my london top attractions in 3 days

Copyright 2014-2015 visitacity.com. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission.

My London Top Attractions in 3 DaysDay 1, Fri May 15 2015

Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Tower of London 2 hours, 45 mins

2. 12:10 St. Paul's Cathedral 1 hour

3. 13:25 Tate Modern 2 hours

4. 15:50 London Eye 2 hours

5. 18:00 Houses of Parliament & Big Ben 30 mins

6. 18:30 Westminster Abbey 1 hour

7. 19:35 Churchill War Rooms 1 hour, 15 mins

09:00 Tower of London Rating: Landmark

Visit Time: 2 hours, 45 mins

The Tower of London is in fact the oldest fortified castle in

Europe, it is located on the bank of the Thames next to

Tower Bridge and from the moment you are greeted by the

Beefeaters (Yeoman Warders) in their traditional garb you

will feel like you have stepped back in time. Within the grey

fortified walls are a number of attractions which can keep

you busy for a couple of hours at least.


Tube: Tower Hill

Website: www.hrp.org.uk

Opening Hours: Mar to Oct, Tue to Sat 9:00 am -

5:30 pm, Sun and Mon 10:00 am - 5:30 pm (last

entry at 5). Nov - Feb, Tue - Sat 9:00 am - 4:30

pm, Sun and Mon 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (last entry

at 4)

Admission: Adult - 19.50, Child - 9.75

Phone Number: 0844 482-7777

Address: Tower Hill, The City, London

The first fortress built on this site was a Roman fortress and

you can still see the remaining Roman wall. The Tower of

London began as King William's castle founded in 1078, and

the White Tower dates back to this period, later in 1240 King

Henry III moved in. He too made extensive renovations and

additions to the complex. With the White Tower as its center

more structures were added and the fortress became

multi-purpose. It was not only a palace residence but also a

prison, royal mint, zoo and treasury.

The tower's top ten highlights include:

The oldest part of the Tower and anThe White Tower

iconic symbol. Take the wardens tour which runs daily at

10:45, 12:45 and 14:15. Also see the Chapel Royal of St.

John. Shakespeare's scene with the two young princes

locked in the Tower from Richard III was set here.

See the dazzling crown jewels whichThe Crown Jewels

are still used in ceremonies, royal weddings and coronations

today.

Housed in the former army officers'The Fusilier Museum

quarters, historic artifacts are displayed from the history of

this famous military division which was formed in the Tower

of London in 1685.

See where Anne Boleyn, Lady JaneThe Tower Green

Grey and other privileged prisoners were executed in the

tower away from the eyes of the public.

the palace is furnished in recreatedThe Medieval Palace

medieval furniture and artifacts. See how Henry III and other

royals lived; see the grand fireplace and royal bedchamber.

British coins were minted at theThe Coins and Kings

Tower for 500 years, see historic coins and learn about the

minting process.

A display of authentic knight's armor,The Line of Kings

some mounted on life-size wooden horses. The armor dates

back to the Tudor period and was first put on show in 1688.


Take advantage of the entertaining and informative Yeoman

Warder Tours which run every half hour and are included in

the price of your ticket. See if you can spot any of the 6

resident ravens which live on the Tower grounds. Legend

has it that if the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will

fall and so 7 ravens (6 plus one spare) have one wing

clipped to prevent them flying too far away. To see some

typical British pageantry book ahead of time for the

Ceremony of the Keys. The tickets are free but must be

reserved. The 700 year old ritual involves the Chief Warder

decked out in his finery locking up the Tower by lantern light

as the sun sets. Note that the use of mobile phones within

the Tower of London is prohibited.


Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Admission: Adult - 16.00, Child - 7.00


Address: St. Paul's Churchyard, The City, London

1.9 KM, 24 minutes by walking

12:10 St. Paul's Cathedral Rating: Churches

Visit Time: 1 hour

This landmark cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren and

construction took 36 years until its completion in 1711. However there

were five previous churches which stood on this site, the first dating

back to 604AD. Three times the previous churches had been

destroyed by fire and rebuilt and the building we see today was

constructed following the Great Fire of London in 1666. The church

stands on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the city and is the seat of

the Bishop of London. Among the auspicious events held at the

cathedral were Winston Churchill's funeral and the wedding of Charles

and Diana.

Distinct features of the church include the dome which is the second

largest in the world; it reaches a height of 111 meters and weights

approximately 66,000 tons. The dome is supported by eight arches

and is crowned by an 850 ton lantern. Visitors can climb the 560 steps

to the top of the dome to get awesome views of the city. As you

ascend within the dome there are a series of galleries, the first is the

Whispering Gallery which earned its name due to its great acoustics.

The next gallery is the Stone Gallery which is 53 meters from the

ground and protrudes on the exterior of the dome above columns

which circle the dome. The Golden Gallery is just beneath the lantern

and is the highest point that visitors can climb.

Within the church the Baroque decoration includes mosaics on the

ceilings which were added in 1890, above the altar is the baldachin

which was rebuilt in 1958 following bomb damage during WWII. The

tomb of John Donne was the only part of the church to survive the

Great Fire of London in 1666 and it dates back to 1631. The church

holds valuable works of art including Henry Moore's Madonna and

. Famous people buried in the cathedral include the Duke ofChild

Wellington, Admiral Nelson and Christopher Wren as well as a number

of memorials to important figures like Florence Nightingale and T. E.

Lawrence. On the western faade is a large portico topped by a

decorated pediment. The tympanum relief (1706) depicts the

conversion of St. Paul.


13:25 Tate Modern Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 2 hours


Tube: Southwark, Mansion House, St. Paul's

Website: www.tate.org.uk/modern

Opening Hours: Sun to Thu 10:00 am - 6:00 pm,

Fri and Sat 10:00 am - 10:00 pm (last entry to

exhibitions 45 min before close)

Admission: Free, charge applies only for special

exhibitions


Address: Bankside, London

London's top museum of modern art houses works of artrepresenting a range of modern art movements includingfauvism, surrealism, abstract, impressionism, Op Art,minimal art, conceptual art, pop art and more. The art datesfrom the 1500s to present day and includes both British andinternational modern and contemporary art. Visitors can seework by Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Degas, Ernst, Warhol, Miro,Magritte and Pollock. There are paintings, murals, prints,drawings, photography, film, performance and sculptures. Inaddition to the extensive permanent collections there aretemporary exhibitions displayed on the 3 and 5 floors;rd thtemporary exhibitions of large scale specially commissionedworks by contemporary artists and a collection of British artfrom the 1500s.

The Tate Modern is part of the Tate Museum family whichincludes four major sites, the original Tate opened in 1897and in 2000 the present Tate Modern was opened. The TateModern is the most visited museum in the world and apartfrom the fine art work the building which houses themuseum is an attraction in itself. Housed within the formerBankside Power Station the gallery retains much of theoriginal building's character. The impressive entrancethrough the Turbine Hall once housed the power plantengines and is a massive 152 meters long and 35 metershigh, another distinctive feature is the tall central chimney.The galleries are housed in the former boiler house andfurther expansions are planned for the museum using theplant's former redundant oil tanks.

The museum has been organized so that you are taken on ajourney through the significant stages of the development ofmodern art. The art on display has been chosen for itsunique contribution to the history and development of art.Recently work from Latin America, South-East Asia andEastern Europe has been included in the collection. Thanksto the frequent rotation of displays between the Tate Britain,Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St. Ives there isalways something new to see.


With almost 70,000 works of art by more than 3,000 artistsyou should plan your visit so that you get to see thehighlights of the museum and the pieces which interest youmost. Check-out the curator's pick of the museum highlightswhich includes 195 works. Among the top picks are Whaam!By Roy Lichtenstein; Weeping Woman by Picasso; Warhol'sMarilyn Diptych; The Lady of Shalott by John WilliamWaterhouse; Recumbent Figure by Henry Moore andWater-Lilies by Claude Monet. So you can see by thisimpressive list of the crme-de-la- crme of artists andartwork why the Tate Modern has earned its stellarreputation.

Admission to the Tate Modern is free except for specialexhibitions. You can download a map of the massive 6 levelmuseum from the museum website. There are two eateriesin the museum, the caf on the 1 floor and a restaurant onstthe 6 level where you can get stunning views across thethriver and city from large panoramic windows. The TurbineHall has been closed for part of 2013 and will be open againin early 2014.


Web: www.londoneye.com

Tube: Waterloo, Westminster

Admission: 18 adults, 14 seniors and students,

9.50 children 4-15

Phone Number: 0870/5000-600

Opening Hours: daily from 10:00am untill 9:00pm

in the summer (9:30pm in July-Aug) and untill

8:00pm during the winter

Address: Millennium Jubilee Gardens, SE1, South

Bank


15:50 London Eye Rating: Landmark

Visit Time: 2 hours

Among all the historic attractions of London the London Eye is one of

the more recent and contemporary attractions. The Eye is a huge

Ferris wheel located on the edge of the Thames River in the Jubilee

Gardens. The wheel was built as part of the millennium celebrations

and has changed name several times due to different ownership and

sponsoring, at present it is officially called the EDF Energy London

Eye. The wheel took 1.5 years to build and was designed by David

Marks and Julia Barfield. It is constructed from 1700 tons of steel and

has foundations made with 3000 tons of concrete.

The wheel is 135 meters high and has a diameter of 120 meters, it

was completed in 1999. The wheel has 39 sealed egg shaped

capsules which can each hold up to 25 people. Each capsule is 8

meters long and weighs 500kg. In each capsule there is

air-conditioning, seating and interactive screens which give

information about the sites you can see below in London. One full

revolution of the wheel takes about 30 minutes and at ground level the

passengers get on and off without the wheel actually stopping; as the

Eye rotations at such a slow rate (26cm per second).

From the capsules passengers have a 360 view of London and most

of the famous landmarks can be seen from the wheel. There are a

number of combination tickets available for the wheel as well as

tickets which include a boat ride down the Thames which brings you to

the Eye.


18:00 Houses of Parliament & Big Ben Rating: Landmark

Visit Time: 30 mins


Tube: Westminster

Web: www.parliament.uk/visiting

Opening Hours: Tours: Aug, Mon, Tues, Fri, and

Sat 9:15am-4:30pm, Wed and Thu.

1:15pm-4:30pm. Sep - Mon, Fri, and Sat

9:15am-4:30pm, Tues, Wed and Thu 1:15am -

4:30pm.

Admission: Free except from tours which cost 15

(must book ahead)


Address: St. Stephen's Entrance, St. Margaret St.,

Westminster, London

The building widely referred to as the Houses of Parliament is actually

called The Palace of Westminster. It is located on the banks of the

River Thames and is the place where Britain's House of Lords and

House of Commons convene.

The site where the Palace of Westminster stands today was originally

the site of an 8 century Saxon church called West Minster (westth

monastery). In the 10 century the royals paid an interest in the siteth

and when Edward the Confessor came to power in 1042 he moved his

court to Westminster and had a Benedictine abbey and royal church

built.

Under William the Conqueror Westminster Hall was built, it is the

largest hall of its kind in Europe. Westminster gained importance and

grew as different kings made additions to the edifice. In 1265 the two

houses of parliament were created, the House of Lords met at

Westminster while the House of Commons had no permanent

location. In the 13 century King Henry III made several alterationsth

including the Queen's Chapel, Queen's Chamber and the Painted

Chamber or King's Chamber which have survived. St. Stephen's

Chapel (1184-1363) was redesigned over the years with beautiful

glazed windows, a vaulted wooden roof and walls covered with murals

in scarlet, green and blue shades. In 1365 King Edward III had the

Chapel of St. Mary Undercroft completed; it was here that the royal

court and household prayed. In 1547 the House of Commons joined

the House of Lords also meeting at the palace thus Westminster

became the undisputed central seat of government.

A fire destroyed the palace in 1834 and the only parts of the original

medieval palace which survived are the Cloisters, Chapter House of

St. Stephen's, Chapel of St. Mary's Undercroft, the Westminster Hall

and the Jewel Tower which was built in 1365. After the fire a new

neo-Gothic structure was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus

Welby Pugin and completed in 1870.

The parliament building has three towers, the octagonal Central

Tower; Victoria Tower and the most famous Elizabeth Tower. Victoria

Tower (1860) stands opposite Elizabeth Tower, here the records of

both houses of parliament have been kept since 1497. During the

parliamentary year the British flag is flown on top of the 98 meter high

tower.

Big Ben is the name of the bell which hangs in Elizabeth Tower which

is at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. The tower is

commonly referred to as Big Ben, it is 96 meters tall and UK residents

can climb the 393 steps to the belfry. The square tower bears the

famous four clock faces of the Great Clock of Westminster. The clock

faces of this accurate time piece are 7 meters in diameter and the

hour hands are 2.7 meters long. Within the belfry there are five bells,

four strike the Westminster Chimes on the quarter hour and the largest

bell, Big Ben, strikes on the hour.

UK residents can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament, observe

parliamentary debates and even climb up into the Big Ben belfry.

Foreign visitors can tour the Parliament building on Saturday and

during the Summer Opening, they can also watch debates and

committee hearings when Parliament is in session.


Tube: Westminster, St James's Park

Web: www.westminster-abbey.org

Hours: Mon - Tue and Thu - Fri 9:30 am - 3:30

pm. Wed 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. Sat 9:30 am - 1:30

pm

Admission: Adult: 18.00 Child: 8.00


Address: Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London


18:30 Westminster Abbey Rating: Churches

Visit Time: 1 hour

This religious edifice is where royal British coronations and burials are

held, it is officially a place of worship owned by the royal family. The

Abbey stands next to the Houses of Parliament on the edge of the

River Thames and parts of the structure have survived since 1050

although the building began as a shrine established here in 616.

Edward the Confessor had the Abbey built here in order to redeem

himself in the eyes of the Pope after the king failed to take a required

pilgrimage. The Abbey was completed in 1065. Christopher Wren and

Nicholas Hawksmor were responsible for the addition of the two

western towers in the 1700s. The original style was Romanesque but

between 1245 and 1517 it was redesigned in the Gothic style. Parts of

the King James Bible were translated here and later the New English

Bible was compiled here.

The building is famed for its medieval architecture and features like

the coronation throne. In the Abbey you can see the Poet's Corner

where the likes of William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and

Geoffrey Chaucer are buried. Among the royals entombed here are

Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary and King Henry III. Other famous Brits

buried in the Abbey are Charles Darwin, Henry Purcell, Sir Isaac

Newton and David Livingstone. Above the Great West Door you can

see statues of ten 20 century Christian martyrs including Oscarth

Romero, Martin Luther King Junior and Dietrich Bonheoffer. The relics

of the Royal Saint Edward the Confessor are kept in the Sanctuary

and the shrine attracts pilgrims who come to pay homage to the saint.

The beautiful Chapel House was built in the 1200s and restored by Sir

George Gilbert Scott in 1872. The octagonal chapel has eight shafts

supporting a vaulted ceiling. Within the 11 century vaultedth

undercroft is the Westminster Abbey Museum which has been open to

the public since 1908.


Tube: Westminster

Web: www.iwm.org.uk

Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am - 6:00pm; last entry

at 5:00pm

Admission: 17 (includes audio guide)


Address: Clive Steps, King Charles St.,

Westminster, London


19:35 Churchill War Rooms Rating: Historic Site

Visit Time: 1 hour, 15 mins

Churchill War Rooms are one of the five branches of thewell-known Imperial War Museum. The museum reveals theCabinet War Rooms, an underground structure that wasused by the command center of the British governmentthrough the Second World War.

Cabinet War Rooms

The Cabinet War Rooms were constructed in 1938, but theywere opened and become operational later in August 1939,soon before the outburst of war. They were used throughWorld War II, before being neglected after the surrender ofJapan in 1945. After the war ended, the true historicsignificance of this structure was realized, which in turn ledto the preservation of the Cabinet rooms.

The highlight of the museum is a 15 meters (50 foot)interactive table that provides visitors with an access toscanned materials, predominantly from the archives centerof Churchill. The museum won a prize in 2006, which isknown as Council of Europe Museum. Approximately300,000 tourists pay a visit to this legendary place everyyear.


Day 2, Sat May 16 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Tower Bridge 1 hour

2. 10:25 Trafalgar Square 30 mins

3. 10:55 National Gallery 2 hours

4. 13:05 Covent Garden 1 hour, 30 mins

5. 14:35 Transport Museum 1 hour

6. 15:45 British Museum 2 hours, 30 mins

09:00 Tower Bridge Rating: Landmark

Visit Time: 1 hour


Tube: Tower Hill

Website: www.towerbridge.org.uk

Opening Hours: Apr - Sep, daily 10:00 am - 6:00

pm. Oct - Mar, daily 9:30 am - 5:30 pm. Last entry

half and hour before closing

Admission: 8


Address: Tower Bridge Rd., The City, London

Tower Bridge, London crosses the Thames River next to the

Tower of London, the stunning iconic drawbridge is often

confused with another Thames bridge referred to in the

children's song "London Bridge" is falling down. In the late

1800s Tower Bridge was one of the bridges constructed to

carry the masses of pedestrians and vehicles wanting to

cross from one side of London to the other. The City of

London Corporation needed an innovative design and so

they held a competition to which 50 designs were submitted.

The chosen design was devised by Horace Jones and John

Wolfe Barry, it took 8 years and 432 construction workers to

complete the bridge in 1894. To avoid disrupting the river

traffic the tower was to be a bascule or see-saw bridge

which could be raised to let tall ships through. Today the

bridge is still raised about 900 times a year to allow tall

vessels to pass by. The bridge can be raised 83 from its

horizontal position.

Two piers were sunk into the river bed to support the weight

of the 11,000 tons of steel which formed the bridge

framework. The two towers on either side of the river were

joined together by elevated walkways. Finally Cornish

granite and Portland stone covered the framework making

the appearance more appealing and protecting the frame.

Originally hydraulics were used to raise the bridge using

steam power from the engines in the Engine Rooms within

the base of the towers. Today the hydraulics are produced

using electricity and oil rather than steam.

Visitors to Tower Bridge today can walk or drive across and

you can also visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition. A visit to the

Tower Bridge Exhibition begins with an animated video

explaining the bridge's history. Then visitors can walk along

the upper walkways which are 42 meters above the river.

From here there are spectacular views across London. The

East Walkway (there are two parallel walkways) is home to

the "Great Bridges of the World" photo exhibit which

features more than 20 of the world's greatest bridges. In the

West Walkway the "This is London" exhibition displays over

60 illustrations by the painter Miroslav Sasek from his

classic children's book This is London. Next visitors enter

the Victorian Engine Rooms where the original equipment

used to raise the bridge can be seen as well as a virtual

recreation of a bridge lift. The latest exhibition is shown here

called Art at the Bridge #4.


Tube: Charing Cross

Address: Westminster, London

If you're visiting with children you can download the Guy Fox

Explore Kit which will enhance their experience at the

bridge. Families can save quite a bit on entrance tickets by

purchasing the family ticket for 12.5 instead of 8 for adults

and 3.4 for kids. The easiest way to reach Tower Bridge is

by underground train to the Tower Hill station.

4.2 KM, 24 minutes by transit

10:25 Trafalgar Square Rating: Activity

Visit Time: 30 mins

Trafalgar Square is a traffic intersection in central London, the large

square at its center is used for many major events and celebrations in

London. During the 14th to 17th century the square was the courtyard

of the Great Mews stables for Whitehall Palace. In the 18th century

when the mews were cleared away, John Nash began designing a

new street connecting Charing Cross and Portland Place, this street

formed the open square in the Kings Mews area and in 1830 the

square got its present name. The National Gallery on the square was

designed by William Wilkins; in 1838 Charles Barry developed plans to

create an upper terrace by the National Gallery connected to a lower

level square by a sweeping staircase. In 1843 Nelson's Column was

designed by William Railton and in 1845 it was erected on the lower

level square. Fountains and statues on the square were designed by

Barry and Sir Edwin Landseer designed the bronze lions which sit at

the base of Nelson's Column.

Nelson's Column marks the center of the square, the Corinthian

column is 51.6 meters tall and at the top is a statue of Lord Nelson

who died in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

Further renovations were made to the square in 2003 including

increased pedestrian areas, a caf and public toilets. Also on the

square is St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Edith Cavel statue. The

square was once famed for its pigeons which would flock here to be

fed by tourists, today feeding the pigeons is illegal according to bylaws

as the birds were deemed a health hazard and threat to the square's

art work. The square is a popular venue for social and political

protests.

The square has 4 plinths (stone pedestals intended for statues) they

hold a bronze equestrian statue of George IV; a statue of General Sir

Charles James Napier; Major-General Sir Henry Havelock and the

fourth Plinth in the north-western corner of the square is used to

display commissioned art work.


Web: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Tube: Charing Cross or Leicester Sq

Admission: Free, some charged may apply for

temporary exhibitions


Opening Hours: Sat-Thu 10:00am-6:00pm. Fri

10:00am-9:00pm

Address: Trafalgar Sq., WC2, West End


10:55 National Gallery Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 2 hours

At this museum you can see the country's collection of 13 to 19 th th

century Western European paintings. The museum first opened its

doors in 1824 during the reign of King George IV. He had the museum

set up in the former home of a Russian banker and the purchase of

the house came with the deceased's art collection; 34 paintings which

formed the core of the new museum's collection. The collection grew

to a massive 2,300 paintings which are now housed in a grand

neo-classical building on Trafalgar Square. Since the museum's move

to Trafalgar Square the building has had several renovations and

extensions added like the East Wing added in 1876 and the Sainsbury

Wing added in the 80s.

The collection is arranged roughly in chronological order starting with

the oldest works which greet visitors at the museum entrance. The

oldest works in the museum are by Giotto and Jan Van Eyck.

Significant masterpieces by Titian and Michelangelo represent the

Renaissance artists. The collection includes 17 century art andth

works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens and Caravaggio. More recent

works are by impressionist and post-impressionist artists like Van

Gogh and Renoir. Other works are by Turner, da Vinci, Claude Monet,

Hans Holbein and Botticelli. In addition to the permanent collection

there are regular temporary collections, activities, lectures, guided

tours and audio-visual presentations.


Web www.coventgardenlondonuk.com:

Tube: Covent Garden

Phone Numnber: 020/7836-9136

Address: The Piazza, London


13:05 Covent Garden Rating: Square


Today Covent Garden is a London district located between Martin's

Lane and Drury Lane; but Covent Garden is best known as the site of

the city's oldest market where there are now boutique stores, classy

restaurants, theatres, a place to see street performers and shop in

typically English markets. In the 13 century a 40 acre kitchen gardenth

belonging to the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster covered the

Covent Garden area, the garden provided fresh fruit and vegetables to

the city for over 700 years. In 1540 the land was slit up by the

monarch and given to a number of rich and powerful Earls. In 1630 the

Earl of Bedford commissioned Indigo Jones to build elegant homes on

the land and London's first public piazza. It was here that St. Paul's

Church was built and where London's first Punch and Judy Show was

staged. The Theatre Royal was built on Drury Lane and many famous

London actors were buried in St. Peter's Church; in 1732 the Covent

Garden Theatre was built. A regular vegetable market was established

on the Piazza which grew to be the most important market in the city.

In 1870 a glass roof was installed to cover the market, this roof

remains today. Many of the original historic buildings remain.

Among the attraction at Covent Garden are the Royal Opera house,

Covent Garden Square (Piazza), St. Paul's Church, local pubs, the

London Transport Museum, the Theatre Museum and the many

markets. A number of markets include the Apple Market where you

can buy hand-made arts, crafts and antiques; the Jubilee Market

(Jubilee Market Hall at 1 Tavistock Court) a general market including

antiques, clothing and household goods and the East Colonnade

Market (East Piazza) where hand-made soaps, jewelry, leather goods,

clothing, art and sweets are sold. On Thursdays there is a Real Food

Market on the East Piazza.

For entertainment there are the street performers, opera, ballet,

classical music and art galleries all on offer at a number of Covent

Garden venues.


Web: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Tube: Covent Garden

Admission: 15.0 for adults, 10 for seniors and

students, entrance is free for children 15 and

under


Opening Hours: Sat-Thu 10:00am-6:00pm. Fri

11:00am-6:00pm

Address: Covent Garden Piazza, WC2, West End


14:35 Transport Museum Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 1 hour

In the 1920s, the London General Omnibus Company made

the decision to preserve an early motorbus and two

Victorian horse buses so that future generations would be

able to appreciate the technological advances that

accompanied the beginnings of the twentieth century. Thus

was born London's Transport Museum. In the 1960s, the

Museum of British Transport was housed in an old bus

garage in the area of South London known as Clapham and

eventually was moved to west London and Syon Park in the

1970s. Then, in the early 80s, the London Transport

Museum found its current home, occupying the Flower

Market at Covent Garden. When London Transport was

renamed Transport for London in the early 2000s, the

museum changed its name to London's Transport Museum,

but it continues to strive to fulfill its mission of bringing the

history of London's transportation to life.

The Covent Garden's architecture boasts beautiful iron and

glass structures that are quite reminiscent of Victorian

railway stations, and thus seem to be the perfect home for

the historical collection which features transport devices

beginning with steam engines and horse power to today's

more modern green technologies. With the many impressive

contraptions that the museum has on display, you won't

want to miss the 1829 omnibus reconstruction, London's

first trolleybus, or one of the steam locomotives that served

as part of the world's original underground railway.

Additionally, the museum has a beautiful collection of

posters, signs, and logos that have been used to promote

public transportation over the years.

The museum is extremely kid-friendly with educational

stations built for the young as well as the young at heart.

Plus, it features miniature trams, tubes, trains, buses, and

trails that are perfect for the little's explorations. As a bonus,

children under 16 receive free admission, and food and

drinks can be found in the Upper Deck Cafe.


Tube: Russell Sq., Holborn, Tottenham Court Rd.

Website: www.britishmuseum.org

Opening Hours: Galleries - Sat to Thu 10:00 am -

5:30 pm, Fri 10:00 am - 8:30 pm. Great Court - Sat

to Thu 9:00 am - 6:00 pm, Fri 9:00 am - 8:30 pm

Admission: Free

Phone: 020 7323-8299

Address: 18 Great Russell St., Bloomsbury,

London


15:45 British Museum Rating: Museums


This museum has been open to the public for 255 years; the

collections span more than two million years of human history from a

number of cultures and include about 8 million pieces. The museum

covers Egypt and Sudan; Greece; Rome; Middle East; Prints;

Drawings; Prehistory; Europe; Asia; Africa, Oceania; the Americas;

Coins; Medals; Conservation; Scientific Research; archives and

libraries. A number of countries claim ownership of pieces in the

museum and controversy has arisen over pieces which were brought

back to Britain from former colonies. These controversial pieces

include the Elgin Marbles (statues from the Parthenon) claimed by

Greece; Benin Bronzes and the Rosetta Stone claimed by Egypt.

Among the museum highlights is the Rosetta Stone, the only surviving

piece of a large stone slab engraved with different languages which

helped to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics. It is thought to date back to

196BC. The Portland Vase is an 28cm high cameo-glass vase from 1

century Italy. Other museum highlights are the Assyrian Wingedst

Bull; sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens; an Easter Island statue;

Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo Treasure.

The museum has been renovated and expanded over the years and

today boasts 92,000m of exhibition space. The museum building has

a Greek Revival faade and other special features are the Round

Reading Room (1857) which has the 2 widest dome in the world;nd

the King's Library; the Duveen Gallery specially designed by John

Russell Pope to hold the Elgin Marbles and at the center of the

museum is the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court with a beautiful glass

roof.


Day 3, Sun May 17 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Queen's Gallery 1 hour

2. 10:05 Buckingham Palace 2 hours

3. 12:10 Green Park 15 mins

4. 12:45 Hyde Park 30 mins

5. 13:30 Kensington Gardens 1 hour, 15 mins

6. 14:55 Kensington Palace 1 hour, 45 mins

7. 17:05 Victoria and Albert Museum 2 hours

8. 19:10 Natural History Museum 2 hours, 30 mins


Tube: Victoria

Web: www.royalcollection.org.uk

Admission: Adult- 9.50, Child- 4.80


Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:30pm

Address: Buckingham Palace, Buckingham

Palace Rd., SW1, West End

09:00 Queen's Gallery Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 1 hour

The Queens Gallery, a public art gallery in London which

showcases paintings, statues and other artifacts from the

personal collection of the Queen. Located on the west side

of the Buckingham Palace, the gallery was built after this

side of the palace was bombed during the Second World

War. It displays a rotating persentation of four hundred

paintings out of the queens collection.

Some of the items displayed are the personal Dolls house

belonging to Queen Mary (made by Lutyens), a Ming vase

from China, a Golden tigers head from India, and some

paintings such as the Deluge by Leonardo Da Vinci, Apollo

and Diana by Lucas Cranach, Christ and St. Mary

Magdalene at the Tomb by Rembrandt. The collection also

holds some statues such as Mars and Venus by Antonio

Canova, a bust of George II by Roubiliac, or that of Henry

VIII as a young boy by Mazzoni.

Check out the web site before you come if you want to know

what exactly is presetned.

The gallery is opened daily from 10:00am to 5:30pm.


Tube: Victoria, St. James's Park, Green Park

Web: www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit

Opening Hours: Aug daily 9:30 am - 7:00 pm (last

entry at 4:45 pm). Sep daily 9:30 am - 6:30 pm

(last entry at 3:45).

Admission: 19


Address: Buckingham Palace Rd., St. James's,

London


10:05 Buckingham Palace Rating: Palaces

Visit Time: 2 hours

This is the official residence of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth

II; it is used for official events, State occasions and ceremonies by the

Royal Family. The palace is conveniently located close to central

London and accessible by the London underground. The palace is

surrounded by public Royal Parks: Green Park, St. James Park and

Hyde Park.

The royal home has the largest private garden in London. The faade

is in the French neo-classical style and was part of architect John

Nash's design. The palace building covers 77,000m and key rooms

include the Music Room, the Blue, Green and White Drawing Rooms,

Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. Works by Vermeer, Rubens,

Rembrandt and other masters are displayed in the Picture Gallery

which connects the State Rooms together. In the semi-state

apartments are the 1844 Room, the Bow Room and the Red and Blue

Chinese Luncheon Room. The rooms are decorated with antique

furniture and valuable art.

The building was originally a townhouse belonging to the Duke of

Buckingham in 1705; in 1761 King George III bought the property and

through the 19 century the palace was extended and renovated.th

When Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 the palace

became the monarch's official residence.

Tourists come to the palace to watch the pageantry of the Changing of

the Guard performed by the Royal guards who wear their distinctive

red uniforms and black tall furry hats. During the ceremony (at 11:30

daily in summer and every other day in winter) the guards march from

nearby Wellington Barracks to the front gate of the palace and replace

the Old Guard of their duty. On special occasions like a coronation,

wedding or jubilee the Royal family comes out onto the balcony on the

East front of the building to greet the crowds of supporters in the street

below. The public can tour the palace state rooms during the Summer

Opening in August and September. The public can visit the Queen's

Gallery where there are exhibitions of work from the Royal Collection.


Tube: Green Park

Admission: Free

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Phone Numbers: 020/7930-1793

Address: Piccadilly, SW1, West End


12:10 Green Park Rating:Parks &

Gardens

Visit Time: 15 mins

Located in the City of Westminster and covers a

19-hectares between Hyde Park and St. James Park, Green

Park is part of the open stretch that goes from Whitehall to

Notting Hill and is rich with a variety of flora. Although it

misses the lakes, ponds and architecture that can typically

be found in the Londons public parks it is still a charming

park to visit, especially given its convenient location just

opposite Buckingham Palace's. The pedestrian walk known

as the Queen's walk was originally laid out for Queen

Caroline, George II's wife. The walk leads to a reservoir,

which is said to hold St James Palace's drinking water. The

park has a long history from being the burial ground for

lepers to being the hunting ground for 18th century

highwaymen. This park is an important historical landmark

and as such it is well maintained and opened to the public.


Tube: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge,

Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch

Web: www.royalparks.gov.uk

Opening Hours: Daily 5 am--midnight


Address: Hyde Park, London


12:45 Hyde Park Rating:Parks &

Gardens

Visit Time: 30 mins

This is London's largest public park covering 360 acres; it opened in

1637 and is joined to Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St. James

Park. For years the parkland was used for royal hunting until 1637

when King Charles I opened the park to the general public. In 1825

Decimus Burton designed the park layout.

A large lake wends its way through the park, the Serpentine lake was

constructed in 1730 and today is use for boating and swimming. Once

the Serpentine reaches Kensington Gardens it becomes Long Water.

The Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain is a playful water feature

resembling a shallow stream where kids can paddle and splash in the

water. Horse riders can find a 6.4km bridle path, Rotten Row which

dates back to William III when the king wanted a safe, short cut

between Kensington Palace and St. James Palace. It was also the

first lit public road in England. Since the 19 century Speakers'th

Corner on one corner of the park has been a place where anyone can

stand on their soap box and declare their beliefs, protests or political

opinions. Nearby is marble Arch (1827) which was originally a

gateway to Buckingham Palace.

The park is adorned with statues including Still Water which is a 10

meters tall bronze work by Nic Fiddian-Green. Next to this work is an

equestrian statue of Genghis Khan created by Dashi Namdakov.

There is also a statue of Achilles (1822); a memorial to 7/11; the

Reformers' Tree mosaic; a memorial to William Henry Hudson; St.

George fighting the dragon and a statue of Isis by Simon Gudgeon.

The park has playgrounds, open lawns, fountains, a long pergola,

more than 4,000 trees, flower beds and restaurants. You can go

boating on the lake, cycle, play tennis and even swim. From

November to January there is ice skating in the ark.


Tube: High Street Kensington, Lancaster Gate,

Queensway, South Kensington

Web: www.royalparks.gov.uk

Opening Hours: Daily 6:00am-dusk


Address: Kensington, London


13:30 Kensington Gardens Rating:Parks &

Gardens


Thelovely Kensington Gardenswhich borderwith the Hyde

Parkwell deserves a spot in any trip itinerary to London.

Like the Hyde Park, the Kensington Gardens was also a

royal garden and was later opened for the public. The

Garden is somewhat more quietthan Hyde Park and less

crowded. This piece of greenery is a perfect location for a

stroll or picnic under the shades of the lovely trees.

Kensington Gardens most noteworthy view is the

Kensington Palace which was the birthplace of the Queen

Victoria and was the former residence of the Late Princess

Diana.

While in the park, look for thepartially hidden statue of Peter

Pan which is here as a reminderto the Boy who never grew

up. It was also the garden which was where the shooting of

the film Finding Neverland featuring Johnny Depp as the

famous J.M. Barrie had taken place. The park has been the

location for many other films such asBridget Jones

Diary,Edge of Reason, Wimbledon and many others.

Apart from being a film favorite location, Kensington

Gardens is a nature lovers perfect park. You will find swans

swimming in the lakes and the beautiful Italian fountain

garden in the midst of the garden. Kensington Garden is

considered to be more formal than the Hyde Park as it is

only open during the day. This garden is an excellent place

for joggers, morning walkers and cyclists. On a fine day, you

will even find many sunbathing or enjoying a picnic.


Tube: Queensway, High Street Kensington

Web: www.hrp.org.uk

Opening Hours: Mar-Sep, daily 10:00am-6:00pm;

Oct-Feb, daily 10:00am-5:00pm. Last entry one

hour before closing

Admission: 15.00


Address: The Broad Walk, Kensington

GardensKensington, London


14:55 Kensington Palace Rating: Palaces


Kensington Palace, although not as big as a Buckingham

Palace and not as inviting and lovely as the Hampton Court,

it is still a royal residencewell worth a visit. It is located in

Kensington Gardens and housed along the years the British

Royal Family since it was purchased and made into a

palace back in the 17th century. It was he official house of

the Duchess from Cambridge in London, Prince Harry of

Wales, the Duchess and Duke of Gloucester as well as

Prince and Princess Michael. Its most famous resident,

however, was Princess Diana who lived here after her

divorce. Today, Prince William and his wife Catherine

Duchess of Cambridge use this as their official residence.

The State Apartments, are open to the public and provide

some impressive galleries with three permanent exhibitions

that mostly displays the history of the people once lived in

the palace -from Queen Victoria through Queen Anne and

George II this is a good way to get a quick glimps of the

rotal family over the last few centuries.

Some of the highlights would be the King's Staircase

holding the trompe l'oeil painting along with the impressive

King's Gallery. Once you have done with the tour inside the

palace, dont miss the gardens outside as those are lovely

and inviting just the same.

There is a nice caf in the Orangery which is the perfect

location for an afternoon tea or a small snack.


Tube: South Kensington

Website: www.vam.ac.uk

Opening Hours: Sat - Thu 10:00 am - 5:45 pm, Fri

10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Admission: Free, charges may apply for some of

the exhibitions


Address: Cromwell Rd., South Kensington,

London


17:05 Victoria and Albert Museum Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 2 hours

This museum is named after Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, it

is the largest museum of decorative arts and design on the planet and

holds more than four and a half million pieces displayed over

51,000m. The museum was established in 1852 and came to its

present location in 1857. The architecture of the building spans

several eras and has a number of special features like the ceramic

staircase designed by Frank Moody; the terracotta and brick pediment

on the north face of the building; Victorian fireplaces; the Edwardian

faade and the many modern galleries which have been added more

recently. There is a central garden designed by Kim Wilkie which is

used for temporary exhibits, a summer time caf and as the venue of

the museum's annual V&A Village Fete.

The museum collection is spread throughout 145 galleries; it holds

objects from around the world and some date back 5,000 years. The

sections of the museum include Art Deco, Arts and Crafts, Baroque,

Gothic, Medieval, Modernism, Neo-Classicism, Renaissance, Rococo

and Surrealism. Among the subjects covered are architecture,

furniture, painting, theatre, textiles, books, fashion and glass among

others.

Some of the highlights include the Medieval Renaissance Gallery, the

Jewelry Gallery and the galleries which tell the story of British history

through the country's art and design. In addition there is the Iranian

Ardabil Carpets; paintings by William Morris; the 16 century Greatth

Bed of Ware; historic photos of the royal family taken by Cecil Beaton;

paintings by John Constable; an excellent exhibition of costumes by

century and Tippu's Tiger, the painted wood carving from 16 centuryth

India of a man being attacked by a tiger.

The museum is open late of Fridays, there are regular free talks and

tours, workshop activities, "hands-on" exhibits and there is a section

called the Museum of Childhood.


Web: www.nhm.ac.uk

Tube: S. Kensington

Admission: free

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:50pm. Sun

11:00am-5:50pm


Address: Cromwell Rd., SW7, Southwest London


19:10 Natural History Museum Rating: Museums


This museum is dedicated to life, nature and science, it holds more

than 70 million items and covers botany, mineralogy, paleontology,

zoology and entomology. The huge and rich collection has been built

up over many years with some items having been collected by Charles

Darwin. The collection began as early as 1756 and finally settled into

its present location in 1881. The Natural History Museum was a part of

the British Museum until 1963. The Geological Museum which stood

adjacent to the museum was absorbed in 1986 and the building

underwent several stages of renovations as the collection continued to

grow. The museum won the Best of the Best Museum and Heritage

Award in 2013.

The must-see sights in the museum include "Dippy" a 32 meter long

replica of a Diplodocus Carnegii skeleton. The giant dinosaur is

housed in the museum's central hall. In the Large Mammals Hall you

can see the skeleton and model of a blue whale which is 25 meters

long. Another giant is Archie, an 8 meter long giant squid caught off

the Falkland Islands in 2004. Outside on the museum grounds is a

Wildlife Garden where insects are allowed to breed. The Treasures in

the Cadogan Gallery is a collection of 22 of the most unusual exhibits

in the museum like the fossils of dinosaur teeth; the Emperor Penguin

Egg which was brought back from the Antarctic by Captain Scott; a

first edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species and the intricately

carved 17 century Hans Sloan's Pautilus Shell. In the Visions ofth

Earth Gallery there is an avenue of sculptures tracing key figures in

Earth's history and mythology. In the Images of Nature exhibit there is

a treasure of nature paintings. The insect exhibit of creepy crawlies

fascinates both adults and kids. The Cocoon is in the Darwin Center,

here you can immerse yourself in nature and science through real

specimens, interactive displays and state-of-the-art displays.

my london top attractions in 3 days

Documents

tower oflondon

tower of london rating

minsthe tower of london

tower hill website

andthe white tower dates

lady janethe tower greengrey

london eye

towerof london