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London's Top Tourist Traps
London has its share of good and not so good tourist attractions. The problem for the visitor is which ones are worthwhile spending those few precious hours and hard earned cash on.
Being the diligent London guide that I am, I've been scouring the attractions, good and bad, to bring you my opinions on which ones are worth your while. These are by no means all of the attractions London offers, but I've tried to cover the main ones. Also, keep in mind if you're on a budget that London's attractions are overwhelmingly expensive and you may fair better at one of the free museums.
Fun Stuff
Madam Tussauds
Baker Street Tube
Although the lines are atrocious and the entrance fee is high, I think Madame Tussauds is great fun, especially if you're with someone. Be sure to bring your camera as you'll be able to pose with all your favorite stars without them hurling punches or insults.
Unfortunately the famous Chamber of Horrors is not very horrific, but all other displays are excellent. I would like to point out that the room of politics represents almost every country in the world with the notable exception of Canada. This offends me.
London Dungeon
London Bridge Tube
See all the horrors in London's history from medieval torture methods to Jack the Ripper. The displays start out fairly weak, but improve as you go along. Some sections include live actors who are quite entertaining although not very frightening.
There is also a boat ride of terror, but this wasn't operating the day I was there. Perhaps, just perhaps it would have reduced my disappointment. It is a decent attraction, but I seriously question if it's worth the downright scary entrance fee.
Castles and Palaces
The Tower of London
Tower Hill Tube
http://www.camelot-group.com/tower/ (cool site)
The original London residence of the British Royal Family, the Tower is a walled complex of ancient buildings right in the middle of the city. Home to the infamous chopping block for Henry VIII's wives as well as the Crown Jewels, the Tower provides hours of entertainment. However, its one downfall is the lack of beautiful state apartments. Although there is a high entrance fee, no visit to London would be complete without it. Be sure to get a free guided tour given by the Beefeaters who are always exceptional guides.
Hampton Court Palace
BR Hampton Court (depart from Waterloo)
My personal favorite of the London castles. Famous for its giant maze, as well as its ghosts, a visit to Hampton Court Palace is well worth the journey for anyone with an interest in history.
Don't expect Versailles as Hampton Court is in the English style of low-key grandiose, but is nevertheless impressive. The interiors aren't quite as exciting as I'd hoped, but are still impressive. The knowledge possessed by the security guards is vast, be sure to ask them some questions as they are excellent storytellers. The palace also has wonderful gardens and in summer the original style tennis courts are open (a walled court played with a smaller, harder ball than modern tennis). Be sure to have a pint at one of the riverside pubs before heading back to the centre of town.
Windsor Castle
BR Windsor (depart from Paddington or Waterloo)
The Queen's favorite royal residence, Windsor castle makes a superb day away from the city centre. Visitors aren't as free to roam as they are at Hampton Court, and the gardens aren't as nice. However, the interior of the castle is amazing and makes the whole visit worthwhile. Be sure not to miss the Albert Memorial Chapel and Queen Mary's Dolls' House. As added value for the journey be sure to explore the town and nearby Eton as well.
Buckingham Palace
Green Park or St James's Park Tube
I think this is the most disappointing site in all London. The building itself is unimaginative and boring, and the state apartments are only open in summer. I've never felt the least bit of interest to pay the exorbitant entrance fee to see only a handful of rooms. Definitely don't go out of your way for this one.
Kensington Palace
High Street Kensington or Queensway Tube
Diana's old home, situated in the middle of Kensington Gardens, the Palace is still home to Princess Margaret. A number of state apartments, as well as a collection of Diana's dresses, are open to the public. However, I for one go out of my way to avoid anything Diana, and therefore cannot visit this attraction out of principle. The huge entrance fee just confirms this, before Diana's death admission was £5.50, today it's £9.50.
Other
HMS Belfast
London Bridge Tube
The HMS Belfast is a restored Navy Ship that was served in WW2 and the Korean War and is the only surviving big gun ship of this era in Europe. I think this attraction offers the best value for money in all London. The displays are decent and visitors have the fun of exploring the bowels of the ship on their own. I highly recommend this attraction to anyone, regardless of their interest in war or boats.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge Tube
The famous Tower Bridge is best left viewed from the outside. A ridiculous entrance fee followed by displays that are boring at best, and at worst just downright confusing. Why I stood there for ten minutes watching a clock move backwards with video clips of world events (like the shooting of JFK) can only be explained by the fact that I didn't know how to get out. The only redeeming quality is the view from the walkways at the top. But to be honest, London isn't a city that offers a great view.
London Zoo
It's not really close to any tube stations, but Camden Town Tube is the closest
I can't really figure the London Zoo out. It seems to be left over from an age when animals had no rights. I say this because the entire London zoo could probably fit in the Giraffe exhibit of the Toronto Zoo. Many displays are visible from the jogging path of Regent's Park, and it shocks me at how small the areas the animals have to live in are.
As practically every city in the world has a zoo, I can't understand why it would appeal to tourists. As I live nearby and pass it all the time, I made an honest effort to visit the zoo. As I approached I saw two things. One was three giraffes poking their heads out a barn. The second was the £9 entrance fee. I made a quick retreat.
London Aquarium
Waterloo or Westminster Tube
Although it's not the most exciting aquarium I've ever been to, and the fish are mostly of the gray variety, it is pretty fun. The highlight is definitely petting the ray fish, which oddly seems to love the physical attention of aquarium visitors. As with the zoo, I question why any visitor would visit an attraction like an aquarium, but if you're really into fish it's probably worth a look.
Questions?
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