London Tours Are The Best Way To Take In The Sights
Looking for culture, history, and fun, then look no further than London, the capital of England. The appeal of London holds no bounds, and there is plenty of things to do, and places to see that will be of interest to everyone. The Queen, Royal Family and their various homes and traditions are what first attract people to London. Getting around to see all these attractions can be a bit of a headache. If you prefer to do things at your own pace, then getting around by underground is probably best. There are underground stations on virtually every street corner (or so it seems), so finding one near to where you are visiting is not a problem. If you prefer for someone else to do the ‘leg work’ for you, then there are numerous tours that one could take.
When visiting London the easiest way to see everything you want is by booking a tour. For the more energetic there is a walking tour. There are also tours specifically for the younger generation. One of the favoured tours is on an open top ‘red bus’ (weather permitting), a rare sight these days. Other interesting tours are those of the taverns, historic monuments and ‘rock and roll’ tours.
For the more culturally minded tourist London is an ideal destination. With a population of over 7,000,000, London is by far the most ethnically diverse cities in Europe. As you walk around it soon becomes obvious just how culturally diverse the city is. In fact there are over three hundred different languages spoken within London. The different ethnic backgrounds differ according to country of origin and religion. Of course we must not forget the English language, the most common of all. Other languages to be heard are Hokkien, Punjabi, Cantonese, Mandarin and Gujarati.
One thing about London which many folk find extremely exciting is the vast number of shops and shopping opportunities. Camden Town is very popular with its colourful array of shops and stores. If browsing through the markets is more your cup of tea then there are numerous exciting examples in London, the oldest is Billingsgate Fish Market which originates from around 500 BC, and only moved to the Isle of Dogs in 1962. London also boasts the longest street market in the United Kingdom (Walthastowe Market).
Some of the finest writers from literary circles have been associated with, or lived in London for a short while. One such famous figure is that of William Shakespeare. There are a number of tours associated with Shakespeare, which will also take in a visit to the reconstructed Globe Theatre. The theatre has been built close to the orignal site at Bear Gardens, SE1.
It was in 1613 that the original Globe Theatre was destroyed. The theatre burnt to the ground when a canon fired on stage during a production hit the thatch roof. The original theatre was built between 1598-1609, and was only in use during the warmer, drier, summer months of the year. After its destruction the Globe was rebuilt, re-opening in 1614. Unfortunately the theatre was forced to close again due to protests by Puritans. In 1664 it was finally knocked to the ground.
There is more than one great author on the list of literary tours, one such name is that of Charles Dickens. He has more associations with London than Shakespeare. Dickens has lived in many addresses across London. His first known home was at 16 Bayham Street where he stayed as a boy. That particular address is no longer in place, but a plaque is in place at number 141 Bayham Street. One other address no longer standing is 1 Devonshire Terrace which was home to Dickens in 1839. An office block now stands at 15-17 Marylebone Road which is where Devonshire Terrace was once located. The only other residence of Dickens’ still in place is 48 Doughty Street where the Dickens Museum is now housed.
There has been a fantastic book market in London since 1982. OUtside the National Film Theatre one will find South Bank Book Market. The book market takes place at the weekend all year round, the only difference being the opening times, longer in the summer (10.30am – 6.30 pm) and shorter in the winter (12pm – 5.30 pm). Bargains galore can be found amongst the many secondhand book stalls.
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