What can you do in London? Well, it would probably
be easier for me to tell you what you can’t do in London. It’s
not the best place for mountain climbing or deep-sea fishing but you
can do just about everything else.
You will find many guide books and tourist
brochures in your flat when you arrive. We do our best to
help you get the most out of your holiday so please ask us if you
need any advice.
A walking tour
or an open-top
bus tour are great ways to begin to get to know the
city. You will be accompanied by guides who will tell you about the
history and traditions of London as you sight-see.
Attractions
London is rich with history. You
can discover Roman Britain at the Museum
of London or see where Anne Boleyn lost her head at the Tower
of London. You can wander through Buckingham
Palace, the home of the British royalty for generations or admire
Princess Diana’s dresses at Kensington
Palace. You can see the very place where the Kings and Queens
of England were crowned at Westminster
Abbey or marvel at St Pauls
Cathedral where the re-building of London began after the Great
Fire of 1666.
The grand-daddy of all the museums is the British
Museum where you can find ancient treasures and
modern marvels from almost the whole of humanity. By the way, if you
want to see the hugely-popular Egyptian galleries, the best time to
visit is on a Thursday or Friday evening when the Museum stays open
until 8:30pm.
If you are interested in science,
the Natural History Museum has
just opened the Darwin centre where you can see incredible
specimens and watch world-leading scientists at work. Next-door,
the Science Museum’s
many exhibits includes a “who am I?” gallery where you
can explore the genetics, brain science and psychology of human beings.
It’s also worth leaving a bit of time for London’s
small museums like Handel
House, the home of baroque composer George Handel or the Freud
Museum, the home of the famous psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud. If
you are here on first Tuesday of the month, the Sir
John Soane’s Museum offers candlelight tours
of its eccentric collection of antiquities and curiosities housed
in three elegant 18th century townhouses.
Cultural London
The best way to find out about the art,
music,
classical
music & opera, festivals,
film,
theatre,
comedy,
cabaret
and dance
happening in London while you are here is by reading Time
Out, London’s weekly listings magazine. You can
pick up a copy in any newsagent.
There are so many great art galleries
here that it can be hard to know where to start. The V
& A has a magnificent art, fashion and furniture collection.
The National
Gallery has medieval, renaissance and impressionist masterpieces.
Tate Britain has the
Turner collection and Tate
Modern has 20th century artworks.
Every form of music is performed
in London. You can thrill to opera at the Royal
Opera House (also home of the Royal Ballet) and the English
National Opera. You can groove to jazz at Ronnie
Scott’s or catch the latest indie sensation in a Camden
pub.
The West End theatres are justifiably
regarded as the best in the world. You could clap and cheer at one
of its famous musicals, like Mamma
Mia, or be moved to tears by a tragedy at the National
Theatre. If you are here during the Summer, nothing is more special
than seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays performed in his Globe
Theatre.
Sporty London
Running through one of the Royal
parks is the best way to exercise in London.
Alternatively, you could cycle on a rented
bike or ride
a horse through Hyde Park. Most parks have tennis courts and London
has many golf clubs. If you are a swimmer, we can recommend a near-by
swimming pool.
You might be able to get tickets for a major
sporting event while you are here but they can be difficult
to come by. A good starting place is the official websites for Wimbledon,
Premiership
football and international games of rugby
and football.
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