Next time you're in London's East End, take a moment to soak up London's street art. It's bold, witty and often subversive, much like the city itself. The works of artists who revel in pseudonyms like Jimmy C, Stik, Ronzo and, of course, Banksy, have turned the formerly mean streets of Spitalfields and Shoreditch into a continually evolving open air art gallery. Also read: 3 Days in London ... Read Full Article

London’s renowned Highgate Cemetery exudes its own distinct spirit as you stroll through its long, narrow winding gravel paths. Shaded by a forest canopy of ancient, leafy, towering oaks, alders, willows, and silver birch and chestnut trees, you can see all of England’s quintessential natural beauty within the 37-acre confines of this park-like necropolis. At Highgate, nature’s ground cover ... Read Full Article

You’ve got to hand it to the English—they do a marvelous job of preserving their heritage, especially in museums. But the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum has taken preservation of ancient buildings to a whole new level. In the middle of the rolling green hills of rural Sussex, about 50 miles southwest of London, you’ll find an enormous 50-acre farm dotted with 45 historic homes, farms, and ... Read Full Article

On a recent visit to London, I only had a morning to spend sight-seeing so I chose a visit to Kensington Palace. I had no idea when I went there how much I would learn about the romance, tragedy and scandals of the royalty who had occupied the palace over the centuries. Kensington Palace has been a royal residence since the 17th century and some of the most important moments in royal ... Read Full Article

When I was a youngster, growing up during WWII, every evening I’d sit in my grandparent’s kitchen and together we’d listen to the wavering voice of the BBC broadcasting the war news from London England. My father was serving as a chaplain at a field hospital in Holland. So after the news,Grandpa and I would put coloured tacks on a map over the table that showed, from the news, where the action of ... Read Full Article

I, like millions of others, watched the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011, and the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. So, on a recent trip to London I couldn't wait to visit Westminster Abbey, the scene of these celebrations. Westminster Abbey was founded by Benedictine monks in 960. In 1245, Henry III began building the present church and ... Read Full Article

It was an invitation to attend a royal wedding that caught my eye — a re-enactment of the marriage of Katherine Parr to Henry VIII, at Hampton Court Palace. How could I resist? And just to keep it all authentic, I opted to take the Thames cruise from the London docks up the Thames River to Hampton Court, just as Henry would have done. The river boat leaves from the Westminster pier, near ... Read Full Article

Back in the 1700's and 1800’s when the city of London’s streets were often runnels of filth and the air thick with noxious fumes from coal fires, Hampstead Heath  became a haven for the wealthy. For those with health ailments it was a place of refuge because of the fresh country air and medicinal water from the natural springs, and a popular place where Londoners could enjoy a refreshing walk in ... Read Full Article