London
For those who want to get a taste of the British tradition on display, head to Buckingham Palace.
We caught the marching and music at St. James’s Palace, and followed the band along The Mall as they march between the two sites.
The city of London (settled by Romans in the 1st century) is THE centre of Britain's most iconic tourist attractions, also including Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London with the Royal Crown Jewels to name a few. See the link below for many of the best sites.
Check Out the Whispering Gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral
One of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London is the fabulous St Paul’s Cathedral, the Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London.
The original church on this site was founded in AD 604 - but the present church from the 17th century was an English Baroque design by architect, Sir Christopher Wren, after the Great Fire of London.
An unexpected tourist attraction is the famous Whispering Gallery, that runs around the interior of the Dome. If you talk quietly, even whisper, someone on the opposite side can hear what you are saying.!!
(It is a bit of a climb up, with 257 steps from the Cathedral floor)
Get Your Picture With a Beefeater
Known as the Tower of London, Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames.
Since 1066 it has been used as an armoury, a treasury, an animal menagerie, home of the Royal Mint, public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and royal regalia. Despite enduring the infamous reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious figures and writers, only seven people were actually executed at the Tower. Executions were more commonly held on Tower Hill to the north of the castle - still a really historic stop in London.
This the location for photo ops of the Yeoman Warder (“Beefeaters”), the official guardians of the Tower of London for over 500 years.
Ferris Wheel is the Best Air-Conditioned View Over London
Commonly known as the London Eye, the Millennium Wheel is a 135m (443ft) tall popular tourist attraction on the banks of the River Thames.
I had read about complaints of crushing crowds and uncomfortable passenger capsules at peak times, but we found the entire visit to the London Eye was a treat, even during the summer. You are free to walk around inside the capsule, although seating is provided for the one revolution that takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Highly recommend - and make sure to buy your pre-booked ticket online.
Pomp & Ceremony at Buckingham Palace
London’s most popular display of British pageantry is the Changing of the Guard.
The Queen’s Guard dressed in the famous bearskin hats and traditional red tunics form in the palace’s forecourt at 10.30am, then joined by the St James’s Palace Old Guard around 10.45am. Marching from the Wellington Barracks, the New Guard arrives in a formal ceremony accompanied by music. The event is free and VERY popular, so confirm times and arrive early for the best viewing.
Look to the flagpole on top the Buckingham Palace - if the royal standard (flag) is flying day and night, she’s at home. But, while the Queen is at her summer palace, tourists can purchase tickets for tours of the State Rooms, Royal Mews, and the Queen’s Gallery
Claiming to be One of Oldest Pubs in London.!!
This historic pub is where diarist Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London in 1666 - located on the south bank of The Thames next to the London Bridge station, is the Anchor Bankside. He wrote that he took refuge in “a little alehouse on bankside...and there watched the fire grow”.
Renovated over the centuries, but it is said that it is the sole survivor of the riverside inns that existed in Shakespeare’s time. Whatever the story, its a really cute pub and very lively with the after-work crowd along the river.
Britian’s Perfectly Preserved Wartime Nerve Centre
Of course no visit to London would be complete for a World War II historian, without a trip underground, to Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s War Rooms.
It is surprising to see the cramped conditions where Churchill lived, worked and slept - including where he broadcast his famous wartime speeches. Tickets includes a free audioguide, available in several languages as well as a family-friendly version.
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