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Royal Albert Hall |
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Following the success of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the Hall was conceived by Albert, the Prince Consort, as the centrepiece of the proposed development of a range of national institutions - cultural, scientific and academic - that for the first time would be located on a single site. Externally the Italianite facade of the Hall, of red brick and teracotta, is graced by the famous 800ft mosaic frieze. The auditorium is both massive and graceful (its length is 219ft and its width 185ft) and is crowned by a dome (weighing 400 tonnes) that, when raised, was the largest in the world. |
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The Royal Albert Hall, which is located close to South Kensington tube (Circle, District and Piccadilly lines) is now a prime London venue for concerts and musical events of all kinds from the BBC's Promenade Concerts to pop concerts but can also be privately hired, as it was for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday extravaganza. |
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London Zoo |
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Situated on the northern edge of Regent's Park, London Zoo is a 36-acre conservation centre which houses more than 650 species. London Zoo's animal collection includes invertebrates, reptiles, fish, birds, and small and large mammals such as lions, tigers, gorillas, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and bears. The Zoo comprises a number of buildings which have been the subject of great controversy in their time - the Snowdon Aviary and the Elephant House amongst them. |
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Great progress has been made in the last few years in adapting the buildings to provide the most natural possible habitats. Web of Life is a new exhibition about the variety of life on Earth. Housed in the Millennium Conservation Centre at London Zoo, the exhibition brings together interactive activities and animal displays.
This ground-breaking exhibition will introduce you to the amazing range of animals found in the earth's major habitats. Using a unique combination of 65 live animal exhibits, interactive displays and on-show breeding facilities, the exhibition will challenge your perceptions of life on earth and how we can conserve it. |
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Westminster Abbey |
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The home of Britain's government - the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, the Cabinet War Rooms, from where Winston Churchill ran the country during the Second World War (now open to the public), and major ministries such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence, Department of Trade and Industry and many more are all here. Westminsterwhich, as the City of Westminster is the size of a moderate city in its own right, is also well known for two major churches - the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. |
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The latter was originally founded by King Edward I and was consecrated a few days after his death on 28th December 1065. His tomb, along with the tombs of many monarchs, nobles and notables - Charles Dickens is one - are to be found here.
Every monarch since William the Conqueror, in 1066, has been crowned here, with the exceptions only of Edward V and Edward VIII. The present building replaced the much smaller Norman abbey and was mainly built at the direction of Henry III in the 13th Century.Westminster Abbey is still a church and it's a good idea to check on any services taking place so that you can arrange your visit for a different time. |
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Harrod's Knightsbridge |
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Quality Crown Hotel Kensington (5 minutes by Tube)
Arguably the most famous, and undoubtedly the most expensive department store in London, a trip behind the world famous façade is a "must-do" part of any visit to London, even if only to gape at the price tags ! Harrods is actually in Brompton Road, which leads off Knightsbridge, itself a fairly short street of some of the most expensive and exclusive shopping in London that begins with Harvey Nichols, another delightful & expensive department store |
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at the junction with Sloane Street, and continues with another world famous store - the Scotch House - and follows on down Knightsbridge and Brompton Road to Harrods with smaller shops for exclusive shoes, clothes and jewellery as well as hair salons. Previously, an area of very exclusive shops, recent years have seen the opening of branches of chain stores such as Next, Kookai, Boss and many more.
For relief on the long walk around all this floorspace, you will find several coffee shops opposite Harrods and some delightful restaurants in Walton Place, behind the store. |
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Kenwood House |
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Perched on a ridge of high ground stands a beautiful white villa, overlooking a lake and acres of lush parkland that will be instantly recognisable to fans of the film "Notting Hill",.Kenwood House, which is sited on the north side of Hampstead Heath, is a fine neoclassical mansion remodelled by Robert Adam between 1764-73 for its then owner, William Murray, the 1st Earl of Mansfield. In the 20th Century, the house was purchased by Lord Iveagh, |
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the Guiness magnate. It has fabulous landscaped gardens and in the summer open air concerts, often with fireworks, are held in the bowl by the lake from Late June until September. The house contains the most important private collection of paintings ever given to the nation, the Iveagh Bequest. This collection includes a very important selection of paintings by Rembrandt, Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough and others.
Remaining very much as it was remodelled in the 18th century, Kenwood's associations have presented a remarkable irony throughout history. Looking every inch the impressive home of a wealthy London gentleman, Kenwood has never belonged to an Englishman. Owned by Scotsmen for over two centuries, and finally bought by an Irishman in the 20th century, with most of the rebuilding work completed by one of the most renowned Scottish architects of all time. |
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London Attractions