Three Must-Dos when Visiting London
London, the capital of England is a fabulous city to visit; there is something for everyone to see and do. London has over 300 museums and more than 200 galleries. There is always an exhibition, show or event happening somewhere in London.
London’s four major international airports make it very accessible to the rest of the world. There are several transportation choices once you have landed. It is east to get around London by public transport – bus, train and tube lines are numerous and generally well-serviced. London has hundreds of things to do and a multitude of great places to visit. Before you even begin to visit them, make sure that all important documents – including details of your travel insurance – are stored in a safe place, preferably in the safe at your hotel. Below are three of the best things to see and do when visiting London.
Buckingham Palace – Buckingham Palace is one of England’s most famous palaces and is the official home of Queen Elizabeth II. If you are visiting London in summer you can visit the State Rooms as they are open to the public then. Buckingham Palace was acquired by King George III for Queen Charlotte, and has a long and colourful history.
It was George IV who turned the house into a palace. The Palace became the official residence of Queen Victoria in 1837. During ceremonial occasions, the Royal family still use the State Rooms to receive and entertain guests. Some of the finest English and French furniture in the world can be found in the lavishly decorated rooms. The walls are adorned with paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Poussin. It is also possible to take a tour of the 29-acre gardens, as well as visit the annual exhibitions which take place there. You really must see this if you are visiting London.
The British Museum – The British Museum is world renowned for its collection of objects exploring the history and culture of man. This impressive museum is home to over seven million objects. Founded in 1753, the displays range from prehistoric to modern. Some of the more notable pieces include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures and the Portland Vase.
It has a world renowned Egyptian collection of mummies and there is a special tomb like room dedicated to the life of the wealthy Egyptian, Negamun. The museum also has areas dedicated to Medieval Europe, Watches and Clocks, and the Percival David Collection of Chinese Art. The Great Court – the large central glass globe – is the hub of the museum. It is the largest covered public square in Europe and was designed by Lord Norman Foster. This fascinating place could occupy you for days and you still may not see everything.
The London Eye – The modern icon that is the London Eye – also called the Millennium Wheel – is a must see when visiting London. A “flight” on the London Eye will give you a whole new perspective on this beautiful city. One of London’s most famous modern landmarks, this streamlined dominates the skyline standing at an impressive 135 metres. It allows a person to see a 360 degree view of London through glass pods. On a clear day you can see twenty five miles in all directions.
As well as getting a birds-eye view of London’s sights, such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, and Canary Wharf, on a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle. Just one revolution at its slow and steady pace takes about half an hour. This is a very popular attraction and you can expect long queues for booking tickets and waiting to board the flight. If you are planning in advance, save time by buying your tickets online. Depending on your needs, you can find a variety of packages on offer. If your budget allows, beat the queues by buying a Fast Track ticket which lets you check in 15 minutes beforehand. You can also have a glass of champagne or the company of a London guide. A panoramic view of this historic city is made possible in this way.
You will probably want to return to London after just one visit. You can easily get around this vast historic city by taxi cab if you have the budget! London has both licensed and unlicensed minicabs. London – like New York – is famous for its taxis, except for that these ones are black and are called Hackney cabs. You should stick to using these licensed taxis rather than the often less reliable “minicabs”.
You can hire a car at all of London’s airport locations if you prefer this option to getting you around. You can easily find both self-drive and chauffeur-driven vehicles for hire at the airports.
Make sure you read the rental agreement properly so that you know exactly what you will be liable for if you should have an accident. Other specialist insurance products such as gap insurance, car warranties and breakdown insurance will generally be taken care of by the hire car company so you do not need to worry about these things. Do however make sure to ask for details as to what you should do if you experience a breakdown and at all costs make sure that cover is for a 24-hour breakdown service! Be careful of agreeing to additional insurance products such as key or windscreen insurance as these will give you added peace of mind but will probably cost you more. Just make sure that you know what you are signing! Choose a reputable company such as Avis, Budget or Hertz.
Although hiring a car is a great way to get to your hotel or Bed and Breakfast, the public transport is excellent in the United Kingdom. There are regular trains to and from all of London’s major railway stations and several trains per hour to Brighton, a vibrant and cosmopolitan seaside resort often dubbed “London-by-the Sea”.
Whatever time of the year you choose to visit, you will find London an exciting and beautiful city. Whether your preferences are to see the sights by day or party in the London clubs all night, you will always be able to find something exciting to do. As the famous Samuel Johnson quotation goes:
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”.
This short city review was brought to you by London’s’ leading online GAP Insurance and Car Warranty supplier the Click4Group.
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