Category Archives: Destinations

Attractions, Historic Sites, United Kingdom, Windsor

Tips on Visiting the Windsor Castle: Make sure the State Rooms are open!

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If you are staying in London and want to visit the Windsor Castle,  word of advice – make sure the state apartments are open on the day you’re visiting!

When we went there in January 2013, the state apartments were closed and even though it was still thrilling to walk around the place built by William the Conqueror, and where Henry VIII and Queen Victoria lived, the only “indoor” place open to the visitors was Queen Mary’s Doll House, Royal China exhibit, and a photo exhibit, The Queen: Portraits of a Monarch.

Not that the Doll House was not worth looking at. It was pretty spectacular. And we were able to do the Precincts Tour – tour the grounds with a guide who was very knowledgeable about the history of the Castle, and was very patient with our questions, but I really wish we saw the inside as well. Maybe next time…..

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London, UK London, United Kingdom, Where we stayed

Where to stay in London? Try the “Embankment House”

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If you are traveling with a family, instead of looking for a hotel, I would suggest renting an apartment (or a flat, as the Brits call it) through Flipkey or Homeaway. We did just that when we went to London for a week in January 2013 – we rented the “Embankment House,” a two-bedroom apartment on Homeaway.

The apartment is in a townhouse located steps from:

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Attractions, London, Museums, United Kingdom

Natural History Museum in London

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A day at the Natural History Museum in London means exploring some of the most highly-regarded exhibits on earth’s history in the world. The Natural History Museum is housed in a stunning building in South Kensington in Central London. The main exhibits of the museum are FREE for all ages, while special tickets may be purchased for certain visiting exhibitions.

The museum’s collection is enormous – over 70 million objects and specimens are included. The most popular exhibits in the museum include dinosaur fossils, animal specimens, and geologic exhibits.

The central hall of the museum is not only an example of gorgeous architecture, but it houses the most famous exhibit in the museum, a replica of a Diplodocus skeleton.

Other dinosaurs from T-rexes to triceratops can be seen in the museum as embedded fossils, skeletal displays, and carefully-crafted lifelike models complete with skin. You can see exhibits exploring the evolution of dinosaurs and other creatures or learn about (and see models) of dinosaur eggs and hatchlings.

Stegosaurus, 1/12 life size
Stegosaurus, 1/12 life size

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