Excursions around London. Personal Russian-speaking guide in London Excursion to the Palace of Henry VIII - Hampton Court from London

Beautiful and delightful London is the heart of Great Britain and one of the greatest historical cities of our time. The undoubted leader in terms of population of the largest country of the Old World, which is more than 8.5 million people. Every year it is “attacked” by thousands of tourists from all over the world to visit luxurious, rich, unique attractions - national galleries and museums, palaces and temples, theaters and much more. The extraordinary fashionista is a metropolis of global importance and a key financial center, dictating the laws of political, business, cultural and economic spheres of activity.

History of London

The history of the emergence, formation and prosperity of London is very rich, multifaceted and interesting. It dates back to 43 AD - during the Roman invasion of the lands of Britain. Even at the very beginning of its inception, Londinium (the former name of the settlement 1.6 km long and 0.8 km wide) was the most important trade center, port and significant settlement in the region, and in 100 AD. e. blossoms even more and becomes the capital. 100 years later, when the state was divided into two parts, it fell into Upper Britain and became the main policy of the new provinces.
Over the course of several centuries, the city changed kings, was destroyed and rebuilt, ousted the Romans and settled by the British, and was even occupied by the Vikings. But at the same time, he did not stop developing, he continued to settle down and rise. During the Early Middle Ages, under the reign of William the Conqueror, construction began on the Tower of London, the bridge and the Palace of Westminster, which are iconic landmarks today. And London rose and grew and became the largest trading center in Europe.
In 1665-1666. The terrible epidemic “Black Death” (commonly known as the plague) fell upon it and took the lives of more than 50 thousand people. Moving a little away from this tragedy, another disaster struck London - the Great Fire of London, which incinerated most of the city, about 13 thousand buildings. After several decades, it literally rose from the ashes and took the position of the financial capital of the world, which became significant in its history. In 1707, it became the capital of the newly created territory - Great Britain and continued to be populated and upset by factories, factories, sewers, and railways.
During World Wars I and II, the city suspended its development as it was subjected to constant air attacks. The Second World War brought destruction to more than tens of thousands of homes. Subsequently, London lost its title as the country's largest port. But still in 1948 he held the Olympic Games. In 1952, it was hit by a mixture of industrial smoke and fog known as the Great Smog, which killed more than 11,000 people. London's rich history has created a city that ranks fifth in the world in terms of GDP per unit of population.

London's main attractions

Today, London is overflowing with crowds of tourists who come on vacation and excursions, to view historical sights, unique architectural projects and the famous new skyscrapers that have become new symbols.
Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road
The heart and one of the main symbols of the capital of Great Britain is the Tower Bridge - this is the largest and most complex drawbridge, which is controlled using hydraulics. Its majestic towers, connected by horizontal passages, delight all visitors. Crowds of spectators gather nearby while the sliding structures are being raised to allow a large vessel to pass, to take photos and watch the process of work of a masterpiece of architectural art. You can also visit exhibitions and shows in the towers, which are held quite often.
Big Ben, Elizabeth Tower - Houses of Parliament, Westminster
An equally important part of London is Big Ben - a huge 13-ton bell hidden behind the dials of the world famous 98-meter tower of the Palace of Westminster. Delicate and painstaking work was done to create this miracle in the neo-Gothic style. Cladding with decorative ornaments, granite, Yorkshire Anston stone and Latin lettering. Unfortunately, entry for foreigners is prohibited. The tower achieves incredible beauty in the evening when the spotlight comes on. Experts worked on the accuracy of time in the mechanism for several years and finally achieved their goal: the clock began working on May 21, 1859, and to this day the residents of this beautiful city enjoy the ringing of Big Ben at the start of every New Year.
Tower of London, Tower Hill
On the embankment of the River Thames in the east of the City rise the marble towers of the Tower of London. Almost 9 centuries have passed since the construction of the mighty fortress. Many historically important events took place in this unusual castle. Here, until the end of the 17th century, English rulers spent the night before their coronation. The Tower also served as a minting court, an archive, an observatory, and even a menagerie. Now it attracts the attention of tourists with its unique architecture of buildings from different periods, romantic stories of people’s destinies, tragedies and museum collections. Curious visitors can look at the place where the scaffold and instruments of ancient torture were located, admire the royal regalia, the scepter with the world famous, sparkling “Star of Africa” diamond and other jewelry.
Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace Road
A striking representative of the foggy capital of Great Britain is Buckingham Palace - the residence of Queen Elizabeth, where the most important receptions, official meetings and banquets of international scale are held. Most of the time it is closed to visitors, and opens only during the holidays of royalty in August and September. Visitors come here not only to experience the unsurpassed splendor and luxury of the architectural structure, but also to watch the mesmerizing spectacle of the changing of the guard. The central façade is particularly splendid, with a huge balcony rising in the center. Everyone is invited to get acquainted with the exquisite furniture, luxurious decorative items, the unique collection of paintings of the Green Living Room, as well as visit the Throne Room, the State Dining Room with a long mahogany table and many portraits of monarchs, the Royal Mews with golden, transparent and other carriages. You are also invited to enjoy the beauty of the luxurious garden, where there is a lake with real pink flamingos.
Palace of Westminster, Westminster
There is hardly a single tourist who has not heard about the Palace of Westminster - more than 3 hectares of incredible beauty and luxury of volumetric-spatial composition. It contains about 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, a 3-kilometer corridor and 11 amazing courtyards. Very skillful decoration attracts more than 40 thousand people a year. The building is decorated with two towers, one of which is the world famous Big Ben. Many also come to visit Westminster Hall - a true masterpiece of English Gothic architecture, the Hall of Peers, the Central Hall, and the House of Commons. In the Royal Gallery you can find sculptures of royal blood, and in the Hall of the Mantle you can find beautiful canvases painted by William Dick. The House of Lords is a room decorated with wood and stone carvings, paintings, frescoes, various emblems and insanely bright multi-colored stained glass windows. An incredible sensation comes over visitors when they walk through the same carpets and rooms as the Queen herself, or when examining a wardrobe consisting of luxurious outfits, accessories and hats.
Westminster Abbey, Broad Sanctuary
Among the variety of church buildings in London, Westminster Abbey is considered the most luxurious royal tomb. The coronation and burial site of the kings of Great Britain was built during the years 1245-1745. and is a striking example of medieval architecture in the Gothic style. The main prop of the coronation is the oak throne. It serves as a hiding place for the Skun Destiny Stone. Amazing in size and richness of decoration, the structure is enveloped, as if in flames, by massive and graceful stone lace. The length of the temple is 156 m, the height of the main nave is 31 m. And above it there is a triforium - a narrow gallery decorated with exquisite carvings. The facades are decorated with round rose windows with amazing stained glass windows. The vaults are supported by pointed arches supported by high columns, which gives unusual lightness and spaciousness to the interior, creating the impression of weightlessness.
St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's Churchyard
St. Paul's Cathedral is the main church building in the capital of Great Britain. The central nave, transepts and choir form a cross, reminiscent of the shrines of the Middle Ages. The spacious, amazingly designed interior had already impressed visitors, but still wanted to add more luxury and richness. And in 1860, a fund was approved, the purpose of which was to finance the interior, after which it received delightful mosaics, beautiful sculptures, openwork grilles made of non-ferrous metals and handmade wooden benches.

London Cultural Center

British Museum, Great Russell Street
The British Museum is one of the oldest and largest museum institutions on the planet, visited by a huge number of tourists. It houses unique artifacts and works of art from all over the world. Over six million exhibits are exhibited here in halls and storage rooms. Ancient Egypt with terrifying mummified pharaohs, Assyria, a collection of sculptures from the Greek Parthenon made of marble, a Viking boat, a unique thorn from the crown of thorns of the god-man Jesus Christ, the death mask of Emperor Napoleon - all this is available for inspection within the walls of this attraction. The central museum hall - an architectural masterpiece by Norman Foster - contrasts with the external classicism of the structure. The main treasure of England, the library, is also kept here. The British Museum is a place where you are never bored, where you never get tired of it and, when you leave, plan your next visit.
London National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
The London National Gallery is one of the world's remarkable art institutions. It is located on Trafalgar Square, having been founded in the 19th century by a Russian banker from St. Petersburg. It exhibits masterpiece works of Western European art, starting from the early Renaissance and ending with “Sunflowers” ​​by the notorious van Gogh. Visitors are delighted with the works of outstanding artists of the 13th-20th centuries. Even if you are not a fan of high art, everyone will find a lot of interesting things here. You are allowed to draw here, but you must take all the necessary materials with you. After long walks, many people get tired - in this case, you can sit on the sofa and relax, or drink a cup of coffee or tea in the Espresso Bar or The National Cafe.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Marylebone Road
Madame Tussauds London is the largest and world famous complex of wax figures. It is located in the area of ​​the home of the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Most tourists believe that this place is a must-see. It consists of several halls, including the Great Hall, the Chamber of Horrors and the Spirit of London exhibition. Each of them includes exhibits so animated that the look of these dolls pierces to the core. The models of E. Presley, the Rolling Stones, M. Monroe, M. Jackson, C. Chaplin, the royal family, B. Clinton and Jack the Ripper will not leave you indifferent. Interestingly, they are all fixed in different positions: sitting, standing, or even in motion.
Sherlock Holmes Museum, 221B Baker Street
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is the home of the first fictional literary detective S. Holmes, created by A. Conan Doyle. Entering this unique building, everyone finds themselves in an incredible detective atmosphere, oversaturated with mysterious stories. Visitors are invited to sit in the same chair in front of the fireplace as Holmes, touch and feel the things and exhibits that Sherlock used, or read Dr. Watson's diary with notes and an excerpt from The Hound of the Baskervilles. They haven't forgotten about Mrs. Hudson here either. There is a souvenir shop with many interesting items.
Tate British Gallery, Millbank
The British Tate Gallery is an art museum in London, which includes almost all modern styles and genres, together with examples from the last century. The majestic interiors, high ceilings, decoration and tranquil atmosphere are reminiscent of a palace. The number of visitors here is small; no one will interfere with exploring the national art of Great Britain, presented in paintings, sculptures, installations, unique paper works, engravings and bas-reliefs.
Theater Royal Covent Garden, Covent Garden
The Royal Theater Covent Garden is a delightful opera house in London, which began its activity back in 1732. It consisted of several independent troupes that showed not only musical, dramatic and ballet performances, but also circus performances. Now it is an incredible luxurious palace with a hall capacity of 2268 seats, which has earned the title of one of the best European theaters. Famous conductors and vocalists of the planet perform at Covent Garden. The extensive repertoire includes works of various national schools - from the classical era to the present.

Modern holidays with children

London Eye, The Queen's Walk, South Bank of the River Thames
The London Eye is an amazing landmark located on one of the banks of the Thames. At the time of construction, it was the tallest such structure in the entire globe. Rising 135 m high, the attraction consists of 32 transparent capsule cabins with a capacity of up to 25 people. 800 people can ride on it at the same time. During the year the number of visitors is about 3.5 million people. Truly an ideal place for romance, where you can order champagne, candles, fruits and ride in the Cupid's Capsule, designed for two + a waiter. The London Eye makes one revolution in 30 minutes, which will allow people in the booths to enjoy fabulous panoramic views of London. Interestingly, the wheel does not stop to load and unload passengers.
London Sea Life Aquarium, County Hall Westminster Bridge Road
London's only Sea Life Aquarium is an ideal place to take the kids. It houses the largest collection of aquatic animals in all of Europe, including two huge pools with a capacity of over a million liters and 50 additional tanks. An aquarium contains a huge number of species of animals placed in more similar conditions to their natural environment. The most popular procedure for adults is feeding fish. Children are incredibly delighted by penguins, stingrays, crabs, and starfish, since they are allowed to touch them. Young people often prefer extreme activities: scuba diving with sharks or simply watching them. In the aquarium you can see Cuban crocodiles, sea turtles, piranhas, jellyfish, squid, octopuses and even seahorses.
Peter Harrison Planetarium, Greenwich, at the National Maritime Museum
But the London Planetarium has been amazing viewers with incredible spectacles for about 40 years. Every 40 min. The “star show” session starts, for which a star projector is used. With its help, visitors look at the Earth and the solar system, study galaxies, and watch the twinkling of stars. The planetarium has the opportunity to visit exciting attractions reminiscent of outer space, taking visitors on fantastic adventures, or get acquainted with mysterious mists and black holes, become a participant in the search work of alien civilizations, or find out the amount of your weight on another planet.
London Zoo, Regents Park, Outer Circle
Many tourists and city residents take their children to London Zoo. To fully experience all the beauties, you need to spend at least 3 hours here. The menagerie has collected incredible varieties of reptiles, 3 aquarium halls, 2 departments of a children's mini-zoo, constantly replenished with new specimens, capturing almost the entire diversity of the animal world. The African Bird Safari collection features rare species such as Madagascar teals and white-bellied rain storks. The BROV pavilion houses insects and tiny animals.
Hamleys Toy Store, 188-196 Regent Road
For Hamleys toy store, shoppers set aside all or most of the day. Every day, in addition to the sale of goods, interesting children's games, puppet theater performances, and prize competitions are held here. The complex is a great place to celebrate a child's birthday. A well-thought-out scripted event is offered, which includes a one and a half hour tour of the establishment. The hero from the fairy tale will be your guide and will tell you many interesting adventures. A sweet table is organized in the Festive Hall, and bags of gifts are presented.

Catering establishments

Tate Modern Restaurant, 53 Bankside
When visiting beautiful London, everyone tries to time it to see the large number of famous attractions. In this case, you need to find places to completely satiate yourself or just have a snack along the way. The Tate Modern restaurant attracts maximum customers every day due to the quality of its cuisine and location. It is located on the 6th floor of the building, which provided it with fabulous views from the windows onto the shimmering huge dome of St. Paul's Cathedral across the beauty of the enchanting Thames. Baked sea trout with new potatoes will cost £18, asparagus broth with cashews will cost around £8, delicious pasta starts at £9, and a traditional rib-eye steak will delight art lovers for £20. It is also important that there is a bar here.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, 68 Royal Hospital Road
If you need luxury in everything for an important event or meeting, then this is the place to go - to the flagship establishment of haute French cuisine, Gordon Ramsay, which has three Michelin stars in its arsenal, which already guarantees the quality of the food. Modern and respectable, located in the center of London, it is ready to accommodate up to 45 people at a time. Tables here, of course, need to be reserved 2-3 days before your visit. The interior here is chic, the furnishings are in the best English traditions. The quality of food and decoration is incomparable. As for the price, a full dinner with dessert starts from $350. Unfortunately the restaurant is closed on weekends.
Liman Restaurant, 60 Penton Street, Angel Islington
Liman Restaurant is a lovely little restaurant with beautiful decor and a very cozy atmosphere. There is a really extensive menu here, which leads to a difficult choice - your eyes literally run wild. It mainly contains dishes from Turkey and the Middle East. Prices start from 3.9 pounds, going up to 15.5. We are talking about karisik izgara - an assortment of kebabs, delicious ribs and fried lamb. The stylish interior with panoramic views also delights guests. An open kitchen allows you to watch the cooks - an excellent marketing ploy.
Cafe Diana, Bayswater Road 5 Wellington Terrace
Lovers and fans of Princess Diana will definitely love Cafe Diana, located on Bayswater Road. This is a nice, cozy establishment, the walls of which are decorated with a huge number of different photographs of Diana, her family, including the owner of the cafe. A very simple and unpretentious place. However, despite the simplicity, everything is very tasty. In particular, visitors note the delicious bacon, hummus, fatush salad, and fried lamb. The friendly and polite staff does their best.
Cafe Boheme, 13 Old Compton Street
While not outwardly attracting maximum attention, Cafe Boheme will serve all its customers in a friendly and good-natured manner. There are always crowds of people here - regardless of the time of day. The prices are quite high, the interior is in French style. The choice is quite extensive and varied. High marks are given to croissants with a cup of latte for breakfast and a nice steak. The charcuterie platter is wonderful, the pate is more like a very perfect parfait - a heavenly delight. In the evenings, a jazz orchestra often plays here.

Shopping in London

Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road
Harrods is the largest department store in Europe, located on 5 floors, occupying 90 thousand square meters. m. and includes 330 departments. It sells clothing and shoes for the whole family, electrical appliances and jewelry, sporting goods and wedding supplies, accessories for pets and toys, food and cosmetics, gift sets and stationery, household items and furniture. Despite the struggle with environmentalists, the complex sells animal skins.
House of Fraser, 318 Oxford Street
House of Fraser has earned its popularity due to its competitive prices and abundance of widely available brands. Due to the huge selection of cheap models, it is perfect for bulk shopping or a lot of gifts, especially if there are time constraints. Not counting the departments with clothes for any gender and age, there are accessories, shoes, bags, cosmetics, household goods and equipment.
Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street
Selfridges is a famous department store in London. Its distinctive feature is that it was originally built as a department store. The assortment consists of clothing for all genders and ages, accessories, shoes, cosmetics and household appliances. Many different models will certainly allow you to choose something for yourself.
John Lewis, 300 Oxford Street
John Lewis is an outstanding department store and a traditional place for gift shopping. Initially, his product range included only household items, but today he also sells clothing. The style of the models is intended more for work, walking and relaxation. If you need to buy jeans more economically, then this is also the right place. There are no bright, famous brands here.

Amazingly beautiful and bewitching with its grandeur, London opens its doors and embraces to tourists, telling its incredibly difficult history of emergence and formation. Thanks to the attractions, places of recreation and entertainment, even the most boring tourist will cheer up and find fun for himself here. The crowd of visitors is caused by the trends of modern culture and the rich historical past. And no fog or rain will prevent you from enjoying this fabulous and at the same time financial center of the planet!

* The price is indicated for a group of up to 6 people.

* Each additional hour is paid separately - 30 pounds.

If you want to get the most out of exploring London, then you should use the services of a Russian-speaking personal guide. Our company employs only professional guides who are native Russian speakers. Everyone has the appropriate training, the necessary certification (Blue Badge), and extensive work experience (5 years and above). The convenience of ordering the services of a private guide lies in the fact that you can not only choose standard ones from those presented on our website, but also, together with the guide, develop a unique stay program that suits only you.

Russian speaking personal guide in London- this is an ideal option for people who value their time and want to get the most out of their money invested in travel! Taking into account your wishes, our company will offer you the best individual route to explore London, select the necessary shops, and organize leisure activities.

You will receive not only traditional information about the city, but also a lot of other interesting information about the history, traditions and life in the capital.

You will also be able to get acquainted with interesting places and attractions, some of which you are unlikely to find in a tourist guide. After all, often it is such places that reveal the true London and help to learn the way of life and traditions of the British.

Your will answer many of your questions. This could be information about where to go, what to see and how to get to this place, recommend restaurants and pubs, as well as book a table for you and suggest optimal transport routes.

In function Russian guide in London also includes showing attractions in the suburbs and nearby towns. Thus, guides based in London conduct excursions in Windsor, Hampton Court, Stonehenge, Bath, Canterbury, Leeds, the Cotswolds and many other places in the UK. In addition, we have guides who can conduct excursions in both Russian and English. A private Russian guide in London is not only an opportunity to receive reliable interesting information in your native language, but also convenience and independence from people with different interests, which are usually encountered when ordering group excursions. Personal Russian-speaking guides in London are ideal for independent people who know how to evaluate the information received and the quality of the services provided! We are very attentive to feedback on the work of our guides and will be grateful for your opinion on the service received, which can be left on any social network, sent to us by email or by phone.

Today's express guide to London will not say a word about football, pubs, beer or fish and chips. We will talk about higher matters: theater, art, architecture, parks.

Join us on a journey through the most significant sights and you will find out: where to try out the skills learned in rhetoric classes, which theater to go to in the evening, and where to listen to free lectures on art. So, be sure to visit in London:

Photo flickr.com by coPhoto

A traditional London park with an area of ​​142 hectares, which is visited by billions of tourists every year. Hyde Park is divided into two parts by the Serpentine Lake and is adjacent to Kensington Gardens.

Catamaran rentals are available on the lake, and the Serpentine Gallery hosts contemporary art exhibitions. Hyde Park also hosts several musical events during the summer.

But pay special attention to Speakers’ Corner in the northeastern part of the park - a place for public speaking in the open air, where debates and discussions on any topic are allowed.

So if you want to practice your oratory, come to Hyde Park, an audience is guaranteed.

Photo flickr.com by BTCLondon

A few minutes by train from central London and you're at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Kew Gardens has the largest and most diverse botanical collection in the world. More than 30,000 plants are preserved in the Seed Bank here. On one of the excursions you will learn about the development of botany, gardening and wildlife conservation.

Photo flickr.com by rachel phelan

Regent's Park in north-west central London was designed in 1811 and covers an area of ​​166 hectares. The pearl of the park is the rose garden, where more than 400 varieties of roses grow.

Walking here on a good day, you will meet Londoners walking their pets, cricket and football players and, of course, the true inhabitants of the park - squirrels.

Photo flickr.com by takoyaki1981

In this largest park in London (1,000 hectares, no less), you can still see deer roaming. With its hills, ponds, forests and gardens, Richmond Park is considered the city's most beautiful park.

Richmond Park is open year-round and closes at sunset. You can get here by train, stop at Richmond Station.

Photo flickr.com by Trodel

The Tower of London has served as the stage for many dramatic events in the country's history, including the execution of three queens and the imprisonment of Elizabeth I. It has been the royal palace and fortress, prison, arsenal, mint, menagerie and treasury of the British Crown for the last 900 years.

The Tower of London is the largest attraction in the world, visited by more than 2.5 million visitors a year. 150 people, most of them beefeaters (palace guards) and their families, still live within its walls.

Photo flickr.com by Jim Bahn

The Victoria and Albert Arts and Crafts Museum on Cromwell Road contains objects dating back more than 3,000 years, from many of the world's richest cultures, including ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewellery, metalwork, photographs, sculptures, textiles and paintings. The museum is so spacious that be prepared to spend more than one hour examining all the items.

A must-see is the stunning British 1500-1900 Galleries, where a selection of famous objects from the V&A's collections provide insight into 400 years of British arts and design history. You can also see the national collection of photographs housed in the museum. There are so many sources of inspiration in this museum that visiting it can inspire creativity.

Photo flickr.com by Add a bit color 😉

The British Museum is located on Great Russell Street in one of Britain's listed ancient buildings. The museum houses a collection of art and antiques reflecting two million years of human history. Here you can see the famous Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon.

For the 250th anniversary of the British Museum, the reconstruction and redevelopment of the internal museum space was completed. One such project is Sir Norman Foster's Great Court, which is the largest covered square in London. The Great Courtyard, covering 2 acres, houses the domed Reading Room, the Museum Library, as well as shops, a café and a restaurant.

Photo flickr.com by malloryfreed

The younger sister of Tate Britain is located in a former power station on the south bank of the Thames.

Tate Modern houses collections of modern art from the 20th century. There is also a restaurant offering a modern British menu and wonderful views.

If you have come to this page, then you are interested in the question: » Where to download the London travel guide"? Of course, for convenience it should be in Russian. It is for lovers of independent walks that we have created an application that combines an offline map, a tour guide, an audio guide, and a guide. Just type the name YARVITTO into the App Store or Play Store and enjoy the tour from your smartphone. During the walk, you don’t need the Internet - everything works offline!

Excursion "Historic Heart of London"

LISTEN TO THE INTRO

Perhaps this city is the most famous and popular city among tourists in the world. And this is not surprising, because everyone wants to look at the capital of a great country, which is the homeland of a huge number of talented, brilliant, great people. Perhaps no other country in the world can boast of this. Scientists, musicians, writers, artists, architects, actors. You can’t list them all. We think that you too will have your favorite British celebrities.

The first people appeared here about 30 thousand years ago. Historians believe that by the end of the prehistoric period the main part of the population were people belonging to the culture of the Insular Celts. These included the Britons and Gaelic Ireland. In 43 BC the Roman conquest of Britain began. The rule of the Romans lasted 400 years. After them, German Anglo-Saxon settlers came to these lands. The territories inhabited by the Anglo-Saxons united in the 10th century to form the Kingdom of England. And the Gaels united with the Picts and formed the Kingdom of Scotland. After this, the wars for Scottish independence began, which ended in the defeat of England. But the battles did not end there for the kingdom. Next was the Hundred Years' War with France. Many more centuries would pass and only in the 19th century would the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland emerge, which exists to this day.

Today is our London travel guide will take you through the historical heart of the city, which beats as strongly as it did hundreds of years ago. We will see all its main attractions, which are known throughout the world. As you listen to stories about these landmarks, you will notice how they are connected to each other. At the end of the tour, you will have a whole picture of intertwined stories. You will find out where the great kings of England used to live. You will also see places where members of the royal family live today.

During our excursion you will learn many facts both from the history of the whole of Great Britain and from individual famous personalities. As you pass each attraction, you will become more and more immersed in the history of England, getting to know it from different, but interconnected sides.

Audio guide and guide to London in Russian - useful tips

Public transport in London includes world-famous double-decker buses, the world's oldest subway and modern tram lines. You can also get around the city in the famous black cabs (taxi). Double-decker buses are a kind of calling card of the city. They are one of the fastest and most convenient ways to move around the city. Tickets for them must be purchased in advance, because... There are no conductors on such buses, and drivers do not sell tickets.

There are 12 lines in the London Underground. On the subway map, the entire city is divided into zones (1 - center, 6th - outskirts. A, B, C, D - distant zones). The cost of the trip depends on which zones you travel through. Therefore, tickets or smart cards must be presented both at the entrance and exit of the metro. The London Underground also includes the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) lines. You can see their lines on the subway map. They cost the same as the main trains. Their only difference from standard trains is that they are controlled by a computer, not a person.

Modern London tram lines opened in 2000. So far, the tram network is much smaller than, say, the metro, but it is developing quickly. You should also buy tickets for trams before your trip. To catch a black cab, you just need to extend your hand. The fare is determined by the meter. In this case, many little things are taken into account: landing, whether luggage is placed in the front seat or not, etc. It is customary to tip the driver. Usually this is 10% of the check.

London guide in Russian - attractions

Smart cards in London are called Oyster. Paying with them is much more profitable than cash. In addition, you can purchase a special type of travel card with them - TravelCard (travel card), i.e. travel card. Why they are convenient - even if you make several trips, you will not be charged an amount that is more than the cost of such a pass. However, remember that you can only travel in the areas covered by your pass. Otherwise you may be fined.

London Last update date: 2019-08-14 London is the cultural, political and economic center of Great Britain, famous for its stunning museums, galleries, royal palaces, shopping, theater and high-quality restaurants.

Heading to London? Start planning your trip now, including booking your hotel and creating your perfect itinerary. Whether you want to stay in a five-star luxury hotel, leisurely sip champagne on the London Eye, or find a cheap hostel and wander around one of London's beautiful Royal Parks, you'll find an option to suit your interests and budget.

Section to London

Where to go and what to do

There's a lot to see and do in London, from iconic landmarks like the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the Tower of London and the Tate Gallery, to amazing shopping, expansive parks and much, much more. Check out our tips and recommendations for must-see places in London. Many of the attractions on this list can be visited completely free of charge (by the way, here’s another good reason to fall in love with London).

As one of the largest and most beautiful museums in the world, the British Museum has a collection of perhaps the most valuable historical artefacts in existence today. Among the many exhibits are the Rosetta Stone, Assyrian treasures and Egyptian mummies, as well as the stunning, light-filled "Great Court". A new restaurant was recently opened in the Big Courtyard; the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea under a majestic roof. The museum also offers free tours and excursions.

The National Gallery houses hundreds of the world's most famous, beautiful and controversial paintings. Discover the wonderful paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Monet and Van Gogh.

Madame Tussauds London features an exhibition of over 300 wax figures, Marvel Super Heroes 4D, a London Taxi ride and more. Incredibly lifelike wax figures of famous (and infamous) people from the past and present are a staple of the museum, ranging from Johnny Depp and One Direction to The Queen and Muhammad Ali.

The Tower of London is one of the most famous fortresses in the world. In addition, this place keeps terrible secrets, strange stories and historical relics. Here you can admire the priceless Crown Jewels, visit the medieval palace, the infamous Bloody Tower, and take a guided tour with a yeoman who will tell you about the many executions carried out here.

The Natural History Museum features hundreds of stunning natural exhibits, housed in one of London's most beautiful buildings. Highlights include the popular Dinosaur Gallery, Blue Whale Model, Cocoon Research Centre, and special events and debates taking place in the state-of-the-art Attenborough Studio at the Darwin Centre, where you may have the chance to meet renowned scientists.

Built in the 17th century, St Paul's Cathedral on Ludgate Hill in the City of London is one of the city's most famous buildings. It was built by the famous Sir Christopher Wren and until 1962 retained its status as the tallest building in London. You can use a touch-enabled multimedia guide or join a guided tour to see the cathedral's illustrious interiors or, if you have the energy, head up to the Gallery of Whispers (to try out the acoustics) and even higher to the golden Gallery at the top of the dome, where you'll be rewarded stunning views of London. You can also go down to the crypt, where the remains of heroes such as Admiral Nelson are located.

Shakespeare's Globe Theater is a reconstruction of the original open-air theater on the banks of the Thames where playwright William Shakespeare first staged many of his famous plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The modern Globe, located just a few hundred yards from its original site, is home to classic and contemporary interpretations of Shakespeare's works, as well as brand new plays. Only 5 lb. Art. for a standing ticket – it simply doesn’t get any cheaper! Audio guides are available at the exhibition in English, French, German, Italian and Japanese. There are also guided tours every 30 minutes.

The London Aquarium, located next to the London Eye on the South Bank, has one of the largest collections of ocean creatures in Europe. Here, in a volume of two million liters of water, more than 500 species and 14 eco-zones are represented. Famous marine species on display include seahorses, octopuses, tiger sharks and clownfish. In addition, the aquarium features an interactive exhibit where you can feed stingrays, watch sharks being fed, watch divers perform, and walk “underwater” in a special glass tunnel.

LEGOLAND Windsor is located on the borders of London and spans 150 acres of parkland. It offers more than 55 attractions, shows and activities aimed at children under 12 years old. This theme park is a great place to spend a family day out, but for fun-seekers who want to try it all (which will take several days), the Resort Hotel has themed rooms. In the park, you can, among other things, board a Lego submarine, see a classic miniature view of London, test your skills in a driving school, and get completely wet on water rides.

Hampton Court was the favorite royal residence of King Henry VIII, and the beautiful landscape holds many horror stories. Discover the medieval Great Hall, where William Shakespeare's own troupe once performed, as well as vast Tudor kitchens and a gallery of ghosts. The palace complex has a lot to see in the open air: an intricate labyrinth, beautiful gardens and a large park. Other events include daily costumed tours and talks, and an annual flower show.

The National Portrait Gallery, located in central London, displays over 195,000 portraits of famous men and women who played important roles in British history from the 16th century to the present day. Acclaimed artists such as Holbein, David Hockney, Cecil Beaton and Lucian Freud have posed for kings, queens, film stars, politicians, musicians and many others. It is also worth paying close attention to the gallery's calendar of temporary exhibitions, especially the BP Portrait Awards.

Experience the magical world of Harry Potter and visit the film sets with Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter." As part of the tour, you can wander through Dumbledore's office, enter the Great Hall, stroll through Diagon Alley, see the techniques that helped Harry Potter take off, and learn how animated special effects are created. A must-see excursion for fans of the world's most popular wizard.