Would you like to find out about all the activities to be carried out in the neighbourhood around Big Ben?
Today, I'm giving you a complete list of things to do in this place.
Big Ben district: article summary
- Visit Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
- Big Ben district: lunch at the Cinnamon Club
- Explore Churchill's War Rooms
- Big Ben district: take in a concert at St. John's Smith Square
- Discover Buckingham Palace
- Big Ben district: enter Westminster Abbey
- Admire the view from Westminster Cathedral
- Big Ben district: contemplate the statues
- Stroll through St James's Park
- Big Ben district: see the Jewel Tower
Visit Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Also known as Palace of Westminsterthe Houses of Parliament with their Victorian Gothic design, are one of London's most iconic attractions.
Its clock tower is officially called Elizabeth Tower. However, it is more commonly known as the Big Ben thanks to the 13-ton bell.
In fact, the demographics of this London landmark are impressive in every direction.
The clock face measures 7 metres in diameter. The minute hand is 4 m long!
Big Ben district: lunch at the Cinnamon Club
Visit Westminster is not something to be done on an empty stomach. Fortunately, there are some excellent gastronomic gems.
Nestled behind Westminster Abbey in a listed building, the Cinnamon Club is London's best Indian restaurant.
The Cinnamon Club offers innovative and creative Indian cuisine in a majestic setting, and is just a short stroll from other Westminster attractions such as the London Eye on the south shore.
Explore Churchill's War Rooms
Deep in the streets of Westminster lie the Churchill War Rooms. This nerve center of the underground government is where British Prime Minister Winston Churchill strategy during the Second World War.
If you're visiting, take a look at where the ground meets the building. The building stone that emerges from the ground over the first 2 meters or so is a completely different color from the building stone on the rest of the building.
In fact, it wasn't there when the building was constructed in the early 20th century. With the onset of war, they covered the bunker a 3-meter-thick protective concrete slab.
Big Ben district: take in a concert at St. John's Smith Square
Tucked away at the back of Westminster Abbey is St John's Smith Square, an 18th-century baroque church and concert hall.
This former church is renowned for its wide-ranging program of musical concerts. With its bell acoustics, is the ideal setting for enjoying the works of Handel and Purcell.
It even has its own café in the crypt, so you can grab a bite to eat before the show.
Discover Buckingham Palace
With an impressive 775 rooms and welcoming more than 50,000 visitors every year, Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the King and where other members of the royal family have private apartments.
It's up to Buckingham Palace you can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, as a group of soldiers takes on the responsibility of guarding Buckingham Palace and St James's Park.
Other highlights include the State Rooms and gardens, stretching over 17 hectares. An even bigger place than Green Park.
Big Ben district: enter Westminster Abbey
Probably the most impressive and historic church in the world, and certainly the grandest in the UK, Westminster Abbey is the place where the kings and queens of Great Britain have been crowned since 1066.
Iconic historic moments, such as the coronation of King Charles III and the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, have taken place at Westminster Abbey.
It's a fusion of Gothic and medieval architecture with so much to see. Its Cellarium café is also a great lunch break.
Admire the view from Westminster Cathedral
Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral is the mother church of England and Wales, and home to the Archbishop of Westminster.
The mix of 18th- and 19th-century architecture is remarkable, but it's the panoramic views that really stand out. from its breathtaking heights.
Take the elevator up to St Edmund's Tower and enjoy incredible views over Whitehall, Victoria, across the river to Battersea and Canary Wharf.
Big Ben district: contemplate the statues
At Westminster Bridge, don't miss the statue of Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, who led an uprising against the Iceni. the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in 60 AD.
Triumphant in her chariot, Boudica is immortalized on this bridge. Nearby, you can also witness the eternal confrontation between Oliver Cromwell and King Charles Iᵉʳ, with the statue of Cromwell on Cromwell Green. facing the bust of King Charles on St Margaret's Church.
Complete your tour of historical figures in Parliament Square, home to replicas of :
- Winston Churchill
- Abraham Lincoln
- Nelson Mandela
A little further on is Trafalgar Square home to :
- Lord Nelson
- King George IV
- General Sir Charles James Napier
- General Sir Henry Havelock.
Stroll through St James's Park
There are plenty of green spaces in London if you know where to look, from Hyde Park to its magnificent gardens.
Here, in the company of pelicans and black swans, and strolling among the planted shrubs and wild spaces, you can contemplate some of the most beautiful buildings in the world:
- Visit Houses of Parliament
- Buckingham Palace
- Visit Saint-James Palace
- Clarence House
- Marlborough House
Look for Duck House, now a gardener's shed and rural idyll. You may even be lucky enough to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Â takes place every June at St James's Park.
Big Ben district: see the Jewel Tower
Most of the medieval palace of Westminster burned down in a terrible fire and only two buildings survived.
One of these, the Jewel Tower, a 13th-century treasure with its original moat, barrel-vaulted ceiling and spiral stone staircase, is now an English heritage museum, telling the living story of the original Parliament building.
The area around Big Ben is a rich place to visit. will enable you to enjoy a wide range of activities during your vacation in London.
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