Visiting London

ParlamentLondon's Big Ben is not the tower, but the bell in the tower, that forms part of our Houses of Parliament.

Palace historyOfficially called the Palace of Westminster, there was a royal palace here in the middle ages. Henry VIII gave it over to government. A fire almost completely destroyed the old palace in 1834. The present building was built in the distinctive Victorian Gothis between 1840 and 1860 by Sir Charles Barry and A W Pugin

The castrateThe great bell is named after the first Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall. Also in the clock tower is a prison cell for MPs who transgress against Parliamentary privilage - it was last used in 1880 for this purpose

OXFORT STREET, LONDON SHOPPING

LONDON SHOPPINGOxford Street, London, runs from Marble Arch (Marks and Spencer) via Selfridges and John Lewis to Oxford Circus and another large branch of Marks and Spencer

OXFORT SREET Oxford Street today is perhaps the most popular of the shopping streets in the capital, as it contains most of the department stores catering for the middle of the market. On a wet day you can quickly scurry from store to store and while away many happy hours out of the rain.

Museums in LondonNational Gallery Imperial War Apsley House British MuseumTate Gallery Queens Gallery Soames Museum Canal Museum

acres of playing fields a boating and sailing lake the city's Zoo on the north sideopen air theatreshady avenues

LONDON

Regents park