London in any season

I doubt 200 words are even close to enough! Okay...go see the Queen, et al, at Buckingham Palace. No, it's not very impressive from the outside, but... See the changing of the guard while you're there. The Tower of London is alot of fun, make sure you don't miss the Armoury and the Royal Jewels. If you're not sqeemish go to the London Dungeon - it's the real thing! Make sure you get to Hyde Park and St James Park (Buckingham is in between them). Parliament and Big Ben are must do's and Westminister is right acros the street. If you can get inside, both the House of Commons and House of Lords is interesting and entertaining. Oxford Street is the main shopping thoroughfair, most of the shops are quite pricey. Go to Camden Town for low cost and 2nd hand shopping and the environment (it's like Venice Beach, CA but 100 times bigger). Try to make time to go see an Andrew Lloyd Webber then walk around Picadilly Circus, Convent Garden and Leicester Square. Oh! Don't forget to see the National Gallery then any of the other many museums/galleries if you have time.

Quick Tips:

Visit any Tourist Information and find lodging through them. You can pick up all tour information ther too. Sightseeing tours - try Guide Friday or Evans and Evans. Remember - don't tip, it's not necessary, save your money, Lonon is expensive enough.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you're just looking at Historical sights or points of interest use the all day/ on and off priviges of one of the tour buses. The Underground is very easy to understand, the cheapest and most effective way to get around London. All museums and churches are free, take advantage. Taxis are expensive but if you must - avoid the black cabs, they're the most expensive.

Tourist Informatoin Centre's are good places to find accomodations - you can book for a B&B, hostel, Guest House, hotel/motel - you choose your price range, you pick out what area you want to stay in, they call and make sure you get a bed or room, give you a map and you're set! All accomadtoins listed with Tourist Information Centres are clean and comfortable - they've been checked out. You could arrive at 5:00 pm with no place to stay, and by 6:00 pm be unpacking in your room. -- Victoria Station also has a Hotel Reservation Centre near Platfrom 8.

The architecture of the gallery is beautiful - classical Georgian, with columns and all. It is located on the north side of the Square, so just sitting on the steps in front offers great views and good people watching. The Gallery, like all museums in the UK is free. It houses one of the largest European Art collections in the world. The National Gallery has a collection of 18th and 19th century English painting as well as French Impressionists (my favorite). The gift shop is great, by the way.

I was able to tour inside Buckingham Palace in 1994 when the Queen first opened it to the public to raise funds to rebuild Windsor after the fire. I didn't think the outside was all that impressive, especially since I knew that Nash had remodeled it for George IV in the 1820's - I had expected more. What is inside makes up for whatever is lacking on the outside in terms of opulence and over-the-top decor. I can't imagine being a child inside the palace - priceless pieces of furniture, gold inlaid stairs and all kinds of other things, priceless art objects and paintings and portraits, mirrors everywhere.

We weren't allowed to take pictures anywhere inside or even in the courtyards or the lawns. You can buy postcard pictures of the rooms you were able to tour though. As far as I know the palace hasn't been opened to the public again, but with all the anti-royal sentiment and use of tax pounds, it probably will be (or has been and I never noticed). The Queen Victoria Memorial at the center of the traffic circle is a good place to sit and look at the Palace, watch the tourists, watch the guards not move. The changing of the guard only takes place every other day, at 11:30 a.m. but get their early so you can see.

Camden Town is a cultural experience in itself. It is a giant flea market, outdoor market, and indoor shopping mall all in one vast area. Anything you could possibly want is sold here - new and used, hand-made and factory made. Parts of it are somewhat open and other parts are overcrowded, with stalls practically sitting on top of other stalls. Individuals from all nationalities vend here, with people selling wares from their homeland, to that Italian guy I met who made and sold Native American jewelry (??). Some shops are traditional, and at others the vendors shout out to you as you pass by. There are several coffee shops and cafes in the area. It is along a canal and canal trips do begin here. It is lively and it is an experience - plus you can walk away with some great bargains and conversation pieces!

Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous and historic churches in the world. It is gorgeous and very impressive! There has been a church at this site since at least the 6th Century and is where British Monarchs have been coroneted since 1066. Most of the building today dates from the 13 and 14th centuries and the twin, west towers were built in the 18th century. Edward the Confessor was the first King to be buried here. Since then many rulers and members of the Royal family have also been buried here. The Nave, near the West entrance, is breathtaking with French Gothic style vaulting, painted and gilded structures and crystal chandeliers. The choir is in Victorian Gothic style. Here men and boys sing the daily services - which are open to the public, I recommend the Evensong, at approx. 6:60 pm. Line (cue) up early to make sure you have a place to sit during the summer months, it is considerably less crowded in the winter. Along with visiting the numerous tombs for past monarchs, make sure you see Poet's Corner where many poets and writers have either been buried or honored with a memorial. A few names to be found here are Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, T.S. Eliot and Burns, just to name a few. Westminster is across the street from Big Ben and Westminster Hall (parliament) and a very short walk from St James Park. Most of the abbey and church are free, some rooms/halls request a small donation. There is of course a gift/book shop.

Covent Garden is a great place to eat, as well as shop, catch street/sidewalk performers, and enjoy outdoor markets. There are shopping arcades, with great specialty, off-beat and trendy shops. I recommend dining out at Covent Garden because it is full of diners, cafes, pubs, restaurants that meet all price ranges and choices. Including traditional British, Indian, African, Italian, Caribbean, American, Mexican, Chinese, etc, etc, it's all here and I've never eaten at a place where the food was not above standard.