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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Former RAF officer from Cardiff becomes Tower of London Beefeater
A former RAF Warrant Officer from Cardiff has been selected as a Yeoman Warder (YW) at the Tower of Harris served in the RAF for more than 36 years, during which time he was deployed for tours to Northern Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Cyprus. Nicknamed Beefeaters, it is a position introduced by Henry VII in 1485 to help guard the fortress and YW Harris is thought to be the first Welsh Beefeater in more than a decade. YW Harris described his appointment as an immense honour, and said he was "extremely proud to represent Wales". As one of 35 who live and work at the tower, YW Harris said he has enjoyed settling into his "quirky new home within the tower's vibrant community". He said he left Cardiff in 1988 and has worked at stations all over the UK with the RAF, but it means an "awful lot" to him to be able to represent the national heritage."At the end of my career it's great to be allowed to continue the historical elements of service life," he said. Describing what it was like to put on the uniform, YW Harris said you just "cannot imagine" the feeling. "It was immense" he said, adding it was "such an immensely proud moment". "I have a lot to learn and will be focused on learning the tower's history and legends before I am ready to share these with our visitors, so the next few months are going to be incredibly exciting."Part of the criteria for becoming a YW is a minimum of 22 years' service with the military, to hold the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and to have reached the rank of warrant officer or equivalent, before being selected for the coming months, YW Harris will learn "the story" – the script of the famous Yeoman Warder tour, in verbatim, before he can lead his own tours of the Tower of London. He will also be required to learn the 21 separate duties conducted by the Yeoman Body each day, including the Ceremony of the Keys, a closing ceremony that has taken place every single night for at least 700 years.A devoted sportsman, YW Harris is known to be a supporter of Welsh rugby, Cardiff City FC, and the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey club, having coached the RAF Ice Hockey team to four successive inter-service championships during his previous career.
The Independent
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The best tourist attraction in London revealed
The Tower of London has been revealed as the most popular tourist attraction in the capital. Research conducted by Travelodge, which surveyed 13,500 people, placed the historic castle top of the list, followed by Covent Garden and Buckingham Palace. The Tower of London attracts more than three million visitors every year, with tourists eager to see the Crown Jewels, meet the Yeomen Warders and the tower's ravens. A number of museums also featured in the top 20, including the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Other notable attractions included Camden Market, Battersea Power Station, and St Paul's Cathedral. The top 20 attractions were: Tower of London Covent Garden Buckingham Palace Natural History Museum Camden Market Big Ben Borough Market The London Eye British Museum Tower Bridge Victoria and Albert Museum Imperial War Museum Battersea Power Station Harry Potter Studio Tour Science Museum Sky Garden Hyde Park Hampton Court Palace St Paul's Cathedral Tate Modern Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, but it's also great to see people rate newer attractions such as Battersea Power Station and Sky Garden too.'
Scottish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Incredible' horse who makes owner £140,000 per race subject of ‘huge' Royal Ascot bets as whole host of big names axed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HORSE who makes his owner £140,000 per race is the subject of 'huge' Royal Ascot bets - as a whole host of big names were pulled from the summer's biggest racing spectacular. Tuesday's scratchings stage saw superstar stayer Kyprios removed from the Gold Cup as he was retired with immediate effect. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A number of big names were scratched from Royal Ascot - which led to considerable market moves elsewhere Credit: PA:Press Association And he wasn't the only top runner to have their Royal dreams axed weeks before it begins on June 17. Among them was John and Thady Gosden's Prix de l'Opera-winning filly Friendly Soul, who had been as short as 10-1 for the 1m Queen Anne. She was cut from the £1million Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 1m2f as well, along with the likes of stablemate Running Lion - dad Roaring Lion's first Royal Ascot star. Courage Mon Ami, the 2023 Gold Cup winner, had already been taken out of the feature race - while Aidan O'Brien's Tower Of London was pulled too. Wathnan saw another of their big horses, Haatem, who won last year's Jersey Stakes, cut from the Queen Anne and Prince Of Wales. The four-year-old colt, who has finished fifth and fourth so far this season, has one remaining entry over the summer, in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 30. The owner's Electrolyte was scratched from the Commonwealth Cup, too, as was awesome recent French 2000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse. With a host of big names out, Ladbrokes reported some massive market moves. None bigger than that of French raider and Jerome Reynier-trained Lazzat. The globe-trotting sensation, who has won more than £1.4million from his ten career runs, has been slashed for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. Now 7-2 from 5-1 with Ladbrokes, he could be the one to land the 6f sprint worth over £500,000 to the winner, especially as former ante-post favourite, Aidan O'Brien's Storm Boy, flopped on debut for the Ballydoyle boss last weekend and is now out to 20s. Illinois has replaced Kyprios at the head of the Gold Cup betting, while stablemate Lakie Victoria is now odds-on for the Coronation Stakes after her Irish 1000 Guineas win. But an unknown French runner could spoil Illinois' party. Candelari looked all stamina in claiming a Longchamp Group 1 on the weekend and is now just 3-1 second-fav behind 11-8 Illinois. Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "Kyprios' retirement news has blown the Ascot Gold Cup market wide open, and while Illinois now leads the way in the betting, it's Candelari who has been given the most notable boost of all." FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
16 of the best things to do in London with children
Few cities are as child-friendly as London. From interactive museums to soldiers on horseback,Harry Potter filming locations to open-top buses, the capital has plenty to keep young ones enthralled. Throw in age-appropriate restaurants, hotels with plenty of family appeal and a skyline straight from the films and London is an adventure for children of all ages. Here are some of the best things to do in the capital with children, whether they love animals, white-knuckle thrills or simply eating as much cake as possible. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Hold on tight for an adrenalin-pumping trip down the Thames that's guaranteed to appeal to thrill seekers of all ages. You'll be kitted out in life jackets to board a speedboat by the London Eye before cruising out towards Canary Wharf past the Houses of Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Shard and Tower of London. An on-board comedian/guide means that bog-standard commentary as you sail is replaced by plenty of quirky stories and funny facts that kids will love. As the river widens, the boat's speed picks up and you'll race out to Docklands at up to 35mph, with the boat twisting and turning like you're escaping the villain in a James Bond film. • Discover our full guide to London History is way more interesting to kids if it's gory or spooky, so a trip to the Tower of London will fascinate them. This medieval castle and world heritage site was built by William the Conqueror and has served as a royal palace, a prison and the home of the Crown Jewels. Tickets include a tour with a Yeoman Warder — otherwise known as a Beefeater — which run every half an hour from the main entrance. Expect to hear tales of bloody executions, the exotic animals that once lived in the Tower and the ghosts said to haunt it to this day. You'll also see the room where Guy Fawkes was imprisoned, the famous ravens who live at the Tower and the priceless royal jewels watched by armed guards. • Best family hotels in London Great views can be hard to sell to kids, but a vista enjoyed from the top of a giant ferris wheel? Now you're talking. Situated on a stretch of the South Bank that also features Shrek's Adventure! and the London Aquarium, the London Eye's rotating pods provide a killer perspective on more stately attractions over the River Thames, including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Wow your family with this fun fact: 'Big Ben' isn't the name of the structure — known as the Elizabeth Tower since the Queen's diamond jubilee — but of the bell itself. • Best luxury hotels in London The ceremonial handover of the King's Guard is British pomp and ceremony at its best. Children will love seeing the marching soldiers — all wearing their distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats, some on horseback — enacting this centuries-old ritual. Troops gather at St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks before marching along The Mall to the sounds of the military band. Many visitors to London make the mistake of setting up camp outside Buckingham Palace, but a pre-booked small-group tour can offer superior vantage points as well as insightful commentary to help everyone understand what on earth is going on. • Best affordable hotels in London under £200 London's theatres are host to a wealth of child-friendly musicals, from literary spin-offs such as Matilda and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to reimagined Disney films including Frozen and The Lion King. The latter has been running for nearly 25 years with good reason; inventive sets and imaginative puppetry and costumes conjure a convincing savannah dreamworld in a corner of Covent Garden. Elton John and Tim Rice's impossibly catchy songs, including the show-stopping opener Circle of Life and the life-affirming Hakuna Matata, mean all-aged audiences invariably leave the Lyceum humming along. • Best hotels with a view in London London was a port long before it became England's capital, and there's no better way for children to learn about its seafaring history than with a visit to one of its vintage ships. Built for the China tea trade, Cutty Sark was state-of-the art when she set out on her maiden voyage in 1870 and still looks chipper today — kids will love exploring the cabins and steering their way through a virtual voyage. It's a 25-minute journey along the river from Tower Pier (serving the Tower of London and Tower Bridge) to Greenwich, and travelling by Thames Clipper is all part of the fun. • Best hotels in London with pools A Rembrandt self-portrait and Van Gogh's Sunflowers are among the highlights of one of the world's greatest collections of paintings, and cherry-picking from its 2,300 works will help visitors of all ages stave off cultural fatigue. A one-hour highlights tour of the National Gallery is the ideal timeframe and a Blue Badge guide will steer visitors through the crowds to study a handful of key pieces in more detail. Top tip: bring paper and pencils so children can sketch their own souvenirs, and make a game of spotting animals in the artworks, from the dog in Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait to George Stubbs' Whistlejacket. • The best serviced apartments in London London is home to many Harry Potter filming locations, from the Ministry of Magic (Great Scotland Yard) to Hogwarts' spiral staircase (St Paul's Cathedral). A walking tour is a great way to engage the attention of older kids who can handle two to three hours on their feet; guides tend to be genuine fans, who know their Mandrakes from their Muggles. The itinerary ends at Platform 9¾ in King's Cross station and from here there are trains out to Watford and the Harry Potter Studio Tour (be sure to book tickets for this several months in advance). Even the most hardened museum-phobes can't resist mummies, and Bloomsbury is home to the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo. The galleries put flesh on the bones of these ancient relics, presenting clues to the lives of people who died between 3,000 and 1,800 years ago. Check out the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone, perhaps the world's most famous slab of rock, before time-travelling to see Anglo-Saxon treasure unearthed at Sutton Hoo and armour once worn by a Japanese samurai. In need of sustenance before going into battle? There's a family-friendly pizzeria on site. • The best dog-friendly hotels in London Any child who's ever watched a David Attenborough documentary will get a kick out of the Natural History Museum, a bewilderingly comprehensive institution that charts 4.6 billion years of planet Earth. Highlights include a skeleton of a mighty blue whale, an array of stuffed animals and birds, plus interactive exhibits such as the earthquake simulator and dinosaur gallery quiz. Admission to the museum is free, but one of the best ways to keep kids engaged is by booking onto a private tour with an experienced guide. The museum's occasional sleepovers sell out months in advance. • The best Airbnbs in London With central London's greenest fleet of hop-on hop-off buses, Tootbus also offers special kid-focused tours capped at 45 minutes which should wipe out those enquiries of the 'are we nearly there yet?' variety. Routes are packed with big-hitting stops, from historic Westminster Abbey to the neon lights of Piccadilly Circus, the prime minister's residence at Downing Street and the wax museum Madame Tussauds (home to an immersive Star Wars experience). Live commentary from guides helps bring landmarks to life, arming children with fun facts and trivia about the capital. ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo and is set within the northern corner of Regent's Park. Its menagerie includes everything from tigers and gorillas to penguins and pygmy hippos, but perhaps most thrilling are the walkthrough attractions, such as Monkey Valley or Butterfly Paradise, where visitors share space with wildlife. Be sure to catch one of the timetabled feeding sessions and talks — witnessing birds in flight over the display lawn is a particular highlight — or book an overnight stay in one of the Zoo lodges in the Land of the Lions habitat, within roaring distance of the resident pride. Just around the corner from Royal Mail's Mount Pleasant sorting office in Clerkenwell is one of London's best small museums for children. Diverse displays bring to life the storied history of correspondence, including a collection of unread love letters recovered after a maritime disaster and a tall (but apparently true) tale about an escaped lioness. Kids will love learning about the Mail Rail while riding a miniature train through a century-old network of subterranean tunnels, and there's also a postal-themed play space. Here, children aged eight and under can role-play being a postie, having a go at moving the mail through a series of slides and chutes. Part-sculpture, part-helter-skelter, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park's red steel equivalent to Paris's Eiffel Tower. Bonus: this piece of architecture also contains the world's longest tunnel slide. Kids must be eight years old and at least 1.3m to ride its 178m length; yodelling on the way down is highly recommended. Next, mosey on over to the nearby London Aquatics Centre for an Aqua Splash session: the inflatable obstacle course is ludicrously good fun and sits right alongside the Olympian Tom Daley's diving academy. From wizards to dinosaurs, David Hockney to Willy Wonka, London's top hotels have drawn on diverse inspiration to tempt junior guests in for afternoon teas. But this Mayfair establishment requires no introduction: tea at the Ritz is the stuff that stories are made of. From the tinkling piano music to the solicitous attentions of liveried staff, children will enjoy the atmosphere as much as the endless rounds of dainty treats — from cucumber sandwiches to freshly baked scones, via countless jewel-like pastries. The kitchen is happy to accommodate fussy eaters, and everyone gets a box of their favourites to take home. • Best places for afternoon tea in London For a family day out in London, you can't go wrong in one of its glorious patches of green: eight protected spaces, treasured by locals and visitors. Richmond Park is the biggest, and home to more than 630 red and fallow deer, while Hyde Park is perhaps the most varied, with swimming and boating on the Serpentine, plus the Diana Memorial Playground, where play equipment includes a huge wooden pirate ship. Regent's Park's Open Air Theatre is the place to see outdoor productions every summer, while Primrose Hill is ideal for rolling down (although parents may prefer the view from the top). • Best things to do in London• Best free things to do in London
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Two new raven chicks arrive at the Tower of London
Two five-week-old raven chicks, Henry and Poe, have arrived at their new home in the Tower of London. "Troublemakers" Henry and Poe will spend the next few weeks in the enclosure before being introduced to the six other ravens there and eventually encouraged to explore their new residence. Henry is named after all of the Henrys who have lived at the 900-year-old palace and Poe is named after the writer Edgar Allan Poe whose works include the poem The Raven. The Tower usually has six ravens at any time and, according to legend, if they ever leave, it is said that both the fortress and the kingdom will fall. The new arrivals were born in April as part of the Tower of London's raven breeding programme and join Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar and Chaos at the fortress. The group of ravens - known as an unkindness or conspiracy - are cared for by the Ravenmaster Barney Chandler and his team. "It's an honour to be introducing our new raven chicks Henry and Poe to the Tower of London, and I'm absolutely delighted with how they've settled in so far," said Mr Chandler. "The team and I have had a busy couple of weeks looking after these troublemakers, who require a lot of care and attention when they're very young, but now that they're almost fully fledged we're ready to bring them into the fold and let the other ravens take over showing them the ropes." Special biscuit treats The corvids are fed a variety of raw meat each day, an egg once a week and blood-soaked biscuits as a special treat. The Tower of London added that the ravens' important duties included "posing for photographs and taste-testing packed lunch items". Legend says that King Charles II was the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower of London be protected. The story is that the King's astronomer John Flamsteed, who had an observatory in the White Tower, complained that the resident ravens were impeding his work and requested their removal. The king was advised that if the ravens left the Tower of London the kingdom would fall - the legend has been kept alive ever since. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to London Birds
