London London Calling By Geoff Graham
View from the riverside of Tower Bridge being raised.
Te drivers, with their amusing Cockney ac- cents, will keep you laughing as they drive you through the many roads and back lanes of London. Tese guys really know their way around; it takes two to four years of study- ing to get a cab license! Tey will regale you with one story after another. Take a tour on a London double-decker
W
ith a steadily rising population of ap- proximately 8.3 million, London is a busy, bustling, vibrant city – a hub of energy that hits you when you first arrive.
If this is your first visit, hire a London cab for a tour. How to get there
bus. Te roofless top tier will allow you to see many more sights. Go for a stroll across the high walkways over Tower Bridge, crossing the River Tames. It will give you a fabulous bird’s- eye view east to west. If you are lucky you may even see the riverboat cruises passing below. Tere are so many places to visit and so much rich his-
Canadian connecting airports: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa
U.S. connecting airports: Minneapolis, Chicago
St. Paul’s Cathedral, standing on Ludgate Hill, is the highest point in the city of London. It is an Anglican ca- thedral designed in Renaissance and English, baroque-style architecture. Built in the late 17th century by Sir Christo- pher Wren, the cathedral is one of the most recognizable sights in London. Its dome is framed by the spires of Wren’s other churches and has dominated the London skyline for 300 years. Among its many unique features is the famous Whispering Gallery. Te Tower of London is another of the
many must do’s of this effervescent city. It is home to the beefeaters and ravens and houses the infamous Bloody Tower and the Crown Jewels. If you want to get up close and personal, this is the place to be! As you enter the building, with the ravens dancing around your feet,
tory to absorb. Some of the very typical tourist sites include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament (both the House of Lords and House of Com- mons). At Westminster, next to the Houses of Parliament, is the third tallest and probably the most famous clock in the world, although Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside rather than the clockworks.
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you will notice how truly fortified it is, even by today’s stan- dards. It has 4.6-metre-wide walls. It was built by William the Conqueror in the year 1078 and, at 90 feet tall, was once the highest building in London. At that time it was a re- sented symbol of oppression inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen of England, includes 19 state rooms that are open to the pub- lic throughout the summer months. Te Changing of the Guard is always a great spectacle. Be sure to check for times.
The Hub
All photos courtesy of London on View unless otherwise noted.
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