Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

LONDON PART 2/2

I Covered almost all the museums and the most interesting Museum of all is The Imperial War Museum


1. The Imperial War Museum,

It has every bit of information that you would like to know about ww1 and ww2. I would advice visitors to visit early in the morning because there is just so much to see and learn from here.
http://london.iwm.org.uk/

Open daily 10.00am - 6.00pm
Last admission 5.45pm
(closed 24, 25 and 26 December)
ADMISSION IS FREE
(Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee)

2.Victoria and Albert Museum

V&A is undoubtedly another great museum London has to offer, nevertheless i didn't spend much time touring this museum. I would say its more towards arts designs and sculptures which is not what i like.
http://www.vam.ac.uk/

3. Science Museum
If you plan to bring your kids somewhere in London I guarantee that kids will love the Science Museum. Again its free and its very informative and interactive for the kids as well as for the adults
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/

4.The British Museum

This museum is wonderful, it has remarkable collections that spans over two million years of human history, the museum provides free museum tours that i would highly recommend the tour to everyone. Entrance is free and visitors would spent an entire day here.

www.britishmuseum.org

5.The Royal Air Force Museum

My Husband loves planes and every part of it so this museum is a must. This museum is a little further away from central London thus my husband we took a tube to reach the museum. Im not into planes that much but I did find it rather interesting.

opening hours 10.00am to 1800 Monday to Sunday
entrance free, parking free
Grahame park way, Hendon, London , NW95LL
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/

6. Sherlock Holmes Museum

For Sherlock Holmes fan this museum is a must... i didn't have time for this museum so this will be saved for my next visit to London whenever that is : ).

PARKS
DO Bring your kids along to the parks as London has BEAUTIFUL parks

1. Regents Park
This park is nice during spring, nothing much to see during winter.

LONDON'S ATTRACTIONS

1.London's dungeons
Personally London's Dungeons is a perfect waste of money, I seriously thought it was as scary as how it was advertised but it turned out to be boring... I wouldn't suggest it to anyone but if you still would like to go, get your tickets online to get discounts.
http://www.the-dungeons.co.uk/london/en/index.htm

2.London Tombs

Its a new scary attraction that i just came to know after i went for London's Dungeon. I didn't give it a try enter since i wasted money going to the prior
http://www.thelondonbridgeexperience.com/

3. Madam Tusoude
I didn't plan on visiting Madam Tousoude because i don't find any excitement to see people in wax. To those who would like to go, dont forget to visit the website to get discounts.
http://www.madametussauds.com/

4. London Zoo

There were not many animals in the zoo, I guess its unfair to keep the animals in small cages. Nevertheless, My nephew loved the animals.


http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo//

5.Tower of London

(A picture outside the tower of London)
Entrance fee is 17.00pounds for adults and don't forget to join the free tour to know everything about the tower.
http://www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/

6.Tower Bridge

Many refer to this bridge as the London Bridge... but this is actually the tower bridge. Sorry i don't have a picture of London bridge but you can google and find out.

7.Big Ben

Big Ben is popular in London as it is the biggest four-faced, chiming clock in the world. Big Ben actually is a nick name of the main bell housed in the tower. whatever it is, Big Ben represents London like the twin towers represent Malaysia I would say .


8.Royal Albert Hall

This building is well known by Malaysians because in 1995, a famous Malaysian singer performed in this very hall.I didn't get a chance to enter thus a picture with this beautiful building is a must.

9.London eye

I can't share my experience on this because i didn't get on it..... maybe on my next visit i will
http://www.londoneye.com/

10. Buckingham palace

For first timers to London this is a popular attraction. Of course if you have been to London many times why would you come to buckingham palace again and again. The Changing the Guard ceremony takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11.30 every day in summer, every other day in winter.The Guards actually arrive at 11.15am with music so its best if you could make it by then to get the best out of the whole ceremony.

THEATERS

1.39 steps

(This picture is at Piccadilly circus with 39 steps theater in the background)
39 steps has only four actors playing a minimum of 139 role so it is very impressive. If you love humor like my sister and dad than this will be spot on for you , as for me ... its not my cup of tea :).
I got a cheap ticket when i purchased it at some booth (sorry i cant remember) .I paid 25.00pounds for a 45pound value ticket.

2.The lion king

The Lion King IS THE BEST, love the actors, love the costumes, stunning effects, enchanting music and glorious colors filled the theater. Basically I loved everything about it. Im sure everyone is aware of the story of simba, his journey from a cub to become king

Tickets are cheaper to purchase from lion king theater (Lyceum theater) as you don't need to pay any booking fee. Mind you that this theater is always a full house. i was seated at the grand circle, wasn't bad if you have your own binoculars bring it or you can choose to rent one for 1 pound. you can bring some drinks and snacks to munch during the interval.
www.thelionking.co.uk

TIPS
I found this website helpful to get most of what you want from London, from attractions to shopping places to food

http://www.londontoolkit.com/walks/london_walks.htm

Sunday, August 15, 2010

London Part 1


I had the chance to visit london twice this year, once in March during winter with my husband and again in June during spring with my sister. i would say the best time to visit would be end of June as the weather is perfect and the day i was leaving that's when oxford street has SALE signs all over the stores. So yeah, do come when its summer sale ( late June) everything is unbelievably cheap

For a start i would suggest you get a 'tube' and 'central London' map to plan your day. I got mine from lost and found counter next to the Baker street station.

For this London entry ill blog about what i did on both visits. Lets start with


Transport in london
From the airport
1>You can either take a taxi ( my sister pre-book a taxi online)

2>Take Heathrow Connect which costs 7.90 straight to central london. I find this better as you arrive faster and its less of a hassel to change tubes and buses
https://www.heathrowconnect.com/index.asp?SID={46D3EE2F-EDBD-4874-B1C8-427A5D6D076C}

3>or you can take the tube straight from the airport



tube and bus takes you almost to every tourist attraction you can think of in london. tube map is available at any tube station at its very easy to understand, it took me and my husband (first timer to london) 2 days to understand and by then we were pro-public transport traveler : )

to travel by tube or bus its better to purchase an oyster card from newsagents or i think you can get it from the tube station. oyster is a great way to travel and you can choose any travel package that suits your budget.



there is daily tube/bus, daily bus/tube, weekly bus/tube. i suggest if you think you might take mora than 3 buses a day better go for daily buss package, it costs 3.90 and you can hop on and off the busses anytime.

if you plan to go on the buss every day during your stay get weekly, its equivelant to 5 times of daily bus for 7 days basically its a free 2 day thing.

I personally prefer the bus than the tube as you can see the stores outside, just stop and hop back on.

For information on oyster, printable tube maps and basically anything you would like to know about public transport in london you can find it on this page http://www.tfl.gov.uk/

London shopping

London is a shopping heaven (i love it more if everything is on sale) to name a few would be Oxford street (a must), here you can find westfield shopping centre, jhon lewis, H&M, Primark etc etc.

High end shops like mango, zara, burberry etc etc is closer to Piccadilly circus. At Piccadilly circus bus stop you can also visit lilywhite ( cheap sports stuff and also a store for camping stuff - which was my favorite store)



Harrods

Harrods is a luxury shopping mall with everything under one roof. When i say everything, it really is everything. view the website for more detail
http://www.harrods.com/harrodsstore/

Hamleys
Is a shopping heaven for kids. Its one of the largest toy store in the world with seven floors covering different categories of toy on each floor . Definitely a shopping heaven for kids

5th floor: Boys
4th floor: Hobbies
3rd floor:Girls
2nd floor: Preschool
1st floor:Games
Ground floor:Soft toys
Basement:Interective
http://www.hamleys.com/

Food


halal food is easy to find every mosque will have a canteen

subway at Goodge st is halal, nearby is a place for prayer at Muslim world league (walking distance from oxford st as i can vaguely remember) Use transport for London .. around paddington st there is a number of halal restaurants.





Malaysia hall is in Bayswater, and the food is all halal
Malaysia Hall 30
Queensborough Terrace
London W2 3ST

Prayer

Here is a directory for mosques or prayer area in london. Plan where you would like to go and see if you can find a prayer area around the place you visit
http://www.iccuk.org/page.php?section=religious&page=masjiddirectory