Attractions in London
Abbey Road Studios
St. John`s Wood, London, NW8 - since the Beatles lived in London for much of the 1960`s it is hardly surprising that the capital is riddled with Beatle associations. The prime Beatles landmark is, of course, the Abbey Road zebra crossing featured on the album cover, located near the EMI studios, where the group recorded most of their albums. To get there, walk up Grove End Road, which runs along the west side of Lord`s cricket ground, until you come to the junction where it turns into Abbey Rd. Do not forget to bring your friends, cameras and to put your signature on the wall in front of the studios (everybody else does it, and you are perfectly safe to do it).
Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, London
This museum is situated just across Cambridge Heath Road from Bethnal Green tube station. The ground floor is best known for its unique collection of antique dolls` houses dating back from 1673. Model trains, cars, rocking horses, puppets, a vast doll collection including Native American representations of spirits, temporary exhibitions, antique accessories for babies, just to name a few of the thing that can be found here.
Brick Lane
As its name suggests once upon a time this was the main location for the brick kilns which helped rebuild the City of London after the Great Fire. Nowadays, Brick Lane lies at the heart of the Bengali community, and each step is accompanied by the smell of the spices from the numerous cafes and restaurants. If you are looking to purchase particular kind of Eastern music then this is the place to visit in London. Location - cross the eastern end of Fournier Street (near Aldgate East tube station).
British Library
After fifteen years of problems and millions of public money spent, the library finally opened its doors to the public in the spring of 1998. The sheer number of books inside will take your breath away. This is actually the largest library in London. Location - Euston Road (near St Pancras Station).
Burlington Arcade
Located on the other side of the Royal Academy, and built in 1819 for Lord Cavendish this is London`s longest and most expensive nineteenth-century arcade. It is still illegal to whistle, sing, hum, hurry or carry large packages. If you want to spend your money quickly in London then this is the place that will take care of it.
Canary Wharf
Situated in the middle of the West India Docks (East London). Most famous building is Cesar Pelli`s landmark tower, officially known as One Canada Square, which at 800ft is one of the highest buildings in Europe. It is the world’s first skyscraper to be clad in stainless steel. Due to the high security measures in today’s world you will not be permitted to enter it.
Chinatown
Located in between Leicester Square and Shaftesbury Avenue, is a self-contained jumble of shops, cafes and restaurants that makes up one of London`s most distinct and popular ethnic enclaves. Gerrard Street, Chinatown`s main drag, has been endowed with ersatz touches - telephone kiosks rigged out as pagodas and fake Oriental gates - and few of a London`s 80,000 Chinese actually live in the three small blocks of Chinatown. The Chinese New Year celebrations, instigated here in 1973, are a community-based affair, drawing in thousands of Chinese for the Sunday nearest to New Year`s Day (late Jan or early Feb). Huge papier-mache lions dance through the streets of London to a cacophony of fireworks devouring cabbages hung from the upper floors by strings pinned with money.
Changing the Guard
Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1. Take tube to Victoria, St James`s Park or Green Park tube station. There are actually two ceremonies at separate places. The more popular venue is Buckingham Palace where at 11.30am on most days The Queen`s Guard, accompanied by a band, arrives from Wellington Barracks having marched via Bird Cage Walk to the palace. The ceremony lasts about 40 min. and takes place inside the railings of the palace. A separate ceremony also takes place daily throughout the year at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall at 11am Mon-Sat and 10am on Sun. Here The Queen`s Life Guard - ride in to perform the ceremony via Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill and The Mall.
Cleopatra`s Needle
Incredible as it is this is an original Egyptian obelisk. Situated at the Thames Embankment, Cleopatra`s Needle was made in Egypt for the Pharaoh Thotmes III in 1460 BC and brought to London from Alexandria by sea in 1878, to commemorate the British victory over Napoleon.
Covent Garden
What started out in the seventeenth century as London`s first luxury neighbourhood is once more a highly desirable place to live, work and shop. Based around Inigo Jones`s piazza - London`s oldest planned square - the area had for years been a market centre for fruit and vegetables. That was closed in 1974 and for a while it looked as if the developers would move in on this prime central real estate and demolish it all for unwanted new office blocks. These plans collapsed and now we have the elegant old market hall, and shops, restaurants and arts-and-crafts stalls. It has become one of London`s major tourist attractions, which now boast some of the trendiest clothes shops, cafes and restaurants in London.
Downing Street
It is an office for the prime minister, a meeting place for the Cabinet, a venue for state events and a home for the prime minister's family. While in office, prime ministers traditionally live with their families in Downing Street in the private flat on the second floor. Prime Minister Tony Blair lives in the larger flat above Numbers 11 and 12, which has more room for his family.
Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is the only English Art Deco house open to the public. Initially a moated manor house bought by Edward II in 1305, additions such as the impressive hammerbeam-roofed Great Hall in the 1470s created one of England's largest palaces for a succession of royals. Most famously, Henry VIII grew up here. After the Civil War the palace fell into decline for over 200 years and the Great Hall, once the scene of lavish feasts, was even used as a barn.
Elephant Man
Joseph Merrick, better known as the `Elephant Man`, was discovered in a freak show by Dr Treves, and subsequently admitted as a patient to the Royal London Hospital on Whitechapel Road. He remained there, on show as a medical freak for four years until his death in 1890. The hospital still owns his skeleton (it is not on public display).
Fitzroy House
Fitzrovia dates back to the 18th century and has been for many years well known for its writers and artists. From H.G. Wells and George Orwell, to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf - its inhabitants have left an indelible mark. Although it is well known that the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw resided in Fitzroy Square, it is a lesser-known fact that he also lived with his mother on the 1st floor of 37 Fitzroy Street from 1881-1882. 75 years later, writer and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard made 37 Fitzroy Street his London base. Ron Hubbard wrote many of his best-known works whilst in London. With a number of New York Times bestsellers and the Guinness Book of World Records Title for most published author, he is one of the most prolific writers of his time. You are welcome to visit Fitzroy House. Admittance is free. Open daily 11am-5pm by appointment.