Tuesday, 30 March 2010

London 2012

Great News! Each ticket sold for the London 2012 Olympic games was going to be issued with a one day travel card. This seem a truly excellent idea, not just that it would have meant not waiting ages in a massive queue for a tube ticket, as smaller queues for tickets would have meant less of a threat to terrorism.

Yet it now seems that there maybe a U-turn on this with LOCOG (The organiser of the 2012 games) now stating that this is likely to prove too expensive if they were to issue Oyster cards allowing people to travel all across London. They have cited cost as the main reason as it is only a temporary event.

However it strikes me that one of the key points of any Olympic games is also to enable the host city to benefit as much as possible. Surely the cost of issuing Oyster cards would be outweighed by the amount of money that visitors would then spend elsewhere in London? E.g. If they watch athletics in the morning then they may well go and visit another attraction such as the London eye in the afternoon. With out a free travelcard then they are more likely to just go back to their hotel. Or they will they go and buy a tube ticket, thus adding further to the queues of people waiting to buy their tube tickets to get to the afternoons events.

People will then get fed up of queuing and go back to their hotel instead.

The way London 2012 handles its transport will make or break the 2012 Games - If the transport system fails on the first day due to huge queues for tube tickets then I predict by the second day they will have no choice other than to open the whole tube system for free for the duration of the games or risk a meltdown of public and worldwide opinion.

Lastly from a terrorism point of view the last thing London 2012 needs is large groups of people (soft targets) queuing. If you found this article of interest then why not vist the authors site on London 2012 News. For a refreshing look at every aspect of the games then join the free 2012 Forum.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Allen

Sunday, 15 March 2009

Michael Jackson Concerts in London

Michael Jackson is back for this summer. All the tickets were sold with in hours. I can't wait to see the show and it cost only 50 pounds.

Monday, 23 February 2009

London Monument Reopened

The Monument is located at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, 61 metres from where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. There are now many coffee shops and places to eat around this world famous attraction. When traveling to the Monument.

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

London Travel Information For Every Tourist

London Travel Information For Every Tourist

For London travel tips, you're in the right place. As a Londoner, I can provide you with a wide range of detailed tourist information which will help as you prepare to visit London - one of the world's premier cities and tourist destinations.

Whatever you're into, you're sure to find it in London. England's fantastic capital city provides plenty of things to do for all age groups. Visit Big Ben, the London Eye, beautiful parks - such as Hyde Park, Regents Park (home of London Zoo) and St James's Park - or visit wonderful indoor attractions among its 300 museums (including the Victoria & Albert, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and British Museum), 200 galleries, or the Planetarium, Madame Tussauds or even the London Dungeon, which are always a hit with children.

There's also, of course, the fabulous Tower of London, steeped in over 1,000 years' history and home of the Crown Jewels. If you're into our nation's incredible past, why not consider a visit to Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace or maybe Hampton Court Palace, once home to Henry VIII?

London also boasts some brilliant markets, such as Portobello Road and Borough - the latter featuring a mouth-watering array of foods from around the world.

And you can't ignore the bundles of entertainment on offer in London. Theatre, music, comedy and sport are always on offer and a great way to spend your time here.

Through this blog, I'll also provide you with loads of information on London hotels - for every budget - as well as restaurants and even flights to the capital. And no trip to London would be complete without a visit to a pub for a pint or two. I'll tell you all about those, too.

So stay tuned and keep reading as I add many more articles which aim to help as you plan to visit London - whatever you're into.

Paul Parry

LondonTravelAndSightseeing.blogspot.com

London tourist information for travel to London. Tips and help on London attractions, hotels, restaurants, tickets, events, entertainment, sport, flights, getting around London and lots, lots more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Parry

Sunday, 1 February 2009

London Snowfall

Snowfall in London reminds me Christmas day. I hate going back to work now its looks like Christmas is back in a month but if your are visiting London plan your travel ahead. Due to bad weather it may ruin your day but London is always a lovely place to visit.

Monday, 19 January 2009

Five London Attractions

Five London Attractions You Cannot Afford to Miss

As the largest city in Western Europe and with a metropolitan area that encompasses over 14 million people from across the globe, London truly is one of the most dynamic, vibrant and interesting cities in the world. With so many unique attractions to visit it can be difficult to choose which are the most deserving of your attention, but the following five are attractions that you perhaps cannot afford to miss on a London holiday.

One of the most popular attractions, Buckingham Palace attracts millions of visitors every year. A symbol of the British monarchy and modern day Britain, the palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Originally known as Buckingham House, the palace was originally just a townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. Since then many additional buildings have been added, and it is today known as Buckingham Palace, serving as a Royal residence and reception for popular royal parties, which attracts more than 50,000 people per year.

Another popular attraction which draws in more than a million visitors per year is Westminster Abbey. The large Gothic church is located in Westminster and is the traditional place for coronation as well as a popular burial place for Commonwealth monarchs. During its existence the abbey has severed as a monastery, a church and a burial site and is now recognised as one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.

St Paul's Cathedral continues to be one of London's most popular attractions. Designed by Christopher Wren, the current cathedral is a replacement of the original Gothic building which was destroyed in 1666. The cathedral is open to the public and is free if you attend the midday service; however, it is not possible to get to the top without a valid ticket. What's more, below the cathedral are the tombs of some of the most famous figures in British history, including Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington.

The Tower of London - founded by William the Conqueror in 1066 - is one of the city's most famous attractions. During its 900 year existence the tower of London has served as a Royal Palace, a prison, jewel house, a place of execution, and countless other roles. If visiting the castle it is worth going to the Ceremony of the Keys, a locking up ceremony performed every night at ten o'clock. During the tower's existence the tradition has never been missed and only delayed once when the Luftwaffe bombed the tower.

Trafalgar Square continues to serve as one of London's most popular attractions. Designed by John Nash in the 1820's as a commemoration of London Nelson's victory against Napoleon at the battle of Trafalgar, the pigeon-popular columns attract millions of visitors every year. Trafalgar square is also the location of London's smallest police station and within walking distance of the popular National Gallery.

Indeed, central London offers travellers a wide range of activities to enjoy, which means it is all the more important to understand that there are a wide range of available help ensure that you make the most of your holiday. And with so many attractions to visit and enjoy, such an option can only be a good thing.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Collins


London Tourist Attraction


London Tourist Attractions

London is one of the more historically distinguished cities of the world with its contribution to culture, the arts, music, architecture, and almost every aspect of classical and modern living. There are also many tourist locations in London, attracting thousands of travelers each year. Here are a few of those attractions that are a "must see" for tourists.

King George III bought Buckingham Palace for his wife, Charlotte, in 1761. The original reason for the purchase was for use as a family house. Since then, the Palace has undergone several renovations and has become host to numerous royals personas making it the most popular tourist spot in London. Today, Buckingham Palace serves as the main focal point of the Monarchy where it conducts its day to day business. It has elegant state rooms which are usually used by the Royal family and royal guests but are open for public viewing at certain times. Buckingham Palace is also renowned for the Changing of the Guard and the Horse Guards Parade.

One of the most famous London tourist attractions is Big Ben. This landmark is more than three hundred feet high and has four clock faces which measure more than twenty feet square. The minute hand of the clock is about fourteen feet long. On record, it is the world's biggest four faced clock which delivers chimes. There is a clock in Wisconsin that is larger but that clock has no chimes. This monument was named after Sir Benjamin Hall who was the first Commissioner of Works in London. Big Ben was also used as a prison for some political prisoners back in the late 1800s. This London tourist attraction is not usually open to the public and can only be seen from outside. Special permits can be granted by Westminster Council to allow some to go inside the clock. Big Ben is situated at the north-east part of the Houses of Parliament which was known before as the Palace Of Westminster. Big Ben is a London landmark which has been the subject of countless photographs and postcards, movies and magazine articles, has survived 2 world wars and has operated almost continuously, except for maintenance since it was built in the 1500s. The lengthiest maintenance down time was twenty years!

The Tower of London is located on the north bank of the River Thames. When most people think of the Tower, they identify with the White Tower built in 1078, where the princes were held as prisoners. The Tower of London is actually a complex of several buildings with 2 concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. It has served as a place of execution, an armoury, a library, a zoo and the Royal Mint. There is a legend that if the resident ravens were ever to leave the Tower of London, the White Tower, the monarchy, and the entire kingdom would fall.

Close to the Tower of London is the Tower Bridge. It is actually a suspension bridge which allows boats to conveniently navigate the River Thames. Walking its high walkways is something most people want to experience when in London. The bridge is an all time tourist attraction but it was closed in the early 1900s because it became a notorious site for crimes. It is now open to the public once again.

These are just a few of the important London tourist sites which one must not miss when visiting London. There are a lot more London sites to see, such as the British Museum, Princess Diana's Memorial, Hampstead Heath and Kew Gardens. Travel agencies usually offer air travel and hotel accommodation package tours.