London Attractions

Freedom - Occupy London - Finsbury Square - Real Democracy Now

2011-11-18T08:47:00.001-08:00

Freedom - Occupy London - Finsbury Square - Real Democracy Now, a photo by AndyRobertsPhotos on Flickr.

Occupy London - Finsbury Square - Real Democracy Now

Olympics 2012 - ArcelorMittal Orbit

2011-11-01T05:08:00.001-07:00

Olympics 2012 - ArcelorMittal Orbit, a photo by cocabeenslinky on Flickr.

The final loop has been added to The Orbit Tower

The Natural History Museum

2010-10-03T15:34:00.001-07:00

Originally uploaded by alessandrogiraldi

The Natural History Museum is one of London's greatest attractions, situated next to the Science Museum in South Kensington, not far from the Albert Hall and Hyde park.

St Pancras Station for Eurostar Deals

2010-09-01T07:09:00.001-07:00

St Pancras Station
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

Yes, I am including St Pancras Station as one of the London attractions. Not only for the Eurostar Deals to Paris, Brussels, Lille and now many other European destinations as well, but also for the historic railway station and buildings themselves. I've even heard people, well OK French people over here on Eurostar breaks themselves, remarking that they went to see St Paul's Cathedral and came away feeling that St Pancras Station was the more interesting piece of Architecture and therefore ranks as one of the top London attractions.

The Orbit Tower, Stratford

2010-04-26T04:17:00.000-07:00

The Orbit Tower is due to be built at Stratford Olympic park in time for the 2012 Olympics, but with a view to becoming an attraction for the East London development area around Stratford for years afterwards.

London Eye

2010-03-24T04:10:00.001-07:00

Empty Gondola London Eye
Originally uploaded by AndyRob

The London Eye is one of the most popular attractions anywhere and you can get priority pre-booked flights as an add on for London Theatre Breaks

Dennis Severs House

2010-01-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Over on the Theatre Breaks Magazine blog there's a curious suggestion to visit a smaller London Attraction called Dennis Severs House

Dennis Severs' House in fact features ten rooms which depict the family life of some Huguenot weavers, who inhabited the house at 18 Folgate Street in the early 18th Century.

Dennis Severs House is actually a brilliant place to visit. Having been there several times I’d especially recommend going soon before Christmas because they do it up just like old Christmases past, and the smells are simply heavenly. Each floor of the house depicts a different era. You have to be silent though. A great place to just sit & relax. Dennis Severs lived here & created it & invited special guests to experience it in the way he wanted it to be experienced. One of the truly greatest experiences that London has to offer, a unique experience. Dennis Severs House - 18 Folgate Street

Family life in the 18th and 19th Century. Not a usual museum but in many respects a very modern art form where sounds smells and visuals will tickle your senses.

Ice Climbing Wall In Covent Garden

2009-12-14T06:11:00.001-08:00

Opened in 2003, the Ice Climbing Wall at the Ellis Brigham store in Covent Garden, is inside a refrigerated unit which is kept between -5°C and -7°C. It stretches 8m from the basement to the ground floor of the shop, where there are viewing windows, and offers climbing a chance to experience real ice climbing without having to travel hundreds of miles or wait for a period of intense frosts.

The wall is open daily except Mondays until about 6.30pm. For more information, visit http://www.vertical-chill.com/

Unfortunately, however, it isn't cheap, and the owners will charge you £50 per person for a beginner session. After you become more experienced sessions are available with an instructor for £35 per hour, or if you know exactly what you're doing it costs £25 an hour to just turn up and climb.

The Criterion Restaurant

2009-12-07T05:16:00.000-08:00

The Criterion Restaurant's opulent surroundings are why it is included in the Top 10 Romantic London Restaurants. The Criterion is one of London's most historically distinguished restaurants and landmarks, right on Piccadilly Circus. Originally opened in 1874 this lavish venue has been serving afternoon tea to the cream of London society for 135 years.

The Tower of London

2009-11-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Tower of London is right next to Tower Bridhe, on the opposite side to St Katherine's Dock.

Address:
HM Tower of London
Tower Hill,
London,
EC3N 4AB

Epping Forest

2009-10-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

Epping Forest is a large area of open green spaces and woodland extending from East London right out into Essex and beyond the town of Epping itself. As well as being a popular area for recreation and enjoyment Epping Forest is also of national and international conservation importance. Two thirds of the forest are within areas which have been designated either a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) or a Special Area of Conservation (SAOC). People who lived in the forest used to have special rights to grazing, forestry and minerals, and there were still herds of cattle grazing unenclosed on the Wanstead Flats near Manor Park as recently as the 1980s with rumours of plans to bring the cows back once again.

Mamma Mia! at West End Live 20008 - Voulez Vous

2009-09-04T01:56:00.001-07:00

Mamma Mia! at West End Live 20008 - Voulez Vous
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

West End Live is one of my favourite London attractions. It's an event that takes place in Leicester Square every July wit stars form the West End musicals performs songs from the shows. Very handy for choosing which one you want to see on the next London theatre breaks outing.

West End Live 2009 - Wicked

2009-06-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

West End Live 2009 is a free musical theatre event with other attractions held annually in Leicester Square, London. Here's an example of the high quality entertainment on offer - it's Elphaba from Wicked

video by theatrebreaks

HMS Illustrious at Greenwich

2009-05-03T16:01:00.001-07:00

HMS Illustrious at Greenwich
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

The Thames at Greenwich is always an interesting London attraction, there's always something different to see.

Three Things To Do in London

2009-04-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Here's three things to do in London

1) Apple Store

Go to the Apple Store on Regent Street and research your next desktop computer ( iMac ) buy an ipod for someone you like a lot, or just check your email.

2) London Eye

See central London from a great height by taking a London Eye Flight.

3) Dim Sum

Afternoon is the time for tasty fried snacks from any of the Dim Sum houses in London's chinatown area. Great for eating with a beer.

A Day in London - The Clink

2009-02-20T16:08:00.001-08:00

A Day in London - The Clink
Originally uploaded by Cindy Andrie

The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark, England which functioned from the 12th century until 1780 either deriving its name from, or bestowing it on, the local manor, the Clink Liberty. The manor and prison were owned by the Bishop of Winchester and situated next to his residence at Winchester Palace.
It was originally used for the detention of heretics (both Protestants and Catholics, as religious favours changed) but came to be used for people who broke the peace on Bankside or in Southwark's numerous brothels. The prison probably fell into disuse after the English Civil War, though it was described in 1761 as being "a very dismal hole where debtors are sometimes confined, but little used." The Clink was burned down during the Gordon Riots of 1780 and never rebuilt.
The name of the Clink is the origin of the phrase "in the clink". The origins of the name are uncertain, but it may have been an example of onomatopoeia, referring to the sound made by the prison's metal doors as they closed.

Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum

2009-01-13T06:53:00.001-08:00

Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum is a new attraction in London, and has been taken up as an addon for London Theatre Breaks so I thought I'd try and find out a bit more about it.

Opened Wednesday 20th August 2008
Robert LeRoy Ripley (December 25, 1890 - May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur and amateur anthropologist.
It is located in Piccadilly Circus.

The London Eye

2008-12-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

The London Eye is probably the most famous of London's attractions by now, perhaps because it's so big, towering above the old Greater London Council building opposite the Houses of Parliament. Originally it was comissioned as the Millenium Wheel, to be present for one year only but then again so was the Eiffel tower in Paris.
Trips on the London Eye can be pre booked with London Theatre breaks which is a good idea if you're on a busy weekend theatregoing schedule as well as taking in the sights,
but otherwise it is possible to queue up and get a ride on the London Eye the same afternoon if it's a quiet day.

From DLR Docklands Light Railway

2008-11-09T15:14:00.001-08:00

From DLR Docklands Light Railway
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

The Docklands Light Railway ought to be ragarded as one of London's attractions in its own right, with spectacular views over the old docks and new skyscrapers on the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf.

Madame Tussauds- Vintage London Attraction

2008-09-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

Madame Tussauds waxworks are a favourite old London attraction, and some of us can remember when there used to be a planetarium there as well. Madame Tussauds is also an optional extra for London Theatre Breaks

London Eye

2008-09-04T02:01:00.000-07:00

I think the London Eye has now become just about the most popular London attraction for visitors. Certainly it's in demand as an add-on to London theatre breaks but not everybody who has a short time in the city manages to get a flight that suite them without queueing for ages. The secret I've found, during an off season weekday, is to turn up around mid afternoon and buy a ticket for one hour later. Then wander around the south bank for a little while and come back and join the short queue for the London Eye flight. If you buy a theatre break though, you can get a fast track London Eye attraction for quite a reasonable fee and at a a time that suits.

Location

The London Eye is on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Westminster so you can head for the Hoiuses of Parliament and then walk across the bridge, or else go to Waterloo Station and exit where the Eurostar trains used to come in.

London Eye - Best London Attractions

2008-07-04T15:09:00.001-07:00

The London Eye is one of the best London Attractions especially the London Eye champagne flight which is an optional extra with some theatre breaks

Photo by Marcia_Salviato

Betwixt

2008-06-26T06:58:00.001-07:00

London Theatre/ Betwixt! - Funny video clips are a click away

Mamma Mia! at West End Live

2008-06-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

Cast from Mamma Mia at perform Voulez Vous at West End Live on June 21st 2008.

Millenium Man Giant Sculpture

2008-05-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

Millenium Man
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Best viewed from a river trip boat which can be joined at Greenwich for a return journey to the Thames Barrier.

The giant sculpture near to the O2 dome is called 'Quantum Cloud' by Antony Gormley.

Model For A Hotel

2008-05-14T15:56:00.001-07:00

Model For A Hotel
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Art on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Previous sculpture included Alison Lapper Pregnant. Borsis the new mayor is going to replace it with a permanent traditional war hero type figure.

Hampton Court

2008-05-06T04:48:00.001-07:00

thames river trip
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Hampton Court is a Royal Palace just outside London really, but it's popular with children because of the famous maze. You can actually arrive by boat if you take a river trip from Westminster Pier in central London.

Love seat - garden furniture

2008-04-16T09:29:00.001-07:00

Love seat - garden furniture
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

This is the kind of thing which can be found at The Columbia Road Flower Market on Sunday Mornings in the Bethnall Green area, not far from London Liverpool Street station, Spitalfields, Brick Lane and Kingsland Road, Hoxton.

London attraction Kew Gardens - the Alpine house

2008-04-05T08:23:00.001-07:00

Alpine house
Originally uploaded by Andyrob

Kew Gardens is a major London attraction, everybody has heard of it and one of the most recent additions is the Alpine house. I used to like the old alpine house and it took two or more visits before I could appreciate just what the point of it is, and the potential for showcasing more of the tiny alpine plants in more of a simulated setting.