The HMS Belfast London

HMS Belfast was launched in 1938 and served with distinction in both the Second World War and the Korean War. She is now the only surviving example of the great fleets of big gun armoured warships built for the Royal Navy in the first half of the twentieth century. HMS Belfast is moored on the River Thames, with an idyllic location between London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

On 5 August 1939 HMS Belfast was commissioned into the Royal Navy and just a month later she was at war. On 21 November 1939, whilst leaving the Firth of Forth, HMS Belfast was severely damaged by a German magnetic mine, the damage was so severe that it was almost three years before she was fit for action again. She continued to serve in active military engagements until 1952, including participation in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst the Normandy Landings and the Korean War. She remained in service until 1965.

With a London Pass you can enjoy free entry to the HMS Belfast – a saving of over £15 on the normal adult entry price. London Pass is great for sightseeing and holders benefit from the following:

- Free entry to over 60 top London attractions
- Optional Travelcard with unlimited use of all public transport zones 1 - 6
- Free 160+ page Guidebook to help you plan your trip
- Loads of special offers at restaurants and shops

It's really that easy, see for yourself how it works.

Discover the fascinating HMS Belfast and all of the best sights London has to offer with the London Pass.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Visit Chislehurst Caves London

One of the greatest things about London is that for visitors it is full of fascinating surprises – like the caves in Chislehurst, England with over 20 miles of dark and mysterious passageways hewn by end from the chalk.

Chislehurst in London is home to chalk caves that were mined by hand for over 8000 years. A tour of these caves is an exciting way to see how Britons have impacted on their environment over thousands of years.

Mined for the use of flint and lime, the mines were in use right up to the 1830s, and have been used both as a tourist attraction and even as an ammunitions depot during the First World War! The fascinating history of these London caves was initially divided into Saxon, Druid and Roman times, but with newer intertwining passageways opened up, the caves now provide a passage through time right up to the present day.

In recent times Chislehurst Caves have been used as evocative outside location for such television programmes as Doctor Who and Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) and as such are visited by both film and history fans. The caves remain a source of fascination for all ages and a major London tourist attraction for anyone who is interested in geology.

Visit London Zoo

Opened in 1847, the London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Today it houses over 760 different species of animal and is the only zoo in London where you can experience big animals such as gorillas and giraffes.

Explore the “Into Africa” exhibit where you can come face to face with some of Africa's most unusual animals including zebras and hunting dogs, or try “Meet The Monkeys” an exciting walk-through experience. Other top exhibits include the Butterfly Paradise, where you can enjoy myriad species of butterfly as they fly around you.


Make sure you don't miss feeding time at the Penguin enclosure and find out more about these popular creatures from the zoo's experienced keepers. Penguin Beach, with a significantly larger pool complete with underwater viewing areas visitors will be able to close to the Penguins like never before.

New in 2013, Tiger Territory is a multi-sensory experience taking visitors deep into the world of these magnificent and majestic creatures.

With over 12,000 animals to see and incredible animal displays taking place throughout the day (including feeds and keeper talks) no visitor leaves disappointed.

Rainforest Life is London’s only living rainforest, where visitors can meet a variety of beautiful rainforest species including marmosets, tamarins and sloths. In the all-new ‘Night Life’ area you will discover the bats, rats and nocturnal wonders like the Slender Loris, armadillos and Potto the live in these murky conditions.

Learn more about London Zoo in our Interview with a Zoo Keeper on our London Pass Blog.

You can visit the London Zoo for free with a London Pass - a fantastic saving of £23 for adults and over £16 for children.

Note: Children aged 3-4 will be charged on entrance fee for London Zoo.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Visit London Wetland Centre

Encounter a rich variety of wildfowl and wetland wildlife at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes.

Widely regarded as the best urban site in Europe to watch wildlife, the London Wetland Centre is one of Britain's most ambitious and exciting wildlife projects with 105 acres of lakes, ponds and marshes to explore.

Located on the banks of the River Thames in the Barnes wetland, this award-winning London attraction and Site Of Special Scientific Interest is home to many species of wildlife including bitterns, kingfishers and a colony of endangered water voles.

The London Wetland Centre is made up of a range of different habitats interlinked by 3.4 kilometres of pathway and bridges – 99% of which is wheelchair accessible with a state-of-the-art visitor centre.

The centres wardens are on hand to take visitors on guided walks sharing their expert knowledge of the local wildlife.

It's a perfect London attraction for kids; if you're looking for more wildlife attractions to visit with your London Pass why not try London Zoo in Regent's Park or travel further down the Thames and experience one of the most beautiful gardens in the world at Kew – both offer free entry to London pass holders.

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

The London Bridge Experience

Explore the underground tombs of London Bridge and brave the haunting tales of the city's notorious past at the London Bridge Experience

The London Bridge Experience is a unique and interactive journey through the deep, dark history of London. Travel through time and take a light-hearted look at 2000 years’ worth of history within London Bridge and the surrounding area. Watch Boudicca fight her battles against the Romans, get twisted up in the fates of traitors and their treachery but beware to keep your head! Be engulfed in the powerful Great London Fire and follow the gruesome and gory tales of Jack the Ripper. Finally, for those who dare, enter the bowels of the Bridge and be terrified, tormented and tricked within The Tombs.

Highlights:

Scariest attraction in London

Rich history of gruesome, gory Britain

Interactive experience with real life actors and animation

Two part attraction; The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs

Did you know:

The legend of the disfigured Mastern Brother’s vengeful murders haunts London with the killings of four men on Tower Bridge

Workers at The London Bridge Experience have heard eerie children’s cries and have witnessed poltergeist activity whilst on shift

The Great Fire of London (1666) has no official death toll, but the heat of the fire may have cremated many Londoners, leaving their remains unrecognisable

The murders of Jack the Ripper have inspired many studies and analyses of his case, the term has now been coined Ripperology

Many phantom cries can be heard at London Bridge rumoured to be ‘traitors’, whose heads were dipped in tar and stuck on pikes, executed between 1305 and 1660

Don’t miss:
The London Bridge Experience can teach you about life in London from the Roman times, to the fierce battles of Queen Boudicca and 19th century pick pocketing thieves. Discover the darkness of a disused railway tunnel, the traitor’s Gate House and the Chapel of Thomas Beckett.

A former 16th century plague pit, the London Tombs prides itself on its unbeatable scare-factor. From terrifying tales and true stories, explore the gruesome past of London Bridge with a spine-tingling adventure into the depths of the tomb.

Top Tip: Guardian Angel Tours are available for younger visitors (under 11's) to protect them from anything too frightening!
How to get there:

- London Bridge Underground (jubilee and northern lines, national rail network)

- London Bridge Experience is situated in zone 1 of the London Transport Network so your travel will be included in your package if you opt for The London Pass with Travel

Make the most of your London Pass:
- With The London Pass you can visit over 60 top attractions in London for Free. Discover more of London for less with The London Pass.

- Add on a Travelcard to take care of all your transport needs

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre London

Visit the reconstruction of Shakespeare's historic 16th century playhouse and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the open-air Globe Theatre

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an open-air playhouse built as a reconstruction of the building where the great playwright penned many of his plays. The Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition introduces visitors to all aspects of the Globe, historical and contemporary, including Sam Wannamaker's epic struggle to recreate the theatre from the 1599 original.

Highlights:

Reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse built In 1599
Authentic timber frame building with an open-air stage
To maintain the true sense of a Shakespearean play and experience, there are no spotlights, microphones, speakers or amplification and all music is performed live on period instruments

Did you know:

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets during his lifetime – this works out as an average 1.5 plays a year since he first started writing in 1589

As well as being a playwright, Shakespeare was an accomplished actor, family man, property owner and manager of an acting company and theatre

The original theatre burnt down in 1613 because of a miss-fired cannon during a Henry VIII performance

His plays are associated with the Elizabethan times, yet most of his popular works were written in the Jacobean era

Although he was a famous playwright in London, in his hometown of Stratford he was a well-known businessman and property owner

At his grave in Stratford-upon-Avon, he put a curse on his epitaph daring anyone to move his bones to give way for more grave space, as was common at the time

Don't miss:
Exhibitions
There are a number of temporary and permanent exhibitions and galleries at the Globe throughout the year. Among these include ‘The Festival in Focus’, photographs of over 600s performers captured on stage, audience reactions and behind the scenes stories. Created by a group of leading theatre photographers it is an honest and insightful portfolio of the diverse and vibrant performances at the Globe.

Open air stage
The stage is open to the elements which can make drizzly performances in the summer even more exciting (no umbrellas allowed!) With a lack of spotlights, microphones and speakers you are encouraged to interact with the actors through realistic staging and authentic props. The seating consists of covered wooden benches and the yard is standing only.

Sam Wannamaker Theatre
The Sam Wannamaker Theatre is the site’s indoor Jacobean theatre, a simulacrum of the 16th century Blackfriars Theatre, on the opposite bank of the Thames. Having recently opened, it has a packed all-year-round programme including productions of Julius Caesar, Anthony & Cleopatra, A Bach Family Celebration and many more exhibitions and events.


How to get there:
- Southwark underground (jubilee line)

- Mansion House (district and circle lines)
- Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is situated in zone 1 of the London Transport Network so your travel will be included in your package if you opt for The London Pass with Travel
Make the most of your London Pass:

- With a London Pass you can experience this stunning theatre and tour completely free, saving you £13.50

- Explore the Southbank for great views over the river

Closures: 12th October

source-http://www.londonpass.com/

Districts of London

Central London

City of London (the "Square Mile")

The City of London is the principal financial district not only of London, but of the UK and Europe. The City also has its own police force, the City of London police.

The West End
To the west and north of Trafalgar Square is the West End, the main shopping and entertainment district in London. Most of London's major theatres are located here, as is the Royal Opera House.


Shopping (Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Bond Street)

Oxford Street is one of the best known shopping streets in the world. Running from Tottenham Court Road in the east to Marble Arch in the west, via Oxford Circus where it crosses Regent Street, it is home to many large department stores and shops (Selfridges, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer).

Covent Garden
Soho and Covent Garden are lively areas with a huge variety of shops, restuarants, cafes and bars. Further west are residential areas broken up by areas of green parkland, such as Hyde Park, Kenssington Gardens and Regent's Park.

West London
West London includes many of the traditionally fashionable and expensive residential areas such as Notting Hill, made famous by a film of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. Nearby is the famous antique market at Portobello Road. Kensington and Chelsea are the most expensive places to live in the country. The area is also famous for the Kings Road, a distinguished and attractive shopping street and thoroughfare.

Further to the west, at White City, near Shepherd's Bush, is the principal operating centre for the BBC while in the extreme west, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, lies Heathrow Airport.

East London
The East End ( The East End of London)

The East End was formerly the centre of London'd docks and heavy industry. The area was heavily bombed during World War Two (1939-45).

The East End has many of places of interest including many of London's markets, (for example Columbia Road Flower Market, Spitalfields Market, Brick Lane Market, Petticoat Lane Market).

The East End is an area of uncertain delimitations. It abounds with legend, sentimentality and cockneys.

A large majority of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were held in the Old Park in Stratford in East London. Events were also held in other venues across London and the UK (England, Scotland and Wales).

Docklands
Docklands is a thriving and vibrant area with a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs and wine bars.

South London
South London is a multi-cultural area of nearly 2 million people.

London Eye
South London includes the historic towns of Greenwich and Wimbledon

Greenwich is on the banks of the Thames where the river broadens into a wide meandering reach of muddy water. It is an historic neighbourhood and boasts a fine park and the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It is also has a popular market.

Brixton, Camberwell and Peckham are home to many families (and their descendants) who immigrated to London from the West Indies during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, sometimes known as Afro-Carribeans.

North London
North London includes suburbs such as Hampstead and Highgate which retain a village atmosphere.

North London is more hilly than the south, and many of the hills give excellent views across the city. Large parks include Hampstead Heath, which includes Parliament Hill, noted for its fine views over the city, and the Hampstead bathing ponds; and Alexandra Park, site of Alexandra Palace.

The History of London

People have lived in the London area for more than 5,000 years, but instead of a city, there used to be forests and marshes.

The legend of how London began

Legend says that London was founded not by the Romans of the 1st century AD, but in a far more ancient time by Brutus the Trojan, around 1070 BC, about 1000 years before the Roman invasion.

Brutus was the great-grandson of Aeneas, a Trojan prince who was one of the few survivors after the Greeks burnt Troy to the ground.

Following the destruction of the city of Troy, the inhabitants set off to find new lands. According to a 12th-century monk named Geoffrey of Monmouth, when Brutus lands in Britian it's inhabited by a race of giants led by Gog and Magog. After wrestling them into submission, Brutus chains them to the doors of his palace, he builds on the site where the Guildhall is today.

Drawings of the old wooden statues of Gog and Magog
Wooden statues of Gog and Magog stood guard outside the entrance of the Guidhall until they were destroyed in an air raid in 1940. Today, Gog and Magog are considered as the traditional guardians of the City of London, and images of the two have been carried in the Lord Mayor’s Show since the reign of Henry V (1412-1422).

Effigies of Gog and Magog carried at the 2007 Lord Mayors Show

source-http://www.projectbritain.com/