Visitor attractions in and around London
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, are 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.
London’s Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.. It is 800 feet in length with two towers each 213 feet high, built on piers. The lifting of Tower Bridge has become a must see event for visitors to London.
The Greenwich Park in Greenwich, London is one of the oldest Royal Parks. The park situated on top of a tiny hill and spreading to around 183 acres; is home to the Prime Meridian Line and the Royal Observatory. It is also close to the National Maritime Museum - the leading maritime museum of the UK and possibly the largest museum of its kind in the world. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is the home to Greenwich Mean Time(GMT) and the Prime Meridian of the World thereby giving it the distinction of being the official starting point for each new day.
Trafalgar Square is a square located in the heart of London, it is a major tourist attraction. Infact it is the fourth most popular tourist attraction on Earth with more than fifteen million visitors a year.
The London Eye or the Millennium Wheel is an extremely large passenger-carrying Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in Central London in the United Kingdom.
The Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch - another must see in London.
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London.
The museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 70 million items within five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology. The museum is a world-renowned centre of research, specialising in taxonomy, identification and conservation.
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, it was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover some 12.5 acres and 145 galleries.
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Monday, 28 June 2010
Beachy Head - the highest chalk cliff in United Kingdom
We had been long wanting to visit Beachy Head which is is the highest chalk sea cliff in the UK (It is 530 ft above sea level). And finally managed to visit it this weekend.
Just so you know the name Beachy Head has nothing to do whatsoever with a beach :) Beachy head derives its name feom the French words Beauchef (13th Century) and Beaucheif (14th Century) which means ‘beautiful head(land)’.
The cliff faces southward and is subjected to fierce gales and erosion from the sea and that is the reason why the whiteness of the cliffs is seen always as the constant erosion of the old chalk face reveals the clean white chalk underneath.
We began our journey by reaching Brighton from London. From Brighton buses ply every hour to Beachy head. Its an hours journey and takes you through pleasant countryside with views of the sea on one side for most of the journey.
Some of the views on the way to Beachy head.
It was a sunny and clear day and the cliff top provides good panoramic views. To the east we could see the beaches and town of Eastbourne as well as the Eastbourne Pier and the Harbour.
One can enjoy some of the finest walks in Britain in this region. We began our downward climb to the cliff base. The climb down was fun and easy with breathtaking views of the sea and cliff. The cliff has been used in lots of movies and television shows. The one that comes to my mind is the opening sequence in the 1987 James Bond movie "The Living Daylights", where Bond parachutes from a jeep that hurtles down from the top of the cliff. We saw a few parasailers on our visit.
The view from the bottom was also spectacular. Just looking up at the massive cliff makes you marvel at its majestic splendour. Nature at its best. The sea was calm and the few who had dared to climb down were enjoying the cool waters. The water stretched as far as we could see. COuldnt see the horizon and it seemed as though the boats out there were floating in air and not in water.
After spending some time in the water we began the climb up which was more daunting than expected.
Did not feel like heading back home but had to. A must visit if you like to experience the grandeur of nature.
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
Just so you know the name Beachy Head has nothing to do whatsoever with a beach :) Beachy head derives its name feom the French words Beauchef (13th Century) and Beaucheif (14th Century) which means ‘beautiful head(land)’.
The cliff faces southward and is subjected to fierce gales and erosion from the sea and that is the reason why the whiteness of the cliffs is seen always as the constant erosion of the old chalk face reveals the clean white chalk underneath.
We began our journey by reaching Brighton from London. From Brighton buses ply every hour to Beachy head. Its an hours journey and takes you through pleasant countryside with views of the sea on one side for most of the journey.
Some of the views on the way to Beachy head.
It was a sunny and clear day and the cliff top provides good panoramic views. To the east we could see the beaches and town of Eastbourne as well as the Eastbourne Pier and the Harbour.
One can enjoy some of the finest walks in Britain in this region. We began our downward climb to the cliff base. The climb down was fun and easy with breathtaking views of the sea and cliff. The cliff has been used in lots of movies and television shows. The one that comes to my mind is the opening sequence in the 1987 James Bond movie "The Living Daylights", where Bond parachutes from a jeep that hurtles down from the top of the cliff. We saw a few parasailers on our visit.
The view from the bottom was also spectacular. Just looking up at the massive cliff makes you marvel at its majestic splendour. Nature at its best. The sea was calm and the few who had dared to climb down were enjoying the cool waters. The water stretched as far as we could see. COuldnt see the horizon and it seemed as though the boats out there were floating in air and not in water.
After spending some time in the water we began the climb up which was more daunting than expected.
Did not feel like heading back home but had to. A must visit if you like to experience the grandeur of nature.
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
Brighton - the most visited beach destination in England
Being less than an hour from London by train has made Brighton a popular tourist destination. Tourists flock to the Brigton beach in the summer months. The seafront has bars, restaurants, nightclubs and amusement arcades. The Brighton Pier features a funfair too.
We stopped at Brighton en-route to Beachy Head which is around 1 hour from Brighton.
Didnt get to spend much time at Brigton, but here are a few pictures nonetheless.
The Brighton Pier
St Pauls Church in Brighton
The Brighton Clock Tower
Brigton Railway Station
Tourist Taxis lined up in a street in Brighton
We stopped at Brighton en-route to Beachy Head which is around 1 hour from Brighton.
Didnt get to spend much time at Brigton, but here are a few pictures nonetheless.
The Brighton Pier
St Pauls Church in Brighton
The Brighton Clock Tower
Brigton Railway Station
Tourist Taxis lined up in a street in Brighton
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Boating at Hollow Pond in Snaresbrook (Leytonstone)
We had planned to go boating at Hollow Pond. Googled but couldnt find much information about it. But we decided to go ahead and it was well worth the time and money.
The pond is a short walk from the Snaresbrook Underground station. It is a natural pond and doesnt look as artificial as most parks/gardens in Central London. The pond is fairly large and it looks lovely. Boats are available on hire (an hour only costs £10). Around the pond, there is a track for walking and cycling. Lots of people had come with their pets. Near the boathouse there is a small eatery too. Good place for a picnic or day out with family and friends.
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
The pond is a short walk from the Snaresbrook Underground station. It is a natural pond and doesnt look as artificial as most parks/gardens in Central London. The pond is fairly large and it looks lovely. Boats are available on hire (an hour only costs £10). Around the pond, there is a track for walking and cycling. Lots of people had come with their pets. Near the boathouse there is a small eatery too. Good place for a picnic or day out with family and friends.
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
Monday, 21 June 2010
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, London
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, are 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.
The most famous attraction here is the Palm House which is specialised for the growing of palms and other tropical and subtropical plants.
The Temperate greenhouse has twice the floor area of the Palm House and contains plants and trees from all the temperate regions of the world. It also houses the Chilean wine palm which is the worlds tallest indoor plant reaching a height of over 16 metres.
The Xstrata Treetop Walkway
This walkway is 18 metres (59 ft) high and 200 metres (660 ft) long and takes visitors into the tree canopy of a woodland glade. The floor of the walkway is made from perforated metal and flexes as it is walked upon. The entire structure sways in the wind. The view from the walkway is wonderful.
The Great Pagoda erected in the year 1762 stands in the South East corner of Kew Gardens. The pagoda's design is an imitation of the Chinese Ta. The lowest of the ten octagonal storeys is 49 feet (15 m) in diameter. From the base to the highest point is 163 feet (50 m).
The Chokushi-Mon is a four-fifths scale replica of the karamon (gateway) of the Nishi Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto. It was built for the Japan-British Exhibition in 1910 and moved to Kew in 1911, It is located near the Pagoda and is surrounded by a reconstruction of a traditional Japanese rock garden.
The Alpine House
Rare and unusual Alpine plants can be seen inside the Davies Alpine House
Inside the Evolution House
The Order Beds and Rose Pergola
The rose pergola was built in 1959 to mark the bicentennial of the Kew Gardens. It supports climber and rambling roses selected for the length and profusion of flowering.
Queen Charlotte's house
Within the conservation area is a cottage that was given to Queen Charlotte as a wedding present on her marriage to George III. Lovely little place.
The Water Lily House
It is one of the most hottest and humid glasshouses in Kew and is home to a host of tropical and ornamental aquatic plants
The museum near the Palm House
It was opened in 1857 and aims to illustrate humans' dependence on plants. It houses Kew's economic botany collections including tools, ornaments, clothing, food and medicines. The upper two floors are now an education centre and the ground floor houses the "Plants+People" exhibition which highlights the variety of plants and the ways that people use them.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory which was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, houses ten computer-controlled micro-climatic zones, with the bulk of the greenhouse volume composed of Dry Tropics and Wet Tropics plants.
The Rhizotron
The rhizotron is essentially a single gallery containing a set of large bronze abstract castings which contain LCD screens that carry repeating loops of information about the life of trees.
The Sackler Crossing bridge is made of granite and bronze and is named in honour of philanthropists Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler.
The Rock Garden
Originally built of limestone in 1882 it is now constructed of Sussex sandstone from West Hoathly, Sussex. The rock garden is divided into 6 geographic regions: Europe, Mediterranean & Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, North America and South America. There are currently 2,480 different 'accessions' growing in the garden.
The Badger Sett
Badgers are nightly visitors at the gardens and there were marked burrows at many places in the garden. There was also a simulation of a badgers burrow for the humans :) We went it and it was fun.
We were also lucky enough to be paid a visit by a peacock. After photographing some flowers near the Queens Cottage, as we turned around we saw this peacock right behind us - as though looking at what we were upto. Got to see it from really close quarters. Amazing...
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
The most famous attraction here is the Palm House which is specialised for the growing of palms and other tropical and subtropical plants.
The Temperate greenhouse has twice the floor area of the Palm House and contains plants and trees from all the temperate regions of the world. It also houses the Chilean wine palm which is the worlds tallest indoor plant reaching a height of over 16 metres.
The Xstrata Treetop Walkway
This walkway is 18 metres (59 ft) high and 200 metres (660 ft) long and takes visitors into the tree canopy of a woodland glade. The floor of the walkway is made from perforated metal and flexes as it is walked upon. The entire structure sways in the wind. The view from the walkway is wonderful.
The Great Pagoda erected in the year 1762 stands in the South East corner of Kew Gardens. The pagoda's design is an imitation of the Chinese Ta. The lowest of the ten octagonal storeys is 49 feet (15 m) in diameter. From the base to the highest point is 163 feet (50 m).
The Chokushi-Mon is a four-fifths scale replica of the karamon (gateway) of the Nishi Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto. It was built for the Japan-British Exhibition in 1910 and moved to Kew in 1911, It is located near the Pagoda and is surrounded by a reconstruction of a traditional Japanese rock garden.
The Alpine House
Rare and unusual Alpine plants can be seen inside the Davies Alpine House
Inside the Evolution House
The Order Beds and Rose Pergola
The rose pergola was built in 1959 to mark the bicentennial of the Kew Gardens. It supports climber and rambling roses selected for the length and profusion of flowering.
Queen Charlotte's house
Within the conservation area is a cottage that was given to Queen Charlotte as a wedding present on her marriage to George III. Lovely little place.
The Water Lily House
It is one of the most hottest and humid glasshouses in Kew and is home to a host of tropical and ornamental aquatic plants
The museum near the Palm House
It was opened in 1857 and aims to illustrate humans' dependence on plants. It houses Kew's economic botany collections including tools, ornaments, clothing, food and medicines. The upper two floors are now an education centre and the ground floor houses the "Plants+People" exhibition which highlights the variety of plants and the ways that people use them.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory which was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales, houses ten computer-controlled micro-climatic zones, with the bulk of the greenhouse volume composed of Dry Tropics and Wet Tropics plants.
The Rhizotron
The rhizotron is essentially a single gallery containing a set of large bronze abstract castings which contain LCD screens that carry repeating loops of information about the life of trees.
The Sackler Crossing bridge is made of granite and bronze and is named in honour of philanthropists Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler.
The Rock Garden
Originally built of limestone in 1882 it is now constructed of Sussex sandstone from West Hoathly, Sussex. The rock garden is divided into 6 geographic regions: Europe, Mediterranean & Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, North America and South America. There are currently 2,480 different 'accessions' growing in the garden.
The Badger Sett
Badgers are nightly visitors at the gardens and there were marked burrows at many places in the garden. There was also a simulation of a badgers burrow for the humans :) We went it and it was fun.
We were also lucky enough to be paid a visit by a peacock. After photographing some flowers near the Queens Cottage, as we turned around we saw this peacock right behind us - as though looking at what we were upto. Got to see it from really close quarters. Amazing...
"If you've just read this post somewhere other than UK Travel Blog, it's been plagiarized..."
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