THE TOURISTS ARE COMING! THE TOURISTS ARE COMING! THE TOURISTS ARE COMING!

PICTURES OF LONDON
A Photo Adventure In England
 

It's time for ZZZippy to take you on a little tour across the pond for a brief visit to historic London, England. London still rates high on our list of one of the top places in the world to visit. Rich with history and alive with culture, it’s a city that you truly must experience to be able to appreciate it. The images below give you a brief peek at a few of the many highlights in store for you if you visit jolly old England in person. So sit back and enjoy these beautiful pictures of London, England.

This picture of a popular London statue has a very royal feel to it. The Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace comprises the Dominion Gates (Canada Gate, Australia Gate, and South and West Africa Gates), the Memorial Gardens, and an enormous central monument that commemorates the death of Queen Victoria in 1901.

The monument stands an impressive 82 feet high (25 meters) and weighs an incredible 2,500 tons. It was made from white Carrara marble. There are other statues surrounding Victoria representing courage, constancy, victory, charity, truth, and motherhood.

Sir Thomas Brock began creating the central monument in 1906, but the entire design, including the Memorial Gardens, was conceived by Sir Aston Webb. The Memorial was formally unveiled by King George V in 1911 even though the central monument was not finished until 1924.

Pictured Left: The Houses of Parliament, otherwise known as the Palace of Westminster. The iconic House of Parliament symbolizes Great Britain. The many decisions made in its corridors of power have shaped Britain over many decades.

Upper Right: London's notable architecture is timeless and is seen everywhere in the city. It is typically massive and bold. London is known around the world for its unique architecture. In London, the buildings that can go back centuries are nothing less than captivating. Some of the oldest buildings include Westminster Hall (built in 1097 AD), Pyx Chapel (1066 AD), St Pancras Old Church (between 314 and 625 AD), and the London Wall (built between 190 and 225 AD). They have indeed withstood the test of time.

Lower Right: A horse-drawn carriage, which happens to be a very common sight around the streets of England as is a great subject when shooting pictures throughout London.

Pictures of London: The most popular clock in the world, Big Ben.

Built in 1702 by the Duke of Buckingham, Buckingham palace was his London home. The Palace has undergone countless renovations and improvements. The “front” has kept the same design for over 300 years.
 

Up until recently, Buckingham Palace had the dual purpose of being a home for the Queen (who passed away in 2022) and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the location for administrative work relating to the monarchy. It was always an easy way to tell if the Queen was home, simply look at the flagpole. When the flag is flying, the Queen is at home.
 

The famous guards at Buckingham palace consist of some of the most elite soldiers in the British Army. While they may uphold tried and true traditions of the past, they also travel throughout the world as professional soldiers. When visiting the palace, be sure to stop by the guard’s museum where you can try on one of the bearskin caps they wear.

Pictured Left: A very friendly English doorman at the popular Rubens 41, a popular four-star hotel located on Buckingham Road directly across from the Palace. We suggest when capturing pictures of London that you don't forget the personalities that abound the city.

Pictured Right: A London apartment building, another example of London's remarkable architecture.

Familiar London Sights

In London, there are certain images that one might expect to see (and we did). Pictured above are a few of these iconic images including a red telephone booth (also known as a telephone box or a red kiosk). Also in this picture of London, you will notice a couple of double-decker, Big Red Tour Buses. A popular means of transportation around London (and other parts of England).

Also notice that Big Ben proudly stands near the Palace of Westminster, where there is a constant flurry of activity throughout the day and into the evening.

Ghosted in the picture above is the London Eye (or Millennium Wheel). At the western end of Jubilee Gardens on the south bank of the river Thames, stands the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, the London Eye. Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the London Eye is 443 feet tall. 32 air-conditioned capsules adorn the wheel accommodating 25 passengers, when seen from a distance it resembles a huge bicycle wheel. The “Eye” moves at the rate of 10 inches per second and takes half an hour for a full revolution. Since opening to the public in 2000, the London Eye is visited by at least 3 million tourists a year, making it one of the most popular landmarks in London. The panoramic view provided by the “Eye” is breathtaking to behold during the day and is indescribable at night.
 

While capturing pictures of London we could not resist capturing the photo above. A view overlooking the river Thames at dusk. This is a gorgeous sight. The Gothic structure on view today was built around 1937. Its unique ornamental design is truly something to behold. Westminster Abbey, of course, is another well-known landmark and a definite “must-see.” It has a gift shop for tourists, which is typical, but something not so typical is the area where one can make brass rubbings. If you wish to capture the Westminster Abbey on film, the outside is fine, but tourists are not allowed to take any photos inside Westminster Abbey since it is still an active house of worship.

Another popular site within walking distance is known as the Clock Tower, or as every non-London resident calls it, Big Ben. In fact, Big Ben is actually the name of the 13-ton bell inside the clock tower. World famous in its own right, it is not a single structure but one of two towers that flank the Palace of Westminster. How did it get the name, Big Ben? That’s a bit of an enigma, some claim it was named after a boxer by the name of Ben Caunt, others say it was named after a portly Westminster commissioner named Sir Benjamin Hall. Whatever the case may be, it’s Big, it’s Ben, and it’s a must-see.

Pictures of London: The Grounds at Leeds Castle in Kent

Leeds Castle is a castle in Kent, England, 7 miles southeast of Maidstone. Built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds, this property is one everyone should visit. A castle has existed on the site since 857. The castle is home to mesmerizing gardens and incredible architectural landscapes. These natural beauties reward visitors with a historical essence that will dazzle your senses. Here you can step back in time to a slower pace and immerse yourself in nature. This is a perfect spot to capture gorgeous pictures of London's historical architecture surrounded by gorgeous landscapes

Pictured above: Modern buildings have become a common sight among London's Renaissance and Gothic architecture. Also pictured: One of London's "Bobbies". This guy was photographed as he pulled a security shift at the Palace.

The Tower Bridge is a very popular tourist attraction, ironically enough it is often mistaken for being the famous London Bridge. London Bridge was purchased many years ago, dismantled, and reassembled at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The Tower Bridge, famous in its own right, got its name because it’s located adjacent to the Tower of London, another famous landmark. An estimated 40,000 motorists and pedestrians a day cross the Tower Bridge, which stretches over the river Thames. Recently the Tower Bridge was given a major face-lift which took over four years.

PICTURES OF LONDON

The architecture throughout the city of London makes it one of the most unique places on the planet. In many instances, particularly when speaking about the Palace of Westminster, the architecture is a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic influences. London truly has something for everyone, we have only shown you a smidgen of what you can see and enjoy.

Regardless of what you enjoy, the London architecture, historic buildings and statues, England's natural landscapes, the food in London or the Brits themselves, a trip to London should be on everyone’s “bucket” list. And if you happen to visit, stop in and see the Royal Family, make sure that you tell them ZZZippy sent you!