5 O'Clock Tea in London
In 2009 I had the chance to visit UK for the first time in my life. Eight years later, I had again the opportunity to visit properly London. First time, I visited only few important sights in the capital of UK, Oxford Castle and Windsor Castle (where I tried the traditional 5 o'clock tea with apple pie & whipped cream). Yummy! 🍰😍
Few years later, I was surprised when I discovered new buildings and sights (in 2017). If you ever go to UK, please try the Cadbury Chocolate Bar. 🍫I promise you won't regret it!!!👌😉 This city has so much to offer, but with so many sights to see, where should you begin? Enough with sweets, let's discover together the beautiful sights of London:
1. Sky Garden - It's London's highest public garden. Passport or Identity Card is needed for security check. Also don't forget your booking & dress code: smart casual! Usually this place is really hunted by tourists and you must book when you have slots available (I booked it 3 weeks in advance). I will help you step by step how to book correctly, so follow the path:
Click the link https://skygarden.london/ => BOOK A FREE VISIT => Here you have to pick your slots available. For example, if you don't find slots available you will probably see this message "NO SLOTS ON SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2019". If you are lucky, it will be shown the schedule with slots and spaces available. => The next step is to select the quantity of tickets => RESERVE TICKETS => Then, you have to fill in the gaps your information such as your name, your Email, your telephone => NEXT => Download your booking and bring it there. Please make sure that you arrive on the given ticket time and may have to queue. Done! So enjoy the view!👌😉
2. The Shard - In 2012, the Italian architect Renzo Piano transformed London’s skyline with a strange but striking structure that’s now the capital’s tallest tower. Measuring 310 meters, The Shard was built with everything in mind: offices, homes, hotels, bars, restaurants and, of course, the alluring viewing platform. So, admire the sprawling metropolis of London from the 72nd floor of its newest landmark. Dress code: smart casual.
3. Big Ben - Is the nickname of the Great Bell inside Westminster’s iconic clock tower, but even locals think "Big Ben" when they see the Elizabeth Tower. You can’t get inside for a tour until 2021 due to maintenance work but you’re a minute away from the river, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey here.
4. The Royal Observatory Greenwich - Is the world-famous Prime Meridian at the home of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Here you can see how was measured for centuries, the location for the scientific study of the stars and of timekeeping – originally for the benefit of sea navigation. You can also see the incredible instruments with which astronomers made discoveries about our universe, long before the digital age, or go stargazing at a planetarium show.
4.1. The Prime Meridian - This is where you’ll see the Greenwich Meridian Line marked out, from which point the world’s time zones are measured. It shows where the East and West hemispheres of the Earth meet at Longitude 0°. Greenwich has been marked at 0° Longitude since 1884. How to get there? Use the Underground DLR - Cutty Sark.
5. SEA LIFE London Aquarium - Spot up to 400 species including sharks, stingrays, moray eels and clown fish at the aquarium. It's the home to sea creatures from all over the world, from Pacific sharks to Antarctic penguins. It's near London Eye. You can buy a single ticket to visit SEA LIFE Aquarium, London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
6. London Eye - Located in the heart of London, along the River Thames, the Coca-Cola London Eye is situated across the river from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. At 443 ft (135 m) tall, the Coca-Cola London Eye is the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and has come to be one of London’s iconic structures and modern symbol of the capital.
7. Buckingham Palace - Explore the lavish interiors of the Queen's official London residence, and one of the world's few remaining working royal palaces, with a Buckingham Palace tour every summer.
7.1. Royal Day Out - A Royal Day Out ticket offers discounted admission to all three venues at Buckingham Palace: the State Rooms, The Queen's Gallery, and the Royal Mews. You will begin your Royal Day Out at The Queen's Gallery, followed by the Royal Mews, and then the State Rooms, visiting all three venues on the same day. Click the link for tickets and more info https://tickets.rct.uk/state-rooms-buckingham-palace/royal-day-out/2019.
8. Kensington Palace - Is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century, and is currently the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
9. Tower Bridge - One of the finest and most recognized bridges in the world, Tower Bridge is an iconic symbol of London and one of its most visited landmarks. This commanding structure has stood over the River Thames since 1894 and is not just a working bridge, but an exhibition space and historic monument too.
10. London Bridge - Has been depicted in its several forms, in art, literature, and songs, including the nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down". Most of the time, people confuse London Bridge and Tower Bridge. One of these bridges has a name famous across the globe, the other is a stunning symbol of London – but which one is which?! Obviously the best way to find out is to visit London!😉 Or simply click the link https://freetoursbyfoot.com/london-bridge-tower-bridge/.
11. HMS Belfast - A grey warship, with its guns tilted high, moored close to Tower Bridge, that is a museum nowadays. Open daily, with scenes set to show you what life was like on board a working WWII warship.
12. Westminster Abbey - Kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains - Westminster Abbey is a must-see living pageant of British history. Every year, the Abbey welcomes over one million visitors who want to explore this wonderful 700-year-old building - the coronation church of England. Audio guides are available in eleven languages.
13. The National Maritime Museum - Is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Learn about Britain's encounters with the world at sea, the Royal Navy, and the life of great British hero Admiral Horatio Nelson, and see the uniform he wore when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar.
14. Trafalgar Square & The National Gallery - Explore the story of European art at the National Galley, masterpiece by masterpiece, with its collection belonging to the public which includes inspiring works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir and Van Gogh. And it's FREE.
15. The British Museum - Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history. Enjoy a unique comparison of the treasures of world cultures under one roof, centred around the magnificent Great Court. And it's FREE.
16. The Science Museum - Is the most visited science and technology museum in Europe. There are over 15,000 objects on display, including world-famous objects such as the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket. From my point of view it's the best museum that I have ever seen. And the best part? It's FREE.
17. The Natural History Museum - Is the magnificent South Kensington home of around 80 million plant, animal, fossil, rock and mineral specimens. This fascinating museum, which is also a world-class research institution, is full of natural wonders. It's FREE.
18. The Victoria and Albert Museum - The V&A celebrates art and design with 3,000 years' worth of amazing artefacts from around the world. A real treasure trove of goodies, you never know what you'll discover next: furniture, paintings, sculpture, metalwork and textiles. FREE entry.
19. St Paul's Cathedral - You'll recognise St Paul's Cathedral as the dome that dominates the London skyline. It's not just striking on the outside, it's got an impressive interior too. Think whispering walls, a frescoed ceiling, and unique effigies of former kings and queens. With a visit to St Paul's, you'll learn all about its unique history and the famous weddings that have taken place there, including Prince Charles and Diana's back in 1981.
20. The Gherkin - Is London’s most instantly recognisable tower. Totalling 500,000 sq ft, The Gherkin is an iconic structure housing a flourishing community and deserves its reputation for being ‘the most civilised skyscraper in the world’. It's not open to the public.
21. The Red Telephone Box - Is a telephone kiosk for a public telephone designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the UK.
22. The Palace of Westminster - Serves as the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its occupants, the Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster. For more info click the link https://www.parliament.uk/visiting/.
Public Transport in London🚇🚌
The subway is called by British people Underground or The Tube. Click the link for maps https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/track/tube. It's available since 1863 and has 402 km and 270 stations. You have to try at least once their traditional red buses. How to pay the journey? You have a lot of options: Day travel Pass, Oyster Card, 7 Days Travel Card, Day Travel Card. I used the Oyster Card from Heathrow Airport.
Currency in United Kingdom 🤑
The British Pound (GBP - British Pound) is the currency of United Kingdom. For more info about exchange rates click the link https://www.xe.com/currency/gbp-british-pound.
Where to stay in London? 🏨🏡
I stayed at Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow. It's near the airport and the underground/subway/metro. Indeed it's a little bit far from the center (1 hour with underground), but it's a very good choice for quality/price (click the link https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/hilton-garden-inn-heathrow.en.html?aid=1971070&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=ATB). And yes, you will not hear the noise of airplanes because it is very well soundproofed. Of course, you can choose other accommodations so click this link https://www.booking.com/city/gb/london.en.html?aid=1971070&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=ATB.
I hope you enjoyed the article and took some great info for your trip! Thank you for your time and have a wonderful and inspiring day!
Andra😘💋
Source for describing the sights: Wikipedia
