| If you have ever been to New York City, you will | | | | Take a ride over to Westminster Abbey. |
| notice that London has many similarities, including | | | | Westminster Abbey is a Church, and a glorious |
| the theater district, the Tube (Subway) system | | | | example of Medieval architecture. Queen |
| and Trafalgar Square, which is reminiscent of | | | | Elizabeth's coronation was held here in 1953, and |
| Times Square. Once you are in an area, you will | | | | Princess Diana's funeral in 1997. You can hear the |
| find that much of the sightseeing highlights are | | | | choir sing at services each day at 5 p.m. or at all |
| within 4 to 5 miles of each other. | | | | services on Sundays. Hop back on the bus, and |
| One of the best ways to get around is to take | | | | the next stop you will want to see is Big Ben and |
| an Open Bus Tour where you can hop on and off | | | | the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is the huge |
| all of the major sightseeing attractions throughout | | | | Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. In |
| the city. The cost is around $24 Euro, which is | | | | Parliament Square you will also see a Statue of |
| currently around $34 US Dollars. | | | | Winston Churchill. |
| Spend time around the Hyde park area, and you | | | | Get back on the bus and ride over to British |
| can walk to Kensington Gardens, the famous | | | | Airways London Eye. This London Eye is a giant |
| department store Harrods, as well as Victoria and | | | | observation wheel that allows for fascinating |
| Albert Museum. In Hyde park, you can enjoy time | | | | views of all of London. There are 21 enclosed |
| on the lake with boats for rent. You can also pay | | | | capsules that hold 25 people each, and offer |
| to ride horses in the park, or walk over to see | | | | visibility in all directions. A ride on the London Eye |
| the Marble Arch. | | | | takes about 30 minutes. On a clear day you can |
| Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus and St. James' | | | | see approximately 25 miles across England. |
| Park are all close to one another. In Trafalgar | | | | Next you can visit the Tower Bridge, the Tower |
| Square you will find an 18 foot statue of Lord | | | | of London and The Monument. The Tower of |
| Nelson standing on top of a 171 ft. column. The | | | | London is a riverside fortress. It takes about 2 |
| Square was built in his honor after his victory | | | | hours to tour the area and see the Crown Jewels. |
| over Napoleon's army in 1805. Within walking | | | | The jewel collection dates back to 1661. |
| distance of Trafalgar Square, you can go shopping | | | | Coronation jewels are on display as well. The |
| in the Covent Garden area, eat in Chinatown, walk | | | | Imperial State Crown has 2,868 diamonds, 17 |
| to Parliament Square or to Buckingham Palace. In | | | | sapphires, 11 emeralds, 5 rubies and 273 pearls. It |
| Piccadilly Circus you will find the status of Eros. | | | | was designed in 1937. |
| Piccadilly looks a lot like Time Square in New York | | | | Another thing you must do in my opinion, is take |
| with neon signs, and it is the entrance to the | | | | a Thames river cruise. The cruises depart from |
| city's entertainment district. There are lots of | | | | Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier and Tower |
| restaurants, shops and bars. Planet Hollywood and | | | | Pier. You can take a shorter cruise of 20 to 30 |
| HardRock are in this area if you get home sick | | | | minutes, or you can do a full round trip which |
| for American food. | | | | takes about 3 hours. Just like the buses, you can |
| Buckingham Palace was first built in 1705. Between | | | | hop on, hop off throughout the day. |
| 1824 and 1831, George IV commissioned to | | | | London is easy to get around, however if you do |
| extend the house into a substantial palace, which | | | | not feel comfortable traveling on the Tube, via |
| was first occupied by Queen Victoria in 1837. | | | | the buses or along the river, you can take a full |
| More work was done on the front of the building | | | | day motorcoach tour of London which visits most |
| by Sir Aston Webb in 1913. The palace is now | | | | of the areas I highlighted above. I recommend a |
| home to the present Queen. State rooms are | | | | London package with a minimum of 3 nights to |
| open to the public only in August and September. | | | | enjoy the city, more time if you are planning to |
| If you want to see the Changing of the Guards, it | | | | take any day trips to fascinating areas such as |
| is done at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and | | | | the Cotswolds, Warwick Castle, Stonehenge, |
| at 10 a.m. on Sundays. There is no charge. | | | | Oxford or Bath. |