London is a place full of energy. There is the constant hustle & bustle of traffic. The sidewalks are filled with rushing people walking in different directions, it is a wonder how they don't push each other out into the streets.
You find London busy at nights as well.
That is when most `Londoners' come out of their shells and party
the night away (so to speak). Nightlife's great and daylife's
great, no guesses for them claiming it to be the best tourist
city in the world.
There are 3 main big parks in the London area. They are Hyde Park, St James' Park and Regents Park. These parks are so huge I think you need to rent a car to travel round the whole park! I live near Hyde Park. A huge pond there is in the middle, that I won't forget, as at the tender age of 8, I fell in it covering myself with mud and other grubby stuff….what a way to start my pre-teen years.
Hyde park is so big that there are different towns/ areas around it. On the south side of Hyde Park is Knightsbridge - where the famous Harrods Department Store is. Oh yes…how we would like to spend lots and lots of money there. One fact that you might find interesting is that around the area, houses of celebrities are common, to name a few like Elton John, Prince (the singer), Phil Collins, and Madonna (THE Madonna, star of EVITA).
London has the famous Thames River and London Bridge (actually called the Tower Bridge). The bridge is a huge magnificent ornament lavishly decorated and is splendid to look at night. There is another site near there called the Tower of London, a castle richly preserved with antiques and traditions of past monarchies. It was supposedly used as a fortress in the ancient times. St Paul's Cathedral is another pleasant place within walking distance of the Tower, an old, styled church worth visiting.
Have you heard of Westminster Abbey?
It is a huge church probably bigger that a football stadium. It
is where Prince Charles and Diana got married. An old structure,
it depicts a huge historical tradition of Britain and its rich
past history.
Then we have the one and only Buckingham Palace, probably known to everyone in the world. Yes, it is where the Queen lives (if you aren't familiar with it or never heard it before). The daily procession of the `changing of the guards' is worth looking at. This is where the guards pass on their duty to another at a particular time of the day. One interesting point to be made is how stupendously serious the guard actually is when he is on duty. He would be standing up straight, with no facial expression…try to make him laugh if you have to…..there won't be a single twitch, movement nor any grin, I guarantee you that.
We have the Big Ben…you have to
know that. An old, old clock tower with a lot of tradition and
haunting stories behind it. Sources state that a sinister ghost
like figure appears at the bottom of the clock tower at a particular
date in the calendar year. Supposedly to be of a man who committed
suicide couple of decades ago.
For those of you who are keen on seeing
famous wax figures, there is the World Famous Madame Tussaud's
Wax Museum and the London Planetarium (next to it). In the same area, there is the ever famous Sherlock Holmes Hotel and Museum too.....elementary WaTsOn!
Shopping, shopping, shopping…..if you love it….you will love London as there are so many places full of department stores ranging from clothes to shoes to souvenirs. Places like Oxford Circus, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden are the pick of the pack with constant tourist & shops that you would be tempted to spend money even if you didn't want to. Oh yes...Harrods....need I say more?
Piccadilly Circus would find yourself
going to Planet Hollywood - a restaurant of movie themes owned
by Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Arnold Swzeggsdf (whatever
his name is, the guy who starred as the Terminator) or the models inc. `Fashion Cafe'. You might
even find yourself in tower Records - one of the biggest record
shops in Europe, sampling rock, R&B, jazz and many other tunes
of liking. A particular place in the area called Tracadero would
interest kids with the newly opened SEGA WORLD, a child and adult
paradise alike. In the same building would have the Guinness Book
of World Records Museum. Shops of useless souvenirs are plentiful
there and beware!…you are bound to buy something that you
don't need or is totally useless just because it is nice looking
- I certainly did!!
In summary, London is a tourist paradise
and a craze for someone like me…it has a certain aura about
it which make you warm and frenzied all over. Get your tickets
and book you flights to London, the London Frenzy is something
you won't want to miss.
