Top Things To Do In London England - listings 16 to 20
16 (72) Hampton Court
The Maze, The Great Vine, The Pond Garden, The Fountain Garden, Long
Water, The Mantegna Gallery and the Broad Walk. There is so much to see
at Hampton Court that you shouldn't be expecting to do much else on the
day.
The Hampton Court Palace Maze
It would be trite to call this 'an amazing maze' or 'the most famous
maze in the history of the world' but that does not appear to have stopped
us. It's fun – just do it.
Henry VIII's Great Hall
The Great Hall is England’s greatest medieval hall and staged the
none other than William Shakespeare in the early 1600s
Henry VIII - his younger years
Before Henry’s own personal obesity outbreak
17 (30) Cabinet War Rooms
Winston's bed and bedside cigar, sketches of Hitler, maps, taped phone
conversations of Churchill talking to FDR and old furniture. An historical
smorgasbord. This is for real. Unpackaged and raw. Great stuff.
The Cabinet Rooms are like a time capsule - buried and forgotten for
sixty years. You can almost feel what it must have been like. Fighting,
not for political ideals or oil, but for a nation's very survival. A landmark
in time. This was where much of the action was orchestrated.
18 (38) Imperial War Museum
I've tended to avoid the Imperial War Museum in the past on a false assumption
that it glorifies war. A recent exhibit included the following Rudyard
Kipling quote:
"If they ask you why he died, tell them our fathers lied"
There is much to see at the Imperial War and generally, it won't cost
you a penny.
If you are a history buff time will pass pretty quickly so make sure
you don't miss the rest of Londinium.
The museum intelligently presents its subject matter with many thought
provoking themes and exhibits. The past can come crashing down on you
like a runaway train. There is nothing new. We just recycle.
The blitz families of London became experts in recycling and perhaps
demonstrate the true meaning of doing it tough. See to what it means to
really stretch the family budget.
The museums impressive artillery protects the entrance a mere two stops
from Westminster tube and belies a more subtle and thought provoking interior.
19 (34) Leicester Square
Leicester Square. See a show, a movie or just take a stroll. Cheaper
tickets should be available in the box on the square like the 'tkts' booth
in New York.
William Shakespeare resides in the middle of the Leicester Square with
his trusty dolphins(?). The Square has four busts, naturally, Sir Isaac
Newton, Sir Joshua Reynolds, John Hunter and William Hogarth. I don't
know why there aren't any female busts.
You'll also find Charlie Chaplin and the distances to former members
of the British Empire inscribed on the pavement.
20 (15) Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar square home to Nelson's Column, fountains, lions and few pigeons
(now unfed and unloved they have mostly gone!)
Various events are staged in the square these days and you should follow
the link to see what's on when you're there.
A different place to what it was and all the better for it. Well done
Red Ken (Ex-Mayor, bad luck Ken).
Walking distance to the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and the
West End, Trafalgar Square is in there so get your pictures and maybe
experience a little bit of London in action.
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One Hundred Things To Do In London, England
