The Tower of London
When you visit the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, you will marvel at the astounding number of legendary historic landmarks; get lost in magnificent and magical castles; and immerse yourself in the high-octane energy of this cosmopolitan city.
An Amazing Offer to Visit the Tower of London
To get you into the swim of things in London, make your first visit to the Tower of London, one of the city’s top attractions.
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More About the Tower of London
The tower was a fortress which was built for safety purposes during war and peace times. Punctuated by thick metal bars, the life-size metal models of soldiers gives you an idea how heavily guarded the garrison was in the past.
Enjoy the sight of the 37 Yeoman Warders guarding it day and night to learn how they got the name “Beefeaters”. Explore the legend of the ominous black ravens that are said to protect the Crown and the Kingdom. Be entranced by more than 2,300 Crown Jewels in the Jewel House to view the world’s most precious and semi-precious gemstones.
Visit the impressive White Tower which was built in the 11th century to inspect the astonishing armoury exhibit. Encounter the ghosts of Water Gate, built in the 1270’s and where prisoners accused of treason in the 16th century still roam. Enjoy the intrigue of this mesmerising landmark!
More Places to Make Your Visit Memorable
Westminster Abbey
Click on the link above to visit this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site.
No vacation to London is complete without a visit to the renowned Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites. View the imposing architecture of the Abbey and explore memorials for more than 30 kings and queens buried here; and take in the breathtaking vaulted ceiling bedecked with ancient murals. Discover the long-hidden space above the Abbey which houses the battle gear of England's legendary medieval king, King Henry V in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries. Built in the 13th century, the space was only opened to the public in 2018. So it will be awesome to see what the armory they used looks like in reality. If you've watched the Queen's funeral, you're sure to be curious about the burial chambers - this is your chance to get a closer look. Click on the link above to get access NOW!
Buckingham Palace
Click on the link above to get better insight into the lifestyle of the British Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace is the official residence and administrative headquarters for the monarch of the United Kingdom.
The monarchy uses the palace as a place for royal hospitality and important state occasions. This includes national and royal celebrations and the Regular Changing of the Guard Ceremony. You can explore the graceful State Rooms which are open to visitors during the summer, on selected dates. The Palace offers some remarkable tours which are unmissable if you can get a reservation.
Here are some of them:
* The State Rooms and Garden Highlights Tour – you can combine this tour with a guided walk of Buckingham Palace Garden with an expert warden.
* The State Rooms & East Wing Highlights Tour – this is an exclusive guided tour of the East Wing combined with the State Rooms of the Palace, and it’s offered during the summer. This tour is exciting as you will have a chance to view works from the Royal Collection and visit the Center Room which leads to the Palace Balcony. At the end of the tour you can pop into the Garden Café and Garden Shop.
* The best of the tours is the Exclusive Guided Tour at a time when the palace is not open to the public – great way to miss the crowds. During 1½ hours you will discover the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection porcelain, English and French furniture, and much more.
* Royal Day Out Tour – this tour takes you to the King’s Gallery (previously the Queen’s Gallery), where you can view the exhibition titled "Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography". It explores the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920’s to the present day which reveal the stories behind the most celebrated photos ever taken of the Royal Family.
Don't miss this opportunity to get up close and personal to the once exclusive lifestyle of the Royals.
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The British Museum
Click on the link above to satisfy your curiosity about ancient to current history in this massive museum - explore over 2 million years of human history, art and culture.
Founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, it is said to be a place of recreation ‘for all studious and curious persons’. If this is you, your curiosity about ancient to current history will want for more after your first visit. The museum is vast and to help you get started, we've mentioned some of the galleries that might be of interest to you below:
The Great Court
Located in the center of the British Museum, the Great Court is the largest covered public square in Europe. It is enclosed by a glass and steel roof and contains a number of sculptures. The sculptures include examples from the 5th century Ireland, China’s Late Ming Dynasty, ancient Nimrod (Iraq), and the Greek and Roman Empires. The great Reading Room is in this area and was once a center of learning for greats like Bram Stoker, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lenin.
The East Stairs
On the East Stairs you’ll be met by 19th century plaster casts of ancient sculptures from the Old and New World, which, although you’ll still find them in their respective countries, are now damaged. The East Stairs therefore provides you with excellent insight into what they actually looked like back then. They are from Honduras, Mexico, the tombs of the pharaohs Sety I and Merenptah in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Other casts are from the Hall of a Hundred Columns and Palaces of Darius the Great and Xerxes at Persepolis in Iran.
Enlightenment
The 18th century is known to be an era of new knowledge, scientific discovery, European Colonialism and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This exhibition represent the period of discovery and learning that flourished in Europe and America from around 1680 to 1820. It also focuses on the significant part of Britain’s wealth which was derived from its Transatlantic Slave Trade.
North America
The different cultural identities of the Native North American people are displayed here, dating from the ancient to the present. Also represented is the effect European colonization had on Native North American communities.
Egyptian Sculpture Gallery
This gallery represent 3,000 years of Egyptian history and also on display are the statues of Rameses II and Amenhotep III.
Africa
The Africa galleries will introduce you to the cultural, artistic and historical complexity of the continent. You will be able to view material and artistic traditions and a range of themes relating to trade, identity, gender, power, religion and transformation. The inclusion of contemporary art is from artists living on the continent and those of African heritage living outside the continent.
Sutton Hoo & Europe
This gallery represent the story of Europe from AD 300. When the Roman Empire ceased to exist in the west, it continued as the Byzantine Empire in the east. This is the period when Christianity and Islam emerged as major religions and Europe as we know it today took shape.
Roman Empire
The objects in this gallery illustrate the rise of Rome to an imperial capital that controlled the Mediterranean Basin, north-western Europe and the Near East from Scotland to Syria. The gallery covers the period when Emperor Constantine founded his new, Christian capital at Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey).
Click on the link above to explore the world's history in-depth to help you compare the past with the present NOW!
National Gallery
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to the National Gallery of London on Trafalgar Square.
Trafalgar Square is situated around the area of Charing Cross and features some of London’s top galleries, historic buildings, statues and monuments.
One such place not to be missed is the National Gallery where you will discover some of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. This year the gallery is celebrating 200 years of its existence, so they’ll be offering great activities, special displays and exhibitions.
View great world-renowned masterpieces by George Stubbs, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Thomas Gainsborough, Francois-Hubert Drouais, Rachel Ruysch, Anthony van Dyck, Giovanni Bellini, Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Paul Cezanne, Titian, Vermeer and much more.
Or just visit the gallery representing your most special artists to spend some time reflecting on the wonders that they created.
The National Gallery is the perfect place to get to know more about your favorite artists, their history and the motivation behind their paintings - without having to travel from one country to the next to learn about their origins.
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Kew Gardens
CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE TO EXPLORE THE TRANQUILITY OF KEW ROYAL GARDENS & UNASSUMING KEW CASTLE
The subtle yet charming Kew Palace is set amid the charming Royal Botanic Kew Gardens which boasts several key attractions and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden is vast and there are many things to experience making this site a relaxing experience.
Whether you need time out from your busy schedule at home, or just want to get some quiet time away from the crowds in London during your vacation.
To start exploring the garden’s many nooks and crannies, start with the magnificently designed Japanese garden that combines a Garden of Peace, a Garden of Activity and a Garden of Harmony. The garden is the ideal spot for quiet reflection.
Your first stop at the iconic but unassuming Castle on the grounds of Kew Gardens should be Queen Charlotte’s Cottage. The ornamental cottage is an intimate family space where you can discover clues depicting the royal owners’ lifestyle.
The Royal Kitchens have been preserved as they were in the Georgian period 200 years ago, and is one of the few remaining buildings in the complex, and was constructed around 1734 to 1735 for Frederick, Prince of Wales.
The Kitchen Garden is located next to the Royal Kitchens which today overflows the plants, vegetables and wildlife. It has been in use from 1789 to 1818.
The Great Pagoda was built in 1762 and restored in 2018. The building is graced by eighty dragons and if you take the steps to the top, you will enjoy stunning views over London.
Hidden Gems of London
Here are some fun places to make the most out of your stay in London ... places that very few overseas travelers know about.
Victoria & Albert Museum
The extraordinary V&A South London was founded in 1852 and is named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It is situated in the heart of London and is the world’s largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design. It houses over 2.27 million objects.
The museum owns the world’s largest collection of post-classical sculpture of Italian Renaissance items, and is the largest collection outside of Italy. Also represented are art collections from South Asia, China, Japan, Korea and the Islamic world.
Apart from its collections, the museum also offer events and courses for primary, secondary and college students, as well as teachers.
The museum’s galleries span over seven miles and consist of the following for you to explore: the fashion gallery; the tapestry gallery; the theatre and performance galleries; the Gilbert galleries, as well as various exhibition and display programs.
The museum is open seven days a week, entry is free and you don’t have to make reservations.
If you’re visiting on a Friday, you can enjoy a proper English Tea time treat at the Victoria & Albert Museum Dining Rooms. The café is the first and oldest museum eating place inside a museum in the world. Experience the grandeur of gilded domes, ornate tiles and ceramic wall reliefs while enjoying your tea with a variety of your choice of hot food, sandwiches and salads, beverages and cakes in one of the three refreshment rooms.
The museum also has an open-air Garden Café and a Courtyard Café, which are modern additions.
221b Baker Street
If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes, a visit to this tiny museum will have you thinking you just stepped into his world. You can well imagine that he’s on his way downstairs to find out how he can help you solve the mysterious happenings in your life. The museum opened in 1990 and is an exact replica of the living quarters of Holmes and Watson, complete with handwritten notes, furniture, decorations, his violin and collection of books. The museum consist of three floors, becomes quite busy, and you might have to stand in a queue to get access. But if you're a fan, you won't mind the wait.
The Cartoon Museum
If you were into cartoons like "Andy Capp and Flo", this museum will appeal to you. The museum houses a collection of comics, graphic novels, animation and caricatures for you to explore. With over 5,000 books, 4,000 comics and 1,700 original strips, graphic novels, animation and caricatures, you might be spending the best part of your day here, while reminiscing on the good old days when comics in the daily newspapers were the highlight.
The Freud Museum
To get your mental senses back in tune, head to the Freud Museum to explore the world of Sigmund Freud, the pioneer of psychoanalysis. He spent the last year before his death in London, after he was exiled by the Nazis in Austria. The museum is housed in the home where he lived with his family, and has an extensive library, collection of antiques, furniture and his famous couch. Take a break and imagine yourself lying on the couch, unburdening your heart and feeling the stress dissipate from your mind like mist before the sun.
The Hampstead Pergola
After unburdening yourself to the ghost of Sigmund Freud, a breath of fresh air in this garden will certainly lift your spirits further. Here you can wander around to have a look at the trellises and stone pillar covered in vines, and admire the colorful flowers of this magnificently restored garden. Just be sure that you take your stroll before closing time.
The Pelicans of St. James’ Park
If you feel that you’ve had enough of unburdening and need a livelier atmosphere, head to St. James’ Park where you can keep the giant friendly penguins who’s taken up residence in the park, company. The Park is open from 5 am to midnight all year around.
For a Spot of Shopping
The Burlington Arcade
This is a luxury shopping lane that has its own little police force that has been in existence for over a century. Shop for high-end luxury goods in this arcade that has been around since 1819. It was the first shopping arcade with a covered roof, and is home to some of the most exclusive shops in London. You have a choice between jewelers, dealers in antiques and other art items. Just make sure that you know the rules of shopping in this lane, as the Beadles are a legit police force and they do enforce rules that you have to obey or they’ll slap you with a dire warning. The arcade is open until 19:00.
Leadenhall Market
When you step into this marketplace you will feel like you just walked into a scene straight from the Victorian era. The covered marketplace is located in the historic center of London’s financial district, and is one of the oldest markets in London, where you can enjoy a snack at one of the cafés on the cobble-stone sidewalks. And while sipping a refreshing tea, you might just spot Harry Potter and his crew shopping magic wands for their next bewitching adventure.
Have a magical trip in the UK’s most iconic city!
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