TRICIA STEVENS
PERSPECTIVES
ENGLAND
England is part of the United Kingdom (along with Scotland and Ireland) and is home to 84% of the UK population. From the low-lying lands, to gently rolling hills, to meadows and pastures, England residents are never more than 120km from the sea.
ABSOLUTE MUSTS
Tower of London
Located in central London, this 900-year-old castle and fortress is known for being the home to the crown jewels and for being the place to hold several famous prisoners. Kings and Queens used this fortress to imprison their rivals and enemies inside its walls. It was even used to house the royal family in times of rebellion and war. William the Conquerer began building the fortress in 1070 and it took nearly 20 years to complete. It was built after a recent victory at that time, and we was nervous about a rebellion.
Tower Bridge
Built over 125 years ago, Tower Bridge was built to help with road traffic while still allowing river access to the London docks. The bridge can be raised for passing vessels with a mast of 30 feet or higher however vessels must register and provide 24 hours notice before passing through. The bridge can be raised any time, 365 days per year and it is raised over 800 times per year.
Camden Market
This popular tourist attraction is home to shops and stalls selling numerous handmade products such as clothing, jewelry, art, music, crafts, and merchandise from around the world. Authentic cultural foods are also available for purchase. The market is located at Camden Lock which is a part of Camden Town in the London Borough of Camden, England. It was formerly a wharf with stables on the Regent’s Canal.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a stunning church found in the central London borough of Westminster. It is the site of coronations for all British Monarchs dating back to 960 AD , and it’s an important location for ceremonies such as weddings and burials. The site is also the final resting place for 30 kings and queens.
Piccadily Circus
The name Piccadilly first appeared in 1626 and is said to be named after a house that belonged to a tailor (Robert Baker) who was famous for selling piccadills (large frilly collars made famous in the 17th century). The name ‘circus’ comes from the roundabout street that traffic travels around. The area is famous for it’s prime location in the heart of London with it’s neon billboard light displays, and nearby shopping areas. It is also surrounded by many theatres along with several attractions including the historic Shaftesbury Monument memorial fountain which is the first statue in the world to be cast in aluminum.
Buckingham Palace
This official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II has 775 rooms! Of these rooms, 19 are Staterooms which are used for the queen and members of the royal family to host guests. There are also 78 bathrooms, 52 guest bedrooms, approximately 100 offices, and 188 staff bedrooms. The entire palace grounds cover roughly 40 acres, including the garden areas.
Afternoon Tea
This British tradition of sitting down for an afternoon tea, accompanied by scones, sandwiches, and cakes was introduced by the Duchess of Bedford in 1840. It is said that the Duchess (Anna) would become hungry around 4pm each day and with the long wait between lunch and dinner (8pm) there was a lengthy period of time between meals.
Big Ben
This famous 320 foot high clock tower, known for its massive bell and accuracy of time, is said to be named after Sir Benjamin Hall. He was the commissioner of works and was known as ‘Big Ben’ because he was a larger man. The bell weighs over 15 tons and the hands of the clock are 9 and 14 feet long. Big Ben has rarely ever stopped and it even kept running after a bomb destroyed the the Commons chamber during World War II.
