The best places in London. Enjoy art at the National Gallery. Historical landmarks of London

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There is probably not a single adult on the planet who does not know the famous London buildings at least from photographs. Those who have visited London and seen them with their own eyes can say that they know the city very well and are ready to take a tour of it themselves. In fact, excursions, while introducing city guests to the places and buildings of London they know, deprive vacationers of the opportunity to see that London, which usually stands apart from tourist routes.

The tour should start from Museum of Brands, packaging and advertising (2 Colville Mews). More than 12,000 exhibits are collected here, familiarity with which will reveal the secrets of how many well-known brands became popular thanks to the advertising of their products and packaging. We can say that this museum presents the history of consumer society.

The next goal of the excursion is transformable bridge at Padington Basin(West London). One can simply marvel at the engineering of its creator, Thomas Heatherwick. The task was very simple, namely, it was necessary to build a small bridge for pedestrians. Only everything was complicated by the fact that boats had to sail under the bridge. That's why a bridge was made that looks like a caterpillar. At first it is an ordinary bridge along which pedestrians walk, but at the right moment it, like a caterpillar, begins to slowly rise and collapse.

Next you can go toPiccadilly Circus, where in house No. 1 is "Ripley", a museum of incredible things. A variety of unusual exhibits are collected here. For example, wax figures unusual people, stuffed strange animals, dinosaur eggs, and a trip to black hole will amaze even the most indifferent tourists.

What no one expects to see in London is a Hindu temple. But such a temple was erected on Brentfield Road in 1995. Shri Swaminarayan(this is the name of this temple) is the only Hindu religious building of such large size outside India. You can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Hinduism by going inside.

After the philosophy of Hinduism, you can escape from serious thoughts in Crystal Palace Park(South East London). It was here that about 160 years ago the artist B.W. Hawkins recreated the appearance of dinosaurs by making life-size statues of these monsters.

The logical continuation of this excursion will be a visit to Cartoon Museum(35 Little Russell Street). The museum features approximately 5,000 cartoon characters. Here you can also see cartoon caricatures of famous politicians and even Queen Elizabeth II.

After visiting the museum, it is best to head to north-east London, namely to the place where the River Thames flows into the North Sea. It is perceived as a set for a science fiction film (Unity Way, 1). It seems that these structures were built by aliens. The barrier performs a very important task, namely protecting the city from floods.

Another unique object, associated not with fantasies, but with the real past, is escalator at Greenford tube station. Its peculiarity is that it is made of wood. It reminds us of the time when subway escalators were wooden. All such escalators have long disappeared, but this one not only functions perfectly, but also attracts the attention of tourists due to its features.

You can plunge into history in one more place in London. This is about Harry Potter museum, which is located in West London. Visitors to the museum have the opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the creation of this film, as well as see the scenery of this film, learn how the process of filming films generally works, how costume designers, artists, decorators work, how stuntmen’s tricks and special effects are developed.

You can complete the tour in north-east London, where you can’t help but notice a completely new building, towering majestically above the surrounding buildings, namely a skyscraper that has received quite a unusual name "The Shard". On this moment There is not a single building in London taller than this skyscraper. Its height is 390 meters. Here you can not only take a photo against the backdrop of this London miracle, but also take part in a fascinating tour of this building.

Of course, all these places are not all “secret” London. There are many other interesting places in the city that are located away from popular routes. But this is another walk through unknown London.

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👁 And finally, the main thing. How to go on a trip without any hassle? Buy now. This is the kind of thing that includes flights, accommodation, meals and a bunch of other goodies for good money 💰💰.

Travel is The best way relax and enjoy new sensations and impressions. Every city in the world contains a huge cultural heritage peoples who lived and are living in it. Millions of tourists from all over the world form a completely chaotic flow of people thirsting for novelty, and the service industry reacts to this. Now you can fly anywhere, but a real life hacker understands - all these travel agencies and excursion companies work with maximum convenience for themselves.

Everything is put on a conveyor belt: the next batch of guests is loaded onto buses, transported along a well-established route, something is sold along the way, and now you seem to have seen all the delights of the place you have arrived at. But anyone Big City conceals many secrets and mysteries that will not be shown to you on a regular excursion. These places may not be in guidebooks, but they are definitely worth seeing. In our series of articles we will tell you about such places in various cities around the world, and London is first on the list.

1. Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising (Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising)

The entire history of consumer culture from 1800 to the present day in one place. This specialized museum houses more than 12 thousand original items from Robert Opie's unique collection. Here you can learn how today's favorite brands have achieved loyalty and recognition through creative packaging and advertising of their products.

Address: 2 Colville Mews, London, W11 2AR
Website: www.museumofbrands.com

2. Rolling Bridge (transformable bridge)

This is a real miracle of engineering. At first glance at it, it may seem that this is not a bridge at all, but some kind of huge animated mechanical caterpillar. Initially, the creators of the bridge solved a completely ordinary problem: they needed pedestrian bridge, which would at the same time allow boats to sail under it. Agree, the solution turned out to be at least unusual. Even on video, the transformation of this structure is mesmerizing. Imagine what it would be like to see this live. This is what a creative approach to solving quite trivial problems means. It is not for nothing that Thomas Heatherwick, the creator of this transforming bridge, received the prestigious British Structural Steel Design Award.

Address: Paddington Basin, west London
About the project: Rolling Bridge
Vicky: Rolling Bridge

3. Ripley's London Museum (Ripley's Museum of Incredible Things)

In fact, this is a whole network of museums scattered around the world, and one of its branches is located in London. What is interesting and unusual about it? Everything. The museum’s slogan is “Believe it or not,” and the exhibits fully justify it.

The most unusual things from all over the world are collected here - dinosaur eggs, wax figures-copies of “non-standard” people, stuffed animals with the most incredible shapes and mutations. The exhibitions are complemented by all kinds of entertainment events: a mirror maze, a trip into a black hole, laser show tests.

Address: 1 Piccadilly Circus, London, W1J ODA
Website: www.ripleyslondon.com

4. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sri Swaminarayan Temple)

The last thing you expect to see in London is a Hindu temple. However, it is there, and the size and appearance he is not just surprised. The domes and shikaras of this architectural masterpiece make people literally gasp in amazement. This is a fairly young building (the temple was built in 1995), but it is truly unique. Nowhere else in the world outside India does a Hindu temple of this size exist. Once inside the temple, you can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere and philosophy of Hinduism.

Address: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London, NW10 8LD
Website: www.mandir.org

5. Apple Store (Apple Store on Regent Street)

We simply could not help but point out this shrine for all fans of the apple company. At the moment, it is not possible to find an Apple Store in Russia - so far the company has limited itself to only the official online store. But in fact, each Apple store is unique and truly represents a masterpiece of architecture, as it is located inside very extraordinary buildings. London's Apple Stores are no exception, but the most architecturally outstanding, in our opinion, is the store on Regent Street. Just look at the photos. This place is worth a visit.

Address: 235 Regent Street, London, W1B 2EL
Website: www.apple.com/uk/retail/regentstreet

6. Crystal Palace Park (Dinosaur Park)

It would seem, what interesting things could there be in a park, even a London one? Paths, trees, a wonderful zoo and, of course, dinosaurs. It was this place that gave birth to a trend that is still fashionable to this day - the passion for dinosaurs. More than 160 years ago, the sculptor and artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins recreated the giant and not so monsters that once lived here on earth in the form of statues, and they were built life-size, and the famous paleontologist Richard Owen advised the creator.

Address: London, SE20 8DT
Website: www.crystalpalacepark.org.uk

7. The Cartoon Museum

London has a huge selection of museums, but the Animation Museum is one of the most unusual. This is a small cozy exhibition, where every visitor can feel like a child and touch amazing world cartoons. The museum features more than 5,000 cartoon characters and 4,000 comic books. Moreover, the exhibition also reflects the history of quite serious animated films that touch on current social issues. The museum is also famous for its political satire - in it you can find not only an image of Winnie the Pooh, but also, for example, a caricature of Elizabeth II.

Address: 35 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HH
Website: www.cartoonmuseum.org

8. Thames Barrier

An ignorant person is unlikely to recognize a dam controlling the river in these futuristic structures. You might think that aliens have landed here, or that the military is testing some kind of weapon of the future. In fact, this structure is almost 30 years old and was built due to the threat of repeated floods that had previously occurred in areas adjacent to the river. This powerful defender is definitely worth a look.

Address: 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, London, SE18 5NJ
Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

9. Wooden escalator at Greenford tube station

The London Underground is one of the oldest in the world. Its first branch opened in 1863. Structurally, the London Underground has some of the longest escalators compared to underground transport systems in other cities and countries. In the past, wood was used to make these moving staircases, and at Greenford station one such wooden escalator is still in operation.

10. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (Harry Potter Museum)

As you know, the cult film series about Harry Potter was filmed in England, and in in this case studio Warner Bros. She did probably the most pleasant thing she could do: the film studio where the film was filmed was converted into a museum. In it, visitors can look at the scenery used in the filming and learn a lot about the filming process, the enormous work of decorators, costume designers and artists, the development of special effects and stunt tricks.

Address: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR
About the museum:

Traveling is the best way to relax and enjoy new sensations and impressions. Every city in the world contains a huge cultural heritage of the peoples who lived and are living in it. Millions of tourists from all over the world form a completely chaotic flow of people thirsting for novelty, and the service industry reacts to this. Now you can fly anywhere, but a real life hacker understands that all these travel agencies and excursion companies work with maximum convenience for themselves.

Everything is put on a conveyor belt: the next batch of guests is loaded onto buses, transported along a well-established route, something is sold along the way, and now you seem to have seen all the delights of the place you have arrived at. But any large city is fraught with many secrets and mysteries that will not be shown to you on a regular tour. These places may not be in guidebooks, but they are definitely worth seeing. In our series of articles we will tell you about such places in various cities around the world, and London is first on the list.

1. Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising (Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising)

Address: 2 Colville Mews, London, W11 2AR
Website: www.museumofbrands.com

2. Rolling Bridge (transformable bridge)

This is a real miracle of engineering. At first glance at it, it may seem that this is not a bridge at all, but some kind of huge animated mechanical caterpillar. Initially, the creators of the bridge solved a completely ordinary problem: they needed a pedestrian bridge that would at the same time allow boats to sail under it. Agree, the solution turned out to be at least unusual. Even on video, the transformation of this structure is mesmerizing. Imagine what it would be like to see this live. This is what a creative approach to solving quite trivial problems means. It is not for nothing that Thomas Heatherwick, the creator of this transforming bridge, received the prestigious British Structural Steel Design Award.

Address: Paddington Basin, west London
About the project: Rolling Bridge
Vicky: Rolling Bridge

3. Ripley's London Museum (Ripley's Museum of Incredible Things)

Address: 1 Piccadilly Circus, London, W1J ODA
Website: www.ripleyslondon.com

4. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Sri Swaminarayan Temple)

The last thing you expect to see in London is a Hindu temple. However, it is there, and its size and appearance are not just surprising. The domes and shikaras of this architectural masterpiece make people literally gasp in amazement. This is a fairly young building (the temple was built in 1995), but it is truly unique. Nowhere else in the world outside India does a Hindu temple of this size exist. Once inside the temple, you can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere and philosophy of Hinduism.

Address: 105-119 Brentfield Road, London, NW10 8LD
Website: www.mandir.org

5. Apple Store (Apple Store on Regent Street)

Address: 235 Regent Street, London, W1B 2EL
Website: www.apple.com/uk/retail/regentstreet

6. Crystal Palace Park (Dinosaur Park)

Address: London, SE20 8DT
Website: www.crystalpalacepark.org.uk

7. The Cartoon Museum

London has a huge selection of museums, but the Animation Museum is one of the most unusual. This is a small cozy exhibition, where every visitor can feel like a child and touch the wonderful world of cartoons. The museum features more than 5,000 cartoon characters and 4,000 comic books. Moreover, the exhibition also reflects the history of quite serious animated films that touch on current social issues. The museum is also famous for its political satire - in it you can find not only an image of Winnie the Pooh, but also, for example, a caricature of Elizabeth II.

Address: 35 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HH
Website: www.cartoonmuseum.org

8. Thames Barrier

Address: 1 Unity Way, Woolwich, London, SE18 5NJ
Website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk

9. Wooden escalator at Greenford tube station

10. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (Harry Potter Museum)

As you know, the cult film series about Harry Potter was filmed in England, and in this case, Warner Bros. She did probably the most pleasant thing she could do: the film studio where the film was filmed was converted into a museum. In it, visitors can look at the scenery used in the filming and learn a lot about the filming process, the enormous work of decorators, costume designers and artists, the development of special effects and stunts.

Address: Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7LR
About the museum:

Even if you are sure that over the past years you have explored London inside and out - there are always unexplored and extremely unusual places, which you may not have even heard of until now. We bring to your attention 13 attractions that may surprise even the most sophisticated and experienced Londoners.

'Fake' door at 10 Downing Street

Few people can get close to the famous door at 10 Downing Street, leading to the Prime Minister's residence, so here's an alternative: a replica of it at 10 Adams Street.

Neal's Yard watch

This unusual clock, which has been delighting passersby since the 80s, is located above the Holland and Barrett pharmacy, but you will no longer admire it in working condition.

When they first appeared, water flowed out of them every hour, falling into small buckets in the hands of the figures below: four of the figures were watering flowers with it, and another simply poured water down onto the asphalt (and sometimes onto the heads of passers-by).

Unusual window in St-Martin-in-the-Fields

The 2008 window in the church next to Trafalgar Square, the work of Iranian artist and Turner Prize nominee Shirazeh Khoushiari, is certainly unusual - something you've never seen before.

A road with cars driving in the wrong direction

The road at the Savoy is the only one in London where you can drive right side. Why? At one time, this was done for the fair sex, who usually sat in the car on the seat on the right: thanks to the “alternative” traffic rules, they could immediately enter the Savoy building, instead of describing an unnecessary circle.

Brixton Mill

Few people expect to see a mill in the capital, but there are eight of them in London, and the Brixton mill, built in 1816, deserves special attention. It was closed in 1934, and in 2011 it was restored and reopened to visitors - be sure to check it out!

Samuel Johnson's cat

There are legends about Johnson's love for his pet Hodge (it's no joke - the poet bought oysters for his cat), and there is even a small statue of the favorite at the house of the famous Briton at Gogh Square.

Sir John Soane's telephone box mausoleum

Everyone knows about the fond feeling Londoners have for the famous telephone boxes, but at the mausoleum in Old St Pancras cemetery they have certainly taken on a new form (in a rather literal sense).

The thinnest house in the city

The house on the corner of South Terrace and Thurloe Square in Knightsbridge is just 7ft wide. Another thing is its price - about 2 million pounds.

T-34 tank on The Mandela Way

This tank was used in 1995 for the filming of the film Richard the Third, after which it came into the possession of Londoner Russell Gray. He placed his purchase between Mandela Way and Pages Walk, where the tank is still located, often changing its appearance thanks to graffiti.

The narrowest alley in the city

Brydges Place is London's narrowest alley, measuring just 15 inches wide. You can also visit Pickering Place (the smallest public garden in the city) and The Dove in Hammersmith (the smallest pub).

The York House Nudes

The naked ladies are a charming addition to the scenery that greets visitors to York House in Twickenham. During the bombing they had to be covered with a thick layer of mud, as the city authorities were afraid that Moonlight will be reflected from the statues and play into the hands of the enemy.

Tim Fishlock's ear

If you like to look at everything down to the smallest detail, then be sure to try to find the ear sticking out of the wall on Floral Street, next to Leicester Square.

"Fake" Kenwood House Bridge

The charming bridge that spans Thousand Pound Pond at Kenwood House isn't really a bridge at all, just an elaborate facade - so don't expect to walk across it when you're nearby.

photo: Courtesy CC/flickr.com/Liz Smith

Unusual places in London you didn't know about updated: April 19, 2019 by: Anastasia Belskaya

London

Alternative - DISCOUNTS 2FOR1: http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/attraction-types/2for1london-list.aspx

BigBus: bus tour with guides around London for a day or two (depending on the price of the ticket). You can get on/off at any stop, then continue the tour. Gives you the opportunity to use the same ticket to take a boat ride along the Thames on the same day and go 3 walking tours. It makes sense to buy a ticket for 2 days, then you will definitely have more time. Here is the information in Russian: http://www.bigbustours.com/rus/london/custompage.aspx?id=london_sightseeing_tour&gclid =

TheTowerofLondon: The 900-year history of the English Kings, the holy of holies, is a must see. Metro stations: London Bridge, Tower Hill, 5 min walk from them. Tickets include a “voluntary donation”, which can be waived. You can buy on-line (click on the “tick” for a cheaper ticket), 10 days in advance - they will send it to the hotel address, otherwise you can pick it up on the day of your visit at the entrance: https://ticketslive.hrp.org.uk/hrp /b2c/index.cfm/calendar/eventCode/TADM

Near The Tower of London naturally a bridge Tower Bridge: http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TBE/EN/Exhibition/index.htm

Start one day with a walk from heartsLondon - Trafalgar Square(Charing Cross Underground) www.london.gov.uk/ There are also museums on it National Gallery National And Portrait Gallery.

From NelsonColumn the street goes down Whitehall, 5 minutes walk from the square is TheHouseholdCalvaryMuseum http://www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk/ and daily at 11 am (except weekends) gala changing of the royal guard the soldier is a magnificent sight.

The next street along the road to the right is DowningStreet with house number 10 - this is where the Prime Minister of Great Britain lives. Taking a photo is a must!

If you turn right on the next street KingCharlesStreet, then you will find yourself in the most beautiful little StJamesPark with almost tame squirrels (there are a lot of them there! Do you want beautiful photos? Grab a bag of nuts or cookies, the park will lead you straight to the Queen's residence: BuckinghamPalace! http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/BuckinghamPalace/BuckinghamPalace.aspx

Then down the street BirdcageWalk or again through the park you need to go back to the metro Westminster, near which Westminster itself is located - where it meets English Parliament(the queue can be a couple of hours, the excursion is not House of Lords, and as a spare - not so interesting taking into account the time required) and of course BigBen! After taking plenty of photos, be sure to stop by Westminster Abbey- another holy of holies of London and England, history since 1066, almost all English kings and queens were crowned here and buried famous people England. Metro: Westminster. Info in Russian: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/language/russian/welcome-to-westminster-abbey

Behind the Abbey on the left (opposite Westminster) there is a small tower JewelTower- Tower of the Treasurers of King Edward III http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/jewel-tower/ - I still want to get there myself somehow... Date of construction 1365!

If you go from Trafalgar Sq the other way through the Mall towards Buckingham Palace, you will see the same JamesPalace http://www.royal.gov.uk/theroyalresidences/stjamesspalace/stjamesspalace.aspx and ClarenceHouse http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/clarencehouse - these houses are still used by the royal family today.

Further along the bridge over the Thames - observation wheel LondonEye http://www.londoneye.com/ and LondonAquarium http://www.visitsealife.com/London/ - order tickets online with a discount of up to 40%.

If you return to the other side and walk along the picturesque embankment to the Temple metro station, you will see Somerset House- the former residence of the Earl of Somerset and now a museum with several rooms called “Hermitage Halls” - copies of the original St. Petersburg ones. Every winter the city skating rink is filled in the yard, favorite place Londoners. Next, find and be sure to visit one of the oldest surviving buildings in London, dated construction 1185 - Temple Church, With amazing story from the Crusaders' campaigns to Jerusalem (and their tombs) to the present day http://www.templechurch.com/ The whole area around the church is imbued with some unique style and spirit - you won't regret a walk.

The day will end here J))

St. Paul's Cathedral— London “Issakievsky Cathedral”: more than 300 years of history, a panorama of the city from the roof of the cathedral, a gallery of whispers, and so on and so forth! Saint Paul metro, info: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/

Not far from it: MillenniumBridge— pedestrian design bridge, built by 2000.

One of the evenings be sure to visit and take a photo at PiccadillyCircus at the metro station of the same name - a London party spot. From there you can walk to Chinatown And TheaterDistrict near LeicesterSquare. If you go up Piccadilly (from the metro), somewhere near the end of the street you will see a famous store on the left Fortnum & Mason, opened in 1707 - very posh, you can wander around like in a museum. It has 3 famous restaurants: Fountain, Salmon and Champagne Bar, where it will be quite expensive to dine, but tasting tea with some delicacy in this whole royal atmosphere is just the thing!

RoyalAlbertHall located on the outskirts of one of London's famous parks - HydePark near Hyde Park Corner metro station. It also contains the famous monument the premature death of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, who ruled England for 60 years...

KensingtonPalace- another royal residence and former house Princess Diana and is nearby http://www.hrp.org.uk/kensingtonPalace/

Many London museums- free. You can spend weeks or months visiting them, but you can visit a few for a day.

My personal priorities: British Museum(English Hermitage) info in Russian: http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting.aspx?lang=ru ; National Gallery on Trafalgar Sq: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/ - English "Tretyakov Gallery", then Natural History Museum: (South Kensington metro station) - amazing exhibits from all over the world, the history of the origin of life, etc. Not far from it is another interesting one: http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/. Victoria& AlbertMuseum http://www.vam.ac.uk/. Tate Britain - from 1500 to the present day English art: http://www.tate.org.uk/, Pimlico metro station.

Walk along the Thames will show you London from a completely different side: old boat and ship repair shops converted into luxurious and expensive apartments wharf, fashionable district of world banks Canary Wharf“You might even get to the white and green building.” SISMI6 » — SecretIntelligenceService, the British Intelligence office (which was "bombed" in the latest James Bond movie) - super secret! https://www.sis.gov.uk/

Walk in Greenwich start from the metro station CharingCross, taking the train to Greenwich. (In front of the station there is an amazing tower in memory of Queen Eleanor, the wife of King Edward I, who died in the mid-17th century. The tower “survived” the London fire of 1666, which destroyed 2/3 of the city!) The train travels for about 15 minutes. From the station, High Street will be on the left Road, at the end of which the famous schooner will be moored by the river Catty Sark- the fastest ship of its time, setting a record by reaching China in 107 days. If you continue along the embankment, exit to Old RoyalNavalcollege- marvelous beautiful building. Part of the College is Queen's House- built in 1616 summer residence King James I. Further up the hill through Greenwich Park there will be Royal Observatory— the place from which Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is measured. Take a photo at the division of the Earth into West and East (hemispheres) and be sure to go to Planetarium.

Don't waste your time on (just my opinion): To the Zoo, Madame Tussauds, and Tate Modern.

Stores/Shopping: Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street underground...

Movement the streets are VERY busy, plus impudent cyclists, look under your feet for the signs “LOOK LEFT” and “LOOK RIGHT” - traffic in England is the OVERSEAS:0)))