Welcome back to the 2nd part of “Moving to London? Places to visit!”
London is a very big city with a long story at the back and lot of things to do and places to visit. To point out all these places isn’t enough one article, so here we are again.
Enjoy these 10 places!
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British museum
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Enjoy a unique comparison of the treasures of world cultures under one roof, centred around the magnificent Great Court.
World-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies are visited by up to six million visitors per year. In addition to the vast permanent collection, the museum’s special exhibitions, displays and events are all designed to advance understanding of the collection and cultures they represent.
Prices: entrance to the Museum is free. A donation of £5 is recommended. There are admission charges for special exhibitions and some events – book online now to avoid missing out.
Address
British Museum
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3DG
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8000
Email: information@britishmuseum.org
Website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/
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Southbank Centre
Southbank Centre is a world-famous arts centre on the South Bank of the Thames offering a wide range of cultural events. See music, dance, art, performance and spoken word. Take part in free activities and events. Enjoy a wide range of restaurants, cafes, shops and markets.
Every year, more than 1,000 musicians and artists perform to 22 million visitors, making this one of the most popular cultural destinations in the country. We hold different festivals throughout the year. Created in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, Southbank Centre has grown as a festival site, with art and activities inside and outside. We encourage everyone to become involved in the arts in new and creative ways.
Address
Belvedere Road
London
SE1 8XX
Telephone: 0844 847 9910
Email: customer@southbankcentre.co.uk
Website: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk
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Tate Modern
A visit to London isn’t complete without a trip to Tate Modern.
Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art from around the world is housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames. The awe-inspiring Turbine Hall runs the length of the entire building and you can see amazing work for free by artists such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalí, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois.
Entrance for the gallery is free, charges for events/special exhibitions.
Opening Times:
Sunday – Thursday, 10.00–18.00
Friday and Saturday, 10.00–22.00
Tate Modern is open as normal on bank holidays. It closes on 24, 25 and 26 December but opens on 1 January.
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Somerset house
Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. During summer months 55 fountains dance in the courtyard, and in winter you can skate on London’s favourite ice rink. Somerset House also hosts open-air concerts and films, contemporary art and design exhibitions, family workshops and free guided tours of spaces usually hidden to visitors.
The mission of Somerset House Trust is to conserve and maintain Somerset House to the highest standards and to develop the site as a public space which is universally recognised as a world class visitor attraction and centre of excellence for culture and the arts.
Free Admission excluding admission to the Embankment Galleries, The Courtauld Gallery or specified events.
Admission may vary. Please check http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/ for further information
Opening Times:
Embankment level: 10.00-18.00
The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court: 07.30-23.00
River Terrace and Seamen’s Hall: 08.00-23.00
Embankment Galleries (during exhibitions): 10.00-18.00(last admission 17.30)
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Science Museum
The Science Museum is the most visited science and technology museum in Europe. There are over 15,000 objects on display, including world-famous objects such as the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket.
Our interactive galleries bring to life first scientific principles and contemporary science debates. Plus, you can experience what it’s like to fly with the Red Arrows or blast off into space on an Apollo space mission in our stunning 3D and 4D simulators or watch a film on a screen taller than four double-decker buses in the IMAX 3D Cinema.
Entry is free, but charges apply for the IMAX 3D Cinema, simulators and some special exhibitions.
Opening Times:
Open 10.00-18.00 daily.
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Borough Market
London’s best, and best-known, food market is chock-a-block with takeaway choices, should all that prime produce make you hungry on the hoof.
The food hound’s favourite market is also London’s oldest, dating back to the 13th century. It’s the busiest too, occupying a sprawling site near London Bridge. Gourmet goodies run the gamut, from fresh loaves and rare-breed meats, via fish, game, fruit and veg, to cakes and all manner of preserves, oils and teas; head out hungry to take advantage of the numerous free samples. A rail viaduct, vigorously campaigned against, is now in place, which means restored historic features have been returned and works disruption should now be at an end. As if to celebrate, a new Market hall, facing onto Borough High Street, has been opened: it acts as a kind of greenhouse for growing plants (including hops), as well as hosting workshops, tastings and foodie demonstrations. You can also nip in with your snack if the weather’s poor.
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Regent’s Park
Hyde Park may be a touch more famous, but Regent’s Park is London’s finest. It contains more fun than one park should be able to hold: a boating lake, an open-air theatre, several award-winning gardens, playing fields, a pub, an ice-cream shop and even London Zoo. Wander through Queen Mary’s Garden to admire the city’s largest collection of roses and get some fresh air away from traffic-packed bustle of the rest of central London.
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Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is an iconic medieval structure and the site of many historic royal and national events, from coronations and weddings to burials and even deaths. Centrally located in London, Westminster Abbey was first constructed in the eleventh century by King Edward the Confessor, a Saxon king who dedicated this new church to St Peter.
Along with Westminster Palace and Saint Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Opening times and ticket prices: Westminster Abbey is open 9:30am – 4:30pm. Wednesdays to 7pm, Saturdays to 2:30pm, Sunday no tourists, worship only. Westminster Abbey entry charges: £15 per adult. There are discounts/group rates. Extra charge (£3) for verger tours.
LINKS
http://www.westminster-abbey.org
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St Paul’s Cathedral
Among the most iconic buildings in the city, St Paul’s is an architectural masterpiece which is carved into the London skyline. Among the many draws on offer is the famous Whispering Gallery, known for its mysterious acoustics, as well as its burial crypt which houses a host of celebrated British luminaries including Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren, designer of the Cathedral. It ranks high on most visitors’ lists of things to see in London, so a visit here is not a tranquil experience, but definitely one worth undertaking.
Opening times and ticket prices: St Paul’s Cathedral is open for sightseeing weekdays, 8:30am-4pm (check ahead). Entry costs £11 for adults, £10 for seniors, £8.50 for students, £3.50 for children. Group rates/other discounts available. Guided tours in English at 10:45am, 11:15am, 1:30pm and at 2pm (£3 for adults, £1 for under 16s). Audio guides available 9am-3:30pm (£4 for adults).
LINKS
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Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is one of the most famous draws that Britain’s capital city has to offer and remains a key entry on any list of places in London to see. The oldest occupied castle in the world and covering approximately 13 acres, Windsor Castle contains a wealth of great sights to explore, including the state rooms, the red-coated guards and even the royal kitchens!
Windsor Castle is open daily, 9:45am-4:15pm (to 5:15pm March-October). Last entry 1hr 45 min before closing. Closed 14 June and 25-26 December (St George’s Chapel closed Sundays – see official site). Entry costs £16 for adults, £14.50 for over 60s and students (valid ID), £9.50 for under 17s and free for under 5s. Fees reduced when state apartments closed. Tours cost extra.
LINKS
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=34
http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/WindsorCastle/WindsorCastle.aspx
