VT VidDra: September 2006

Sunday, 3 September 2006

The Queen’s House

The building was designed by Inigo Jones and built from 1616-35 for the queens of James I and Charles I.

Here you can see the Royal apartments, a number of good paintings, many with a maritime theme, and a beautiful ‘Tulip’ staircase, the 1st circular cantilevered staircase in Britain.

The National Maritime Museum

The museum houses an extensive collection illustrating Britain’s maritime heritage. Among other things you can see the uniform worn by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Opening times :
10.00-17.00 daily

If you get hungry, don't worry. You can find delicious cakes and lunches, with a wide range of children’s meals and snacks here as well.

Regatta Cafe:
Open 10.00-16.30

Upper Deck coffee bar:
Open 11.00-16.30

Directions: Behind the college

Phone: 020 8858 4422

Website: http://www.nmm.ac.uk

The Cutty Sark

It's the last of the sea clippers used for carrying goods. She became famous because she was 1 of the fastest ships to carry tea from China and wool from Australia.

She was 1st launched in Scotland on 22 November 1869 and weighed 963 tons. She was built for John Willis, her 1st sea master. She was sold to the Portuguese in 1895 and then bought by the British again. The Cutty Sark finally stopped sailing in 1938.

She now rests in Greenwich, where you can have afternoon tea in the reconstructed Captain’s headquarters and experience what it was like to live on a ship more than 100 years ago.

On board is a collection of ships’ figureheads and an exhibition on the ship’s history.

The name ‘Cutty Sark’ comes from ‘Loan Shark’. In Cockney Rhyme and Slang it means ‘independent’.

Mon-Sat: 10.00-18.00
Sun: 12.00-18.00 (Closes 17.00 in winter)
Closed at Christmas
Admission charge

Address: King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT

Directions: by Greenwich Pier

Phone: 020 8858 3445

Website: http://www.cuttysark.org.uk

Where Time Begins

Greenwich is famous as the site of the prime meridian, which passes through the Old Observatory.

Greenwich Observatory, officially known as the Royal Greenwich Observatory, was founded in 1675 by Charles II, king of England, to provide accurate charts of the stars to improve navigation.

Among its other landmarks are the Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum.

Saturday, 2 September 2006

What to take?

Dali and Big Ben

When you pack, remember to bring an umbrella for all seasons, a light overcoat and layers of clothes in summer.

The wheels on the bus...

rainy London

London is famous for its red double-decker buses. They're 1 of the best and cheapest ways to travel around the city. Just buy a so-called Oyster Card for a number of days, and don't worry!

The original red, double-decker buses are called Routemasters. They have a driver and a conductor at the back where you can jump on and off. They were designed especially for the streets of London in the 1950s.

Since 2005 they’ve been replaced with normal red, double-decker buses.

The Tube

The London Underground train service, or the 'Tube', is the quickest and easiest way of getting around London.

Westminster Station

There are 12 Tube lines and 275 stations:
- yellow Circle Line
- red Central Line
- green District Line
- brown Bakerloo Line
- purple Piccadilly Line
- blue Victoria Line
- black Northern Line
- grey Jubilee Line
- pink Hammersmith and City Line
- orange East London Line
- light green Waterloo and City Line
- Metropolitan Line

The London Underground train service, is the oldest and largest in the world. The 1st underground railway line opened in January 1863. The line was only 6 km long, but others were soon started, and in 1890 a line was opened which ran under the River Thames. Today the Tube has over 406 km of lines and 275 stations.

Interesting facts:
-The underground logo, which is still used today, was designed in 1913.
-The Tube has a total of 408 escalators and 112 lifts.
-About 18 million passengers a year use the Tube-about the same number as the population of Australia.

City Cruises

London seen from the boat

Cruises depart every 40 minutes.

Approx. journey times:
Westminster/Waterloo < 30 mins > Tower < 30 mins > Greenwich
Complete round trip from any pier: 2 hrs 30 mins

In the lower saloon of City Cruises Riverliners you’ll find 2 bars serving hot and cold snacks, light refreshments and alcoholic beverages, throughout your trip.

return travel: £6.00 (discount)

Phone: 020 77 400 400

Website: http://www.citycruises.com

Victoria Station

Victoria Station is London’s 2nd busiest rail terminal and the city’s busiest tourist info centre.

The original station was built in 1860, but was re-built early in the 20th century.

Fly!

Heathrow

Heathrow is London’s major airport. It opened in 1929 as a small base for flight tests and became an international airport in 1946.

There are 4 terminals and a direct underground rail link which takes an hour to reach central London.

Dorms

If you're looking for a cheap accommodation and a place to make new friends, dorms are a perfect choice.

In August 2006, I booked a bed in a 6-bed female dorm at Hostel 639 via the Internet. I paid 72 GBP for 7 days (breakfast included), which was pretty cheap at that time. As far as I remember, there was a shower and a basin in the room and a shared bathroom and a kitchen down the corridor.

As for the facilities, there's a coffee shop with computers, TV and phones, a bar, a games room and a restaurant, where you can have continental breakfast (bread, jam, cereal, milk, tea and the things like that), lunch or dinner.

Address: 639 Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London, NW10 5NU, United Kingdom
other contact: milleniumlodge@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: +44(0)2089644411
Price: US$80-120

Website: http://www.hostelfind.com/

Harrods

The elegant shopping area of Knightsbridge is dominated by Harrods department store.

Founded in 1849 as a small grocery shop by Henry Harrod, the store has become synonymous with luxury and is famous for its range of goods and services, including a pet shop, restaurants and the famous Food Halls. The store runs a library, has a bank and a kennel for customers’ dogs, too.

There’s a big sale at Christmas time, and the 1st customer to buy something then gets a present.

Address: Oxford Street
Directions: Knightsbridge adjaent to Knightsbridge Underground Station (Piccadilly Line).
Phone: 44 (0) 20 7730 1234
Theme: Department Store
Website: http://www.harrods.com/

The Dominion: London Rocks

We will rock you!

If you're a Queens' fan, check out this musical called We Will Rock You.

Mon-Sat 7.30
mats Wed & Sat 2.30

Prices: £27.50-55

Address: Tottenham Rd, W1P 0AG

Phone: CC 0870 169 0116

Lyceum: Musical London

Lyceum Theatre

If you liked Disney's Lion King, you'll probably enjoy this musical as well.

Plays:
Tue-Sat 7.30
mats Wed & Sat 2.00
Sun 3.00

Prices: £20-50

Address: Wellington Street, WC2E 7DA

Directions: Covent Garden/ Charing Cross

Phone: CC 0870 243 9000

Website: http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

Perfect for a VT Meeting!

stop talking, start eating

The Slug and Lettuce

This is where we had a VT Meeting, organised by Anita. We spent a lovely evening, talking, taking pics, writing postcards...

Lite Bites, sandwiches, platters, salads, burgers, desserts, hot beverages... the selection’s huge.

Favorite Dish: Fish & chips

Price Comparison: about average

Directions: near Oxford Street

Price: US$11-20

Website: http://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk

Feel the spirit of Covent Garden!

Address: Covent Garden

Have a break!

Visiting London is exhausting! Luckily, there’s a huge variety of food to choose from when you decide to have a break: Afghani, Cuban, Indian, Japanese, Turkish, Swedish, Dutch, Lebanese, Greek...

The Famous Ravens

To the west of the White Tower, the Tower of London, is Tower Green where you'll see the famous ravens. There are 8 of them today and they all have names.

It's said that if they leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fall.

But a nicer thing is that if you see a raven you'll come back again.

Changing of the Guards

The Changing of the Guard presents a colourful spectacle. It takes places daily at 11.30.

Accompanied by a band, the new guard marches from a nearby barracks to the palace, where the troops form up facing the old guard.

As the changeover takes place, the officers of the old and new contingents advance and touch left hands to symbolize the transfer of keys.

London’s Bloody History Live

Be prepared to wait for hours in a queue to see this 'unique combination of real history, horror and humour'.

Open daily from 10am.

Address: 28-34 Tooley Street, SE1

Directions: London Bridge tube/Network Rail

Phone: 020 7403 7221

Website: http://www.thedungeons.com

Wellington Arch

This magnificent arch was erected in 1828 as a memorial to Sir Arthur Wellsley, 1st Duke of Wellington, soldier and Prime Minister.

Address: Park Lane, Bayswater Road, Knightsbridge

Directions: Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Lancaster Gate tubes

Admiralty Arch

It was designed by Sir Aston Webb as a memorial to Queen Victoria.

The central gate is usually closed as only the sovereign may pass through it.

Directions: St James's Park tube; at the entrance to the Mall, which leads to Buckingham Palace

The London Transport Museum

On the site of the old Flower Market is this museum, which chronicles over 150 years of public transport in London and has an extensive collection of trams, buses and trains.

Daily: 10.00-18.00
Closed at Christmas

Admission charge

Address: Covent Garden

The Drury Lane

The Drury Lane, more correctly known as the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is London’s oldest theatre, though this is the 4th building on the site, built in 1812. The 1st theatre opened in 1663 and was the 1st to receive a royal patent.

Among the famous actors who worked here were David Garrick, Sir Henry Irving and Ellen Terry.

Plays given:
Mon-Sat 7.30
mats Wed & Sat 2.30

Prices c. £10-50

Address: Covent Garden, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF

Phone: CC 0870 890 1109

Website: http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk

One of London's First Squares

Covent Garden is one of London’s first squares. It was designed by architect Inigo Jones in the early 1630s. It was originally part of a convent vegetable garden.

Little Ben

Just outside Victoria Station stands "Little Ben", a clock modelled on the Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament.

It stood here from 1892 to 1964 and was re-erected in 1981.

Address: Victoria Street

St. Margaret's Church

It serves as the parish church of the House of Commons.

The present building, by Robert Stowell, dates from 1485-1523, but was refaced in the 18th century.

Samuel Pepys, John Milton and Winston Churchill were all married in this church.

the church

the nave

Directions: opposite the Houses of Parliament, next to Westminster Abbey

Westminster Cathedral

As you walk along Victoria Street, you'll come to a large piazza dominated by Westminster Cathedral with its 284ft-high bell-tower called St. Edward's Tower.

Over the main door, there's a mosaic representing Christ, St. Peter, Edward the Confessor and the Virgin with St. Joseph.

The interior's richly decorated with marble and mosaics. I especially liked those in the Lady Chapel on the right.

The most important Roman Catholic church in Britain was designed by Bentley and consecrated in 1910.

the cathedral

Lady Chapel

Address: Victoria Street

A Modern Art Gallery

seen from St Paul's

The Tate Modern is 1 of the most attractive galleries with more than 50,000 priceless paintings from the 20th and 21st centuries. Here you can see the works of Dali, Rodin or Picasso.

It’s also well-known because of its workshops where you can produce your own art.

Originally it was a power station and its central chimney is 99 metres high. Two Swiss architects, Herzog and de Meuron, converted the old building but kept the original design.

Tate Modern

Admission to the displays is free, but you can always give a donation.

Address: Bankside, SE1

Directions: Southwark or Blackfriars tubes

You can walk to it from St Paul’s Cathedral across London’s famous Millennium Bridge.

Phone: 0 20 7887 8000

Website: http://www.tate.org.uk

London Eye

It offers spectacular views of London and is beautifully lit at night.

London Eye 1st opened on 1 January 2000.

It's a 135m high construction heavier than 250 buses.

fee: c. 15 pounds

Address: Waterloo, SE1

Directions: Waterloo tube

Website: http://www.southbanklondon.com/

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