Middlesex Attractions

Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to the present day. As such, it is the most comprehensive collection of its kind in the world (only the Yale Center for British Art can claim similar expansiveness, but with less depth). More recent artists include David Hockney, Peter Blake and Francis Bacon. Works in the permanent Tate collection, which may be on display at Tate Britain include works by Blake, Constable, Gainsborough, Hogarth, Rosetti and Hockney. The Clore Gallery, opened in 1987, houses an acclaimed collection of paintings by Romantic landscape artist JMW Turner. Tate Britain also hosts special rtist seminars, themed talks, lectures and films.

The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution located in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate.

Neasden Temple (officially called Shri Swaminarayan Mandir), is a 70ft high Hindu temple in the Neasden suburb of NE London. The incredible marble and limestone structure is the largest of its kind outside of India, and attracts more than 0.5 million visitors every year. The temple was inspired by Lord Swaminarayan, an 18th century Indian guru and was built using an estimated 2,000 tons of Italian marble and 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone which had first been shipped to India where 1,000 local craftsmen volunteered their skills to sculpt the incredible structure. The vast temple covers 1.5 acres and can accommodate up to 5,000 people in its assembly hall. The temple also includes a permanent exhibition on India and Hinduism.

Somerset House is a large 18th century building situated on the S side of the Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames. In 1997 the Somerset House Trust was set up to conserve and develop Somerset House and the surrounding areas for public use. The house has been renovated and restored and houses celebrated art collections in three exhibition areas: the Courtauld Institute of Art, the Gilbert Collection and the Hermitage Rooms. Outside, the redeveloped Courtyard is the venue for a summer schedule of concerts and events; during the Christmas and New Year periods, the Courtyard is transformed into a popular ice skating rink that provides a welcome distraction for Christmas shoppers. When not holding events, the Courtyard's acclaimed Safra Fountain Court bursts into life with daily displays during the summer months.

Westminster Abbey (Officially known as The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster), is a large, Gothic church, in Westminster, London. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English, later British and later still (and currently) monarchs of the Commonwealth Realms. It briefly held the status of a cathedral from 1546–1556, and is a Royal Peculiar. The Abbey is one of Britain premier tourist destinations. Inside the Abbey are buried kings, statesmen, warriors, scientists, musicians and poets, including Charles Darwin, Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Mary I, James I and Charles II. Henry III built the present building in the 13th century to compete with the great European cathedrals of the time.  

Tate Modern is part of the Tate family of four art galleries housing the UK's collection of British art from 1500 and of international modern art. The collections in Tate Modern consist of works of international modern and contemporary art dating from 1900 onwards. The Tate Collection is on display on levels three and five of the building, while level four houses large temporary exhibitions and a small exhibition space on level two houses work by contemporary artists.

The National Gallery in London was founded in 1824 and houses a rich collection of over 2,000 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900.  The gallery is located in the popular Trafalgar Square in Central London. Paintings by English masters include Constable’s ‘The Haywain’ and Gainsborough’s ‘The Watering Place’. Most famous artists of the period have works contained within the gallery including Van Goch, Monet, Leonardo Da Vinci to name but a few. There are regular exhibitions at the National Gallery that generally run from as little as 3 weeks to a full season.

The London Eye is a giant 135-metre (443 ft) tall Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames in Central London, England. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people per year. When erected in on the eve of the millenium, 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, until surpassed first by the 160 m (520 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, and then by 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008. The structure differs from standard ferris wheels in that it has an A-frame support structure on only one side, while the observation pods are located on the exterior. The structure has 32 separate capsules that rotate and can carry up to 25 people at any one time on a 30 minute journey over London's skyline. The wheel provides staggering views of central ...

Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace located in SW London. It has not been lived in by the British royal family since the 18th century but is a favourite among tourists who are often drawn to it due to its status as the former home of Henry VIII. The Palace was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII at the time but as Wolsey fell from favour, the palace was passed to the King, who expanded it considerably. The Palace itself has been home to a number of British monarchs between 1525 and 1737, including King Henry VIII, King William III and Queen Mary during the 17th century, and King George II and Queen Caroline in the 18th century. The Palace has also hosted some of the key events in British history including the honeymoon of King Henry VIII with Anne Boleyn in 1533 and the marriage of his 6th wife Catherine Parr in 1543. The Palace also held ...

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture located in Central London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects (not all of which are on show) are the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to present day. The museum opened to the public in 1759, with the famous Rosetta Stone becoming the most famous piece of the collection in 1802. The museum features antiguities from all over the world along with many Greek and Egyptian antiquities. As well as the Rosetta Stone, the museum also houses many other famous pieces such as the Elgin Marbles from Greece. The spectacular Great Court, with its impressive glass roof, was opened in 2000, following the relocation of the British Library to St Pancras, and is the largest covered public square i...

Leeds Castle located to the E of the village Leeds, in Kent (to the SE below London) dates back to 1119, though a manor house stood on the same site from the 9th century. This castle and its grounds are now a leisure destination whilst still hosting histroical tours of the castle itself. The castle grounds have an aviary, a maze, a grotto, a golf course and what may be the world's only museum of dog collars. Sections of the castle are available for privately hire and are popular with weddings, other ceremonies and conferences. Seasonal hot air balloon flights are also available at Leeds Castle.

Chessington World of Adventures, located just SW of London, is the biggest theme park and zoo in the S of England. The park started out as a zoo, but was transformed into a theme park during the late 1980s. Highlights of the park include the Trail of the Kings animal enclosure, which allows visitors to see animals safely from behind viewing screens, while the Seal Life Centre houses sharks and sting rays. The park features a variety of rides and attractions in themed zones such as the Forbidden Kingdom, Wild Asia, Land of the Dragons, Mexicana, Mystic East, Pirates Cove and Market Square. The attractions across the park are family oriented but there is something for for all ages and thrill levels. Notable features of the park outside of the rides include a jungle bus tour, a walk-through aviary plus a colourful Maharaja's Market.

The Tower of London, founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, is today one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. Located in Central London the Tower of London has played a prominent role in England's history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to the controlling of the country. The Tower has served a number of purposes. It has been an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. In the late 15th century the castle was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence. For the tourist, the Tower of London gives provides an opportunity to discover its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution...

The Houses of Parliament (also known as the Palace of Westminster) is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It lies on the N bank of the river Thames. The building serves as one of the most iconic images of England with the Clock Tower 'Big Ben' as the focal point. Although a working building and not tourist centred, the building does offer tourist quarters and tours are available to visit this magnificent building.

The symbol of the 21st century (launched on news day 2000) called the Millenium Dome, has now transformed itself from a struggling exhibition of the last millenium to a power house of an entertainment centre. The Dome is now the O2 Arena and is one of the UK's premier entertainment arenas hosting pop concerts, sports events, exhibitions, restaurants bars, a cinema complex and much more. The O2 arena is actually a large dome-shaped building on the banks of the River thames in Greenwich, London hosting a capacity of 23,000 people.

St Paul's Cathedral is a large domed cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace the Gothic medieval cathedral destroyed in 1666 in the Great Fire of London. It was built between 1675 - 1710 and is a significant building in British history, having been the site of the funerals of several British military leaders (Nelson, Wellington, Churchill), and significantly held peace services marking the end of the two world wars. The cathedral is also famous for its Whispering Wall, as well as its stunning view over the city. The crypt is also open to the public, holding the tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Christopher Wren. For budget travelers it is possible to get in for free. The cathedral is open to the general public for free during midday service. Visitors who get in at this time won't be escorted out. To get to the top you must however hold a valid ticket which...

Kew Garden, officially known as the Royal Botanic Garden are 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in SW London. Aside from a tourist attraction drawing in around 2 million visitors per year, the gardens form part of an internationally important botanical research and education institution with 700+ staff. The Gardens attractions include an aquatic garden, a woodland glade, a bamboo garden,  a conservation area and a Japanese landscape. There are also several glasshouses and the famous Queen Charlotte’s Cottage. Visitors to Kew can either join in a guided tour, follow one of several themed trails, or enjoy the attractions at their leisure.

Canterbury Cathedral, located in Kent, is one fo the oldest and most famous Christian structures. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Inside the cathedral, visitors can experience the stained glass windows dating from the 12th century and the medieval tombs of King Henry IV and Edward the Black Prince, as well as those of numerous archbishops.

The London  Dungeon is a popular London tourist attraction that are mostly themed around the turbulent periods and gory events of London's history. The attraction takes the visitor through a series of medieval periods that feature a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides. The attraction is family oriented and the actors tend to tone the 'scary' elements down to the individual tourist groups. The periods of London's history and fictional themes covered within the attraction are: Labyrinth of the Lost The Great Plague and Surgery Judgment Traitor: Boat Ride to Hell Sweeney Todd Jack the Ripper Bloody Mary Great Fire of London Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British Monarch. The 19 state rooms, which include the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery are used for official and state entertaining and are open to the public each year for most of August and September, as part of the Palace's Summer Opening. The palace enjoys an imposing location in the centre of London, opposite the beautiful St James’s Park. Every year, millions of visitors come to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place outside the palace.

The Natural History Museum is one of London's main tourist attractions and is a collection natural history presented in a modern and educational format. The museum originally started out as a sub-section of the British Museum but was later moved to its current location in 1883. The museum houses a variety of collections perhaps most famously the dinosaur gallery, where visitors can see huge dinosaur skeletons and even a lifesize moving T-Rex using state of the art animatronics. The Earth Galleries explore the planet as well as featuring displays of minerals and gemstones and an earthquake simulator. The Life Galleries allow visitors to explore human biology, Darwin’s theory of natural selection and to experience a life-size model of a blue whale. There are also regular exhibitions both inside and outside the building.

Madame Tussauds London is a popular tourist attraction located in Central London. It is famous for recreating famous people, or celebrities, in wax. It is the original Madame Tussauds attraction, having been situated on Marylebone Road since 1884. The attraction takes the visitor through a series of rooms with themes matching the recreated people. These rooms include: * A-List Party * Warhol's Women * Premiere Night (Movie Room) * Sports Zone * A Royal Appointment * Culture * Music Megastars * World Leaders * Chamber of Horrors and Scream * Behind the Secenes and History of Madame Tussauds * Spirit of London ride * Marvel Super Heroes 4D

Hyde Park is one of the largest parks of Central London spanning 142 hectares (350 acres). The park is divided in two by the Serpentine, which separates the park from Kensington Gardens. The park is very popular at all times of the year and is famous for events and concerts. The largest ever being that of Queen in 1976 which drew in a record crowd of just under 200,000 people. Sites of particular interest in the park include Speakers' Corner (located in the NE corner near Marble Arch). Just S of the Serpentine is the Diana Princess of Wales memorial, (an oval stone ring shaped fountain opened on 6 July 2004, that openly encourages people to play in the fountain). To the SE of the Serpentine is the Italian Gardens (a beautiful array of fountains and colourful gardens). To the E of the Serpentine is London's Holocaust Memorial. Another memorial in the Park commemorates the victims of...

Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and today it is the official residence of The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The palace is nowadays most famous for being the former residence of Diana, Princess of Wales prior to her death in 1997. A memorial fountain is located in nearby Hyde Park and the gates of the Palace are covered in memorial flowers and wreaths annually around the time of her death. Today, the State Rooms of the Palace are open to the public and usually feature exhibitions of how the Palace operated and looked throughout its history. The adjacent Kensington Gardens cover 111 hectares (275 acres) and is separated from Hyde Park by the Se...

St. James's Park is a 23 hectare (58 acre) park in Central London and is the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the S tip of the St. James's area is bounded by Buckingham Palace to the W, The Mall and St. James's Palace to the N, Horse Guards to the E, and Birdcage Walk to the S. The park has a small lake, St. James's Park Lake, with two islands, Duck Island (named for the lake's collection of waterfowl), and West Island. A bridge across the lake affords a view of Buckingham Palace framed by trees and fountains, and a view of the main building of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, similarly framed, to the E.

Wembley Stadium is a football stadium located in Wembley Park, NW London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the previous 1923 structure. The 90,000 capacity venue is the second largest stadium in Europe, and serves as England's national stadium as well as hosting other sporting and entertainment events (such as pop/rock concerts, American Football etc). The stadium is primarily the home venue of the England national football team, and hosts the latter stages of the top level domestic club cup competition, the FA Cup and League Cup. It is owned by English football's governing body, the Football Association (The FA).

Thorpe Park is a theme park located in Chertsey, Surrey. The park is the 3rd most visited theme park in the UK (behind Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Alton Towers). It was built in 1979 on the site of a gravel pit which was partially flooded with the intention of creating a water based theme for the park. The park's first large roller coaster, Colossus, was added in 2002. In 2007, Tussauds was bought out by Merlin Entertainments. Some of the major attractions at Thorpe Park include: Nemesis Inferno, a B&M inverted roller coaster featuring interlocking corkscrews a pre-lift section. Colossus, an Intamin multi-looping rollercoaster with a record breaking 10 inversions. SAW: The Ride, a Gerstlauer Eurofighter with the world's steepest freefall drop. Stealth, a launched roller coaster which accelerates to 130 km/h (80 mph) in approximately 1.8 secon...

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of 755 species of animals, with 16,802 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom. It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826), and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park, on the boundary line between City of Westminster and Camden (the Regent's Canal runs through it). The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved. As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first i...

Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public. It has been said the internally Art Deco house is a "masterpiece of modern design".

Greenwich Park is a former hunting park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south east London. One of the Royal Parks of London, and the first to be enclosed (in 1433), it covers 74 hectares (180 acres), and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. It commands fine views over the River Thames, Isle of Dogs and the City of London. The park is open from 06:00 for pedestrians (and 07:00 for traffic) all year round and closes at dusk.

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and 17th-century Queen's House. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United Kingdom, the National Maritime Museum does not levy an admission charge although most temporary exhibitions do incur admission charges.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (formerly the Royal Greenwich Observatory or RGO), in London, England played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian (Greenwich Mean Time). It is situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames. The observatory was commissioned in 1675 by King Charles II, with the foundation stone being laid on 10 August. At this time the king also created the position of Astronomer Royal (initially filled by John Flamsteed), to serve as the director of the observatory and to "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation." The building was completed in the summ...

The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture located in Central London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects (not all of which are on show) are the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to present day. The museum opened to the public in 1759, with the famous Rosetta Stone becoming the most famous piece of the collection in 1802. The museum features antiguities from all over the world along with many Greek and Egyptian antiquities. As well as the Rosetta Stone, the museum also houses many other famous pieces such as the Elgin Marbles from Greece. The spectacular Great Court, with its impressive glass roof, was opened in 2000, following the relocation of the British Library to St Pancras, and is the largest covered public square i...

The symbol of the 21st century (launched on news day 2000) called the Millenium Dome, has now transformed itself from a struggling exhibition of the last millenium to a power house of an entertainment centre. The Dome is now the O2 Arena and is one of the UK's premier entertainment arenas hosting pop concerts, sports events, exhibitions, restaurants bars, a cinema complex and much more. The O2 arena is actually a large dome-shaped building on the banks of the River thames in Greenwich, London hosting a capacity of 23,000 people.

Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public. It has been said the internally Art Deco house is a "masterpiece of modern design".

Greenwich Park is a former hunting park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south east London. One of the Royal Parks of London, and the first to be enclosed (in 1433), it covers 74 hectares (180 acres), and is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. It commands fine views over the River Thames, Isle of Dogs and the City of London. The park is open from 06:00 for pedestrians (and 07:00 for traffic) all year round and closes at dusk.

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and 17th-century Queen's House. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United Kingdom, the National Maritime Museum does not levy an admission charge although most temporary exhibitions do incur admission charges.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (formerly the Royal Greenwich Observatory or RGO), in London, England played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian (Greenwich Mean Time). It is situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames. The observatory was commissioned in 1675 by King Charles II, with the foundation stone being laid on 10 August. At this time the king also created the position of Astronomer Royal (initially filled by John Flamsteed), to serve as the director of the observatory and to "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation." The building was completed in the summ...