Going To London For The First Time
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. Take the time to see Westminster Abbey, the Tower Of London, and the Houses Of Parliament. 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.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are pretty impressive in themselves, but more popular among visitors is the landmark’s clock tower. Locals sometimes call it St. Stephens Tower just to make a point. Everyone else affectionately calls it Big Ben. Each of its four clock faces is 23 feet across, and it is big enough to see from all around central London. You really want to get up close to it though, especially at night time when it is lit up and looks particularly special.
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. The changing of the guard outside is a sight to see. Tourists will gather long before the appointed time just to see the grand guards in their world famous red and black uniforms. The hat itself is legendary.
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. As well as football, you can take in a game of cricket or football. Attending a tennis match at Wimbledon is also an option if you happen to be in London during June or July.
As for getting around, remember, they drive on the left side of the road In England. If you rent a car, ask the agency for a map. If you are only going to be in London for a day or so, it might be easier to go by way of taxi. One thing that always stands out in pictures of London is the double-decker bus. They tower over traffic and are as reliable as public transportation can be. Take a ride just for the heck of it. Using the underground train system is probably the quickest way to get about though; it is so extensive that you can literally use it to get to anywhere in the whole of London.
No matter where you go and what you do in London, take plenty of photos. It’s only your first time once!
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This article is sponsored by ‘Cheap London Hostels‘.
