February 26th, 2010
London For The First Time Visitor
A trip to London can be quite exciting for the first-time visitor. As the capital city of England, there is much to experience in London. Any time is a great time to visit, as there is so much happening there that you will always find something, or more likely several things, to attract your interest. You should make a list of sights to take in, as otherwise you might end up missing out on one of London’s highlights.
There is so much on offer in this vibrant city that you probably will not have time to take in everything; fortunately though, a lot of the most popular sights are located quite near to each other. The Tower of London, the Houses Of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey are all not to be missed. You can take guided tours of each of these, so you can learn about their colorful histories, which will give you an even better appreciation of what stands before you.
Also, be sure to find time for the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and the accompanying clock tower. Locals sometimes call it St. Stephens Tower just to make a point. Everyone else affectionately calls it Big Ben. It has four 23-foot faces that light up at night. The minute hands alone are 14 feet long. It is not open for public tours, but standing back far enough to see it is a rewarding view.
There are various palaces and historical buildings spread around the city. The most famous of them all is Buckingham Palace, home of Her Majesty The Queen. Outside of Buckingham Palace you will see the famous guards clad in their red and black uniforms. You can take your picture with them, and even watch them run through some drills, which is a truly memorable sight to behold .
Depending on the time of year, catch a sporting event. London has some of best stadiums in the whole world, and five Premier League football (or soccer if you prefer) teams, including Arsenal and Chelsea, who have genuine football superstars in their teams. If English football is not your scene not to worry, check out a rugby game or world class tennis at Queens and Wimbledon during June and July.
As a final point, remember to pack your camera and take lots of photos!
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