London sights 2 [1] [2] [3] [4]
- Covent Garden - What started out in the seventeenth century as London`s first luxury neighbourhood is once more a highly desirable place to live, work and shop. Based around Inigo Jones`s piazza - London`s oldest planned square - the area had for years been a market centre for fruit and vegetables.
That
was closed in 1974 and for a while it looked as if the developers would move in
on this prime central real estate and demolish it all for unwanted new office
blocks. These plans collapsed and now we have the elegant old market hall, and
shops, restaurants and arts-and-crafts stalls. It has become one of London`s major
tourist attractions, which now boast some of the trendiest clothes shops, cafes
and restaurants in London.
- Downing Street - It is an office for the prime minister, a meeting place for the Cabinet, a venue for state events and a home for the prime minister's family. While in office, prime ministers traditionally live with their families in Downing Street in the private flat on the second floor. Prime Minister Tony Blair lives in the larger flat above Numbers 11 and 12, which has more room for his family.
www.pm.gov.uk
- Eltham Palace - Eltham Palace is the only English Art Deco house open to the public. Initially a moated manor house bought by Edward II in 1305, additions such as the impressive hammerbeam-roofed Great Hall in the 1470s created one of England's largest palaces for a succession of royals. Most famously, Henry VIII grew up here. After the Civil War the palace fell into decline for over 200 years and the Great Hall, once the scene of lavish feasts, was even used as a barn. www.elthampalace.org.uk.
- Elephant Man - Joseph Merrick, better known as the `Elephant Man`, was discovered in a freak show by Dr Treves, and subsequently admitted as a patient to the Royal London Hospital on Whitechapel Road. He remained there, on show as a medical freak for four years until his death in 1890. The hospital still owns his skeleton (it is not on public display).
- Florence Nightingale Museum - Located on Lambeth
Palace Road, this is the London museum that celebrates the woman who revolutionized
the nursing profession by establishing the first school of nursing at St Thomas`s
in 1859. Exhibits include the white lantern that earned her the nickname `The
Lady with the Lamp` and many others. Telephone No: 0207 620 0374.
Exhibitions
- Fortnum & Mason - Very old food emporium which was established in the 1770s by one of George III`s footmen, Charles Fortnum. The shop has been serving delicacies to the Royal Family and ordinary public ever since. It is most famous for its picnic hampers, an upper-class institution, first introduced as "concentrated lunches" for hunting and shooting parties. Location - Piccadilly No.181. If you have a little treasure full of money set aside then please go there for a treat. www.fortnumandmason.com
- Greenwich
area - The most famous thing about London Greenwich is the Old Royal Observatory from
where time all over the world is measured. Another delightful sight for your eyes
is the world`s last surviving tea clipper, Cutty Sark. Among the historical sights
that await you are Sailors` bunks, old cutlery, and dolls dressed as people. The
tourist information office, at 46 Greenwich Church St, (open daily: April - Oct
10am - 5pm; Oct - March 11am - 4pm; Tel:0208 858 6376) should be your first place
of call; they can answer most queries and supply maps and guides.
picture
- Guy Fawkes - Ever wondered why do English celebrate Fawkes night with a huge bonfires and fireworks? Here is why. Fawkes was a Catholic caught in the cellars at Westminster Hall trying to blow up the House of Lords on November 5, 1605. Later on, he was hanged, drawn and quartered in Old Palace Yard. You see, we celebrate his unsuccessful attempt in burning the place down.
- Ham House - This suggestion
comes from one of our New Zealand readers. 
With such passion and vigor he has
described this one. The first Earl of Dysart was granted a peerage and the estate
of Ham for enduring Charles I`s punishments when misbehaving. It
was his daughter, Elizabeth, very ambitious lady who had with help of her second
husband, the Earl of Lauderdale built it even bigger and more grandeur. Unfortunately,
her lifestyle was too expensive so the family was left heavily in debt. It was
Horace Walpole who described Ham House as a `Sleeping Beauty`. Today the house
boasts one of the finest Stuart interiors in the country, lavish plasterwork,
silverwork, tapestries, silk damasks, etc. Located - Richmond Park.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
- HMS Belfast - 
Permanently moored near Tower
Bridge, this ship was a World War II cruiser in the Royal Navy. Armed with six
torpedoes, and six inch guns with a range of over fourteen miles, the Belfast
spent over two years of the war in the Royal Navy shipyards. Decommissioned after
the Korean War, it is now an outpost of the Imperial War Museum. You can see it
for yourself what it was like working in the airlocked BoilerRoom
or scrambling up and down various ladders.
www.iwm.org.uk
- Jack the Ripper - In the space of just eight weeks between August and November 1888, five prostitutes were stabbed to death in and around Whitechapel. Their innards were removed. To this day the killer`s identity remains mystery. Many films and many novels have been written but nobody knows for sure who it was. At the time, it was assumed by many that he was a Jew and for a while it was risky for Jews to walk the streets at night for fear of reprisals. The most celebrated suspect is the Duke of Clarence, eldest son of Edward VII: easy target since he was involved in scandal involving a male brothel.
- London Aquarium - The £25 million London Aquarium is the first attraction of its kind in the capital, and is one of Europe's largest exhibitions of global aquatic life, displayed in over 2 million litres of water.
www.londonaquarium.co.uk
- London Bridge - ...The first London Bridge was built by Romans almost 2,000 years ago... More information
London
for Fun is completely independent guide
site
map | contact us | links
www.londonforfun.com©
2002 - 2007
