|
![The ceremony tourists call "The Changing of the Guard".](../../images/pagepix/London/uklonchang.jpg "The ceremony tourists call "The Changing of the Guard".")
| A new Churchill Museum has opened above the
Cabinet War
Rooms and may be of interest to you. In addition, while on your way
to the War Rooms, take a peek (you will not be able to get close) at
the Prime Ministers residence, the historic 10 Downing Street. |
| Westminster Abbey is a glorious building
and you will find much there to enjoy. If you are a fan of England's
history, most of the country's monarchs and many of its noted citizens
are buried here. |
| When in Westminster you can
text the word "toilet" to the number 80097 to find the location of
publicly available toilets. The service by Satlav costs 25
pence (around 50 cents). |
![Parliament and "Big Ben" at night](../../images/pagepix/London/uklonbbpar2.jpg "Parliament and "Big Ben" at night")
|
Westminster
map symbol 1 
 Victoria,
Hyde Park Corner, St. James's Park
Originally a townhouse owned by the Dukes of Buckingham, the residence
evolved into the palace that is the principal home of the British Monarchy.
Buckingham Palace is surrounded by ornate, black, wrought iron fences and gates
emblazoned with gilded, royal medallions.
Most tourists are attracted to the Changing of the Guard ceremonies that
take place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The event starts at
11.30 AM and lasts about 45 minutes. The ceremony, officially called
the "Guard Mounting", does not occur during extremely wet weather. During
the autumn and winter, Guard Mounting takes place on alternate dates.
See the official government site for details about the event and its
schedule can be found at the official website of the
British Monarchy .
During the summer, when the Royal Family takes up residence in Scotland,
the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open for public viewing.
Information on touring can be found
here . The State Rooms bear evidence that it is “good to be a Royal”
and are an interesting tour. In addition, you may want to see the Royal
Mews, which were once the Queen’s Stable and now serve as the transportation
center for the Royal Family.
Top of Page
map
symbol 2
Green
Park, St. James's Park
Take a walk-by of the
Palace on your trip down the Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace or during a walk
through Green Park or Saint James's Park.
St. James's Palace is not
open to the Public but is a building that exudes history and deserves a
walk-by. Built in the early sixteenth century for Henry
VIII, the Palace was the home to British monarchs for over three hundred
years. It still houses some of the Royals but has been replaced by
Buckingham Palace as the Official Residence of the Monarch. Religious
services in the Chapel Royal are open to the public between October and
Easter.
map symbol 3
Westminster
If you have an interest in World War II, a stop at the Cabinet War Rooms is
a must. The appearance of this underground complex understates its
importance to World War II, as Churchill and his ministers made many crucial
decisions regarding the war strategies for campaigns in Europe and Northern
Africa in these rooms. The rooms
are small, bleak, and perfectly preserved. The Map Room and the Cabinet Room
were the main centers of action. The Transatlantic Telephone Room (once a
broom closet) contains a simple desk with a single telephone that connected
London to Washington, DC. The telephone
was connected to a computer (for scrambling the call) that was so large it
was housed in the basement of Selfridges’ Department Store on Oxford Street.
Visit the
web site of the Cabinet War Rooms
for
visitor information.
Top of Page
map symbol 4
Westminster
Westminster Abbey evokes thoughts of pageantry and royalty. The Abbey's
grounds were
the site of the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066 (William and the
Normans were the victors at the Battle of Hastings where they defeated the English
Saxons in October of 1066). With the exception of two monarchs, every King
or Queen of England was crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The magnificent
structure we see today was built from the thirteenth to the sixteenth
centuries. It was designed as a church for the Royals and the national site for the
coronations and burials of monarchs.
The architecture of Westminster Abbey is stunning and the building has
several notable sections. Be sure to buy a good quality guidebook that describes the
highlights of the building or purchase one of the pamphlets describing the Abbey that are for sale
near the entry. Tours for individuals or families are available,
as well as audio guides. Check on both at the Information Desk.
Take some time for an examination of the exterior of the Abbey. A fine view
of its flying buttresses is visible from the Cloisters. The Abbey's Museum
is, also, quite interesting.
Over three thousand people are buried in the Abbey but the focus is on the
graves of royalty and the famous. Writers Chaucer, Johnson, Dickens,
Browning, Tennyson, and Kipling are buried here along with musicians such as
Handel and Purcell. Scientists include Newton, Darwin, and Lord Kelvin.
The
number of monuments in Westminster Abbey is overwhelming but these statues
and markers
are incredibly interesting and reveal much about the history of the United
Kingdom. Reserve some extra time to explore the Abbey. You will
undoubtedly find a plaque or a tomb that will capture your attention.
Be sure to see the stunning Lady Chapel, its tombs and its noted
fan-vaulted roof. The Lady Chapel was built at the request of Henry
VII who provided the funding for this gem. In addition, don't miss
the beautiful, octagonal Chapter House in the Cloisters.
Visit Westminster Abbey's
web site for information on opening hours
for tourists.
Top of Page
map symbol 5
Westminster
The Houses of Parliament in Westminster (often called the Palace of
Westminster) are one of the most striking sights in London. Containing the
Houses of Lords and Commons, Parliament is where national laws are made in the
United Kingdom.
The buildings of Parliament are intricately detailed and you
should take some time examining this delightful architecture. The famous
clock tower at the end of Parliament houses the bell Big Ben (and at
thirteen and a half tons, it is big) that has become one of the most
familiar symbols of the London and the United Kingdom.
Historically, Parliament was the site of the royal palace of Edward the
Confessor and his successors. Its architecture evolved through the ages but
was redefined after a calamitous fire in the nineteenth century when it was rebuilt
in the gothic architecture that we see today.
Tours of Parliament for non - UK citizens are available only during the
“Summer Opening” (when Parliament is out of session). To find out the dates
and times you can tour Parliament, see
http://www.parliament.uk/index.cfm .
Foreign visitors can visit the Galleries to listen to
debates .Tours of the clock tower are out of bounds for non-UK citizens.
Consider approaching Parliament from Whitehall where you will pass through
the heart of British Government buildings and the venerable home of the
Prime Minister at Ten Downing Street. Be Forewarned, you cannot see
much of Number 10, due to security measure currently in force.
Top of Page
map symbol 6
Pimlico, Vauxhall
Follow Millbank south from Parliament and you will come to Tate Britain, an
art museum that holds a large collection of British art ranging from the
sixteenth century to the present. Works by Blake, Bacon, Constable,
Gainsborough, Hockney, and Turner are among the highlights of the
collection.
Information on visiting hours and special exhibitions can be found at
the
Tate Britain web site.
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
|
Click the button above to link to Transport for
London's Journey Planner. Fill in the form for the best transportation schedule to your destinations in London.
When finished, close the window to return to ThereArePlaces |
| If you like "pomp and
circumstance", stop by the
Horse Guards on Horse Guard Row to see
their Changing of the Guard ceremony. For a photo of
the ceremony, click
here. |
Best Places to Visit in the United Kingdom
Best Places to Visit in the United Kingdom
| The Tate runs a
boat that connect the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and stops at British Airway's
London Eye. The boat runs every 40 minutes. Click
here for more information. |
|
London Full-Day Sightseeing Tour
From Viator Tours
Private Tour: Tate Britain and Tate Modern
From Viator Tours
 
|
