Monday, October 12, 2009

Places You Cannot Miss in London

By Morten Elm

The Summer Olympic Games of 2012 will be held in London. But there is no reason to wait until 2012, before you visit the city, because today you can find great sights, fantastic shopping and a exciting nightlife. And the food is not the typical English dishes.

The London Eye is the newest sight; and also one of the most interesting ones. The Ferris wheel is 135 meter (443 feet) high and can be found between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge. It was opened by Tony Blair for the new millennium. But some technical problems made it impossible to use until March 2000.

The 32 cabins on the wheel have room for 25 persons each. It is a very popular attraction; and because one rotation takes about half an hour, you can expect long queues in the high season. But the view from the top over the central London (including Big Ben and the House of Parliament) is worth the waiting.

In the opposite end of the timeline is Tower of London. The royal fortress has a 900 year old and bloody history. Many people have walked through the Traitors Gate; but few of them have returned. Torture, rats, and not least executions killed a lot of the prisoners.

Today there are no rats, torture or executions. And the place is more popular to visit. At exactly 9.52 the Ceremony of the Keys takes place. Here the keys of the fortress are handed over from the head of the guards to the head of the night watchmen.

There are many interesting places to be seen on a tour of Tower of London. This includes the royal apartment as well as the dungeons. But the most popular sight is the British crown jewels in the Jewel House. Here you can see the scepter of the sovereign with Star of Africa; the worlds largest diamond.

For more great sights, visit St. Pauls Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. Do also take a look at the 106 meter (348 feet) high Big Ben, and go for a walk in Hyde Park. Finish the sightseeing in British Museum, where you find an enormous collection of art.

The sights are great in London, but the most interesting thing to do is people watching. In London you find both from businessmen with bowler hats and stiff upper lips and punkers with cock's combs and noses full of safety pins.

It is actually possible to find great food in London. And no, it is not the notorious fish and chips. Many famous cooks like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver have restaurant in the city. If you like cheaper options, you can find great, exotic restaurants with inexpensive food. London is a melting pot of multi-ethnic populations; which means you can eat food from all around the world.

London is also a great place to shop. The famous department store Harrods even brags about that they can provide everything you need. Stuff for your home can be found in Designers Guild (wallpaper and fabric) and Muji (Japanese design). For something to the kids, you should visit Hamleys of Regent Street; a six story toyshop

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