London Sites

British Museum
This is the oldest public museum in the world established in 1753. It has been added to with gifts and purchases from all over the world and has innumerable items from pre-history to the present day. A tour would include artefacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Assyria, Rome and Celtic Britain. The architectural highlight is Norman Foster’s Great Court with the world-famous reading room at its centre.

Covent Garden
The first planned square in London, designed in the 17th Century by architect Inigo Jones to house an upper class clientele around a continental style piazza. Then the area fell into disrepute with the influx of market stalls. Now it has transformed into a vibrant place of street entertainers, restaurants, shops and bars in the vicinity of the Royal Opera House and London’s theatre-land. There are many stories to tell of its departed famous and infamous residents!

Docklands
The complex of docks built to facilitate Britain’s trade with the world, became too small for their purpose with the introduction of huge container ships. The area has been revitalised with stunning modern architecture, public works of art, shops, restaurants and the Museum of London at Docklands.

Greenwich
Best known as the place from which the world’s time is measured, this spectacular position on the River Thames was once the site of a Tudor Palace. The exquisite Queen’s House, a Royal Observatory and a palatial hospital for old and sick sailors were added in the 17th Century. It is now the home of the National Maritime Museum and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Hampton Court
It was originally built as the riverside country house of Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey, who then gave it to Henry to retain his favour. After the royal take-over it was twice rebuilt, once by Henry and then in the 1690’s by King William and Queen Mary who employed Christopher Wren as their architect. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, it also contains huge Tudor kitchens which fed 1,200 people a day!

Imperial War Museum
Two huge battleship guns flank the entrance to the museum which is housed in the former Bedlam Hospital for the Insane. There are displays of tanks, artillery and aircraft, an excellent art collection and fascinating galleries giving a WWI Trench Experience or WWII London Blitz Experience.

Sir John Soane’s Museum
The distinguished architect, Sir John Soane left his own house to the nation in 1837. It is overflowing with an eclectic gathering of beautiful and peculiar objects and the house is full of architectural surprises and illusions. By his use of mirrors and skylights Soane demonstrated his talent as ‘the master of light’.

St Paul’s Cathedral
The masterpiece of the 17/18th century architect Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt it, and the city churches destroyed in the 1666 Great Fire of London. He rebuilt in the English Baroque style with a dramatic great dome, an icon of the London skyline.

Tower of London
The Tower, really a romantic looking collection of 21 towers and turrets, is the site of 900 years of turbulent history. In its time, it has been a royal residence, a prison, place of torture and execution. The Tower is home to the sparkling Crown Jewels and its only prisoners are several large black Ravens.

Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church of our kings and queens since 1066 and the site of many of their tombs. It contains thousands of memorials to the great and the good (and the great and the not so good) – including politicians, literary figures, scientists, musicians and the Unknown Warrior from WWI.

Windsor Castle
The oldest continuously inhabited royal residence in Britain, built by William I to guard the western approaches to London. Successive monarchs have made alterations and left their mark and choice of decoration. It is the weekend retreat of the present Queen and a favourite place of George V who chose Windsor as his family surname in 1917.