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Great Russell St (btwn Montague & Bloomsbury St), London, Greater London
History Museum · Bloomsbury · 1012 tips and reviews
HISTORY UK: The British Museum began from the collection of naturalist Sir Hans Sloane which he left to the nation on his death in 1753. Now it houses 7 million objects including more than 100 Egyptian mummies.
HISTORY UK: One of the gallery’s most famous pictures is the Chandos portrait, which is said to be of William Shakespeare by his friend Richard Burbage. But some dispute its provenance.
Piccadilly (Constitution Hill), London, Greater London
Park · Green Park · 197 tips and reviews
HISTORY UK: In the 18th century the park was notorious for highwaymen and Horace Walpole was one of many robbed here. Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ was composed for an event here in 1749.
Historic and Protected Site · Abbey Road · 82 tips and reviews
New York Habitat: Walk this iconic street and crosswalk where the Beatles posed for their famous Abbey Road album cover. A must even if you’re not a Beatles fan!
HISTORY UK: Every year a Norway Spruce is erected here and decorated as part of the Christmas festivities. The tree is a gift of thanks from the Norwegians for Britain's support during the Second World War
Monument · Knightsbridge and Belgravia · 105 tips and reviews
HISTORY UK: Sculpted from Italian marble and based on the Arch of Constantine in Rome, this was built in 1827 as the entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was moved here in 1851 when the palace was enlarged.
HISTORY UK: The gallery opened in 1824 to exhibit 38 paintings purchased by the government. The UK national collection is relatively small because unlike in Europe, the monarch’s collection was not nationalised.
Westminster Bridge Rd. (Victoria Embankment), London, Greater London
Bridge · Waterloo · 117 tips and reviews
HISTORY UK: The lion sculpture was once painted red and stood over the Red Lion Brewery on the South Bank in the 18th century. When the area was redeveloped in the 1950s the lion was saved and moved here.
HISTORY UK: Big Ben refers to the 13 ton bell in the clock tower of Westminster Palace. Opinion is divided as to whether it was named after the then Commissioner of Works, or a famous prize-fighter of the time.
A3 London Bridge (btwn City of London & Southwark), London, Greater London
Bridge · City of London · 141 tips and reviews
HISTORY UK: London Bridge was once crowded with buildings and prone to fires. It survived the 1666 Great Fire because an earlier fire had destroyed houses at the north end, creating a fire break!
HISTORY UK: The Mall took on its current form as a royal processional route around 1912. The palace approach was widened, and Admiralty Arch was built at one end and the Victoria Memorial at the other