The Tower of London

The Tower of London is usually thought as a place of imprisonment and death but has variously been used as an armoury, royal residence and repository of the Crown's treasure.

This is the layout of The Tower of London. To get here, get off at London Underground Tower Hill Station and follow the marked paths.

The Tower's oldest feature is the central White Tower, built by William the Conqueror. Tower Green is where the executions took place of those traitors lucky enough to be spared the public executions on nearby Tower Hill

Bloody Tower contains the room thought to have seen the murder of the "Prince in the Tower", Edward V and his brother, as well as quarters where Walter Raleigh spent 13 years of captivity writing his "History of the World".

Traitor's Gate is where the prisoners were delivered after been ferried down the River Thames from the court of justice at Westminster.

Here are some of the must see attractions or structures inside the The Tower of London. The Tower of London also had a legend associated with the Ravens. It is believed that should the Ravens leave the Tower, the monarchy would fall. Hence, a small population of the Ravens should always remain.

Once inside, one can explore the complex on your own.

I should have taken one of the photo of Yeoman Warders (often called Beefeaters) rather than this Guard

The White Tower itself hold parts of the Royal Armouries collection

Views from the Tower are dominated by the twin towers of Tower Bridge which was built in 1880s.

The Fusiliers' Museum. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers open their own museum here and separate entrance fee applies to enter this museum.

The Waterloo Barracks contain the Crown Jewels, the majority of which postdate the period of the Commonwealth (1649-1650). Three largest cut of diamonds in the world are on display here, the most famous of them, the Koh-i-Noor is set into a crown made for the Queen Mother in 1937.

Photography is not permitted in the Crown Jewels. Hence, I am unable to show the beauty of the crowns and diamonds here. However, I'm sure the description above will give some idea what are on display here.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum

Everyone should have read about the story of Sherlock Holmes during the schooldays and the home of this famous detective actually do exist!

The Sherlock Holmes Museum is located at 221b Baker Street, London. The easiest way to get here is taking the London Underground to Baker Street Station

Sherlock's Holmes' house was built in 1815 and is listed Grade 2 of special architectural and historical interest by Her Majesty's Government.

It was registered as a lodging house from 1860 to 1934 and was maintained privately until acquired by the Sherlock Holmes International Society. The opening of the Sherlock Holmes Museum to the public on 27 March 1990 was an event which should have happened several decades ago. 221b Baker Street is after all the world's most famous address because of its long association with the great detective.

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson lived at 221b Baker Street from about 1801-1904. 221b was on the first floor of a lodging house, the landlady of which was a Mrs. Hudson. There were 17 steps from the ground floor hallway to the first floor study which Holmes and Watson shared. Holmes' bedroom (photo above) was at the rear, adjoining the study.

People have been writing to Sherlock Holmes and to his friend Dr. Watson for the last 100 years but now it is possible to see where and how they lived in Victorian times in this museum.

This is a Q & A brochure I manage to grab while I was at the museum to test the visitors observation and alertness while in the museum

London

London is probably by far Europe's biggest city, spreading about 1500 square kilometres from its core on the River Thames.

Piccadily Circus could be easily identified with the colossal neon advertisements.

Trafalgar Square is dominated by Nelson's Column, a vast pillar surmounted by a statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died in the defeat of the French navy at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Four lions statue guard the column's base.

Current monarchical tradition is displayed at the Horse Guards. Mounted sentries of the Queen's Life Guard are posted daily here from 10am to 4pm, after which they are replaced by horseless guard

The Big Ben actually derives from the name of its main bell is a prominent landmark in London. The House of Parlianment is attached to the clock tower.

Buckingham Palace is the official monarch's permanent residence since the accession of Queen Victoria.

The imposing Admiralty Arch, built in 1910 as the eastern half of a memorial to Queen Victoria is just in front of the Buckingham Palace.

St. James's Park which is just a stone throw away from the Admiralty Arch provide an inner city reserve for wildfowl and a recreation area

The twin towers of Tower Bridge across River Thames, built in the 1880s

St. Paul's Cathedral

Standing in a dry dock next to Greenwich pier is the Cutty Sark (last time I heard in the news, it was burned down due to accident), one of the last of the clippers, sail powered cargo vessels built for speed and used on long distance routes bringing wool, tea and other produce to London from the far flung corners of the Empire

Chinatown is the place to look for cheap and value for money food in London.

The best way to travel around London is to use its efficient underground system. I usually opt of Zone 1 & 2 all day. The reason for it is because most attractions are located at Zone 1 & 2. This ticket will enable the holder to travel within Zone 1 & 2 without limit for the whole day.

The ticket used to cost GBP 3.50 back in 1998, then increased to GBP 3.80 in 1999. In my final year in England, the ticket cost GBP3.90 in 2000.

The tube system is divided to 6 zones. I reckon most tourists will be travelling around Zone 1 and 2 only

York

It's the medieval Minster, alleyway and ancient stone walls that draw tourist to York, a city at Northern England.

One of the best way to explore York is a stroll along the city walls, a three mile circuit that takes in the medieval Bars or gates. Bootham Bar (above photo), is a good place as any to start and progressing northeastwards from here.

This is part of the city wall

At Micklegate and Monk bar, one can purchased this certificate to prove that one had walk the full distance of the city wall

Somewhere along the walls, one will be rewarded with a good view of York city and the Minster.

York Minster had been the centre of spiritual authority for the north of England ever since Edwin of Northumbria adopted Christianity and built a wooden chapel on the site in preparation for his baptism into the faith

A taste of the Viking period in the history of York can be found at the Jorvik Viking Centre (the Danes invade York at one time and half of the Viking army settled here)

Originally the keep of York Castle, Clifford's Tower was the site of one of the most bizarre episodes of medieval Semitism. After a city fire, for which the Jewish community was blamed by the mob, the Jews took refuge here, then committed mass suicide in order to avoid being massacred.

There's little to see in the tower itself other than the commanding view from the top

Lendal Bridge and River Ouse

St. Mary's Abbey is a ruined Benedictine abbey which sit on the now Yorkshire Museum Gardens, near the York Minster

The Museum Gardens are simply peaceful and beautiful. The garden is a perfect place to rest and relax after a day exploring York city.