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Guide to Europe >> United Kingdom >> London
London |
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From the thriving West End to the majesty of Westminster, London provides visitors with a profusion of districts, from the trendy to the historically rich. Located along the Rivcer Thames in southeast England, this capital city is home to the Queen and royal family, and it serves as the political, cultural, economic and historical center of the country.
Although inhabited prior to the Romans, London gets its name from them: Londinium. From there it went on to become an Anglo-Saxon and Norsemen city. With famous playwrights like Shakespeare, London became an international center for theater and the arts. With its large collection of museums and art galleries, multiple districts of unique character, and position as an international hub of business and culture, it’s no wonder why London is one of the top destinations in Europe for both wealthy jet-setters and student backpackers.
College Backpacking recommends staying three days in London; although one could spend a week in the city and still miss out on a lot, London can be more expensive than most cities, especially with the exchange rate.
Begin day one in Westminster, where Trafalgar Square and other important sites reside: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the House of Parliament and Big Ben. Start with Buckingham Palace to get a good view for the changing of the guards. In the afternoon, hop on the tube and visit the National Gallery, which is just North. If you prefer to walk, make sure to stop in St. James’ Park along the way.
On day two, start in the West End, a vibrant area with many shops and boutiques, perfect for a walk through the city. Visit the Piccadilly Circus, then head west to the expansive Hyde Park. End at Kensington for a tour of the palace.
On your last day in London, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London, both within the City of London. If time allows, pay a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre right by the River Thames in the South Bank area.
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| Tourist Sites |
Westminster Abbey
Tickets: £7
Tube Station: Westminster Abbey
Hours: M-Tu and Th-F 9:30am-3:45pm; W 9:30am-7pm, Sa 9:30am-1:45pm
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic style church in London just west of the British Parliament. Originally the home of Benedictine Monks, it serves as the coronation site for British royalty as well as a burial site for English and British monarchs. The church was consecrated on Dec 28, 1065. It became a coronation site for Norman kings, but none were buried there until Henry III. Henry VIII assumed royal control in 1539 and granted the abbey cathedral status in 1540, which is soon lost in 1550.
Under the Catholic Queen Mary, it was restored to the Benedictines, but were again exiled in 1559 by Queen Elizabeth I. Since the 1066 coronations of King Harold and William the Conqueror, all English and British monarchs (besides Edward V and Edward VII)(did not have coronations) have been crowned in the Abbey. King Edward’s chair is the seat at which all monarchs sit during their coronation.
From 1296 to 1996, the chair also housed the Stone of Scone, which crowns the Kings of Scotland, but in 1996 it was sent back to Scotland until another coronation arises. Many famous people are buried here including Mary Queen of Scots, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, and Sir Isaac Newton.
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Tower Bridge
Tickets: £6 adults, £4.50 students
Tube Station: Tower Hill or London Bridge
Hours: 10am-6pm
Often misunderstood by tourists to be London Bridge, Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London over the River Thames. It is located very near the Tower of London, and hence derives its name. It was built between 1886 and 1894 and employed over 400 construction workers. You can climb the towers to what is now The Tower Bridge Exhibition, which provides excellent views of the River Thames and many of London’s most popular sites |
Buckingham Palace
Tickets: £15.50, £14 students, £8.75 under 17
Tube Station: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Green Park, or Hyde Park Corner
Hours: 9.45am–3.45pm
Buckingham Palace is the official London Residence of the British monarch. This house is currently used by Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family for official and state entertaining. The site was originally owned by Edward the Confessor, then William the Conqueror, and didn’t reenter into royal hands until Henry VIII acquired in 1536.
Buckingham Palace Garden is the biggest private garden in London, but is rarely open to the public. The current palace was designed in 1703, and didn’t become the principal royal residence until 1837 when Queen Victoria habituated the palace. Some of the palaces most formal rooms, The Guard Room, The Throne Room, and the Picture Gallery are opened to the public every summer. The current façade of Portland Stone was completed in 1913 to be the backdrop of the Victoria Memorial. The Victoria Memorial still stands to the East of Buckingham Palace and is a very large statue of Queen Victoria facing away from the palace.
Each day in the summer, the Changing of the Queen’s Guard can be seen for free. During the Changing of the Guard, the St. James’ Palace detachment of the Queen’s guard march along the mall to Buckingham Palace. Here the Buckingham palace detachment awaits them for the changing of the guard. It is a free show that is definitely interesting to see, make sure that you get there early or you won’t have a very good view. It starts at 11:30 AM.
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Downing Street
Tube Station: Westminster or Charing Cross
Downing Street is a street in central London near the Parliament and Buckingham Palace grounds. The Prime Minister of London’s residence is at 10 Downing Street and the Chancellor lives at 11 Downing Street. |
The National Gallery
Tickets: Main collection is free, special exhibits have charges, suggested £3 donation
Tube Station: Leicaster Square or Charing Cross
Hours: M-Tu and Th-Su 10am-6pm, W 10am-9pm
Located in Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery contains over 2,300 paintings dating between 1350 and 1900 including famous works by Van Gogh, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Monet, Rembrandt, and Renoir.
Van Gogh – Sunflowers, Van Gogh’s Chair, A Wheatfield with Cypresses
Monet – The Water-Lily Pond, The Thames Below Westminster
Renoir – The Umbrellas, Boating on the Seine
Rembrandt – Belshazzar’s Feast
Raphael – Portrait of Pope Julius II, The Madonna of the Pinks, The Mond Crucifixion
Michelangelo – The Entombment, The Manchester Madonna
Da Vinci – The Virgin of the Rocks, The Burlington House Cartoon
Botticelli – Venus and Mars
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Tower of London
Tickets: £16.50, £14 students
Tube Station: Tower Hill
Hours: Tours every 30 minutes with the first at 9:00am and the last tour at 3:30pm
The Tower of London is a historic monument located on the north bank of the River Thames. The most identifiable building is the White Tower, which was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. This complex served as a fortress, royal palace, and a prison. The term “Sent to the Tower” was coined from the Tower of London serving as a prison. The White Tower also holds the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom since 1303. The Tower of London plays to the typical imagination of a medieval fortress with a mote, multiple towers and gates.
The Tower of London has a water entrance, which is often referred to as Traitor’s Gate, since Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More were accused of treason and passed through it. The tours are given by Yeomen Warders, who dress in traditional dress and give very interesting tours. The inner wall and moat were installed by King Richard the Lionheart, but the moat was unsuccessful until Henry III adapted the style of the moat. King Edward I built the outer wall and another moat outside of that wall, which was the last work done of the fortifications.
The tower also has a dark history for being a place of torture with medieval devices like the scavenger’s daughter and the rack still in place in the torture chambers. Many executions took place inside the tower and on the nearby tower hill. A few notable people who were executed include:
Sir Thomas More
Anne Boleyn (Henry VIII’s 2nd wife)
Catherine Howard (Henry VIII’s 5th wife)
Lady Jane Grey (Queen for 9 days)
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Kensington Palace
Tickets: £12.30, £10.75 students
Tube Station: High Street Kensington
Hours: 10am-6pm
Kensington Palace is a royal residence in Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is currently the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and it is also occasionally used by Prince Harry. Until 1997, it was the official residence of Princess Diana.
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Big Ben/ Palace of Westminster
Tickets: Free
Tube Station: Westminster
Hours: Tours for overseas visitors are only during the Summer Opening: late July to late Sept.
Big Ben is arguably the most identifiable monument in all of London. The image of the enormous clock is inscribed into the minds of everybody who thinks of London. It is the world’s largest four faced, chiming clock. The clock tower was completed in 1858, and was designed by Augustus Pugin. The clock keeps remarkably accurate time, due to its design. Big Ben is actually the nickname of the largest bell in the clock tower, but is often mistakenly given to the entire clock tower. The British parliament meets in the Palace of Westminster, and you can go inside and watch a session if you’d like. Free of charge.
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Trafalgar Square
Tube Station: Charing Cross
Trafalgar Square is a square in central London, just up the street from Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. The square features Nelson’s Column and the four lion statues that guard the column. It also holds two fountains. It is a very cool area to hang out and relax. The National Gallery is located on the north side of Trafalgar Square. |
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tickets: £10, £8.50 students
Tube Station: St. Paul’s
Hours: 8:30am- 4:00pm
St. Paul’s Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral in the city of London. It is the seat of the Bishop of London, and is the fifth St. Paul’s Cathedral with the current dating back to the 17th century. The current cathedral was designed by Christopher Wren in 1675, and completed in October of 1708. It is built of Portland Stone and in a Baroque style reminiscent of the late Renaissance. Some of Britain’s finest are buried here including:
Winston Churchill
Sir Alexander Fleming (inventor of Pennicilin)
Charles Cornwallis
Britain’s Royal Family holds most of their important marriages, christenings, and funerals at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral was used for the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
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Hyde Park
Transportation: Tube stations: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly)
Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line)
Queensway (Central Line)
Lancaster Gate (Central Line)
Marble Arch (Central Line)
Bayswater (Circle and District Lines)
Hours: 5:00am to midnight
This is London’s largest central park and is one of the Royal Parks of London. Kensington Gardens runs into Hyde Park, although most mistakenly assume they are all part of Hyde Park. The first World’s Fair was held in Hyde Park and is know as the Great Exhibition or The Crystal Palace. This is where many concerts are held including London’s Live 8 tour of 2005, Rolling Stones in 1969, Pink Floyd in 1968 and 1970, and many others. |
Piccadilly Circus
Transportation: tube station Piccadilly Circus Station
Many people assume that this place is actually a circus, although the word circus in this sense is derived from the Latin word meaning circle. This street junction has become a popular tourist spot and is near some of the best shopping and entertainment London has to offer. The actual junction hosts the Shaftesbury memorial fountain and a statue of an archer (Eros). This is also the place that hosts the large neon and LED advertisement signs for Coca Cola, TDK, and others. |
| Restaurants |
| Tours |
| Transportation |
Intercity
Flights: Heathrow is London’s primary airport and it connects to central London via the Piccadilly Line.
Trains: London has eight major train stations with names and service areas:
- Charing Cross – serves southern England
- Euston – northwest United Kingdom
- King’s Cross – northeast United Kingdom
- Liverpool Street – East Anglia
- Paddington – West/South Wales
- St. Pancras – Midlands/Northwest
- Victoria – South United Kingom
- Waterloo – South and Southwest
Buses: All buses meet at the Victoria Coach Station at 164 Buckingham Palace Rd. |
Local
The Underground: Commonly known as “The Tube”, the underground is a train/subway network that spreads throughout London. Prices depend on how many of the six concentric zones that you travel. The Tube runs from 5:30 am to midnight.
Buses: Buses are divided into four zones. You’ll see a lot of the famous red double-decker buses. Regular lines from 5:30 am to midnight, and then the night buses take over.
Taxis: Licensed taxis have illuminated signs on top of their cars. Pickup costs an extra £2. |
| Night Life |
Fabric
Address: 77A Charterhouse St.
Transportation: Tube station Farringdon
Cover: £10-15
This dance club is enormous in size and popularity. With three rooms, each with an independent sound systems, and three bars over two levels, Fabric hosts some of the hottest nightlife in London. Room 1’s “body sonic” dance floor is unlike any other: A giant speaker transmits the bass frequencies so that dancers can feel the music under the feet. |
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Address: 47 Frith St.
Tube Station: Tottenham Court Rd.
Hours: 6:00pm- late
Tickets: £5 Mon.- Thurs. after 9:00pm, £8 Fri. and Sat. after 11:00pm
Since opening its doors in 1959, Ronnie Scott’s has welcomed talented jazz artists for jam sessions in the intimate, candlelit setting. Occasional Latin nights and indie film nights. Group friendly. |
Sultan
Address: 78 Norman Rd.
Transportation: tube station Colliers Wood, South Wimbledon
Hours: noon- 11:00pm
This English pub welcomes guests to enjoy their beer garden in the back, as well as local beer from the Salisbury Hop Back Brewery. This pub is a friendly, casual place to meet up with friends on a weeknight or to have a beer before hitting the clubs. |
Hootenanny
Address: 95 Effra Rd
With live music every night of the week, Hootananny attracts a lively, diverse crowd. During the week, enjoy traditional folk music, SKA on Fridays, pop rock on Saturdays and salsa on Sundays. Many concerts are free, but some range from £5- 15. |
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