Skip to main content

For the Royals, Cabinet War Rooms, and Jack the Ripper: London, England “Arts & Culture”



While it might seem like we have covered every attraction in London there are a few more worth noting. They are not attractions per se, but parts of the art and culture scene in London that I really enjoyed seeing. You won’t need to schedule a tour or a lengthy period of time if you are curious and also want to sneak a peek.

British Library







I assume libraries aren’t on most people’s top ten list of things to do in a new city but this particular library had one piece of history I had to get my eyes on, the Magna Carta, which dates back to the year 1215. This piece of legislation was the predecessor of our constitution and to see it up close was a thrill for the history lover in me. 

This library has many other original works such as the Canterbury Tales, a notebook that once belonged to DaVinci, handwritten copies of Beethoven’s music, lyrics from The Beatles, and works by Jane Austen; just to name a few. You can spend anywhere from a half hour to an entire afternoon here depending on what you want to see. 

The library itself is exquisite even when compared to N.Y.C.’s main hub which I recently visited (http://bit.ly/2Eq6sMW). 

If you are so inclined you can take one of the many tours offered which also include a stop at one of the reading rooms. 

Leicester Square / West End Play / Piccadilly Circus











Leicester Square is a huge complex of entertainment, restaurants, and nightlife, all in close proximity to Piccadilly Circus. 

Here you will find a TKTS booth selling theatre tickets at a discount which can be up to fifty percent off. However you can only purchase tickets for that evening’s show. From here it is a short walk to Shaftesbury Avenue where all theaters are.

Since London is a city well known for its theater I had decided I was definitely going to see a show. I decided on Les Miserables because I had never seen it and at the time was not on Broadway. I purchased my tickets in advance and they were waiting for me when I arrived the night of. Tickets purchased in advance can also be delivered to your hotel.

While I was not a fan of this story (I know I am in the minority on this), especially since its over three hours long, I was happy I could say I have seen a West End production. I would like to add that they do not give out playbills in London theaters, there are only souvenir programs available for purchase. This did not please me at all. 

Piccadilly Circus is Times Square of London and also only a short walk from the West End and Leicester Square. Here you will find a crazy crowd of congestion, many double decker tour buses, and numerous billboards. There is a famous statute of Eros, the Greed God of sexual attraction, which you will no doubt want to take a photo with.

B.B.C. Television Centre 



I booked this tour because my brother was and still is very interested in a career in television. While we didn’t know many of the shows that were featured on this tour it was still interesting. Our guide had a lot of funny stories to share about the celebrities who have graced those studios and as a fan of B.B.C. America and their news programs, I was happy to see where all the action takes place.  

Please note tours should be booked two or three days ahead of time. Naturally being the planner I am, I booked everything from home. 

The Original Walking Towers of London / Jack the Ripper Walking Tour 



















Ah, Jack the Ripper. 

As a true crime fan (http://bit.ly/2BIUSLR) I suppose it all begins with him. I wrote a paper on him in college and continue to read many of the books that are published about him.

While I was very excited about everything I did in London, this tour was at the very top of my list before, even before there was a list. This tour was right up there with the London Eye and Buckingham Palace (http://bit.ly/2E2yoY1) in terms of importance to me. 

Though many of the buildings and locations where the murders took place are gone, I still wanted to trace the progress of the case.

This tour takes place rain or shine and books up incredibly fast. It is the only one recommended by top travel guides and is given by published and renowned 
Ripperologists (Jack the Ripper experts).

It meets up near the East End, not far from the Tower of London (http://bit.ly/2GUzXF1). A seemingly appropriate, haunted location. 

The tour ends at The Ten Bells bar, so named for the church nearby. It has an association with two of Jack’s victims. While a drink there isn’t an official stop on the tour, it is where it ends. So if you need to drown your sorrows afterward you are at the right place. Just be extra cautious when you leave. 

For More Information:







Comments

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards

For My Madness During Migraine Awareness Month

Last weekend as I sat staring at the blank page in front of me, I was still surprised and elated that I had an entire day to myself and unlike past experiences it was filled with what I wanted when I wanted it. There were a few rough moments but when I consider the previous twelve hours (and the days to come) have been better than the last week. Especially this last week even though I had braced myself ahead of time, I just didn’t know I should have braced for a more serious episode. I am a chronic migraine sufferer for so many years I don’t quite remember when they started exactly which is ironic because I can remember every special event they have ruined. I remember plays or dinners I was at where I don’t remember what happened but I could tell you what I felt minute by minute. It amazing how the mind works, especially when it’s operated by a migraine brain. In the last few years, specifically the last few years since I have been going to the Montefiore Headac

For Find Out Friday - Why is One Foot More Ticklish Than the Other?

As I sit here typing I can’t seem to stop thinking about my nails. Mainly that they REALLY need to get done. They are starting to chip and become unruly. As soon I as think about making an appointment my mind immediately returns to this question: “which of my feet will be ticklish this time?” Because I am a girl that needs her fingernails and toenails to match, I always get a pedicure whenever I get my nails done. And while this should be an activity I enjoy, it often feels like a chore, despite my going only once every three to four weeks. I know; #firstworldproblems.  Anyway, each and every time I get my toes done, as soon as they are done soaking in the bubbly water I wonder, which of my feet will be ticklish today?  Without fail one of them always seems to get the brunt of it and suddenly what was supposed to be a relaxing activity has made me all tense. So, is there a scientific reason for this?  According to most research, yes. While the answer doesn’t