Visit London Blog - Enjoy the very best of London
asanova.svetlana shared this tranquil scene of ducks pottering about in St James’s Park in front of Buckingham Palace.
If you’re planning to visit London this summer and enjoy all the fun from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the London 2012 games, don’t forget to add your photos to the Visit London Flickr group.
Did you see the fantastic projections on Buckingham Palace last night? They’ll be there from 8.30 to 11.15pm, until 21 April if you want to see them in person.
Thousands of self-portraits by children from across the UK are being projected on to the front of the palace to form a montage image of The Queen, to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee.
Face Britain is a project created by The Prince’s Foundation for Children & the Arts and brought to life by PhotoBox to celebrate the nation’s children and young people in the lead up to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Read more about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee here
Back in 2002, The Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee. Take a look back at what the celebrations involved ahead of this year’s Diamond Jubilee extravaganza.
Want to know more about the exciting events planned for celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee? Bookmark www.visitlondon.com/jubilee and we’ll keep that page updated with all the latest on the events taking place this spring.
Christmas is creeping ever closer, but that doesn’t mean the competition options stop!
Today’s prize is a fantastic coach tour, for four people, taking in the very best of London’s attractions. It’s sightseeing made simple!
Win, and you’ll be able to choose between a full-day or half-day tour, meaning you can tailor the prize to suit you.
There are three Goldentours options to choose from:
Enter now for your chance to win this fantastic prize
If you’re struggling to come up with Christmas present ideas for that one difficult-to-buy-for nephew or tricky sibling, then look no further than our list of exciting London-based experiences and gifts. And there’s no harm in getting one for yourself while you’re at it…
The Football Fan
The fantastic Wembley Stadium Tour will satisfy any football fan, regardless of team loyalty. Highlights include the crossbar from the 1966 World Cup and a replica of the World Cup Jules Rimet Trophy. (The original was stolen in 1966 and later found under a hedge by a dog named Pickles). Prices start at £15.
If you’re after something a bit more tangible, then why not buy a piece of Wembley Way? Etch your words in stone to be cemented into the ground surrounding the national stadium, from £50.
The History Buff
In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, give a loved one the royal treatment, with a day visiting the State Rooms, the Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace next summer, from £19.50.
The visit to the State Rooms includes the highly-anticipated exhibition Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration.
Or if they don’t mind travelling further afield, they can visit all three of the Queen’s official residences, with a Queen’s Palaces gift ticket. This includes Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, from £26.95.
The Thrill Seeker
See the city from a new angle and at high speed! London RIB Voyages and the Thames RIB Experience run daily speedboat trips down the Thames. Suitable for all ages, weatherproof clothing is provided. From £32 per adult, £19.50 under 14s.
Or if the Thames is just too tame, then head east to The Lee Valley for some white water rafting, from £49. You could even challenge the whole family! (Participants must be at least 14 years old).
The Budding Zookeeper
Go behind the scenes at one of London’ s most loved attractions, London Zoo, and buy an Attenborough in the making the chance to be a zookeeper for the day, from £16.
If their interests are more marine-based, they can join the aquarists behind the scenes at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium. The new 40-minute behind-the-scenes tour shows the aquarium’s inner workings and takes guests “behind the glass”. £7.50 for adults and £5 for children.
Good luck with the rest of your Christmas shopping, and let us know if you’ve had any London gift brainwaves this Christmas!
Following the popular Royal Wedding china launched last year, the official commemorative china for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is on sale from today.
The range includes a tankard, tea cup and saucer, plates, pill-box and coffee mug. The design was inspired by the elaborate Rockingham Range, first used in 1838 at the coronation banquet of Queen Victoria and most recently when the Obamas visited Buckingham Palace!
The official Diamond Jubilee china is handmade and features a border decoration of gilded oak leaves, acorns and the national symbols of daffodil, rose and thistle, entwined over a blue base. Prices range from £25 to £175.
The Queen celebrates 60 years on the throne in 2012. The celebrations include a free concert at Buckingham Palace, a spectacular flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames, a carriage procession and an extra Bank Holiday! Celebrations take place from 2 to 5 June 2012.
The Diamond Jubilee china range is available to buy online from www.royalcollection.org.uk/shop and from the Royal Collection shops at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse
We love this video by seeyaa about a red ball which escapes from a shop and bounces its merry way around London.
On its travels, the ball bounces past plenty of classic London sights and attractions, including Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and Camden Market, before taking a well earned rest on the Tube.
Here’s a heads-up for everyone who loves snooping around royal palaces in London.
The Queen’s Palaces is a three-part TV series on BBC One, presented by Fiona Bruce, and broadcast on 12, 19 and 26 September at 9pm.
The series tells the stories behind the creation of her Majesty’s official residences – Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse – and of the Kings and Queens whose vision and taste left their mark on these great buildings.
Don’t miss the first one, broadcast on Monday, which is all about our favourite: Buckingham Palace.
Here are some great pictures of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship London, which took place in and around Hyde Park at the weekend.
Congratulations to everyone involved, including Helen Jenkins and Alistair Brownlee for their fantastic winning performances in the elite races.
Fancy seeing more world-class sport in London, ahead of the Olympics? Check out our What’s On Sport page for all the details you need.
There’s an extra reason to visit Buckingham Palace this summer as Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding dress will be on display from 23 July to 3 October 2011.
The famous dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is made of ivory and white satin-gazar and features a 2.7 metre (9 ft) train.
The Buckingham Palace display will be the first chance for the public to see the dress up-close and appreciate the intricate embroidery detail; it’s covered in lace appliqué flowers, some of which are as small as 5p coins!
Kate’s wedding shoes, veil, diamond earrings and Cartier tiara lent by the Queen will be displayed with the wedding dress. The couple’s wedding cake will also be on display.
This year’s summer opening also features an exhibition of The Queen’s Faberge collection.
In other Royal Wedding news, it was revealed today that Kensington Palace will be the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s temporary London residence.
Buckingham Palace Summer Opening runs from 23 July to 3 October 2011. Book tickets here
