Five Places you must visit while in London!
While this certainly isn't a "top 10" list or a list of the only things you should see, these places below are among my hundreds of favorites in the city. It was hard to narrow down which 5 to start with...that is why I call it "Part 1". Enjoy!
1) You must make a stop by Kensington Palace. This Palace is tucked into a very busy neighbor on one side and a peaceful park on the other. If you have time, take a tour of the inside. In there you will find many staterooms set up from the era of when Queen Victoria lived there with her mother. The artwork on the walls and ceiling are truly breathtaking. In a way you feel as though you are on private property, which in fact is half-true as the other side of Kensington Palace is still a working Palace and off limits to visitors.
Visit this website for more information: http://www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace/
2) Make some time to visit the Tower of London. The amount of history housed in this one site is unbelievable. Guides will show you around and answer any questions that you may have or you may wander around by yourself. Inside you are also able to view the Queen's Jewels, a collection of some of the largest and most precious jewels, crowns and historical pieces of British Royal history.
Visit this website for more information: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/
3) Walk through St Paul's Cathedral. Even if you are not Catholic, you can't help but be amazed by the architecture of the building. The paintings on the ceilings within the towers are mind-blowing. Try to imagine back to the time this Cathedral was being built and think of how long and difficult it must have been for the workers to maneuver up so high.
Visit this website for more information: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/
4) Visit a pub for a bite to eat. Not a Hard Rock or other American-based restaurant. Actually walk a bit off of the tourist path and find yourself at a hole in the wall pub. The atmosphere here will be worth it alone. You will get a chance to see actual Londoners outside of the hustle of trendy tourist spots.
Visit this website for more information: www.pubs.com
5) Step away from the streets and crowds and hop on a boat ride alone the River Thames. I chose to board a ferry near the House of Parliament. Depending on the company, you may also get a guided tour pointing out what all of the buildings are along the river. It is really interesting to see all of these historical sites from a different perspective. The boat ride will take you all the way down to the Tower of London. This also makes for a great way to get from Point A (House of Parliament/Westminster Abbey) to Point B (Tower of London/Tower Bridge)
Visit this website for more information: www.citycruises.com
