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Underground sign. London UK
London is renowned for its many historic landmarks, Queen Elizabeth II, Big Ben, red uniformed guards and its old fashioned, red double-decker buses. The city is full of tradition and when you are planning to visit London to soak up some of this historic atmosphere take in some of these interesting facts to help set the scene:
Queen Elizabeth II was born in April 1926 so she is nearing 87 years of age and has reigned for 60 years. Only Queen Victoria reigned for a longer term from 1837 to 1901.
Buckingham Palace. Comfort Tour Canada.
The Queen lives at the splendid Buckingham Palace in central London which was built originally as a townhouse in 1705 and then further expansions were made over the years. Of course she’s not always in residence. How can you tell? When she is there, the Royal Standard flag flies at full mast above Buckingham Palace.
Guards. London UK.
Look out for the Foot Guards who are the smartly dressed chaps in red topped uniforms and large black furry hats that guard the queen. When they are on duty, they are not allowed to interact with the public in any way. Try your hardest to get them to smile – because they won’t! In addition to their ceremonial duties such as Changing of the Guard which happens daily outside Buckingham Palace the Foot Guards are all serving professional infantry soldiers. Foot Guard’s hats are called Bearskins because they are made from the pelts of Canadian black bears and are up to 16 inches tall and weigh two pounds. These bears are culled annually as part of a governmental program to keep numbers under control. The Bearskins can last for decades if cared for well but pressure is on for the hats to be replaced with faux fur – the alternative has to withstand the weather and must not retain rain water (just imagine the weight on the guard’s head!) and mustn’t get so windswept that it needs frequent brushing – problems not seen with bear skin. Beefeaters is the name given to the guards at the Tower of London formerly responsible for guarding prisoners and the Crown Jewels. Nowadays they serve as a knowledgeable tour guide at the tower. Their name is said to originate from the fact that part of their salary was made up with chunks of beef up until the 1800’s.
Tower.
The Tower of London has a particularly gruesome history including bloody executions and the torture of prisoners. Numerous queens of England were executed there including two wives of Henry VIII: Anne Boleyn (1536) and Catherine Howard (1542). Poor Anne failed to produce a living heir for Henry VIII and since he had his eye on another future wife (Jane Seymour), Anne was falsely accused of plotting to kill her husband, was found guilty and then beheaded. She was afforded the dignity of a private execution with an expert swordsman, who would have delivered a cleaner blow with his sharp sword rather than using an axe which was the traditional way. Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn’s death, Henry VIII was betrothed to Jane Seymour.
Tower of London is part of our England Tour.
In addition to its bloodthirsty history, the Tower of London has housed the stunning collection of Crown Jewels, including crowns, orbs, scepters, swords, rings and bracelets since 1303. One of the most famous items is the Sovereign’s Scepter which has the largest flawless cut diamond in the world, called the First Star of Africa, weighing in at 530 carats! The Crown Jewels are on display for public viewing but they are heavily guarded at all times. There have been attempts to steal them but none have been successful.
Towel Bridge. London England Tour.
Tower Bridge is the iconic bridge across the River Thames just outside the Tower of London. It has two platforms that can be lifted to allow access for larger vessels. Tourists can visit the walkway between the two towers of the bridge which provide great views of the city.
Big Ben and House of Parliament.
The Houses of Parliament are another famous landmark of London and the huge clock tower is known the world over as Big Ben although interestingly this name actually refers to the tower’s largest bell.
London Eye.
On the other side of the River Thames from the Houses of Parliament is the London Eye – a gigantic observation wheel. You can travel on the London Eye which completes one full rotation in around 30 minutes. From your individual 8m long capsule you have fabulous views of London from all directions. On a clear day, it’s said that you can see 25 miles away. The London Eye has gained even more fame as being the centre piece for the New Year’s Eve firework celebrations in the capital.
Double Decker Buses.
The streets of London are always buzzing and the well known red double-decker buses, which have two decks, are everywhere – you can even opt for a sightseeing tour from an open deck bus. In many English cities, the old fashioned red telephone booths have been replaced by more modern versions, but plenty of the traditional phone kiosks are seen on the streets of London.
London is a fascinating city seeped with history. If you chose the London / Paris European package with Comfort Tour you will enjoy a fabulous guided tour through the main London sights plus a day where you can explore to your heart’s content. Stay tuned and visit our website for more background information on this package and many of the other exciting tours offered by Comfort Tour.