Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

For a display of British pomp and ceremony, watch the Changing the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace.Changing the Guard or Guard Mounting is the process involving a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard.The Guard that looks after Buckingham Palace is called The Queen's Guard and is divided into two Detachments: the Buckingham Palace Detachment (responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace) and the St James's Palace Detachment (responsible for guarding St James's Palace).

All the guards taking part in the ceremony are dressed in traditional red tunics and bearskin hats, and the ceremony is set to music. Changing the Guard also takes place at Windsor Castle and at Horse Guards Arch on Horse Guards Parade.

For Changing the Guard dates 

• At Buckingham Palace, Guard Mounting takes place at 11.30 am
• At Horse Guards Arch, Changing the Guard takes place daily at 11.00am (10.00 am on Sundays)
• At Windsor Castle, the ceremony takes place at 11.00 am

For more info visit www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/ChangingtheGuard

History of British Afternoon Tea

There is no better British ritual than the ceremony and serving of Afternoon tea. It is believed that credit for the custom goes to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the early 19th century. The usual habit of serving dinner between 8 and 9 pm left the Duchess hungry and with a 'sinking feeling' by late afternoon. To stave off the hunger, she would order tea, bread and butter and cakes to be served in her room. Later on she would invite friends to join her at her home and the light tea was such a success the habit went on.

The Duchess continued the custom on returning to London and soon the 'At Home' tea evolved which quickly spread throughout England. Announcements about tea were sent to relatives and friends stating at what hour the tea would be served. Sometimes entertainment was provided but more often it was simply conversation and a little idle gossip over tea and cakes. If 'At Home' notices were received the guest was expected to attend, unless of course, regrets were sent. There was at least one person holding an at home each day and social ties were quickly established with women seeing each other so regularly.

The occasion of Afternoon tea gradually spread from the home and out into society in general. Tea Parties became the usual social gatherings and Tea Rooms, and Tea Gardens quickly sprang up everywhere.

During the Edwardian period, the 'At Home' faded as the new desire to travel increased. Tea was now served at four o' clock in the new tea lounges of luxury hotels, the Ritz being one of the most famous, and high-end stores such as Fortnum and Mason and was often accompanied by light music and sometimes even a little dancing. Tea dances became something of phenomenon and lasted until well after the Second World War, but then disappeared. Like Afternoon Tea itself, there is now a huge revival of the tea dance throughout the UK and Ireland and being enjoyed by all ages.

The best luxury Afternoon Tea in London

City guide to The Shard

The Shard is an iconic, landmark building on the London skyline, designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano. At a height of 1,016ft (310m), the tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard redefines London’s skyline and will be a dynamic symbol of London, recognisable throughout the world.

The View is situated at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 69 and 72, and almost twice the height of any other building in London. Prepare to embark on a multi-sensory journey to 244 m (800 ft) above one of the greatest cities on Earth. On arrival at Level 00, you will be drawn into the tapestry of London with glimpses of the city laid out before you. Travelling skyward in two high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts, you’ll swiftly reach Level 68 - a cloudscape above the world.

Then journey to Level 69 where the view is revealed and London opens out before you. Here, in the sky above London, you’ll experience an astonishing 360 degree, 64 km (40 mile) view over the city.

For the best view in town, ascend to Level 72, at 244m, the highest public level of The Shard. You’ll be exposed to the elements with sounds of the city around you. Looking up, you’ll see the shards of glass that form the top of this skyscraper as they disappear upwards into the sky.

The View is currently open from 9 am-10 pm daily until October 2013. From October 2013 the opening hours will be: Sunday-Wednesday, 10 am-7 pm; and Thursday-Saturday, 10 am-10 pm. All tickets are dated and timed, so we advise pre-booking to ensure an unpressured, premium quality experience.

Restaurants in the Shard

Aqua Shard

This new British restaurant is perched on Level 31 and it is called Aqua Shard.On the menu you’ll find British staples such as Dover sole with cuttlefish, broad beans and cider sauce. There’s also a bar with three-storey-high panoramic windows, where you can enjoy cocktails inspired by British favourites gin and afternoon tea.

Hutong

Aqua Shard’s sister restaurant, Hutong, serves Northern Chinese cuisine and is located on Level 33 of The Shard with fantastic views of the London skyline. Signature dishes include Red Lantern (crispy crab with chilli); chilled, spiced razor clams; crispy de-boned lamb ribs and roasted Peking duck. 

Oblix

Oblix is a restaurant and a bar lounge and it is located over the whole of the 32nd floor. The restaurant is open for traditional lunch and dinner, whilst the bar offers a deli option at lunch time, dinner menu in the evenings and brunch at the weekends. Live music also features in the bar. 

More about The Shard

How to plan a trip to London

How to plan a trip to London

How to save money when visiting London, is the question on everybody's lips. Visitors think of London as an expensive city but there are plenty of cheap or free activities to be found. Planning for some cheaper activities each day, including some reasonable meals into your itinerary and taking advantage of many of London's great free experiences could make it possible to enjoy London on a tight budget or just stretch your money further.

 About London Transport

Travel fares in London are not cheap and it is not always possible to walk everywhere. That is why London Transport has introduced a 'Pay As You Go' Oyster card which helps you to save a bit of cash when travelling on the tube and buses. Approximately £300,000 is wasted daily by paying cash for journeys. Visit TFL website to compare cash and Oyster fares.

There is no need to register, there are no forms to fill in, and you don't need a photo. You need to pay a small deposit but this will be refunded at any tube station when you have finished your stay in London. Oyster cards are available from Tube stations, newsagents and online. Transport for London now offers visitors from selected countries outside the UK the option to buy an adult Oyster card before arriving in London. Visitor Oyster cards come with loaded travel value allowing you to jump on the tube as soon as you arrive. Find out more on TFL Visitors page.

Here we created some quick tips for the best free things & attractions in London:

1. Best Free Things to Do in London
2. Best London Attractions

5. Best London Shopping
6. Best London Dining

                                             Have a wonderful time in London, everyone!

Top Shopping Spots for Bargain Hunters

Top Shopping Spots for Bargain Hunters

London is the shopping destination which caters for all budgets so if you are visiting the city on a budget, please, keep reading. 

Many High Streets in London offer a wide choice of bargains which you would never dream off. You will definitely need to head to Oxford Street which is famous for its massive choice of absolutely everything and it is the home of many flagship stores such as Primark (amazing for bargains), Topshop (stylish clothes) and many more (H & M, New Look, etc.). 

Vintage clothes are back in fashion and London is the perfect place packed with vintage shops and markets. Alfie's Antiques Market is the largest indoor market with a wealth of designer clothes to browse.

Lilly Allen's store in Covent Garden (Lucy in Disguise) has become a vintage favourite but these fabulous pieces do not come cheap. Other delightful markets for savvy shoppers are Brick Lane, Camden Market and Petticoat Lane. 

Of course, we cannot forget about the famous Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill. It is a wonderful place for antique lovers. Borough Market which featured in the Bridget Jones movie will tease you with mouth-watering smells of the food stalls. 

We wish you happy shopping and lots of good bargains!

Find out more about markets in London

Do you think you know how to pack?

Packing for a trip is easy when you plan ahead by following the tips given below. Remember to pack according to the weather, location and activities planned. Be sure to include toiletries, medications and valuables such as jewellery in a separate travelling case which you can stow away in an overhead cabin. Over-packing will leave less room in your suitcase for purchasing gifts and souvenirs.

1. Put large or heavy clothing at the bottom. always put heavier or larger items at the bottom of the suitcase.
2. Pack several lightweight layers. this will work well for both hot and cold weather.
3. Choose between rolling and folding your clothing. If you need more space in your suitcase and are not worried about the weight, roll your clothes. If you do not need as much space and want to keep the weight down, fold your clothes.
4. Use the inside of your shoes as storage space. Stuff your socks inside your shoes if there is no other room for them.
5. Pack fragile items in the centre of your case.
6. Place dress shirts and other formal items on top. Put dress shirts on top so that you can remove them easily for hanging and ironing.
7. Put shoes in plastic bag. You can use grocery bag or a shower cap.
8. Use creases and gaps to place underwear. Fit the underwear and socks down the sides once the case is full. 

Dealing with clothing stains away from home

Collar Stains

You don't need a special stain remover to banish a ring around the collar. Any staining around the collar can be easily removed with a touch of something you're pretty much guaranteed to have in your hotel room. Just pour a little shampoo - any shampoo will do, even the inexpensive, generic kind onto the collar, rub the collar together to work the shampoo in well, and rinse thoroughly. Then launder as usual.

Tea Stains

If you have fabrics with tea stains, there is no need to panic.  The stain will come out if you give it a little sugar. Mix up a concoction of heavily sugared water by stirring the water as you add sugar to it. Keep adding sugar until it no longer dissolves (warm water makes it easier for sugar to dissolve). To remove tea stains from clothing, submerge the stained area for several minutes in a small container of the heavily sugared water, then hand wash as usual.

Lipstick Stains

We've got a great laundry trick for lipstick stains! To remove lipstick from dark fabrics, grab a piece of white bread (leftover from your breakfast) and remove the crust. You don't have to forgo a sandwich; you can use the heel of the loaf - no one likes that piece anyway. Wad up the soft centre and rub it gently on the stain until it picks up all of the lipstick. Sweep away any leftover crumbs with your finger.