The London Traveler

The British Airways London Eye is one of the two most eye-catching new additions to the London skyline in the last decade. Originally built as a temporary attraction for the millenium, it has become the most popular tourist attraction in London, visited by 3.5 million people a year. It’s perfectly placed to see Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, and all across London; particularly on a beautiful day. (Yes, beautiful days do happen in London!)

One of the nice things about the London Eye is that you can combine it with other attractions. One time I went …read more

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Starting tomorrow, the Ice Skating Rink at the Natural History Museum in London will be open. This 1000 square meter rink has been open each winter for quite a few years, and is really quite organised.
If you like skating, it’s an incredible picturesque place to have some winter fun. Just check out the photos above and below! Skating lasts for just under an hour, but make sure you show up about 15 minutes ahead of time to receive your skates. (Skates are included in the price, but you can also bring your own if you wish.) …read more

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Will you be visiting London this December? Then think about stopping by the “Winter Wonderland” event going on in Hyde Park.
From December 1st to January 6th, Winter Wonderland will be taking place in Hyde Park. It will feature:

London’s largest outdoor ice rink
A German Christmas Market
50 meter tall Ferris wheel (not as big as the London Eye, but still!)
Santa Claus (called “Santa’s Grotto” in the UK)
Toboggan slide
Bars and cafes
More!

This isn’t an event that has ever taken place in London before, so it should be a very interesting and very unique experience. It’s co-sponsored by a number of newspapers, …read more

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Take a water- and land- tour around London in an amphibious Duck (DUKW)! Similar to cities like Boston and Washington DC, you can now see London from a very unique perspective.
(Thanks to Jon at the DC Traveler for inspiring this post!)
Seeing London from the water is a fantastic experience. Not only that, but the Duck tours enter the water right next to MI-6 headquarters, as seen in the James Bond films. (MI-6 is the British Secret Intelligence Service). You will go by Parliament on the land and water, as well as many other very beautiful parts …read more

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Specifically, a number of the famed “Terracotta warriors,” recently discovered after being buried with the First Emperor of China, are now on exhibition at the British Museum in London.
The First Emperor of China was buried with an estimated 7,000 of these Terracotta Warriors, though only 1,000 have been excavated until now. From now until the spring, 20 of them have been sent to the British Museum for a special exhibition. This is the largest group to ever leave China, and the display has been described as “spellbinding” by the Times. Click on the link for a well-written …read more

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One of the best tours you can take in the late summer is of the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of Parliament and essentially the Capitol of the UK Government. From the end of July through the end of September (while Parliament is out of session) the building is open for an absolutely fantastic tour of rooms that the public is otherwise not permitted to walk through or even see.
Specific details can be found on the UK Parliament website.
Cost: £12. The ticket booth is across the street from the Palace.
Time: Plan for 90 minutes.
Booking: Best to book …read more

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The English Rugby squad are preparing for the Rugby World Cup, which is being held in September and October. As part of their send-off, there is an exhibition taking place on Sunday, September 2nd in Regent’s Park. It’s called “O2 Scrum in the Park.”
When: 12noon – 6pm. Sunday, September 2nd.
Where: Regent’s Park. Closest Tube stations include: Regent’s Park, Great Portland Street, Baker Street, and Camden Town. These are on the Circle, Jubilee, Bakerloo, Northern, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines.
Cost: Free!
Why:
You’ll get to meet the England Rugby team, and get autographs. There are …read more

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