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The City of London evolved after the Roman
invasion of England in 43AD. The Romans first
conquered Southern England, then began moving north
until they reached the River Thames. This vast River
that split the east of England in two, greatly
restricted travel in the area. The Romans solved the
problem by building a wooden Bridge, just east of
where London Bridge stands today. With that bridge
providing a link from the South of England to Central
England, the area attracted a lot of trade, with the
City of Londinium beginning to grow around the
Bridge.
London is now one of the worlds most interesting
Cities, crammed full of Historic Buildings, Museums
and Parks. There are also many historic locations
such as Windsor Castle only a few miles outside the
City.
The currency in England is the British Pound.
Beer prices .
Currency
Converter.
Flights take about 1 hour 10 minutes between UK
& Ireland Airports and London Airports.
There are five major Airports around London, see
bottom of the page for information.
Attractions List with Maps
For Larger Images of the ones below, and more
visit Flickr London
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The Palace of
Westminster, or better known as the
Houses of Parliament, was first built on this
site during the reign of Edward the Confessor
(1042-1066).
Map .
Tour
Buses
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The present Building as seen today, dates
from the 1840s.
A Tour of the Houses of Parliament and a
climb to the top of Big Ben can be taken.
Tours
Information.
The Palace of Westminster is in London
Centre close to the London Eye ferris wheel. The
area is regarded as the centre of the City,
where the hop on hop off tour Buses can be
booked.
More
Information . Helicopter Tours
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Westminster
Abbey is only a few hundred
yards north of the Houses of
Parliament, on the Tour Bus route.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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Work on the original Westminster Abbey began
during the reign of Edward the Confessor
(1042-1066). That Building was built on the
site that originally contained a modest
Benedictine Abbey Church named St Peters.
Edward the Confessor died within ten days of
Westminster Abbey’s consecration. He
became the first of over 3,000 people to be
Buried within its Floors, Walls, and many
Tombs.
King Henry III (1216-1272) had the Abbey
completely redesigned by the architect Henry de
Reynes into the Gothic Style seen today. All
that remains of the original Abbey are the
foundations.
King Henry VII (1485-1509) and King Henry
VIII (1509-1547) commissioned further work to
be carried out that saw the Abbey extended.
All but two English Monarchs have been
Crowned there beginning with William the
Conqueror 25th December 1066. The two Kings
that broke with tradition were Edward V and
Edward VIII.
There are many famous people Buried
throughout the Abbey including Queen Elizabeth
I, Mary Queen of Scots, the poets Charles
Dickens and Robert Browning, musician George
Frederick Handle, actor Lawrence Olivier,
missionary Dr David Livingston, scientist Isaac
Newton, biologist Charles Darwin, and Thomas
Parr believed to have been 152 years and 9
months old.
The only person buried standing up is the
poet Ben Jonson who begged 18 inches of ground
from King Charles I.
The Abbey is open Monday-Sunday 08.00-18.00
with an entrance fee of around £21.00 per
adult, £9.00 for under 18s and free
admission for under 11s.
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Buckingham
Palace is situated about 1 mile
west of the Houses of Parliament, on
the tour bus route.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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Britain’s Monarchs have changed their
official residences throughout the centuries
from the Tower of London – Palace of
Westminster – Whitehall Palace –
Kensington Palace – St James’s
Palace, and now Buckingham Palace.
This Palace was originally constructed in
1703 as a red brick building named Buckingham
House. During the reign of King George IV
(1820-1830) Buckingham Palace was redesigned to
its present form. Although King George IV is
responsible for the design of the Palace, he
never managed to stay there as he died before
its completion.
Queen Victoria (1837-1901) became the first
Sovereign to take up residence in Buckingham
Palace in July 1837, it has remained the
official residence of the Royal Family ever
since.
The Palace can be visited in Summer, price
about £27 per adult, £15 under 17.
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St James's
Palace is about 1.2 miles
northwest of the Houses of Parliament,
only a few hundred yards north of
Buckingham Palace, on the tour bus
route.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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The building of St James’s Palace was
commissioned during the reign of King Henry
VIII (1509-1547). This building is built on a
site that previously contained the hospital of
St James for leper women.
St James’s present look is attributed
to Sir Christopher Wren, as he was commissioned
to redesign the Palace in the late 1600s. Queen
Anne (1702-1714) became the first Royal to take
up residence in St James’s after the 1698
fire that destroyed Whitehall Palace. St
James’s then became the official home of
British Monarchs until Queen Victoria took the
throne in 1837, and set up residence in
Buckingham Palace.
St James’s Palace is now the official
residence of Prince Charles. It can only be
viewed from the outside, as it is rarely open
to the public.
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St Paul's
Cathedral is 2 miles northeast
of the Houses of Parliament, on the
tour bus route.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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Construction of the original Old St
Paul’s Cathedral began in 1087 under the
reign of King William II (1087-1100). That
Cathedral built in Gothic style, was the
largest ever built in England with the highest
Spire of any English Cathedrals. Old St
Paul’s was so large; work on its
completion took until the 1300s. After being
hit by lightning, and years of being run down,
the Great Fire of London in 1666 finally
damaged that Cathedral beyond repair.
The reign of King Charles II (1660-1685) saw
Sir Christopher Wren commissioned to design the
new St Paul’s that is seen today. Work
began on the new building in 1675 with the last
stone laid in 1710. The present St Paul’s
is regarded as being the second largest
Cathedral in Europe, with the largest being St
Peters in Rome. St Paul’s Crypt is
probably the largest of its kind in Europe,
holding many famous people including Lord
Nelson, who died at the battle of Trafalgar in
1805. That funeral, one of the largest ever in
London, ended with Nelson being interred in the
Crypt directly below the Cathedrals great
Dome.
Other exceptionally large events at St
Paul’s were: Winston Churchill’s
funeral 30th January 1965, and the wedding of
Prince Charles and Princess Diana 29th July
1981.
St Paul’s Cathedral is open to the
public Monday-Saturday 08.30-16.00 with an
entrance fee of around £20 per adult and
£9 for children under 16.
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The Tower of
London is about 3 miles
northeast of the Houses of Parliament,
on the tour bus route. Website
. Map/Reviews
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The building of the Tower of London began
shortly after William Duke of Normandy
(Conqueror) came to power in 1066. This
stronghold originally began as the White Tower
that is at the centre of what is now a large
sprawling Castle covering 84 acres. Most of the
outer walls were added during the reign of King
Henry III (1216-1272). Henry III is also
credited with building ‘Traitors
Gait’ an entrance that leads to the River
Thames, that can only be accessed by boat.
This entrance became famous, as all the
Prisoners held and executed in the Castle,
would enter through that passage. Executions
were carried out within the Castle walls,
either by hanging at Tower Hill, or by
beheading at Tower Green. People beheaded in
these grounds included Anne Boleyn (1536)
second wife of Henry VIII and mother of
Elizabeth I, Katherine Howard (1542) Henry VIII
fifth wife, lady Jane Grey, and the Earl of
Essex.
The Crown Jewels have been kept here for the
past 600 years, containing some of the largest
Diamonds in the world, and along with the
Castles macabre history, the Tower of London
has become London’s most popular
site.
Visiting times are from Monday-Saturday
09.00-17.00 and Sundays 10.00-17.00 with an
entrance fee of around £25 per adult and
£12 per child, under 5 free.
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Tower Bridge
is about 2.8 miles northeast of the
Houses of Parliament, on the tour bus
route, close to the Tower of
London.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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Construction of Tower Bridge took place
between 1886 and 1894. This fully operational
Drawbridge still has to be used to this day, to
allow large Ships to pass up the river.
Tours of the Bridge Towers and Mechanics are
conducted daily at a cost of around £10
per adult, £4 per child, under 5 free.
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HMS Belfast
is situated 2.6 miles northest of the
Houses of Parliament, close to Tower
Bridge.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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HMS Belfast is the only surviving large
European Warship that served during World War
II. This 9,320-ton Cruiser entered service in
1939, seeing action in European waters before
being deployed to the Pacific War against
Japan, and later Korea.
Belfast has been moored near Tower Bridge
since 1971. It was opened to the public 21st
October of that year. The Ship is now open to
the public daily from 10.00 - 17.00 with an
entrance fee of around £18 per adult,
under 16 £9.
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The British
Museum is about 1.4 miles north
of the Houses of Parliament, on some
tour bus routes.
Website .
Map/Reviews
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The architect Robert Smirke was commissioned
to design the British Museum during the reign
of King George IV (1820-1830). The building of
this Museum came about through the need for a
suitable building to house the Kings Library,
and the ever-increasing ancient Museum
Artifacts being collected from around the
world.
Work on the museum began in 1822, with the
final stages of the main building being
completed in 1856. Work began on the Round
Reading Room in the courtyard the following
year. The installation of the Glass Roof that
now covers the Courtyard, and the refurbishment
of the Library, began in 1998.
This Museum is also crammed with ancient
artifacts from around the world from countries
such as Egypt, Greece and Rome.
You can visit the British Museum free of
charge Saturday-Wednesday 10.00-17.30 and
Thursday- Friday 10.00-20.30.
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Natural History
Museum is about 2.8 miles west
of the Houses of Parliament, on some
tour bus routes.
Website
. Map/Reviews
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Professor Richard Owen successfully
petitioned the Gladstone Government for funds
to build the Natural History Museum during the
reign of Queen Victoria. Britain’s vast
amount of Natural History Artifacts had been
stored in various damp and cramp places before
this Building was completed. The young
architect Alfred Waterhouse was chosen to
design the new Building with work beginning in
1860.
This Building became one of the first of the
Victorian age to use Iron and Steel in its
superstructure. Although the Gothic Style looks
like Stone, the exterior is actually clad in
Terracotta.
The Natural History (Science) Museum opened
to the public in 1881. It is crammed full of
Dinosaurs, Whales, Insects, Fossils and stuffed
Animals from all over the world.
The museum is open to the public
Monday-Saturday 10.00-17.50, Sunday 11.00-17.50
free of charge, although they do accept
donations for the upkeep of the building.
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Windsor Castle originated as a Mote and
Bailey fortification built by William the
Conqueror after his victory in 1066. Work to
convert the building to stone began during the
reign of King Henry II (1154-1189). King Henry
III (1216-1272) is also credited with having
the castle extensively expanded. Successive
monarchs continued to extended the Castle into
what is now the largest continually inhabited
Castle in the world.
This Castle contains Apartments that are
still used by the Royal Family to this day,
normally at weekends.
Windsor Castle is about a 50-minute train
ride from London’s Waterloo Station. The
Train Station at Windsor sits directly below
the Castle, providing a impressive view on
arrival. Windsor Castle is open to the public
from 10.00 - 17.30 in summer and 10.00 - 16.00
in winter, there is an entrance fee of about
£20 per adult, £12 for under 17s, no
charge for under 5s.
St Georges Chapel is inside the walls of
Windsor Castle. As with Westminster Abbey,
there are many famous people buried throughout
the Building, including Henry VIII and Jane
Seymour, Charles I, Queen Elizabeth II father
King George VI and his wife Elizabeth. Princess
Margaret became the first Royal to be cremated,
as it was the only way she could be buried next
to her father (King George VI) in a small room
within St Georges Chapel.
Green Line coaches also operate daily to
Windsor Castle from Victoria Coach Station in
London.
For coach tours to Windsor Castle , visit
the website goldentours.com/windsor
For more day trips about London or to
Windsor,
Stonehenge,
Bath, Oxford and more,
visit the website: viator.com/London
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London's four main
train stations, Euston, Kings
Cross, Paddington & Waterloo, are all
close to the City centre, Train Station
Map.
From these Stations, other historic
Cities and Towns can be visited by Train
at relatively low cost, the earlier you
book the tickets, the less expensive they
are. Fares cost from £20 day
return.
Cambridge: 60 miles north of
London. Kings Cross Station,
Bath: 115 miles west of London.
Paddington Station, 1 hour 30 mins,
Oxford: 59 miles west of
London. Paddington Station, 1 hour,
Windsor:
25 miles west London. Waterloo Station, 1
hour,
York: 210
miles north of London. Kings Cross
Station, 2 hours.
Edinburgh/Scotland: 404
miles north of London. Kings Cross
Station, 4 hours 30 mins.
Check prices at thetrainline.com
Other top attractions in London with
website's such as the London Eye, Madam
Tussaud's, London Zoo, London Dungeon and
Kensington Palace can be found at:
londonforfun.com/London-sights
For Tours in London and from London,
visit: londonforfun.com
Also: Viator Tours
London
For theatre tickets and information on
London's West End Theatres, visit the
website
lastminutetheatretickets.com
For a more history of London, visit:
wiki/London
London Airports
Heathrow
Airport is 17 miles west of London
Centre. Inexpensive Buses run regular to
and from this airport and many hotels in
London. Bus / Taxi
Information . Taxis cost about £40
between the Airport and London centre .
Google
Map. Wiki for
flights . Car Hire
Companies .
Gatwick Airport
is 28 miles south of London, 30 minutes
from central London via the non-stop
Gatwick Express rail service. Tickets can
be bought on board at no extra cost.
Regular Coach services offer less
expensive travel to London.
Bus/Train/Taxi Information .
Google
Map . Wiki for
flights . Car Hire
Companies .
Stanstead
Airport is 38 miles north of London.
The Stansted Express Train runs every 15
minutes reaching London Liverpool Street
in 45 minutes. Frequent inexpensive
Coaches run from Stansted to London
destinations including Liverpool Street,
Victoria, Stratford, Baker Street and
Kings Cross. All services call at the
Airport Coach Station, directly opposite
the Terminal.
Bus/Train/Taxi Information .
Google
Map . Wiki for
flights . Car Hire
Companies .
Luton Airport
is 34 miles northwest of London. Regular
Rail services to central London take as
little as 21 minutes with East Midlands
Trains, and 25 minutes with First Capital
Connect. Regular inexpensive Express
Coaches link between London Luton Airport
and Central London from the front of the
Terminal.
Bus/Train/Taxi Information .
Google
Map . Wiki for
flights . Car Hire
Companies .
London City
Airport is 9 miles east of London.
The Website gives good information on
Taxi prices, buses, trains and DLR
services to London. Bus/Train/Taxi Information .
Google
Map . Wiki for
flights . Car Hire
Companies .
All London
Airports Transfers Online Booking/
Fare Checks .
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