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To many people, Tower Hill is just an underground station on the District and Circle Lines, the station you get to visit the Tower of London, or walk from to get to the Dockland Light Railway. It is so much more than that.
Tower Hill was settled in the Bronze Age and was part of Roman London. There is a section of the 3rd century Roman Wall near the station.
It is also the location of the evocative Tower Hill Memorial, managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorating the Merchant Navy and fishing fleet dead of the First and Second World Wars who have no grave but the sea.
Tower Hill was also one of several execution sites in London. In the south west corner is the site of the scaffold where an estimated 125 people were executed, mostly by beheading, between the 14th and 18th centuries. The last person executed there was Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, in 1747.
There are also good views of the Tower of London.
Arguably one of the best attractions in London, the Tower has been so many things - Norman fortress, medieval palace, prison, place of execution - even a zoo. There is so much to see, not least the Crown Jewels. Don't let the queues put you off, allow plenty of time and soak up the atmosphere.
Laid out in 1830-41 on the site of the earlier royal stables, Trafalgar Square in central London commemorates Admiral Nelson's naval victory in 1805 and has Nelson's Column as its main feature. There are four plinths for statues in the square: General Sir Charles James Napier, Major General Sir Henry Havelock and King George IV. The fourth plinth, empty for many years, now features contemporary works of art. There is an equestrian statue of Charles I to the south of the square, traditionally the original location for Charing Cross and the site of execution of the regicides after the restoration. Trafalgar Square, London's largest square, is surrounded by attractions - like the National Gallery - and has long been a location for meetings, protests and revels. Legend has it there is buried treasure beneath its paving stones...
Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 – 1851), commonly referred to as J M W Turner, was one of Britain’s greatest painters. In 1813, he built a small brick villa, Sandycombe Lodge, on a large plot near the Thames at Twickenham. Turner designed the house himself, with the help of his friend, John Soane and it could be said that Sandycombe Lodge is his largest artwork. Turner installed his father, Old William, who tended the garden and kept house. The artist used this peaceful spot, with no other buildings nearby, to retreat from the pressures of the London art world, to walk and sketch along the Thames, to fish with one or two close companions, and occasionally to entertain larger groups of friends.
The location is a little more crowded now and much of the old garden has been built over. But the last resident, Professor Livermore, wanted to preserve the house for the nation and this vision has been realised by the Turner’s House Trust, which has restored the property and opened it to the public. It has been furnished and decorated based on the best evidence for how it would have looked in Turner’s day. Some of Turner’s work is on display, along with beautifully crafted models of ships, variations on those which Turner had in the house.
Opening times are limited – it is essential to check the website before travelling.
Photo - Turner's House
40 Sandycoombe Road
St Margarets
Twickenham
Directly quoting from the V&A's website: "The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The Museum holds many of the UK's national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance."
Entry is free - this is a national museum.
This Wallace Memorial in London's Smithfield honours Scottish hero and patriot Sir William Wallace, who was executed nearby on 23 August in 1305. The memorial was set up in 1956.
Post code is approximate - memorial is on the wall of St Bart's Hospital.
The Wellcome Collection is a medical museum that grew out of the Wellcome Trust, a global charity which, amongst other things, is a huge funder of medical research. The Wellcome Trust was established by the will of Henry Wellcome, a US Anglophile who co-founded the pharmaceutical firm Burroughs Wellcome (later absorbed into GSK). Wellcome was also an avid collector - anything from mainstream artwork to the bizarre - many of his items are now in the Science Museum. The Wellcome Collection includes two permanent displays, 'Medicine Man' about Henry Wellcome, and 'Medicine Now'. Its temporary exhibitions include an eclectic mix of art, history and somewhat off-the-wall - all with a medical bent - check its website to see what's on. There is also access to the Wellcome Library, a collection specialising in medicine and its history which includes many rare and unique items.
Westminster Abbey has been at the centre of English, and British, state occasions - coronations, weddings, funerals, services of commemoration - since William the Conqueror was crowned there on Christmas Day 1066. The Abbey was founded by King Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, though the present building is largely 13th-14th century, with the addition of 18th century towers. The interior of the abbey is breathtaking and contains the tombs of many of England's great monarchs, including Edward I and Elizabeth I, as well as memorials honouring heroes and poets - and the tomb of the Unknown Warrior. A sense of history is all around you.
However, entry is expensive and it can get incredibly crowded. Photography is allowed, within reason. However, you can download images from the Abbey's website - as shown here - which are copyright Dean and Chapter of Westminster.
Westminster
The only visible remains of White Friars Priory, the medieval London home of the Carmelite order, can be found behind glass under an office block. The priory used to stretch from Fleet Street to the Thames, bounded by the River Fleet in the east and the Temple in the west. Access to the crypt may be possible on a heritage open day.
Bouverie Street
The William Morris Gallery is housed in William Morris’ childhood home, a Georgian house set in Lloyd Park in Walthamstow. It contains the world’s largest collection of this iconic Victorian designer and craftsman’s work, including tapestries, furniture, tiles, wallpaper, embroidery and paintings. The museum was opened in 1950 by the then Prime Minister, Clement Attlee.
Forest Road
Walthamstow
If your favourite attraction is not listed yet, and you have a good quality digital photograph of it that you are able to freely send, please get in touch.Â
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