London

LONDON - Capital of United Kingdom

London is the capital and the largest city of UK/ England. London is often considered as the world's leading global and expensive city. It has got a diverse culture.

 

I visited London to my cousin who stays in Angels. After my cousin's sangeet function in Birmingham, few days later, we all cousins visited her house in the afternoon It was so sweet and cozy. That evening we went out for dinner, and to my surprise at around 7-8pm though it was not dark also, but the streets were all empty and most of the shops/ restaurants closed. We found one Thai restaurant and all of us ordered individually our dishes, the food was really delicious. I loved the food, ambience and best of all the awesome company along with me.

2nd July all of us cousins mainly roamed around and explored London:

The London Eye/ Millennium Wheel

It's the astonishingly popular attraction and the world’s third largest observation wheel, Situated on the South Bank of London and surrounded by the River Thames: the highest cantilevered observation wheel in the world. It rarely ever comes to a stop, so you won’t be standing on ceremony when you get on, and before you know it, you’re halfway into the sky and taking in the sweeping vistas of the Thames. At night, the wheel is lit up in seasonal colours and is the centre piece of London’s annual New Year’s fireworks display. It's comprised of 32 capsules which can each hold up to 25 people.

It provides a great 30mins view of the city's skyline from an unparalleled vantage point.

Walked near around the London eye, capturing the local life and taking the cool breeze on a sunny bright morning.

We stopped in between to have our brunch at Leon. Had burger, they really have some yummy delightful Burgers. (For people who don't eat beef, meet burger usually are beef burgers there, so we aware to always ask or check with them on what is it!) 

Buckingham Palace

What trip to London would be complete without at least passing by the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II? When we went it wasn't open as 'Summer was coming' :) I just missed on from few days. Before summer arrives, there’s the famous changing of the Guard each day to enjoy. The palace has been home to the British Royal Family since 1837. The Palace tour actually opens in summer once 21st July rolls around you'll have access to the 19 stunning State Rooms where the queen and members of the royal family host guests for state, ceremonial and official affairs and a special yearly exhibition take centre stage with a little uniquely British pomp and ceremony.

Ticket cost- 24 pounds; 22 pounds for seniors and students; 13.50 pounds for kids younger than 17; children younger than 5 enter for free. 

Timing- 9:30 a.m. - 6/7 p.m. depending on the month (the palace is open from late July to late September). It takes around 2hrs to fully explore the state rooms.

The British Museum

Even if you don't consider yourself an amateur historian, you'll still want to stop by – the museum truly has something for everyone. Initially I felt, ahhhh…..museum it's gonna be boring, but to my surprise it was huge and pulled my attention to many of its artefact's. The immense collection made the initial museum visit really overwhelming. The British Museum is both an architectural beauty and a trove of some of the world's most noted antiquities. 

Timings- 10am - 5:30pm from Saturday till Thursday. It stays open until 8:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Though admission is free, access to some exhibitions will cost you (14-30pounds). You can find a gift shop and few eateries on-site.

Location - It's accessible from the Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Goodge Street and Russell Square Tube stops. 

Oldest mummy preserved in 'The Museum'

Westminster Abbey

Westminster is considered the political hub of London and is home to the Houses of Parliament and the world-famous Big Ben. Westminster Abbey is a popular attraction to peruse the graves, tablets, busts and stone dedications. In fact, seventeen monarchs are buried here, along with dukes, countesses and history’s ‘celebs’. Founded by Benedictine monks in 960 AD, there have also been 16 royal weddings here and every single British coronation has taken within the Abbey's walls. You can also find Westminster Abbey here, which is open to the public most days. Whilst visiting these landmarks, be sure to rest your feet in Parliament Square which features statues of important political individuals including Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill. Entry charges are 22pounds.

Big Ben

It's the Great bell of the clock at the north end of Westminster Palace. Big Ben is the name of the bell housed within the iconic clock tower, and it still chimes every hour.

 

We all walked around to most of the tourist places in London. It was such a pleasant weather with bright sunlight and cold breeze. We did so much fun in between. I loved this small bright red tele booth.

St Paul's Cathedral

Sitting on the highest point of city of London, It's one of the iconic buildings, and built after the 1666 Great fire of London. It has the Nave, Dome, Whispering Gallery, High Altar, Grand Organ and Crypt.

Timings for sight-seeing - 8:30am- 4:30pm. On Sunday, it's open for worship only. 

One can travel by tube to St. Paul's- Central Line, or to Bank - Central, Northern, Waterloo & City Lines and DLR, by train to Liverpool Street/ Cannon Street/ Thameslink or by bus as well.

Entry charges are 18pounds. Free enter with London pass.

Then we bought few eatables, pastries and went to Roof Terrace at One New Change. There was big screen rolled down on terrace for public to watch matches. It was an awe-inspiring view of St. Pauls Cathedral and the London skyline from here. It’s open to public from 6am-midnight all the days. We sat there eating, talking, laughing and enjoying the sun and the view.

That evening, after exploring, we passed through the London colleges and nearby the busy official street of London, we stopped by during the office timing. And man.. what a crowd of people around all decked up in formals, men mostly in white crisp shirt with shining polished shoes and ladies in smart formal attire. I was really impressed with their body etiquette. We 3-4 cousins stopped by to one of the pubs, all of us grab drinks and relaxed and talked about the culture, future and goals. 

 

Tower Bridge

We went around this area at night before visiting The Shards. It has stood over the River Thames since 1894. Visitors fall in love with the Tower Bridge glass floor that lines the structure's two walkways, which provide a fascinating view of the Thames, London skyline and cars passing by down below. The “bascule” bridges (which mean see-saw in French) are lifted to this day on a schedule to allow boats and barges to pass.

Normal entry is 10pounds.

 

The Shard 

We 4cousins decked up and went at night to The Shards. Visited to one of the restaurants with live music on one of the top floors of it.

 

We ordered few eateries and I ordered Colada for myself. All my stay in England, every time, I had to try new cocktails, as that was the only one least alcoholic I could get for myself ;P.

 

Up to the height of 800ft, to the London's tallest observation platform, it offered panoramic scenes of destinations like St Paul’s Cathedral, the Wembley Stadium and the London Eye itself.  The Shard was built with everything in mind: offices, homes, hotels, bars, restaurants and, of course, the alluring viewing platform. There’s also a weekly silent disco up there on Saturday nights and other events, such as Sky-High Yoga or film screenings.

People are recommended to arrive between 10am - 12pm. 

There's an entry charge for the observatory deck of 32pound. The viewing area is spread over 68th, 69th and 72nd floor.

Other places to visit in London:

Hyde Park 

Is possibly the most famous park in London, and it is one of the largest. The park has historical significance, having hosted a number of demonstrations and protests including protests by the Suffragettes. The park’s famous Speaker’s Corner is still occupied by debates, protests, and performance artists every week. The park is home to several memorial features, as well as two bodies of water, the most famous being the Serpentine. Here you can go paddle-boating, see a number of swans, and take in a breath of fresh air in the centre of the city. A must-visit.

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath is one of the largest parks in London, covering a massive 790 acres. It sits atop of one of the highest points in London, offering excellent views of the city from Parliament Hill. The Heath features grassy fields, wooded areas, and a number of large ponds. It is the best place to experience nature in London with plenty of wildlife around and small woods in which to get lost. There are swimming lidos for those feeling brave enough to swim outdoors in the great British weather. For history buffs, visit Kenwood House, a historical stately home that is known for its curated art collection.

Baker Street

One of the cultural staples of London is Baker Street. Today you can find a Sherlock Holmes museum near the Underground station, especially popular after the BBC revival ‘Sherlock’.

Madame Tussauds 

Is just around the corner, the internationally-famous wax museum where you can pose with your favourite celebrities. I wasn't interested much to visit, so skipped it.

Afterwards, escape the crowds of Baker Street in the nearby Regent’s Park, or by climbing Primrose Hill for London’s most spectacular view of the city.

Oxford Street 

Oxford Street is not only London’s top spot for shopping but is Europe’s busiest.

The Tower of London 

The tower, is a remarkable fortress standing majestically on the North Bank of River Thames, which actually comprises multiple towers – 12 of which can be explored by the public. If you have more than an hour to spend here, take an entertaining tour led by the Yeoman Warders (tower guards),the locking up of the towers, which has been performed every night from the past 800 years. Over the years the Tower of London has served as a castle, a palace, an observatory, storehouse and mint. It’s home to several exhibits including the magnificent crown jewels and the coveted Koh-I-Noor and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross. Lastly, don't forget to visit the White Tower, an iconic symbol of London's heritage and one of the world's most famous castles

Entry charges are 27pound and for children between the ages of 5 and 15 costs 12.70 pounds. Children younger than 5 get in for free.

The Tower of London is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., though it closes an hour earlier November through February. If you want to save some quid on admission, buy your tickets in advance on the Tower of London's website.

Hampton Court Palace

Is a central royal palace.

Kensington Palace

Its home and refugee to royal family, now is the official residence to Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They have now the new exhibition "Diana-Her Fashion Story".

Entry charges are 19pounds.

Windsor Castle 

It's the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and the preferred weekend residence of the Queen. Entry charges are 21pounds.

National Gallery 

Is in Trafalgar Square.  The National Gallery has something for everyone with work by da Vinci, Turner, van Gogh and Rembrandt on display.

St Jame's Park   

Park in the Westminster, and surrounded by landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Clarence house. You can do the peaceful walk here.

London Zoo 

London Zoo is a popular attraction for family with kid. With over 12,000 wild animals, it's the world's oldest (1828) historic zoo. There's Penguin Beach, Butterfly paradise, Land of the Lions.

Enter Charges are 29 pounds for adult and 22pounds for kids. It's free entry with London pass.

You may take northern line to Camden Town underground to reach here.

TRAVEL

Choose from three bus routes, and listen to audio commentary on the red and blue routes, and a live guide on the yellow route. Plus, your ticket includes a Thames River cruise and access to three London walking tours, making it a great value package. Normal charges are 34 pound.

Tour – Yellow Route: Explore central London with live commentary. Stay on board for the full 2-hour loop, or hop on or off at any of the stops. The route includes all stops mentioned on the Red Route except Madame Tussauds, London Planetarium, Regent’s Park, Oxford Street and Regent Street. These attractions are replaced with the Ritz Hotel, Royal Academy of Arts and Fortnum and Mason.

Tour – Blue Route: Discover London’s museums and shopping districts and enjoy comprehensive audio commentary throughout. Stay on board for the full 2-hour loop or hop on and off at any of the stops:
Kensington Palace, Baden-Powell House, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Brompton Oratory, Harrods, Knightsbridge, Harvey Nichols, Hyde Park, Ritz Hotel, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftsbury Avenue, British Museum, Russell Square, Wellington Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Albert Memorial, Kensington High Street and Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.

Transport via Black Route: Use this route to travel between the main London transport hubs of St Pancras, King’s Cross, Marble Arch, Paddington, Marylebone and Euston.

Transport via Green Route: This route provides a handy loop around central London, stopping at Leicester Square, the London Eye, Westminster and Piccadilly Circus.

Transport via Purple Route: Use this route to travel around west London, stopping at Holland Park, Notting Hill, Bayswater, Kensington Gardens, Paddington and Madam Tussauds.

 

We returned to Birmingham the next day, and then again by Coach from Birmingham, visited London back on 5th for the Wedding Reception at Grand Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street. I still remember as we entered inside and went through the stairs up to the main Grand Hall, wowww… the interiors were so fine and majestic. At 6:30pm Champagne Reception began. We had a ball during this time, great anchoring and songs, followed by Dinner, Dance and lots and lots of rocking fun moments.

While exiting United Kingdom, On 6th July,2014 morning, I travelled from Birmingham to Heathrow Airport (LHR) by the bus coach (The bus coach journey takes around approx. 3 hrs), which dropped me to Central Bus station of Heathrow airport, terminal 1/2/3.

Went to Terminal 4 and Boarded the Air India flight at 2pm local time which landed me finally to New Delhi on 7th, 2:40am local time.

It's good to purchase London Pass, if one wants to explore all the famous tourist locations, as most of them is covered under London pass.