Travel Diaries

Each week in this segment I’ll be writing an A to Z of things to do and see in London. Ranging from some of the capitals most interesting museum to music venues and markets!

Madame Tussaud’s -

Where is it:

Tussaud’s is right next to Baker Street tube station (Jubilee, Bakerloo, Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith and City lines).

What can you do there:

Madame Tussaud’s is one of the best known attractions worldwide. There are 13 different Madame Tussaud’s situated around the world and the one in London is just as popular as the rest. Madame Tusaud’s is a waxwork museum of some of the world’s most famous people including Barack Obama and Rihanna. I’m sure that there is something here that will interest everyone, maybe you’d like to stand next to The Hulk without fear if making him angry, or you fancy a quick picture with Taylor Lautner!

Opening times and prices:

The opening times for Madame Tussaud’s works by a colour coded key. See this link to check the dates for your visit.

They also do a wide variety of tickets; find the one that suits you best here.

Disabled Access:

There is disabled access throughout the vast majority of the attraction. The only part that is inaccessible is the ride ‘Spirit of London’. Also it’s important to note that Madame Tussaud’s can only take on three wheelchairs at any one time so it’s important to book in advance.

Website:

http://www.madametussauds.com/London/

 

Natural History Museum -

Where is it:

South Kengsinton is the closest tube line to the National History Museum (It’s on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines)

What can you do there:

The Natural History museum has to be one of my favourite attractions in London. It’s literally jam packed full of interesting things to look at and it’s actually a great educational tool for children as well as adults. The remade dinosaurs are probably the most iconic thing in the museum and they have exhibitions on all the time so have a look at the website for some more information on those. If you love learning about anything natural then this one is for you.

Opening times and prices:

The Natural History museum is free so it’s great if you’re trying to keep costs down but want to have a great day out!

Monday to Sunday – 10:00 to 17:50pm

Disabled Access:

The Natural History Museum is fully accessible, including toilets and cafes. They also hold talks that are interpreted in sign language; you can find more information on these through their website.

Website:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/

 

Old Royal Observatory –

Where is it: The best way to travel down into Greenwich is to catch the DLR. If you are coming from the centre of London then you should take the DLR from Bank to the Cutty Sark station and from there it is a 25min walk. You could also travel here by train from Maze Hill and Greenwich station.

What can you do there:

If you’re a fan of astronomy or maybe you just fancy something a little different then the Royal Observatory in Greenwich is perfect. The observatory is the only planetarium in London, you can see different shows in the or if you fancy learning a little bit more then you could take one of their 6 week courses!

The Observatory also encompasses the National Maritime Museum from the 27^th April they will be opening up an Exhibition called Royal River (for the Queen’s diamond Jubilee), in the exhibition they will be showing the story of the Thames and how it has been used for all these years, David Starkey will be the guest curator so don’t miss out on this one!

Opening times and prices:

• Maritime Museum – Free
• Royal Observatory – Free
• Queens House – Free

You will need to pay to see certain exhibitions including the Royal River one, I will link it at the end of the section.

All three of the attractions in the area are open from 10.00 to 17:00 Monday through Sunday.

Disabled Access:

The majority of the buildings have wheelchair access; there is some restricted access in some of the older parts of the royal observatory. The cafes and newer building are completely accessible.

Website:

http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/

http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/times-and-admission/

 

 

All the pictures in this article belong to their respective photographers/artists. If you would like to take a look at their blogs and websites check these links..

http://architecturerevived.blogspot.com/2010/12/madame-tussauds-london-uk.html

http://www.london-attractions.info/greenwich-observatory.htm

http://united-kingdom-travel.blogspot.com/2010/03/natural-history-museum-in-south.html

Technorati Tags: London, Madame Tussauds, Natural History Museum, Royal Observatory

Each week in this segment I’ll be writing an A to Z of things to do and see in London. Ranging from some of the capitals most interesting museum to music venues and markets!

Jewel Tower, Westminster, London -

Where is it:

The Jewel tower sits close to the Houses of Parliment, so it’s something you could see whilst visiting some other attractions. Closest tube station is Westminster. Victoria and Charing Cross stations are also very close by.

What can you do there:

The Jewel tower is one of the two remaining pieces of  building that used to be the Palace of Westminster. When it was built it was used to house King Edward III’s treasured jewellery. The tower was also used to hold important documents for the nearby House of Lords. The building now has a small exhibition inside it that tells of the past and present uses for this small but important buliding. As I said above, this attraction is probably best done whilst seeing other things nearby, these could include The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Thames and Westminster Abbey.

How much does it cost and opening times:

The tower opens on different times each day. To check for your day click the link in the website section.

Adult£3.20
Child£1.90
Concession£2.90

Disabled Access:

There is no information on the website that mentions access for disabled people. However there is a phone number that could be called: 0870 333 1181

Website: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/jewel-tower/

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/jewel-tower/visitor-information

Kew Gardens, Richmond, South west London -

Where is it:

The closest tube station is Kew Gardens (District Line), you can also take a train from Waterloo to Kew Bridge.

What can you do there:

Kew Gardens is just what it says on the package. It a garden, but don’t be fooled. This garden houses huge greenhouses with humid climates, perfect for the tropical plants. There’s also a Treetop Walkway that sits 18 metres up in the air. Kids will love walking through the trees!

The gardens are huge so there are numerous places to walk around including the Japanese Landscape, Climbers and Creepers play area for children and Sackler crossing.

How much does it cost and opening times:

The gardens open at 9:30

Adults: £13.90

Concessions: £11.90

Children: Free

Disabled Access: There is almost full access to the whole park however, one of the two tree walkways has no access as they are having trouble with the lift.

Website: http://www.kew.org/

 

London Dungeons, London Bridge, London -

Where is it:

The London Dungeons are nestled practically within the same building as London Bridge tube and train station making it the closest!

(You can often see the live actors taking smoke breaks or grabbing some lunch in the station so keep your eyes peeled)

What can you do there:

The London Dungeons (owned by Merlin entertainment) is an attraction that aims to teach you about the gruesome history of London whilst scaring the life out of you! They used live actors and there are some rides within the building so for those who are a bit squeamish then this one is probably not for you!

How much does it cost and opening times:

Date	Opening Times
Jan 2 – Feb 10	10.30-17.00
Feb 11 - Feb 19	09.30-18.30
Feb 20 – March 30	10.00-17.00
March 31 – April 15	09.30-19.00
April 16 – June 1	10.00-17.30
June 2 – June 10	09.30-18.30
June 11 – June 29	10.00-17.30
June 30 - July 20	09.30-18.00
July 21 – Sept 2	10.00-18.00
Sept 3 – Oct 26	10.00-17.30
Oct 27 – Nov 4	09.30-19.00
Nov 5 – Dec 29	10.00-17.00

Ticket Prices:

Adult: £24

Child: £18.60

Disabled Access: The dungeons are accessible to disabled visitors however there are some restrictions for certain rides. Also each tour is only able to take two wheelchair users, there are tours every seven minutes.

Website: http://www.the-dungeons.co.uk

Technorati Tags: Attractions, Jewel Tower, Kew Gardens, London, London Dungeons

Each week in this segment I’ll be writing an A to Z of things to do and see in London. Ranging from some of the capitals most interesting museum to music venues and markets!

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Southbank, London -

Where is it:

The globe theatre is seated on the south bank of the Thames. It is easily reached by foot from one of the many tube and train stations that surround it. From my point of view I’d say the best walk would be from London Bridge tube or train station, it’s about a 15min walk but you get to walk down the riverside. Other tube stations you can get to the globe from are Southwark (Jubilee line), Mansion House (District and Circle line) and St. Pauls (Central line). It’s probably best to travel by public transport as there is fairly limited parking in the area.

What can you do there:

The globe theatre was reconstructed near it’s original sight (the original building was burnt down by a fire in 1613). However the new building is made to resemble exactly what the original building looked like. The globe theatre is used to perform both open air and indoor productions of  Shakespeare’s work. The building is also used as an educational tools for schools across the UK and also for university students studying the performance arts. I think it’s well worth a trip to the Globe as it gives you a real sense of what life would have been like at the time, aside from that the building itself is beautiful!

How much does it cost and opening times: 

Theatre season begins on the 7th of June 2012 - You can buy tickets on-line from the 13th February.

These are the prices for the exhibition and globe theatre tour. During performances there is a different tour that they will take you on and the tickets for that are a little less expensive.

The exhibition prices are going up after the 31st of March:

 

Prices until 31st March 2012	Prices from 1st April 2012
Adult: £12.50	Adult: £13.50
Senior(60+): £11.00	Senior(60+): £12.00
Student (with valid ID): £11.00	Student (with valid ID): £11.00
Children (5-15): £8.00	Children (5-15): £8.00
Children (under 5): Free	Children (under 5): Free
Family (up to 2 adults & 3 children): £35.00	Family (up to 2 adults & 3 children): £35.00

Opening times: Monday to Saturday – 10am until 5pm, Sunday – 10am until 4pm

 

Disabled Access: There is access to all areas in the building by lifts. They also have  a contact number for any questions: 020 7902 1409

Website: http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

Harrods, Knightsbridge, London -

Where is it: Harrods store is in central London, close to Knightsbridge tube station (on the Piccadilly line)

What can you do there: I guess this one is a little odd, after all it’s a shop. However, I feel that because its so huge and it’s about 17mins by public transport from Oxford Street it deserved a look in. Harrods is a store that sells almost everything. I’m not suggesting you roll on down there with your latest weekly shopping list because you’ll leave with no money left in your bank account! But when I go I spend maybe 2 or 3 hours having a walk around all the levels. My favourite places include the food hall on the bottom floor (all the sweets look so yummy) and the toy department where they show off the latest and greatest toys!

For those who don’t like to browse then this one is probably not for you.

How much does it cost and opening times:

Well as it’s a shop you don’t need to pay to get in, so no worries there.

Monday to Saturday 10am – 8pm, Sunday 11.30am – 6pm

Disabled Access: There is step-free access to the shop and it also has lifts to allow access.

Website: http://www.harrods.com/

Imperial War Museum, Lambeth, London -

Where is it: The closest tube stations are Lambeth North (Bakerloo Line), Waterloo (Bakerloo, Northern, Jubilee Line), Southwark (Jubilee Line) and Elephant & Castle (Bakerloo, Northern Line)

What can you do there:

The Imperial War museum holds collections of items from conflicts that the UK and the Commonwealth countries have been in. I think this trip is a  great one for children, the subject matter within the museum isn’t particularly light but its great as a teaching tool plus they exhibit some tanks and planes that are sure too keep little ones interested!

How much does it cost and opening times:

The museum is free to visit, you may need to pay for any special exhibitions that you visit.

Monday to Sunday – 10am to 6pm

Disabled Access: The IWM is wheelchair friendly, they also accept guide dogs and other assistance dogs.

Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk/

 

Technorati Tags: Globe Theatre, Harrods, IWM, London