a few! Some operators even offer
special kids' commentary and play packages. So sit back, relax and
enjoy the ride...West End Kids' ShowsThere are a plenty of child-friendly musicals and
shows playing on London's West End for families with kids to
attend. Some West End favourites include The Lion King, Aladdin and
Potted Pirates, best enjoyed with tons of ice-cream, fizzy drinks
and popcorn!HamleysChildren will love coming to this world-renowned toy
store in the heart of London on famous Regent Street. Hamleys is
one of the world's largest toy stores, with 6 floors of magical,
cutting edge toys and games, drawing over 5-million visitors each
year. Children will be delighted discovering all that this magical
store has to offer.London ZooBoasting a plethora of exciting, cute and fuzzy
animals and over 750 species, the London Zoo is a must for all
children and animal lovers. Kids will love the brand new Animal
Adventure where they can climb, touch, tunnel and splash their way
through the zoo discovering al the animals along the
way.Science MuseumPerfect for inquisitive children, the Science Museum
will captivate, educate and thrill kdis of all ages. Featuring
dozens of state-of-the-art exhibits, the Science Museum also
features a 3D IMAX Theatre.Chessington World of AdventuresLocated in south-west London, Chessington World of
Adventures is a theme park and zoo catering to children of all
ages. Featuring four roller coasters and two water slides, this
theme park is best visited during the summer months. The zoo
however is open all year round.Alexandra Palace Ice RinkKids love nothing more than a bit of ice-skating and
the Alexandra Palace Ice Rink is just the place to do that while on
holiday in London. Children will love the rink here and public
skating sessions, figure skating classes and ice hockey training
are available.
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