London Travelers Recommend - page 2

London boasts a diverse culture which encompasses and embraces film, music, sports and even the monarchy. Hit the bohemian neighborhoods of London including Soho and Camden Town as you delve into the city's rock 'n' roll past on a this small group London Rock Music Tour. With names like The Beatles, Madness, The Clash and Jimmy Page London offers something for all music fans. Maybe you’re still waiting to hear if you’ve been accepted to Hogwarts, in which case hear insider gossip about the films from an expert guide, and discover the London landmarks that inspired the Harry Potter books and films to be made. For the sports fan visit Wimbledon for a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic All England Club, home to the world’s oldest tennis event: the Wimbledon Championships! And check out Buckingham Palace where you can trace the footsteps of generations of the British Royal Family, as you explore where they live and learn about their lives in the London spotlight.

The Thames is London’s spine. Over history, it has served as a main thoroughfare for goods and people, including King Henry VIII when he and his courtiers were coming and going from Hampton Court Palace, (south-west of central London). With so much cultural significance, it's a special experience to be able to cruise down the river as we can today, and it makes for a perfect lunchtime activity. Escape the city's hustle and bustle, and add a sightseeing cruise on the River Thames to your afternoon. You'll cruise in style and enjoy both landmarks and a served lunch, freshly prepared onboard by a talented team of chefs. Whether you opt for one with live jazz or afternoon tea, the river will become one of your favorite lunch spots in London.

Celebrate Christmas this year with Viator, and see the top London attractions sparkle away from the crowds! The Christmas lights, which famously light up Bond Street and Oxford Circus each year, set the scene for a festive shopping frenzy right up until the tail end of Christmas Eve. You can even do a Christmas Eve Lights Tour in London Led by Santa! In peaceful contrast to the pre-Christmas chaos, Christmas Day sees Londoners retire from the high street excess in favor of unwrapping presents at home, leaving the city streets empty for you to explore. A great way to do that is with the Christmas Day in London on a Vintage Bus or Christmas Day Lunch Cruise on the River Thames. Grab this rare opportunity to see London at its best – free from public transport as well as the crowds. It’s a perfect opportunity for festive photos of top London attractions such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square.

Those wanting to learn more about the Cathedral’s illustrious history can head to the nearby Canterbury Tales museum, where Chaucer’s famous characters are brought to life in an entertaining medieval recreation, but there’s more to the city than its most famous building. Spend your free time wandering around the Old Town, visiting sights like the ancient St Martin's Church, the oldest church still in use in the English-speaking world, the tilting 16th Century Sir John Boys' House and the ruins of the Norman-era Canterbury Castle. If you’ve still got time, take a boat trip along the River Stour or stroll through the pretty Dane John Gardens. The quickest way to reach Canterbury is by train (just over 1 hour), but taking a guided Canterbury tour from London means you can combine your visit with nearby sights like the majestic Leeds Castle in Kent or the famous White Cliffs of Dover, both of which lie close by.

The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Kinks, Sex Pistols, The Who, Queen, Oasis, Led Zeppelin – they all called the British capital home at one point or other and often recorded their best albums there. Of course top of many fans’ wish lists will be the famous studios on Abbey Road where the Beatles recorded their album of the same name. You can recreate the cover on the pedestrian crossing and visit numerous other sites associated with Liverpool’s finest as you follow a magical history tour of London. But it’s not all Beatlemania. Visiting the venues, hotels and studios which have themselves become household names with many well known rock artists. Head to the North London district of Camden Town, where The Clash, Bob Marley and Madness once lived. Now its gritty venues continue to produce major indie bands of the future. After a day on the streets, head to the popular long-running musical We Will Rock You or to the original Hard Rock Café.

Stonehenge is one of England’s most iconic destinations. The mystery and folklore of the massive rock structures and surrounding green fields draws travelers and tourists to this historic landmark and there’s no better way to learn about its past than on a private day tour from London. Visitors get a three-for-one on the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath day trip from London. They’ll learn about the home of the Royal Family, visit St. George’s Chapel and the State Apartments, then head to Salisbury for a stop at ancient Stonehenge. The tour tops off with a stop in Bath, where impressive panoramic views of London make for the perfect photo opportunity. Travelers who want to add even more to their England experience can include a stop at the village of Lacock, a medieval village known for its unique architecture and quiet charm. This private day tour also includes a traditional pub lunch at a classic English watering hole.

There are few ancient landmarks as iconic as Stonehenge and the mysterious stone circle is as captivating as it is puzzling, making it a both a fascinating archaeological site and a crowd-pleasing tourist attraction. The fabled stones have stood on the remote Salisbury plain for more than 4,500 years but remain as popular as ever, now drawing more than 1.3 million annual visitors. For most visitors though, it’s only possible to view the stones from afar – the National Trust property and UNESCO World Heritage site is carefully protected to ensure its preservation, meaning that you can see and walk near to the stones, but not touch them or walk within the inner circle. The only way to gain access to the sanctum of the inner circle is to pre-book a private viewing before or after the site’s public opening times, affording select visitors the rare opportunity to walk amidst the prehistoric stones.

The city’s latest venture in elevated entertainment is the O2 Skywalk, or ‘Up at The O2’, a 90-minute climb over the famous domed roof of the O2 Arena in Greenwich. The capital’s most sophisticated feat of modern design, The Shard is not only an impressive sight on London’s skyline, but it holds the title of the E.U’s tallest building at a whopping 1,016 feet high. Built in celebration of the new millennium back in 2000, the London Eye is not only the biggest Ferris wheel in, but has fast become one of the capital’s biggest tourist attractions with 3.5 million annual visitors taking to the skies for one of the best views in London. One of London’s principal landmarks, St. Paul’s Cathedral is sure to grace your London itinerary, but make sure you take the 250-step climb up into the viewing galleries of the iconic dome. If money’s no issue, one of the most exhilarating ways to explore London from above is to take a helicopter tour.

Nothing epitomizes the bleak underbelly of Victorian society better than London’s East End; today it’s an area of smart boutiques, concept restaurants and a thriving Bengali community around Brick Lane but back in 1888 the very words Whitechapel struck horror into peoples’ hearts. It was here in the dank cobbled alleyways behind Spitalfields that some of the world’s most infamous – and hitherto unsolved – murders took place as five lowlife prostitutes were brutally knifed to death. Recent attempts at naming the Ripper murderer have cited a Polish immigrant called Aaron Kosminski, the Prime Minister William Gladstone, the artist Walter Sickert and even Queen Victoria’s own grandson. However, to this day the killer’s true identity remains unknown and so the gripping mystery still continues to fascinate and horrify in equal degrees. Tours of the East End to see the Ripper’s stomping ground can be taken by London’s iconic black cabs, by bike, hop-on, or hop-off bus.

Paris is one of the most popular day trip destinations from London and with regular high-speed trains taking around 2 hours and 15 minutes, you can be munching croissants and strolling around The Louvre by mid-morning. Combine your trip with a boat cruise along the Seine, a tour of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and a climb to the top of the iconic Eiffel Tower, then hop on the train and you’ll make it back to London in time for a nightcap. Along with Lille in France, the famous birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, Eurostar also runs direct routes to Brussels, making it possible to explore the Belgium capital on a day tour too. The journey takes just over 2 hours from London, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the picturesque Grand Place and stock up on delicious Belgian chocolates. Combine it with a Hop on Hop off bus tour and you can check out sights like the European Union district, the Atomium and the Manneken Pis statue.