World Wings 2024 Convention
London
What to See and Do in London
When you see guidebooks with the title ‘1002 best things to do in London’, you know you’re going to have a job fitting it all in to a weekend! Here are two recommended websites to help you out:
https://www.timeout.com/london
https://londonist.com/
https://www.timeout.com/london
https://londonist.com/
We all know that it helps to receive advice from a native. Just for WWI, Rosie has curated a list of sights from her own bucket list! Most are easy to get to from the Leonardo Royal Hotel.
LOCAL SIGHTSEEING
Tower of London Book a visit to view the dungeons and the Crown Jewels. Or simply walk past Traitors Gate and see the river access where two of Henry VIII’s wives passed through in a barge, never to see the light of day again.
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/#gs.3un7wk
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/#gs.3un7wk
Tower Bridge Boasts spectacular views from both towers including admission to the Victorian engine room. Lots of steps; look for the lift.
The Sky Garden For a spectacular aerial view of London, take a short walk to the infamous Walkie Talkie building on Fenchurch Street. (Infamous because when it was first built the outside cladding melted the cars parked underneath. All sorted now! ) Book in advance for free public access to the viewing space, or sip a cocktail in one of the sky-high bars.
https://skygarden.london/
https://skygarden.london/
Trinity House A beautiful Grade 1 listed building not far from the Tower of London. Filled with paintings and treasures and home to a seafarers’ charity which maintains all the lighthouses in Great Britain. We plan to organize a private tour with Kate, an entertaining guide, on Friday or Monday. There’s a walking tour too.
https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/tours-of-trinity-house
https://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/tours-of-trinity-house
LOCAL DINING
Not far from the hotel you’ll find a choice of waterside restaurants and cafes in St Katharine’s Dock.
Cote and Tapas Brava are good options and the Dickens Inn looks pretty.
Vicinity at the Tower Hotel has fabulous views of Tower Bridge.
For a posher meal, try the Ivy Restaurant, just over Tower Bridge.
Cote and Tapas Brava are good options and the Dickens Inn looks pretty.
Vicinity at the Tower Hotel has fabulous views of Tower Bridge.
For a posher meal, try the Ivy Restaurant, just over Tower Bridge.
Vicinity Restaurant
Dickens Inn
Tapas Brava
The Ivy
VISIT LONDON BY BOAT
Instead of trying to navigate the Underground, consider hopping on and off one of the government-run boat services! Visit https://tfl.gov.uk/river-bus/route/thames-river-services/
Hop on at Tower Bridge Pier. Tap your debit/credit card or Oyster card as you board. Remember to tap again after you disembark.
Hop on at Tower Bridge Pier. Tap your debit/credit card or Oyster card as you board. Remember to tap again after you disembark.
London Bridge Stop Get off for Borough Market (closed Mondays) a must for foodies, and Southwark Cathedral.
Enjoy a typical fish and chip lunch at Fish! restaurant.
Enjoy a typical fish and chip lunch at Fish! restaurant.
Bankside Stop Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, not to be missed. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/visit/
The Tate Modern Art Gallery – stunning views across the river to St Paul’s from top floor restaurant. Afterward, cross the Millennium Bridge to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The Tate Modern Art Gallery – stunning views across the river to St Paul’s from top floor restaurant. Afterward, cross the Millennium Bridge to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Blackfriars Stop It’s a 9 minute walk from Blackfriars to St. Paul’s Cathedral. The cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren and completed in 1710, is one of the most famous sights in London.
https://www.stpauls.co.uk/
https://www.stpauls.co.uk/
Embankment StopVisit Somerset House https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
Somerset House is self-funded home to the arts and cultural innovators. The dancing fountains in its expansive courtyard set the stage for encouraging creativity.
Somerset House is self-funded home to the arts and cultural innovators. The dancing fountains in its expansive courtyard set the stage for encouraging creativity.
Westminster Pier Stop Walk past Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Then a further 5 minutes to visit the Churchill War Rooms, the top-secret corridors and the bunker where Churchill planned his war. Highly recommended on Trip Advisor. Café on site. https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
You’ll take in the views of Buckingham palace as you walk up Horseguards Parade. Detour through the Parade Square, under the arches to Whitehall, where mounted horses guard the entrance. Stroke them if you like, neither they nor the mounted officer will move an inch. 100 yards further down Whitehall you’ll see the Cenotaph and Downing Street.
You’ll take in the views of Buckingham palace as you walk up Horseguards Parade. Detour through the Parade Square, under the arches to Whitehall, where mounted horses guard the entrance. Stroke them if you like, neither they nor the mounted officer will move an inch. 100 yards further down Whitehall you’ll see the Cenotaph and Downing Street.
Greenwich Stop Head east, under Tower Bridge. Greenwich is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Royal Naval College and marvel at the beautiful
painted ceiling. Many scenes of Netflix’s Bridgerton were filmed here! https://ornc.org/ See the Cutty Sark, one of the last Tea Clippers of the 19th Century.
painted ceiling. Many scenes of Netflix’s Bridgerton were filmed here! https://ornc.org/ See the Cutty Sark, one of the last Tea Clippers of the 19th Century.
THE SHOPPING TRIP
Treat yourself to a taxi and get off at Fortnum and Masons and admire the magnificent food halls. Exit the back entrance to Jermyn Street, where you’ll find niche men’s outfitters and, for foodies, the Paxton and Whitfield artisan Cheese shop. Next, cross over Piccadilly, near the Royal Academy, and wander up the Burlington Arcade to find the small and cozy cashmere shop, N. Peal. Exit the arcade onto Regent Street to an array of high-end shops. If your feet are weary, hop on any bus heading North. Pop into Hamleys Toy Shop and don’t miss out on Liberty, an iconic department store in a Tudor Building (lovely loos). If designer shops are on your checklist – Christian Dior, Channel and Gucci – detour sideways to Bond Street.
ART GALLERIES
Tate Modern, Tate Britain (Millbank Pier), National Gallery (Trafalgar Square), the Royal Academy (Piccadilly or Green Park Tube), the Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington Tube). Free general admission. In addition, each Gallery has a program of Special Exhibitions, best to pre-book and pay in advance for these. Look out for details of ‘What’s On in September 2024’.
Photo of Tower Bridge from Sky Garden courtesy of Alexander-93, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Sky Garden, London courtesy of The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of London Trinity House courtesy of Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Black-headed gull on a wall near London Bridge by Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Globe Theatre courtesy of Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of St_Paul’s Cathedral courtesy of Diliff (derivative work: Nikopol), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Somerset House courtesy of Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Big Ben and Westminster Pier courtesy of Christine Matthews, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Royal Observatory courtesy of Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Sky Garden, London courtesy of The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of London Trinity House courtesy of Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo of Black-headed gull on a wall near London Bridge by Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo of Globe Theatre courtesy of Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo of St_Paul’s Cathedral courtesy of Diliff (derivative work: Nikopol), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Somerset House courtesy of Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0
Photo of Big Ben and Westminster Pier courtesy of Christine Matthews, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Royal Observatory courtesy of Chris Morgan, CC BY-SA 2.0