Londinium (London) was established around 43 AD and remained an important commercial center until the fifth century, when it appears to have been abandoned. Early London was very small compared to today’s metropolis – maybe half a square mile, which is about the size of Hyde Park, one of its major attractions. There is so much history to discover in the city because of its age and the landmarks left by successive settlers. Here’s a brief guide to some key sites and some unusual attractions.
Castles and fortresses
Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start because there are so many stunning historic buildings to see. The Tower of London with Tower Bridge in front may be the most well known of the London landmarks. It has been home to royal families, politicians and some notorious prisoners (not usually all at the same time) since 1066 and the Norman Conquest. Here visitors can listen to the Beefeaters recounting tales of the past, observe the ravens hopping around and see the amazing exhibition of the Crown Jewels, said to be priceless.
Buckingham Palace was home to Queen Victoria and is the official royal residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Dating from the 18th century, it’s possible to take a tour of some of the state rooms as well as to see a few of the ceremonies that are still carried out today, such as the Changing of the Guard.
Kensington Palace was where Queen Victoria spent her childhood and is now the official residence of The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, his wife and children. The late Princess Diana also lived there and during tours visitors have access to the staterooms, which have fascinating artifacts on display, and to The Orangery in the grounds, where they can enjoy traditional English afternoon tea.
As well as all the other palaces, forts and towers in the city, London has many historic religious buildings, such as Westminster Cathedral and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Hidden London
Exploring London doesn’t need to be all about doing the tourist routes. There are many little gems tucked away in hidden corners of the city that represent a wealth of history and cultural heritage. There are also plenty of places with a gory past, so those staying in London family accommodation might want to do a bit of research before embarking on a trip with the kids if nightmares are to be avoided.
For example, Aldgate Pump may look like a harmless, old-fashioned water pump, however, it was responsible for the Aldgate Pump Epidemic, which caused the death of several hundred people from polluted water. Apparently the water it delivered had been routed through new graveyards and brought with it bacteria, germs and calcium from decaying bodies: not the stuff of bedtime stories, then.
Less worrying and more whimsical is the site of Britain’s smallest police station. This is located at a corner of the very majestic Trafalgar Square and could accommodate, apparently, up to two prisoners at any one time. Built in 1926 the idea of the station was to allow a single police officer to monitor troublesome demonstrators. It is sometimes dubbed the CCTV (or video surveillance) camera of the 1920s.
Taking a walk back in time in London inevitably leads visitors to a part of the city that has tried to evade the developments of the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s reckoned that The Gun public house, said to have links with Lord Horatio Nelson, has been a bar since 1720, even though a lot of the current buildings on Coldharbour were redeveloped later. Situated on the Isle of Dogs, this neighborhood still has places with cobbled streets, narrow passageways and ancient houses, dating back to when London was one of the greatest ports in the world.
Making the most of a London vacation
As might be expected, London is a busy city and there are times when it’s best not to travel in order to avoid the rush hour. The good news is that during the off-peak times travel costs are generally cheaper plus buses and subway cars are definitely less congested. Another good tip is to work out what will be most attractive beforehand and buy tickets in advance – this includes passes for museums or galleries, for example, as well as for some of the key attractions. This always saves time as well as money, particularly during the busier seasons when queues can get very long indeed.