Traditionally, one of the most exciting aspects of visiting the old Wembley stadium in London was walking down Wembley Way towards the Twin Towers, and although these landmarks were not preserved for the new stadium, the walk towards the stadium and the enormous arch above still fills one with excitement and a sense of occasion.

Wembley Stadium

Many other stadiums in the UK which claim to be on the same level of Wembley Stadium and were built for a much smaller fee simply do not have the same standard of facilities inside the stadium. Wembley has state of the art restaurants, shops and conference facilities which make it stand out from the competition.

Walking from the concourse out into the seating area at Wembley for the first time is one of those stomach tingling moments. The grass is so green, the stands so vast and the atmosphere so electric that you instantly forget all of the bad press associated with the development of the stadium and take it to your heart.

When visiting the stadium, especially for an event, it is recommended to use public transport. There is parking available at the stadium but it is extremely limited and needs to be booked well in advance. Whilst there are a number of non official car parks in the area it is not advised to use these for security reasons, mainly that these car parks are not paroled during events and that they generally do not have sound insurance policies. When arriving by public transport there are three stations within easy access of the stadium, Wembley Park, Wembley Central and Wembley Stadium.

The London Eye was built as part of the millennium celebrations and also to take London forward into the new century as a modern and high tech city. The absolutely immense structure, which is the largest structure of its type in Europe, is the most significant addition to the London skyline in recent years, and is the most visited attraction in the United Kingdom. This comes as no surprise considering then views that can be enjoyed of not only London, but the surrounding areas for miles around. It is the views of London though which represent the biggest attraction of the London Eye, as its central location means that it is right on top of some of the most famous buildings in the city, including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, really allowing you to enjoy every aspect of these buildings and fully appreciate their presence and importance.

London Eye

Essentially, the London Eye is a slow moving ferris wheel with enclosed carriages capable of holding up to 25 people. The wheel is designed entirely as an observational facilitator, and is not a fair ground or adrenaline ride. Each of the carriages is air conditioned, meaning that it can run on any day of the year, regardless of the weather.

London Euston station is one of the major train stations in the centre of the city, meaning that those who arrive in the city do not have to worry about the transfers which are associated with other methods of transport such as air travel, they have direct access to the city’s extensive underground system which means that they can reach anywhere in the London within around 30 mins, and anywhere in the centre of the city within around 15 mins.

Eurostar

When travelling to London via Eurostar the same restrictions to travel apply as to all inter country travel within Europe, you will be required to present a current passport at either end of the journey. If you do not have such a document you will be denied entry into the country pending enquiries with the UK Borders Agency. For travellers from certain countries in Europe, such as those from Belgium and France, access can be gained with a national identity card.

Travelling to London via Eurostar is a highly comfortable and efficient method for those who need quick access to the inner city.

More free London travel information from the Holiday Velvet travel guides series can be found online.

When visiting theTower of London for the first time you will be amazed at the amount of things there are to see and do. Below are some of the best things to do inside this highly popular tourist attraction.

Prisoner’s exhibition

The prisoners are one of the most famous features in the history of this great tower, so to come here and not explore this further would be a great shame. You can find out about the most famous prisoners to have been held here and engage in interactive activities designed to make the learning experience fun for all, especially for kids.

 The White Tower

This tower provides one of the most iconic images of the Tower of London having been built to have a large and intimidating presence which, it was hoped, would encourage the residents of London to abide by the law and avoid imprisonment. You can explore this building and learn all about its colourful history.

Crown Jewells

These are the most famous jewels in the country and possibly even the world. The items which make up the monarch’s most prized possession are centuries old and the opportunity to view them in person should definitely not be missed.

 Yeoman Warder Tour

The image of the Yeoman is one of the most iconic to be associated with the tower of London. These are the ceremonial guardians of the tower and make great hosts.

In London on business? You might be interested in learning about the London exhibition venues and which include the ExCel Centre and Olympia.

Madam Tussauds is one of the most famous institutions in the city of London, and is also one of the most visited tourist attractions. It is a testament to the obsession with celebrities and the celebrity culture that people will pay money to stand next to life-size models of them.

The essence of Madame Tussauds is that life-size, accurate wax models of celebrities are created and dressed in the style of that celebrity. The models are a mixture of present celebrities and those from the past, meaning that there is something to entertain people of all ages as all will find a model to which they can relate. The displays are changed on a regular basis meaning that there is likely to be something different to see should you visit on a yearly basis.

Madame Tussauds is famous not only for creating top quality life like models, but also for the care and attention which goes into creating the scenery and setting in which these models can be found. It is the combination of the two which make this museum a real experience.

There are branches of Madame Tussauds all over the world, but the London museum is the original branch and continues to be the flagship branch. It is Located on Marylebone Road in the centre of London which gives it a prime location and makes it easily accessible to all, with an Underground station only two minutes away.

St Paul’s Cathedral - London

St Paul’s cathedral is a popular attraction in London, and not only for those whose London visit is religion orientated.

There have been various buildings on the sight of St Paul’s Cathedral over the years, but the current building was originally built in the 18^th century by Christopher Wren, one of the most famous architects of all times.

The building has recently undergone one of the largest restoration projects the UK has ever seen and is now in perfect condition both inside and out. The restoration, whilst bringing the building back to its former state, has not detracted from the historical or architectural value of the building.

One of the most popular things to do when visiting St Pauls Cathedral is to climb the dome which is such a famous feature of the London skyline. The acoustics inside the dome have been amazing people for centuries and the view of the city from it is truly fantastic. The crypt underneath the cathedral is intriguing not only for its design features but also for the famous characters from history who are buried there.

A more modern feature of the visitor experience at St Pauls is the virtual tours which guests can enjoy and the videos which offer an insight in the history of the cathedral.

Alongside exploring London and the historic features of the cathedral you can also enjoy the shop, the restaurant and the luscious greenery which surrounds the cathedral. This is a great spot to enjoy a picnic or to soak up the atmosphere of the place.  

Tower of London

This historic Castle, lying on the banks of the River Thames, has a well-established and decorous tour. You can view the crown jewels, the famous six cravens and the various rich galleries. The Tower of London was previously used as a prison, and touring this section is highly educational — a real eye-opener and truly one of the greatest historical tours in London.

Buckingham Palace - Great historical tours in London

Buckingham Palace

In terms of royal residences, this is probably the most famous of them all. Buckingham Palace is the London Residence of the British Monarch and has set the scene for many iconic moments.

Parts of the palace are open to the open to the public, such as the gallery, whereas other parts can only be viewed on an official tour. The tour generally takes about 2 hours and includes many of the elegant state rooms.

Jack the Ripper Tour

On this tour, you visit the sites of the key monumental areas which featured in the unsolved reign of terror of Jack the Ripper, a serial killer in the nineteenth century.  You can either take this tour using a guide or by following the route provided in a guidebook. There is also the option to go on virtual tours at certain institutions.

Which is the best of the great historical tours in London?

Feel free to be spoilt for choice, many visitors often are! While this may be a rather difficult question, it’s perhaps best answered after touring all three of these tours…but the one thing we can all agree on is that there’s a fair share of great historical tours in London.

China Town – This is a famous part of Londonwhere the entire area is something you would expect to find in China itself. All of the shops are Chinese and sell genuine Chinese products, and the restaurants offer good quality Chinese food. The city can be

Italian restaurant

found near to Soho and offers the visitor a genuine Chinese experience. 

Italian Quarter – There are many places in London where there is a significant population of Italian people. One such place is Holburn right in the centre of the city. There is a long association with Italian residence in this part of the city with people having migrated here for well over one hundred years. There are many Italian shops and restaurants in this area.

Wembley – Behind white British people, the second most prominent ethnicity in London is Indian. The Indian population in London is spread throughout the city, but one of the highest populations of Indian people is in Wembley. In this area of London there is a large Indian influence which has evolved to sit side by side with the local customs.

Victoria Palace Theatre – This is one of the first buildings that you notice when you leave Victoria station, it was initially built in 1911 on the site of two buildings which used to stand here. The theatre can seat an impressive 1550 people and has been the venue

Barbican Theatre

for many high profile shows over the years.  You can visit the offical Victoria Palace Theatre site.

Theatre Royal Haymarket – This theatre has been in active use for over 180 years, meaning that many different generations of Londoners and visitors have enjoyed many of the high quality productions to be put on here. The predecessor to this museum was built in 1720, making it one of the most significant theatres in the city’s history. 

Barbican Theatre – This is amongst the largest arts centres in the country and over the years it has hosted plays and musical ranging from low profile amateur productions to high profile, high budget performances.

Playhouse Theatre – You can find this theatre a few metres from the main West End theatres and has one of the best interiors of any of the cities venues. Whilst not amongst the biggest theatres, it is certainly amongst the most charismatic.

Palace Theatre – This is one of the theatres in London with a darker appearance in terms of its style. There is a definite gothic feel to the tall and imposing structure which has hosted many large productions such as Les Miserables.