London, Rich in History

In 2001, we went to London, England. It was my first time out of the country. And what a better place than London! For 7 days, we travelled all around London to the various sights and sounds of the city. Unfortunately, we went during the foot-and-mouth disease in England, so believe it or not, a lot of the countryside was closed to tourists.

But London itself had so much to offer newbies from America, from Buckingham Palace to local fish-and-chips.

There is so much history in London, and that is where to start. Such places as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Covent Garden, and so much more give you a real view of history.

At Buckingham Palace you can view the changing of the guard and the parade of guards during the day, while the Tower of London has the royal jewels on display, as well as crowns worn by all the royalty dating back many, many centuries.

And do not forget the modern life of London, from Picadilly Square to Victoria Station. The life is hustle-and-bustle, and all the newest fashions have arrived in this area.

Quick Tips:

* Make sure you have passes to ride the Tube, which connects you to all parts of London. There is no need to learn how to drive on the left side of road.

* Be careful of cars. They DO NOT stop for you, and being from the US, remember that traffic is on the opposite side - this affects pedestrians as well.

* The Convent Garden and Nottinghill areas have swap meets all the time. Check with your hotel. They helped us out.

* While in London, take a day or so out of your schedule and ride the CHUNNEL to Paris. We did, and it was well worth it. It is like a 4-hour ride (I think). Take it early in the morning, enjoy the day, and return late in the evening. It was a great idea.

Best Way To Get Around:

The absolute only way to travel is by the Tube (underground subway). We bought a pass before our trip, so all we did was swipe our card the whole week and rode wherever we wanted. Stops are available at all the major attractions.

Although I would suggest that, for fun, you take a taxi ride in the little black taxis.

You must make it to any pub within London and try the fish-and-chips with malt vinegar - and, of course, if you drink, enjoy a nice British brew while catching a local soccer match on the tele!

Well, of course, when in London, you must see Buckingham Palace. You can take a look at the history of the building and snap some pictures of the outside, but this is not an all day thing. We hit this first, as our hotel was like a half a mile from the palace complex.

You may want to try and come during a palace guard change and parade. But remember that it will get crowded fast, so stake your spot for your photo ops.

The Tower of London was a very historic area, and the great part was that most of it was open to you. It was almost like an open museum. Many of the rooms are still set in period style to show what it might have looked like back in medieval times.
The great thing was that you could go at your own pace through the different buildings that make up the Tower of London complex, from the actual tower to several buildings that were used for guards and/or prisoners throughout the centuries

Also within in the complex are the royal jewels, which included the crowns of many of the past kings and queens of England that ruled over the centuries. It surely brings history to the future when you see these artifacts. At the end of this mini-tour were the jewels of the royal family, from scepters used during coronations to necklace and rings worn by some of the most famous people in England.

It is truly a must-see while in London!

While we had about a one-hour wait, and it was truly an experience to walk through this wax museum in London. You can see famous kings, presidents, or dictators. You make the decision.

The work and likeness of these famous people is striking. You can easily spend a good half-day just looking at the intricate workmanship of these wax figurines. From the Fab Four to Elvis himself, it is truly amazing.

All the wax people are grouped and put in settings that add to the air of the place. Enter the garden party with the likes of Governor Arnold and the singing styles of Tom Jones. From history to pop culture, it is all here.

It was a cold, drizzly day in London when we went to visit Westminster Abbey. However, it did not take away from the design and sure history of this building, from the ornate woodwork to the marbled arches. And then you think back to what has happened here and who was here.

All kings and queens are buried in this abbey. As you walk along, you see the different names of royalty and realize you have stepped back in time. The decor is amazing and so ornate that it takes several minutes to stare up and round to soak it all in.