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Travel + Leisure
7 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Best Spots in London for History Buffs, Foodies, and Everyone in Between, According to a Top Travel Advisor
I was once asked how many times I have been to London. The answer is that I lost count years ago. But even after 60 years, there's always something new to experience. As a less-seasoned visitor, it can feel overwhelming to make an itinerary for a city so vibrant and expansive, but it doesn't have to be. After decades of planning trips to London for a living, I've gathered my favorite must-visit spots for every type of traveler, so deciding where to go can be a breeze. Plus, some tips and tricks for seeing the sights without the crowds. A sunny day at Westminster Abbey. London is about 2,000 years old, so it's a history lover's heaven. One must-visit spot is the crypt of All Hallows Church, which was founded by the Abbey of Barking in the year 675 AD. It has surprising American connections: William Penn was baptized there, and John Quincy Adams married his British wife, Louisa, there. To experience the historic Westminster Abbey without the crowds—or a ticket—attend a short 8:00 a.m. service in one of the chapels. Tuesday service is particularly special because it's held in St. Edward's Chapel, which is usually off-limits to the public. London's West End theatres at night. London is home to hundreds of museums, but a few stand out from the rest. Sir John Soane's Museum on Lincoln's Inn Field in the Holborn neighborhood is a museum that actually consists of three early-19th-century townhouses. In it, you'll find architectural models that the artist used for his own projects; his personal collection of sculptures, drawings, and paintings, including 18th-century English artist William Hogarth's famous series A Rake's Progress ; and even the famed sculpture, the Sarcophagus of Seti I. The National Gallery is always a must-visit spot, but if it's too crowded, try The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House on the Strand instead—here, the impressionist collection alone is breathtaking. For those who enjoy performance art, West End theatre is iconic, but ticket prices can be quite high. Instead, check out Off West End performances to catch smaller-scale, less traditional productions. Shakespeare's Globe, located on the south bank of the River Thames in Southwark, is another great venue. Standing tickets in the Yard at the foot of the stage are a more affordable option—but just be aware that a ticket in this area means standing in an uncovered area for the entire two- to three-hour performance. Fortnum & Mason's detailed store is a dream in London. My two favorite shops are right next door to each other in the Piccadilly Circus area of the city: Hatchard's and Fortnum & Mason. Hatchard's, one of the oldest book shops in England, is a bookworm's paradise, with five stories full of every genre imaginable. And although Fortnum & Mason is known for its gourmet tea, don't miss the upper floors, which are full of household and decorative treasures. Plus, the on-site restaurant, the Parlour, is perfect for a quick break from shopping. Aside from the restaurant's innovative ice cream sundaes and floats, visitors can snack on classic British treats like Welsh rarebit (melted cheese on toast) and toasted crumpets. When leaving the store, be sure to head across the street right before the hour to watch the clock chime—Mr. Fortnum pops out to bow to Mr. Mason. Experience London sights while enjoying afternoon tea on Brigit's Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. claudiodivizia/Getty Images Although English cuisine is often overlooked, London is a surprisingly robust foodie destination. For modern British fare with a Spanish twist, book a table at Kitty Fisher's in Shepherd Market, which was once a Georgian bakery (the old ovens are still in the basement). And you can't go to London without having afternoon tea, so kill two birds with one stone by booking a table on the top deck of Brigit's Afternoon Tea Bus London Sightseeing Tour, a vintage double decker that takes visitors to see all the sights while indulging on cakes and scones. Despite being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, there are still plenty of lesser-known treasures in London. For instance, visitors can see the changing of the guard at the much-less-crowded Horse Guards Parade instead of the Buckingham Palace, and go to the Royal Horticultural Society's Hampton Court Garden Festival in July instead of the renowned Chelsea Flower Show in May. If you're visiting in May but can't get tickets to the Chelsea, spend the morning off Sloane Square on Pavilion Road, where local shops create spectacular floral displays of their own. Other, quirkier experiences include Postman's Park, a public park that houses a memorial dedicated to "ordinary" individuals who died saving the lives of others, and The Postal Museum, where visitors can ride through the hidden tunnels of Mail Rail, a narrow, driverless underground railway originally designed to transport mail throughout the city. If you're up for an active challenge, try climbing up the 334-step spiral stairwell of the Elizabeth Tower to see Big Ben up close. Ellen LeCompte is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in U.K. trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with LeCompte by contacting her at [email protected] .
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Twelve things you didn't know about Prince George: From his first royal tour at nine months old to his love of thunderstorms
For most 12-year-olds, birthdays mean cake, presents and being forced to write an endless list of thank you cards. But for Prince George, this year's birthday marks more than just a family celebration. Over the last decade, the world has watched him grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man. Today, his 12th birthday marks a significant step towards his future role as King. On July 22, 2013, a wood-and-gold easel announced the birth of Prince William and Princess Catherine's first child. The bells of Westminster Abbey rang out, landmarks were illuminated blue to symbolise the birth of a boy and gun salutes marked the occasion in London, Bermuda, New Zealand and Canada. The most eager royal observers and members of the press camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, keen to catch a glimpse of their future King before anybody else. From his first royal tour to his favourite football team, here are 12 things you may not have known about Prince George. Over the last decade, the world has watched Prince George grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man Prince Louis (L) and Prince George leave Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 14, 2025 He almost had a different name It was a name that was touted as one of the clear favourites by bookmakers and given the history of the monarchy - and in particular the House of Windsor - William and Kate naming their son George came as no surprise. Sharing a name with his great great grandfather - the Queen's father George VI - the name followed in a long tradition. But he almost had a different name. It was reported that the Waleses considered naming their son Alexander which Kate 'had her heart on'. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl wrote in Vanity Fair that although 'Kate apparently suspected it was a boy and had set her heart on the name Alexander, they had not yet decided what to call their firstborn' ahead of his birth. Instead, they referred to him as a sweet nickname, 'our little grape.' The Times reported that the royal couple wrote their favourite names on pieces of paper, put them on the floor of their home, and let their cocker spaniel, Lupo, decide which one was the winner - down to what piece of paper he went to first. However, the name Alexander, ended up being included in George's full name - Prince George Alexander Louis. He will be the third George from the House of Windsor to take the throne should he keep the name when he eventually takes the crown. His birth made history When George was born on 22nd July 2013, it marked the second time that three generations in the line of succession have been alive simultaneously. The only other time that this has happened was during the reign of Queen Victoria. Prince Charles' visit to the hospital to see his new grandson was also an historic moment as it is believed to be the first time three direct male heirs to the throne had come together in more than 100 years. First royal tour at nine months old At just nine months old, George began his royal duties and accompanied his parents on their royal tour of New Zealand and Australia in April 2014. Only appearing twice during the tour, nevertheless he was dubbed as 'the star of the show'. The then Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott predicted in the Parliament House, Canberra, that George would one day be welcomed there as King of Australia. Australian media called him 'the republican slayer', after polls showed the lowest support for republicanism in the country for 35 years He loves thunderstorms While many children, pets and even adults are scared of thunderstorms, George apparently loves them. This was revealed when Kate visited a children's hospital where a boy told her a storm was coming. She replied: 'Yes, I know all about those. George likes storms, too!' He's an Alcaraz fan George and Charlotte look downcast at Wimbledon. It has been widely reported that the children are major fans of Alacaraz, who lost the match in four sets At this year's Wimbledon tennis tournament, footage of George and his sister Charlotte went viral as the royal siblings looking disappointed after the the men's final. The future King and his sister joined their parents in the royal box at SW19 to watch Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz take on Italian Jannik Sinner. It has been widely reported that the children are major fans of Alacaraz, who lost the match in four sets. Their love of tennis may have been inspired by the Princess of Wales, who is patron of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, also known as the AELTC (which organises the day-to-day running of the prestigious tournament). As part of her duties, Kate, who has held the post since 2016, presents the trophy to the tournament's winner. It was during the presentation that the royal children looked downcast, adopting similar poses as they stood with their arms resting on the wall of the royal box. He has flown a plane William talks to George as the stand in front of the RAF Arrows aircraft, during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford - the world's largest military airshow in July 2016 The young Prince took his first flying lesson at the age of 11 and flew a single-engine Piper PA-28 with dual controls, a plane designed for flight training. His parents watched him take off and land at White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead. Onlookers watched George in flight, one of whom told the Sun: 'He loved it. It's the right time to start. The royal family has a proud tradition of flying and it looks like George is next in line.' William and Catherine with George, Charlotte and Louis board a C17 place during their visit to the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 14, 2023 in Fairford Another person present at the airfield said: 'There were probably 30 or 40 people in the clubhouse. Catherine and William watched George take off. But they were relaxed about it. All three of them had been pretty chilled in the clubhouse.' Flying has been a longstanding tradition among the Royal Family, although Prince George has started to learn much earlier than his father and grandfather. William began aged 27 when he was training with the Royal Air Force, and later served with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Prince Philip started training aged 31 and was awarded his 'wings' by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir William Dickson at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in 1953. He's expected to go to Eton Rumours have been swirling about which senior school the Prince and Princess of Wales will choose for George when he turns 13. Although William and Kate were spotted looking around a number of top schools, Eton and rival Marlborough College were clear front-runners. Eton – the alma mater of Prince William, where fees are more than £63,000 a year – is conveniently near the family home in Windsor. While Prince William thrived there, his brother, Prince Harry, discovered that it was the wrong choice for him Meanwhile, Kate is known to have flourished at Marlborough, and the co-ed school would allow Princess Charlotte to join her elder brother. But a well-placed palace source told The Mail on Sunday 'all roads lead to Eton'. He has seven godparents Royal babies traditionally have about six godparents. William and Kate, like Princess Diana, chose George's godparents to be a blend of traditional and more modern choices. His godparents are; Zara Tindall, Julia Samuel (a close friend of Princess Diana), Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who met Kate during their school days at Marlborough College, Oliver Baker (a friend from St Andrews, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who worked as a Private Secretary to Prince William and Kate until 2013 and William van Cutsem, the son of King Charles' late friend Hugh van Cutsem. Aston Villa fan, like his Pa! In April, George looked like William's 'mini me' as they enjoyed a five goal thriller at Villa Park as they watched their beloved Aston Villa face off against Paris Saint-Germain in a nail-biting Champions League clash. He was seen jumping out of his seat to cheer for Aston Villa as well as mirroring his dad's nervous expressions when the team was behind. During William and George's trip to Paris, William said he loves bonding with his son over their shared love of football. 'I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition,' William said. 'I think those memories are really important to create.' George even dressed like his dad by wearing an Aston Villa scarf! He can no longer travel with William George and his father will have to fly separately now the young prince has turned 12 His 12th birthday marks a major milestone, which will also see a centuries-old royal rule that his own father also had to follow come into force. According to the protocol, two heirs to the throne cannot fly together when undertaking royal duties. The royal custom dictates that anyone over 12 years old in the line of succession cannot travel together for safety reasons. He has an unusual nickname During his time at Thomas's School, George was given the nickname P.G. by his classmates. Kate and William reportedly adopted the nickname, affectionately referring to their firstborn as PG Tips, as in the tea! A King for a new age Two heirs! William and George in the royal box in centre court during the men's singles final at Wimbledon
ABC News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Organist James O'Donnell shares what it's like working with the royals at Westminster Abbey
Depending on who you ask, the planning for British royal occasions might be the best- or worst-kept secrets in the world. Some of these plans have been in place for years, even decades. When James O'Donnell was the Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey, he was involved in the years-long planning of the music for these historic occasions. This included working with composers to write new music for the events. Currently visiting Australia, O'Donnell reveals some of the behind-the-scenes workings of the royal church, and what it was like when his home turned into a high security zone. Music plays an integral part in enhancing the splendour of British royalty throughout history, much of which takes place in Westminster Abbey. When the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, died in 2002, her funeral was held at the 1000-year-old royal church. "I've never been involved in anything quite like that," O'Donnell says. O'Donnell started his role in 2000, and very soon after, the funeral was his first state occasion of international magnitude. "One had a very strong sense that she represented a whole generation of British life," O'Donnell says. "It came home to me on that occasion that one day in the distant future, Her Majesty the Queen would die as well." Queen Elizabeth's funeral planning reportedly began in the 1960s. Despite being involved in organising its music, O'Donnell never thought he would be there to see it through. It turned out to be the last state funeral O'Donnell oversaw. Part of O'Donnell's job is to identify and work with composers who have been approved to write music for royal occasions. "Commissioning music cannot be done at the time of a death of a monarch," O'Donnell says. "It's all done very discreetly and there's no guarantee that the music which has been commissioned will be included in the final draft." O'Donnell did have at least one composer he could rely on, Master of the Queen's music, a position at the time held by British composer Judith Weir. Weir wrote a new anthem for Elizabeth's funeral, Like As The Hart, alongside another British composer, James McMillan, who wrote Who Shall Separate Us. One musical choice harked back to Elizabeth's 1952 coronation: Ralph Vaughan Williams's O Taste And See. The piece has become a beloved staple for choirs around the world. O'Donnell might have had the privilege of being part of the inner workings of royalty, but it did come with a price. With the Abbey sitting at the heart of London and frequently hosting local and international VIPs, he often had to live with intrusive security measures. One memorable occasion for O'Donnell was a private memorial service attended by the Queen as well as active members of the British intelligence service. "I had to be escorted backwards and forwards to my house by a police officer," O'Donnell says. No member of the congregation was to be photographed and O'Donnell says "nobody was allowed into the sterile area." "The sterile area was between my office, the choir room and my house [in the precinct of the Abbey]." "It could be a little inconvenient at times, but I thought that was a small price to pay for the privilege," O'Donnell says. Sometimes, the rewards outweighed the inconvenience. The wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton, which was watched by more than a billion people worldwide, was one of the highlights of O'Donnell's career. "There were many discussions as to what music was chosen by the couple and the now king," O'Donnell says. "It was a very joyful occasion and musically satisfying for the orchestra and choir." Princess Kate's walk down the aisle of the Westminster Abbey was accompanied by Hubert Parry's I Was Glad. She passed through the musicians who were situated on either side of the aisle on her way to the altar. Ironically for O'Donnell, being the Abbey's Principal organist meant he rarely had the chance to play the organ. "It's a rather archaic job title," O'Donnell says, adding that his role was more focused on rehearsing and conducting the choristers on a day-to-day basis. Despite its royal status, the Abbey is still a working church. "We have daily evensong choral services open to the public as well as Sunday services," O'Donnell says, adding televised occasions such as royal weddings and funerals grew out of these daily routines. Aside from historic state occasions, the Queen, who was the head of the Church of England and a staunch music lover, was often present during many of these services. "Often when we performed a new commission, [the Queen] would say 'I enjoyed the music'," he says. "These were often newly created pieces of music that were carefully crafted for [special] occasions and the Queen's words were much appreciated." As rewarding as his role was, O'Donnell has enjoyed having more time to spend playing the organ alongside his current teaching position at Yale University in the US. He has a warm spot for Australia, bringing the Westminster Abbey Choir on tour in 2007. Last year, he gave recitals in Adelaide and Sydney, inaugurating the new organ at Sydney's historic St James King St church. One of the highlights of O'Donnell's current Australian visit will be playing the Sydney Opera House's Grand Organ. He says it is built differently to a lot of church organs. "Westminster Abbey organ or St. Paul's Cathedral organ is designed to support worship," O'Donnell says. "They don't overwhelm the choir when they're being played." The Sydney Opera House's organ, on the other hand, is 15 meters high and 13 meters wide. "It is the largest mechanical action organ in Australia, [meaning] despite its size, it uses actual levers instead of electricity to operate," O'Donnell explains. Despite being a fixture of the Concert Hall, the organ is rarely used for solo performances. "I know what it sounds like and you can hear it online," O'Donnell says. "I've never played it but I'm looking forward to it." You can hear James O'Donnell with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane on July 26 and 27, and at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday July 29. ABC Classic will broadcast a live recording of his Brisbane concert in August.
France 24
5 days ago
- France 24
UK 'princes in the tower' murder probe clears Richard III
Nearly 200 years after they disappeared, two small skeletons were found in a wooden box at the historic tower and reburied at Westminster Abbey. The remains were believed, but never proved, to be those of the two brothers -- heir to the throne Edward, 12, and Richard, nine, the sons of King Edward IV of England, who were reputedly murdered at the behest of their uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester. William Shakespeare later immortalised him in Richard III as a scheming hunchback who did away with his royal nephews so he could take the crown himself, sealing his reputation as a child killer. Now British author Philippa Langley, who helped unearth Richard's body from a central England carpark in 2012, has claimed that the princes -- far from being killed -- actually survived. The elder prince, Edward, was heir to the throne at the time of his disappearance and would have ruled as King Edward V of England. Langley decided to delve into the mystery after coming to believe that the conventional narrative in which Richard had the young princes killed smacked of "history being written by the victors". She was finally spurred into action after reading an article about Richard's reburial at Leicester Cathedral in 2015 which questioned whether the nation should honour a "child killer". "I think I'd always realised that the story sort of developed during the reign of the Tudors," she said, adding that it was then "repeated and repeated over time" until it became "truth and fact". Tudor mud The last English king to die in battle, Richard ruled from 1483 until his brutal death at the Battle of Bosworth near Leicester in 1485, aged 32. Bosworth was the last major conflict in the Wars of the Roses and changed the course of English history because the Tudor dynasty of Henry VII captured the crown from Richard's Plantagenets. Langley attributes the accepted story that Richard had the boys murdered to King Henry VII, a "very, very intelligent individual, but suspicious and highly paranoid". "He had a massive spy network working for him. And he was able to completely control the narrative," she said, adding that Richard ended up "covered in Tudor mud". Taking a cold case review approach to the historical "whodunnit", Langley says she assembled a group of investigative specialists, including police and lawyers, to advise her. "They said: 'Look, if you haven't got any confirmed, identified bodies, then it has to be a missing persons investigation and you have to follow that methodology'. "They said: 'You have to actively look for evidence'. That's when it really started to get interesting." Langley put out an appeal for volunteers to scour archives, only to be inundated with offers of help from people ranging from ordinary citizens to medieval historians. The result was the decade-long Missing Princes Project which she says unearthed a significant amount of information pointing to the survival of both young princes. Survival theory Langley now believes that it is up to Richard's detractors to disprove the survival thesis, which she outlines in the new book "The Princes in the Tower: Solving History's Greatest Cold Case". "The onus is now on them to find the evidence that the boys died. "They cannot say Richard III murdered the princes in the tower any more because we found numerous proofs of life everywhere," she said. Key to Langley's conviction that both boys survived are documents discovered supporting a rebellion by "Edward IV's son". During the rebellion in 1487, Lambert Simnel, a pretender to the throne who came forward after Richard's death, was crowned in Dublin. According to fresh references found by the project, the boy was "called" or said to be "a son of King Edward", which she believes points to Simnel being the elder prince, son of Edward IV. The reaction to Langley's research has been mixed. Michael Dobson, director and a professor of Shakespeare studies at the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute, expressed scepticism. "Given the ways of dynastic monarchy, I think Richard would have been taking a very big risk in leaving those princes alive," he said. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Queen Camilla's best fashion moments and where to find them on the high street, from her go-to floral dresses to chic pastel coats - as the royal celebrates her 78th birthday
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more To celebrate Queen Camilla 's birthday, we're shining a spotlight her most elegant fashion moments - from the tropical print dress featured in her latest portrait to the sophisticated white coat dress worn for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Since becoming Queen, Camilla has come into her own sartorially. Her signature style blends timeless tailoring with luxurious finishing touches - think designer handbags, Chanel heels and eye-catching Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. And the best part? You don't need a royal budget to channel her look. We've created a high street edit so you can effortlessly recreate each outfit. Tropical print dress In her official birthday portrait released yesterday, Camilla wore a tropical print shirt dress by her longtime designer, Fiona Clare. Captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson, the image was taken earlier this month at Ray Mill, her private Wiltshire residence. Beaming in the photo, Camilla dons a mid-length dress adorned with birds and palm tree motifs in vivid blues and greens - an effortlessly summery choice. White dress with contrast stitching For the Thanksgiving Service commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey, Camilla chose a pristine white coat dress by Anna Valentine. She accessorised with a Philip Treacy hat and Eliot Zed shoes. The standout feature? Black blanket stitching, adding a graphic twist to the classic design. The look offered a contemporary edge - demonstrating that Camilla's style is both polished and on point. Blue figure-skimming dress During a visit to HMNB Devonport in Plymouth, Camilla chose a striking cobalt blue Fiona Clare dress. The flattering silhouette featured soft puffed shoulders, embroidered detailing on the bib, and a signature front zip. She teamed the dress with nude Chanel pumps and a raffia clutch by Anya Hindmarch. Pastel pink coat dress On a recent tour of Canada, Camilla embraced soft hues in a pastel pink coat dress by Anna Valentine, first seen at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding. She once again wore her trusted Chanel heels, reinforcing her preference for timeless pieces. While Barbie pink stole the spotlight in summer 2023, this season is all about softer shades like powder pink - captured in Camilla's refined ensemble.
