Wanderlust World Wanderlust World London is a history buff's dream. Its history began in the Celtic period before the Romans conquered Great Britain and named its natural port Londinium in 43 A.D. The city suffered a terrible fire in 1666.
The British Museum and Library houses a vast collection of historical artifacts and documents and maintains an impressive, if controversial, catalog of items seized during the history of the British Empire.
British Museum and Library
britishmuseum.org
Begun in 1080 by William the Conquerer, the Tower of London has served as a fortified palace for Britain's royalty and, later, as a dungeon for the enemies of state. Now a museum, the tower is a sober reminder of the power of medieval princes. It offers several tours and presents exhibits related to England's medieval past, in addition to housing the Crown Jewels.
The Tower of London
hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British royalty and has been since 1837, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Being the royal seat, it is the home of the richest woman in the world, Her Royal Highness Elizabeth II, Queen of England. Tours are available at scheduled times. If you can't visit while the palace is open to the public, the changing of the guards in front is a popular tourist attraction in itself.
Buckingham Palace
royal.gov.uk
The London Underground, also called the Tube, is a destination in itself. The Tube is the oldest subway in the world, and it is also one of the most extensive and user-friendly mass transit systems. Featuring historic stations and the trademark announcing system, the London Underground is more than a great way to get around this big city.
The London Underground
timeout.com/london/big-smoke/features/2814/London_Underground-s_history.html
Converted from a Benedictine Abbey by King Henry VIII in 1540 as part of the English Reformation, the Gothic-styled Westminster Abbey is both England's most important church and the burial place of famous and infamous English men and women. You can visit the burial spots of England's historical giants, from Geoffrey Chaucer to Charles Darwin. The gift shop is rather nice as well.
Westminster Abbey: westminster-abbey.org
Like the Louvre in Paris, the Prado in Madrid and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Galleries (there are four) have one of the world's great art collections.
The Tate Galleries
tate.org.uk
Fleet Street is the home of the British newspaper industry. You can wander past the homes of giants in the history of journalism and visit printing museums. Make time to have a plate of fish and chips or bangers and mash with a pint of real English ale at one of Fleet Street's many historic pubs.
The Crawl of Shame
pubs.com/main_site/feature.php?id=1
All big cities have their markets, but London is exceptional because it sponsors covered markets throughout the city. Some of the best and most interesting are Covent Garden, Portobello and Camden. You can pick up anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to knickknacks and antiques. There is always a bargain to be found and a colorful photo opportunity as well.
London Markets
londonmarkets.co.uk
American ideas of free speech were, of course, originally English concepts. Hyde Park, one of London's most beautiful parks (in a city of huge parks), features a Speaker's Corner. It's a place where anyone can get on a soapbox and say whatever comes to mind, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
London Walks--Speaker's Corner
offtolondon.com/hyde_speak.html
You can take a Thames River cruise to visit the Royal Observatory at Greenwich and the Prime Meridian, the "official" border between the East and West hemispheres. In the 19th century, when railroad schedules dictated the keeping of accurate time across time zones, England became the home of time. Since 1884, all clocks in the world set their time by Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). There is also a maritime museum and planetarium.
Royal Observatory at Greenwich
nmm.ac.uk/places/royal-observatory/