Exploring London in 24 Hours

London is a storehouse of attractions, cultural centres, and historic landmarks, restaurants along with pubs, bars and nightclubs that provide an exotic nightlife scenario. The sheer magnitude of its offerings is apparent from the fact that the city is home to more than 200 museums and 857 galleries. It is also full of parks and gardens that provide a quiet retreat and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. As such, it is well nigh impossible to scratch even the surface of its offerings in 24 hours. However, given below are the major highlights that you can see during your whirlwind tour of this great city.

Start Early: Since you have limited time, it is best to rise early, take a quick walk and trigger your appetite so that you get the energy for a long and arduous day ahead of you. It is best to reach Westminster from your hotel as it is home to some of the most magnificent landmarks such as the beautiful Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. Even from the pavement, you will; be able to gaze at and admire these magnificent structures. You will also be able to see London Eye which is on the other side of the River Thames. You can then walk across Westminster Bridge and move towards the chic and trendy Southbank area.

Southbank: In Southbank, you will have plenty of choice for seeing the attractions as it is home to the London Dungeon, Sea Life Aquarium and Shrek’s Adventure while the London Eye is also invitingly there. You must take a ride on this giant Ferris wheel as it will provide panoramic views across the city which on a clear day can extend up to 20 miles. Afterwards, you can wander through Jubilee Gardens that runs alongside the River Thames. You can then cross over the Jubilee Bridge and go towards Embankment Pier and finally heading towards Northumberland Avenue, you will reach the epicentre of action at the famous Trafalgar Square.

Take an Afternoon Stroll Down the Mall: You can then walk along the Strand and then go towards The Mall and walk on this seemingly never-ending road that has St James’s Park and 10 Downing Street on one side and Green Park and Piccadilly on the other. You will then reach the majestic Buckingham Palace and if you reach there by 11:30am, you would be able to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony. You can also admire the grandeur of the palace that has more than 700 rooms. Your next aim should be to reach Hyde Park by strolling down Constitution Hill. This is one of the biggest royal parks in London, where you can indulge in many leisure activities and see its own attractions such as the Speakers’ Corner and the Serpentine. You will end up at Marble Arch.

Stop for Lunch: By this time you will be famished but since there are many Restaurants in Hyde Park that will come to your rescue you can fill your stomach with just the type of cuisine that you like and at an affordable rate if you want. There are many top-rated restaurants also if you have the money. You will find many chain restaurants, fast food outlets and cafes also where you can relax before moving ahead.

Afternoon Tea at The Montcalm Marble Arch: Since you are near Marble Arch, you should also get a taste of the quintessential English tradition of afternoon tea, which is best served at the Montcalm Marble Arch hotel. You will be able to relish wonderful tea along with scones, cakes and other such items. Afternoon tea is also available with champagne which makes a great combination.

Spend the Evening at the West End: You should then take the tube to Leicester Square where you will be in the heart of the West End which is the den of theatres, restaurants and bars. The area also has some cinemas and if you are lucky you might spot some celebrities there. You can have a wonderful night out here especially at one of the bars or at a night club. You can also decide to see a musical show at one of the theatres. A visit to London without visiting a theatre for a live stage show would be incomplete. The area also has many restaurants that serve all types of food ranging from Indian curries to old English pub food to Italian pasta dishes. They have something for everyone.

Explore the Bars: To finish the night in style, you should take on a bar crawl around the West End or visit a bar in the area where you can enjoy live music. You can enjoy drinking a cocktail or a few beers at one of the traditional English pubs around the area. You can also head to Grand Park London Hyde Park Hotel, where you can relax and enjoy the drinks in the in-house bar or in its lounge. It would be best to stay at this hotel for the night as you will get luxurious accommodation with the best of facilities. Moreover, you can enjoy its various amenities and get a good night’s sleep in this quiet retreat in the midst of the hustle and bustle of central London.

A New Morning — A New Day: When you get up in the morning, you can get ready and then enjoy the hotel’s fantastic full English breakfast that will provide enough fuel for the day ahead. By this time, the fatigue from the previous day will have vanished and you will be ready to move to your next destination after having spent a wonderful 24 hours exploring London.

Little-Known Facts about Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognisable palaces in the UK and also one of the most famous landmarks that people around the world know about. It has been the residence of generations of royals and keeper of priceless treasures although it has had a humble start as a large townhouse until it became the residence of the British monarchs. There are plenty of interesting facts associated with the palace that not many people might be aware of.

It is Not the Official Residence of the Sovereign: Although, Buckingham Palace is where Queen Elizabeth normally stays when she is in London, St James’s Palace is still her official residence and foreign ambassadors are formally accredited to the Court of St James’s.

A Whole Lot of Rooms in Buckingham Palace: An incredibly large number of rooms make up the palace, 775 to be precise including 19 state rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. Over 800 members of staff live at the palace, including a flagman, fendersmith and clockmaker. The palace has 350 clocks and watches that are looked after by two horological conservators, who both work full-time keeping them going all the time.

There was a Mulberry Garden at its Site: At the site of the palace, a mulberry was started by King James I to rear silkworms. However, it did not succeed as the wrong species was chosen by the king.

Its Name: It was named after the Duke of Buckingham: Buckingham Palace was built by a Tory politician, John Sheffield, 3rd Earl of Mulgrave, Marquess of Normanby, and later the Duke of Buckingham in 1703, to serve as his London home for his visits to the city.

Queen’s House:  The palace was known as Queen’s House after King George III bought it in 1761 at a cost of £21,000 (£3m smackers in today’s money),  as a gift for his wife Queen Charlotte as her London home. 14 of their 15 children were born here. However, the palace was not an Official Royal residence until Queen Victoria declared it so during her reign.

It Became a Palace in the 1820s: The house was remodelled in the 1820s and turned into a palace when King George IV commissioned John Nash to do so. However John Nash was removed from the job as the construction became very expensive. George’s successor William IV hired Edward Blore to complete the palace.

If you are visiting London for pleasure or for business, you need to stay at a strategic location in central London so that you are close to the places that you intend to visit during your trip in order to save time, energy and money and be able to accomplish more during a day. One of the best such places is Grand Park London Hyde Park Hotel that will also provide most luxurious stay with best facilities at affordable cost.

The Palace was First Occupied by Queen Victoria: Immediately after occupying the throne in 1837, Queen Victoria moved to Buckingham Palace and made it her official residence. Her predecessor William IV had preferred to live at Clarence House and to use St. James's Palace for State functions.

If you are out on a sightseeing spree in London, you will find that Restaurants in Hyde Park will be the closest and best places for a meal as most attractions are concentrated around Hyde Park or are just a short tube ride away. Moreover, a variety of cuisines are available.

Major Extensions in the Palace Only Until Early 20th Century: It was only until early 20th century that major structural additions were made with the last one taking place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the East front where the famous balcony where the royal family traditionally appears to greet crowds outside, is located. The Queen’s gallery was built at the site of the palace chapel that was destroyed by a German bomb during World War II. It was officially opened in 1962. It now displays works of art from the Royal Collection.

Largest Private Garden in London: The Buckingham Palace garden is the largest private garden in London and is the venue for the Queen’s garden parties.

Each Year the Palace State Rooms are Open to the Public: The state rooms are where official and state entertaining takes place and they are thrown open to the public each year during most of August and September as part of the Palace's Summer Opening, when the Queen is away.

Union Flag at the Palace: Contrary to the common perspective that Her Majesty the Queen is in the palace when the Union flag is flying at full mast, the truth is that her presence in the palace is only conformed when the Royal Standard flies at full mast.

Secret Tunnels: The palace was built on top of a network of super-secret tunnels due to which the famous royal residence is connected to all the nearby streets in St James’ through the passageways running under the surface of the palace. These passageways were the favourite places of the Queen Mother and King George VI (the mother and father of Queen Elizabeth II) that they loved to explore. They even met a very polite man from Newcastle, on one of their trips, who said that he lived there.

The Self-Contained Palace: Buckingham Palace is self-contained as it has its own chapel, post office, swimming pool, doctor’s surgery and cinema.

Four Royal Christenings: The Archbishop of Canterbury had christened four royal babies in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace – The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, The Duke of York and Prince William.

Births and Deaths at the Palace: The only monarch in the palace’s history who was born at the palace and who also died there is Edward VII (1841-1910). The other royals who were born there include William IV, and Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, the sons of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.