Things to do in London

[Lynnie81]

London is the UK's capital as well as being the UK's largest city. Situated in the South East of England.
Thousands of tourists flock to London every year to surround themselves with this history and can do so by visiting the most famous buildings and really experience the heart of London for themselves. Here are a few of Londons top attractions:-

The London Eye - Since opening in March 2000 The London Eye has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year. At 135 meters above London, the London eye is the world’s tallest observation wheel. Passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 40 kilometers in all directions

Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis.

Trafalgar Square- This stunning square is a great area to sit and relax in the summer. There are several fountains and it is not uncommon to see passers by dip their feet in the water to cool down. This is also the location of the famous ‘Nelsons Column’ statue which was erected in 1843.

Harrods - Harrods is a department store that specializes in luxury goods. The store occupies a 4.5 acre site and has over one million square feet of selling space in over 330 departments. This makes Harrods the largest department store in the world (a tie with New York's Macy's). Harrods is owned by Muhammed Al Fayed. Since the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Al-Fayed, Mohamed Al-Fayed's son, two memorials commissioned by Al-Fayed have been erected inside Harrods to the couple.

Big Ben – This is the clock tower attached the London’s famous ‘Houses of Parliament’. Big Ben is one of London's best-known landmarks, and looks most spectacular at night when the clock faces are illuminated. You even know when parliament is in session, because a light shines above the clock face.

Tower of London - Founded nearly a millennium ago the Tower of London has served as a place of execution and torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, the Royal Mint, a public records office, an observatory, and since 1303, the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Downing Street - It is the most exclusive street in Britain as its only residents are chosen from the elected Government. Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street are the official London residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. For obvious reasons you can’t get too close and can only really grab a peak from the large fence at the end of the street, however this doesn’t seem to bother most people and many tourists can be spotted snapping some photographs to take home.

London Zoo - a day at London Zoo offers the ultimate back to nature experience and supports the active conservation of many amazing species. Get first hand experience of over 600 species of amazing animals including lions, tigers, primates, giraffes and many many more.

West End – The west end of London is the heart of London. The theatres here offer a huge variety of entertainment from the wonderful musicals such as Les Miserables or The Sound of Music to grittier dramas or murder mysteries. Actors and Actresses from all over the world dream of working in London’s west end and recent years have seen many major Hollywood stars grace the stages of the London theatres.

Kensington Palace - Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence. It was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family.

Hampton Court Palace - A former royal palace. It is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. The palace's Home Park is the site of the annual Hampton Court Palace Festival and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. It is the only surviving palace out of the many that Henry built along with St. James

Old Curiosty Shop - A 16th century shop and literary landmark. With its precarious overhanging upper storey, uneven floorboards, sloping roof and wooden beams, this 16th century building warrants its title as probably the oldest shop in central London. It also fits perfectly the image of Charles ****ens’ creaking, half-timbered ‘Old Curiosity Shop’.

Highgate Cemetary - Famous as the place where Karl Marx is buried - is one of the best-known 'garden cemeteries' of the Victorian era. The curving pathways wind between trees and make it a favourite afternoon walk.

St Pauls Cathedral- 604AD, The current Cathedral was designed and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Its architectural and artistic importance reflect the determination of the five monarchs who oversaw its building that London’s leading church should be beautiful and imposing. Important services have included the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill to the the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer.

Westminster Abbey - This Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation’s history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the UK.

Hyde Park - One of London's finest historic landscapes covering 350 acres. There is something for everyone in Hyde Park. With over 4,000 trees, a lake, a meadow, horse rides and more it is easy to forget you're in the middle of London. Hyde Park has a wide range of facilities, including a playground, The Lookout (this former police observation point is now an education centre, where children learn about nature and wildlife) a range of catering outlets, with offerings from simple ice creams and sandwiches to 3 course meals. There is also the infamous ‘Speakers Corner’.

Bus Tours – A familiar sight while walking through London is the open top bus. These tour buses are usually seen on most of the streets and it is easy to join in on the journey. For a small fare you can settle yourself on the bus, relax and enjoy the views. The buses will drive along slowly, often stopping at major landmarks and allow you to take pictures while the tour guide explains the history surrounding each attraction.

Boat Tours – Take a boat ride along the Thames river which flows through London. Here, much the same as on the bus tours, you will have a guide talking you through the attractions you will see along the way. Unlike the bus tour however you can also enjoy a variety of food and drink on offer. Some of these boat rides last into the night and tourists can stay on and enjoy a disco to round up the day.

London Dungeon - In the dark and dingy underbelly of the capital the London Dungeon dwells. Confront your fears, face your worst nightmares and uncover the gory truth behind some of history's most horrific events. The tour includes the stories of Jack the Ripper, Sweeny Todd, The Great Fire of London and many more..

Madame Tussauds - This houses wax sculptures of some of the most famous faces from around the world. Go and be amazed by the uncanny accuracy of the models and feel like you're mixing with stars of stage and screen. Being one of Londons most popular tourist attractions it can be extremely busy so visitors should be prepared to queue.

As you can see, London has plenty to offer any visitor. Your days will be filled from morning till night and you will never be stuck for choice in this bustling city. As well as the tourist attractions London is famous for it's 5 star hotels and restaurants which really have to be seen to be believed. The UK can be famous for it's unpredictable weather so pack and umbrella, but usually from the months of May - August London can be graced with some beautiful sunshine and it can actually be considerably hot! The link below will let you have a look at some of the accomodation available in the city.

http://www.destination360.com/europe/uk/london-hotels