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An insider's guide to the top things to do in London
An insider's guide to the top things to do in London, including the best London museums, art galleries, sightseeing spots and free places to visit, as well as insider tips for top London attractions from the Tate Modern to the London Eye.
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard
Buckingham Palace opens up its Sèvres-china-stuffed, gold-leaf-adorned State Rooms to the public from July to October each year. Expect priceless Rubens paintings, a piano Queen Victoria played, 350 clocks and even the odd secret door. Get a ticket that includes access to the Royal Mews, where the coach that has been used for every coronation since George IV in 1820 is on display. That said, many visitors are happy to settle for watching the Changing of the Guard outside the palace, a free event which typically happens four days a week at 11am.
Contact: Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA 0303 123 7300; royalcollection.org.uk
Nearest underground station: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner
Wesminster Abbey
One of the most famous churches in the world, with 1,000 years of history. This is where William the Conqueror and Queen Elizabeth II were crowned and William and Kate exchanged vows. The Gothic edifice, all echoey cloisters, mosaic-encrusted chambers and martyrs carved into the stonework, hosted the funeral of Princess Diana and is the burial ground of everyone from Geoffrey Chaucer to Oliver Cromwell.
Contact: 20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA 0303 123 7300 westminster-abbey.org
Nearest underground station: Westminster and St James's Park
St Paul’s Cathedral
Prince Charles once remarked that the skyscrapers that surround the second-largest dome in the world are "like a basketball team standing shoulder-to-shoulder between you and the Mona Lisa". The gentle, swollen shadow of Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th-century Renaissance masterpiece does seem all the more exceptional set against the City’s spiky, vertigiousness skyline. Don’t miss the Whispering Gallery where you can hear someone 112 feet away, the Golden Gallery with views over the Thames to Shakespeare’s Globe and the tombs of Ethelred the Unready, Alexander Fleming and James Barry.
Contact: St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD 020 7246 8350 stpauls.co.uk
Nearest underground station: St Paul's
Tate Modern
Controversial and unmissable in equal measure. Entry to the collections is also free (exhibitions are charged). Visitors will find the country’s most important modern art collection in the vast former power station (think everything from Picasso to Lichtenstein), as well as the London’s latest must-see exhibition, often headlined by art colossuses like Anish Kapoor and Ai Weiwei.
Contact: Bankside, London SE1 9TG 020 7887 8888 tate.org.uk
Nearest underground station: Southwark and Blackfriars
The Shard
A noble glass spire that embodies the energy and ambition of London’s financial district, or Qatari Sovereign Wealth Fund petrodollars mutated into thousand-foot dalek with a head that's been subjected to a dodgy pencil sharpener? Wherever you stand on the architecture, London’s highest viewing platform has become one of the city’s most popular attractions.
Contact: 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG 0844 499 7111 the-shard.com
Nearest underground station: London Bridge
Big Ben
The world’s most famous clock, which features in the film Mary Poppins, on the label of HP sauce and on every London postcard ever made. It is worthy of its nickname (technically it's called Elizabeth Tower; the main bell inside is Big Ben) – the edifice scales 96 metres, with minute hands over four metres long. The only way to visit the tower is to apply as a British resident in writing to one’s MP. However, the clock is undergoing renovation which will last several months in 2017 and tours are currently not taking place. That shouldn't stop people from expressing interest in a visit after the works are complete. In the mean time it remains one of London's most popular monuments for a selfie; #bigben has almost two-and-a-half million Instagram posts.
Contact: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA 020 7219 4272 parliament.uk
Nearest underground station: Westminster
Tower Bridge
London Bridge may have a nursery rhyme named after it but Tower Bridge pips it as a tourist attraction; the formidable Victorian Gothic edifice raised from steel, Cornish granite and Devonshire stone is not just a river Thames icon but also a fun day out in its own right. Visitors can hang out in the glass-floored high-level walkway 140ft above the water, and explore the Victorian engine rooms with its original furnaces and steam engines.
Contact: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP 020 7403 3761 towerbridge.org.uk
Nearest tube station: Tower Hill and London Bridge
Natural History Museum
A favourite with children and no wonder with the first T-rex fossil ever found and the skull of a triceratops. Be sure to whizz into the Minerals gallery to see the 1,400-pound iron meteorite that fell in Argentina in 1783 and the species that inspired the mermaid legends in the Mammals room.
Contact: Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 5BD 020 7942 5511 nhm.ac.uk
Nearest tube station: Gloucester Road and South Kensington
London Eye
This 443ft 'ferris wheel' with air-conditioned passenger capsules (32 to represent the 32 boroughs of London) offers some of the best panoramas of the city. Rotations last about 30 minutes, and the wheel rotates 26 cm per second, which is actually not as slow as it might seem – three times that of the average tortoise.
Contact: Lambeth, London SE1 7PB 0871 781 3000 londoneye.com
Nearest tube station: Waterloo
Victoria and Albert Museum
Alexander McQueen gowns rub alongside sandals from Ancient Egypt in Fashion Room 410. You’ll also find everything from 500-year-old Persian carpets to Japanese Tokugawa suits of armour and furniture made for Marie Antoinette in Britain’s leading art and design museum.
Contact: Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000 vam.ac.uk
Nearest tube: South Kensington and Gloucester Road
Through our extensive network, we are able to offer many additional benefits, such as room upgrades, late check out, unique venues and personalised itineraries.
Our services are free with no hidden costs or membership fees.
Contact us at discover@allworldjourneys.com
Why go to Sicily
Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, is just off the "toe" of Italy's "boot." Its rich history is reflected in sites like the Valley of the Temples, the well-preserved ruins of 7 monumental, Doric-style Greek temples, and in the Byzantine mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, a former royal chapel in capital city Palermo. On Sicily’s eastern edge is Mount Etna, one of Europe’s highest active volcanoes.
Taormina is a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily. It sits near Mount Etna, an active volcano with trails leading to the summit. The town is known for the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-Roman theatre still used today. Near the theatre, cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. A narrow stretch of sand connects to Isola Bella, a tiny island and nature reserve.
Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano on the east coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Metropolitan City of Catania, between the cities of Messina and Catania. It lies above the convergent plate margin between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
To book or for any advise do contact us at discover@allworldjourneys.com
Thinking of the Amalfi Coast for your up and coming holiday?
The allure of the Amalfi Coast has been drawing people to the region long before it had a name. Its dramatic charm and idyllic weather enticed ancient Roman nobles to build their villas there, a real estate trend that, overtime, never faded. Today the mountains and sea cliffs are dotted with pastel confections of holiday homes and sumptuous villas, which have elevated the coastline to one of the most fabulous and unique destinations in the world. Its fragile cultural landscape, churches, gardens, vineyards and towns are divided into thirteen different municipalities, and were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1997. Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello are the area’s top destinations, attracting thousands of jetsetters each year.
Five days is all you need to take in the highlights of the region. Consider a night or two on the volcanic garden island of Ischia, and then spend the rest of your time at one of the coastal gems, Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi, with day trips to explore the splendours of Pompeii, Ravello's gardens and some mountain scenery.
Campania has been looking after visitors for centuries and competition is fierce and standards of service are high. Whether you’re honeymooning or taking the family, you’re likely to find a warm welcome, enhanced by a room decked out with local tiles and a lush garden.
United Arab Emirates - Dubai - Abu Dhabi - Gulf of Oman
For most people, the United Arab Emirates means just one place: Dubai, the sci-fi-esque city of iconic skyscrapers, palm-shaped islands, city-sized malls, indoor ski slopes and palatial beach resorts. But beyond the glitter awaits a diverse mosaic of six more emirates, each with its own character and allure.
An hour's drive south, oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, is positioning itself as a hub of culture, sport and leisure. Beyond looms the vast Al Gharbia region, which is dominated by the northern reaches of the Rub' Al Khali desert. Its magical silence is interrupted only by the whisper of shifting dunes rolling towards Saudi Arabia.
North of Dubai, Sharjah does art and heritage best, while tiny Ajman and Umm Al Quwain provide glimpses of life in the pre-oil days, and Ras Al Khaimah snuggles against the mighty Hajar Mountains. For the best swimming and diving, though, head across the range to Fujairah to frolic in the clear waters of the Gulf of Oman.
All World Journeys can assist with all your travel needs
Contact us at discover@allworldjourneys.com
TripAdvisor Top 10 Airlines in the World 2018 - Travellers Choice Awards
1
"Simply the Best!"
Whiska
"Best crew, best in flight meals, best entertainment, best customer service, always courteous and helpful, nothing is too much trouble, and reasonable fares. I only fly Singapore Airlines, I tried the rest, I stay with the best! Other airlines please take notice!"
2
"Excellent Service Still Exists in Flying"
Colleen T
"Other carriers could take a lesson in customer service excellence as was experienced with Air New Zealand. "
3
"Excellent trip"
aahendia
"It's one of the best trips I've ever had. The plane is clean, beautiful and comfortable. Thank you Emirates."
4
"Awesome service!"
Daniel T
"As expected, service was outstanding!!! Very courteous, professional flight attendants; always catering to every need of its passengers! Comfortable seats, good in-flight meal, very clean cabin!!!"
5
"Impeccable Airline!"
luckydogillinois
"Eva Air provides impeccable service from start to finish. The flight attendants are always available to serve, very pleasant and there when you need them. The airplane itself is clean and very comfortable."
6
"Great flights - love free bags"
wifun
"I use Southwest whenever possible, typically if you book in advance you get a great price and bags are no charge."
7
"Brilliant as always"
Gill S
"Have flown with Jet2 many times over the last 10 years and have never been disappointed... Frankly I don’t know how they do it for the price."
8
"The greatest in air experience!"
Tamimi86
"Truly the best service you will experience in the air! Top class planes with even better service! Travel with ease and rest in the sky knowing your every need will be met beyond expectations...."
9
"Great Airline "
NIKUL P
"First time travelling with this airline and was left so impressed "
10
"What a wonderful experience"
Eylana418
"Everything on this plane was great. The staff, the food, the seats (wide, reclining and clean) made you really enjoy the trip. The staff is very professional"
All World Journeys can assist with flights on all the top 10 airlines voted by Tripadvisor customers.
Contact us on discover@allworldjourneys.com
Read more reviews here
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravelersChoice-Airlines-a_Mode.expanded
Thinking of Mykonos for a holiday
Out of the Cyclades, the islands that encircle the sacred island of Delos, Mykonos is perhaps the most famous, renowned for its rolling hills, white beaches and the high-rolling international crowd that vacations there. While visitors who travel to Mykonos are sure to admire the island’s cubist Cycladic architecture – white country chapels dot its hills, creating a scenic vista – Mykonos also provides a good jumping off point for archaeological day trips to nearby islands, most notably Delos.
Things to see
• Lounging on Agios Sostis Beach
• Wandering through “Little Venice,” Mykonos Town’s historic 18th-century district
• Taking pictures of the island’s famous windmills
• Partaking in some of the island’s famous nightlife
We recommend The Grace Mykonos Hotel
Contact us at discover@allworldjourneys.com
Italy's best kept secret, Ischia Island
The beautiful island of Ischia is just a boat ride from Naples. Shrouded in the shadow of neighbouring Capri is the picture of Italian paradise.
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples, Italy. It's known for its mineral-rich thermal waters. Beautiful hot springs bubble up at Maronti Beach, in the south. East, Roman remains lie beneath the sea floor at Cartaromana Beach. The beach has views of the stunning medieval Aragonese Castle, linked to Ischia by a stone bridge. Nearby, 18th-century Palazzo dell’Orologio houses the Sea Museum, devoted to Ischia’s fishing tradition.
Where to stay?
We highly recommend the 5 star L'Albergo della Regina Isabella Resort and Health Spa located seaside village of Lacco Ameno, overlooking the Bay of Naples and picturesque Piazza Santa Restituta.
With amazing service, easy access to the beach and one of Italy’s largest and most renowned spas keep repeat guests coming back again and again.
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Tom Kerridge to open at The Corinthia Hotel London
It has been announced that Tom Kerridge will be opening his first London restaurant at what is currently Massimo at Corinthia, London. The restaurant will close in June 2018 for a rebrand with interior design by David Collins Studio and is expected to launch in September 2018. It will be a relaxed British brasserie-style dining room.
The five-star Corinthia continues to be a big success and draws a lively crowd to its grand bars, restaurants and event spaces. It has an ESPA spa and two fine-dining restaurants, as well as a great location near Trafalgar Square and the River Thames.
Kudadoo Private Island in the Maldives opening soon
Kudadoo Private Island by Hurawalhi and opening soon is set to be the most exciting opening in the Maldives this year, designed by the world-renowned Yuji Yamasaki. This adults-only private island will bring house just 15 super luxurious and expansive over water villas with one or two bedrooms, complete with world class amenities and only 40 minutes by seaplane from Male.
The blissful spa and endless activities on offer mean everyone will be kept entertained and guests have access to all the amenities at the nearby Hurawalhi Island Resort, a five minutes’ boat transfer away, including Hurawalhi’s undersea restaurant, ‘5.8’ – the World’s largest all-glass undersea restaurant.
Love Maldives
The Maldives are the most beautiful small islands in the World. The Maldives are made up of 26 coral atolls in a chain reaching down to cross the equator. Within those 26 atolls are roughly 1,200 islands and of these around 200 are inhabited and 100 are resorts. We highly recommend this location for anyone wanting a romantic getaway, snorkelling, relaxing, spa and very safe for families.
We recommend the following wonderful hotels
Amilla Fushi, location Baa Atoll Maldives
The St. Regis Maldives, location Vommuli Resort
Soneva Fushi, location Eydhafushi Maldives
Heathrow Terminal 3
First Class Lounges
Watch my latest YOUTUBE video, exploring three First Class Lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3.
I visited Cathay Pacific, British Airways and American Airlines.
Contact us
Discover@allworldjourneys.com
Come and see my latest Youtube Video all about my recent flight from London Gatwick, non stop to Goa.
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