London sightseeing in September!
St Paul’s Cathedral
This beautiful Church of England cathedral was founded in AD604. Situated at the highest point of the City of London atop Ludgate Hill, the present church dates back to the late 17th century in English Baroque design. St. Paul’s is the second largest building in the UK. This is the cathedral where Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles of Wales were married. Thanksgiving services for the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II and the Golden Jubilee were held here, as were funereal services for Princess Diana, Sir Winston Churchill and the Duke of Wellington.
Regent Street
One of the most famous shopping streets in London’s West End as seen from the top of a tour bus.
Sketch Restaurant, Piccadilly, Mayfair
Sketch in central London is one of the poshest places in London to enjoy afternoon tea. The modern French restaurant’s unusual décor includes chairs that seem to be melting into the walls and a faceless dog statue suspended just above the entry of the restaurant. In 2005, Sketch was listed as the 18th best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine.
The Mayfair Hotel
The Mayfair Hotel is set in the heart of one of the most enviable addresses in the world. Set in the heart of Mayfair, this beautiful hotel is a stone’s throw away from the May Fair, home to Fashion, Art, Theater and Shopping.
Trafalgar Square, Central London
A public space and tourist attraction in central London, Trafalgar Square is used for community gatherings, political demonstrations and it is one of the biggest tourist attractions in London. There are several icons within the square that bear mentioning. The center of the square, known as Nelson’s Column, is guarded by four lion statues. The National Gallery, several fountains and Nelson’s ship in a bottle, a representation of the HMS Victory, are all symbols of this square located in the exact center of London.
Westminster Abbey
This stunning Gothic Church is also known as the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster.The monarchs of the Commonwealth realms use this church as a burial site and as the traditional place of coronation.
The London Eye
The tallest ferris wheel in Europe is situated on the banks of the Thames River. Commonly known as the London Eye or the EDF Energy London Eye, the giant 135-foot tall ferris wheel has also been called the Millenium Wheel, the Merlin Entertainments London Eye and the British Airways London Eye. It’s the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK, drawing over 3.5 million visitors annually.
Buckingham Palace
Sadly, this photo is not mine. It rained heavily while we were visiting Buckingham Palace and I wasn’t able to get any clear shots. This image of the London home and primary residence of the British monarch was taken by Jimmy Harris and is available through Creative Commons on Flickr.
Westminster Palace
Last, but certainly not least, is Westminster Palace, also known as the Houses of Parliament. The House of Lords and the House of Commons lie on the North Bank of the River Thames.
Canadian expat Carrie Kellenberger has kept a home base with her husband in Asia since 2003. A prolific traveler, Carrie has funded her travels primarily as a writer, editor, travel blogger and photographer, but she has also worked as an educator, voice over artist, model and nightclub singer. She draws upon her 15+ years of travel experience to write about travel-related issues and the countries she has visited on her award-winning web site, My Several Worlds.
Her photography and travel articles have appeared in both print and online publications around the world, including Travel and Leisure Asia, Unearthing Asia and Hip Compass Escapes.
