Explore the Exciting City of London

Posted - November 11, 2019

A journey to England usually begins in the grand city of London, where visitors seem to never grow weary of the magnificent museums, galleries, theatres, expansive parks and charming English pubs.

Start with a visit to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official residence, and be sure to catch the Changing of the Guard. You might then head for Westminster Abbey, the site of every royal coronation (except two) since 1066. And a visit would not be complete without a tour of the Tower of London, shrouded in dark, sinister history.

For over a decade one of the biggest visitor attractions in London has been the Coca-Cola London Eye, one of the world’s tallest observation wheels. On this unique 4D experience riders enjoy breathtaking views of city as they rise up over the water to find themselves directly facing the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies, you might want to take the Magical London: Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour, in which visitors in small groups gather to meet their guide in Soho, then walk in the footsteps of their favorite wizards and witches while visiting Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾. If you have plenty of time, you might also wish to take a seven-hour tour by private car to the Warner Bros. Studios to experience the magical world of Harry Potter films.

For an offbeat London experience, take a Sunday excursion to Hyde Park, the site of Kensington Palace. On Sundays, the 360-acre park hosts brass band concerts and the northeast corner near Marble Arch becomes Speaker’s Corner, where politicos get atop their soapboxes and expound to the public on topics they find intensely interesting or aggravating.

From London, relatively easy day trips can be made to the university towns of Oxford and Cambridge; Windsor home of the legendary Windsor Castle; and Brighton, which is located less than one hour from the city by train.