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Interesting Facts
- London is a town with artistic flair. That's not surprising when you consider that the city has more than 500 art galleries and 150 museums. So, where does one begin? We suggest you purchase a London White Card, which is essentially a discount card to a dozen or so galleries and museums, including The Victoria and Albert, The Royal Academy of Arts, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Hayward Gallery, among others.
- One of the most interesting attractions in all of England is the storied Tower of London, both a palace and a prison for English kings and queens for more than 500 years. The notorious Bloody Tower was supposedly the execution site of the murdered Little Princes (ages 13 and 10) at the hands of Richard III. To this day, the crime remains shrouded in mystery.
- Throughout its tumultuous 2,000-year history, England has had to weather devastating tragedies. The Plague of 1348 (Black Death) virtually cut London's population in half. The Great Plague of 1664 killed nearly 100,000 people. The year 1666 brought the end of the Great Plague but ushered in the Great Fire, which all but destroyed the city. More recently, during World War II, the Germans inflicted great damage to the city with repeated bombings.
- In a retrieval of history, a replica of Shakespeare's famous Globe Theater – where many of his plays were first performed in the 16th century – was constructed along the Thames riverbank. The reconstruction closely followed the original layout of the 1598 playhouse and now gives modern audiences a chance to relive the experience of watching Renaissance theater in its original environment.
- London is not meant to be seen by car, but on foot. Spend a leisurely day wandering the city away from its more celebrated tourist traps. Many of the city's hidden treasures lie off the beaten path – along narrow back streets, amid Victorian neighborhoods, and in quiet parks.
- The renowned British Museum houses one of the world's finest – and most varied – collections of art and artifacts. It's also quite massive and somewhat daunting to first-time visitors. Since it's impossible to see everything in one trip, your best bet is to buy a museum guide and take a "Greatest Hits" tour. This tactic lets you focus on those particular exhibits you're most eager to see. Crowds tend to be heaviest on Sundays or holidays, so you may want to plan accordingly.
- As the former residence of London's royal family, Hampton Court Palace has always inspired a certain awe. Originally built in 1514 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, the Palace was overtaken by King Henry VIII in 1525 – perhaps so he would have ample room for his many wives and his own considerable girth – it's said that his waist was a staggering 54 inches.
- The Rolling Stones once rocked here back in the '60s. And today, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens beckon visitors with 600-plus acres of sprawling greenery and inviting lakes. Roughly 1½ miles long and 1 mile wide, the park accommodates a host of diverse activities, such as sunbathing, jogging, reading, even preaching...on Speaker's Corner.
- In stark contrast to the urban traffic of downtown London are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. The Eden-esque grounds cover more than 300 acres and shelter 40,000 varieties of plants. Highlights include the spectacular Palm House, a huge glass-enclosed structure designed in 1848, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory, opened by Princess Diana and featuring a wonderful array of orchids.
- London's architectural highlight, St. Paul's Cathedral is a national treasure that adds majestic grace to the city skyline. After the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the original church, Christopher Wren rebuilt the cathedral from scratch. During WWII, intense bombing caused St. Paul's to catch fire a second time, but it managed to endure. Today, the church serves as a spiritual emblem of London's heroic, centuries-long survival.
