Tower of london

The Tower of London is one of the worlds most famous fortresses and has seen service as royal
palace, prison, armoury and even a zoo. The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless
jewels glint in fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds.
Constructed over 900 years ago by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London is steeped in a rich
history. This fortress was expanded by many medieval kings and is a grand structure used by Royals
through the years as a refuge and powerbase.
The Tower is still home to her majesty's Crown Jewels, on display for visitors to see, and the
infamous Beefeaters tasked with the job of guarding them as well as showing visitors some of the
attractions highlights.
The White Tower is the huge and beautiful stone building in the middle of the sight and is home to a
variety of ever-changing exhibitions of historic and royal artefacts.Situated in central London just a
stones throw from the River Thames, the Tower of London is the one of the city's premier
attractions. With so much on offer it's no wonder it's popular with visitors.The full name of the
Tower is actually: Her Majestys Royal Palace And Fortress.During WW2, the Tower was used as a
Prisoner Of War camp. The Tower houses the crown jewels and has done for many centuries now.
The estimated value of the crown jewels is said to be in excess of 20 billion.

Waterloo bridge

Actually the second bridge to stand on the site, the current Waterloo Bridge was completed in 1945,
having earnt the inauspicious honour of being the only river crossing in the capital struck by German
bombing during the Second World War. Due to the lack of a male workforce during the war, the
majority that worked on the construction of Waterloo Bridge were female, earning it the unofficial
title of 'The Ladies Bridge'.

Again named after a famous historical British military victory, Waterloo Bridge is seen as the
foremost ground level location in the capital for its views of the River Thames, being on a strategic
bend in the waterway, allowing for clean views to the Houses of Parliament to the west, and St Paul's
Cathedral to the east.

London eye

It took seven years and the skills of hundreds of people from five countries to make the London Eye a
reality.You can see around 40KM (25 miles) from the top as far as Windsor Castle on a clear day.The
London Eye can carry 800 passengers per revolution .Each of the 32 capsules weighs 10 tonnes. Each
rotation takes about 30 minutes.Constructing the EDF Energy London Eye was a massive challenge.
Its the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world, rising high above the London skyline at
135 metres. Since opening in March 2000 the EDF Energy London Eye has become an iconic landmark
and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UKs most popular paid for visitor attraction.
A modern but already very popular tourist attraction is the London Eye, a giant observation wheel
located in the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank. The 135 meter (443ft) tall structure was built as
part of London's millennium celebrations.The structure was designed by the architectural team of
David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband and wife. They submitted their idea for a large observation
wheel as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium, but none of the
entrants won the competition.

Madame tussauds

Madame Tussauds is a major tourist attraction in London, displaying waxworks of historical and royal
figures, film stars, sports stars and infamous murderers. Madame Tussauds is owned and operated
by Merlin Entertainments. Madame Tussauds London is a museum and tourist attraction located
in Central London, housed in the former London Planetarium. It is known for recreating life size wax
models of celebrities. The attraction houses its famous Chamber of Horrors. Set up
by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud on Marylebone Road in 1884 it is the first Madame Tussauds. As of
November 2013 the official website listed the following wax models:

Bollywood Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit, Salman
Khan, Shahrukh Khan .Culture Madame Tussaud, Pablo Picasso, Charles Dickens, Albert Einstein.
Hollywood Stars Bruce Willis, Charlie Chaplin, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Leonardo
DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Russell Brand, Sherlock Holmes, Taylor Lautner, Brad
Pitt, Angelina Jolie. Marvel Super Heroes Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Nick Fury, Spider-
Man, The Hulk, Wolverine. Music Adele, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Britney
Spears, Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Michael
Jackson,One Direction, Rihanna, The Beatles, Christina Aguilera.Royals Queen Elizabeth II, Duchess of
Cambridge, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Diana, Princess of
Wales.Sport Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Muhammad Ali, Rafael
Nadal, Sachin Tendulkar, Tom Daley, Usain Bolt.World Leaders Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Boris
Johnson, David Cameron, Francois Hollande, Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther
King, Nelson Mandela,Vladimir Putin, Saddam Hussein

In 1940, Madame Tussauds of London was hit with a bomb. More than 350 head molds were
destroyed. In 2008, a German man rushed past security on the opening day of the Berlin Madame
Tussauds and ripped Hitler's head off. All figures are made two percent larger than the person really
is. The smallest wax figure Madame Tussauds has ever made is Tinkerbell.

Big ben

The real name of the tower that houses the clock is simply The Clock Tower According to a survey
carried out in 2008, Big Ben is the UKs most popular tourist attraction. A golden inscription, written
in Latin, can be found at the base of each clock dial. It reads Domine Salvam Fac Reginam Nostrum
Victoriam Primam, meaning O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First . Big Ben chimes every
15 minutes and the sound can be heard for a radius of up to 5 miles. The clocks time is adjusted
every year with an old British penny. If the clock is fast, a penny is added to the pendulum, and if the
clock is slow, one is removed. Finally, the history of Big Ben began with a problem. Its construction
was marked by delays in delivery, budget issues and bureaucracy. Additionally, the tower was too
small for the mechanical clock, and the 16.25 tonne bell broke the day after testing, so a replacement
had to be very gently placed in the bell tower. The minute hand has also been changed twice, since it
was too heavy to move around the clock face

Palatul buckingham

Buckingham Palace, one of several palaces owned by the British Royal family, is one of the major
tourist attractions in London. The Changing of the Guard in front of the palace always attracts plenty
of spectators. A part of the palace is still used by the Royal family. A flag is hoisted each time the
Queen is in the Palace. The palace is not only home to the royal family, there are also a number of
staff members living here. The palace has about six hundred rooms, including a throne room, a
ballroom, picture gallery and even a swimming pool. Right in front of the building is the Queen
Victoria Memorial, designed by Sir Aston Webb and built in 1911 in honor of Queen Victoria, who
reigned for almost sixty-four years.

Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard takes place daily at 11 o'clock in front of Buckingham Palace.
A colorfully dressed detachment, known as the New Guard, parades along the Mall towards
Buckingham Palace and during a ceremony replaces the existing, Old Guard. The ceremony, which is
accompanied by music played by a military band, always attracts throngs of onlookers.

The palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff
bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. When the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace was opened in
1856, it was the largest room in London.

Saint paul

The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London, with its dome,
framed by the spires of Wren's City churches, dominating the skyline for 300 years.[3] At 365 feet
(111 m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the
highest in the world. In terms of area, St Paul's is the second largest church building in the United
Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.

St Paul's Cathedral occupies a significant place in the national identity of the English population.[4] It
is the central subject of much promotional material, as well as postcard images of the dome standing
tall, surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz.[4] Important services held at St Paul's have
included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret
Thatcher; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and
Second World Wars; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, the launch of
the Festival of Britain and the thanksgiving services for the Golden Jubilee, the 80th Birthday and the
Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. St Paul's Cathedral is a busy working church, with hourly prayer and
daily services.
 Westminster abbey

Westminster Abbey, located near the Houses of Parliament, is more a historical site than a religious
site. Since 1066 every royal coronation, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII has taken
place in Westminster Abbey.

Burial Ground

The abbey also serves as the burial ground for numerous politicians, sovereigns and artists. The
abbey is stuffed with tombs, statues and monuments. Many coffins even stand upright due to the
lack of space. In total approximately 3300 people are buried in the church and cloisters. Some of the
most famous are Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone.

Westminster Abbey is famous for its royal spectaculars and soaring Gothic architecture, but there are
many largely unknown and sometimes rather strange reasons for visiting the Abbey.

The sanctuary of the Abbey is covered by a Cosmati pavement, made up of thousands of cut
pieces of mosaic and porphyry.
St Wilgeforte was a favourite of women who wanted to be rid of abusive husbands. The saint
was said to have grown a beard after praying to be made repulsive to escape a forced marriage. Her
statue is of one of the many sculptures of saints and angels in the Lady Chapel of Henry VII.
Since 1308 nearly every monarch has been crowned on the famous Coronation Chair. But, up
close, you will notice that is that it is covered in graffiti the work of schoolboys and other visitors in
the 1700s and 1800s.

Hyde park

London's Hyde Park is one of the greatest city parks in the world. Covering 142 hectares (350 acres)
and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, theres a good
chance youll forget you are right in the centre of London.

Hyde Park in London has something for everyone. You can enjoy swimming, boating, cycling and
skating. There are pitches for team games, tennis courts, tracks for horse riding and a spectacular
childrens playground.

The Park has two lakeside restaurants which are licensed and serve everything from a three-course
meal to a quick cup of coffee. Hyde Park is home to a number of fascinating buildings and
monuments, such as The Serpentine Bridge, the Joy of Life fountain and the famous Archiles statue.
And with the Diana Memorial Fountain and open air events throughout the year, theres always
something to see and do. If youre out and about on Sunday, head to Speakers Corner to hear
Londons most vocal orators share their opinions with the world.

Ice skating will also be available from November to January (specific dates to be confirmed)

Hyde Park, which opened to the public in 1637, is the largest of several royal parks in London that are
connected to each other, forming one large green lung in the center of the city. The park is famous
for its Speakers' Corner.
The other parks are the neighboringKensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James's Park. Hyde Park
covers more than 360 acres (142 hectares) and hosts many large events, including celebrations and
concerts. It is also a popular place for jogging, swimming, rowing, picnicking and even horse riding.

Trafalgar square

Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, built around the area
formerly known as Charing Cross. It is situated in the City of Westminster. At its centre is Nelson's
Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of commemorative
statues and sculptures in the square, while one plinth, left empty since it was built in 1840,
The Fourth Plinth, has been host to contemporary art since 1999. The square is also used for
political demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year's Eve.

The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory of the Napoleonic
Wars over France and Spain which took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape
Trafalgar in Los Canos de Meca, a town in the municipality of Vejer de la Frontera (in the municipality
of Barbate since 1940), Cadiz, Spain. The original name was to have been "King William the
Fourth'sSquare", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".[1]

In the 1820s George IV engaged the architect John Nash to redevelop the area. Nash cleared the
square as part of his Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. The present architecture of the square is
due to Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845.

Trafalgar Square is owned by the Queen in Right of the Crown and managed by the Greater London
Authority, while Westminster City Council owns the roads around the square, including the
pedestrianised area of the North Terrace.[2] It forms part of theNorthbank business improvement
district.[3]

St james park

With royal, political and literary associations, St Jamess Park is at the heart of London and covers 23
hectares (58 acres). It's also home to the Mall, with many ceremonial parades and events of national
celebration.

The pelicans are fed every day at 14:30, and there are water birds, plus owls, woodpeckers and bats.
There's a childrens playground, and deckchairs from April to September.

Changing the Guard occurs daily in summer and alternate days for rest of year; The Queen's
Lifeguard changes daily at Horse Guards Parade Ground.

Visit Inn The Park, a contemporary British restaurant caf open from breakfast through to dinner.
There are four refreshment kiosks.

Toilets are available, including some with disability access.