 | London Sightseeing Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 151 |  |
If you plan to take a ride on the London Eye, it is worth the 3 pounds sterling to buy a 'view360' map pamphlet at their ticket office. This oval-shaped brochure features four swing-out maps (pivoted at one end) with bird's eye views of London in each of the four main compass directions. The prominant tourist attractions, buildings and bridges are identified on each map so you can quickly determine exactly what you are actually looking at as the 'pod' slowly makes it's arc above London.
The folded-out map in the photo (on the right side) shows the 'South' view of Westminster Bridge crossing the Thames with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament on the north shore, as well as other landmarks off in the distance. Leave a Comment
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Touted as bringing London's history into "colorful dramatic life" The Big Bus Tour is one of the best ways to see London if you are short on time. With three different colored routes, (the green line is a short ride basically linking the red and blue lines) you get an excellent overview of the major sites. The longest of the two, the blue line, takes approxamitely 2 hours to complete the full route where you'll see Kensington Gardens and Kensignton Palace, Regents Park, Oxford and Piccadily Circus, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and Parliment Square, London Aquarium, St. Paul's Southwark Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London (just to name a few). Hop on and off as many times as you wish at any given stop for a close up-look or to switch to the red or green lines. Your ticket price includes free River Thames Cruise and a walking tour.
Can't recall the price, but take a peek at their website, and go out and conquer London.
www.bigbustours.com
I enjoyed riding on the top of the bus, even though it was a bit frigid, and pointing out the various sites to mom and Kris. Leave a Comment
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Every major city boasts a Chinatown. According to my guide book there has been a Chinatown in London since the 19th century and originally concentrated around the East End docks at Limehouse, where the opium dens were sited.
Contains scores of restaurants, shops selling oriental produce, trinkets and souvenirs. Leave a Comment
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Is it worth the long queuing and the 11,5 GBP? I still am wondering.
The view is however magnificent and you make one turn in the wheel lasting about half an hour and showing you London from high, with panoramic views you can't get anywhere else except if you should fly over London.
I would settle with a shorter turn and a lower price. I find the 11,5 GBP a bit exaggerated.
To avoid too many lining up for the tickets it is advisable to book it on internet or book it by phone if you have a visa card at hand.
I am not sure if you can book individual tickets by phone, you can by internet.
Anyway check it the website of
the London Eye to find out more
it is magificent to view all those buildings from high on top of the wheel.
If you are not afraid of heights, then look down. The cabins are made out of glass to ensure you a great surrounded view.
At the end of the trip you might want to stand close to the exit door as on your way down they will make a picture of you.
You can purchase the picture at the exit. But beware, they are very expensive!
For more pictures of the London eye check my Fotki pictures. Leave a Comment
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Although London is a large city and you’ll need to use public transport or taxis to get around some of the time, it’s also very walkable. I want to share some of my favourite routes with you, starting with this one through the Whitehall area, which is always the first one I think of when visitors ask me to “show them London”. This tip isn’t about any of the places on the route in detail as you can find out about them elsewhere on my pages and many others – it’s simply an overview of a route I would recommend :)
Start in Trafalgar Square, deservedly one of the most famous spots in London. When you’ve finished exploring the square, leave by the south-west corner through Admiralty Arch – you’ll find yourself on the Mall with a fine view down its full length to Buckingham Palace. Tempting as it is to head for this landmark, try to resist, and instead turn left after a short distance to enter St James’s Park, one of my favourite parts of London. Head diagonally right to reach its centrepiece, the lovely lake, and pause to stand on the bridge. Here you’ll get an even better view of Buckingham Palace and of all the buildings of Whitehall. You can now follow a circular route around the lake, which at its far end will take you much closer to the Palace – now is the time to detour to see it properly.
Retrace your steps, or follow the opposite side of the lake. You might think about now of pausing for refreshments – a picnic in the park, a snack from a kiosk or maybe a meal at Inn the Park, a well-regarded restaurant (which I’ve yet to try). When you’re refreshed, leave the park roughly halfway along its eastern edge, which will bring you to Horseguards’ Parade. Cross the parade ground and go through the arch where you’ll find yourself on Whitehall itself. You’ll want to take the obligatory photo of the guards before heading south. You’ll soon come to the turning for Downing Street but don’t expect to be able to take it – the road has been closed to all but official visitors for security reasons ever since the IRA campaign of the 1980s. Whitehall shortly becomes Parliament Street, which leads in turn to Parliament Square. You can now check out and maybe visit the Houses of Parliament before finishing your walk at Westminster Abbey (although if you do have the energy for more, a walk down Victoria Street will bring you to Westminster Cathedral, its Roman Catholic equivalent.
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Although London is a large city and you’ll need to use public transport or taxis to get around some of the time, it’s also very walkable. I want to share some of my favourite routes with you. This one takes in part of the River Thames and finishes in Covent Garden, ideal if you want to combine a sightseeing morning with a shopping afternoon, or a sightseeing afternoon with an evening out. Please bear in mind that my tip isn’t about any of the places on the route in detail as you can find out about them elsewhere on my pages and many others – it’s simply an overview of a route I would recommend :)
Start at Westminster tube, leaving via the exit marked Westminster Bridge. Before crossing, pause for a view of the Houses of Parliament and the statue of Boudicca guarding the approach to the bridge. Cross the River Thames – if the current work on the bridge is finished you’ll have wonderful views west to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and beyond. When you reach the far side turn left to walk past the old County Hall building, which now houses a modern art gallery and aquarium (depending on your interests you may want to visit either or both!) and the ticket office for the London Eye though ideally you’ll have booked in advance for this. There are a number of refreshment options here, and look out too for some examples of modern art that appear to have strayed from the gallery!
When you’ve exhausted the possibilities here, continue along the river to the South Bank complex. This group of buildings includes the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery, another modern art space which regularly has great exhibitions. This is another area to consider for refreshments, or nearby Jubilee Gardens for a picnic. The complex continues beyond Waterloo Bridge with the National Theatre but unless you have tickets for a play I suggest you retrace your steps at this point to cross back over the river via the new Millennium Footbridge. This is in two halves either side of the old railway bridge – choose the eastern one for great views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London as you’ll have had the westerly views earlier. On the far side enter Embankment tube station, walk straight through and ahead up Villiers Street to the Strand. Look left to see Charing Cross, but turn right and soon after left along Southampton Street which will bring you to Covent Garden with its market, shops and numerous pubs, pars and restaurants.
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If anything London is THE city to view on foot. There are so many pocket parks, quaint nooks and mews to poke about in.
For a great introductory tour try the Original London Walks. Walks are scheduled morning, afternoon and evening, 7 days a week, rain or shine. Each tour lasts about 2-3 hours and costs L 5.50 (or L 4.50 with the frequent walker's discount card). No reservations required: just check the schedule, locate a tour that strikes your fancy, and meet the guide at your designated location (generally outside a tube station).
At tour's end you are free to wander, shop, people watch or investigate the neighborhood further.
Personal favorites:
Legal and Illegal London tour: AKA 'Walking in the Steps of Rumpole'. If you're a fan you will LOVE this one. See the Royal Courts of Justice, visit the 4 Inns of Court and the Temple Church. Stroll through Chancery Lane to glimpse the big wigs at Edes & Ravencroft. Afterwards you can hoist a glass of Chateau Plonk at Rumpole's favorite watering hole.
Greenwich tour: boat down the Thames to visit this lovely town which marks the Start of Time - 0 degrees longitude. On the return you can walk under the water via the Thames foot tunnel. ADVISORY: there is literally so much to see and do in Greenwich after the tour that you should plan on spending the WHOLE DAY. Maybe even a weekend.
Hampstead Village and Heath: so quaint, so charming, so close to Kenwood House. Little did I know the town used to be a SPA (it's that water connection again!)
Soho Walk: Start out at Leicester Square for a tour of London Bohemia that finishes with 60's retro-flair at Carnaby Street.
Find London Walks online at: www.walks.com or phone 020.7624.3978 Leave a Comment
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No convent is to be seen, no garden could possibly spring up between the the tightly pieced cobblestones. The name Covent Garden is all that is left to remind us of what once stood on this square.
No longer the vast fruit and veggie market of days gone by, the Garden still offers produce from colorful stalls like the one pictured. Other market stalls sell crafts, artisan goods or coffee. While away a lazy afternoon, listening to the opera singer or string quartet in the lower courtyard. Take in the juggler performing his act precariously perched on a unicycle at 'center stage', or the mimes acting up in front of the actor's church of St. Paul's behind the square. Adjacent shops are both high fashion (near the Opera House) or bargain basement (next to the Transport Museum). A smattering of everything that London has to offer is found right here, off Wellington and Maiden Lane. Leave a Comment
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This is the armpit of London. Frequented by entry-level tourists only - things NOT to do in Leicester square:
1. do not buy a pizza slice from a small stand at the side of the street as it's been there for 3 days (and probably stored in the attendents underpants over night)
2. Do not buy a hot dog from a man pushing a silver toilet cubicle around with a hatch to serve "meat based" products. It is quite literally dog meat, and that's in the best-case scenario.
3. do not buy any of the usual London memorabilia like a beefeater figurine or a red telephone box. This is cheap rubbish. Spend the money on a tube ticket to St. Pauls cathedral, walk to and over the millenium bridge and go to the Tate Modern gallery instead - admission is free - this will make you remember London.
4. Do not eat in an Angus or Aberdeen Steakhouse - these places have almost legendary status - as being frequeted by non-Londoners only. Food is so poor it's laughable, you have to pay a table cover charge and remember it's in Leicester Square. If you want the best steak in town, go to Gaucho Grill - Argentinian steak house. 19 Swallow Street, W1. 0207734 4040
5. Do not try "bobbing for meat" in the Mr.Wu's all you can eat (in my experience, as much onion as you can eat) chinese buffet restaurants in and around Leicester square. Instead go to a Wagamama for solid, cheap and taste modern japanese food. Irving Street, WC2H. Most mains around 5-6 quid.
6. The list is too long. Just don't go to this place. Get the TimeOut guide to London, and start exploring...Notting Hill, Brick Lane, Spitlefields, Old Street, Clerkenwell....
Leaving Leicester Square....it's a feeling I experience any time I'm unfortunate to be in this area.... Leave a Comment
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London has some of the most famous landmarks in the world seen the world over through advertising - movies & television. When I watch the news from the BBC the images are instantly recognisable but look out for the less familiar sights & slightly off the beaten path. Walk around London away from the tourist lines and you may surprise yourself with what you can find.
Every time I visit London my favourite thing changes depending on where I go & what I do. I loved this building with its Curly Chimney Pots and quaint "Olde Worldy" architecture, it is the Liberty, a famous London store built in 1925 of mock tudor design. I loved seeing the shining ship perched high on the buildings roof (see second picture) Leave a Comment
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