London: My London Travel Guide

London
My London Travel Guide
© 2014-2020 visitacity.com All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.
Day 1
09:00 Hyde Park
A royal park featuring Speakers' Corner, Serpentine Lake
and Diana Memorial
10:00 Buckingham Palace

The Queen's official residence and site of the Changing of
the Guard
12:05 St. James's Park

Royal park with a lake, two small islands, waterfowl and
pelicans
13:10 Westminster Abbey

10th century Gothic-style cathedral used for royal events
14:15 Houses of Parliament &

Big Ben
Iconic clock tower and 1870 Parliament building on the shore
of the Thames
15:10 London Eye

A huge Ferris Wheel with transparent capsules offering
views of the city
17:25 Trafalgar Square

Iconic traffic circle and public square fame for Nelson's
Column
18:20 Piccadilly Square

Iconic traffic circle famed for its statue of Eros
20:05 Greenwich Park

A royal park, site of the Royal Observatory, playground and
boating lake
20:10 Royal Observatory

A 200 year old royal observatory and site of the Prime
Meridian in Greenwich
09:00 Hyde Park
Visit Duration: 45 mins
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 19 th 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.
Address: Hyde Park, London
The park is adorned with statues including Still Water which is a 10 meters tall bronze work by Nic Phone Number: 030 0061-2000
Fiddian-Green. Next to this work is an equestrian statue of Genghis Khan created by Dashi Namdakov. There Opening Hours: 5am-00:00
is also a statue of Achilles (1822); a memorial to 7/11; the Reformers' Tree mosaic; a memorial to William Web: www.royalparks.gov.uk
Henry Hudson; St. George fighting the dragon and a statue of Isis by Simon Gudgeon. The park has Tube: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge,
playgrounds, open lawns, fountains, a long pergola, more than 4,000 trees, flower beds and restaurants. You Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch
can go boating on the lake, cycle, play tennis and even swim. From November to January there is ice skating
in the ark.
10:00 Buckingham Palace
Visit Duration: 2 hours
1.0 KM, 14 minutes walking from Hyde Park
This is the official residence of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth 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 77,000m² 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.
Address: Buckingham Palace Rd., St. James's,
The building was originally a townhouse belonging to the Duke of Buckingham in 1705; in 1761 King George London
th
III bought the property and through the 19 century the palace was extended and renovated. When Queen Phone Number: 020/7766-7300
Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 the palace became the monarch's official residence. Admission: Royal Day Out, Adult £37.00, Senior
£33.80, Ages 5-17 £20.80. State Rooms, Adult
Tourists come to the palace to watch the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard performed by the Royal £21.50, Senior £19.60, Ages 5-17 £12.30. Family
guards who wear their distinctive red uniforms and black tall furry hats. During the ceremony the guards tickets available.
march from nearby Wellington Barracks to the front gate of the palace and replace the Old Guard of their Opening Hours: August daily 9:15am-7:45pm.
Sep daily 9:15-6:45pm. Check with Palace website
duty. On special occasions like a coronation, wedding or jubilee the Royal family comes out onto the balcony
as exact dates and times change.
on the East front of the building to greet the crowds of supporters in the street below. The public can tour the
Web: www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit
palace state rooms during the Summer Opening in August and September. The public can visit the Queen's
Tube: Victoria, St. James's Park, Green Park
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.
12:05 St. James's Park
Visit Duration: 1 hour
0.2 KM, 4 minutes walking from Buckingham Palace
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 (12-13 th 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 Image By: Marcin Biaek
Image Source:
memorial walk dedicated to Princess Diana which covers 11km and is lined with plaques marking locations http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_St_James_Park_20
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.
Address: The Mall, St. James's, London
Opening Hours: 5am-midnight
Tube: St. James's Park, Westminster
13:10 Westminster Abbey
0.5 KM, 7 minutes walking from St. James's Park
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 Address: Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London
famous Brits buried in the Abbey are Charles Darwin, Henry Purcell, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone. Phone Number: 020/7222-5152
Admission: Adult £20, Child: £9
Above the Great West Door you can see statues of ten 20 th century Christian martyrs including Oscar
Opening Hours: 9:30am-3:30pm
Romero, Martin Luther King Junior and Dietrich Bonheoffer. The relics of the Royal Saint Edward the
Web: www.westminster-abbey.org
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 11 th century vaulted undercroft is
the Westminster Abbey Museum which has been open to the public since 1908.
14:15 Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
0.3 KM, 4 minutes walking from Westminster Abbey
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 8 th century Saxon church called West
Minster (west monastery). In the 10 th 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 13 th 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.
Address: St. Stephen's Entrance, St. Margaret
Mary Undercroft completed; it was here that the royal court and household prayed. In 1547 the House of Commons joined the
St., Westminster, London
House of Lords also meeting at the palace thus Westminster became the undisputed central seat of government.
Phone Number: 020/7219-4272
A fire destroyed the palace in 1834 and the only parts of the original medieval palace which survived are the Cloisters, Chapter Admission: £18.50
House of St. Stephen's, Chapel of St. Mary's Undercroft, the Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower which was built in 1365. Opening Hours: August, Mon, Tues, Fri, and Sat
After the fire a new neo-Gothic structure was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin and completed in 1870. 9:15am-4:30pm, Wed-Thu. 1:15pm-4:30pm. Sept.
Mon, Fri, Sat 9:15am-4:30pm, Tues, Wed, Thu
The parliament building has three towers, the octagonal Central Tower; Victoria Tower and the most famous Elizabeth Tower. 1:15pm - 4:30pm.
Victoria Tower (1860) stands opposite Elizabeth Tower, here the records of both houses of parliament have been kept since Web: www.parliament.uk/visiting
1497. During the parliamentary year the British flag is flown on top of the 98 meter high tower. Tube: Westminster
Big Ben is the name of the bell which hangs in Elizabeth Tower which is at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. The
tower is commonly referred to as Big Ben, it is 96 meters tall and UK residents can climb the 393 steps to the belfry. The square
tower bears the famous four clock faces of the Great Clock of Westminster. The clock faces of this accurate time piece are 7
meters in diameter and the hour hands are 2.7 meters long. Within the belfry there are five bells, four strike the Westminster
Chimes on the quarter hour and the largest bell, Big Ben, strikes on the hour.
UK residents can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, observe parliamentary debates and even climb up into the Big Ben
belfry. Foreign visitors can tour the Parliament building on Saturday and during the Summer Opening, they can also watch
debates and committee hearings when Parliament is in session.
15:10 London Eye
0.6 KM, 8 minutes walking from Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
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 Address: Millennium Jubilee Gardens, SE1,
rate (26cm per second). South Bank
Opening Hours: Jan-May 11am-6pm, June-Aug
From the capsules passengers have a 360 view of London and most of the famous landmarks can be seen 10am-8:30pm,Sept-Dec 11am-6pm
from the wheel. There are a number of combination tickets available for the wheel as well as tickets which Phone Number: 0870/5000-600
include a boat ride down the Thames which brings you to the Eye. Admission: £22.45
Tube: Waterloo, Westminster
Web: www.londoneye.com
17:25 Trafalgar Square
0.9 KM, 13 minutes walking from London Eye
Trafalgar Square is a traffic intersection in central London, the large square at its center is used for many
major events and celebrations in London. During the 14th to 17th century the square was the courtyard of the
Great Mews stables for Whitehall Palace. In the 18th century when the mews were cleared away, John Nash
began designing a new street connecting Charing Cross and Portland Place, this street formed the open
square in the Kings Mews area and in 1830 the square got its present name. The National Gallery on the
square was designed by William Wilkins; in 1838 Charles Barry developed plans to create an upper terrace
by the National Gallery connected to a lower level square by a sweeping staircase. In 1843 Nelson's Column
was designed by William Railton and in 1845 it was erected on the lower level square. Fountains and statues
on the square were designed by Barry and Sir Edwin Landseer designed the bronze lions which sit at the
base of Nelson's Column.
Nelson's Column marks the center of the square, the Corinthian column is 51.6 meters tall and at the top is a Address: Westminster, London
statue of Lord Nelson who died in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Tube: Charing Cross
Further renovations were made to the square in 2003 including increased pedestrian areas, a café and public
toilets. Also on the square is St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Edith Cavel statue. The square was once famed
for its pigeons which would flock here to be fed by tourists, today feeding the pigeons is illegal according to
bylaws as the birds were deemed a health hazard and threat to the square's art work. The square is a popular
venue for social and political protests.
The square has 4 plinths (stone pedestals intended for statues) they hold a bronze equestrian statue of
George IV; a statue of General Sir Charles James Napier; Major-General Sir Henry Havelock and the fourth
Plinth in the north-western corner of the square is used to display commissioned art work.
18:20 Piccadilly Square / Piccadilly Circus
0.6 KM, 9 minutes walking from Trafalgar Square
Also known as Picadilly Circus, Piccadilly Square is one of London’s most iconic locations. This major street
junction forms a large open space with easy access to main shopping and entertainment areas. Interestingly,
this is not a location for an actual circus as we know it today. Circus is the Latin word for circle, and this
popular area is a round shape.
Similar to Times Square in New York City, Piccadilly is famous for neon lighting and advertising signs.
Although every building in the circle used to be pretty much covered with lighted advertisements, there is now
only one building that holds the tradition. And, most of the lights have been replaced by LED bulbs, so the
display is memorizing day or night. Visitors to this center will also find a fountain monument to Lord
Shaftesbury who was a notable philanthropist in the Victorian era. He was much loved and the statue is often
referred to as the Angel of Christian Charity. Atop this memorial is a statue of the Greek god Anteros,
although most people believe it is his mythological brother Eros. Whatever god he is supposed to be, be sure Address: Piccadilly Square, London
you get your picture taken in front of this memorable figure.
Just to the south of the circus is the Criterion Theater, which was originally opened in 1874. To the east is
London Trocadero which is a huge six story indoor amusement park. Inside there are restaurants, bowling
alleys, movie theaters, and arcade games. Picadilly Circus really is the place to go for everything; it is the
center of it all. There are restaurants, and entertainment for the whole family. There is a lot of shopping,
people watching, and is a great place to take stereotypical tourist pictures.
Tourists can spend as much or as little time there as they want, but at least walking through is a must. If you
have more time, be sure to check out all the venues this amazing place has to offer. This is a great place for
anyone whether travelling with small children, or looking for more of a place to sit and have some beers. This
place has it all.
20:05 Greenwich Park
Visit Duration:
13.0 KM, 44 minutes by transit from Piccadilly Square
Greenwich Park occupies around 163 acres of parkland located between Blackheath and the river Thames.
This park was once the palace ground of Greenwich Palace and it is still considered a property of the Queen.
The park has the loveliest expanses of turf, a rose garden and one of the fairest walks found in the city.
Greenwich palace displays the work of great architecture and landscapes. If you go on top of the gentle
slopes that make up Greenwich Park you'll come across an important British landmark, The Royal
Observatory designed by Sir Christopher Wren. There's a lovely little tea house, a boating lake, deer park,
tennis court and the National Maritime Museum nearby. If you stand at the top of the hilly slope you can get
great views of London and because of the magnificent views it is a popular venue for open air concerts during
the summer months.
Address: Greenwich Park, London

Phone Number: 020/8858-2608
Opening Hours: 6am-6pm
Admission:
20:10 Royal Observatory
Visit Duration:
0.3 KM, 5 minutes walking from Greenwich Park
The Royal Observatory is situated in Greenwich Village in London, the location of the Prime Meridian that
divides the globe to the East and West Hemispheres. The observatory was built during the reign of King
Charles II in the 1600s which had a keen interest in astronomy and even appointed an “Astronomer Royal”,
yet another way of coining the chief of the observatory.
The Royal Observatory showcases the various developments that have taken place through the years in the
fields of astronomy and will allow you to get a visualization of the big bang theory, to learn how the universe
was born and to see the birth of new stars, formation of nebulas as well as to learn about explorations in
space.
Nearby the observatory you could find some interesting institutes such as the Queen’s House, The Royal
Hospital for Seamen, The National Maritime Museum and the Peter Harrison Planetarium.
The Prime Meridian is one of the main attractions of the Royal Observatory and there is a metal strip which
Address: Romney Rd., Greenwich
has been constructed to physically depict the line.
Phone Number: 020 8858-4422
Admission: Adult £9.50, Child £5
Opening Hours: 10am-5pm
Website: www.rog.nmm.ac.uk
Tube: DLR: Greenwich.
Day 2
13:35 St. Paul's Cathedral
Christopher Wren's baroque cathedral with beautiful dome
and illustrious history
15:00 HMS Belfast

Go on board a 9 deck WWII warship
16:45 Tower of London

Authentic royal 11th century castle displaying Crown Jewels,
Medieval artifacts
19:50 Tower Bridge

Famous Victorian bridge spanning the Thames near Tower
of London
13:35 St. Paul's Cathedral
This landmark cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and construction took 36 years until its
completion in 1711. However there were five previous churches which stood on this site, the first dating back
to 604AD. Three times the previous churches had been destroyed by fire and rebuilt and the building we see
today was constructed following the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church stands on Ludgate Hill, the
highest point in the city and is the seat of the Bishop of London. Among the auspicious events held at the
cathedral were Winston Churchill's funeral and the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Distinct features of the church include the dome which is the second largest in the world; it reaches a height
of 111 meters and weights approximately 66,000 tons. The dome is supported by eight arches and is
crowned by an 850 ton lantern. Visitors can climb the 560 steps to the top of the dome to get awesome views
of the city. As you ascend within the dome there are a series of galleries, the first is the Whispering Gallery
which earned its name due to its great acoustics. The next gallery is the Stone Gallery which is 53 meters
from the ground and protrudes on the exterior of the dome above columns which circle the dome. The Golden Address: St. Paul's Churchyard, The City,
Gallery is just beneath the lantern and is the highest point that visitors can climb. London
Within the church the Baroque decoration includes mosaics on the ceilings which were added in 1890, above Admission: Adult £18.00, Child £8.00
the altar is the baldachin which was rebuilt in 1958 following bomb damage during WWII. The tomb of John Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-4:30pm
Donne was the only part of the church to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666 and it dates back to 1631. Website: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/
The church holds valuable works of art including Henry Moore's Madonna and Child . Famous people buried
in the cathedral include the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Nelson and Christopher Wren as well as a number of
memorials to important figures like Florence Nightingale and T. E. Lawrence. On the western façade is a
large portico topped by a decorated pediment. The tympanum relief (1706) depicts the conversion of St. Paul.
15:00 HMS Belfast
Visit Duration: 1 hour, 30 mins
1.8 KM, 25 minutes walking from St. Paul's Cathedral
There are quite a number of important attractions you could visit along the Thames. One would be the
surviving naval vessel of world war II – the HMS Belfast. If you are interested to learn on the life on a warship,
this great battleship is the last vessel that can give you that insight. This vessel helped sink German
battleships and was one of the ships that bombarded the coast of Normandy on D-Day. The HMS Belfast saw
more action during peace time to advance a number of peacekeeping missions and had other sojourns to
protect supply convoys through the Arctic Ocean to the Soviet Union. Most of the exhibits are arranged over
the five decks and four platforms that make up the ship and all in all it is a great place to visit with kids. This
light cruiser is moored permanently along the Thames, between the London Bridge and Tower Bridge and
has been opened to the public as a naval museum since 1971. Besides actual physical exhibits, there are
interactive exhibitions like the Gun turret. Visitors go from deck to deck and get to see and touch what actual
sailors would have touched and used when they were serving at sea. They can also go to the operations
Address: HMS Belfast,The Queens Walk, London
room that depicts how it would have been like to command fleets of ships. The ship is very popular with kids
Phone Number: 020 7940 6300
and remains open from 10am to 6pm everyday while The Walrus Café serves snacks. The ship can be used
Opening Times: 10am-6pm
as a venue for weddings and other events. There is a shop on the ship that sells a variety of accessories,
Admission: Adult £16, Child £8
stationery, souvenirs, books, CDs, etc. There is also a lot of materials, games, toys and books that are
wonderful educational resources.
16:45 Tower of London
1.1 KM, 14 minutes walking from HMS Belfast
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.
Image By: edwin.11
The tower's top ten highlights include: Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwin11/
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 Address: Tower Hill, The City, London
Richard III was set here. Phone Number: 0844 482-7777
Admission: Adult £28, Child £13
The Crown Jewels – See the dazzling crown jewels which are still used in ceremonies, royal weddings and coronations today.
Opening Hours: Mar-Oct Tue-Sat 9am-5:30pm,
The Fusilier Museum – Housed in the former army officers' quarters, historic artifacts are displayed from the history of this Sun-Mon 10am-5:30pm, Nov-Feb Tue-Sat
famous military division which was formed in the Tower of London in 1685. 9am-4:30pm, Sun-Mon 10am-4:30pm
Website: www.hrp.org.uk
The Tower Green – See where Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and other privileged prisoners were executed in the tower away Tube: Tower Hill
from the eyes of the public.
The Medieval Palace – the palace is furnished in recreated medieval furniture and artifacts. 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 armor, some mounted on life-size wooden horses. The armor 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
© 2014-2020 the useAll
visitacity.com ofrights
mobile phones
reserved. within
No part of thisthe Tower
site may of London
be reproduced is prohibited.
without our written permission.
19:50 Tower Bridge
0.5 KM, 5 minutes walking from Tower of London
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 Address: Tower Bridge Rd., The City, London
are produced using electricity and oil rather than steam.
Admission: Adults £9, Child £3.90
Visitors to Tower Bridge today can walk or drive across and you can also visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition. A visit to the Tower
Opening Hours: Apr-Sep 10am-5:30pm, Oct-Mar
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 9:30am-5pm
are two parallel walkways) is home to the "Great Bridges of the World" photo exhibit which features more than 20 of the world's Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk
greatest bridges. In the West Walkway the "This is London" exhibition displays over 60 illustrations by the painter Miroslav Tube: Tower Hill
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.

London: My London Travel Guide

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

London: My London Travel Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

London

My London Travel Guide

10:00 Buckingham Palace

12:05 St. James's Park

13:10 Westminster Abbey

14:15 Houses of Parliament &

15:10 London Eye

17:25 Trafalgar Square

18:20 Piccadilly Square

20:05 Greenwich Park

20:10 Royal Observatory

Address: Greenwich Park, London

15:00 HMS Belfast

16:45 Tower of London

19:50 Tower Bridge

You might also like