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When visiting London, there is one landmark that you can’t help but notice, and that it is Big Ben, not named due to it’s sheer size, but after the first Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall. It is 96.3 meters (315.9feet) high! It has four clock faces which are 23 feet squared and the minute hand alone, stands at 14 feet long. The numbers on the clock face are 2 feet tall! Now you can understand why it simply can’t be missed! It holds the record of being the “worlds largest four-faced chiming clock.” It did have the record of being the largest four-faced clock in the world, but this has since been overtaken by a clock in Wisconsin. That clock, however, does not chime! The tower of the clock, has cells within it to imprison members of parliament for breach of parliamentary privilege, but the last recorded case of this was in 1880. The tower itself isn’t actually open to the general public, but if you have a “special” interest, you can try and make an appointment to visit it through the local MP. Big Ben lies at the North-Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. This magnificent building has been the home of the English parliament since before 1547 and was originally called the Palace of Westminster. This is the site that Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the first half of the eleventh century. However, in 1547, the royal residence was moved, but the Lords continued to meet here and that is how it became the home of the English Parliament!

The Houses of Parliament

You can visit the Houses of Parliaments to view debates and You can visit the Houses of Parliaments to view debates and also the Prime Minister’s question time, which is, expectedly also the Prime Minister’s question time, which is, expectedly the busiest time. If you want to arrange a visit to this, you the busiest time. If you want to arrange a visit to this, you need to book it through an MP or the embassy. Not only are need to book it through an MP or the embassy. Not only are these fantastic landmarks full of history, they are also these fantastic landmarks full of history, they are also magnificent buildings and are part of the culture of London. magnificent buildings and are part of the culture of London. They have survived many years, and Big Ben, especially, has They have survived many years, and Big Ben, especially, has survived bombings and all sorts and the lengthiest shut down survived bombings and all sorts and the lengthiest shut down of the clock for maintenance in 22 years was in 2005, and this of the clock for maintenance in 22 years was in 2005, and this was for 33 hours. IT has become well known for being a was for 33 hours. IT has become well known for being a massive part of the New Year’s celebrations in the UK, with massive part of the New Year’s celebrations in the UK, with the countdown of the new year being on the “bongs” of the the countdown of the new year being on the “bongs” of the clock. Also, in films, it has become known as the biggest way clock. Also, in films, it has become known as the biggest way to portray London, and it has been featured in many films. All to portray London, and it has been featured in many films. All in all, you can’t really come to the Capital City of England and in all, you can’t really come to the Capital City of England and not visit Big Ben and the houses of Parliament. London is well not visit Big Ben and the houses of Parliament. London is well known because of these landmarks, and although there are known because of these landmarks, and although there are hundreds of things to view in the City, but these are by far, hundreds of things to view in the City, but these are by far, the biggest and bestthe biggest and best

Big Ben & The Houses of

Parliament

Tower Bridge, given its name because of it being close to the Tower of London. It was originally opened on 1894 and is a suspension bridge and bascule bridge combined to allow boats to pass freely underneath on the River Thames. Not only is it a famous landmark to walk or drive over (over 40,000 pedestrians and vehicles pass over it everyday) but you can also visit the Tower Bridge experience, and walk over the high-level walkways between the two tower. It was originally closed in 1910 because it became a famous haunt for pickpockets and prostitutes alike, but has now been reopened for the general public. Tower Bridge and Bridge of London are very close together, so you may has well visit one and then the other. They are easily accessible by train, tube and bus. You can also drive to these, but London is a busy town and there is the congestion charge to think about. If you wish to visit the Tower Bridge exhibition, again, you may wish to take in to account the opening times vary on the time of year and it costs 6GBP for an adult and 3.00 GBP for a child. Kids under the age of five can visit the attraction for free.

The Tower

The Tower

Trafalgar Square is a square in central London, England. With its position in the heart of London, it is a tourist attraction; and one of the most famous squares in the United Kingdom and the world. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. Statues and sculptures are on display in the square, including a fourth plinth displaying changing pieces of contemporary art, and it is a site of political demonstrations.The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been "King William the Fourth's Square", but George Ledwell Taylor suggested the name "Trafalgar Square".The northern area of the square had been the site of the King's Mews since the time of Edward I, while the southern end was the original Charing Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall, coming north from Westminster. As the midpoint between these twin cities, Charing Cross is to this day considered the heart of London, from which all distances are measured.In the 1820s the Prince Regent engaged the landscape architect John Nash to redevelop the area. Nash cleared the square as part of his Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. The present architecture of the square is due to Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845.Trafalgar Square is owned by the Queen in Right of the Crown, and managed by the Greater London Authority.[1]Trafalgar Square ranks as the fourth most popular tourist attraction on Earth with more than fifteen million visitors a year.

Buckingham House was originally bought in 1761 by George III for his wife, Queen Charlotte to use as a family home. Since then, it’s extensive renovation works and extensions, and the amount of Royalty it has housed, has made it a great tourist attraction for anyone planning to come to London for a vacation. Not only is Buckingham Palace the London residency for the Queen, but it also the busy administrative headquarters of the Monarchy. There are many attractions within this magnificent building for ant tourist to see. The State rooms are commonly used by the Queen and the Royal Family to entertain guests on special occasions When the Queen goes on her annual visit to Scotland in August and September, these State Rooms are open to the General Public. There is also the gardens within Buckingham Palace that is home to over 350 different types of wildflowers! Opening times in Buckingham Palace are 09.45 to 18.00 between the first of August and the 28th September. There are two types of tours you can choose from, the first is the State Rooms with an audio guide and this is priced at roughly 16GBP per adult, 8.75GBP for a child, and under five’s go free. There second tour is aptly named A Royal Day Out and is a tour of not only the State Rooms, but of the Royal Mews and The Queen’s gallery also.

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture situated in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects,are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present.The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a half centuries has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions, the first being the British Museum (Natural History) in South Kensington in 1887. Some objects in the collection, most notably the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon, are the objects of intense controversy and calls for restitution to their countries of origin.Until 1997, when the British Library (previously centred on the Round Reading Room) moved to a new site, the British Museum was unique in that it housed both a national museum of antiquities and a national library in the same building. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and as with all other national museums in the United Kingdom it charges no admission fee.Since 2001 the director of the museum has been Neil MacGregor

St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is generally reckoned to be London's fifth St Paul's Cathedral, all having been built on the same site since 604 A.D. The cathedral is one of London's most famous and most recognisable sights. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world, St Peter's Basilica in Rome being higher. The Monument to the Great Fire of London, also designed by Wren and the tallest doric column in the world, would fit inside the cathedral's interior.

Hyde ParkHyde Park

London Eye -the biggest one in the world

The British Airways London Eye is the world's tallest observation wheel at 135 meters high. Located on the banks of the River Thames it offers unrivalled views over London.Since opening at the turn of the century, the London Eye has become an iconic landmark, with a status that can be compared to Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Eros and the Tower of London. It has been used as a backdrop in countless films and for innumerable TV programs. A source of pride for the whole country as well as the capital, the London Eye is the most distinctive addition this century to the world's greatest city, loved by Britons and tourists alike.In fact, in its short life, it has become the most popular paid for UK visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year (an average of 10,000 a day). A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 40 kilometers in all directions, in complete comfort and safety.But there's much, much more to the London Eye than its views and its engineering. It plays an integral role in the community, has become something of a gateway or a symbol for London and offers a unique venue for corporate events and entertainment.

Be Dreamingand Good-luck!