Hundreds of Pictures of London, England with map itinerary for tourists including : Big Ben, Houses of parliament, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, tower of london, Chinatown, London eye, Piccadilly Circus , tate britain, Gherkin, National Gallery, New City Hall, St. James's Palace, Saint Paul's Cathedral, St Katherine`s Docks, Tate Britain"

A walk through the city of London

August 2005

After an absence of ten years since my last trip to England and this time armed with a digital camera I wanted to share my experience of just how phenomenal London is and give you a glimpse why so many millions of tourists like me flock to it every year. My virtual tour will take you past the most famous parts of the city and further on to lesser known but none the less interesting places to visit. Before I go on I wish to say that all the credits of the itineraries for these walks are a courtesy of Simon Crutchley a Londoner that has put tremendous efforts on his website to make a comprehensive guide of his city in every aspect.

Now to begin your journey through the streets of London you can either:

dot Start by clicking on one of corresponding map of the tour of your choice.

dot Go right to the links of your choice for the pictures of places of interest in London found just under the walk maps here

dot View my complete collection including parts not shown (like Piccadilly or Chinatown) in the walk section by entering here

dot Various maps of London can be found at the end of the page here

dot WALK 1

dot WALK 2

dot Direct links to places of interest

	Big Ben : Is the bell in the Parliament tower (Westminster Palace). It was named for Sir Benjamin Hall, commissioner of works when the bell was installed in 1856. The name is often used to refer to the huge clock in the tower.Beacon of "the mother of all Parliaments", Big Ben is possibly London's most famous landmark.Big Ben does not refer to the whole clocktower, but to the huge thirteen ton bell that strikes the hour.One theory has it that the bell was named after a popular heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt. However, the consensus today seems to be that it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, a (literally) weighty politician of the time who was the Parliamentary Commissioner of Works.

	Buckingham Palace : The official London residence of the British monarch and the largest "working" royal palace remaining in the world. The expression "Buckingham Palace" or simply "The Palace" has become a common way of referring to the source of press statements coming from parts of the British Royal Family. In addition to being the London home of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace is a setting for state occasions, royal entertaining and base for all officially visiting heads of state, and is a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for the British at times of national rejoicing and crisis. However, it is not universally admired, and was voted the fourth ugliest building in London in March 2005.The palace originally known as Buckingham House, a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, was acquired by King George III in 1762 as a private residence. It was enlarged over the next 75 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

	Chinatown : London's Chinatown is in Soho. Originally Chinatown was in the East End of London but moved West due to the prosperity of the Chinese and the popularity of Chinese food and culture. The previous Chinatown in the Limehouse region of London was known more for its opium dens (which were legal) and its slum housing, which is normally associated with immigrants in a town or city, not the Chinese restaurants and supermarkets in the current Chinatown. A number of elderly Chinese still live in this area. Japanese, Singaporeans, and Koreans, as well as Chinese live in today's Chinatown. There are many illegal workers in London's Chinatown who get less than minimum wage. Also it is known that the Triads are operating there, highlighted by a man being shot dead in broad daylight in June 2003 in the "brb bar" on Gerrard Street.

	Gherkin :At 30 St Mary Axe the Trafalgar House originally submitted plans for a 1,200 ft (370 m) tower building with a public viewing platform at exactly 1,000 feet (305 m) and more than 1 million square feet (90,000 mÃƒâšÃ‚Â²) of office space. However this version of the plan was notable mainly for its highly unorthodox floorplan, which somewhat resembled a slice of (Small prickly cucumber) gherkin. Although this plan was abandoned the nickname has stuck. As well as its popular name of 'the Gherkin', it has also apparently been called 'the Erotic Gherkin', 'the Crystal Phallus' and 'the Towering Innuendo'.The building uses several methods to make it more environmentally sound than a typical skyscraper. It uses 50% of the power of a comparable tower. This is achieved through a natural ventilation system which uses thermal effects to drive air circulation through the outer sheath of the tower, which is in effect giant double glazing. Double glazing in houses is limited in thickness to avoid convection of heat. This cools in the summer, and can be regulated to warm in the winter through passive solar heating.

	House of Parliament :Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the eleventh century. The British parliament is the seat of the Government of the United Kingdom. The Palace of Westminster consists of the House of Commons (elected) and the House of Lords(not elected- hereditary and nominated). Big Ben, one of Londons famous landmarks is found at the Houses of Parliament. Parliamentary government in the United Kingdom is based on a two-chamber system. The House of Lords sit separately and are constituted on entirely different principles. The legislative process involves both Houses - the Commons and the Lords. The main functions of Parliament are to: examine proposals for new laws, provide, by voting for taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government, scrutinise government policy and administration, including proposals for expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.
	London Eye : The London Eye, sometimes called the Millennium Wheel, is the largest observation wheel in the world, and has been since its opening at the end of 1999. It stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in Lambeth, London, England, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. It is adjacent to London's County Hall, and stands opposite the offices of the Ministry of Defence situated in Westminster which it overlooks to the west.

	National Gallery : The National Gallery is an art gallery in London, located on the north side of Trafalgar Square. It holds the National Collection of Art from 1250 to 1900. Some British art is included, but the National Collection of British art from this period is mainly in Tate Britain. The collection of 2,300 paintings belongs to the British public, and entry to the main collection is free, though there are charges for entry to special exhibitions.

	New City Hall : The New City Hall is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, and stands on the south bank of the River Thames near to Tower Bridge. It was designed by Sir Norman Foster and opened in July 2002.The building has an unusual bulbous shape, intended to reduce the building's surface area and thus improve energy efficiency. It has been compared variously to Darth Vader's helmet, a misshapen egg, a motorcycle helmet or a glass testicle. Its designers reportedly originally envisaged the building being a giant sphere hanging over the Thames, but opted for a more conventionally rooted building instead.

	Piccadilly Circus : Piccadilly Circus is a plaza and traffic intersection in the West End in the City of Westminster, London, near Soho and Theatreland. It is renowned for its video display and neon signs in the northwestern corner, as well as the Shaftesbury memorial fountain and statue known as The Angel of Christian Charity or Eros. It is surrounded by several noted buildings, including the London Pavilion and Criterion Theatre. Built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly (the "circus" refers to "circular open space at a street junction"), it now links directly to the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue as well as the Haymarket, Coventry Street onwards to Leicester Square and Glasshouse Street. Its proximity to major shopping and entertainment areas, its central location at the heart of the West End, and its status as a major traffic intersection have made Piccadilly Circus a busy meeting point and a tourist attraction in its own right.

	Saint James Palace : St. James's Palace is one of London's oldest and most historic palaces. It is situated on The Mall in London, England, just north of St. James's Park. The palace was commissioned in 1530 by Henry VIII, on the site of a former leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less (from whom the Palace and the nearby Park take their names). It was constructed in the red-brick Tudor style around four courtyards. It became the principal residence of the monarch in London from 1698, when the Whitehall Palace was destroyed by fire, and became the administrative centre of the monarchy. Mary I died there, with her heart and bowels being buried in the palace's Chapel Royal. It was used as a barracks during the English Commonwealth period, before being renovated by Charles II, who also laid out St. James's Park. St. James's Palace is still a working palace, and the Royal Court is still formally based there. Foreign ambassadors are still accredited to the Court of St. James's, even though they are received by the monarch at Buckingham Palace.

	Saint Paul Cathedral : Saint Paul's Cathedral masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren and one of the finest church designs of the English baroque. It stands at the head of Ludgate Hill, where, according to tradition, a Roman temple once stood. In the early 7th cent. King ?thelbert of Kent dedicated the first church to St. Paul. The exterior dome, which ranks as one of the great domes of the world, rises above a colonnaded drum and supports a stone lantern terminating with a cross. Wren's scheme for an open, colonnaded piazza to furnish a setting for St. Paul's was not executed. The cathedral was severely damaged by bombings in World War II, and reconstruction according to Wren's original plan was not completed until 1962.
	Saint Katherine's Docks : St Katherine`s Docks took their name from the former hospital of St Catherine by the Tower, built in the 12th century, which stood on the site. By the early 19th century, over 11,000 people were crammed into insanitary slums in the area. The entire site was earmarked for redevelopment by an Act of Parliament in 1825, with construction commencing in May 1827. The scheme was designed by engineer Thomas Telford. To create as much quayside as possible, the docks were designed in the form of two linked basins, both accessed via an entrance lock from the Thames. Steam engines kept the water level in the basins about four feet above that of the tidal river.The docks were officially opened on 25 October 1828. This area now features offices, public and private housing, a large hotel, shops and restaurants, a pub (The Dickens Inn, a former brewery dating back to the 18th century), a yachting marina and other recreational facilities. It remains a popular leisure destination.
	Tate Britain :Tate Britain is a part of the Tate Gallery in Britain, along with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is housed in the Tate Gallery's original premises on Millbank, which became "Tate Britain" rather than simply "the Tate Gallery" when Tate Modern opened in 2000. Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. It includes work by William Blake, John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, William Hogarth and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and has a wing devoted to the work of J.M.W. Turner. The gallery also hosts the annual Turner Prize exhibition, featuring works by the four nominated artists, which have been selected by the artists in collaboration with the gallery's curators.
	Tower Bridge : Construction of the bridge started in 1886 and took 8 years, employing 5 major contractors and 432 construction workers. Two massive piers containing over 70,000 tons of concrete were sunk into the river bed to support the construction. Over 11,000 tons of steel provided the framework for the towers and walkways. This was then clad in Cornish granite and Portland Stone, both to protect the underlying steelwork and to give the bridge a more pleasing appearance. Jones died in 1887, and his chief engineer, Sir John Wolfe-Barry, took over the project. Wolfe-Barry replaced Jones' original mediaeval style of facade with the more ornate Victorian gothic style that makes the bridge such a distinctive landmark. The bridge was opened in 1894. The official opening ceremony was conducted by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and his wife, Alexandra of Denmark.

	Tower of London : Ancient fortress in London, just east of the City and on the north bank of the Thames, covering about 13 acres (5.3 hectares). Now used mainly as a museum, it was a royal residence in the Middle Ages. Later it was a jail for illustrious prisoners. The Tower is enclosed by a dry moat, within which are double castellated walls surrounding the central White Tower. Although Roman foundations have been discovered, the White Tower was built in 1078 by Gundulf, bishop of Rochester; the exterior was restored by Sir Christopher Wren. Various towers subsequently built were used as prisons; one of them now houses a collection of medieval arms and armor. The crown jewels are displayed in the Waterloo Block, a former barracks. The Traitors' Gate and the Bloody Tower are associated with many historically noted persons, including Queen Elizabeth I (when still princess), Sir Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, the 2d earl of Essex, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the duke of Monmouth. Many persons beheaded within the Tower precincts, or on the neighboring Tower Hill, were buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula. The Yeomen of the Guard (Beefeaters), dressed in Tudor garb, still guard the Tower.
	Westminster Abbey : Originally the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery (closed in 1539) it is one of England's most important Gothic structures, it is also a national shrine. The first church on the site is believed to date from early in the 7th cent. It was erected by Ãƒâ thelbert, king of Kent. Edward the Confessor began c.1050 the building of a Norman church, consecrated in 1065. In 1245, Henry III began to demolish the edifice and to build a new eastern portion, thus initiating centuries of construction. The fine octagonal chapter house was built in 1250, and in the 14th cent. the cloisters, abbot's house, and principal monastic buildings were added. The nave was completed in the 16th cent. Early in the 16th cent. Henry VIII finished the Lady Chapel, dedicated to Henry VII. This chapel, in Perpendicular style, is noted for its superb fan vaulting. The two western towers were built (1722-40) by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. In the late 19th cent. Sir George Gilbert Scott supervised extensive restoration. From that time memorial statues by many academic Victorian sculptors have been added to the decor. The present church is cruciform in plan; both nave and transept have side aisles. The choir is apsidal in plan, and its ring of chapels exhibits the only complete chevet in England. French influence is also seen in the height of the nave, the loftiest in England, and in the strongly emphasized flying buttresses. Nearly every English king and queen since William I has been crowned in Westminster, and it is the burial place of 18 monarchs. England's most notable statesmen and distinguished subjects have been given burial in the Abbey since the 14th cent. In the Poets' Corner in the south transept rest the tombs of Chaucer, Browning, Tennyson, and other great English poets.

London

Welcome to London, the capital of Great Britain, in the SE part of England. London is situated on both sides of the Thames River. London is one of the world's greatest ports. The exports constitute manufactured goods while the imports constitute petroleum, tea, butter, raw sugar, meat, metals and timber. Tourism is a major industry as well engineering and scientific research. It is well linked by road, rail, and air. Heathrow and Gatwick are the airports in London.

The climate is temperate with light although regular precipitation throughout the year. Summers are usually within 33 oC (91.4 oF), and winters have light snowfall. London has always captivated, enamoured, mesmerized, and thrilled anybody who passes through its streets, museums, landmarks, markets, hotels, pubs, theatre, cinema, tube or bus. The cosmopolitan crowd ensures a vibrant living experience and thus London is home for many.

Accommodation

In case if you do not have any relatives or friends in London, with whom you can stay, then you can look at other accommodation options. London offers five star hotels, boutiques, budget hotels, apartments with bed and breakfast or self-catering services, hostels, student accommodation, campus accommodation, camping in open parks, long stay accommodation, and staying as a houseguest. All the accommodation options provide strong security, a social atmosphere, and a good night's sleep. The rates of accommodation depend on the area of London where the premises are located, as well as the amenities that they offer. Camping in parks, campus accommodation, student accommodation, and hostels offer low prices. B&B (Bread and Breakfast) accommodations are reasonably priced and are usually with less than 50 rooms. They provide a comfortable stay and a hearty breakfast. Budget hotels cost a little more than B&Bs, but are located more strategically towards central London. Five star hotels are the most expensive and they offer luxury at its best. Some private houses offer rooms for visitors to stay as houseguests. The rates vary from exorbitant to almost free depending upon the area, the duration of the stay, and the facilities provided.

Buckingham Palace & the Royal Touch

For the royal touch, you can visit 19 State Rooms, the Throne Room, and the Picture Gallery including the Ballroom, which is the biggest room in the Buckingham Palace. There are also other palaces to view and admire.

Attractions

As a first time tourist, you may like to be introduced to the many attractions of London so that you may get a feel of the city. You should visit the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, The British Airways London Eye, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, The Tower of London, Tate Britain, The Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery, not necessarily in that order. You will have your eyes warmed by viewing innumerable and various artefacts collected from the richest cultures of the world. Your thirst for taking photographs of your family with historic landmarks on the background will be amply satiated. You will have backdrops comprising of masterpieces like the Westminster Palace with the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, House of Parliament, Saint James Palace, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Saint Katherine's Docks, New City Hall, the black main door of 10 Downing Street and more than 55 famous landmarks.

If you love paintings, then there are original paintings by masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Botticelli, Gainsborough, Cezanne, Annigoni, Constable, Moore, Rossetti, Hodgin, Hogarth, Turner, Picasso, Warhol, Whiteread, Matisse, and modern painters. A most memorable photograph would be an overview of London's skyline taken from the BA London Eye, which is the world's highest observation wheel. The Ascot Racecourse offers a spectacular view of quality races and the HMS Belfast lets you explore nine decks of a historic World War II battleship. London's natural reserves, Butterfly Houses, and aquariums let you experience wildlife from a very close distance.

In Soho, China Town is another attraction, where the population comprises mainly of Chinese, Japanese, Singaporeans and Koreans. Piccadilly Circus is famous for its Shaftesbury memorial fountain and its statue of an angel. Due to its strategic location as a major traffic intersection at the very heart of West End, Piccadilly Circus is a major tourist attraction.

Exploration

Walking is perhaps the best way to explore any city and photographs are the best way to remember the experiences that you had in that city. You can avail of many walking planned tours that include Madame Tussauds famous wax museum, visiting the five ground floor rooms of Clarence House, the London Planetarium, Church and Bell Street, Oxford Shopping Markets, Brick Lane, Petticoat Lane, Covent Garden, BBC Television Centre and Spitalfields with its street theatre, stand-up comedy, and social history. You may also enlist the services of live guides who speak in your language, be it English, French, Spanish, or any other language.

Once you have the initial feel, get down to see London in a planned way. Every part of London is unique and offers its own distinct environment. London is divided into northern and southern halves by the River Thames. Central London has restaurants, theatres, and the main attractions within walking distance. East London has the modern Docklands area with the Canary Wharf, the hip Shoreditch, and the Brick Lane. West London is the expensive and plush London with Kensington, Belgravia, Royal Albert Hall, Kew gardens, and many shopping malls. North London has a vibrant social atmosphere with Islington and Camden Town. South London has a multi-cultural ambiance with animated street markets of Deptford and Brixton, the South Bank centre, serene Blackheath and trendy Clapham.

If you want to explore the roads on wheels, you can hire beautiful cars that you can drive yourself or you may even hire a chauffeur. You may even take -the famous London double decker bus ride to experience the hustle and bustle of London. Beer lovers can visit the numerous breweries and see first hand how excellent beer is brewed. For the techno-savvy, many video-walking guides can be downloaded onto your laptop, PDA, PSP, video iPod, MP3 player, or mobile phone, which guide you through the lanes and by-lanes of London.

Streets, Parks, Museums, Library, and University

The famous streets are Fleet Street, Piccadilly Circus, Whitehall, the Strand, Downing Street, Lombard Street, Pall Mall, Bond Street, Regent Street, and Covent Garden. Famous parks are Hyde Park, Regent's Park with the London Zoo, St. James Park, Kensington Gardens, and Green's Park. Major museums are the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Saachi Gallery, and the Wallace Collection, besides numerous commercial art galleries. The British Library, the University of London and the New Scotland Yard are famous landmarks.

Culture and Lifestyle

You will be all along imbibing the culture and lifestyle of London, during all your sightseeing. You will find that it is a city on the move, a city constantly changing, a city that continuously adapts to new ideas, technology, and art forms, while retaining all the glories of its colourful past. Being a big city, issues like crowded public transport, high costs of living, congested traffic, and extended working hours are there; yet, for Londoners, the ever-changing lifestyle for the better, is adequate compensation.

Religion

London embraces all religions. Famous Christian monuments are St. Paul's Cathedral, St, Bride's Church, and Wesley's Chapel and House.

Shopping

The sight of clustered local shops at Southhall market and Oxford market doing brisk business is a treat for the bargain specialist. There are almost 26 street markets in London catering to a uniquely cosmopolitan crowd. Famous departmental stores are Harrods and Selfridges.

Sports

For a football fanatic, the Chelsea FC Stadium is a pilgrimage centre like the Lord's Ground is for the cricket aficionado, the Globe Theatre is for the theatre connoisseur, and the Wimbledon is for the tennis pro. Watching a game of tennis at Wimbledon, while relishing strawberry with cream, is a unique experience in itself.

Relaxing on the Thames River

You can relax on a cruise on the Thames River while seeing Waterloo, Westminster, Bankside, Embankment, Greenwich and Tower Piers along with fine wines and live commentary.

Food and Wine

Eating out is a pleasant experience in London. More than 7,000 restaurants in London cater to all tastes and budgets. You could say that for food lovers, London is a paradise. Luxury restaurants cater to celebs and are exclusive and stylish. It is also the most expensive. There are also many reasonably priced restaurants offering vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, or Chinese delicacies. The afternoon tea, which is considered as the Great British Institution, is a must with pastries and cakes thrown in ample measure. Food from more than 70 countries is available in London's culinary world along with traditional British fare. Most restaurants are open for lunch between 1200 to 1400 hours and dinner between 1900 and 2200 hours. Advance booking is recommended due to the heavy rush, especially on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Many restaurants can also be booked online. Almost all credit cards like Visa, Amex, and MasterCard are accepted. It is advisable to check the credit card symbols on the door before venturing inside the restaurant. If a service charge of 10-15% is included in the bill, then giving a tip is unnecessary; otherwise, a 10% tip is usually added over the bill amount. You may choose à la carte from the main menu or a cheaper alternative like pre- and post-theatre menus, which are featured in all restaurants in central London, more so around the Shaftesbury Avenue and The Strand.

For a tipple, London offers a wide variety from locally brewed ale to international flavours. There are pubs and bars, gastro bars, cool bars, DJ bars, and sports bars. You can have your Martini shaken or stirred. You can also try out any outrageous cocktail concoction that appeals to your gastronomic appetite. For the music lovers, there are DJ bars, where you can swing a hip if you so desire.

Entertainment

London entertains like no other city. You can enjoy live classical music, rock, pop, or any other form of music that suits your taste. London is famous for its stand-up comedy and there are cafes that guarantee hearty laughs. With Shakespeare as one of its noted dramatists, theatre is a favorite with Londoners with more than 100 drama companies operating in the capital. Many theatre actors and actresses display their histrionic capabilities to packed houses. Dance and musicals are also regularly featured. There are many amusement parks and arcades. For the adventurous there are casinos. For the star struck, Huges Grant, Meg Ryan, Jane Campion, Eva Green, Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Ridley Scott, and Daniel Craig offer a memorable, thrilling, and an exciting cinematic experience in Leicester cinema halls.

Things you should not forget to do

During the day, you should take get on the BA London Eye, and get an awe-inspiring aerial view of London. From Tate Modern's you should enjoy the fabulous views of the River Thames. You should have afternoon tea at the Ritz or the Fortnum & Mason. You may explore World Heritage Site of Greenwich, one of London's villages. You can go shopping at Harrods department store, Selfridge’s department store, and explore the Oxford market. For a walk, you can try out Trafalgar Square. You may take the underground metro as a convenient mode of transport, as it connects every part of London.

dot Various maps of the city of London

dot London Walking map (detailed pdf)

London underground tube map (subway map)

London disabled access underground tube map (subway map)

London hotels map

London restaurant map

London Sightseeing map

London: Westminster and Whitehall map

Bloomsbury map

London at a Glance map

Central London hotels map

Central London restaurant map