With half a day to spend touring London by car, there will be time to get out of the car to take photographs and to discover a little about the various sights. You will take in the Houses of Parliament and learn how the UK’s parliamentary system works and Westminster Abbey, the venue for coronations, royal weddings and funerals and the resting place of monarchs.
At Buckingham Palace, you may be lucky enough to see the Changing of the Guard. In the City of London, the historic heart of the capital, the main attraction is the Tower of London, which has borne witness to some of the most dramatic events in British history. It has been used as a mint, an observatory, a zoo and a place of execution. The main exhibit in the castle is the Crown Jewels, the world’s most magnificent set of royal regalia which are still used by HM The Queen at important ceremonies.
Nearby is St Paul’s Cathedral, a site of Christian worship for 1400 years. The present church was completed in 1710 and was the venue for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
As with all tours, the itinerary is flexible and can be tailored to your own interests. A detailed tour of attractions such as the Abbey (allow about 1.5 hours) or the Tower (allow at least 2 hours) can be included but these will not leave much time to see other sights.
