What a beautiful park…read more I went for the enchanted woodland walk, and it was just lovely. The 2 mile walk takes in some of the highlights of the ground, all decorated with beautiful lights. It was just gorgeous. I did think they should have limited the number of people walking around, perhaps to hourly slots, as it was so busy it kind of changed the atmosphere a little bit. All of the lights and scenes created were so creative and well thought out. Magical for both adults and children. The cutest things were seeing little fairies and pixies dotted around, and little doors at the bottom of trees where little elves must live. I loved it and would highly recommend you visit next winter. I'd really like to go back to the park in the day time for a nice sunny walk!

A lovely park, one of those where you forget you're in London. It's a bit built up and a bit out of…read morethe way, but once you get there, it's really nice. There's a garden centre and a Hilton hotel, as well as lots of park land, grazing cattle, and a fly fishing pond, just to name a few things. Oh, and Syon House, of course! It is, unfortunately, in the flight path - which might be good if you like to look at big planes! It's also near to Kew so while it might not be a place to go for your final destination, it's worth passing through.

On a trip to London see at least one Royal Palace. The gardens and park surrounding the palace are…read morea must see. It's very relaxing to walk around.

Our visit to Kensington Palace was unplanned and full of surprises. We were doing a walking tour…read moreand noticed that there were very few visitors and so we easily bought tickets and got right in (after a robust security search). From the outside, the Palace looks institutional to me. The building was built (actually a remodeled farmhouse) in the late 1600's by King William and Queen Mary. A formal garden surrounds the west entrance. I imagine that the garden is quite spectacular in the Spring. The tour includes visits to three "Chambers" with audio tour phones that were easy to use. The audio tour is excellent with lots of interesting information. The staff is friendly and offers talks on interesting aspects of the palace. The oldest chamber visit was that of Queen Mary II (wife of King William III). The Queen's Gallery was most interesting with a fabulous harpsichord that was being played by a member of staff during our visit. The gallery overlooks the lovely gardens. The room is filled with antique pottery and portraits of the Queen. She died in her nearby bedroom chamber at the age of 32 with the King by her side. The Chamber of George II and Queen Caroline is quite opulent. We heard a short and fascinating lecture on a unique wind monitoring device that is still operational today. Family portraits and Renaissance art fill the walls. The third chamber on the tour is that of Queen Victoria where she lived as a child. Some of her childhood toys and books are displayed. Visitors are encourage to play with recreations of toys and dress up clothes. The room of her birth is the final stop of the tour. A gift shop and cafe are available. It would be fun to have tea in the cafe and imagine dining with royalty. I was hoping to run into a few royals, but I didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would recommend. There were few visitors while we were there, which was nice. Plan at least 2 hours (mostly walking) for the tour. GET the audio headsets (they are included with admission). Expect stairs. A restroom is available for visitors.

A few strides from the Prime Minster's residence at 10 Downing Street is the east side of St…read more James's Park ... and the large lake that covers a significant part of it. On it is an island (of sorts) that serves as the home of the gorgeous Duck Island Cottage and Garden, a highly recommended detour for those wandering around Westminster. The Swiss cottage itself was built in 1841 (after the original was destroyed in the late 1700s) for a bird-keeper and the newly formed Ornithological Society of London. It's a gorgeous, elegant, gingerbread Orné (French for "ornate")-style Cottage with ornamental barge-boards (aka frilly things hanging from the triangle part of the roof gables), finials (ornamental items sticking up from the roof), ridge-tiles, and diamond-paned windows. The only problem? It's not open to the public. You'll have to visit during a special event to see inside. Of course, it's closed because it's the home of the London Parks and Gardens Trust (LPGT), so it's not totally lame. The LPGT takes great care of the other piece of beauty, the Garden itself. It's a garden done in the "Arts and Crafts Style" wherein the work is mostly done by hand, the beds are geometrical, and the plant and flower choices usually span the color palette. And in this, the Duck Island Garden doesn't disappoint. In full bloom during my late-summer visit, the Garden was teeming with greens and yellows, with a smattering of purples, pinks, and reds. It's the perfect oasis in the middle one of the world's biggest cities. Don't forget to Duck!

The Tower of London was founded in 1066 due to the Norman Conquest of England. The Duke of…read moreNormandy, William the Conqueror, had amassed thousands of troops and hundreds of ships and landed in southern England. In October 1066, the reigning Harold II died during the Battle of Hastings and was succeeded by William the Conqueror as king. A series of further victories had cut London's supply lines, and its leaders had surrendered the city. William then initiated an extensive program to fortify the city, which included the construction of the Tower of London in 1066. From then, the Tower had continued to play a significant role in England's regal history. For centuries, monarchs would begin processions at the Tower to Westminster Abbey for their coronations. However, during the Tudor period, the Tower declined in its use as a royal residence. The castle would also serve as a prison for those considered politically undesirable. Under the order of King Henry VIII, the execution of Anne Boleyn occurred at the Tower in 1536. Her daughter, Elizabeth I, was also imprisoned there before she became queen under the order of Queen Mary I. Today, the Tower of London is a popular tourist attraction in the country. Its proximity to Tower Bridge and other attractions along the Circle and District Underground lines help in bringing in many visitors. There is no need to purchase admission if one is walking beside it to view its walls. Fortunately, there are outdoor signs available to learn a little about the history of what you're looking at.

When I visited London earlier this month, it was the first I'd been in London for almost 20 years…read more I don't remember if I went to the Tower of London when I was in London in 2007, but I do remember that I went on my very first trip to London when I was a little girl. I was heavily into my King Henry VIII phase then, and I wanted to see the site where two of his queens lost their lives. Visiting as an adult was interesting. Some things I remembered and some things I didn't. There's no question that this is an incredibly historic site. The site dates back to 1066, and then William the Conqueror built his castle, the White Tower, in 1078. Then the site was expanded by the kings that followed. The purpose of the site changed over the centuries: armory, treasury, menagerie, Royal Mint, public record office, home of the Crown Jewels... For a few centuries, it was the place the next king would spend a few nights leading up to their coronation. And under the Tudors, it became what I knew it as when I was in my Tudor history phase - a prison. Guy Fawkes was tortured at the Tower in 1605. Anne Boleyn was held and executed at the Tower in 1536. Henry VIII's fifth wife was executed at the Tower in 1542. Lady Jane Grey was executed at the Tower in 1554. Queen Mary I imprisoned her sister Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I, in the Tower for two months in 1554. It's a large site with several different buildings that explain and cover different eras and aspects of the Tower's history. Although I suspect the Crown Jewels are the highlight of many people's visit to the Tower, I really enjoyed and learned the most from the Medieval Palace (which has been preserved/reconstructed to demonstrate the palace where Henry III, Edward I, Eleanor of Provence, and Eleanor of Castile lived); the Chapel Royal of St Peter and Vincula (the final resting place of many prominent prisoners who were executed at the Tower); the Tower Hill Execution Memorial; the Bloody Tower (the tower tied to the imprisonment and disappearance of two young princes in 1483 and Sir Walter Raleigh); St John's Chapel inside the White Tower; and the Tower's ravens (legend says that the kingdom will fall if the resident ravens ever leave the Tower). It's a large property, and the map they provide is pretty terrible. So we just wandered and wandered. You need some time to do this, because there are towers and nooks and crannies - and every little corner of the property has something to teach visitors. I might be a little past my Tudor phase, but a visit to the Tower of London can still thrill this history nerd. A must include on an itinerary for a trip to London.

Everyone has heard of Buckingham Palace as it is known to the home of the monarch,Royal…read morecelebrations and the Changing of the Guard. We did the State Room Tour which is only available from July-Sept. Breathtaking! So many priceless treasures. You definitely want to book your tickets in advance as it gets sold out. The checkin process was very easy as was going thru their security checkpoint. The only thing that was disappointing is No Photos are allowed in The Palace or on the Tour. The tour is a self guided tour with a head site that is provided. Small bags similar to what fits under an airline seat are allowed. After the tour you can visit the Garden Cafe or gift shop. Definitely a must stop in London!

We were exited about visiting the palace. The checkpoint and entrance is rather quick when you have…read morethe ticket online. The security is tight. The visit includes 14 rooms in the palace. We like the audio guide is included. We also like the opportunity to take the picture with the royal preset picture. What we don't like which the Royal collection and trust can improve are below. 1. No picture allow in the palace is kind of step back to ruin the interest of the visitors. Second the exit is a ten minute walks to the entrance if you decide to go back to front. Third the garden on the general admission is kind of let down. There are no flowers at all. Even the king bees hive cannot be seen because is block from view. Fourth the ice cream parlor blocks the possibility view to the palace from a distance view. I think the visit compare to many attractions in the London is not the best. Not sure to recommend this visit.

This was under renovation when I was there for training, but the area is very busy and a center of…read moreactivity. It's an identifiable location to gather or catch the Tube. It's historic, but unfortunately I couldn't see much!

Oysters were delicious. I had raw oysters & my companion had the Bienevelle oysters. The bartender…read morewas gracious & entertaining. Great ambience. Welcoming staff. Quickly served. Will def

This building, as well as containing the Mayor of London, is open to the public, and there are many…read moredifferent reasons to take the time to visit. The building is wonderful, and - if you happen to visit at a time when "London's Living Room" (a space on the top floor used for events) is accessible, then the views are second to none. There is a café on the ground floor, with a good range of decent food, at reasonable prices. I would recommend stopping in as part of a trip to the area - London Dungeons, the Tower, HMS Belfast are all very close - rather then as an end in itself. Every member of the public has to go through a metal detector to get into the building. There is never a long wait.

Iconic building of London. You can see it along the walk from tower bridge…read more Interesting shaped building

The love story between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert is epic. His untimely death, at the age of…read more42 from typhoid, sent Queen Victoria into a deep mourning that consumed the entire country. This opulent monument that she commissioned to honor his memory is testimony to their deep love and her desire to immortalize him. The Gothic Revival structure stands in Kensington Garden, a garden behind the Kensington Palace where Queen Victoria lived. The structure houses a magnificent golden statue of the prince. Numerous statues surround the monument and depict interests of the Prince. Prince Albert looks quite regal. My photos don't do the memorial justice. Because of the cloudy day, the vibrant colors of the structure do not show up. The structure is vivid shades of turquoise and blues. There is a lot of beautiful color and the gold accents. The is a moving and gorgeous monument. The memorial is worth a walk by and is between the Science Museum and Kensington Palace.

One of the most famous and beloved monuments of the capital of Great Britain is located in…read moreKensington Gardens - the Albert Memorial. The Albert Memorial is a large Gothic monument built to commemorate the loss of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's beloved husband. At the edge of Kensington Gardens, on the boundary to Hyde Park, stands the Albert Memorial. Not sure why it's not that popular, as when you think about London, many monuments come to your feed, but it is not one of them, but it's just an amazing and awestruck feeling when saw this. It is just opposite to Royal Albert Hall. An allegorical sculpture stands on each side to represent industrial arts and sciences. There are another four other groups to represent the four continents, each including a large animal: a bull for Europe, an elephant for Asia, a bison for America, and a camel for Africa. Queen Victoria chose the winning entry from the competition, rejecting, among other proposals, an idea to alter Cleopatra's Needle, and Scott set about building this extravagantly Gothic structure, a feat which would help earn him a knighthood in 1872.