Greater London is a county and administrative area of Southern England that comprises thirty-two boroughs. London itself is comprised of two cities – The City of London, and Greater London. It has a massive cultural importance in the world, with nearly 18,000 musical performances a year, three of the world’s top ten museums, and with more than three hundred languages being spoken here, is more ethnically diverse than any other country in the world.
More than twenty percent of all of the UK’s cinemas reside in London, topped off by more than seven hundred bookshops, around four hundred libraries, as well as the national archives which hold William the Conqueror’s Domesday survey.
Towns in Greater London
London is comprised of many small entities, called “Boroughs”, which for administrative purposes are self-governing, however broad policy comes from Greater London Borough.
Croydon
Croydon was formed in 1965, were originally made up of Coulsdon and Purley Urban District and the Borough of Croydon. Saffron was a booming trade herein, and even supposedly before the Saxons settled it. Before the Norman Invasion, records show that there were over three hundred inhabitants here, with later industrial roots founded in metalworking and once had the largest airport in London.
Visitors to Croydon will find plenty to do, including Fairfield Halls Art Centre, the Ashcroft Theatre as well as multiple shopping centers, cinemas, nightclubs and leisure centers.
Barnet
Barnet was also formed in 1965 from the three boroughs of Finchley, Hendon, and Friern Barnet. The area is one of the oldest in London, with links back to the first century, including Roman pottery as well as Roman coins from the fourth and fifth centuries having been discovered there.
Landmarks of interest here include the Gothic Church of Saint Jude, and the Royal Air Force Museum.
Ealing
Ealing is one of the oldest London boroughs, at over seven thousand years old. It was once a favored stop for travelers and traders, with a larger-than-normal number of public houses being constructed along the Uxbridge Road to cope with the demand.
Ealing plays host to several festivals each year, including the Beer Festival, Blues Festival, Comedy Festival and the Jazz Festival. It also hosts the Opera in the Park Festival and the world-renowned Global Festival.
Parks and Gardens
Greater London has some beautiful old parks and gardens, with a wide variety of flora and fauna on display, pulling in visitors by the thousands every year. The Royal Parks is by far the most popular, with visitors in the count of millions coming here each year.
Hyde Park
Covering three hundred and fifty acres, Hyde Park is home to famous national landmarks including Speakers’ Corner and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. There are also a range of activities here including swimming, boating, tennis, cycling and horse riding, not to mention a number of tennis courts.
Originally a royal hunting ground for boar and deer, it now serves as a cultural gathering point for a range of artistically diverse groups with interests in martial arts, singing, sports and more.
Kensington Gardens
At two hundred and forty-two acres, Kensington Gardens is a beautiful old park with avenues of grand old trees and lovingly arranged ornamental flower beds. There is plenty for children to do here, but the top of the list is the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground,
with over 900,000 children visiting its pirate ship, tepees and play sculptures every year. The gardens are also home to Kensington Palace, the home of the late Princess Diana.
Richmond Park
Richmond is the largest of the parks in London at one thousand Hectares, which is the home of herds beautiful Red Deer and Fallow Deer.
An officially certified nature reserve, Richmond Park sees millions of visitors yearly and is home to the famed Isabella Plantation which is a stunning ornamental woodland garden the Pembroke Lodge which is a grand old Georgian Mansion that has hosted magnificent weddings and events for over fifty years.
Attractions and Places to See
The London Eye
The London Eye is the largest Ferris wheel in existence, standing at 135 meters high and 120 meters across, and can actually be viewed from space. Passengers on the wheel are treated to interactive commentary and audio stories and are afforded utterly spectacular views of the City of London.
There is also the extremely popular 4D Experience, with the fourth dimension of interactivity being that of actual snow and wind blowing in visitors’ faces. Visit the website here: The London Eye
The British Museum
The British Museum is a unique experience, with exhibitions numbering in the hundreds, from Viking to Saxon eras, Christianity in Egypt, Roman Mosaics as well as art and religion in Native America and the inspiration of nature in Chinese Porcelain.
There is an absolute glut of exhibitions and activities here, as well as good public facilities, a restaurant and gift shop. Visit the website here: The British Museum
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is the world famous waxwork museum, featuring the most lifelike wax model lookalikes of anywhere in the world. With inhabitants including Bruce Lee, John F. Kennedy, Samuel L. Jackson, and Mohammed Ali, there is a feast of categories to view including sports, superheroes, Bollywood, Hollywood, Royals as well as Culture, Music, and Film.
The website is available here: Madame Tussauds
Things to Do
London is home to some amazing buildings, as well as being a cultural center of the arts. There are literally hundreds of things to do in London, and here are just a few.
Camden
Camden is an area of London which is home to the most lively markets and shops in Britain. Also home to hawkers, street sellers, food carts and touts, Camden has a charm all of its own.
Good value restaurants, great live music and fantastic beer and alehouses make Camden one of London’s most popular tourist venues. Find out more about Camden here: Camden
Regent’s Canal
For those of a nautical bend, boat trips along the Regent’s Canal are a popular and peaceful way to spend a sunny afternoon. Navigating sleepily past Little Venice, through Regent’s Park and Camden Lock, Regent’s Canal boat trips need nothing but a camera, flip flops and a free afternoon.
To get going, visit Jason’s Boat Trips to book: Jason’s Boat Trips
Sea Life London Aquarium
Situated on the South Bank, the Sea Life London Aquarium is home to almost a thousand varieties of marine wildlife from all over the world, with piranhas, sea scorpions, sharks and rays all on display in extremely well simulated marine habitats.
There is also a tropical rainforest area, as well as the whale skeleton tunnel and a tropical waterfall.
Afternoon Tea Ideas in Greater London
Afternoon tea was first introduced by the Lady Anna, Duchess of Bedford, as a means to quell afternoon hunger pangs at a time when it was common to eat only breakfast and the main evening meal.
Here are some of London’s best Afternoon Tea venues.
Brown’s Hotel
Brown’s hotel offers a traditional menu including open-faced sandwiches, fruit sorbet, and lime jelly as well as wonderful teas and coffees from all over Britain and the rest of the world.
Based on Albemarle Street in London, their website is here: Brown’s Hotel
The Ritz
The world famous Ritz exudes a sense of excellence and British formality that tourists find irresistible. The menu here is as debonair as the atmosphere, with excellent sandwiches, beautifully made cakes and top-class tea and coffee.
The Ritz is truly an experience for those wishing to experience the glamour of British pomp and ceremony. Their website is here: The Ritz, London
The Tea Rooms – Stoke Newington
The Tea Rooms in Stoke Newington is famed for its delicious home-made raspberry jam. It’s already excellent scones have almost no equal in London, but they are almost incomparable when topped with this exquisite raspberry reserve. The teas on offer are quite delectable and any visitor here will be spoiled for choice of cakes, sandwiches, and drinks. Visit them here: The Tea Rooms
Wedding Venues in Greater London
Some of the grandest wedding venues in Britain can be found here, and here are just a couple of them
The Haymarket Hotel
The Haymarket is a stunning, elegant hotel located in Chelsea, London. With fifty bedrooms, a shooting gallery and swimming pool, it boasts a wonderful banqueting hall and stunning en-suite bedrooms. View their website: Haymarket Hotel
The In and Out
Perfect for summer weddings, the In and Out has a magnificent courtyard and can hold up to 350 guests for standing ceremonies. With exceptional catering and grand bedrooms, The In and Out is a truly exclusive venue. Their website is here: The In and Out
Campsites / Caravans:
London has many camping and caravanning sites, mainly on the outskirts.
Caravan Club Sites
• Abbey Wood, Federation Road, London
• Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace Parade, London
Certificated Sites
• Willows, Lippitts Hill, High Beach, Loughton, London
• Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone Road, Chingford, London
Other Sites
• Moat Mount Outdoor Centre and Campsite, Barnet Way, London
More Info On- The City of London, Covent Garden in London, Farnborough Air Show, London Trafalgar Square