There’s something about London

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/05/2023 (1055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

London has always captivated me. One of the largest and most significant cities in the world, I have always imagined it to be fascinating and full of fancy tales. On a recent trip to the U.K., I discovered a lot of interesting things about the city.

For starters, I didn’t know it was originally called Londinium. The name dates back to 43 A.D., when ancient Romans founded a shipping port and trading site in the marshy valley of the River Thames. They established a settlement, constructed a bridge across the waterway, and the town became a hub of trade and commerce.

Less than 20 years later, this entire first town would be burned to the ground during battle. In centuries to follow, Londinium would be rebuilt, burned down again, rebuilt again, and regularly attacked by marauding groups of raiders and invaders. By the eighth century, still enduring after various forms of destruction, it’s name had been shortened to ‘London’.

The city became more permanent in 960 A.D., when Benedictine monks built a house of worship near the riverbank. One hundred years later, King Edward I built his royal palace on a nearby tract of land, and expanded the monastery. He commissioned the construction of a Romanesque stone church, which would become the original Westminster Abbey. In the middle of the 1200s, King Henry III had it rebuilt into the Gothic style we are familiar with today, with the new cathedral officially dedicated in 1269.

You will pass by the Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and other world-famous sites on the myriad of open-top buses that traverse the city. Golden Tours, London’s leading sightseeing company, offers audio-guided ‘Hop-on Hop-off’ tours that allow you to take in the many sights and attractions at your leisure over the course of one, two, or three days.

They also offer a River Thames boat ride, which glides along the renowned waterway that flows right through the heart of the city. Enjoy panoramic views of iconic landmarks like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the London Bridge, and the Tower of London.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tower of London is a historic castle and fortress, and one of England’s most compelling ancient monuments. Its origins date back nearly one thousand years when William the Conqueror built initial fortifications in 1066 following his invasion of London. Fearing an uprising, he wanted to separate himself from the locals in order to mitigate the possibility they could ultimately join forces and turn on him.

Since then, the Tower of London has grown and expanded to serve many purposes, including a residence for royalty, a money-making mint, a military barracks and armory, and a notorious prison. At present, it remains a popular museum with live re-enactments, thought-provoking exhibits, and reflective spaces, like the tiny 12th century Norman chapel which once doubled as an archive for historic records.

It is also home to the crown jewels, which have been stored and displayed at the Tower of London since 1661. The magnificent array of 23,578 gemstones is part of the Royal Collection, with items still used in ceremonies today – including the crowns worn at coronation time, which the world just witnessed with the crowning of King Charles III.

MORE TO COME: My next Travelations column will share more about London, must-see sites, cool places, and uniquely British traditions…