London tourist routes
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The capital of the UK attracts travelers from all over the world. And this is not surprising. London is the cultural and tourist center of the country, which has more than 50 museums and galleries. Every week new exhibitions of contemporary art and theater performances in the squares are organized. Visiting London, you never know what will surprise him this time.
How to get there?
There are 4 airports in London. Heathrow is considered the busiest since it serves domestic and international flights. From here, the center can be reached by metro via the Piccadilly line, by express train to Paddington station or by the National Express bus in 40 minutes. You will arrive at the Victoria Coach Station bus station. On the site of companies it is possible to book tickets, thereby saving money on the road. If you arrive at night, then you need to look for bus №9. Opening hours from 23:00 to 05:00. EasyBus buses run from Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports. Tourists who want to save time on the road, book a transfer or rent a car.
Where to stay?
In the capital, there is a wide choice of where to stay for tourists. Rooms with breakfast, hostels and apartments are the most budget options, hotels are already more expensive. Price depends on proximity to the center and metro. We have prepared a list of popular places among travelers.
Where to go for three days?
On your first day in London, start by visiting Westminster Abbey. The ancient building in the Gothic style is the place of the coronation and burial of the monarchs of Great Britain. A 15-minute walk from Buckingham Palace. At 11.30 here is the famous change of the royal guard. From the Pall Mall stop, take the №9 bus that will take you to Trafalgar Square. It received its name in honor of the victory at Trafalgar at the beginning of the XIX century. This is a traditional place where they organize demonstrations and rallies, mass celebrations and performances. Every year in the center of the square set the main tree of the country from Norway. In 5 minutes on foot, you will reach Whitehall, the Royal Horse Guards. Here you can see how the guards on horseback train. Take bus №12 and №53 to get to Westminster pier. There buy a ticket to ride on the river tram and be on the pier "Tower". It is believed that this is one of the main symbols of London. The first prisoner was sharpened in the tower back in 1190. Now the building serves as a historical museum and armory, where the treasures and decorations of the British dynasty are preserved. Take a look at the Tower Bridge, where an interactive exhibition about its creation is organized. You can relax and dine in the local bars and cafes, of which there are many in the area.
The second day, continue to explore the historical center of the capital. Go to the London Bridge. Since Roman times, bulky buildings were constantly built on this site, connecting the two banks across the River Thames. From here you can reach the Southwark and City areas. In the basement there are galleries and attractions that allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of two hundred years ago. Shakespeare’s Globus Theater is a 12-minute walk away. It was built in 1599 by the troupe of the most famous playwright in England. The theater regularly organizes excursions and performances, as in modern plays, there and in classical.
Cross London Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is built at the highest point in London and is the residence for the bishop. The first services were held on its territory in the XV century. Under the largest dome there are Stone, Gold and Whispering galleries. They received such names because of their unique acoustics: the words spoken in a whisper can be heard at the other end of the room.
Hire a car to drive to Kew’s royal gardens. This is a 250-year-old complex, where the largest collection of plants and ancient sights are located. Take a walk among the alpine houses, walk along the Japanese gate and look at the Kew Palace. Be sure to listen to the silence of the house with water lilies among the rock garden.
After 20:30, spend the evening at the Royal Rink, which serves the most delicious punch and traditional sweets. If you don’t want to skate, then just order dinner and watch the sunset over the Thames.
On the third day, head to Windsor Castle. This is the largest and oldest palace of all operating in the world. Here are the official residence and the celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. For 900 years at this place monarchs ruled the country. In addition to the castle, there is a chapel and residential houses for attendants and retinues on the territory. Every day at 11:00 is changing the guard. Parade in the palace is decorated with works by Rubens, Rembrand and Canaletto. During the tour, you will admire the Queen's Dolls Castle, the most famous toy house in the world.
In order not to spend more than an hour and a half on the way to the London Zoo, rent a car with a driver. This will save time on the road. The zoo was founded in the middle of the XIX century and stores one of the largest zoological collections. On its territory you can see all the diversity of the animal world.
From there, take a walk along Oxford Street, the busy and main street in London. There are more than 500 souvenir shops, cafes, boutiques and trendy clubs. You can walk all day, constantly finding something interesting. There are often exhibitions or shows on the street. Then go to the Soho Cinema cinema to watch English classics in black and white.
If you have the strength, then ride the Ferris wheel, which locals call the London Eye. From the booths can see the whole city.
Where to have lunch?
In London, it is difficult to stay hungry: the number of restaurants, cafes and street kiosks, street food is clearly more than residents and tourists. Everyone will find something special for themselves. Below are places where you definitely need to go.
London is a chameleon city. In the afternoon, picnics in parks and ancient sights are held here, and in the evening they have fun in pubs and dance in night clubs. Even short journeys can sometimes completely change our lives. Be open to new and get ready for the most interesting adventures in London.