London Travel Guide and Hotel Reviews

The Natural History Museum is best known for its amazing collection of dinosaurs.  One of the main attractions is Dippy; a huge cast of a diplodocus which stands in the Central Hall of the Museum.  Dippy caused an incredible stir when he was first shown to the public back in 1905.

As well as Dippy, there is plenty more to see in the museum:  you can see a huge replica of a blue whale from all angles suspended in one room of the museum.  Elsewhere you can discover everything there is to know about the huge power of earthquakes and watch how a volcano can destroy everything in its path.

The museum also contains countless works of art that all have a relevance to natural history.  While many of these are paintings, prints and water colours others are more unusual.  One such example is a 3D image of a shark’s head. 

The best thing about the Natural History Museum, aside from the fact that it is free, is that it is an ideal day out for all the family.  The museum is in Cromwell Road, London and is easily accessible from one of the exits at South Kensington tube station.  There are plenty of hotels in London in this area so you may want to book a room to stay in overnight too, thus making your day out into a weekend to remember.  You can also visit the museum two days running and see more as a result.

It is common for a museum to capture your attention regardless of its subject matter, but the British Museum remains one of the most notable examples of its kind in the world, standing head and shoulders above many others.  The name may mislead you into thinking it only focuses on British exhibits but nothing could be further from the truth.

The museum can be found in Great Russell Street, London and was founded in 1753.  The intervening two hundred and fifty years have seen many notable exhibits in the museum; most recently these have included prints and drawings from Australia, mummies from ancient Egypt and sculptures that come from the Parthenon in Greece.

The museum is free to enter and you can also attend free talks on various subjects of interest.  The museum holds 1.8 million objects in its vast collection so as you may imagine these are not all on display at the same time, and some of the exhibits are carefully preserved behind the scenes.  However you will still be able to view lots of amazing relics and items that show us a lot about how history unfolded in various parts of the world.

The British Museum is a great place to go for an inexpensive day out in London.  No matter which London hotel you choose to in, you will find it relatively easy to get to the museum to start your exploration of all it has to offer.

It is not difficult to see why Madame Tussauds is one of the most popular venues in London.  If you are spending a long weekend in the city and staying in a London hotel, make sure you save some time to rub shoulders with the rich and famous in Madame Tussauds while you are there.

So who can you expect to see in the waxworks museum?  There is a large section of waxworks of people from the Royal Family, including the Queen and Prince Charles.  You can also see Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana.

Also on display are the waxworks of various pop stars including Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake and even Elvis Presley.  You can see that some famous people are popular enough to stay in the Madame Tussauds gallery for many years.

But the waxworks museum does not only choose real people for their models.  You can also meet Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films.  Elsewhere you can see the superhero Spiderman and the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, looking remarkably like Robert Downey Jr.  Watch out for the Invisible Woman and the Incredible Hulk as well.

The best thing about a visit to Madame Tussauds is the variety of waxworks you will be able to see.  Sports stars, world leaders and many more besides are all waiting to greet you as you enter Madame Tussauds to explore in more detail.

The London Eye stands just along from County Hall on the banks of the Thames in London.  It is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the city and if you are lucky enough to be in London during clear weather you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view over much of London.

The observation wheel was first opened back in March 2000 and since then millions of people have enjoyed this notable landmark to see London from a totally new vantage point.  It is the tallest wheel of its kind in the whole world and stands at some 135 metres in height.  This translates into 442 feet which is why you can expect to get a marvellous view over much of London and beyond on a good day.  It is said that you can see as far as twenty -five miles away when the weather is good, which means you can spot Windsor Castle if you are looking in the right direction!

A trip on the London Eye takes about half an hour to complete.  This is plenty of time to see what you can spot throughout the city from all angles.  Make the most of the time you spend at the top as the capsule you are travelling in passes the highest point.  You may even be able to see your hotel in London if you are staying nearby and you know what to look for.

Tate Modern is a large modern art gallery on the south bank of the River Thames in London.  It is one of the foremost modern art galleries in the world, with nearly five million visitors each year.  The gallery is housed in what used to be the Bankside Power Station, an imposing building designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.  Scott also designed the famous Battersea Power Station a few miles south on the Thames.

Tate Modern is one of four galleries that make up the Tate Collection.  The other three galleries are Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.  Tate Modern exhibits art from the 1900’s and onwards.  Some of the most famous names in modern art are on display at Tate Modern.  The major movements in modern art featured in the gallery include Fauvism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimal Art and Conceptual Art.  There are paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Magritte, Ernst, Miro and many more.

There are frequent special exhibitions and new art on display, as well as functions and gallery meetings.  Tate Modern is located just across the Thames from St Paul’s Cathedral and forms part of the lively south bank of the Thames. 

You are advised to make early reservations for a hotel.  London has a range of places to stay, but demand can be high throughout the year.  The south bank can be a suitable area to be based, as it allows for easy access to Central London.  Transport options and things to do can be checked with your chosen hotel.  London has many more attractions besides Tate Modern.

The Tower of London is one of London’s oldest sites and a popular tourist attraction.  The building dates back to the 1070s, when it was built on the orders of William the Conqueror.  Central to the original building was the White Tower.  The tower and its fortified surroundings were designed as a fortress-stronghold, in which state it continued until the end of the 19th century.

Over the centuries after William’s death, the Tower of London was rebuilt several times and used for a number of specific purposes.  Under the Tudors, for example, the Tower of London became a prison.  Many of Henry VIII’s political and religious foes were imprisoned here.  Prisoners included Sir Thomas More, Bishop Fisher of Rochester and two of Henry VIII’s wives.  Nowadays, the Tower of London is a tourist attraction.  It is also where the Crown Jewels are kept.

The Tower of London is open daily from 9am to 5:30pm.  Last admissions are at 5pm.  Visits are charged; it is best to check prices just before your visit as seasonal prices may vary.  The Tower of London is a popular destination for families, with special tours, histories and stories especially for children.

There are many hotels in London that are within a few miles of the Tower of London.  You can visit on foot, by underground, bus or taxi.  Hotels in London can be explored and booked online.

When staying in hotels in London, there are so many museums and places of interest in the city, that the hard part is deciding which ones to visit.

The Natural History Museum has one of the best natural history collections in the world.  It depicts the story of the earth’s biodiversity.  With literally millions of items on display, there is a lot to see.  Admission to the museum is free, although there may be a charge for some exhibitions.

The vast replica skeleton of the Diplodocus that meets your gaze as you enter the great hall has been delighting visitors for over 100 years.  You can learn about the beginnings of life, evolution and the variety of creatures that roamed the earth.  With interactive displays, large animal skeletons, insects, and all manner of life, there is much to explore.

Children with a sense of curiosity will probably want to head straight to the famous Dinosaur Gallery.  The Gallery will be closed, however, from the 6th of June to the 22nd of July 2011.

Plan your visit ahead of time by using the website to identify key displays that you want to see.  If you do get to the stage where you have seen enough, just go next door to the Science Museum for a different perspective on the earth’s resources.

Both the Natural History and Science Museums are a short walk from South Kensington Underground Station and are easily accessible from hotels in London.  They are open every day from 10.00 am, except from the 24th to the 26th of December, so a trip is possible at any time of year.

The National Maritime Museum is one of the largest maritime museums in the world.  The museum comprises the Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House.  It is located in Greenwich in south west London.  There are panoramic views of London from the Royal Observatory and the hills surrounding it.

The Maritime Galleries exhibits paintings and artefacts from the 16th to the 20th centuries.  There are permanent exhibitions as well as regular special events and shows.  The highlights of the Maritime Galleries are Nelson’s Nile uniform, Prince Frederick’s barge and a ship bridge simulator.

The Royal Observatory is the location of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World.  The site houses London’s only planetarium and Britain’s largest refracting telescope.  The Astronomy Centre in the Royal Observatory South Building houses a four and a half billion year old meteorite and has regular astronomical films and displays.

Queen’s House exhibits fine art and is also a popular site for weddings and other official functions.  There are over four thousand paintings in Queen’s House, commonly revolving around the maritime theme as well as British history and identity.

Greenwich is within easy reach of many hotels in London.  The site is close to the Cutty Sark DLR, local bus stops, Maze Hill and Greenwich stations.  Hotels in London can be found online.  It is advisable to book your room early to avoid disappointment.

Most of the tourist spots in London attract visitors from all across the globe.  Tourists staying at any of the numerous London hotels can view and enjoy the marvellous English architecture and the natural beauty of the city.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in London is the British Museum.  Established in 1753, the British Museum is home to a vast number of collections, initially that of Sir Hans Sloane on which the museum was founded. 

The famous objects such as those from the burial site at Sutton Hoo, the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase and sculptures from the Parthenon are the highlights of the collection.  A host of programmes are also offered daily for entertainment and learning.  Do not miss the special exhibitions, guided tours, talks and the daily gallery tours organized by the museum.

The British Museum is one of the most comprehensive collections of artefacts from prehistoric times to the modern era that were drawn from all continents.  Over 50,000 objects housed in this museum represent various ethnicities and cultures of the world along with some interesting medieval antiquities.  The impressive display of the art collection provides a great experience.

The museum is open from 1000 – 1730 hours and the entry is free.  On Thursdays and Fridays, selected galleries are open until 2030 hours.  The museum also features libraries, study rooms, restaurants and cafes.  Photography with hand-held cameras is permitted unless signs indicate to the contrary, allowing every visitor to take lovely memories back home of this historic and informative museum.