The House of Parliament and Big Ben
The building widely referred to as the Houses of Parliament is actually called The Palace of Westminster. It is located on the banks of the River Thames and is the place where Britain’s House of Lords and House of Commons convene.
The site where the Palace of Westminster stands today was originally the site of an 8th century Saxon church called West Minster (west monastery). In the 10th century the royals paid an interest in the site and when Edward the Confessor came to power in 1042 he moved his court to Westminster and had a Benedictine abbey and royal church built.
Under William the Conqueror Westminster Hall was built, it is the largest hall of its kind in Europe. Westminster gained importance and grew as different kings made additions to the edifice. In 1265 the two houses of parliament were created, the House of Lords met at Westminster while the House of Commons had no permanent location. In the 13th century King Henry III made several alterations including the Queen’s Chapel, Queen’s Chamber and the Painted Chamber or King’s Chamber which have survived. St. Stephen’s Chapel (1184-1363) was redesigned over the years with beautiful glazed windows, a vaulted wooden roof and walls covered with murals in scarlet, green and blue shades. In 1365 King Edward III had the Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft completed; it was here that the royal court and household prayed. In 1547 the House of Commons joined the House of Lords also meeting at the palace thus Westminster became the undisputed central seat of government.
A fire destroyed the palace in 1834 and the only parts of the original medieval palace which survived are the Cloisters, Chapter House of St. Stephen’s, Chapel of St. Mary’s Undercroft, the Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower which was built in 1365. After the fire a new neo-Gothic structure was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin and completed in 1870.
The parliament building has three towers, the octagonal Central Tower; Victoria Tower and the most famous Elizabeth Tower. Victoria Tower (1860) stands opposite Elizabeth Tower, here the records of both houses of parliament have been kept since 1497.
Buckingham Palace
This is the official residence of the British monarch, King Charles II; it is used for official events, State occasions and ceremonies by the Royal Family. The palace is conveniently located close to central London and accessible by the London underground. The palace is surrounded by public Royal Parks: Green Park, St. James Park and Hyde Park.
The royal home has the largest private garden in London. The façade is in the French neo-classical style and was part of architect John Nash’s design. The palace building covers 77,000m ² and key rooms include the Music Room, the Blue, Green and White Drawing Rooms, Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. Works by Vermeer, Rubens, Rembrandt and other masters are displayed in the Picture Gallery which connects the State Rooms together. In the semi-state apartments are the 1844 Room, the Bow Room and the Red and Blue Chinese Luncheon Room. The rooms are decorated with antique furniture and valuable art.
The building was originally a townhouse belonging to the Duke of Buckingham in 1705; in 1761 King George III bought the property and through the 19th century the palace was extended and renovated. When Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 the palace became the monarch’s official residence.
Tourists come to the palace to watch the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard performed by the Royal guards who wear their distinctive red uniforms and black tall furry hats. During the ceremony the guards march from nearby Wellington Barracks to the front gate of the palace and replace the Old Guard of their duty. On special occasions like a coronation, wedding or jubilee the Royal family comes out onto the balcony on the East front of the building to greet the crowds of supporters in the street below. The public can tour the palace state rooms during the Summer Opening in August and September. The public can visit the Queen’s Gallery where there are exhibitions of work from the Royal Collection.
Note: we recommend checking the Buckingham Palace website for the tour and changing of the guides schedules as these tend to change.
St. James Park
This is the oldest of London’s eight Royal Parks, it covers 58 acres and is surrounded by Buckingham Palace, The Mall, St. James s Palace, the Horse Guards, Clarence House and the Birdcage Walk. The park’s prime location has made it the center of London’s ceremonial life with many royal events taking place here like the Trooping of the Color and the Beating Retreat (12-13th June).
Within the park is St. James’s Park Lake where there are two islands – West Island and Duck Island. The lake area is rich with bird life including pelicans and waterfowl. The Blue Bridge crosses the lake and on Pelican Rock is the famous Tiffany Fountain. Visitors can see the pelican’s being fed daily at 2:30pm. There are several refreshment points throughout the park as well as the Inn the Park restaurant. Deck chairs can be rented in the park from March to October. Within the park is the Queen Victoria Memorial as well as a memorial walk dedicated to Princess Diana which covers 11km and is lined with plaques marking locations which were significant in the Princess’s life. Horticultural highlights in the park include the Nash Shrubberies, Tropical Border and Memorial Gardens. Kids can enjoy the wide open lawns and the park playground.
London Eye
Among all the historic attractions of London the London Eye is one of the more recent and contemporary attractions. The Eye is a huge Ferris wheel located on the edge of the Thames River in the Jubilee Gardens. The wheel was built as part of the millennium celebrations and has changed name several times due to different ownership and sponsoring, at present it is officially called the EDF Energy London Eye. The wheel took 1.5 years to build and was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield. It is constructed from 1700 tons of steel and has foundations made with 3000 tons of concrete.
The wheel is 135 meters high and has a diameter of 120 meters, it was completed in 1999. The wheel has 39 sealed egg shaped capsules which can each hold up to 25 people. Each capsule is 8 meters long and weighs 500kg. In each capsule there is air-conditioning, seating and interactive screens which give information about the sites you can see below in London. One full revolution of the wheel takes about 30 minutes and at ground level the passengers get on and off without the wheel actually stopping; as the Eye rotations at such a slow rate (26cm per second).
From the capsules passengers have a 360 view of London and most of the famous landmarks can be seen from the wheel. There are a number of combination tickets available for the wheel as well as tickets which include a boat ride down the Thames which brings you to the Eye.
Town Bridge
Tower Bridge, London crosses the Thames River next to the Tower of London, the stunning iconic drawbridge is often confused with another Thames bridge referred to in the children’s song “London Bridge” is falling down. In the late 1800s Tower Bridge was one of the bridges constructed to carry the masses of pedestrians and vehicles wanting to cross from one side of London to the other. The City of London Corporation needed an innovative design and so they held a competition to which 50 designs were submitted. The chosen design was devised by Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry, it took 8 years and 432 construction workers to complete the bridge in 1894. To avoid disrupting the river traffic the tower was to be a bascule or see-saw bridge which could be raised to let tall ships through. Today the bridge is still raised about 900 times a year to allow tall vessels to pass by. The bridge can be raised 83 ° from its horizontal position.
Two piers were sunk into the river bed to support the weight of the 11,000 tons of steel which formed the bridge framework. The two towers on either side of the river were joined together by elevated walkways. Finally Cornish granite and Portland stone covered the framework making the appearance more appealing and protecting the frame. Originally hydraulics were used to raise the bridge using steam power from the engines in the Engine Rooms within the base of the towers. Today the hydraulics are produced using electricity and oil rather than steam.
Visitors to Tower Bridge today can walk or drive across and you can also visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition. A visit to the Tower Bridge Exhibition begins with an animated video explaining the bridge’s history. Then visitors can walk along the upper walkways which are 42 meters above the river. From here there are spectacular views across London. The East Walkway (there are two parallel walkways) is home to the “Great Bridges of the World” photo exhibit which features more than 20 of the world’s greatest bridges. In the West Walkway the “This is London” exhibition displays over 60 illustrations by the painter Miroslav Sasek from his classic children’s book This is London. Next visitors enter the Victorian Engine Rooms where the original equipment used to raise the bridge can be seen as well as a virtual recreation of a bridge lift. The latest exhibition is shown here called Art at the Bridge #4.
If you’re visiting with children you can download the Guy Fox Explore Kit which will enhance their experience at the bridge. Families can save quite a bit on entrance tickets by purchasing the family ticket for £12.5 instead of £8 for adults and £3.4 for kids. The easiest way to reach Tower Bridge is by underground train to the Tower Hill station.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is in fact the oldest fortified castle in Europe, it is located on the bank of the Thames next to Tower Bridge and from the moment you are greeted by the Beefeaters (Yeoman Warders) in their traditional garb you will feel like you have stepped back in time. Within the grey fortified walls are a number of attractions which can keep you busy for a couple of hours at least.
The first fortress built on this site was a Roman fortress and you can still see the remaining Roman wall. The Tower of London began as King William’s castle founded in 1078, and the White Tower dates back to this period, later in 1240 King Henry III moved in. He too made extensive renovations and additions to the complex. With the White Tower as its center more structures were added and the fortress became multi-purpose. It was not only a palace residence but also a prison, royal mint, zoo and treasury.
The tower’s top ten highlights include:
The White Tower – The oldest part of the Tower and an iconic symbol. Take the wardens tour which runs daily at 10:45, 12:45 and 14:15. Also see the Chapel Royal of St. John. Shakespeare’s scene with the two young princes locked in the Tower from Richard III was set here.
The Crown Jewels – See the dazzling crown jewels which are still used in ceremonies, royal weddings and coronations today.
The Fusilier Museum – Housed in the former army officers’ quarters, historic artefacts are displayed from the history of this famous military division which was formed in the Tower of London in 1685.
The Tower Green – See where Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and other privileged prisoners were executed in the tower away from the eyes of the public.
The Medieval Palace – the palace is furnished in recreated medieval furniture and artefacts. See how Henry III and other royals lived; see the grand fireplace and royal bedchamber.
The Coins and Kings – British coins were minted at the Tower for 500 years, see historic coins and learn about the minting process.
The Line of Kings – A display of authentic knight’s armour, some mounted on life-size wooden horses. The armour dates back to the Tudor period and was first put on show in 1688.
Take advantage of the entertaining and informative Yeoman Warder Tours which run every half hour and are included in the price of your ticket. See if you can spot any of the 6 resident ravens which live on the Tower grounds. Legend has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fall and so 7 ravens (6 plus one spare) have one wing clipped to prevent them flying too far away. To see some typical British pageantry book ahead of time for the Ceremony of the Keys. The tickets are free but must be reserved. The 700 year old ritual involves the Chief Warder decked out in his finery locking up the Tower by lantern light as the sun sets. Note that the use of mobile phones within the Tower of London is prohibited.
The Natural History Museum
This museum is dedicated to life, nature and science, it holds more than 70 million items and covers botany, mineralogy, palaeontology, zoology and entomology. The huge and rich collection has been built up over many years with some items having been collected by Charles Darwin. The collection began as early as 1756 and finally settled into its present location in 1881. The Natural History Museum was a part of the British Museum until 1963. The Geological Museum which stood adjacent to the museum was absorbed in 1986 and the building underwent several stages of renovations as the collection continued to grow. The museum won the Best of the Best Museum and Heritage Award in 2013.
The must-see sights in the museum include “Dippy” a 32 meter long replica of a Diplodocus Carnegi skeleton. In the Large Mammals Hall you can see the skeleton and model of a blue whale which is 25 meters long. Another giant is Archie, an 8 meter long giant squid caught off the Falkland Islands in 2004. Outside on the museum grounds is a Wildlife Garden where insects are allowed to breed. The Treasures in the Cadogan Gallery is a collection of 22 of the most unusual exhibits in the museum like the fossils of dinosaur teeth; the Emperor Penguin Egg which was brought back from the Antarctic by Captain Scott; a first edition of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species and the intricately carved 17th century Hans Sloan’s Pautilus Shell. In the Visions of Earth Gallery there is an avenue of sculptures tracing key figures in Earth’s history and mythology. In the Images of Nature exhibit there is a treasure of nature paintings. The insect exhibit of creepy crawlies fascinates both adults and kids. The Cocoon is in the Darwin Center, here you can immerse yourself in nature and science through real specimens, interactive displays and state-of-the-art displays.
The Science Museum
The London Science Museum began as a part of the South Kensington Museum in 1857 and became a separate museum in 1909 when it moved to its present location in a neo-classical building designed by Richard Allison. There are 300,000 items spread over 6 levels plus a basement floor where there is The Garden, a hands-on exhibit area for 3-6 year olds; The Secret Life of the Home exhibit where you can find out how ordinary household items work and Things exhibit. The museum is the most visited science museum in all of Europe. There are many interactive exhibits and experiments that visitors can do to prove scientific principles. The museum has large open spaces so that the many machines, rockets, engines and other contraptions can be displayed.
The Power Gallery reaches up three floors and holds a number of historic steam engines including a mill engine which used to power 1700 looms in the early 1900s. The Exploring Space exhibit holds rockets, space suits and artefacts which tell the story of man’s ventures into space and the Making the Modern World exhibits scientific breakthroughs that have changed our lives including the world’s oldest steam engine, personal computers and the Ford automobile. There are displays explaining how common materials such as ceramics and fabric are made and the developments of telecommunications are on display from letters and telegraphs to mobile phones. Agriculture, climate change, medical science, the measurement of time, alternative energy sources and the digital world form other sections of the museum
The 3rd floor holds the museum’s collection of airplanes including a replica of the Wright brothers’ first aircraft. The Wellcome Wing focuses on modern day science and the rapid changes around us. Here there are many interactive displays like the “Who Am I” display which takes a look at the traits which make you who you are. Launchpad is a gallery with more than 50 interactive displays and staff are on hand to explain each activity station.
Visitors can experience what it would be like flying with the famous acrobatic airplane troop the Red Arrows or take a virtual ride in the Apollo space ship in 3D and 4D simulators. There is also a huge IMAX 3D cinema.
Hyde Park
This is London’s largest public park covering 360 acres; it opened in 1637 and is joined to Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James Park. For years the parkland was used for royal hunting until 1637 when King Charles I opened the park to the general public. In 1825 Decimus Burton designed the park layout.
A large lake wends its way through the park, the Serpentine lake was constructed in 1730 and today is use for boating and swimming. Once the Serpentine reaches Kensington Gardens it becomes Long Water. The Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a playful water feature resembling a shallow stream where kids can paddle and splash in the water. Horse riders can find a 6.4km bridle path, Rotten Row which dates back to William III when the king wanted a safe, short cut between Kensington Palace and St. James Palace. It was also the first lit public road in England. Since the 19th century Speakers’ Corner on one corner of the park has been a place where anyone can stand on their soap box and declare their beliefs, protests or political opinions. Nearby is marble Arch (1827) which was originally a gateway to Buckingham Palace.
The park is adorned with statues including Still Water which is a 10 meters tall bronze work by Nic Fiddian-Green. Next to this work is an equestrian statue of Genghis Khan created by Dashi Namdakov. There is also a statue of Achilles (1822); a memorial to 7/11; the Reformers’ Tree mosaic; a memorial to William Henry Hudson; St. George fighting the dragon and a statue of Isis by Simon Gudgeon. The park has playgrounds, open lawns, fountains, a long pergola, more than 4,000 trees, flower beds and restaurants. You can go boating on the lake, cycle, play tennis and even swim. From November to January there is ice skating in the ark.
Westminster Abbey
This religious edifice is where royal British coronations and burials are held, it is officially a place of worship owned by the royal family. The Abbey stands next to the Houses of Parliament on the edge of the River Thames and parts of the structure have survived since 1050 although the building began as a shrine established here in 616. Edward the Confessor had the Abbey built here in order to redeem himself in the eyes of the Pope after the king failed to take a required pilgrimage. The Abbey was completed in 1065. Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmor were responsible for the addition of the two western towers in the 1700s. The original style was Romanesque but between 1245 and 1517 it was redesigned in the Gothic style. Parts of the King James Bible were translated here and later the New English Bible was compiled here.
The building is famed for its medieval architecture and features like the coronation throne. In the Abbey you can see the Poet’s Corner where the likes of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. Among the royals entombed here are Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary and King Henry III. Other famous Brits buried in the Abbey are Charles Darwin, Henry Purcell, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone. Above the Great West Door you can see statues of ten 20th century Christian martyrs including Oscar Romero, Martin Luther King Junior and Dietrich Bonheoffer. The relics of the Royal Saint Edward the Confessor are kept in the Sanctuary and the shrine attracts pilgrims who come to pay homage to the saint. The beautiful Chapel House was built in the 1200s and restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1872. The octagonal chapel has eight shafts supporting a vaulted ceiling. Within the 11th century vaulted undercroft is the Westminster Abbey Museum which has been open to the public since 1908.
British Museum
This museum has been open to the public for 255 years; the collections span more than two million years of human history from a number of cultures and include about 8 million pieces. The museum covers Egypt and Sudan; Greece; Rome; Middle East; Prints; Drawings; Prehistory; Europe; Asia; Africa, Oceania; the Americas; Coins; Medals; Conservation; Scientific Research; archives and libraries. A number of countries claim ownership of pieces in the museum and controversy has arisen over pieces which were brought back to Britain from former colonies and countries around. These controversial pieces include the Elgin Marbles (statues from the Parthenon) claimed by Greece; Benin Bronzes and the Rosetta Stone claimed by Egypt.
Among the museum highlights is the Rosetta Stone, the only surviving piece of a large stone slab engraved with different languages which helped to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. It is thought to date back to 196BC. The Portland Vase is an 28cm high cameo-glass vase from 1st century Italy. Other museum highlights are the Assyrian Winged Bull; sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens; an Easter Island statue; Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.
The museum has been renovated and expanded over the years and today boasts 92,000m ² of exhibition space. The museum building has a Greek Revival façade and other special features are the Round Reading Room (1857) which has the 2nd widest dome in the world; the King’s Library; the Duveen Gallery specially designed by John Russell Pope to hold the Elgin Marbles and at the center of the museum is the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court with a beautiful glass roof.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, established in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. The square’s name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.
The site around Trafalgar Square has been a significant landmark since the 1200s. For centuries, distances measured from Charing Cross have served as location markers. The site of the present square formerly contained the elaborately designed, enclosed courtyard, King’s Mews. After George IV moved the mews to Buckingham Palace, the area was redeveloped by John Nash, but progress was slow after his death, and the square did not open until 1844. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson’s Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999. Prominent buildings facing the square include the National Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Canada House, and South Africa House.
The square has been used for community gatherings and political demonstrations, including Bloody Sunday in 1887, the culmination of the first Aldermaston March, anti-war protests, and campaigns against climate change. A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year’s Eve. It was well known for its feral pigeons until their removal in the early 21st century.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum founded in London in 1835 by the French wax sculptor Marie Tussaud One of the early main attractions was the Chamber of Horrors, which appeared in advertising in 1843.
In 1883, the restricted space of the original Baker Street site prompted Tussaud’s grandson (Joseph Randall) to commission the building at its current London location on Marylebone Road. The new exhibition galleries were opened on 14 July 1884 and were a great success. Madame Tussaud & Sons was incorporated as a private limited company in 1889.
A major tourist attraction in London since the Victorian era, Madame Tussauds displays the waxworks of famous and historical figures, as well as popular film and television characters played by famous actors. Operated by the British entertainment company Merlin Entrainments, the museum now has locations in cities across four continents, with the first overseas branch opening in Amsterdam in 1972.
In 2006 it incorporated the London Planetarium to its west wing. A large animated dark ride, The Spirit of London, opened in 1993. Today’s wax figures at Tussauds include historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars, and famous murderers.
Madame Tussaud in the world
1972 – The second European Madame Tussauds attraction opens in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1999 – The first American Madame Tussauds opens in Las Vegas.
2000 – The second American Madame Tussauds attraction opens in New York, and the same year Madame Tussauds opens in Hong Kong.
2006 – Madame Tussauds opens in Shanghai.
2007 – The third American attraction opens in Washington DC.
2008 – The third European site becomes Berlin, where the attraction opens in ‘Unter den Linden’.
2009 – The fourth American site opens in Hollywood.
2010 – Madame Tussauds Bangkok opens in December – the third attraction in Asia.
2011 – Vienna (Austria) and Blackpool (UK) both open in April 2011.
2011 – Celebrating 250 Years
VictoriaStation
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in Vitoria, in the City of Westminster, managed by Network Rail.
Victoria was built to serve both the Brighton and Chatham Main Lines, and has always had a “split” feel of being two separate stations. The Brighton station opened in 1860 with the Chatham station following two years later. It replaced a temporary terminus at Pimlico, and construction involved building the Grosvenor Bridge over the River Thames. It became immediately popular as a London terminus, causing delays and requiring upgrades and rebuilding. It was well known for luxury Pullman train services and continental boat-train trips, and became a focal point for soldiers during World War I.
British Rail operated an International Travel Centre within the main station, separate from the domestic travel centre. At the time, Victoria was still a major departure point for international travel, with boat trains to Dover and Folkestone for France and Belgium and beyond. This ceased with the introduction of Eurostar in 1994, which did not serve Victoria, and the International Travel Centre closed.
In 2019/20, Victoria was the second-busiest station in the UK, with an estimated 73.6 million passenger entries/exits.
