London
Alternative - DISCOUNTS 2FOR1: http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/attraction-types/2for1london-list.aspx
BigBus: Guided Bus Tour of London for a day or two (depending on ticket price). You can enter / exit at any stop, then continue the tour again. Gives the opportunity for the same ticket to ride on the Thames on a boat on the same day and go on 3 walking tours. It makes sense to buy a ticket for 2 days, then you will definitely have more time. Here is the info in Russian: http://www.bigbustours.com/rus/london/custompage.aspx?id=london_sightseeing_tour&gclid =
TheTowerofLondon: 900-year history of the English Kings, the holy of holies - a must see. Metro stations: London Bridge, Tower Hill, 5 minutes walk from them. Tickets include a "voluntary donation" that you can refuse. You can buy on-line (click on the "tick" for a cheaper ticket), 10 days in advance - they will send it to the hotel's address, otherwise - you can pick it up on the day of your visit at the entrance: https://ticketslive.hrp.org.uk/hrp /b2c/index.cfm/calendar/eventCode/TADM
Near The tower of london naturally a bridge Tower bridge: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TBE/EN/Exhibition/index.htm
Start one day with a walk from heartsLondon - Trafalgar Square(Metro Charing Cross) www.london.gov.uk/ It also houses museums National Gallery National and Portrait gallery.
From NelsonColumn down there is a street Whitehall, 5 minutes walk from the square is TheHouseholdCalvaryMuseum http://www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk/ and daily at 11 am (except weekends) solemn changing of the royal guard the soldier is a gorgeous sight.
The next street down the road to the right - DowningStreet with a house numbered 10 - this is where the Prime Minister of Great Britain lives. Taking a photo is a must!
If you turn right on the next street KingCharlesStreet, then you will find yourself in the prettiest little StJamesPark with almost tame squirrels (there are a lot of them! Want some pretty pictures? Grab a bag of nuts or cookies), the park will lead you straight to the Queen's residence: BuckinghamPalace! http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx
Then down the street BirdcageWalk or again through the park you need to go back to the metro Westminster, near which Westminster itself is located - where the English Parliament(there may be a queue in a couple of hours, the excursion is not in House of Lords, and in the spare - not so interesting taking into account the time required) and of course BigBen! After taking a picture of yourself, be sure to go to Westminster abbey- another holy of holies in London and England, history from 1066, almost all English kings and queens were crowned here, the most famous people of England are buried. Metro: Westminster. Info in Russian: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/language/russian/welcome-to-westminster-abbey
Behind the Abbey on the left (opposite Westminster) there is a small tower JewelTower- tower of treasurers of King Edward III http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/jewel-tower/ - I still want to get there somehow myself ... Date of construction 1365!
If you go from Trafalgar Sq another way through the Mall towards Buckingham Palace, then you will see the same JamesPalace http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/stjamesspalace/stjamesspalace.aspx and ClarenceHouse http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/clarencehouse - these houses are still used by the royal family today.
Further along the bridge over the Thames - sightseeing wheel LondonEye http://www.londoneye.com/ and LondonAquarium http://www.visitsealife.com/London/ - order tickets online with a discount of up to 40%.
If you return to the other side and walk along the picturesque promenade to Temple Metro, you will see Somerset house- the former residence of Earl Somerset and now a museum with several rooms called the "Hermitage Halls" - copies of the original St. Petersburg. Every winter, the city's ice rink is flooded in the courtyard, a favorite place for Londoners. Next, find and be sure to visit one of the oldest surviving buildings in London dating back to 1185 - Temple church, with an amazing history from the campaigns of the Crusaders to Jerusalem (and their tombs) to the present day http://www.templechurch.com/ The whole area around the church is saturated with some unique style and spirit - you will not regret a walk.
The day will end there J))
St. Paul's Cathedral- London "Issakievsky Cathedral": more than 300 years of history, a panorama of the city from the roof of the cathedral, a gallery of whispers and so on and so forth! Metro Saint Paul, info: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/
Not far from it: MillenniumBridge- pedestrian design bridge, built by 2000
One of the evenings, be sure to visit and take pictures on PiccadillyCircus at the metro station of the same name - a hangout place in London. From there you can walk to Chinatown and TheaterDistrict near LeicesterSquare... If you go up Piccadilly (from the metro), then somewhere near the end of the street on the left you will see the famous store Fortnum & mason, opened in 1707 - very "posh", you can wander around the museum. It has 3 famous restaurants: Fountain, Salmon and Champagne Bar, in which it will be quite expensive to dine, but to taste tea with some delicacy in all this royal atmosphere is the very thing!
RoyalAlbertHall located on the outskirts of one of London's famous parks - HydePark near Hyde Park Corner metro station. It also contains the famous monument Prince Albert, who died early - the husband of Queen Victoria, who ruled England for 60 years ...
KensingtonPalace- another royal residence and former home of Princess Diana and is located nearby http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonPalace/
Many London museums- are free. You can spend weeks and months on visiting them, but you can get into several for a day.
My personal priorities: British Museum(English Hermitage) info in Russian: http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting.aspx?lang=ru; National Gallery at Trafalgar Sq: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ - English "Tretyakov Gallery", then Natural History Museum: (South Kensington metro) - amazing exhibits from around the world, history of the origin of life, and so on. Not far from it is another interesting one: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/. Victoria& AlbertMuseum http://www.vam.ac.uk/. Tate Britain - from 1500 to the present day English art: http://www.tate.org.uk/, Metro Pimlico.
Walk on the Thames will show you London from a completely different side: old workshops for the repair of boats and ships converted into luxurious and expensive apartments wharf, a fashionable area of world banks Canary wharf you might even get to a green and white building " SISMI6 » — SecretIntelligenceService, the British Intelligence Office (which was "blown up" in the last James Bond movie) - super secret! https://www.sis.gov.uk/
Walk in Greenwich start at the metro station CharingCross, taking the train to Greenwich. (In front of the station itself there is an amazing turret in memory of Queen Eleanor, wife of King Edward I, who died in the mid-17th century. The turret "survived" the London fire of 1666, which destroyed 2/3 of the city!) The train travels 15 minutes. From the station there will be High Street Road, at the end of which the famous schooner will stand by the river Catty sark- the fastest ship of its time, setting a record for reaching China in 107 days. If you continue along the embankment, exit to Old royalNavalCollege- an amazingly beautiful building. Part of the College is Queen "s House- built in 1616, the summer residence of King James I. Further up the hill through Greenwich Park will be Royal observatory- the place from where Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is measured. Take a photo at the division of the Earth into West and East (hemispheres) and be sure to go to Planetarium.
Don't waste time on (especially my opinion): The Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and Tate Modern.
Shops / Shopping: Metro Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street ...
Traffic the streets are VERY lively, plus impudent cyclists, look under your feet the inscriptions "LOOK LEFT" and "LOOK RIGHT" - traffic in England VERSAIL: 0)))
London Attractions
For those who are going here for the first time, as well as for those who have already been here once and are planning another trip - we have collected hundreds of London attractions in one place and specially designed hiking trails.
We are travelers and we know how long it takes to plan a trip: browsing dozens of sites, choosing interesting sights, locating them in Google Maps ...
Therefore, we - Ever.Travel - have created a mobile application Travel Planner & Travel Guide for iPhone and Android.
For those who do not have time for planning, the application will help to see the most interesting things by suggesting ready-made routes.
Those who like to plan everything on their own will be able to choose the most interesting places from hundreds of attractions, build them into a route, and then use them as personal travel guide to London.
Read on for detailed instructions on how to plan your trip on iPhone or Android.
1. Big Ben- the famous watch, reminiscent of British precision and punctuality. Together with the Parliament building, the clock tower forms one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world.
Flickr, Ben K Adams
Flickr, [email protected]@d
3. Tower of London. The fortress, founded in 1078, has managed to visit both a palace and a treasury, and a prison, and an arsenal, and a zoo, and today it is one of the main city attractions.
4. Trafalgar Square named after the greatest victory of the English navy, is surrounded by iconic buildings (such as the National Gallery and the Church of St. Martin in the Fields). In the center of the square rises the column of Admiral Nelson.
Wikimedia, Diliff
5. St. Paul's Cathedral, located at the highest point in London, can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. The same famous symbol of the British capital as the Tower or Buckingham Palace.
Flickr, Christopher Long Photography
6. National Gallery has in its collection works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphael, Velazquez, El Greco, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and other greatest artists of the world.
Flickr, bernhard.koradi
7. Westminster Abbey- the traditional place of coronation and burial of British monarchs. In the beautiful Gothic church, there was also a place for the "poets' corner", where Dickens, Chaucer and other famous writers are buried.
Flickr, Simon & His Camera
8. Hyde Park- central London park, famous for its Speakers' Corner - a place where everyone can make a fiery speech. The park is adjacent to the picturesque Kensington Gardens.
Flickr, [~ Bryan ~]
9. Madame Tussauds Museum. In the legendary wax museum, you can see almost all world celebrities - even if not live, but in very believable copies.
Flickr, isbl.ashleigh
10. London Eye- one of the world's largest Ferris wheels. From a height of 135 meters (which is approximately equal to the height of 45 floors), a beautiful view of the entire city opens up.
All the same, acquaintance with the most interesting places should start with the classics - a symbol that locals often jokingly call the Great Bell Tower, and since 2012 it has been officially called the Elizabeth Tower. You won't be able to miss this London landmark - Big Ben is the main landmark in the city.
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2. Parliament
Londoners call the pompous structure on the banks of the Thames simply the Houses of Parliament. If you want to know more about UK politics, you can book a guided tour (a standard guided tour costs € 30 for adults and € 12 for children), but most consider it unnecessary and confines itself to exploring the palace from the outside with Big Ben next to it.
Like Westminster Palace, the Queen's residence is open to the public, but many people prefer to look at it from behind the gate. If you still want to know how monarchs live, you can join the excursion group. For € 40, you will be admitted to the ceremonial halls, gallery and stables, and will also lead you through the gardens laid out around the palace. But you can also choose cheaper excursions. Visit the official website for visiting hours and options for tours of Buckingham Palace.
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4. Ferris wheel
What is really worth spending money on is a visit to the London Eye Ferris wheel. It was built in 2000 and is considered the largest in the world. This is by far the best vantage point in London, so a € 23 entry fee is a breeze compared to what you'll see on your 30-minute spin. We advise you to book your tickets for the London Eye in advance online. This will save time (usually there are long queues at the checkout) and money (you will have to pay 15% more at the entrance).
5. Trafalgar Square
One of the central squares of the city, in the center of which stands the famous Column of Nelson. Now the square has turned into a public area where people come to rest and watch the fountains. And during the New Year holidays, it is here that a huge Christmas tree is set up, and Trafalgar Square turns into a Christmas market.
6. Museum of Natural History
Even if you are not interested in natural history in any way, it is definitely worth going to South Kensington and looking at the museum building. And if you decide to go inside, you will be very surprised by the vastness of the exposition and the number of exhibitions. By the way, if you are thinking about what you can see in London with children, then this museum with its collections dedicated to dinosaurs will be just a godsend for little fidgets. Adventure seekers can get here after sunset for the so-called "night safari". Tours and ticket prices can be viewed on the official website.
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7. St. Paul's Cathedral
This cathedral is an iconic place for London and is also considered one of the city's landmarks. Its construction began at the beginning of the 17th century, but after the Great Fire of London in 1666, the cathedral had to be rebuilt. An excellent view of the landmark opens from the Millennium Bridge, which is nearby. The cathedral is open to the public from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, and online tickets cost € 18 for adults and € 9 for children.
8. Gallery "Tate Modern"
The very building of the gallery, located on the banks of the Thames, is unique, and what awaits you inside is even more so. Here you can see the masterpieces of British and foreign contemporary artists. What's nice is that the entrance to the gallery is free. Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 10: 00–18: 00, Friday – Saturday 10: 00–22: 00.
9. Globe
Not far from the Tate Modern is the famous "Globe" - a theater in which William Shakespeare himself played. Of course, today you can only see the reconstruction of the original theater, but its modern look - an open thatched roof and wooden scaffolds - seem to send us back to the 17th century. During the day, excursions are held here (€ 16 for adults and € 10 for children), and in the evening they give performances. The theater poster can be found on the official website.
One of London's iconic landmarks and the most famous drawbridge in the world. The nearest metro station is Tower Hill. Don't be too lazy to come here to capture this symbol of the city from the banks of the Thames.
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11. Skyscraper "The Shard"
Built in 2012, this skyscraper is the tallest in Europe. Its height is 309 meters, the number of floors is 73. There are observation platforms on the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors, which were open to the public only in 2013. Well, be prepared that the view of the city from this vantage point will overwhelm you, it will be especially valuable to go here in the evening. During the day, the entrance ticket for adults costs € 30, for children € 24, and at night € 42 and € 35, respectively.
12. Fortress Tower
One of the oldest monuments in London. The fortress was built in 1066 and was a prison from 1100 to 1952. Now it is a museum dedicated to the history of the city. The main exhibit is the royal crown. If you buy a ticket to the Tower online in advance, it will cost € 27 for adults and € 12 for children. And this excursion is really worth it.
13. Mary Ax Tower
Cucumber - this is what the locals call this 180-meter skyscraper. And even if it is not considered a tourist attraction and there is no observation deck (only offices), it has become a modern symbol of London and a good landmark in the city.
14. Hyde Park
Here is the real heart of the city! King's Park, located in the very center of London, should definitely be a part of your itinerary. Do not be lazy to go here. We should also mention the beautiful Serpentine Pond, if possible, rent a boat and sail to Kensington Palace.
If you're a fan of the Harry Potter series, don't miss the opportunity to visit the historic King's Cross Train Station. Now you can take pictures there with a Gryffindor scarf and even pretend to walk through the pillar.
Also, you can find out where the epic films were filmed, go to the pavilions of the Warner Bros film studio to see the costumes and scenery for the Harry Potter films with your own eyes and reward yourself with a bottle of butter beer!
One of two "sewage temples" through which sewage entered the river during the time of Queen Victoria. The station's unremarkable façade hides a riot of colors inside, fig trees on the walls, and four pumps with 52-ton flywheels. The station is open several times a month, the schedule and cost of the entrance ticket can be found on the website.
Cross Bones Cemetery
Unsanctified cemetery for "Winchester geese" - as in the Middle Ages they called prostitutes who were allowed to work in the city by the Bishop of Winchester. On the "Crossbones", until it closed in 1853, beggars and homeless people also found their last refuge. This site was not remembered until excavations in the 1990s. The cemetery now serves as a memorial; its gates are covered with ribbons and messages to lost loved ones.
Down the same street is Red Cross Garden, another undiscovered gem of the city. The park was opened by British social activist Octavia Hill, founder of the National Trust, which is engaged in the protection of significant architectural and natural sites in England.
St Bride's Church
The spire of this church in 1793 inspired a baker's apprentice from Ludgate Hill to create the first layered wedding cake. He baked the now classic cake for his bride. The church, built by Christopher Wren, is operational and open to the public.
The smallest church in London
St. Ethelburga's Church is the smallest building of its kind in London. Its height is 17 meters, and its width is 9. The church is located in the eastern part of the City of London.
Nazi dog grave
German Ambassador Leopold von Hesch and his dog Giraud lived in the old German Embassy in London at 9 Carlton Terrace in the 1930s. Although it was believed that von Hesch did not support Nazism, he served Hitler until his death of a heart attack in 1936. His body was sent back to Germany on the cruiser HMS Scout, but the remains of Gyro, who died in 1934, remained in British soil. A small gravestone still stands next to the old embassy building; in a sense, this is the only monument to the Nazis in London.
Garden of the Church of St. Dunstan in the east
One of the most beautiful secret gardens in London lies among the ruins of St Dunstan's Church on the path between London Bridge and the Tower of London. The church, built around the 12th century, burned down in a fire in 1666. After that, it was restored, but the bombing during the Second World War finally destroyed the temple. In 1971, a small park was opened on its ruins.
The pub where Lenin and Stalin drank together
The Crown Tavern in Clarkenwell is believed to be the place where Lenin and Stalin first met. This legend is disputed by many, but it is known for sure that there are many sights connected with the Bolsheviks in London. For example, young Stalin stayed in the inexpensive hotel The Tower House, which served as a refuge for fugitives from all over the world. The future leader arrived at the 5th Congress of the RSDLP in 1907.
London stone
Earlier, the mysterious stone was embedded in the wall of a house at 111 Cannon Street at knee height. It is believed to be the remains of a boulder of unknown origin that has stood on the south side of the street for centuries. Some believe that these are the remains of a structure from the times of Ancient Rome, others that the boulder was used for occult rituals.
The stone is now in the Museum of London. A bronze plaque on it reads: "This is a fragment of a boulder that was anchored in the ground where Cannon Street Station is now." The stone was removed from the street in 1742, and in 1798 it was embedded in the wall of the church, which stood there until it was demolished in 1962. Its origins and significance are unknown, but in 1188 it was reported that it was associated with Mayor Henry.
Pedestrian tunnel in Greenwich
There are two good reasons to visit Island Gardens. It offers beautiful views of the National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park. In addition, the park contains one of the entrances to a pedestrian tunnel under the Thames, intended for dock workers who lived along the southern part of the river. The tunnel, designed by Sir Alexander Binney, was opened in 1902, but it still remains unknown to the general public.
Oldest street statue in London
The sculpture of the goddess Sekhmet, installed above the entrance to the Sotheby's auction house, is the oldest street statue in London. The monument to the Egyptian goddess of heat and war dates back to 1320 BC.
Gloomy slot machines
Next to Lincoln's Inn Fields Park is Novelty Automation, which displays the inventions of Tim Hankin, an inventor known for his eccentric games. Hankin is the author of a slot machine in which you have to beat bankers climbing from everywhere, a divorce simulator, as well as a desktop version of Pong, one of the first computer games. Exchange money for tokens and get the opportunity to play any of these games. Hankin's games are also on display at the port town of Southwold in Suffolk.
Postmen park
St. James's Park, Regents Park and Victoria Waterfront Gardens are beautiful, but attract too many tourists. Instead, it is better to visit the inconspicuous Postmen Park, which was named so because of its popularity among post office workers. It is located a stone's throw from St Paul's Cathedral, but easy to miss. The park is dedicated to ordinary people who died saving the lives of others. Several scenes of the film "Proximity" in 2004 were filmed on the territory of this particular park.
The first coffee shop in the city
The first London coffee shop (or, more precisely, a coffee kiosk) was founded by the Greek Pasca Rose in 1652. Rose discovered the taste of coffee while serving a British merchant in Turkey. The taste of the exotic drink impressed the Greek so much that he decided to bring it to London. His booth gathered people from all walks of life around him. Cornhill pubs and tavern owners can only watch with envy as Pasca sells 600 cups of coffee a day. Worse, coffee has come to be portrayed as an antidote to drunkenness, violence, and lust, providing pure thinking, sophistication, and wit. Rose sparked a coffee boom, and his "bitter Mohammedan brew" changed London forever.
Japanese roof garden
You can hide from the bustle of the English capital in the Japanese garden on the roof of the University of London. The garden was opened in 2001. You can visit it when the Brunei Gallery is open - usually from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 17:00.
Bridge without a river
London is usually regarded as the city of one river - the old Thames. In fact, more than 20 tributaries diverge from it. Some are led into the sewer system and can be seen through grates in the pavement or flowing through drain pipes. It was the Thames and its tributaries that shaped the landscape of London. Despite the fact that over time the appearance of the city has changed a lot, traces of the rivers can still be seen if you know where to look. So, at the intersection of Piccadilly and Green Park there is a place where the road crossed the Tyburn River. The Oval stadium is so named because it was built in the Effra bend. The Holborn Viaduct Bridge once served as a crossing over the Fleet River, which is now Farringdon Street.
The oldest store in London
Lock & Co. Hatters is the oldest hat store and one of the oldest family owned businesses in the world. Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Admiral Nelson, and other celebrities wore Lock hats. Not to mention Firmin & Sons, a company that was unable to keep its old store, but is the third oldest business in London after The Whitechapel Bell Foundry (1570) and The London Gazette (1665). It produces belts, buttons, uniforms and insignia, and has officially supplied buttons to all British monarchs since 1796.
The smallest building in the city
The smallest listed building in London is the Ostler’s Hut at the Lincoln’s Inn Fields on the west side of the city center. The building was built in 1860 to house a hotel groom - a man who took care of the horses of arriving guests.
Soho noses
Rick Buckley's nose-shaped installations are hidden throughout London. The objects symbolize the growth of curiosity, in other words, the increasing spread of outdoor video surveillance. Most of them are in Soho. In 1997, Buckley installed 35 installations; now, according to rumors, there are only ten left.
London unusual places map
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Photo: historicalgardensblog.com
If you are tired of walking around Westminster, Thames and Royal Parks, the British capital offers interesting places where you will not encounter crowds of tourists. Secluded gardens, original bridges and unusual sights - the ZagraNitsa portal has collected six places for those who have seen almost everything in London
Little venice
If you enjoy boating but are bored with traditional walks, head north of Paddington Tube Station. The picturesque Little Venice area will definitely diversify your boat trips! From here, you can ride along the beautiful streets of Maida Vale and Regent's Park, or climb upstream and enjoy the tranquility away from. After that, do not forget to drop by the local cafes.
Where: within walking distance of Paddington tube station
Photo: teardusk.com 2 The naked ladies
When all the royal parks are walked up and down, look into the gardens of the York House. The house, located on the banks of the Thames, was built at the beginning of the 17th century for Andrew Pitcarne, the court king of Charles I. Today the mansion is used for ceremonies, and Londoners often rest on the adjacent territory. One of the most compelling reasons to visit York House is the sculptures of naked ladies. They are made of Carrara marble and were probably brought to London from Italy in the late 19th or early 20th century. The author of the sculptures is unknown, since their owner, the English swindler Whitaker Wright, who committed suicide, did not name the sculptor.
Where: York House, Twickenham
Photo: en.wikipedia.org 3 The seven noses of Soho
Walking around, you can perfectly diversify your leisure time if you go in search of the seven noses. These original artifacts appeared in London at the end of the 20th century thanks to the artist Rick Buckley. His action was a protest against the installation of surveillance cameras in the city. They say that then the artist argued with friends that he would be able to "leave with his nose" the London surveillance system and place 35 casts of his nose in the city. Without getting into the field of view of cameras, Buckley even coveted such metropolitan sights as the Admiralty Arch. It is not known for certain how many of them are left to this day, but it is believed that whoever finds seven noses in the capital's Soho, wealth awaits.
Where: Soho area
Photo: thelondonphile.com 4 The rolling bridge
Lovers of unusual structures will definitely like Rolling Bridge: the British were able to turn even a small drawbridge into an original piece of art. When ships pass through the Grand Union Canal, this bridge does not just rise, but curls into an octagonal shape on one of the banks. The building was designed by British designer Thomas Haterwick, for which he received the British Structural Steel Design Award in 2005.
Where: 8 minutes walk from Paddington Tube Station.
Photo: wired.co.uk 5 The thin house
At first glance, it seems that the width of house # 5 at the corner of South Terrace and Thurloe Square is only a couple of meters. However, if you look closely, such an optical illusion is created by the original layout - from behind the house is still expanding. The design for the building was not chosen by chance: a railway line runs right behind it.
Where: Knightsbridge area
Photo: telegraph.co.uk 6 Traffic Light Tree
As you wander around Canary Wharf, notice the original traffic light tree. It appeared in the British capital in memory of the plane tree that died in its place. The 8-meter-high structure, consisting of 75 lights, was designed by the French sculpture Pierre Vivant at the end of the last century. Since then, it has been raising the spirits of passing drivers and attracting the attention of many tourists.
Where: Trafalgar way
Photo: en.wikipedia.org
