One day in London
Our tour begins at the Tube Station "Lancaster Gate" and leads you to the main attractions of London. You can easily get to the starting point of our tour by tube or by bus.
If you haven't had breakfast yet, we recommend the Victoria Pub, which is located just a few minutes walk from Lancaster Gate. When you get out of the tube station, go to the left and walk on Bayswater Road along Kensington Gardens until the first light, then turn left onto Sussex Gardens, with Hyde Park in the back, and then follow the Stanhope Terrace to the right for a few minutes until you are in front of the pub. How about a full English breakfast? Afterwards, go back to Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens following the same way as before.
The Kensington Gardens are just across the tube station. The Kensington Gardens extend the Hyde Park to the west. There are two entrances near Lancaster Gate: one on the left side, with little steps between flower beds, and on the right side, which leads directly to the fountains. With children we recommend the left entrance, then turning left again at the top of the stairs, as it leads to a playground. Then, you can still come back, walk down and walk past the fountains. The most beautiful playground in Kensington Gardens is the Diana Playground which is really big and has many different activities. From there you could cross the park diagonally and would be back on our route..
Our tour actually begins at the fountains near Lancaster Gate. If you click on the map below, you will see some highlights. This tour will lead you to those.
After the fountains stay to the right along the Serpentine, the artificial lake getting through the Hyde Park. You will definitely encounter a few squirrels on your way, as there are many of them here. If you have a little luck, you will also see green parrots after a little detour towards the Pond (you can accurately see the position on the map above). Then you will see the statue of Peter Pan on your right, and the Kensington Palace at some distance on the right, as well as the Royal Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall. Once you have crossed the bridge, you are in Hyde Park. You will pass the Diana Memorial on your right, a water circuit, representing the different stages of Diana's life: during the peaceful, harmonious phases of her lige the water flows quietly and slowly while the troubled phases are represented by water cascades... At the end of the Serpentine you will find a café.
We continue our tour straight away, leading us to a roundabout in the middle of which you will see the Wellington Arch, opposite the Apsley House. Go through the arch and continue straight away leading you further into the Green Park. The walls on the right side surround the Buckingham Palace Gardens. Turning right at the end of this path, you will stand in front of the Buckingham Palace. It is open to the public in September. With some luck, you will see the changing of the guards and in the middle of the square you can admire the Victoria Memorial.
Our journey continues on the Mall, the large boulevard along the St James Park, which connects Buckingham Palace with Trafalgar Square. On the northern side of Trafalgar Square there is the National Gallery and the famous Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. You should absolutely have a look at the inside and at the crypt of this church, which is situated below and hosts a cosy place to eat or drink a coffee. If you have the opportunity, listen to one of the numerous concerts in the church! From Trafalgar Square we then go to the south towards Whitehall. You will pass the Horse Guards Parade on your right, go through the narrow passage and get to to the place behind it, where there are often military parades. After that, go back to Whitehall and continue on the same way as previously. Soon comes the seat of the British Prime Minister, Downing Street 10. Further down, you will soon reach the place with the English Parliament, the famous Big Ben and the coronation church Westminster Abbey.
Once you have admired the architecture of the Parliament, go over the Westminster Bridge over the River Thames. On the other side you wil arrive in front of London Eye and the London Aquarium. Passing by street performers proceed along the Thames to the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Southwark Cathedral, Southwark Market, London City Hall and finally the Tower Bridge.
Cross the Tower Bridge and admire the Tower, which houses the crown jewels.