Realise your London dreams

I visited the dreamland and was struck in awe with its magnificent beauty. London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom, was founded 2,000 years ago by the Romans as Londinium. The city has been Western Europe's largest city for centuries. Today, London is not only the largest city but also one of the most visited thanks to its numerous famous attractions.

Having welcomed a record-breaking feat of about 19.6 million visitors stepping in 2015 alone, it’s no surprise, as the city offers a wide range of historic and man-made attraction alike - top-ranked museums, art galleries, wide ranges tours and experiences for everyone of all ages, to learn and get entertained.

---

With the Brexit and its consequent fall of Pounds compared to Rupees, it’s a unique opportunity for a budget traveller to visit the city of dreams—London.

---

ArcelorMittal Orbit
Be proud to enjoy an Indian connection here. London’s newest attraction, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, has now become one of the most iconic places to visit for both its curious structure and its views over London city.

The orbit was funded by Britain's richest man, the steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman of the ArcelorMittal steel company and designed by Turner-Prize winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond of engineering Group Arup.

If one is not afraid of its enormous heights, the ‘Orbit’ is a definite must-see. With two observation platforms, visitors can overlook the Olympic Park, which hosted the 2012 Olympic Games, and enjoy a panorama over East London and the City.

British Museum
The world-famous British Museum exhibits the works of man from prehistoric to modern times, from around the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures and the mummies in the Ancient Egypt collection.

It would be churlish to leave the British Museum out of a list like this, even though its fame no doubt precedes it. Most visitors will make a beeline for the controversial Elgin Marbles – statues removed from the Parthenon in Athens – by way of the ever-popular Egyptian displays.

Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the world's most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

National Art Gallery
Renowned broadcaster Clive James once described the National Art Gallery as "the best free show in town". Some sections, such as the impressionists, can be uncomfortably busy, but the building is so large that one can always find a quiet room full of treasures.

The crowning glory of Trafalgar Square, London's National Gallery is a vast space filled with Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. In this iconic art gallery, visitors can find works by renowned masters’ classic arts such as Van Gogh, da Vinci, Botticelli, Constable, Renoir, Titian and Stubbs.

Thames River Cruise
A Thames river cruise is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to see London’s warmth, weaving through the heart of the city and many of its most famous attractions, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Tower of London and pass under Tower Bridge, to reach Greenwich.

The London Eye
The London Eye is a major feature of London's wonderful skyline. It boasts some of London's best views from its 32 capsules, each weighing 10 tonnes and holding up to 25 people. It’s a huge modern version of Vienna's Prater Ferris wheel, which dominates the river skyline opposite the Parliament, the House of Commons and Lords. Queues were horrendous, but the new ticketing system has improved things markedly now. Take a telephoto lens if one wants to get good photos from the top.

HMS Belfast
Along the River Thames, there are plenty of things to do and places to visit, including the historic HMS Belfast, which is docked on the South Bank. It was launched in 1938 and served with distinction in both the World War II and the Korean War. Jump aboard and learn about the role she played in wartime history and experience what life was like on deck then.

Old Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Old Royal Observatory has great views, especially at sunset. Board a train from London Bridge or, better, take the Docklands Light Railway from the river Bank and walk through the atmospheric foot tunnel that links Island Gardens to Greenwich stations. One can also travel by boat.

Madame Tussauds
It is a unique museum stocking large waxworks. It's a big crowd puller - the queues can be horrendous - but one can pre-book a ticket online as well and walk jauntily by the unfortunates if he or she wishes so. At Madame Tussauds, the tourists will come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces.

From Shakespeare to Lady Gaga, one can meet influential figures from showbiz, sport, politics and even royalty. Strike a pose with Sachin or a Shah Rukh, a Diana, a Bachchan, or the like or get close to the once-in-a-lifetime audience with Her Majesty, the Queen.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
Discover the works and life of the world famous Bard. Situated on London’s Thames bank side, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre that housed Shakespeare's theatre in London, an open-air playhouse where the playwright penned many of his greatest plays. Join in on a tour of this Elizabethan open-air playhouse and go backstage to see what goes into making a Shakespearean play.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
If one wants a really unique solely Indian entity to visit, it is advised to go to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, an ancient Indian temple, to get an insight into London’s multi-cultural life. With ancient Indian art and traditions housed in this place of Hindu worship, as well as deities and motifs representing the sacred faith and beliefs of a people dating back over 8,500 years, this attraction is possibly the most important Indian museum in London.

By: Prof Pranab K Bhattacharya