London, Past and Present in Harmony

Now for a whirlwind tour of some of the top sights in London, England.

The White Tower in the Tower

The Ravens

First and foremost is the Tower of London.  Packed full of history, mystery, and intrigue there is plenty for every kind of visitor to see.  Take a Yeomen Tour.  It is fun, well worth your time, and you'll learn things a regular walk around won't tell.  But please, be respectful of all the different guards in the Tower.  You wouldn't tease, sass, or demand things of a Special Forces officer, so don't do it to these guys.  They are the elite, top of the class, military force.

From the Tower take a boat trip down the Thames to Westminster.  Along the way you'll see many of London's iconic sights: (L to R) Traitor's Gate at the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, London Bridge, and last but not least Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.  The London Eye, the Globe Theatre and many other sights are also visible.

A few blocks from the Parliament Building is Westminster Abbey.  Church and burial sight in one, there is always something to see no matter where you turn your eyes.  But you better not be uneasy about walking on graves, because there are hundred's in the floor.  See how many names on the graves and memorials you recognize.  Composers, scientists, theologians, and nobility have all left their mark on the chapel.

The next hotspot is the British Museum.  Centuries of history from all over the world are housed here.  The most famous artifact seems to be the Rosetta Stone which stands just inside the entrance to the Egyptian rooms.  Give yourself lots of time.  There's plenty to see.

These are the absolute must sees in London, but there is plenty more to visit.  I have already written about 221B Baker St. in a previous blog.  Another place I've visited and would recommend, but only if you have time and the money to shop, is Harrods.  Imagine an American shopping mall squeezed together on a large city block and then stacked six stories high plus one below ground and you've got Harrods.  Oh and there are crowds.

There are days worth of sights to see in London.  Don't try to do them all.  Research and pick the best for you.  And as always, have fun.


This will be my last post about England and Scotland for a while, at least until I get more material.  However, I hope to continue blogging off and on, so keep checking back. ~ D. Brewer

Please do not use these pictures without permission.

“Mr. Holmes will see you now…”

If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan in any way, 221B Baker Street is the place for you.  Half museum, half living-quarters, the flat on Baker Street gives you both a glimpse of how Holmes and Watson would have lived in Victorian England as well as some of their many adventures.

After paying for your tickets next door and passing the “bobbie” outside 221B’s door, you’ll climb the stairs and enter Holmes’ sitting room.  Library, lab, and case room all mixed into one, this room is where Holmes and Watson would have heard all those chilling and troubling tales from their clients.  Have a look around.  The pipe, Persian slipper, and violin are all there.  See what other items from the stories you can find.

The second room is a bedroom, apparently Sherlock’s.  Makeup and items of disguise along with the other strange items that only seem to belong to a person like Holmes “litter” the room.

Up another level, you come to two more rooms.  These have a feel of private quarters, a second sitting room and office perhaps.  But these rooms house other artifacts of the times and adventures of Sherlock and Watson, including the wicker chair that Holmes sits in in the painting of him talking to Watson.  Not as exciting as the sitting room downstairs, but definitely interesting.

Finally, comes the “Name that Case” room.  Over a dozen of Sherlock’s more popular cases are portrayed in vignettes all around the large chamber, including “The Red-Headed League” and “The Hound of Baskerville.”  If you are an avid reader of Holmes’ cases or just like the challenge, try to guess which case you’re looking at before you read the plaque.  It can be a fun game with your travel companion(s) as well.

So do I recommend this place?  Definitely.  Would I go there again?  Yes, and probably anytime I was in London and could squeeze it into my schedule.  The visit isn’t long, but it is fun.

For more information visit: http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/

Sitting Room






 

Bedroom

 




Other Rooms

Bathroom(left), memorabilia(top), chamberpot and wicker chair (right)

 Guess the Case: Man with the Twisted Lip(left), Hound of Baskerville(bottom), Red-Headed League(right).

Please do not use any of these pictures without permission.