Visiting London: as easy as A,B,C! (London in General)

Member Name: ~*pink-pilgrim*~

Product:	London in General
Date:	21/11/08 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great place to visit, so much to see and do.

Disadvantages: Can be a little expensive, polluted!

I have a very good friend in London who I have visited regularly for the last few years. Whilst in London I like to see and do different things but there are a few things that I keep returning for. I really enjoy a weekend in London as I can get away from the stress of work and life in Cornwall and head off for an action packed weekend...I always return feeling like I need another holiday to get over the hectic weekend!

A is for Aquarium
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Living near the cost I am interested in sea life, The aquarium in London is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames. The aquarium is amazing. It is set out on 3 floors and contains many species of both popular, well known species and more exotic species. The sharks are amazing and it is possible to get up so close. It is also possible to get up close to the rays and visitors are able touch them as they swim past.

B is for Big Ben
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Most people call the large tower connected to the Houses of Parliament Big Ben however the clock tower does not have a name. The name Big Ben is given to the large bell inside the clock tower.

The tower and Big Ben was erected in 1834. The tower has a clock face on all four sides and many people will set their watches to this time believing that the time is the most accurate timepiece in London. The tower is really impressive to look at and is a popular photo opportunity for sightseers, however people leave London showing pictures of 'Big Ben 'when they have not actually seen it.

C is for Chelsea
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Chelsea is probably the most affluent area of Central London, it always amazes me how large the houses are, how expensive the shops seem and how impressive the cars look whilst driving past in the coach.

Chelsea is also home to the flower festival held each year.

D is for Dungeons
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I have been to the dungeons twice and each time I have had a brilliant time. I usually hate scary things and hate seeing/reading about gory things and torture methods. I loved the London Dungeons as the history was very interesting. There was a lot to do and I thought the boat ride to hell was amazing. I think the dungeons are my favorite London attraction.

E is for Eye
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The London Eye stands 135 metres tall along the South Bank of the Thames. The London Eye is the biggest ferris wheel in the whole of Europe. The wheel was constructed in 1999 and has 32 capsules each able to carry 25 passengers. I have been on the eye twice, once at night and once during the day. During the summer it can get quite hot inside the capsule but the experience is amazing. It is really exhilarating and gives you the opportunity so see London from above.

F is for Free Newspaper
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The Metro is a paper handed out on street corners and are positioned in baskets around the tub stations. The Metro has information about upcoming events in and around London and the headlines. I think this is great for commuters to read whilst waiting for tubes, or whilst sat on the tube.

The Metro is quite interesting, however being a Cornish Bumpkin I find the news quite depressing after all the news down here tends to be "Seagull stuck on roof - 4 fire crews were sent out to attend the stressed bird" a far cry from the streets of London where headlines read "stabbed", "murdered" and "mugged". That said I do love London and a trip there now and again is a welcome break from the boring countryside.

G is for Gherkin
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Or under its real name - 30 St. Mary Ave or even Swiss Re Tenor - the building is a 160M high skyscraper with 40 floors in the financial area of London. The skyscraper has been named the 'gherkin' due to its shape. Many have likened the gherkin to a phallic symbol, although I think its a rather large one. The skyscraper was built in 2001-2003 and attracts many tourists wanting to take photos of the building.

H is for History
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I find the history surrounding London very interesting. Many of the events I used to teach in history at school were all based in or around London.

The Great Plague - The Great Plague killed over 70,000 people in 1665, and was known thereafter as 'The Black Death'. It was quite chilling to think that I was stood on the ground where thousands were buried in makeshift pits.

The Great Fire of London - This fire started out in Pudding Lane in 1666, only a year after the plague. The fire also managed t kill off a lot of the rats that carried the Bubonic Plague meaning that the streets were safer from disease.

Gunpowder Plot - We have just celebrated fireworks, however it is easy to forget why we celebrate it. The traditions of 'penny for the Guy' seem to have died out in some places. Learning about the story brings it all back into context. London really has a really varied but well known history.

Other historical events have been etched on the City and the effects are evident throughout the streets of London. From the battle of Trafalgar to the Blitz, these events have resulted in memorial statues and place names. There are also museums dedicated to educating others about the events.

I is for Interesting
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I personally find London a very interesting place. Everywhere you look there is a piece of history captured by a statue, marking or building. Place names have origins dating back to as early as the first century and the way of life can be inspiring.

J is for Jack the Ripper
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As previously mentioned I am quite interested in London's history including the dark, gloomy and scary type. The infamous Jack the Ripper prowled the streets of London killing prostitutes in the area. In the years 1888-1891 people feared the name "Jack the Ripper" after 11 victims were found dead, only 5 of these victims were linked to Ripper, however at the time everyone feared that he may have been responsible for the murders named "Whitechapel murders". to this date the identity of the infamous murderer is still unknown. It is possible to meet with a t our group after sun set to retrace the steps made my Jack the Ripper, I am personally not brave enough to encounter this but am sure it is very interesting.

K is for Kensington Palace
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Kensington Palace is a royal residence situated in the grounds of Kensington Gardens. It has been the residence of the Royal Family since the 17th Century. The Palace is beautiful and the gardens look amazing. It almost makes you wish you were related to the Royal Family. Kensington is a beautiful part of London and whilst visiting London with my Brownie pack we stayed in Kensington and always felt safe.

L is for London Bridge
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Today London Bride stands tall above the Thames a big Iron structure, it hasn't always been this way, and whilst researching the nursery rhyme a few years ago for college I noticed that there was some truth in the rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down".

In the first century London Bridge was made from wood and clay as stated in the children nursery rhyme. After the invasion of the Vikings, the bridge needed to be fortified to make it stronger. In the 1300's the bride was built from stone and contained many shops. London Bridge is still standing although the original bridge has now been moved stone by stone a new, stronger bridge was built in its place.

M is for Monopoly
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Since a young age I have loved playing monopoly, on my trips to London I have enjoyed spotting places mentioned on the monopoly board. I have always wanted to take part in one of the many charity events that involve looking for place names on the monopoly board and taking pictures. What a great way to see the City!

N is for Number 10
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A few years ago I visited number 10 with a group of kids, I don't know what I was expecting to see but the black door with the brass number "10" was nothing special.

This door belongs to the prime minister - when I visited that door belonged to Tony Blair it now belongs to Gordon Brown. The streets are very well kept along there and many guards protect the large black gates. As boring as it was its something I won't forget, not may people get the chance to stand on the Prime Ministers doorstep.

O is for Olympics
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In 2012, the Olympics will be hosted in London. The site has started to take shape and on my recent visit to the city I was amazed to see the size of the site and just how much more work will need to be done before the event, still it is taking shape and I can't wait to visit again in a year to see the progress make.

P is for Paddington Bear
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The lovable bear Paddington, best known for his love of marmalade sandwiches (now Marmite I must add) was named after Paddington Train Station where he was found by the Brown Family. The story created by Michael Bond was inspired by the events during the war where thousands of evacuees left the city on trains bound for the countryside.

Q is for Queen
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The queen - I couldn't really write a review about London without mentioning the queen. The Queen is major reason why thousands of tourists flock to the capital year after year. Tourists will visit Buckingham Palace in the hope that they will catch a glimpse of the queen and the guards. I must admit I do enjoy visiting Buckingham Palace and seeing the flawless guards and immaculate horses.

R is for Red Bus
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Love them or hate them red buses are a token souvenir for most tourists. Many sightseers stop to take photos of the many red buses driving through the roads of London. I travelled via bus and must say the experience was rather scary and very unpleasant. The overcrowded buses were hot and smelly...what a great advert for such a nice city.

S is for St Paul's Cathedral
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St Paul's Cathedral is a cathedral on Ludgate Hill The present building dates from the 17th century, and is generally thought to be London's fourth St Paul's Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral.

T is for Tower of London
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The Tower of London is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames. The Tower was used as a prison for people who had committed a crime. The Tower is well known by many as the place people were imprisoned hanged and beheaded. The bloody torture chamber as seen at the London Dungeons is a very eerie place. You can stand on the execution site of three English queens and hear the myths and legends, I have enjoyed hearing some of the ghost stories and learning more about the Tower's bloody history.

U is for Underground
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A very clever system of tunnels situated underground (although many stations are above ground) linking major boroughs and parts of the city. The London Underground can appear very confusing but it is a useful and effective way for commuters to get around the city.

V is for Victoria
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OK so I am struggling a little bit now BUT on my visits to London I travel by coach and Victoria Train and Coach Stations are amazing. I find that on entering the City I can start enjoying my stay straight away as the two are conveniently close to each other and the shops are amazing. Victoria Train Station alone has more shops alone than a major shopping centre in the South West.

W is for Westminster
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X is for Xmas Shopping
It that time of year where people start shopping for gifts for the festive season. Whilst in London two months ago I started buying a few gifts for Christmas knowing that if I waited until nearer the time I wouldn't have had so much choice. I managed to have a lovely time browsing shops and buying gifts for everyone. I also love the Christmas lights in London. I visited London two years ago and the lights are so spectacular, especially some of the shop windows.

Y is for youth hostels
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If you are planning to visit London but are on a tight budget there are some lovely, secure youth hostels around where you can rest your head for the night. Why spend lots of money on an expensive, overpriced hotel. The money you save on accommodation can be used to see more sights and get into more attractions.

Z is for Zoo
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On my last visit to London I visited the zoo, the experience was amazing. The animals were so well looked after and it was easy to get close to some of them. The zoo is very well designed and although shattered at the end of my visit I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I think I have probably mentioned the word 'history' in two thirds of my reviews but I most enjoyed hearing about the history of the zoo and the many animals that have managed to escape from the zoo and cause havoc around London.

SUMMARY
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5 hours ago I thought it would be great to review London in general, I though an A-Z guide to the city would be a great way to express my opinion on the attractions and landmarks in and around London.

SO...To sum up this review, I can say that London is a truly magical place to visit on holiday. I can't say I'd particularly like to live there but for a weekend it's a great place to visit.

Summary: I enjoy my holidays to London, a great place with so much to see and do!