You are spoiled for choice of things to do and see in London and its surrounds. Whether you are coming to London for a business trip or whether it is for pleasure, there are a few things that must be seen in this great city. We are proposing to give you a time saving guide for some of the great sights and sounds of London:
Museums and Galleries
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The British Museum – The British Museum has been established in 1753 to house the collections of Sir Hans Sloane. The modern museum houses a range of artefacts including the treasures of the Sutton Hoo and Egyptian mummies
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National Gallery – 1824 George the IV persuaded the government to buy 38 significant paintings, these paintings then became the stat of the National Gallery. Works include works by Rembrandt and Raphael
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Tate Modern – Based in a converted bankside power station. This is the epitome of modern and contemporary art. If art is your thing, this is a must visit
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National History Museum – With a wide ranging display of the earth and how we all came to be here, definitely worth a visit
Cathedrals and Churches
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Westminster Abbey – The Abbey is the final resting-place to Britain’s monarchs, but also the place where all the coronations has occurred since 1066. Beyond the history in this building, the architecture is some of the best examples of medieval renaissance in London
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St Paul’s Cathedral – This masterpiece dominates the skyline in the city of London. Completed in 1708, this was England’s first purpose built Protestant Cathedral. An amazing site and well recommended now that the restoration works has been completed
Parks
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Hyde Park – The location where we have had horse racing, duelling, demonstrations, music and parades. The park has been a royal park since 1536, one of London’s great parks and well worth a visit
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Regents Park – In this amazing park, which is surrounded by regency buildings you can have a walk around the famous rose garden or just take in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery
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St James’s Park – This park was once a marsh and was drained by Henry the VIII to create more hunting grounds. This park is enjoyed by many city and office workers in the summer, enjoying the sunshine and relaxing
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Greenwich Park – Probably one of the simpler and less intricate parks in London. You will be excused if you feel like not being in London or even in a city whilst walking through these historic gardens. With great views of Canary Wharf and the city in the distance
Ceremonies in London
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Horse Guard Parade – This is a true British and Royal experience, the changing of the guard and dismounting ceremony happens daily and is a tourist or even a local’s must view. During trooping the Colour, the Queen salutes as the guards parades in front of her – what a spectacle
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St James Palace and Buckingham Palace – The Queens personal guards stand at the gates of these 2 Palaces – Come and see them change shifts every day in the summer
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Tower of London – In this, the only castle to not have been bridged, this is where the Queen’s crown jewels are being guarded today. Every night a Yeoman Warder locks the gates of the castle. A royal escort ensures the keys are safe
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Houses of Parliament – Every year when parliament returns to sit in the autumn, the Queen opens events there
Theatre and Musicals
London, along with New York has a very active theatre and musical scene. In a region called the West End, surrounding Covent Garden and Leicester Square you can see a very wide range of shows to the taste of most people. Some of the famous theatres will make you feel like you are stepping back in time, a truly cultural experience that will make you want more.
Getting around
London’s public transport system is well developed and has been advanced for almost a century. It is also one of the busiest in Europe and has the normal problems most busy cities have with overcrowding and delays. We suggest that you plan your journey around non peak times.
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The Underground – Or the Tube as most Londoners will call it, is most times the fastest way to get around in London. Very easy understand, with a well developed colour coding system, the tube covers most areas in London. But, be aware that there are occasions where you can find yourself delayed on this wonderful system
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Buses – Relatively inexpensive way to get around in London, and you can actually see where you are going. The bus network covers whole of London, but is a little more complex to understand. Ask your driver before you get on the bus to ensure you can reach your destination. Buses are all numbered by the route they take and the bus clearly states at the front where it is going
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Taxi’s and Minicabs – London Taxi’s are world famous, you can ‘catch’ one from most places in London. If a black taxi has its light on, you know they are free to hire. Black taxi’s can be taken at any time and anywhere, but be more careful with minicabs as they are often unlicensed and uninsured, rather wait for the more trustworthy option
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London on Foot – From our perspective this is the best way to see London. The city centre is compact and you will be surprised by the short distances sometimes
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How to buy a ticket for public transport – The most economical option is a travelcard, ideally an Oyster card, which is convenient to use whether it is one day or one week. Tickets can be bought from many small shops with clear signs in their windows or from any Underground station.
Survival Tips
Money
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Money – The Pound Sterling (£) is made up of 100 Pence (p), the currency is generally strong in comparison to other world exchanges. This might make you feel that London and the UK is more expensive than at home
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Banks and cash machines – There are cash machines around every corner, you should be able to withdraw money from most of these cash machines with very little charge
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Credit Cards – The larger brand credit cards are accepted everywhere. You will be able to pay by either credit or debit card in restaurants, shops, etc.
