Sunny in London

A behind the scenes guide to London's food, life and culture

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October 28, 2013 by: Sunny London

Curious what the London Harry Potter Studio Tour involves?

Butterbeer, Diagon Alley, Dumbledore’s office… Attending the London Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Bros is an experience for every aspiring muggle!

Any true Harry Potter fan waiting for the underground has stared at a Charing Cross Station platform and thought…  Where is it?… Could I do it?

Platform 9 ¾.

Charing Cross Sunny in London

We believe in the magical world of Harry Potter. Whether it’s through reading the novels and/or seeing the films, we love the story of the most famous orphan with supernatural powers and know he exists somewhere.

Since we aren’t actually going to try to run through a wall at Charing Cross (I hope), we have two realistic options for a glimpse in to his world: the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London or the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando.

This year I visited both.

Foremost, the London tour tickets must be booked and purchased in advance. The studio’s webpage is fairly simple. From the available options, you select the day and time you want to attend. If you are planning on touring in the summer months, I suggest you book weeks in advance. (For non-Londoners, the studio is no where near Central London, so check out a map and consider transportation before you plan your day.)

Potter_Collage5

The tour claims to be three hours in duration, but that’s not necessarily the case.

First, you MUST arrive early, because the staff will begin the tour’s queue 10-15 minutes prior to its start time. As you wait, you will see the infamous “cupboard under the stairs.”

Harry_Potter2

Much like attractions at Universal Studios, once the doors open, you are herded with the tour group in to a large room while you hear an energetic employee deliver a speech. Next, you move with the crowd in to a cinema and see a short film.

After the movie, you pass through the giant doors in to the Great Hall and feel the immense excitement of what it could be like to attend Hogwarts. This is the last time you are with a structured group.

Potter_Collage6

Next, you move at your own pace through the Big Room to view the costumes, sets and props, which are displayed like museum exhibits and have signs detailing their relevance to the film.

Potter_Collage4

Potter_Collage2

When you are ready, you can enjoy some fresh air in the Backlot while you sip butterbeer and view a replica of Harry’s house. (Note: no matter what you hear, there’s no alcohol in the beer!)

 Potter_32

For the second part of the tour, you see the fascinating Creature Shop which displays animatronics used in the films.

Harry Potter

As you venture in to Diagon Alley, you’ll be impressed with the color and creative displays but shocked because it’s been dramatically reconstructed several times for the many films. Therefore it’s a bit small, especially in comparison to what Universal Studios features.

Harry_Potter25

The Art Department is intriguing, but the most breathtaking experience is seeing the Model Room as you end your tour.

Potter_Collage3

Well, that’s actually not the last stop. To keep up with the marketing “spirit” of modern day theme parks, you are dumped in to the gift shop as your last location.

Throughout my journey, I tried to absorb every detail and finished in a little over two hours. Even though I have worked in the film industry and know many of the “behind the scenes” secrets and tricks, I developed an even stronger appreciation for the masterful JK Rowling and the film’s production crew/cast. It’s an experience any fan would value at least once, but you’ll have to read my post on Harry Potter’s Wizarding World in Orlando to see how the two experiences compare!

I’d love to hear about your comments about the London Harry Potter Studio Tour or try to answer questions you might have if you are planning to go. Please leave them below. For questions to ask yourself to determine if the Warner Bros Studio Tour is worth it, watch this…

And, if you’re looking for more Harry Potter Things to Do in London, this video below is for you.

 

 

 

June 26, 2016 by: Sunny London

How to Visit London: 9 Attractions in 2 Days

If you’re planning to visit London, you probably are keen to see all the top attractions. Unfortunately, you might not have much time to do it. For this reason, I’ve put together a two-day itinerary for you that includes at least nine iconic places to see. It is organised by attractions that are in proximity of one another. You’ll also find other suggestions for if you have more time and energy.

How to visit London attractions like Big Ben

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 1

For your first full day in London, the attractions I suggest are: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Monument and the British Museum.

Starting Tube Station: Tower Hill or Tower Gateway

I’ve written separate blog reviews each for Visiting the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and Monument. These three attractions will take approximately 3 1/2 hours, depending on how thorough you are at the Tower. If you take the Beefeater Tour and see the Crown Jewels, this should be enough time.

Once completing these visits, take the Underground to Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line if you want to skip lunch. The station is on the edge of Great Russell Street and is a three-minute walk away from the British Museum.

If you want to take a break and enjoy a nice lunch, exit one stop earlier at Holborn station. This is on the edge of Covent Garden. Read my Guide to Covent Garden which has restaurant and pub recommendations.

A Complete Guide to Covent Garden London from a London Local includes restaurants, hotels, attractions, Christmas, things to do, pubs and street performers

If you want to add an additional attraction, you can visit the London Transport Museum, which is great for both kids and adults.

Finally, head over to the British Museum, which will be free. The reason why I have ended each day with a free museum is because of time. If you find you only have an hour or so left before they close, you can quickly hit the artifacts and pieces at the top of your list. The Rosetta Stone, Magna Carta, etc.

Also, should you have more time on other days of your trip, you can return and explore knowing that you didn’t waste any money paying for two visits.

Extra Attraction:

You can’t do all of the above and an additional attraction, but if you want to swap one out, consider adding the London Bridge, which is indeed different from the iconic Tower Bridge.

How to Visit London: Itinerary Day 2

Starting Tube Station: Waterloo

It’s really important you read my advice for How to Fly High on the London Eye before going to it. You must arrive at this attraction about a half hour before the opening time. This will allow you to be in a pod soon after it opens. If you watch the 4D film, it will be a bit later. Either way, you could easily finish this visit within one hour. Your admission ticket will give you one rotation, which lasts about 20 minutes.

Advice-The-London-Eye

Next, begin walking toward Big Ben. Cross the River Thames via Westminster Bridge. Big Ben is the second most popular place in the world for selfies. For a list of suggestions for London’s Top 10 Selfie Locations, you guessed it, I wrote about that too. In fact, I show you through Google Maps the best telephone booth to stand in front of for the most popular selfie with Big Ben behind you.

Westminster Abbey should be your next attraction to visit. It’s right near Big Ben. Once you finish a tour of the church, walk to Buckingham Palace.

There are always crowds at the Palace, but it’s fairly easy to get great pictures.

How to Visit London attractions buckingham palace

Walk to St. James’s Park underground station and travel west to South Kensington station. There are plenty of places to eat in that area.

Like Day 1, this itinerary ends with a museum. The Victoria and Albert (‘V&A’) is my favourite museum in London. It nearly always has an exquisite fashion exhibition. The Andrew McQueen: Savage Beauty last year was by far the best I have ever seen in a museum.

Extra Attraction:

Instead of, or in addition to the V&A, you can also visit the National Portrait Gallery.

Visit London: Final Thoughts

That’s a list of how to organize and maximize your visit to London. If you have more time, I wrote a review on how to see four attractions in South Bank in one day. They include: Shrek’s Adventure, the London Aquarium, London Dungeon, and the London Eye. Obviously if these sound appealing, you want to adjust the itinerary for Day 2 to omit The London Eye. There’s a discounted pass you can buy which is a ticket to all four attractions.

How to See 4 South Bank London Attractions in One Day

Keep in mind, Shrek’s Adventure is best for small children, while London Dungeon is definitely not. Finally, if you’re expecting shows and organization like that of Orlando theme parks, that’s not what you’ll find. As a girl who grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and worked at Universal Studios Florida, I can speak from strong experience. But, you sure won’t wait in 95º heat and humidity either 😉

Finally, you’ll want to visit London pubs in the evening. Watch these tips before you go, especially if you’re an American visiting London for the first time.


Note: all travel and attractions are within Zone 1 of the Underground.

If you’d like a page to bookmark which is a great London things to do list, the Guide to London for Americans Visiting the First Time includes day trips, shopping, cultural differences, hotels, restaurants, afternoon tea recommendations and more! Each one is included because I’ve personally visited and enjoyed it. My husband, ‘Mr. Sunny’ and his father, who are both London born passionate beer drinkers also use the Good Pub Guide whenever exploring a new British pub. It’s never let us down either. 🙂

What other questions do you have about your trip?

November 13, 2016 by: Sunny London

Christmas in London- What You Can’t Do in NYC

What’s the difference between Christmas in London or Christmas in NYC? I’m sure there are plenty of things that are the same. However, after living as an American expat in London for several years and being married to a British bloke, I’ve learned some fun things to do for the holidays in London that you can’t find anywhere else. From Christmas markets to drinks that the English love, I share a bit about the London holiday season life below.

Of course there is great shopping in London and New York City. That’s not something I show in the video. Both cities also have great deals after Christmas too. In fact, just two years ago London really starting getting in to the Black Friday spirit. Now, for whatever reason they justify here, there are some serious deals the day after Thanksgiving. Why retailers have tried to copy the massive shopping crowd hysteria that happens on this day in the US makes no sense to me.

Take a few minutes to see what makes London unique during the Christmas holiday.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, pub advice, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

It would be great if you were able to add your ideas about unique activities in London that I didn’t include in the video. Also, make sure to leave your ideas about Christmas things to do in New York City that you can’t do in London in the comments below. For more cultural differences, I’ve also written a blog feature on ‘Christmas Differences Between the US and UK.’

London for Christmas- Things to Do that you can't do in NYC

October 18, 2016 by: Sunny London

Scary Things to Do in London

Haunted pubs. Haunted Hotels. London sure has its hands full when it comes to scary things to do! If you’re looking for fun attractions to fall in to the holiday spirit, this city has no shortage of options. I mean, let’s consider some of the scariest events in history took place in the town.

The Bubonic Plague

The Great London Fire

Jack the Ripper

Pretty impressive list, eh?

For Halloween, the scary things to do really kick in to high gear here. Whether you are on holiday or live in London as an expat like me, this list of the top scary things to do.

If you’re visiting London, make sure you pin this feature and the Guide to Visiting London for the First Time. Of course, you can always subscribe to emails to learn more as it happens too!

Scary Things to Do in London

September 30, 2016 by: Sunny London

Things To Do in London for Thrill Seekers

When you’re looking at lists of things to do in London, you generally see the same things. Ride the London Eye, see Big Ben, visit the Tower of London, blah, blah, blah. It’s not that I haven’t written tons of reviews on London attractions and find value in visiting them. But, sometimes you just want to kick it up a notch. Or maybe several hundred feet 😉

In this video you’ll learn my top things to do in London for thrill-seekers. Take a few minutes to watch the fun activities available for those who have a truly adventurous spirit.

Don’t miss the challenge I offer at the end! And be sure to list anything you think I’ve missed in the comments on YouTube or below.

Things To Do in London: What’s Next

If you’re visiting London, make sure you pin this feature and the Guide to Visiting London for the First Time. Of course, you can always subscribe to emails to learn more as it happens too!

Things to do in London for thrill seekers

September 28, 2014 by: Sunny London

Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea Christmas Blogtacular!

What made 28 bloggers line up faster than the New York City Rockettes for a Christmas Spectacular Show? The Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea Christmas sneak preview!

That’s right, Sunny friends! You’ve seen my previous posts which show the fantastic #LDNBloggersTea group to which I belong:
– Royal Horseguards Afternoon Tea with 20 English Roses!
– The Ampersand Hotel, Science Tea and Chemistry!
– Run to the Milestone Hotel Afternoon Tea!

Thanks to Selena the Places, today we kicked our blogger heels up for this spectacular, ultra luxurious Christmas afternoon tea. And, I am sharing all the delicious pictures, right here, right now!

Hold on tight, because Santa Claus is Comin’ to London Town!Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaWe started the afternoon with flowing Laurent-Perrier champagne. And for the first time ever on Sunny in London, I’ll say I wished the London weather outside would’ve been frightful! What could be better than being trapped in a snowstorm with 27 other fabulous bloggers in a posh London hotel with flowing Laurent-Perrier?
Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon TeaLet it snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

As if the bubbly wasn’t enough to get our blogger bells jingling, we also had the gorgeous sounds of a harp balancing our social chatter.
Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even…

Oh who am I kidding….

With the beautiful display that Conrad London St James created for us to tease our pallets, we were all stirring!Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea
Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon TeaNow Dasher, now Dancer, now Instagram and Twitter…

Oops! I don’t think those last two were reindeer 😉

Champagne introductions! #LDNBloggersTea @conradhotels pic.twitter.com/VSVpCgLqYZ

— Alyssa James (@aaljames) September 28, 2014

A preview of the Christmas #afternoontea at @ConradHotels St. James. How cute is the dessert?!#LDNBloggersTea pic.twitter.com/1jZT0xxw0l

— Jess Dante (@Jess_inLondon) September 28, 2014

I love team work… whilst @ShabbyChicLND take pictures. I eat scones and drink champagne! #LDNBloggersTea pic.twitter.com/3vMSEK1uMj

— Paula (@Ampola) September 28, 2014

We took our seats at the tables and started to feast. I felt like a Who in Whoville, even though there was no Who-pudding or rare Who-roast beast.
Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea(Sorry, I just couldn’t help throwing in that old picture of me with The Grinch at Islands of Adventure Florida, because today it was just Florida HOT in London town!!! We were all melting from the heat as we entered the tea.)

Conrad London St James Christmas afternoon tea prepared by Chef Ashley is simply spectacular! Sunny friends, it becomes available on November 24th.

Here’s the menu:

Christmas Tea Menu

A Selection of Savouries
Brussel sprout salad
Turkey ballotine
Venison bite
Smoked salmon & lemon crème fraiche
Cured gammon & mustard
Beetroot & spinach

Freshly Baked Orange and Cranberry and Christmas Spice Scones
served with Devonshire clotted cream, homemade strawberry jam and blackberry curd

Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon Tea
We really appreciated the chance to meet Chef Zoe and to learn about what inspired the menu. She floated around to each table numerous times to talk about the menu. Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

When I asked her what inspired her to create such a unique Christmas tea, she indicated it was about feeling and dimension.

She said she wants people to feel as if they’re peering through a snowy window or swirling in a snow globe…
Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon TeaWhat do you think, Sunny friends? I have to say, in person this afternoon tea was BRILLIANT!

After we finished the sandwiches and scones, the sweets danced like sugar plum fairies on the table.

Cakes and Pastries
Winter berry Christmas tree
Chocolate orange Battenberg present
Snowflake macaroon
White forest yule log
Christmas postcard marshmallows
Mini meringue snowmen
Edible Snow

Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea (3) Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaOh yeah, ‘Frosty the Snowman WAS a jolly, happy soul’ I sang to myself as I munched mercilessly on the edible snow. Gulp!Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaConrad London St James Afternoon Tea

Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

That meringue little man melted so fast in my mouth I kind of felt bad. Well… not really. 😉

If you’re really looking to have a holly, jolly Christmas, then this afternoon tea in London should be on the top of your holiday list of things to do. Not only is the food super delicious, but also the hotel is new too. Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

We had our afternoon tea at Emmeline’s, which can be hired privately for up to 60 guests.  The light and airy ambiance was perfect for gathering 28 very, very excited bloggers.Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

It was formerly the Westminster Intercontinental and only recently changed to the Conrad London St James. It’s situated in London’s political heartland and invites global luxury travelers to experience a sophisticated environment with locally inspired style and design.

This is the Tom Clark sculpture which welcomes guests in the lobby. It depicts the common working man with Parliament on his shoulder.
Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaOther politically themed animations and 3-D caricatures are seen throughout the reception and dining areas on the ground floor.
Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaThe hotel also features ‘the division bell’ found only in selected properties around Parliament. Conrad London St James is located at 22-28 Broadway SW1H 0BH. The Christmas Snow Scene Afternoon Tea is £37. The Christmas Snow Scene Afternoon Tea with Free-flowing Laurent-Perrier Champagne is £45.00.

London’s most iconic landmarks are within walking distance of the Conrad London St James. However, I would like to extend a very big thank you to someone who is an icon in the London blogger world. Selena, you have truly built a fabulous network of international bloggers through all the past three years.

We announced today that she’s passing the blogger torch to me for the coordination of the future #LDNBloggersTea.

If you’d like to join this group, watch my Twitter account for an announcement regarding the next #LDNbloggersTea. It’s a great way to meet other bloggers and make friends. For example, today, I finally got to meet Shikha from Why Waste Annual Leave!Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

You can always comment below to make sure I put you on the list. Naughty or nice, I will check it twice! And, if you’re on Triberr, I’ve also started a London Bloggers Tribe for us as well. Join it!

And just before I close this post, I want to give a big high five to all the London bloggers at today’s Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea Christmas preview! See you on November 30th for our next #LDNBloggersTea!Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaVisit here for reviews and rates of the Conrad London St James hotel.

October 29, 2015 by: Sunny London

Christmas Afternoon Tea at Conrad London St James

With so many hotels and restaurants offering a Christmas afternoon tea in London, how can you possibly make a decision on where to go?

Last year, I was invited to and enjoyed so many that I even hit three afternoon teas in one week!

Needless to say, the Christmas season left me feeling a bit heavy but with a strong idea of what London has to offer when it comes to Christmas afternoon tea.

While you may think it’s a bit premature to announce this year’s stand out afternoon tea for the holiday season, I am going to do it- right now.

If you are looking for an afternoon tea during the holidays that captures the essence of the range of the culinary experience, you need to book a table for the Conrad London St James Snow Queen Afternoon Tea offered in Emmeline’s Lounge.

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

I had the opportunity to enjoy this Christmas afternoon tea at the press launch recently with blogger friends Aftab at Fresh and Fearless and Suze from Luxury Columnist.

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

Last year, you may remember the #LDNBLoggersTea hosted at Conrad London St James, which was a huge London blogger event. While at the Christmas afternoon tea preview, I spent some time speaking with Chef Zoe Wager, the Head Pastry Chef at the luxury hotel.

Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

After seeing her exquisite work two years in a row, I feel confident in saying that she, Sunny friends, is the Queen of the Christmas Afternoon Tea in London.

Why?

She masterfully uses her culinary skills to not only create exquisite food combinations but also tell a story with her work.

When I interviewed her last year regarding how she approached the competitive Christmas afternoon tea offerings in London, she indicated she wanted the tea to represent the feeling of looking out a snow covered window.

Conrad London St James Afternoon TeaThis year, when Chef Zoe came to my table, I was honoured once again by her eagerness to talk. Immediately, I asked her about the noticeable difference in this year’s Christmas afternoon tea against last year’s- the colour. Knowing her depth of thought she puts in to this luxury hotel afternoon tea, I asked her to tell me this year’s story.

She immediately indicated that colour was a bit of her inspiration. Chef Zoe wants to avoid the cliche Christmas snowmen, reindeer and Santa Claus this year. Instead, she felt guided by the Snow Queen, an original fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson. This story centers on the struggle between good and evil.

To the novice eye, she may appear to have jumped on the Frozen marketing sleigh.

However, the Snow Queen story is about an evil troll who makes a magic mirror which distorts the appearance of everything it reflects. How? It magnifies the ugly and bad, rather than showing the good and beautiful aspects of people.

One might argue there’s a metaphoric connection with the mirror and the effects of too much champagne consumption. 😉

Conrad London St James Afternoon Tea

Rather than labour through the rest of the story details, I want to show how every bite of the Conrad London St James Snow Queen Afternoon Tea tells this story through food and ambiance.

While we were there, Emmeline’s Lounge was transformed in to a fairy tale atmosphere with a mystical indigo lighting.

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

Did this disturb our pictures?

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James ReviewThat, perhaps, depends on which interpretation of the mirror you see. 😉

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James ReviewAs the servers floated through the room, they shared more selections from the hotel’s Christmas afternoon tea. Again, we were often served the story through reflections, showing how Chef Zoe breaks the Snow Queen’s magic mirror into icy blue sugar shards…

Christmas Afternoon Tea Conrad London St James Review

This Christmas afternoon tea at the Conrad London St James is not one to miss if you want to experience holiday food served with a story and incredible luxury ambiance. To transcend yourself in to the Christmas spirit of a winter wonderland fairy tale, this hotel (which has excellent ratings on TripAdvisor) is where you should go.

The Snow Queen Christmas Afternoon Tea menu includes:

Selection of Savouries

London cured smoked salmon blini, caviar, lemon creme fraiche
Mint tartlet of cropwell bishop stilton, poached pear and walnuts
Prawn cocktail, marie rose
Selection of finger sandwiches

Cakes and Pastries

Snowstorm
Coconut cream, mint macaroon, candy floss
The Magic Mirror
Salted butter shortbread, yogurt cream, frosted blueberries, sugar shards
Snow Queen’s Sceptre
Chocolate and pearl sponge, praline ganache dipped in chocolate, snoflake lace
Palace Snowflakes
Blackcurrant and cardamom cake, crushed glittering meringue, silver snowflake
Blackberry Kisses
Creme Patisserie and blackberries

Freshly Baked Plain and Raisin Scones
Served with Devonshirt clotted cream, homemade strawberry jam and mix berries curd

Aside from a selection of teas, for £55 a person, there is also free flowing champagne. It’s important to note that each table has a 1 hour and 30 minutes time allocation so guests don’t get too entranced in the winter fairy tale. The Snow Queen Christmas Afternoon Tea is offered November 23 – February 11.

Which Christmas afternoon tea in London inspires you, Sunny friends? What’s on your holiday agenda? If you need suggestions for this year’s Christmas season, don’t miss my Top 10 BEST Things to Do In London at Christmas list.

July 16, 2015 by: Sunny London

A Test to Tour the Tower of London?

Would you skip the chance to Tour the Tower of London? I sure wouldn’t if I were you, especially if you travelled from a great distance just to go to the attraction.

Years ago when I first lived in London, my mom came to visit me. Our trip together to the Tower of London was one of the most memorable activities we shared, and we took the tour.

Recently, when I went back for a second visit, I thought about skipping the tour. I am sure glad I didn’t.

A Test to See if You Should Tour the Tower of London

For two hours I wandered around the Tower buildings taking pictures of well, just about everything. It was a beautiful day. Finally, I decided to join one of the tours lead by a Yeoman Warder that leaves every half hour. On my own, I just wasn’t learning enough.

A Test to See if You Should Tour the Tower of London

tour-the-tour-of-london-testRather than write a creative interpretation of all the interesting facts I gathered, I decided to help you decide if a tour is for you.

See if you know the answers to these questions…

Tour the Tower of London Test:

– What King was crowned at the Tower on Christmas Day?

– When did the Crown Jewels begin their ‘residence’ at the Tower of London?

tour-the-tour-of-london-testtour-the-tour-of-london-test– Whose royal sons were secretly stabbed in the Tower leading to their mysterious disappearance and a change in the heir to the throne?

– What three Queens were actually executed at the Tower in the area below?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

– Why is the Tower considered the most famous prison in the world?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

tour-the-tour-of-london-testtour-the-tour-of-london-test– Why was Water Gate changed to the name ‘Traitors Gate’?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

– What is predicted to happen when ravens no longer inhabit the Tower of London?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test– Why are these animals placed around the Tower of London?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

tour-the-tour-of-london-test– How many years of service must one do for Her Majesty in order to become a Yeoman Warder?

– Are Yeoman allowed to smile for pictures?

Whose royal sons were secretly stabbed in the Tower leading to their mysterious disappearance and a change in the heir to the throne?

– Why are Yeoman also known as Beefeaters?

– Does a Yeoman Warder have a sense of humor?

(Hint: When I asked this Yeoman to smile for the picture, he said, ‘The last time I smiled for a picture, I got married.) 😉

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

How did you do on the quiz to see if you should take a tour of the Tower of London?

What? You’re not sure?

Well, I’m certainly not going to give you the answers and deprive you of the fun experience. Because, yes, it really is quite fun.

This is because the Yeoman Warders have a damn fine sense of humour. This is how I know…

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

When our tour started, our charismatic Yeoman guide asked how many Americans were in the crowd. After making a few jokes about how Americans lack the ability to ‘comprehend history because of our country’s youth compared to England’ he moved on to play with another population- Australians. He asked the Aussies in the crowd to raise their hands and then inquired if they were back in England on holiday or parole.

Nice.

Next, our Yeoman of the hour explained the ginormous worth of the English dynasty we were visiting. He jested, ‘See, Americans. If you hadn’t dumped our tea in the Harbour and just paid your taxes, you could’ve had all this!’

 

tour-the-tour-of-london-testThroughout the time, I learned the answers to nearly all the questions above plus loads more. During the tour of the Tower of London, I was very entertained by the presentation.

Should you join a tour of the Tower of London?

I’ll leave that for you to decide. Oh, and if you’d like some answers to the questions above, leave a comment or send me a tweet!

I visited The Tower of London during a day I used my complimentary London Pass and received fast track entry. Also that day I found where to take the best picture of London at Tower Bridge and almost needed a paramedic at The Monument London: ‘A Tower of Terror?‘

If you’re making a trip to London soon, you can always spend some time learning about my favourite city and London life with the Guide to London I created to help you.

Oh, and one final question. I actually really don’t know the answer to this one, but I noticed this scene on my way in to the Tower of London…

What is going on here outside? What are these people doing?

tour-the-tour-of-london-test

July 3, 2015 by: Sunny London

The Monument London, a Tower of Terror?

Have you ever been physically trapped somewhere? Suffer from claustrophobia? Afraid of heights? Have depth perception issues?

If you raised your hand during any of these questions, you might want to skip a trip to The Monument London, which is built in recognition of the Great Fire of London 1666.

The Monument is the tallest isolated stone column in the world. It was built in 1677 and is located at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill. This is approximately 200 feet from where the Great Fire of 1666 started.

the-monument-london-landmark-attraction

There it is. The Monument London. What you see is what you get. I wish I had thought about this.

It’s quite simple really. Straight up and straight down. Maybe I figured there would be an elevator? Or maybe I just didn’t think because I was on a quest to hit an attraction trifecta that day?

When I published Where to Get High in London: The 5 Best Views, many people recommended including The Monument London. I hadn’t written about it because I had not been there.

Sadly, I still can’t include it because the experience of visiting is a terrifying blur to me.

This is my near tragic story…

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I received a London Pass to use at my discretion and decided it would be most efficient to combine several London attractions together in a one day itinerary. The order I visited them is:

– The Tower of London (coming soon on the blog)
– The Tower Bridge Exhibition (How to Take the Best Picture of London at Tower Bridge)
– The Monument London

It was a hot, sunny day and I had already spent three hours at the Tower of London and more time at the Tower Bridge Exhibition. I had been carrying a handbag, camera, two phones and a tripod on my shoulders. I was pretty tired before going to The Monument, so I pounded a quick latte at Costa and headed to the attraction.

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I pounced up to the entrance, hoping they wouldn’t have an issue with my tripod, as I had read that they don’t let you in with large bags. They swiped my London Pass, and I quickly asked, ‘How long to the top?’

‘You’re fit. About 4 minutes,’ said the friendly man at the door.

Little did he know.

I hit the spiral staircase and started to the top. After about 30 steps, an angry queue began forming behind me. I suffer from depth perception issues and never go up or down stairs without at least one hand on a railing. European steps are narrow. The combination of all this in one giant rod straight up in to the sky was slow and nearly lethal.

Since I had just had a latte caffeine, my heart was really pounding. There was no way to turn around. Soon I started realising that I would have to come back down. Terror overcame me. The confined space didn’t help.

The spiral is so tight that it’s very difficult when people descend against you. I insisted on putting both hands on hand railing, so I even further infuriated other guests.

I asked every single person descending how many stairs were left for me, as I swirled and twirled upward.

When I finally made it to the top, I damn near had a heart attack.

It’s a small ledge where tons of people try to pack in to take pictures of the view. At least, that’s how I remember it.

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I had planned on getting some air at the top and preparing for the descent. Being greeted with a simpled fence separating me from 202 feet below didn’t bode well. My panic attack continued.

I couldn’t even think straight to take pictures.

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Feeling my heart pace increase even more, I knew there was no way out of this one. I spent about two minutes trying to take deep breaths and poking my camera through some fence holes to have something to show for the experience. There’s no video. I couldn’t stand still long enough.

the-monument-london-landmark-attraction

the-monument-london-landmark-attractionThe descent was worse for me. Not being able to judge distance on the steps, trying to calm my pounding heart and fearing tightly closed spaces almost killed me. In the dizzying swirl down 311 steps, I thought I would either slip on a step or an angry tourist in the queue behind me would cause my demise.

When I finally hit the bottom, I ran as fast as I could. Well, not that far. Luckily, this pub is just feet away from the entrance/exit.

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I wish I had seen this before I entered. A nice stiff shot of booze may have helped prior to my journey. I think they should name this place 666, to somewhat honour the year the fire took place. And other cheeky reasons, of course.

Disclaimer: This blog feature is in no way meant to disrespect the great history of London or the people who work at the attraction. It’s my own stupid fault for not thinking through the experience prior to attempting to visit.

I wrote the post as an honest review to let people know that if they suffer from any of the above mentioned ‘conditions’ it may just be best to take a virtual tour of The Monument. I feel bad about ruining the experience for other people that day but couldn’t help it.

However, if you visit the Incident section of The Monument website, you’ll see it has quite a history of people experiencing tragedy there. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Sunny friends.

Oh, and I did receive this certificate for surviving the experience. In some ways I am more proud of it than my two Master of Science degrees. 😉

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Be sure to stay tuned to the Sunny YouTube channel for the Day on the London Pass Adventure!

I would love your thoughts on the view from The Monument London. What did I miss during my panic attack? Have you ever got on a ride or went to an attraction and realised it too late that it wasn’t for you?

March 19, 2015 by: Sunny London

City Cruises Review- The Top Things to See in London

Would you be interested in a two hour trip that features all the top things to see in London? If you’re not sure, you should stop reading the blog now.

Why?

Because, the pictures that you will see below are just stunning.

This isn’t because I’m a blogger photographer extraordinaire. It’s because on a sunny day in London, taking a cruise on the River Thames on City Cruises is a fantastic way to capture all the best things to see in London.

Let me show you…

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city-cruises-things-to-see-in-londonMr. Sunny’s father won two tickets on City Cruises and graciously gave them to us. I was beside myself with excitement. I’ve seen great views of London from various attractions, but this one truly has a winning combination for a Florida girl now living in London.

We arrived at Westminster Pier and were a little nervous about the long lines on a beautiful, sunny Saturday in London.

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However, we were able to easily board our boat and skip the queue because of our passes. The boarding process was simple, and it took about 5-7 minutes.

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Since we weren’t the first people to board, we weren’t able to get an outside seat on the upper deck. I didn’t let this intimidate me and decided I would stand in order to get great pictures.

Once we were all boarded, our Captain gave a quick safety announcement and we departed.

We made a quick stop on the south side of the River Thames to pick up a few passengers near the London Eye.

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As we made our journey east, the Captain provided truly amusing commentary.

He indicated that none of the City Cruises feature trained tour guides. In summary, Captains do their best to keep people informed and entertained, but there is no set script for the journey. This made me a bit nervous, but I figured since our tickets were free and it was a fabulous sunny day in London, that it would still be worth it.

As we moved on the River Thames, our Captain proved to be quite charismatic. He beautifully balanced pointing out London’s landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre with empty ‘air space’ that allowed us to enjoy a peaceful cruise around the top things to see in London.

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Oh, and then he made sure to show us the occasional ship on the top of a building and a real pirate ship. See if you can spot them in the two pictures below.

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city-cruises-things-to-see-in-london

We even had a chance to see the office of the Mayor of London!

city-cruises-things-to-see-in-londonAfter about 30 minutes, we arrived at the Tower Millenium Pier, which is where you can visit the Tower of London. Mr. Sunny and I decided to stay on the boat because we were really enjoying the trip. Many people left to visit the Tower of London area, so we switched seats so I could be on the outside of a row. However, as you can see from my the pictures above, it was easy for me to get clear shots from an inside seat.

city-cruises-things-to-see-in-london

city-cruises-things-to-see-in-londonWe weren’t at the pier for long and started our boat cruise again. The next stop was in 30 minutes in Greenwich.

Captain Paul Markley continued with his funny, entertaining insight. Aside from showing us all the popular London landmarks, he also gave information about the not so famous buildings. I was particularly interested in the prices of real estate he conveyed. Coming from Florida, I know that a view of the water, especially from many stories high, is highly sought after. London views of the River Thames fall in to this pricey category.

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In the building above, every property has its own balcony with an unobstructed view of the River Thames. Cha ching!

Mr. Sunny, however, had his attention peak each time the Captain pointed out a pub on our path. I guess great beer minds think alike. 😉

Here’s The Angel, The Mayflower and The Salt Quay.

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We passed the fantastic skyline of Canary Wharf and docked at Greenwich. As we left the boat, I made sure to have Mr. Sunny take a picture of me and the super funny Captain Paul Markley.

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city-cruises-things-to-see-in-london

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On the return trip, I decided only to take a few pictures and to enjoy the sunshine as we travelled on the River Thames. It sure was bright as it reflected from buildings.

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Sitting back and just taking in the top things to see in London made this a fun, relaxing return journey. I actually was very disappointed when the trip ended.

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Why City Cruises is best for the top things to see in London:

– Within just a few hours, we were able to see many of London’s top landmarks.
– Both of our Captains provided interesting information about London as we travelled on the River Thames.
– They have an all day sightseeing hop-on and hop-off for families and up to three kids travel for free!
– “The boat has a bar!’ ~ Wisdom from Mr. Sunny

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Other great ways to check out things to see in London:

– City Cruises doesn’t just operate sighseeing cruises. They have a wide range of fun activities like a speedboat ride on the Thames (ThamesJet), sightseeing cruise along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset or fine dine on-board our dinner boats or Restaurant Ship Hispaniola.

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Don’t forget to check the Things to Do section of the blog for other fabulous, fun events and attractions in London, Sunny friends!

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