Queen Elizabeth
Three Must-Dos when Visiting London
There is something for everyone to see and do in the capital city of England – London. London is home to over 300 museums and 200 art galleries. London has something for everyone and there are always events going on in the capital.
Heathrow airport is extremely busy with flights arriving and departing from all over the world, making it very accessible. Once you have landed here there are several options of transportation to choose from. It is east to get around London by public transport – bus, train and tube lines are numerous and generally well-serviced. There are hundreds of things to do in London and there are many fascinating places to visit. Three of London’s most popular attractions are listed below to give you some ideas for your London visit.
Buckingham Palace – Buckingham Palace is one of England’s most famous palaces and is the official home of Queen Elizabeth II. In summer you can visit the State Rooms themselves as they open to the public. Since it’s acquisition for Queen Charlotte by King George III, the palace has a long and colourful history.
The historic house was converted into a palace by George IV. In 1837, Queen Victoria was the first monarch to reside in Buckingham Palace. During ceremonial occasions, the Royal family still use the State Rooms to receive and entertain guests. The rooms are lavishly decorated and have some of the finest French and English furniture in the world. The works of painters such as Poussin, Vermeer, Rubens and Rembrandt adorn the walls. It is also possible to take a tour of the 29-acre gardens, as well as visit the annual exhibitions which take place there. This is an essential sight to see for any London visitor.
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. The museum was founded in 1753 and houses exhibits which 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 central hub of the museum is the glass domed Great Court. It is the largest covered public square in Europe and was designed by Lord Norman Foster. This is a fascinating place that you could spend days in and never 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. You will get an entirely new perspective on this beautiful city from on board the London Eye. This awesome streamlined riverside wheel is an impressive 135 metres tall. Through the glass pods you get a 360-degree view of the city. You can see for twenty-five miles in all directions on a clear day.
It’s possible to see as far as Windsor Castle on a clear day, as well as getting a bird’s-eye view of all London’s other attractions such as the Houses of Parliament and Canary Wharf. Its slow and steady pace completes one revolution in about thirty minutes. Expect to be standing a long time in queues for both tickets and boarding as this is a hugely popular attraction. You can save time by booking online. There are different packages on offer to choose from which will depend on your needs. Buying a Fast Track ticket will help you avoid the queues, allowing you to check in 15 minutes before. If the fancy takes you it’s possible to have a glass of champagne or a personal London guide. This is the best and only way to get a true panoramic view of the city.
Many people love to return to London often. You can easily get around this vast historic city by taxi cab if you have the budget!London has minicab operators which are both licensed and unlicensed. Similar to New York London is well known for its cabs which are black rather than yellow and are called Hackney Cabs. You should stick to using these licensed taxis rather than the often less reliable “minicabs”.
Alternatively, if you don’t fancy using public transport or taxis, there are many car hire companies which operate from London Heathrow Airport and the same from London’s smaller airport; Gatwick. The airports have excellent facilities for motorists, and you can hire a self-drive or even chauffeur-driven vehicle.
When hiring a car, be sure to read the rental agreement fully so that you know exactly what you will be covered for in the event of an accident, particularly any excess charges which you may be liable for. 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. Make sure you have 24-hour breakdown cover included, and are aware of who to call and what details to give if it should actually happen! Additional insurance products may be offered – such as windscreen insurance or key insurance – to give you added peace of mind but which will undoubtedly cost you more. Just make sure that you know what you are signing! Choose a reputable company such as Avis, Budget or Hertz.
You may prefer to use the excellent public transport system instead of hiring a car to get you to your hotel or bed and breakfast (B&B). 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”.
No matter what time of year London is an amazing and beautiful place to visit. You will always find something exciting to do whether it is seeing the sights during the day or hitting all of the hot London clubs at night. 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’ Most Popular Online GAP Insurance and Car Warranty Supplier the Click4Group.
Queen Elizabeth II Reflects on her life, rare footage
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $80.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $220.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage press photo $100.00 |
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RELIGIOUS/QUEEN/SAINT ELIZABETH / COIMBRA SYMBOLS / BRONZE MEDAL BY M.NORTE $14.99 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $210.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $100.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $100.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $100.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $100.00 |
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Coronation Queen Elizabeth original vintage photo $210.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip original press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip color press photo $60.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth & Duke of Edinburgh in Persia $110.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II original black white press photo $90.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth & Princess Diana original press photo $60.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $60.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth & Thabo Mbeki original color photo $60.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II original black white press photo $70.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $60.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II royal original color press photo $50.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II original black white press photo $90.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II original black white press photo $90.00 |
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HM QUEEN ELIZABETH TUVALU PACIFIC 1982 WAR CANOE $39.00 |
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HM QUEEN ELIZABETH NEW ZEALAND MAORIS 1981 + 1990 $50.00 |
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HM QUEEN ELIZABETH HRH PRINCE PHILLIP NEW ZEALAND 1977 $88.00 |
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EMIR OF BAHRAIN/ QUEEN ELIZABETH ROYAL VISIT 1984 $72.00 |
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HM QUEEN ELIZABETH PRESIDENT OF GERMANY 1978 $44.00 |
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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Tea Towel 100% Cotton. Special England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales Edition $13.90 Beautiful 100% cotton tea towel celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. This lovely design shows the England’s red rose Scotland’s thistle, Ireland’s shamrock and the daffodil of Wales topped by the crown of the Sovereign…. |
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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Tea Towel $6.38 This limited edition tea towel to celebrate the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee in 2012 measures 47cm x 80cm and is made from 100% cotton…. |
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Rikki KnightTM Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Celebration Design 2012 Photo Quality 11 oz Ceramic Coffee Mug cup (Two Images on one mug) $15.95 This Smokey Rainbow Music Notes 11oz mug is professionally printed and can be used at work or home, your Recipient will love to show off this mug to others… |
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Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee: Royal Music from Westminster Abbey $11.83 A superb collection of fanfares and anthems from Westminster Abbey in honour of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee! The works selected for this disc comprise a range of music from official royal events, beginning with her wedding and coronation to the present day. The Abbey Choir shines under the magnificent direction of Martin Neary, punctuated by the splendor of the London Brass, as organists Martin … |
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Party at the Palace: Queen’s Golden Jubilee / Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Queen, Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox, Tom Jones, Opus Arte $11.61 Some of pop music’s most celebrated artists gathered in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to stage a spectacular concert for Queen Elizabeth II and a sold-out crowd of 12,000 people. Features appearances by Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more. 180 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital s… |
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Carly Simon – A Moonlight Serenade On The Queen Mary 2 $7.50 Nobody does it better! Carly performs 20 songs for an audience aboard the Queen Mary 2. Cover, disc and insert are in mint condition. (Region 1 US & Canada)… |
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The Carpetbaggers [VHS] $14.95 The Carpetbaggers is the kind of trash classic most people are too embarrassed to admit they actually enjoy. But this Harold Robbins adaptation is so cheerfully vulgar, it’s hard not to have a good time–especially given the thinly veiled portrait of Howard Hughes at its center. George Peppard plays the heel-hero, who founds an airline company in the 1920s and buys a movie studio in the 1930s, cru… |
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Mary, Queen of Scots [VHS] $14.98 As costume dramas go, this is a passionate and feisty one, keyed by the ever-luminous Vanessa Redgrave in the title role and the sharp-edged Glenda Jackson as her jealous cousin, Queen Elizabeth I (who knew a thing or two about palace intrigue). Mary, who was raised in France as a Catholic, claims the Scottish crown from her mother upon her death. But she runs up against religious prejudice, both… |
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The Queen’s Birthday Parade [VHS] $3.92 … |
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Queen Elizabeth II England Vinyl Wall Graphic Decal Sticker Poster $49.00 SIZE: 72in – Wall Graphic of Queen Elizabeth II of England, or Elizabeth II. She rules 16 states called the Commonwealth realms. The Commonwealth realms include the United Kingdom, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Canada, the Bahamas, barbados, Papua New Guinea, Genada, the Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Tuvalu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevi… |