The capital of England and the United Kingdom is an exciting place to visit. It is a busy, cosmopolitan city and is perfect for shopping, sightseeing, visiting galleries and museums, eating out or theatre trips.

The Houses of Parliament are where the British Government
meet. Big Ben is very well-known. In fact Big Ben is the name of bell which is in St. Stephen’s Tower.

Westminster Abbey was built between the 13th and 16th centuries although there has been a building on the site for
much longer. Most English Kings and Queens have been crowned, married and buried in the Abbey. Princess Diana’s funeral was held there in 1997.

10 Downing Street is the official London home of the Prime Minister. Buckingham Palace is the London home of Queen Elizabeth II. If the flag is flying, then the Queen is at home. The Palace is open for visitors from August until October. The Changing of the Guard starts at 11.30 hrs, lasts for 45 minutes and takes place on alternate days.

At the bottom of The Mall (the red road in front of Buckingham Palace) you come to Trafalgar Square. A statue of Lord Nelson is at the top of a column and the lions at his feet are made from French canons captured during the Battle of Trafalgar

The National Gallery and the British Museum are both free to visit and have interesting exhibitions. The New Tate (across Millennium Bridge) also has some free exhibitions.

St. Paul’s Cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. You can climb the 627 steps to the dome and explore the whispering stone and golden galleries for a small charge. The Tower of London, next to Tower Bridge, has a long history. Today it keeps the Crown Jewels safe. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre has been rebuilt in its original form. You can see a play at the theatre but it is open air and you have to stand! The London Eye is a more modern addition to London and you can see fabulous views all over London from it. It costs approx. £10 to go on the London Eye, and the queue may look long but it moves quickly.

Of course, a trip to London is not complete without shopping. Covent Garden used to be London’s fruit and vegetable market but is now a trendy shopping area with lots of restaurants and cafes. Street entertainers perform in Covent Garden. Oxford Street has well-known shops. Harrods, the department store of the rich and famous, is in Knightsbridge.