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Thursday December 22nd, 2011
With London being such a large city, packed full of so much history and culture, it can quickly become overwhelming for Americans moving here to organize a system to visit all the important attractions. I recommend those new to the city from corporate relocation to make a New Year’s resolution to see one iconic attraction a month. By setting up the schedule now, at the end of the current year, one can make sure to take into account weather conditions, special events or features and any other important factors to consider when visiting attractions for which London is famous.
Some of the most famous attractions to consider when making one’s list are as follows:
1) Buckingham Palace: A trip to the palace might want to be saved for August or September as an extravagant diamond exhibit will be on display at that time. A visit to Buckingham Palace also includes the infamous ‘changing of the guards’ and worth the excursion alone.
2) The London Eye: An international relocation is not complete without a ride on the giant Ferris wheel that dominates the skyline. Reservations are available online.
3) The Tower of London: No stay is complete without a trip to the Tower of London. With so much history packed into one building those moving to London should set aside an entire day to give the attraction justice.
4) Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre: All those new from corporate relocation with a love for Shakespeare’s plays need to visit this modern recreation of the Globe Theatre.
5) Jack the Ripper Tours: Many tours are available for visitors and residents. The tours take guests along the same streets and alleys the infamous serial killer roamed. This is a great activity for history buffs.
6) Winston Churchill’s War Rooms: Perhaps one of the most influential men of the last century Winston Churchill’s War Rooms is a trip back in time. This activity is a wonderful answer to a gloomy winter weekend.
These are just a few ideas for activities one should participate in after moving here. International relocation can be difficult and one often finds themselves alone in their flat overwhelmed with the possibilities of what to do. By making an organized list of popular sites to visit and committing to them through a New Year’s Resolution, Americans can tackle all the must-see attractions, one month at a time.
Tags: accommodation in london, Americans moving to London, Buckingham Palace, corporate relocation, england london eye, Globe Theatre, international relocation, london apartments, london apartments for rent, london apartments rent, london apartments students, London Eye, move to London, Moving to London, relocation to london, Tower of London, what to know before moving to london
Friday September 9th, 2011
After your relocation to London we’ve suggested you snatch up a London Pass whilst living in London. Today we are exploring the Tower of London and the many things to see there, part one of this post covered the first part of your day at the Tower, let’s jump into the second half.
The Medieval Palace is a great place to start your afternoon. Life in St. Thomas’s Tower was surprisingly luxurious and palatial for the time of medieval days. They have recreated Edward the I’s bed and all its outfitting. During this period of time to have such excess was truly worthy of only the top sovereigns’.
Next up is the Fusilier Museum which depicts the story of a British army regiment started at the Tower of London by King James II in 1685. The current aristocratic was originally the Officers’ quarters for the British army. Still today the building houses the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the Regimental Headquarters and the Officers’ Mess, often used for any kind of formal or ceremonial occasions. Must sees in the Museum is the collection of 12 Victoria Cross Medals won by the Regiment, the Uniform and Bearskin of King George V (who was a former Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment). King George the V was also an Eagle Standard of the 82nd Regiment of the French Line captured by the Royal Fusiliers during the Napoleonic Wars.
You will see the quote, “The Bold and the Old” that refers to the longstanding history of the Fusilier regiments that have served since their inception in the seventeenth century. The nicest feature that they have is actual letters and correspondences from real soldiers and officers of the time of each war effort. It offers a lot of insight into how conditions were at the time and the many battles and challenges they faced during times of war and unrest.
The Fortress itself is something to be toured whilst living in London. You will be able to walk about and pace the battlements that mark the Tower’s past as a tough royal fortress. The fortress walls were breeched however, in 1381 during the peasant revolution. It was and still is the only time the fortress walls have ever been breached; guess it takes an Englishmen to be able to claim that feat. They even have an in-depth profiling questionnaire that will tell you based on your answers which side of the revolution you would have been on, which is neat (I was a revolutionary). Beginning in 1238 through 1241 Henry III invested 5,000 GBP to fortify the Tower fortress which in today’s cash equivalent would equal 2.5 million pounds, whoa!
They do have replicas of the weapons of the age that were used to defend the Tower. They are called, “Siege Engines” and both types they display look extremely formidable. The Springald was the weapon of mass destruction during medieval times. Back in 1313, around the time of the revolution, five of these springalds were mounted atop of St. Thomas’s Tower and used to shoot anyone approaching the fortress. Springalds work like a cross bow only ten times bigger and with much greater force. They had a range of a quarter mile, but were used mainly as a deadly close range weapon. It is said that at the time of the mounting just one springald bolt was shot and impaled 5 men at once. The Perrier is the oversized slingshot for throwing rocks and boulders over the walls of the fortress. Delivered with as much strength of the 5 men it took to operate it, the weapon was very effecting and you get that sense standing beside the 17 foot slingshot arm apparatus.
Walking about the fortress you will want to stop in four of the other 8 Towers. The East Wall Walk will take you through the massive defensive inner circular wall and the four towers: The Salt Tower, The Broad Arrow Tower, The Constable Tower, and the Martin Tower. This was all part of the improvements during the refortification investments of Henry III in the mid- 13th century.
And finally it’s “Off With Her Head”, the Tower Green, where all the executions in the Tower of London took place. Only the upmost in stature were ever executed there, sort of an “Upper Class Execution Area”. The upper class and those that had too strong of public support under which unrest may be started by a public execution. More than one Queen of England has lost her head there (actually 3 did), and countless other executions and enemies of the crow were to meet their final moments there.
All in all the Tower of London offers a full day of one of the most famous buildings on Earth. Living in London after your relocation to London now makes you a part of the history that is London, and England.
Tags: England, living in London, relocation to london, Tower Green, Tower of London
Friday September 9th, 2011
After your relocation to London there is so much you must see as a citizen living here. The Tower of London and it’s infamous past is definitely a full day’s use of your London Pass. There’s so much to see there that we will have to break your visit down in two posts. We’ll cover all that there is to view and the exhibitions on display there, so let’s begin.
Likely the landmark that comes to mind when you think of the Tower of London is the White Tower. One of the most famous castle keeps in the world it was built to awe both local and foreign invaders. The White Tower has instilled fear into many a citizen and all of its prisoners. Inside the Tower is the exhibition “Power House” which chronicles the beginnings of national institutions founded there. This is also where the national armory is located, it covers 500 years of armor and shows definitively the size and stature of the previous British Kings, (it also gives you an idea of each King’s personality).
Next you simply must see the Crown Jewels, your relocation makes it all possible. There are 23,578 different gems in the collection (not including what’s kept at Buckingham Palace) and it’s a dazzling display of some of the most famous diamonds in the world. In the Jewel House you will see Crowns of Sovereigns’, Consorts and Princes of Wales (both past and present, scepters, orbs, rings, swords, spurs, bracelets and robes.
Also included in the Crown Jewels collection is the largest cut diamond in the world, “The Star of Africa” as the diamond is called is mounted atop the Sovereigns scepter. The oldest object in the collection dates back to the 12th century and is a gold “Anointing Spoon”. The British monarchy is the only monarchy in Europe that still uses it’s Crown Jewels in coronation ceremonies. But as splendid as the Star of Africa is, nothing beats the Queens’ Imperial State Crown. The Crown itself contains 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies; it is a sight not to be missed while living here.
Next stop the Ravens; it was King Charles II that first started the fable that if the Ravens ever leave the palace the fortress will fall. The Tower keeps 7 Ravens on site (the required 6 plus an extra one just in case). The Ravens wings have been clipped just in case the legend should be true. And to round out the first half of your day at The Tower of London is the Yeoman Warder tours. The Yeoman Warders became the Tower Guards in the eighteenth century and have been guarding the Tower ever since. The Yeoman Warder tours are great fun as they recant stories and legends of happenings within the Tower, the prison, the prisoners as well as Palace life inside the Tower of London’s walls.
Stay tuned for the afternoons agenda of the other not to be missed sights within the Tower of London, as now after your relocation is complete, you’ll want to be sure to learn some of the history behind.
Tags: Crown Jewels, England, Imperial State Crown, living in London, reloctation to London, Tower of London
Friday August 5th, 2011
If the official side of your relocation to London is getting you down, you need to remember that you’re moving to one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Part of your planning sould be to make a list of the attractions that you absolutely-have-to see when you arrive.
This is the time to act like a tourist. Get out your camera and enjoy the tourist attractions that London does so well. Before too long you’ll be settled into a new job, a new home and a new life. You don’t want to miss out on the sense of wonder and awe that you will feel as a tourist.
Relocation to London – Tourist Tours – The Tower of London
Arguably among one of the most famous landmarks and tourist attractions in London. When you’re settled into your routine of work and home after your relocation to London; you may just miss the chance to visit one of the most historical and interesting sights in the city.
Located on the banks of the River Thames, the Tower of London has survived wars and bombings to remain resolute and a stalwart sign of the power of England. The Tower of London was built in the reign of William the Conqueror back in the 11th century. At different times in history it has been seen as a sign of freedom or as a powerful symbol of an oppressive regime. It all depended on who was locked in the tower.
It has been in turn, a prison, a fortress and even a palace for the reigning kings and queens of England. Despite its gruesome reputations for beheadings and torture, only seven people were executed within the Tower walls until the start of WW1. Most executions in London were held on Tower Hill which is a little way to the north. During WW1 and WW2 the Tower was used as a prison and saw the execution of 12 men for espionage. Bloodthirsty lot!
When you arrive after your relocation, you should get a ‘London Pass’ which allows you to travel to and visit a number of important tourist attractions for a discount.
Tags: Americans relocating to London, relocation to london, River Thames, Tower Hill, Tower of London
Monday June 13th, 2011
You’re settled into your new London rental; done the tourist sights and now you may be looking for something a little different. As an American living in London, it may interest you to know that the city is almost two thousand years old. Scattered all over the city are many old buildings, many of which date back to the fifteenth century.
No, this isn’t another history lesson. Something far more enticing: ghosts.
London, you see, is as famous for its numerous haunted buildings as it is for being the home of the Royal Family and there are a number of tours for you to take that show off various haunted areas of London.
The Tower of London is a popular visit for ghost-fans, seeing as it was used as a prison and saw its fair share of executions (including beheadings). Henry VI is supposed to be one of the ghosts holding residence there and legend has it that his ghost supposedly appears as the clock nears midnight, walking back and forth till the clock hits twelve.
Another famous tale of the haunted Tower of London tells of Mr. Arthur Crick, a custody guard for the tower. Apparently, he decided to take a rest from his rounds and had just slipped his shoe off and sat down when he heard a voice behind him whispering, “There’s only you and I here.” To which Mr. Crick replied, “Just let me get this bloody shoe on and there only be you.”
Another of the Tower’s famous undead residents is the ghost of Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England and married to Henry VIII. When Henry grew tired of his wife, he ordered her beheaded and her remains were buried within the Tower’s grounds. Anne’s ghost is said to be seen roaming the grounds quite frequently, scaring the living daylights of anyone who crosses her path.
Over at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End, the ghost of the theatre’s former manager, Mr. John Buckstone, who passed away over one hundred years ago, still haunts the theatre, with his voice often being heard in the backstage dressing rooms.
So if you’ve just moved and you’ve got the nerve to try it, take up one of the Haunted Tours.
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Sunday May 29th, 2011
Author: Colleen
Hiya, Sunday Weekend Warriors! If you’re moving to London, please do join me as I continue in our series of British monarchs. Last week we covered the dual reign of Edward IV, and today it is with heavy heart that I speak of the very, very sad and brief reign of his son, Edward V.
When Edward IV dies in 1483, his twelve-year-old son, Edward, ascends to the throne as King Edward V. Understandably, this age is quite young to rule over a kingdom, so Edward V’s uncle Richard (the Duke of Gloucester, who had aided Edward IV in returning to the throne in 1471) is appointed protector of England in his stead until he comes of age. Richard disputes with the Woodville side of the boy’s family and gains custody of Edward V and his younger brother. As the Tower of London is not only a prison but a royal residence at this time, the boys live in the fortress in what is today known as “The Bloody Tower.” To elaborate on the intrigue surrounding this dark episode of London history, allow me to quote an excerpt from A Beefeater’s Grisly Guide to the Tower of London, written by one of the Tower’s own yeoman warders:
“And so it was on the death of Edward IV in 1483, twelve-year old Edward and his ten-year old brother Richard, Duke of York, were brought to the Tower by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, allegedly to prepare the elder boy for his coronation but, it was believed by many, to dispose of the two in order to gain the throne for himself. He organised this by having two hit men, Sir James Tyrell and Miles Forrest, creep into their chamber during the night and ‘smother them under feather bed and pillows, kept down by force hard unto their mouths.’ Their naked bodies were then taken outside, buried at a stair foot and covered with stones.
During repairs in 1674 their bones were discovered, one body dumped on top of the other, signs of the manner of their death being visible by the bloodstains which suffused Edward’s face and the complete separation of the facial skeleton, caused by the assassin crushing the pillow down on the boy with all his weight. Their remains were then reverently deposited in an urn, which was placed in Westminster Abbey, and later, in 1933, were duly identified by eminent medical and anatomical scientists of the day.”
Now, while some may dispute whether in fact the two child skeletons found at the Tower were indeed the two princes or that they died at the hand of the Duke of Gloucester, it is nonetheless fact that the two boys were never to be seen again outside the Tower. It is also a fact that, just prior to their disappearance, Richard had swayed parliament to his side in deeming Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville invalid and therefore Edward V and his brother illegitimate. Undermining their claim to the throne in this way, Richard is then crowned King Richard III after Edward V had served as king only two months.
Related London sightseeing: The Bloody Tower at the Tower of London, where you can learn more details surrounding the mystery of the princes’ disappearance both on site and during a beefeater tour.
Tags: accommodation in london, americans moving to london uk, canadians moving to london uk, Edward IV of England, Elizabeth Woodville, History of the British Isles, joan of arc, learning about london england, london apartment, london apartments, london apartments for rent, london apartments rent, london apartments students, london move, London Relocation Services, Margaret of Anjou, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, moving to London England, relocating to london england, rent london, Richard III of England, things to know about london, tips on living in london, Tower of London, understanding british history for a london move, Westminster Abbey
Wednesday May 11th, 2011
Alternative Architecture
Living in London means that you are living amid some of the oldest and the newest buildings in the city. London has been burned down twice in its history and was bombed during both world wars. The city has always rebuilt and moved forward, continually developing and changing in response to the changing times, and yet right in the heart of London are some of the oddest, quirkiest examples of building that have survived for centuries.
The Watch House
Definitely odd and with a rather dark history, The Watch House was built during the 17th century overlooking the graveyard of St Sepulchre’s. It was an attempt to stop the massive amount of grave robberies which were being conducted all over the city. The reason for the grave robberies was to supply the hospitals with bodies for medical study and research. The only source for the teaching hospitals to this point had been the bodies of executed criminals, but someone, I bet it was a desperate med student, came up with the idea of stealing bodies from the graves and selling them to hospitals. The Watch House is located on Giltspur Street and is a great example of an original building with an interesting history.
Tower Subway
Unnoticed by visitors to the Tower of London, this brick building is at the entrance to the second tunnel that was built under the River Thames. The tunnel was used to carry pedestrian traffic under the Thames. Over 20 000 people per week used the tunnel until the opening of Tower Bridge in 1894. Today it is only used to carry television and power cables under the river, but at the time it was a remarkable feat of engineering and manpower, taking only ten months to dig. The original tunnel took nearly 15 years to dig and is used as one of the main tube lines today. Found on Tower Hill, this small monument is a remnant of the great tradition of innovation and engineering in England.
Many of these buildings do not house museums, or shops, but are worthwhile visiting if you want to learn more about the forgotten side of history when you are living in London.
Tags: american expats in london, Americans moving to London, americans moving to london uk, Buckingham Palace, canadians moving to london, canadians moving to london uk, England, Giltspur Street, living in London, london apartment, London Living, london move, london moving, London Neighborhoods, London Relocation, Moving to London, moving to London England, relocating to London, River Thames, things to know about london, tips on living in london, Tower Bridge, Tower Hill, Tower of London
Saturday April 30th, 2011
Yikes, today will have to be a twofer to conclude the last two letters of our April A to Z Blogging Challenge – I didn’t get to posting one yesterday because, if you didn’t notice, there was kinda something big and important going on in London. William and Kate’s royal wedding! My husband and I were honestly debating to the last minute whether we wanted to jump in with the crowds or stay on the outskirts of it, but our early start and observation that the local tube station was still a ghost town made us think we had fightin’ chance in the city center. Which we did! We scored a great sidewalk vantage of Westminster Abbey‘s front door and saw all the guests on arrival, then we ducked into a nearby building to watch the vows, wandered to the Royal Horse Guards to catch their procession, and then onward to Buckingham Palace to see The Kiss…which we were totally close enough to see if not for being situated just behind the gol’ darn media structure built on the Victoria Memorial right in front of the balcony. Ah well. It was exciting to be in the middle of the crowd’s buzz and flag-waving and watch those planes soar overhead.
In any case, one of the cuter things I saw while waiting at Westminster Abbey yesterday morning was a bus of Beefeaters driving in. So, today (which should have been yesterday):
“Y” is for YEOMAN WARDERS!
Your best bet at seeing one of these royal guards up close is at the Tower of London. There, they not only stand guard, but actually live in the Tower with their families! No kidding! The price to pay for living in an awesome medieval fortress, however, is a 10pm curfew. Not fun for their teenage children, I’m sure.
“Yeoman Warder” is the official name of the type of royal guard that people have nicknamed “Beefeaters.” I remember once, soon after moving to London from the US, I was sitting a bench outside the Tower, reading and enjoying the view of the Thames and Tower Bridge, and overheard the most adorable soundbite:
The voice of a young British child: “Dah-dy, why do they call them Beefeatahs?”
The father’s response: “Because that’s what they ate!”
I remember giggling to myself over this, thinking the dad had just made a clever escape from giving the real reason that he probably didn’t know, when lo and behold, he was serious! Apparently, when not on duty, they ate beef from the King’s table. ‘Nuff said. The yeoman warders probably don’t appreciate being called this nickname, though, so ixnay on the eefeaterbay…
These guards are deserving of more respect than that, having earned their positions after a mandatory twenty-two years of honorable service in the royal armed forces. What also seems to be mandatory criteria is a great sense of humor and acting skills—man, can these guys ham it up when they guide tours of the Tower! (Perhaps I shouldn’t say “guys,” as the first female yeoman warder was appointed to the Tower in 2007.) Yeoman warder Tower tours are free, and I highly recommend taking one for its education and entertainment value. You’ll see the guards wearing their “everyday” garb of navy blue because the iconic red uniform is worth thousands of GBP, thus reserved for special royal occasions.
Such as yesterday. Boy, did they look fancy all dolled up in their red and gold on their touring bus! I joke, but once they’d exited the vehicle, they looked impressive indeed walking into the Dean’s Yard adjacent to the Abbey. It’s all part of the pomp and circumstance I spoke of Wednesday that shows you England knows how to do tradition – yet another aspect of living in London that you can partake in when you make your London move.
Tags: americans moving to london england, americans relocating to london uk, Buckingham Palace, london apartments for rent, london relocation agent, London Relocation Services, Moving to London, Moving to London from US, relocating to london england, rent london apartments, Royal Horse Guards, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, uk relocation, Victoria Memorial, Westminster Abbey
Friday April 1st, 2011
Thankfully the London Pass has been designed with tourists in mind, so if you are living here and want to explore all of the tourist attractions it is vital that you invest in a London Pass. It is a tourist attraction package that allows you to travel to and from a huge number of the top tourist spots in the city from much less. You will also not have to pay an entry fee at the gate of wait in long queues to buy tickets. The London Pass comes with a comprehensive guide book and entry to over 55 of the top tourist attractions in your new city. As soon as you are settled into your new rental you should get out and visit as much of the city as you can; a London Pass not only makes this fun, but a whole lot cheaper than anything else.
Five Top Tourist Spots with your pass:
Hampton Court Palace: Situated in Kew Gardens a little way out of town, this is a perfect place for a day trip. You can get there in a couple of hours by boat and the tour of the Palace and the gardens is absolutely free with a Pass.
London River Cruise: There is no better way to gain a unique perspective of your new home while you are living here than by taking a cruise trip up the River Thames.
London Bridge: One of the most iconic sights and featured in hundreds of films. Visiting the Bridge is a must if you are moving here and want to explore as much of the city as you can.
London Zoo: If you have children then the Zoo is one of the best places to take them for a day out. Having a London Pass means you’ll be saving on the £18 entry fee per person as well as ensuring that you do not have to wait for entry.
The Tower of London: Scenes of ancient beheadings and the secure resting place of the Crown jewels. The Tower should be right up there with things to do when you are living here.
Having a London Pass means you save money, and time, and considering that you can wait for up to three hours to get into attractions in the summer having a London Pass means you’re one step ahead of the queues.
Tags: England, Hampton Court Palace, living in London, London Bridge, London Living, london move, london moving, London Relocation, Moving to London, relocating to London, River Thames, Tourism, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey
Thursday March 31st, 2011
While you are living in London you’ll have the opportunity of visiting all of the famous tourist attractions. Once you’ve done the London Eye, the Changing of The Guard Ceremony and the other hundreds of tourist spots, you may be looking for something a little less crowded. Perhaps not as expensive and something that will allow you to learn more about this fascinating city. It’s all about getting out of your London rental and immersing yourself fully in the entire experience.
The Ceremony of the Keys
Held at the Tower of London this is a lesser known version of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Rich in symbolism and history the Ceremony of the Keys takes place every night at 9.30 pm. The warders of the Tower check the outer perimeter of the Tower and ceremonially lock the doors to the entrance of the tower. The guards are known as Yeomen and the ceremony is not only significant, but for security reasons it is done by highly trained soldiers. You have to book at least four months in advance and you have to apply in writing to the Tower of London, giving all of the names of the people in your group. It is a beautiful ceremony, the Tower of London as the sun is setting without hordes of crowds and chattering tourists.
Catch the action of Parliament
Another fascinating thing to do is to see the government of England in action. The debates in the House of Commons are open to the public and you may be able to get a seat in the gallery when the House is sitting. Some of the debates can get heated at times, and at times the yelling and shouting of the back benchers will remind you of school boys at a rugby match. It is a unique way of learning about the structure of British government and society. The best time to get a seat is during Prime Minister’s Question Time, but foreigners will only be issued the free tickets if there is space.
You have such an opportunity to see so much more than just the London Eye while you are living here. Look for special offers and lesser known attractions online, or contact your local tourist centre for information.
Tags: Buckingham Palace, England, england london eye, Guard Mounting, living in London, London Eye, London Living, london move, london moving, London Relocation, Moving to London, relocating to London, Tower of London, Travel and Tourism, Westminster Abbey
Friday January 14th, 2011
This December-in-review blog post is brought to us all by Sue Hillman of It’s Your London touring company. Providing custom tours tailored to your personal interests, It’s Your London will help you make the most of your time in this phenonemonal city whether you’re visiting, hosting visitors, or looking for something to do! For more information, see our previous blog post, as well visit www.itsyourlondon.co.uk)
It’s 2011 already but there’s still time for a quick look back at the last month of 2010. At this time of year our capital city looks beautiful with Christmas lights and highly decorated shop fronts all over the place. I’ve attached a few photos to give you the feel: one of Selfridges and a couple from my favourite street for Christmas decorations, Carnaby Street, which this year chose a space theme and I’ve no idea why but it looked brilliant with huge planets and floating spacemen! [click on the photos to enlarge]
If you are looking for great family entertainment you can’t beat Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park where there is a huge annual fair. You can scare yourself on some horrible looking rides or go on the kids ones (best if you have a child to go with!) including the lovely train in the photo. There’s a huge inflatable snowman, an ice rink and a massive wheel – all in the photos. For the shoppers there is a big section of German style chalets selling all manner of possible presents – for others or for yourself. And finally, you can eat and drink your way around the venue tasting German sausages, mulled wine, candy floss, donuts, burgers and more. We went at night but it’s just as good by day.
Another fun thing to do in December is to risk life and limb at one of the many temporary ice rinks. They are set up at some of the most iconic and lovely venues such as the Tower of London, the Natural History Museum, the London Eye, and Kew Gardens. I love the rink in Somerset House’s courtyard and I visited it on a snowy day but the brave skaters carried on.
Talking of snow, 2010 brought an unusual amount of snow and having had some in November we had much more December and London went into a bit of spin – sadly upsetting lots of Christmas travel plans when Heathrow had to close for a few days. For those not affected there were some beautiful sights before the ice set in especially my garden and my street but then I’m biased!
Trafalgar Square hosts one of our great Christmas traditions as the Norwegian people send us a Christmas tree every year to thank us for our support during the Second World War and it is a lovely sight in this magnificent public space.
One more Christmassy event to mention is the market on the south bank of the Thames where lots of stalls set up and provide a great shopping experience and a fun place to hang out with friends. In this photo you’ll see how busy it was and this was taken on a cold and quite miserable day. But being Brits, we make sure we still enjoy ourselves whatever the weather!
Tags: Carnaby Street, flats to let in london, it's your london tours sue hillman, Kew Gardens, london apartment, London Eye, London Relocation Services, natural history museum, oxford street christmas decoration department store, rent london, rent london apartments, Somerset House, things to do in london, Tower of London, Trafalgar Square, winter in london
Friday August 13th, 2010
A few years ago, the film V for Vendetta prompted me to learn more about Guy Fawkes, as the film’s character ‘V’ adopts Fawkes’s image in rebelling against Parliament. A big fan of Antonia Fraser’s comprehensive and engaging books on historical figures (Marie Antoinette is a favorite, which inspired Sofia Coppola’s film of same name), I discovered that she’d written a book about the conspiracy in which Guy Fawkes was involved and ultimately lost his life over.
Faith and Treason chronicles England’s infamous Gunpowder Plot. In 1605, thirteen conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament in order to assassinate the king and his heir so that the persecution of Catholics would end and England could be restored as a Catholic nation. While he clearly did not act alone, Guy Fawkes is nonetheless singled out as the namesake of England’s holiday, Guy Fawkes Day (a.k.a. “Bonfire Night“). Held on 5 November, people mistakenly think that the public is celebrating Fawkes’s attempt to overthrow government; rather, it is a celebration of the plot being thwarted thanks to Guy (or Guido, as he preferred to be called) getting caught on his way to ignite the powder kegs. Nice going, Guido.
“Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot…”
So goes the poem…
The reason why I bring this up now in August is simply because my fascination with this story has unintentionally converged with my UK life. I am entertaining family that is in town, and last weekend we wandered through the Tower of London for six—count ‘em—SIX hours (just goes to show you how much there is to see there—you’ll get your money’s worth!). This was my fourth time touring the inside of the Tower, and yet my previous visits must have been too cursory, as I hadn’t yet seen all the prisoner graffiti carved into the walls of the individual towers. This feature is particularly gripping, as it really brings the Tower to life when you realize you are standing within walls that confined convicted souls for months if not years until their release or execution. There are so many to take in that I scanned at a relatively quick pace, but then I saw inside the Broad Arrow Tower the inscription by Sir Everard Digby, one of the gunpowder plotters who paid the ultimate sentence there. Also to be found on these walls were the prayers of Catholic priests and sympathizers likewise imprisoned.
This was enough to make me want to pull Fraser’s book back off my shelf, yet then lo and behold, just a couple nights ago I learned that my husband and I will be staying in Ashby St. Ledgers tonight on our way up north for a wedding tomorrow. Apparently, this town is home to the Manor House where a significant amount of the Gunpowder Plot was developed—the very room can be found above the Gatehouse, which we’ll hopefully have a chance to visit in the morning.
I…am…PSYCHED. Speaking of which, I’d better wrap this up so I can go home and pack. Happy weekend, everyone!
Tags: Americans moving to London, canadians moving to london, englands big ben coloring pages, Gunpowder Plot, Guy Fawkes Day, London History, London Relocation Services, move to London, Moving to London, relocating to London, Tower of London, UK history, UK tourism
Wednesday April 21st, 2010
Today we are wishing happy birthday to England’s dear Queenie, who turns 84. Mel Brooks once said, “It’s good to be the King”; well, it isn’t too shabby being the Queen either when you get to celebrate TWO separate birthdays…excuuuuse her 
Two birthdays, you ask? Yep. The first one is her actual date of birth, 21 April, which is 
celebrated with gun salutes that transpire at both Hyde Park and the Tower of London–Hyde Park‘s is at noon, when 41 rounds of cannon-fire and gun-shots burst forth from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The salute to follow at the Tower is at 1:00pm, at which time 62 rounds are fired.
The Queen’s second birthday celebration partakes on the first Saturday of June (the 12th this year) during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. This event is far more extravagant than the April gun salutes, as over 1400 royal guards and 200 horses march from Buckingham Palace to Whitehall and back. Marching bands fill the air as the colored flags swirl within the vast outdoor space of the Horse Guards Parade.
All of the Commonwealth countries celebrate the Queen’s birthday as well.
If you haven’t visited or moved here in time for these particular birthday events, just know that when you do relocate to London, you will have multiple opportunities to observe gun salutes commemorating several other royal occasions. Let London Relocation Ltd. situate you near the festivities (but out of the range of gunfire 
)!
Tags: Americans moving to London, Buckingham Palace, canadians moving to london, gun salutes, Hyde Park, Moving to London, Queen's birthday, relocating to London, Tower of London, Trooping the Colour
Wednesday February 17th, 2010
Concluding with our series of posts on British Airways’s High Life magazine’s 1,000th thing to do in London, below are a few readers’ suggestions of how to appreciate the markets and other miscellany to be enjoyed here:
“Shop at Alfie’s Market on Church Street near Marylebone. Inside the former Jordan’s department store is a magical labyrinth of small shops. A real treat for both trophy-hunting tourists and fans of 20th-century design.”
“Brixton Market is the new Borough. Here you’ll find the best pizza outside of Italy at Franco Manca, and great cupcakes, service at Rosie’s Deli Café in London.”
“Stand on the bridge in St. James’s Park and look towards Whitehall—all the different roofs make a magical fairy-tale scene.”
“For a unique and highly amusing experience, see the overstuffed walrus at the Horniman Museum. The taxidermist of the time (circa 1870) failed to account for the folds of skin that would normally be present. It’s certainly one of the more unusual pieces in the natural history collection.”
“The Greenwich Foot Tunnel, designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, opened in 1902. Made up of 200,000 white tiles, which line the walls, this historical phenomenon links the Docks with Greenwich.”
“Visit the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. It’s an incredible way to absorb the atmosphere of the Tower without thousands of other tourists. By the end, you feel honoured to have been allowed to witness it.”
If you’re moving here, you’ll eventually be eager to side-step the tourist trail and discover these hidden nooks on your own. Once the relocation specialists at London Relocation Ltd. assist you with your home search, you’ll be ready to explore and surely discover your own list of 1,000 things to do here!
Tags: Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Horniman Museum, london home search, London Relocation Services, relocation specialist, St. James's Park, Tower of London
