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Piccadilly Circus
Framed by flashy luminous advertisement, loud and restless this is how the famous communications junction presents itself. Although it does not seem very attractive in the first place, Piccadilly Circus attracts a lot of visitors who wouldn’t leave London without seeing this popular place. Due to its central position and the fact that there is always something to see and experience, the place became one of the most popular meeting points. Piccadilly Circus was actually part of the modernisation plan of John Nash in the 19th century. A north-south axis was planned to run from the former Carlton House, passing Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus and ending in Regent’s Park. The two places and Regent Street were built but the closeness of Piccadilly Circus was soon destroyed by the construction of Shaftsbury Avenue. In 1893 the famous well with the Eros statue, which was designed by Alfred Gilbert, was unsealed. Also at Piccadilly Circus there is the Criterion Theatre and the London Pavilion.
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W1
London
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Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament were built due to the destruction of the Palace of Westminster by a fire in 1834. The architect Charles Barry and the eccentric genie Augustus Pugin were asked to build a new Parliament building in a gothic or Elizabethan style. The building consists of gold brown York stone and includes the two towers Big Ben and Victoria Tower. Inside the building there are numerous impressive halls such as the Westminster Hall where big court cases were handled. Here Charles I. and Guy Fawkes were sentenced to death. The House of Lords, the master piece of Pugins, is still preserved in its original state. The Common’s Lobby and the House of Commons were built later in 1950 because this part of the building was destroyed in 1941. The debates of the House of Lords and the House of Commons is open for visitors which have an entrance ticket for the “Visitor’s Gallery”.
Opening times:
Mo, Tues, Thurs 2.30 pm – 10.30 pm, wed and Fr 9.30 am – 2 pm
Debates: Mo, Tues, wed from 2.30 pm, Thurs from 3 pm, Fr from 11 am
Tel.: House of Commons +44 (0)171 2194272, House of Lords +44 (0)171 2193107
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Parliament Square
SW1
London
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Downing Street No 10
…is the unimposing living and office room of the English Premier. Robert Walpole, the first English Premier was the first who moved into the house with the unimpressive façade in 1735. Since then all acting premiers have been living in No. 10 in this tiny street between Whitehall and St. James’s Park. The name comes from Sir George Downing, a diplomat and construction speculator who bought land in Whitehall where he built some houses that he later sold to the king. But the first impression is deceiving as the house has more than a hundred rooms, including a meeting room of the cabinet on the ground floor and different best rooms. The living rooms are on the second and third floor. No. 11 is inhabited by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Both houses are connected to each other. Also No. 12 belongs to the government. There the office of the “Party Whip” is located.
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SW1
London
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Trafalgar Square
This famous place with the Nelson’s pillar devoted to the greatest naval hero of all times: Admiral Horatio Viscount Nelson (1758 – 1805) which was killed in the Battle of Trafalgar. The Square itself was designed by John Nash and built by Charles Barry, the constructor of the Houses of Parliament. The two wells were redesigned in 1939 by Sir Edwin Lutytens and were ornamented with tritons after the war. Especially at New Year’s Eve the square is packed with people who are celebrating the beginning of the New Year.
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WC2
London
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Covent Garden
Covent Garden ranges between Shaftsbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road and Kingsway. Usually it was meant to be a monastery garden of the Benedictines which fell into the possession of the Russell family after secularisation where it remained over 400 years. In 1630 the 3rd Earl of Bedford assigned the rearrangement of the area to the architect Inigo Jones, who designed spacious buildings with classical Italian arcades, a piazza and a church in Italian style. All buildings in the environment were inhabited by gentlemen or men of ability. In 1670 a market hall was built on the piazza which was renovated in 1828 and presents itself today as an airy Victorian construction made from iron, glass and stone. The arcades in the inside host a lot of small shops, galleries, museums and cafes. In front of the St.Paul’s Cathedral there are a lot of performing actors who revive the atmosphere of an intended south European quarter.
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WC2
London
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Leicester Square
The name of this square is one of the best known in the whole city and goes back to Robert Sidney, the 2nd Earl of Leicester, who had the most expensive houses of the period of the Stuarts built over there. He liked parties in good company and soon had a place designed and built. In the middle of the 19th century 4 big Victorian theatre were established which made Leicester Square to the centre of the West End entertainment. Today most of the theatres are home to the glamorous world of movies. Here is “The Half Price Ticket Booth” where you can buy cheaper tickets for musical and theatre performances on the same night.
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WC2
London
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Regent Street
The Regent Street is a representative shopping street which leads from the Carlton House Terrace the Regent’s Park, passing Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Langham Place and Portland Place. This street originates from the legendary John Nash who built it as a sort of “Via Triumphalis” for George IV. Regent Street is one of the most beautiful streets in London with an elegant design and well known shops such as the department store “Liberty”.
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W1
London
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Oxford Street
Oxford Street got its name from Edward Harley, the 2nd Earl of Oxford which had bought the street and the whole land north of it in 1713. It was used as a living area but soon theatres and other entertainment sites found their way into the area. At the end of the 19th century it was transformed into a strict shopping and office street which is bordered by St. Giles Circus in the east and Marble Arch in the west. Nearly every day the street is packed with people, busses and taxis. Marks & Spencers, Debenham’s and Selfridges, to name only a few, are located over here.
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W1
London
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The London Eye
Not for the faint hearted or sufferers of vertigo, this high tech Ferris wheel offers one of the best and highest views of London. Built to coincide with the Millennium celebrations, and apparently not welcomed by the government, as the wheel looks down on their ornate 19th Century offices. So, if you want to lord it over those in power and view the elected British MP's down below, you can climb to a great height and gaze for thirty minutes on the city rooftops and spires. A thrilling ride in a glass pod above central London.
Opening times:
Oct – Dec 9.30 am – 8 pm except for Wed mornings when the Eye is closed until 11 am
Entrance prices:
Prices range from £5 for children to £10.50 for adults.
Disabled visitors can bring one carer for free and pay only £8.50
Tel.: +44 (0)870 5000 600 for advance bookings
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London
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