London Town

'To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wildflower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour…’

From Auguries of Innocence by William Blake

About London

London was founded as a communication center by the Romans shortly after they invaded Britain in 43 AD. Londinium, as it was called then, was a little village on the Thames, on the route to the provincial capital in eastern England. The Romans built a bridge across Thames on that route, the first bridge on the Thames near the little village.

The city of London grew, and so did its population; by 1600 there were 200.000 souls, by the end of the 17th century shot up to 575.000, surpassing Paris as the largest city in Europe. Thus, London became the biggest city in Europe. It also became a cultural center , the center of the English cultural Renaissance, with major figures as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, William Shakespeare. London was Britain's economic powerhouse and the center of a burgeoning empire.

The city continued to grow and develop to what we see today, always combining the past with the present.  A perfect binding of the past and the present. The Big Ben, the Houses of parliament, 10 Downing Street, the Tower Bridge, the Great Fire, Barbican Arts Center, Parks, Nelson's statue in Trafalgar square, the Wax museum, Buckingham palace, the Double Deckers, the Black cabs and, last but not the least the rain.

The Houses of Parliament, also called the Palace of Westminster, range along the Thames with Victoria Tower at one end and Big Ben, the famous bell in the Clock Tower, at the other. Westminster Abbey, built in Gothic style, has been the scene of the coronation of sovereigns from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace was made the official residence of the Sovereign by Queen Victoria.

The Royal Guards change at 11.30 every day much to the delight of the tourists. Sir Christopher Wren's baroque masterpiece known as St. Paul's Cathedral was built after the Great Fire in 1066. The Duke of Wellington, Wren himself and Nelson are buried here.

Lord Nelson's statue dominates Trafalgar Square, a big square in the center of London named in commemoration of a great English naval victory. People and especially pigeons gather here to see the fountains, the big lions and the statue of the victorious Admiral.

The National Gallery, situated on the north side of Trafalgar Square, houses one of the richest collection of paintings, most Renaissance and Impressionist works. Madame Tussaud's exhibits wax models instead, models of famous historical characters, film and sports stars, Royalty Statesmen.

A more conventional museum is the British Museum, which shows the works of man from prehistoric times to the present day. There are permanent displays of antiquities from Egypt, Western Asia, Greece and Rome. It also includes one of the most famous libraries in the world. And after the sunset, there are dozens of theatres just a few minutes walk from Piccadilly Circus (West End theatres), and so is the world famous Covent Garden, home of the Royal Opera.

London is a perfect binding of the past and the present, a city with so many places to visit that one couldn't find the time to view them all. Samuel Johnson was right when he said that when someone is tired of London he is tired of life.

Some Things to do and see in London that you probably haven't thought of:

Wild London

Contrary to Popular belief London is a city full of Wildlife - take the time to watch the notorious scavenger the Grey Squirrel. Catch a glimpse of the City Fox which numbers are rumoured to be in the 100s of 1000s. London's largest mammal is the Red Deer followed closely by the Fallow Deer - adventure out into one of the many reserves in hope of a sighting.

On the Thames you can catch a glimpse of some wild Otters scampering about and the various Salmon and Trout migrations.

Probably the most famous of London Wildlife is the Urban Pigeon found at almost every inch of the city. And at night traverse the dark alleys in an attempt to capture sight of some of the cities many species of bats. 

Taste
Experience typical English Grub - start the day with a full English breakfast followed by a traditional Pub Lunch and for dinner how about some Fish and Chips down near the waters edge?
London is famous for its wonderful restaurants and cafe culture. If you want to experience how real Londoners eat - best you check out the local Baker and for a home cooked meal the traditional butcher. A trip down to the century old Fishmongers is a must.



See
The most rewarding and environmentally friendly ways to see the city include walking and cycling. If you are a little bit more rushed for time why not get a view of the city from the Thames or on board one of the most comprehensive train networks in the world; The Oyster.

courtesy: Slow London