London Video Tour: Westminster

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• published: 15 Apr 2013
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In this video tour, David Hill of New York Habitat (http://www.nyhabitat.com) explores the historic area of Westminster in London! As the political and cultural heart of London, Westminster houses the Palace of Westminster, which is the seat of government, as well as Buckingham Palace, which is the residence of the Royal Family. To the north, Westminster is bounded by Mayfair and Trafalgar Square; to the east and south by the River Thames; and to the west by Knightsbridge and Chelsea. In this video tour, we'll take you to the Houses of Parliament; Westminster Abbey; Buckingham Palace and more! The Houses of Parliament The tour starts at the Palace of Westminster, which is more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament. The Parliament have been meeting here since the 13th Century, and the first Royal Palace built on this site even dates back to the 11th Century! The present Palace was built in the 19th Century after the previous palace burned down. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords meet in the Palace. The building, complete with the Elizabeth Tower or Big Ben, has become one of the most iconic landmarks in London. Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey was constructed almost a thousand years ago. Over the years it has seen numerous coronations and royal weddings. The most recent of these was the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. There are also a great number of national figures buried in the Abbey, including Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton. The Abbey's cloister and gardens are also very much worth a visit. Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is also located in Westminster. Tourists come to the gates of the Palace every day to watch the Changing of the Guards in the courtyard. For some time in the summer you can even visit the Palace's staterooms. Even if you don't visit the inside of the Palace, it's quite a thrill to see the Royal Standard flag wave high above the palace, signaling the Queen is in residence. Stay in a Westminster Vacation Rental Apartment If you're looking for your own London residence; consider renting a vacation rental apartment! (http://www.nyhabitat.com/london-apartment/vacation) NY Habitat has many vacation rental apartments available in Westminster that will allow you to feel like a true London local! Take for example this lovely Westminster studio apartment: http://www.nyhabitat.com/london-apartment/vacation/1174, which is located close to Buckingham Palace. Or if you're coming with your family and are in need of a little more space, how about this classic 2-bedroom apartment: http://www.nyhabitat.com/london-apartment/vacation/75, which even gives access to the building's swimming pool! Check http://www.nyhabitat.com/london-apartment.html for our entire selection of apartments in London. St. James's Park St. James's Park east of Buckingham Palace is the oldest of the Royal Parks in London. Once part of uncultivated marshland, the park today boasts lush lawns, beautiful trees and even a small lake with two islands. The colony of pelicans that inhabit the park are a marvel to see. At the eastern end of the park you'll find the impressive Horse Guards Parade, where tournaments used to be held. Victoria Station London Victoria Station is one of the busiest terminuses in London and the UK, and is located right in the middle of Westminster. This makes it very easy to get to Westminster from other parts of the country by train. The station also includes an air terminal to Gatwick Airport, as well as access to many bus lines and the London Underground. The Circle Line, District Line and Victoria Line all have stops at Victoria Station. Belgrave Square Belgrave Square in Westminster is one of the most popular residential areas in London. The beautiful white-stuccoed houses are a great example of some of the best of 19th century architecture. Nowadays many of the mansions on the square house embassies. Westminster's Traditional Pubs The Grenadier near Belgrave Square is just one of the many great traditional pubs you can find all over in Westminster. These historic pubs often have striking names, such as The Ship & Shovell Pub, The Princess of Wales and Champagne Charlies. At these pubs you can try a traditional serving of fish & chips served with a nice pint of ale! We hope you've enjoyed this tour of Westminster in London! Don't forget to check out our blog for more information about the area http://www.nyhabitat.com/blog/2013/04/15/video-tour-westminster-london/. Did we miss any of your favorite spots? Let us know in the comments below! Also don't forget to have a look at our other London neighborhood tour videos! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oox5aYHLr7E&list;=PLCNbR84s3bWKZ5B7SySs0kB-DCIUxj6sZ Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to get updates about our latest videos: http://www.youtube.com/newyorkhabitat