Even though London is preparing for the Summer Olympic Games of 2012, there is no reason not to visit the city today. In London you find many sights, superb shopping and pulsing nightlife. Even great food can be found in the city.
The London Eye is a new and very interesting sight. You can find the meter (443 feet) high Ferris wheel between Waterloo and Westminster Bridge. The wheel was planned to open the 31th of December 1999, but the public was not allowed before March 2000 because of technical problems.
The wheel is a very popular attraction. And with only 32 cabins (for 25 persons each), and a half an hour rotation, the queues can be long in the high season. But when you see the view over the central London and spot the Big Ben and the House of Parliament, you will find the waiting time worth the trouble.
A 900 older sight with a very bloody history is the Tower of London. The Traitors Gate was the entrance for many, but the exit for few. The majority were killed because of torture or rats; or executed.
Today the fortress is a more peaceful place (except for the other tourists). It is interesting to watch the famous Ceremony of the Keys where the head of the guards hands over the keys to the head of the night watchmen at exactly 9.52 pm.
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.
A must thing to do in London is people watching. In the city you can see everything from punkers with safety pins through their noses and cock’s combs to businessmen with bowler hat sand stiff upper lips.
Do you think it is impossible to find great food in London? Well, it is not; and you do not have to eat fish and chips. Both Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver have restaurants in London, so you can find superb food. But it does not have to be expensive. London is a melting pot of multi-ethnic populations, so it is also possible to find cheap and exotic food in many of the international restaurants in the city.
For shopping visit the famous department store Harrods; they brag about that they can provide everything. If you are looking for something for your home, you can find wallpaper and fabric in Designers Guild and minimalistic, Japanese design in Muji. Make the kids happy with a visit to the six story toyshop Hamleys of Regent Street.
Martin Elmer is the editor of Storbyferie. Here you can also read about Sevaerdigheder London.
categories: London,London Eye,Tower of London,Big Ben,St. Pauls Cathedral,Westminster Abbey,Harrods,Hamleys,Olympic Games,Gordon Ramsey,Jamie Oliver,sights,shopping,nightlife
