You might of heard but there is a Royal Wedding on Friday in Great Britain?! Who are we kidding, even my four year-old is aware of the impending nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton. And this week, London is literally rolling out the red carpet for more than 1.1 million visitors from home and around the globe.
So in case you needed even more of a reason to take a trip to jolly old England, here are some of the top reasons to visit London:
History
London is steeped in history and you can’t turn a corner without finding something tied to its past.
Want to walk in the steps of the Royals? Tour palaces, castles and churches! Sign up for a summer garden tour of Buckingham Palace. You can visit Parliament and watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace FREE of charge.
Westminster Abbey is actually closed this week for all the wedding revelry so visiting another time will allow you into the hallowed halls where history has been made for hundreds of years.
The Tower of London is one of my most favorite sights in London to not only learn some important history lessons but to also be thoroughly entertained. You can drool over (I mean visit) the Crown Jewels, see hundreds of years of armor and hear the tales of tower from the official Yeoman Warders.
Anyone can find a reason to love London from its free-spirited nightlife, to its family-friendly attractions, and its centuries of history that have molded the modern times. So hop on one of the famous double-decker buses that chauffer you about town and happily enlighten you with the wonders of this world-class city.
Festivals and Free Stuff
London in the Spring and Summer provides visitors the opportunity to enjoy the splendor of the city through the arts in its many parks and gardens. Every week there is some sort of music, theatre or small celebration taking place around the city. Look out for music and dance during the Thames Festival, and boisterous juggling and dance acts on the National Theatre’s lawns.
Additionally, London has some of the best museums in the world. In fact, 17 of its major museums and galleries offer free admission including the British Museum, National Gallery, the V&A Museum of Childhood, and even the museum of architect Sir John Soane.
Pass up a pub and you’ll be passing up an experience. With nearly 4,000 public houses (“pubs”) in the city, these London locales are great places to grab a drink and an affordable meal, hear a story or two, relax from the sight-seeing and really take in some of the local flare.
Shopping
From Oxford Street, Portobello Road, Covet Garden, and Regent Street to the world famous Harrods store, London is a shopper’s paradise! With a variety of historic markets, glass-covered arcades and shopping streets like King’s Road and Carnaby Street, London specializes in products found only in England. I personally couldn’t end a shopping day without a spot of tea at Fortnum & Mason.
The way I see it – you should start planning your trip before the next visitor rush at the 2012 London Olympics!
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