L is for London

Posted April 14, 2014 in A-Z Challenge / 6 Comments

We’re now into the third week of the A-Z Blogging Challenge. The aim is to write a post for every day of the month except for Sundays, with each post representing a different letter of the alphabet. This year I’m doing an A-Z of Great Britain, covering as much as I can about British music, literature, TV and film, food, wildlife and culture.

For the letter ‘L’ I’ve gone with the obvious choice- London. I’ve decided to put together a brief guide of some places to visit if you’re planning a trip down to London. So here goes:

Privet Drive [© Anstice Potts, 2012] 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

This is a must-visit for all Harry Potter fans! You can take a look behind-the-scenes at most of the sets, costumes and props used in the making of the films and learn about the special effects and animatronics that brought them to life. You can stroll down Diagon Alley, get your picture taken on the Knight Bus or riding a broomstick and even try Butterbeer! You can read my full review of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour here. Please note that you have to book your tickets in advance online.

The London Eye

This giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames is a great way to take in the sight of London’s skyline. A standard adult ticket will set you back £19.50, but it’s well worth it for the experience of a 30 minute ride. For special occasions you can also have a private capsule with champagne and nibbles, a three course dinner, or even get married above London! You can book tickets here.

The Tower of London

This is a wonderful day out for anyone interested in the history of the British monarchy. You can take a tour of the castle led by the Yeomen Wardens (known as Beefeaters) who will entertain you with tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and much more. You can also see the ravens which have been kept in the Tower for centuries. There is an old legend that ‘if the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall’, so the birds are protected by The Raven Master. You also have the chance to view the spectacular Crown Jewels, which include some of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world and are still used regularly by The Queen and for coronations. Visit the website to book your tickets.

Olympic Park

The Olympic Rings [© Anstice Potts, 2012] 
The venue of the 2012 Olympics is a great place for sports fans to visit to see where Olympic medals were won and lost and records were broken. You can take a tour of the park, watch professional games, play table tennis or badminton at the Copper Box Arena, get involved with holiday events, Zumba sessions and have fun in the Tumbling Bay playground. You can also take a swim or dive in the iconic 50 metre swimming pool at the London Aquatics Centre or tackle the Velodrome BMX track and bike trails. Next month they are also opening two hockey pitches and indoor and outdoor tennis courts. There’s also a huge shopping centre and some of the best restaurants in London nearby. Find out more here

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre [© Anstice Potts, 2012] 
Fans of the arts will enjoy a trip to this reconstruction of the famous theatre where Shakespeare‘s plays were first performed. You can enjoy the exhibition and tour, which explores the life of Shakespeare and the London in which he lived or watch a play in the theatre as one of the ‘groundlings’ for the full experience. Find out more here

The National History Museum

Animal lovers will enjoy this amazing museum, with everything from dinosaur skeletons and mammal displays to the huge model of a blue whale. Entry to the museum is free, but there is a charge for some exhibitions. Visit the website for more information.

Trafalgar Square

This open space in the heart of London is a lively place filled with famous statues, such as Nelson’s column. There are often performances and events going on, and it’s a great place to go to soak up some of the London atmosphere and take some photos. It used to be famous for the large numbers of pigeons that used to flock there, but since a ban on feeding them was passed they have largely disappeared.

Madam Tussauds

This amazing waxwork museum is well worth a visit. You can enjoy posing against realistic waxwork figures of most major celebrities, including the royal family, singers like Katy Perry, sports stars and Marvel superheroes. It’s a brilliant day out, even if some of the figures are a little bit creepy! Find out more and book tickets here.

Covent Garden

I highly recommend Covent Garden if you want a relaxed shopping and dining experience. It’s filled with high end London boutiques, restaurants and cafés. It’s a bustling place with an excellent craft market and lots of street performances. Covent Garden is also home to some of London’s main theatres where you can watch some amazing shows like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda: The Musical and The Bodyguard.

Have you ever been to London? If so, have you visited any of these attractions? Where else would you recommend?

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6 responses to “L is for London

  1. London is definitely on my bucket list! I used to date a girl from the UK and she told me about a lot of London attractions, including Trafalgar Square and the London Eye.

    The Globe Theatre recreation looks interesting. And of course there's Big Ben and Parliament 🙂

  2. I've never been to London, but your descriptions make me want to go. I'm a big Harry Potter fan and I love museums of all types. Thanks for sharing these sights/sites.

  3. The first time I went to London and that was last month, only the long elevators and the commute and trafic etc took my breathe away. I had only four days and had to go to Leeds to so nothing did I really visit. Now I am going again for 5 days and sure will look up some of your recommendations. No leeds this time, only London and so thank you Tizzy

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