Talk:London/Other Attractions

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The district heirarchy in London is just too deep and fine grained. I've got some 'see' and 'do' attractions I want to add, but despite knowing central London I cannot decide which of the lowest level districts to add them to (or indeed easily find out if they are already there). I mean where exactly is the boundary between Soho/Chinatown/Leicester Square.

This reorg needs some thought though; so I don't lose the attraction info I'm temporarily adding it to this page; I'll move it into the right places when I work out where they are.

  • London Eye, Jubilee Gardens, tel 0870 500 06000 from within the UK, +44 870 500 0600 from outside the UK. The world's largest ferris wheel towers 450 feet/135 meters above the Thames, and the computer controlled capsules give spectacular views over central London. A 'flight' lasts 30 minutes. Open every day 9.30am-10pm. £11 (adult); £6 (child).
  • Buckingham Palace, The Mall, tel 020 7766 7300. The Queen's official residence in London, surrounded by St James and Green Parks (both open to the public) and Buckingham Palace Gardens (which are not open). The ceremony of Changing of the Guard takes place in the forecourt at 11.30pm every day in summer, alternate days in winter. The State Rooms are open July 31st to September 26th 9.30am-4.30pm. Free (exterior views and Changing of the Guard); £13 (admission to State Rooms - adult); £6 ( - child).
  • Queens Galley, Buckingham Palace Road, tel 020 7321 2233. Shows exhibits from the royal collection of art and treasures. Open every day 10am-5.30pm; last admission one hour earlier. £6 (adult); £3 (child).
  • Cabinet War Rooms, Clive Steps (at St James Park end of King Charles Street), tel 020 7930 6961. The preserved bomb-proof underground shelter which were the headquaters of the government during the second world war, kept exactly as they were when Churchill worked there. Open every day 9.30am-6pm; last admission one hour earlier. £7 (adult); free (child).
  • HMS Belfast, moored in the River Thames at Tooley Street, tel 020 7940 6300. This naval cruiser was built in 1938 and saw service in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters during the second world war and during the Korean war. All areas of the ship can be explored, from the bidge to the engine rooms. Open every day 10am-6pm; last admission one hour earlier. £7 (adult); free (child).
  • Houses of Parliament, Westminster, tel 020 7219 3000. Built in 1834, this houses both chambers of the British Parliament, the elected House of Commons and the partly appointed, partly hereditary House of Lords. The clock tower is known world-wide as Big Ben, although technically that is the name of the bell that tolls the hours. There are several different ways of visiting parliament:
    • Summer Opening Tour. This tour operates during the summer recess and is open to anyone. This is a 75 minute tour through the chambers of both houses, the mediaeval Westminster Hall and other parts of the complex. Book via web site or phone on 0870 906 3773 (within UK) / +44 870 906 3773 (outside UK). Available Jul-Aug M,Tu,F,Sa 9:15am-4:30pm; Jul-Aug W,Th 1:15pm-4:30pm; Sep-Oct M,F,Sa 9:15am-4:30pm; Sep-Oct Tu,W,Th 1:15pm-4:30pm. £7 (adults); £5 (senior citizens & children).
    • Line of Route Tour. This tour is available while the house is in session, and during recesses other than the summer recess. It is open to UK residents only, and must be arranged through your MP. Free.
    • Visit to the Strangers Gallery of the House of Commons. Open to all and available when the house is sitting, allows you to listen to the debates. Join the public queue and be prepared for a wait of 1-2 hours. Free.
    • Visit to the Strangers Gallery of the House of Lords. Open to all and available when the house is sitting, allows you to listen to the debates. Join the public queue; the queue is generally shorter than for the House of Commons. Free.
  • Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3, tel 020 8348 1268. Owned by English Heritage and situated on Hampstead Heath, this house was remodelled by Robert Adam and boasts great views and landscaped gardens. It is also the home of the Iveagh Bequest, a collection of work by (amongst others) Turner, Vermeer and Rembrandt. Open Apr-Oct M-Su 10am-5pm; Nov-Mar M-Su 10am-4pm. Free.
  • London Aquarium, County Hall, South Bank, SE1, tel 020 7967-8000. A display of over 30000 fish. Open M-Su 10am-6pm; last admission one hour earlier. £10 (adult); £6 (child).
  • London Zoo, Regents Park, NW1, tel 020 7722-3333. Open summer M-Su 10am-5.30pm; winter M-Su 10am-4pm. £13 (adult); £10 (child).
  • London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, tel 020 8409-4400. On the site of set of disused reservoirs, the centre offers 105 acres of wetland habitat and visitors the chance to see rare and beautiful wetland wildlife just a stone's throw from central London. Open summer M-Su 9.30am-6pm; winter M-Su 9.30am-5pm; last admission one hour earlier. £7 (adult); £4 (child).
  • Madame Tussauds & London Planetarium, Marylebone Road, NW1, tel 0870 400 3000 from within the UK, +44 870 400 3000 from outside the UK. London's world-famous waxworks combined with half-hourly star shows in the planetarium (planetarium believed to have closed a few years ago?). Open M-F 9.30am-5.30pm, Sa-Su 9.30am-6pm. £11-£22 (adult); £6-£17 (child); prices depend on time of admission, the later the time the cheaper the price.
  • The Monument, Monument Street, EC3, tel 020 7626-2717. This 200 foot/60 meter column commemorates the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of London in 1666 and broke out in nearby Pudding Lane. Reached by steps, the top gives views of London. Open M-Su 9.30am-5pm. £2 (adult); £1 (child).
  • St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Churchyard, EC4, tel 020 7246-8348. London's cathedral, situated in the heart of the original City of London, now London's main financial district. The cathedral was designed and built by Christopher Wren after the previous cathedral on the site was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Attractions include three galleries at increasing altitude: the Whispering Gallery is an interior gallery giving views of the interior of the cathedral and famous for its whisper; the Stone Gallery and Golden Gallery are external galleries which give excellent views of London; access to the galleries is by staircase. Open M-Sa 8.30am-4pm (galleries open 9.30am). £7 (adult); £3 (child).
  • Shakespeares Globe, Bankside, SE1, tel 020 7902-1500. A fabulous reconstruction of the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare's time, with its open courtyard surrounded by circular tiered wood-and-thatch galleries. There are two ways of visiting:
    • If you can, take in a play here. There are matinee and evening performances on most days from Apr-Sep. Standing places in the courtyard are usually available and cost £5; seated (on not very comfortable benches) places in the galleries are harder to come by and cost £13-£29 depending on seat location.
    • The exhibition and theatre tour is available Apr-Sep M-Su 9am-noon; Oct-Mar M-Su 10am-5pm. £8 (adult); £6 (child).
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