Merry Christmas from the capital of England: London

In September, does not pay holiday just passed, we went to the agency and we bought plane tickets to London in December - cost 130 euros per person. We also booked the hotel in convenient location near the British Museum in Russell Square near the Royal National Hotel (2) ^, but they also found near the same chain, the president (2) the same cost and a bit 'nicer and best breakfast. cost 101.00 euros per night including breakfast triple.
Legend: ° to see, ° ° on not losing, you can lose ^, ^ ^ be avoided.

We left Venice behind and then come to London Gatwick at 22:45, then after we got baggage slings to take the Gatwick Express (which we had purchased tickets at home), after the train that took us 40 minutes to the metro station Victoria. Just in time to catch the last train underground (Tube London Underground), which closes at midnight, the yellow line to South Kensington then change the blue line to Russell Square Piccadilly.

Sunday 23
Full of enthusiasm we started walking to Tottenham Court and from there we took the tube to Hyde Park ° °. Bring back home a good supply of peanuts because here is full of squirrels are photographed especially happy if you give peanuts. From here we arrive at Speakers Corner near Marble Arch where every Sunday morning, everyone has something to say or external, may do so free here. From here we sent in to the Serpentine ° where under a thick fog we fed the swans. Having scoured the famous park, to warm a bit 'we headed to Knightsbridge where is nearby the world famous Harrods department store (2) °. You look but not buy, swanky shops with reasonable prices.
With the metro get off at Piccadilly Circus ° ° and we get lost in the shops until you get to Soho ° where we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant near Tuk Tuk Wardour Street, cost 32 pounds (44 euros) and then finish the evening Chinatown ° .

 

We continue the trip

MONDAY 24
With the intention of seeing the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace we head ° °. We arrive and descend underground to Piccadilly and then we go walk to St James Square and then We come across Green Park to Buckingham. But is not the right day, then cut back to St James Park (squirrels and pelicans) and from there to Westminster Sq ° ° where there is the famous Big Ben ° ° and the Houses of Parliement.
For lunch we decided to try a pub and since we are in Victoria station, try the Shakespeare Tavern ° 99 Buckingham Palace Road which is right in front of them.
We ate well: two roast beef with potatoes and beer and fish and chips with cola cost 29 pounds (40 euros).
New direction in meters Tower of London ° ° (fee required) and ° ° from Tower Bridge on which you can see the modern City Hall °. From here we went to St. Paul Cathedral ° (fee) and then again in Piccadilly Circus ° ° where you can not ignore Lillywhites ° a sports shop with attractive prices and affordable, if you have a son, arm yourselves with patience ...
Not tired we went to Carnaby st. ° ° the path of the young trendy pedestrian in a nice neighborhood.
For dinner we decided to change the taste and then we found an Indian restaurant Masala Zone ° 37 pounds (51 euros). Do not pay our wandering we were under 23 at the Big Ben ° ° to admire it at night. We must do it!

TUESDAY 25
It 's the first time that we spend Christmas away from home, and we have a little regret the Christmas Eve dinner, the party .. but we wanted to be here. On Christmas Day in London was tragic. Morning heavy rain, wind, weather sucks. Ok do the same turn. Walk! Rightly does not work on Christmas Day no public transportation also is really all closed. E 'NATALE that tourists they stay at home! Then stroll symbolic put in the only church we found Actor's Church in Covent Gardena · ° where usually performing street artists, go back to the picturesque St. Neal th and Church St. Gilles, dinner at a Chinese takeaway Noodle Inn in Oxford St. (the only one who has not celebrated) then we stayed holed up in the hotel all day watching TV. What alternative Christmas ...

WEDNESDAY 26
Ok now it starts! It's sunny, you go. We decide to visit Portobello Road, Notting Hill via arrondissement elegant. Portobello ° ° is an antique market, particularly where you can find a lot of junk but connoisseurs can also find something nice.
We head to take the Whitechapel 'Landbroke Grove underground at St Pancras Station to pass degrees or more trying to King's Cross platform 9 and 3 / 4 of Harry Potter.
Mindful of films seen, let's look for the Jack the Ripper Whitechapel district, we turn to Osborn St. but disappoints us because it is a squalid district and inhabited mainly by Indians and Pakistanis. We come in the way on foot under the Cetriolone (the Gerkin 30 St Mary Axe) is seen in every view of London is the headquarters of Lloyd's.
Then we console back to the Shakespeare Tavern since we liked, this time 2 fish and chips and a burger with lettuce cost 31 pounds (42 euros).
From here we headed to the nearby Westminster Cathedral. We are tired of walking and decide to take a typical double-decker bus. Let Sloane sq. °, towards Chelsea through the elegant King's Road °, and we go down to World's End and then walk in the neighborhood until the 'Albert Bridge ° (from the next Chesea Bridge is known in the opposite side of the power plant that inspired a cover of a great Pink Floyd album).
Towards evening dinner at Burger King at Charing Cross (42 euro) and then we met with a group of friends who arrive today loads of enthusiasm and we agree to the following day.

THURSDAY 27
Departure at 9.00 and today it's sunny, so bring your friends to see St James's Park squirrels and their first and then to Buckingham Palace ° see the change of guard. It is not clear what the right day ol'orario right, the fact is we do not see any change. Then ran off along the Mall to see another change before the Horse Guard Change ° and the show finally here: the guards on horseback! From here we move to the nearby 10 Downing St. (where is the head of government) and return to see Big Ben ° °, and this time the beautiful Westminster Abbey (fee), cross Westminster Bridge to watch closely ° ° from the London Eye where you can enjoy the splendid panorama of the city (tickets a bit 'expensive).
We are headed to look for the tombs of the Templars but it has proved difficult and unnecessary. The entrance to this site in Temple Church (by appointment only and fee) there has been very difficult because nobody knows the opening hours but also is not clear from where you enter, so we saw the fury to turn beautiful Palace Justice ° with the statue of the dragon that stands guard. For lunch we ate at The Market Porter Pub ° very characteristic recommend affordable price (watch the case very close) on Park st. Cathedral at Southwalk °. We then headed to the near Shakespeare's Globe ° (surcharge) rebuilt as the timing, and quirky modern art gallery Tate Modern ° (free) also works great, then cross the Millennium Bridge ° °, vantage point to view the exceptional the Thames.

FRIDAY 28
Even today the sun and then back around. Today's includes the Museum of Nature (Natural History Museum) ° ° (free), South Kensington underground station, with a beautiful old majestic staircases where we just entered receives the largest dinosaur skeleton has been found, most other reproductions of various prehistoric animals and especially the room with a Tyrannosaurus rex. Nearby is the Museum of Science and Technology ° (free). Cute and fun for both adults and children.
From there we moved to eat in Chinatown and varied and picturesque walk through Leicester Square ° ° where there is an amusement park and then to Trafalgar Square ° ° where there is the National Gallery ° ° (one of the museums more important in the world) (free) and Nelson's column.

Not long time...

Saturday 29
This morning we separate the boys went to see Madame Tussaud ° (fee) and were excited .. The husbands went to see the War Museum ° very interesting and free. The wives and a few surviving in the direction of Camden Town ° °; here say is a place where you can find all styles of fashion possible: punk, reggae, dark, glamorous, vintage. Clothing, accessories, tattoos, wigs, so on and so forth. A show especially for kids.

Sunday 30
Return flight at 15.55, so we spent the morning at the British Museum ° °, (free) for the famous Egyptian collection, the Rosetta stone and the ruins of Babylon.

And so ended our travel experience in this beautiful cosmopolitan city, grand, majestic and full of life and opportunities for recreation, senzaltro goodbye because we have forgotten many things to see, try and visit, like a nice pub night with live music ? the next ...

NOTES:
Time: it is said that Londoners never leave without an umbrella. True! But we were lucky because only about 9 days we took a rain, other days variable or even the sun. Cold but never below 5 degrees. Wind annoying, obtains scarf Caldina.

Food: English food on the rumors are true .... Even the sandwiches are capable of doing! However it survives. For those who want there's a McDonalds but we avoid them and therefore we preferred to eat in the pub so that you spend the same amount.

Language: English mandatory and obviously do not think that is understandable because you are foreigners, so before you ask ripassatevi the phrases and pronunciation.

However, the arrogance of the famous English we have not detected because first of all London is a cosmopolitan city and then are used to seeing foreigners and still is essential courtesy in asking for things. We have experienced that you are asking politely responded with equal courtesy.
Forgot to mention that all the museums in London are free!

Total cost of holiday for a family of 3 persons (2 adults + child 15 years):
airline tickets for 3 people to / Venice / London € 390.00
Hotel Royal National Hotel 8 nights in total € 810.00 Triple, with continental breakfast
Our total expenditure including metro, museums, lunches and dinners, and souvenir spesette
Total 8 nights 3 persons € 1,973.00

If you want advice, and various impressions, or if you want to leave us your comments contact us at our e-mail: alpatom@libero.it
http://iviaggidialpatom.altervista.org

We recommend the guides we have provided the information on places to visit: Lonely Planet London City London Book, London Routard.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londra
http://www.visitlondon.com//index