If you are a foodie you have to stop here. So many selections of Asian cuisine it's hard to choose…read morefrom! You honestly cant go wrong with any of them.

We never manage to find the same place twice in China Town, but we love the adventure and selection…read moreof authentic Chinese food! Make time to visit this neighborhood while in London.

Tip: The lanterns that hang above you as you walk along the streets in Chinatown are lovely. Take a…read morephoto! I visited London in 2013. During my first full day in the city, I had one goal, which was to visit M&M's World. I took the underground to Piccadilly Circus. As I was walking towards M&M's World, a Russian man approached me. "Chinatown?" he asked. I had no idea where it was. Folks tend to ask me for directions no matter where I am. Maybe I look like I know what I'm doing, but I didn't this day with a map in my hands and a confused look on my face. Well, after visiting M&M's World, I walked around the area. I ended up in Chinatown. Ask me now. I know where Chinatown is! I liked the lanterns around the area. It was nice. There were bakeries, restaurants, cute stores, and more. I loved the excitement being in a decent Chinatown. I ended up having a late lunch at Jade Garden, which was an authentic restaurant that served dim sum. Sadly, it's no longer there. However, it has other locations across the city. I enjoyed the best har gow, siu mai, sticky rice bundles, barbeque pork rice rolls, and steamed pork dumplings. I'd love to check out this Chinatown again. I hope to revisit London someday and eat my way through this cool part of the city. (26)

This is one of the cool Chinatown that I've been through. I've checked out loads and I can say, the…read moreone in London is pretty much up there. Most are quite small and in a small cluster but this one does offer a major punch. It's near the bar area, soho and theaters. Loads of fun restaurants throughout the walkway as well as some along the main strip. I don't think car are allowed as it caters to pedestrians. Regardless on whenever you visit, it'll always be packed with people walking up and down the street. Restaurants are lined with people trying to usher you inside. A good amount of pastries shop as well as groceries store. Can't have Chinatown with a grocery store. I'm sure they tend to get more tourist visiting versus locals. Plenty of restaurants that offer dim sum and local Chinese cuisine. You'll be greeted with all the lanterns hanging along the alleyway. It's a fun spot even if you're just walking through or having a meal. A must in London.

This is one of the sites in London that I visit frequently lately, due to my research. It is open…read moreto the public. We didn't stay long to witness a court hearing / in action.  It's known as the Law Courts locally. This Grade I  listed building is in Westminster, housing the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales. (The Central Criminal Court, known as Old Bailey is next to the Royal Exchange.)  Before 1875' courts were housed in Westminster Hall' Lincoln's Inn, and a few other buildings around London. When it was decided to have a centralized court, Parliament paid £1'453'000 for the 7.5-acre site. Reported that 4'175 people lived in 450 houses had to be moved. George E. Street (1824-81) was appointed in 1868 as the sole architect, building began five years later, and Queen Victoria opened it on December 4th 1882.

Really intersting to see and learn the history!…read more You should take the time to see this place when your in town!

Trafalgar Square was a pleasant surprise visit for us. We walked to the National Gallery on a…read moreFriday night to find the Square full of life. Entertainers were performing on the Square as people watched. The Square is large with Nelson's Column as the central focal point. Nelson's Column commemorates Horatio Nelson's victory over the French and Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson did not survive the battle. Numerous other statues of military figures, royalty and other influential people stand around Square. There is even a statue of George Washington that was a gift from the state of Virginia. The Square is surrounded by Museums and other government buildings. The Square is a perfect spot to watch the sunset and enjoy the day. I highly recommend a visit to this historic site.

Another well-known public square in London that acts as a hub for surrounding places like the…read moreNational Gallery. At any given time you can see political events taking place here as well as organized protests, etc. National and local celebrations are often held here as well. It's a gathering spot for folks to meet up, eat lunch, and people watch. There's a water feature and amphitheater style stepped seating. Of course the National Gallery boasts the iconic blue rooster sculpture.

St Martin in the Fields is right in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London. This corner of…read moreTrafalgar Square hosts the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery as well as swanky hotels. The church of St Martin in the Fields is a historic church in central London. This significant parish church has a vast history. It has stood on this prime London site since 1222. Although the church is probably photographed by almost every visitor who arrives in Trafalgar Square, the view that most people take is from the south side of the square, near Nelson's column and the four lions As you stand in Trafalgar Square amidst the pigeons and with Nelson's Column towering over you, stand back and admire the grandeur of this incredible church. You may recognize it from the annual New Year celebrations nearby or films like Notting Hill.

Had our schedule permitted us time to see a classical music performance at St. Martin in the…read moreFields, I assume we would've had a better impression of the venue. Instead, we came for lunch in their crypt; my obsession with the macabre wouldn't let me pass up this hidden cafe, but the food left much to be desired. In true cafeteria style, you grab a tray & move down the line, pointing at items that staff members load onto your plate. We chose a few items to share: something that looked like chicken tenders with sides of mashed potato & peas, pasta salad, a veggie pie, & Victoria sponge cake. Seating area was quite crowded. A unique setting to have a meal, if only the food tasted better.

Oh I think she's a wonderful personality and I could watch youtube videos of her for hours on end…read more In 1998, I sent her a portrait drawing of herself (which was pretty good considering I've had no art training) in a rotten old jiffybag. I was surprised when it came back rolled up in a tube with a letter from her secretary and a signed photograph. A lot of the manufacturing went overseas but I think that was starting to happen anyway before she took over. She transformed Britain from 'The Sick Man of Europe' into the world's fourth largest economy. She was bang on about Britain staying out of the Euro currency zone and it was her venom at the end of her premiership that I think has echoed with successive prime ministers. Okay, so a lot of soldiers died in the Falklands war but Blair wouldn't have lifted a finger to protect British citizens from the Argentines and more British soldiers have died in the Middle East. I liked the Thatcher government's response to the AIDS crisis and its strong advertising about condoms advice that has probably saved my life. I do not like bitchy, bullying people but I do not see Thatcher as that at all. I positively like her. The people I've got sympathy for are the passengers on Pan Am Flight 103 who were blown out of the sky and then had the culprit released by the Labour government. It's the Blairs I'll be celebrating the death of!

Free. A great…read moreopportunity to see the horse guard working. A gentle reminder to be respectful and stay outside the box (lines on the ground) to not crowd the horse. Obviously no touching the horse or the guard. The guard may choose to make exceptions for small children and/or the disabled. You may ask the guard if it is ok to put money in their boot for charity. I did this and they agreed that I could lean in and tuck into the boot that they had on. I spoke quietly to the horse from a distance. It is not encouraged to bring food for the horses.

Great cultural experience and less crowded than the changing of the guards. Go through the front…read moregates to the courtyard, and you will get to see the horses entering the area.

Happened upon this spot across from Westminster Abbey. We were walking by and saw a sign that said…read morefree tours and figured we had some time to check it out. You are entering a court building so there's the standard security protocols but then you are allowed to explore on your own. In the lower flore there is a small informational exhibit about the UK Supreme Court, the overall judicial governance and some of the more impactful decisions. There is also a small café if you need a place to rest. Then venture up to the first floor where you can see some of the larger court rooms, which are really quite impressive with the architecture and the set up. There's security in each room, but they were more than willing to let us explore on our own and even take a few photos and sit in some of the seats. Before you leave make sure to peek into the room on the ground floor as it was the most impressive to us. This probably isn't on many peoples tour itinerary but it was a nice spot to explore and added bonus was that it's one of the few free spots in London in a high tourist area!

The Supreme Court aka the highest court in land was pretty darn impressive…read more While visiting London in 2017, we stumbled across the courthouse while walking around the city and I spotted a familiar face...a statute of Abraham Lincoln (United States 16th President) right out front in Parliament Square. We saw that the court was open so we asked if we could go inside and check it out. The court staff were very friendly and welcomed us check it out. They mentioned that certain parts of the court were active and that cases were happening that day, but gave us a quick tour of a courtroom where the Justices sit. I was even allowed to sit in the Justices chair, but was instructed on which chair specifically I could and could not sit in. The building itself, both inside and out were very majestic and it was a great unexpected tourist sight If you find yourself in London, come check out Parliament Square and see what it's like to sit in the hot seat to pass a little judgement. ;)

In the center of Leicester Square Gardens is a statue of playwright William Shakespeare, the man…read morewhose work has delighted audiences and tormented students of English literature and language for hundreds of years. The statue claims the central place in Leicester Square, on top of a marble fountain, with four Classical dolphins around the base. This sculpture has stood in Leicester Square Gardens since 1874. Carved by Giovanni Fontana, it is modelled after the statue of Shakespeare which stands in the so-called Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey There are 13 bronze figures and statues in Leicester Square. Including the oldest William Shakespeare on the fountain.

Sculpted by Giovanni Fontana (1821-1893), Shakespeare's Statue is the centerpiece of Leicester…read moreSquare Gardens for almost 150 years. The marble figure is inspired by Peter Scheemakers' 18th-century monument to Shakespeare in Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. It stands on a pedestal flanked by dolphins at the center of a fountain. There have been some upgrades in the last decade, a thorough scrub-down and added water features...definitely has a shimmer it din't have when my eyes first crossed it in the mid-80s. On the top, obviously, is Billy Shakes himself, holding a scroll that says "THERE IS NO DARKNESS BUT IGNORANCE", which comes from Twelfth Night (Act IV, Scene II). The text beneath the bard states: "THIS ENCLOSURE/ WAS PURCHASED, LAID OUT/ AND DECORATED AS A GARDEN/ BY ALBERT GRANT ESQ[UI]RE M.P./ AND/ CONVEYED BY HIM ON THE 2ND JULY 1874/ TO THE/ METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS/ TO BE PRESERVED FOR EVER/ FOR THE FREE USE AND ENJOYMENT/ OF THE PUBLIC." My most recent visit was on a beautiful summer day--the best time and way to enjoy this glorious wonder.

Leicester Square is a public space in the West End of London…read more It's the central point of the theatre district. Some would consider this to be the epitome of the entertainment district. This is the area where movie premieres are held. Tons of restaurants, theaters, and shops. There's a trail of statues of famous folks in the film realm. Paddington Bear is my favorite. The square is close to the Underground. You can walk here from Piccadilly Circus making it a 2fer for tourists wanting to take everything in. Covent Garden is also close by.

When thinking about things to do in Leicester Square, entertainment is top of the list. Two major…read moreLondon art galleries are also within a stone's throw of Leicester Square and Soho. And with Carnaby, Oxford, and Regent Streets - as well as many more in the Soho area - the shopping scene is second to none It has long been London's home of film for many years with the first cinema opening in 1930. here, you can follow a free movie-themed statue trail, watch the street performers, shop at flagship stores, and dine out in nearby Chinatown. Leicester Square is famous for cinemas, as red carpet London premieres take place here. There are several big-name theatres to choose from - Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue. Don't expect any cheap tickets in this location, though! the best part (IMO) was those 10 statuses including the Harry Potter one, but don't forget to check out Swiss Glockenspiel, The TKTS Booth, Street Performers, and other ongoing activities. Statue list: 1) Wonder Woman statue 2) Batman statue 3) Harry Potter statue 4) Paddington Bear statue: we missed this as it was taken out for maintenance :( 5) Mary Poppins statue 6) Mr. Bean statue: it was also taken out for maintenance. 7) The statue of Gene Kelly from 'Singing in the Rain 8) Charlie Chaplin statue 9) Bugs Bunny statue 10) Laurel and Hardy statue: The statue of Laurel and Hardy in Leicester Square is rarely seen by tourists as it is placed on the roof of the TKTS building. TKTS London is at the heart of Leicester Square and is a non-profit ticket booth. Discounted and last-minute tickets are often available here. So you could catch a matinee or evening show in the West End, even if you hadn't planned. Just down from Leicester Square on St Martin's Place is the National Portrait Gallery. Leicester Square is in the center of London's West End and is always a busy place for people visiting London. The square is filled with street performers, bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants as well as plenty of cultural things to do Today, Leicester Square is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, world-class cinemas, and thriving theatre scene.