Our first stop on this summer's trip will be London. Our stay in London will be short, so it might be a good idea to have a couple of ideas about what you want to do during your free time in the city. Here are a few suggestions:
Tower of London
Built by William the Conqueror in 1078 to pacify his newly aquired kingdom, the Tower of London has served as a fortress, a prison, and a home to kings at various times over it's nearly 1,000 years of exsitence. It's still an active military post today! Take a tour with one of the Tower's Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) and visit the Crown Jewels. (http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/)
London Eye
This 450-foot tall obeservation wheel offers a great view of London's somewhat underwhelming skyline. The ride lasts aproximately 30 minutes, and the price is somewhat expensive. However, if your goal is to reach the highest point in each city, this is your ride. (http://www.londoneye.com/)
National Gallery
The National Gallery, located on Trafalgar Square, may be one of the best free museums in Europe. This fantastic treasure houses paintings from the 13th through the 19th centuries. From Titian to Monet, this museum has it all. Did I mention that it's free? (http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/)
Tate Modern
Another free museum, the Tate Modern resides in a former powerstation on the south side of the Thames, directly across from St. Paul's Cathedral. Take a stroll across the Millenium Bridge to enjoy a great collection of twentieth century art, incuding works by Picasso and Dalí. (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/)
Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms
This museum is actually located under the busy streets of London. This is where Winston Churchill and his inner circle directed the war effort against Germany while Nazi bombs fell on the capital above. (http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms)
Victoria & Albert Museum
The V & A bills itself as "The World's Greatest Museum of Art and Design." They might be right. This is another free museum (with the exception of special exhibitions). Check the website for exibitions and prices. (http://www.vam.ac.uk/)
British Museum of Natural History Museum
This museum was built during the 1870s to house the enormous collection of specimens being brought in from all over the Queen Victoria's British Empire. There are over 50 million specimens house in the museum, which is divided into a section for the life sciences and one for the earth sciences. Once again, admission is free. (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/)
Stroll through Hyde Park
Hyde Park acts as the green lungs of London. Enjoy a stroll through the park, as many Londoners do. This is a great place to bring your own food for a relaxing picnic. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_London)
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason
Located on Picadilly since 1707, Fortnum & Mason are the offical purveyors of fine teas to Her Majesty the Queen. This is a great place to enjoy a traditional tea with scones, clotted cream, and strawberry preserves. (http://www.fortnumandmason.com/c-3-fortnum-mason-piccadilly-store-london-luxury-department-store.aspx)
Theater in the West End
If you're planning to take in a show in London's West End, you might want to take advantage of the TKTS booth located on Leicester Square. This booth offers the unsold seats to the evenings shows at a discounted rate (sometimes as much as 50% off of the original price). Available shows are posted on a board next to the booth. Let us know if you are interested so we can point you in the right direction. (http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/buy-tickets/tkts/)
Visit a Pub
Take a trip to one of London's many Public Houses (Pubs). Pubs have been serving as the livingrooms of London since the middle ages. Enjoy some "pub grub" and the company of local Londoners. Be aware that you must be at least 18 years old to purchase beer or ale, and many pubs may not allow anyone under the age of 18 entrance. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_house)
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