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The City and the Strand
Before the Embankment was constructed (mid 1800's) to reclaim
marshy land next to the Thames, the Strand was a modest pathway that
connected the "City of London" with Westminster.
The City, also known as the Square Mile, marks the
"original" settlement of London and in several areas you can see the
original walls that once surrounded and protected this once modest
city. The original settlement (The City) was devastated by the
"Great Fire of 1666", but rebounded and is today one of the world's
centers of banking and insurance. It is the site of many impressive
buildings and remains a good place for a leisurely stroll.
We provide brief descriptions of Covent Garden, the Temple
(including the Temple Church and St, Paul's Cathedral
 Covent
Garden, Leicester Square
Covent Garden is a vibrant section of Central London, whose focus is a
central square that was once a fruit and vegetable market. Today's
market is a fantastic combination of shops, restaurants, artisans and street
performers/
If you like shopping for trinkets and unique treasures (there are numerous
talented artisans here), you will find Covent Garden a pleasure. Home of the
Royal Opera House (recently refurbished at an expense of over £200 million)
and the London Transport Museum, the Covent Garden area is best known for
its shops, restaurants and ubiquitous street performers.
 Covent Garden is good fun, and a nice though touristy place to have a meal
and do some shopping. Usually crowded, especially around the “market
building”, the Garden offers interesting stores filled with antiques and
custom made goods. Some sellers operate from portable stands, others in
stalls housed in buildings surrounding Covent Garden's main structure. You
can spend a great deal of time here unearthing some real treasures that you
won’t find elsewhere in London.
If the nearly 200 year old Covent Garden looks familiar to
you, it has been the stage for several movies. In addition, this
is where George Bernard Shaw, author of Pygmalion, contrived to
have Professor Henry Higgins, who was waiting for a buggy to
depart the Opera, first see Eliza Doolittle selling flowers in
what was then the flower market. You may know this story as "My
Fair Lady".
In addition, the historic area of Covent Garden was
favored by Charles Dickens and is mentioned in several of his
classics, including David Copperfield and the Pickwick Papers.
Temple
 The Temple is an area of London’s “Inns of Courts" whose
architecture evokes the Middle Ages and, some think, the best
vestiges of the British Empire. It is a wonderful area for a walk
featuring historic architecture and you may see wigged barristers on
their way to court. Further down, you will find the impressive
Bank of England Building and the financial heart of the city, and
much of the world, for that matter.
For many, the area is best
known for the Temple Church, a round church, built the Knight Templars and
consecrated in 1185. The church’ architecture follows the rounded form favor
by the Knights Templar and it is a must see if you are interested in history
in general or the Knights in particular.
The Church’s marble effigies of
William of Pembroke and his sons adorn the floor of the nave. Renewed
interest in the church has resulted from its crucial role in the recent
novel “the DaVinci Code”.
Visit the
Temple Church web site
to find out when the Church is open to visitors. If
interested in the rest of the story, when at the web site, click on
"History" for a thorough background on the Temple Church.
Aldgate
East or Liverpool Street
Considered by many to be the masterpiece of Christopher Wren (the architect
whose influence molded the new London that rose after the epic “Fire of
London” destroyed most of the city in 1666) St. Paul's is one of London's
most popular and enduring attractions. From the outside, St. Paul's appears imposing and
staid, on the inside its mixed architectural style is beautiful, awe
inspiring and elegant. This is the cathedral where Lady
Diana Spencer (Princess Di) and Charles, Prince of Wales, were married
in 1981.
St. Paul’s dome is landmark visible from many areas of London and one of the
largest cathedral domes in the world. The famed “Whispering Gallery, near
the top of the dome is often filled with kids, whispering
secret messages to their friends or parents, on the opposite side of the dome. You can
ascend higher into the dome to the Stone Gallery for fine views of London.
If you have the stamina, continue up to the Golden Gallery, the smallest
and highest gallery, for an even better view.
The tombs of Admiral Nelson (victorious leader of the Royal Navy at the
Battle of Trafalgar), the Duke of Wellington (leader of the army that
defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo) and the architect Christopher Wren can be found in the Crypt
beneath St. Paul's.
Check to see if there is an organ or a chorale concert scheduled
during your visit. If so, plan on attending, as it is a
truly memorable experience. With the right music being played, you can
"feel" the base tones of this amazing instrument, while
experiencing the amazing acoustics of the Cathedral.
Visit
the official St. Paul's web site for details on
admission, opening hours and schedule of events.
Top of Page
Bank
(Aldych), Monument, Liverpool Street
 Dating back at least 600 years, the Leadenhall market was once a granary
with a chapel. Rebuilt in the 19th century with wrought iron and glass,
Leadenhall Market was restored again in 1991 and is a charming venue.
The market has a mixture of shops and eateries and is a
pleasant place to spend an hour. The market operates daily
from Monday through Friday.
You may notice some similarities with Diagon Alley in the
movie "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone", as Leadenhall
Market was used as a "set".
Next: Other sections of our London Guide
Or, Return to our list of
London's best
Best Places to Visit in the
United Kingdom
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