London
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Tour One: History & Harrods
South Kensington is the home of the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. It is also celebrated for Kensington Palace and its shops. Knightsbridge is known primarily for its swanky shops — the world famous Harrods being its pride and joy.
Begin with the Victoria & Albert Museum as it’s close to the South Kensington tube station and all the museums are well sign-posted from here.
In 1899, Queen Victoria named this museum after herself and her beloved husband, and the V&A, as it is commonly known, was born. Statues of the pair, sculpted by Alfred Drury, can be found in front of the Cromwell Road facade.
One of the largest museums in the world with over 150 rooms, it's best explored by wandering around. If you prefer to be more focused, there are excellent guidebooks in the museum shop, which will direct you to exhibits of particular interest. Constables, Raphael Cartoons, and The Dress Collection are all wonderful, while the temporary exhibitions are always very good.
Next on the tour is the Science Museum. Built in 1913, it has seven floors covering the science of medicine, food, space travel and much more. More child-friendly than the V&A, much of this museum has hands-on exhibits coupled with informative displays and eye-catching models making it an educational treat for the entire family. A map from the museum shop will detail the exhibits and help you guide your visit.
Last in the triangle is the Natural History Museum, a spectacular building housing the history of creation. Zoology, paleontology, entomology and you-name-it-ology provide an endless choice of exhibits for you to view. All manner of living and extinct beings are displayed and explained here, with the Dinosaur Gallery being a popular choice.
All three museums are excellent and should definitely be visited at some point during your time in London. The last two are geared towards children but are also extremely educational for adults. South Kensington has lots of lovely eateries and is worthy of further exploration with shopping mecca Brompton Cross.
To visit London's most famous shop, Harrods, keep the Natural History Museum and the V & A on your left, and go down Cromwell Road, which leads into Brompton Road. You’ll pass the impressive Brompton Oratory, scene of many high society weddings, on your left, and before long, Harrods will appear on your right. Just next door to Harrods is Piccadilly Circus, an extra-chic designer-friendly department store with a hip food department and restaurant — the perfect place to end a sophisticated day!
Tour Two: Notting Hill and Holland Park
The centerpiece of Notting Hill is Portobello Road Market. Come out of Notting Hill Gate tube station and follow either the crowds or the signs for the market. Parts of it are open on weekdays, but the full effect can only be experienced on Saturdays when the antique shops and stalls open. It begins to come alive at around 7a and it's much easier to wander around at this time; by about 11a it gets quite crowded and by 1p it's packed.
Worth a look on Blenheim Crescent is Books for Cooks; a wonderful little shop for anyone who loves food.
If you prefer to stop at a pub, Duke of Wellington on the corner of Elgin Crescent is good, or try the Ground Floor Bar for a more chic experience.
At lunchtime there's no need to go far. Walk down Blenheim Crescent and take the first left along Kensington Park Road. On either side there are excellent Italian and French restaurants which spill out onto the pavement when it's warm (on the left is 192 which is particularly trendy).
Walk up to Elgin Crescent away from Portobello Road until you hit Ladbroke Grove. Turn left here and walk up the hill carrying on until you reach the main road at which it ends — Holland Park Avenue. Then cross over Holland Park Avenue and turn right. Just after Aubrey Avenue turn left and walk up the hill until you find an entry to Holland Park itself.
This park is tucked away and is well worth exploring. It's attractive with each different area having its own feel, which make for a sense of intimacy and exploration.
Further up towards Notting Hill Gate tube, on the other side of the road, there is Gate Cinema, an art-house cinema. It has an intimate feel with just one screen. You might not have heard of the film showing at the Gate but it will always be worth a try.
Tour Three: A Walking Tour of Westminster
A tour of Westminster could only start at Trafalgar Square. Nelson's Column dominates the square, commemorating Horatio Nelson's service to his country. Nelson, measuring only 5'4" in real life and having suffered from seasickness, definitely cut an interesting figure as an admiral. He finally lost his life at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805, having already lost his right arm and left eye in battle. The column, erected in 1843, is over fifty meters high. The sword alone measures over seven feet — a lot bigger than Admiral Nelson ever was in the flesh.
To the north of the square are National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, which house some of the nation's most prized treasures and some 2000 remarkable works of fine art. Note the unimposing church on the square's east side: St Martin-in-the-Fields. This provided shelter to many Londoners during the Blitz when London came under fire from Germany's Luftwaffe during WWII.
Set off southwards along the grand boulevard of Whitehall, towards the Houses of Parliament. Whitehall is home to the headquarters of most of Britain's governmental ministries and you'll pass the statue of Charles I, who was executed as an enemy of the realm by Oliver Cromwell in 1649. On the left-hand side of the road is the Old Admiralty building, still in use to this day, opposite which you will find the imposing structure that is the Ministry of Defense.
On your right you will pass the Horse Guards, in all their plumed glory. Don't miss this opportunity to take the compulsory London photograph with a mounted horse guard, and yes, they really aren't allowed to smile!
Number 10 Downing Street provides the next photo opportunity. It's been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1732, but Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, broke with tradition. Deciding that number 10 was too small for his growing family, he swapped houses with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who normally resides at the more family-friendly house at number 11. His successor, Gordon Brown, reinstated number 10 as the Prime Minister's residence. You will have be satisfied with a mere glimpse through the railings as increased security threats have prevented public access to Downing Street.
To your left, in the middle of the boulevard, is the Cenotaph, the monument commemorating Britain's war dead. Remembrance Day (the second Sunday in November), sees a parade along Whitehall by representatives of people who fought in both World Wars, the Falklands and the Gulf. The Queen and Prime Minister lay wreaths to commemorate the fallen.
Continue along Whitehall until you reach Parliament Square, which is adorned with statues of some of Britain's greatest parliamentary figures, including Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli. Cross the square to Westminster Abbey where sovereigns are crowned and buried. This imposing building is hundreds of years old, and is a wonderful example of Gothic architecture.
Poets' Corner pays tribute to, among many others, Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats, Byron and Dickens. Whether the remains in Shakespeare's tomb are his or not is still debated by historians and scholars, as is the answer to the question of his true identity. In amongst the tombs of various heads of state and leading political and cultural figures is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, who lost his life in WWI. Kids will lap up the opportunity to take brass rubbings of some of the inscriptions, allowed on certain tombs. Meanwhile, take a break and have a coffee from the stand inside the Abbey.
Walk over to the Houses of Parliament — the seat of British government — which stand on the site of the original palace built for Edward the Confessor, which burnt down in 1834. Designed by Charles Barry, the current structure is an excellent example of Gothic Revival, incorporating Gothic and Elizabethan styles. Try and time it so that you're here on the hour to hear Big Ben strike. The name 'Big Ben' actually refers not to the tower but to the 13-ton bell inside it.
Head straight for Westminster Bridge for your perfect photo opportunity — the Thames, The Houses of Parliament and a red double-decker bus — ample proof that you were in London. The big white building on the opposite bank is County Hall, home to the London Aquarium in the basement, loved by kids and adults alike. You'll also see the London Eye (Millennium Wheel).
Now that you're on the south side of the river, amble along the embankment of the Thames (postcard view of the Houses of Parliament) passing the London Eye. You will soon come across a concrete complex built in the 1960s, and once described by Prince Charles as being London's greatest eyesore — known collectively as the South Bank. The South Bank includes: the Royal Festival Hall (home to The London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra), the Hayward Gallery, the National Film Theatre (NFT) and the Royal National Theatre (simply called 'The National'), which houses the National Theatre Olivier, National Theatre Lyttelton and National Theatre Cottesloe Theatres. There is always something exciting going on here — the South Bank also provides the finishing-line to the gruelling 26.2 miles of the annual London Marathon.
Tour Four: A Tailor-Made Tour Of London's "Bespoke Couture"
Start at Bond Street Tube Station, where, rather confusingly, you will find yourself on Oxford Street — home to hundreds of high-street shops that have branches nationwide — a great place for everything reasonably-priced with frequent sales and bargains to be had.
Turn immediately right and take the left fork that is clearly marked 'South Molton Street' — a pedestrian area dedicated to women's fashion. This street has a huge amount of shoe shops which makes searching for that perfect pair of shoes easy. Other shops of note include Browns, costume jewellers Butler & Wilson, Ronit Zilkha and, of course, The Gap.
At the end of the street take a left, followed by a right, which will take you on to New Bond Street, home to several designer boutiques. Pop into Yves Saint Laurent for exclusive fashion from one of Paris' oldest fashion houses, Polo Ralph Lauren for the American portrayal of the English classics, Hermès for those must-have silk scarves, Nicole Farhi for streamlined collections, plus Tiffany's, Chanel and DKNY. Also on New Bond Street are: Russell & Bromley and Louis Vuitton.
Turn down Conduit Street for a quick look at the quirky eccentricities of the English and Italians in the form of Vivienne Westwood and Moschino. Follow through to the end of this short street until you come to the one and only Savile Row. Before searching for the bespoke tailor of your choice it'll probably be about time to have lunch. Options include the ultra-cool Momo which serves up a Middle Eastern extravaganza — on Heddon Street off Regent's Street.
At the tail end of the Old Bond Street some of the most popular 'Temples of Fashion' are situated and so it simply can't be missed, including Prada, Gucci, and Joseph. Once at the end of the street cross over Piccadilly then walk down St James Street, which you'll find a little to the left. St James' Street will lead you to Jermyn Street, favorite haunt of gentleman in search of shirt makers and tailors before popping down to St James' Square to his Club.
There’s a great selection of quintessentially British boutiques in this area and shirt makers galore. Here's a few of the best of them, each having its own particular style: Herby Frogg, Hawes & Curtis, Hilditch & Key, T. M. Lewin & Sons, and probably most popular of all, Thomas Pink.
Men's toiletries shops, such as the Prince of Wales’s favorite, Floris, which sells up-market fragrances for men (and women) and the most gorgeous smelling potpourri, are also in the area. Hackett is popular amongst the younger generation with their sporty, outdoor gear but manages to bridge a gap so that the older generation come to buy their off-the-peg three-piece suits, casual tweeds, morning suits and dinner wear. Don't forget shoes — you can have them made for you at John Lobb, or pick up some beautiful, more affordable leather numbers at Church's or Russell & Bromley. At Alfred Dunhill, you can pick up anything from a jacket to their renowned cigars. But Fortnum & Mason is really the place to go for any tasteful souvenir of England with their selection of English teas, coffees, chocolates and other edibles.
Recommended Tours
London features a number of tour companies and discount booking businesses. Theatre Breaks offers discounted rates to some of the cities most popular attractions and events.
