TRAVEL TRADE GUIDE 2011 - London & Partners

Ham House & Garden (NT)Ham House & Garden is unique asan example of 17th-century fashionand power, and a place where timeappears to have stood still. Largelycreated by the charismatic Duchessof Lauderdale, Ham was designedto impress in its day and it continuesto do so today.Open: 14 Mar-30 Oct, Sat-Wed 12.00-16.00. Garden also open in wintermonths, 11.00-16.00Entry: A £10.90, C £6.05, family £27.90(house and garden), A £3.65, C £2.45,family £9.75 (garden only)Group: Discounts for groups of morethan 15 peopleContact: Visitor Services Managernationaltrust.org.uk/hamhouse/ Richmond then bus 371 to SandyLane/Ham Street stop, or 1.5-mile walk alongThames towpath from Richmond stationHampton CourtPalace (HRP)This magnificent palace set indelightful gardens was famouslyone of Henry VIII’s favourite homes.Explore his State Apartmentsand those of King William III,where history is brought to lifewith costumed guides. The TudorKitchens offer an insight into lifebelow stairs, and the splendidgardens are not to be missed.Open: Daily, Mar-Oct 10.00-18.00,Nov-Feb 10.00-16.30. Closed 24-26 DecEntry: A £14, C £7 (2010 prices.Check website for latest prices)Group: 15Contact: David Mileshrp.org.uk Hampton CourtHayward Gallery 7NAs part of London’s South Bank,this famous international galleryshows four major exhibitionsannually (no permanent collections).Open: During exhibitions, Mon, Thu, Sat& Sun 10.00-18.00, Tue & Wed10.00-20.00, Fri 10.00-21.00Group: 10, discounts (weekdays) forpre-booked parties. Further discountsfor full-time education groups. Coachdrop-off pointContact: Box Officehayward.org.uk/ Waterloo EmbankmentHMS Belfast7THMS is Europe’s largestsurviving armoured warship. Sheserved with distinction in both theSecond World War and the KoreanWar. Saved for the nation in 1971,she is now moored on the Thamesbetween London Bridge and TowerBridge. A tour of this great shipwill provide nine decks of insightinto her structure, power and whatlife at sea would have been like forsailors during major campaigns fromthe Arctic Convoys to D-Day. Withregular free activities for visitorsof all ages, including a changingtemporary exhibition programmeand audioguides full of historicalinformation, veterans’ stories andinterpretation, HMS is sureto provide a great day out for allthe family.Open: Daily. Closed 24-26 Dec. Lastadmission 45 mins before closingEntry: A £12.95, concessions £10.40,C under-16s freeGroup: 10, discountiwm.org.uk/ London BridgeThe Household Cavalry 8MMuseumA fascinating celebration of theBritish Army’s senior regiment,which uniquely provides the Queen’smounted bodyguard. Beautifullyshowcased military exhibits,working stable views, interactivepresentations and superb graphicsgive vivid insights into this elitefighting unit’s ceremonial andcombat operations.Open: Daily 10.00-18.00 (Nov-Mar17.00). Last admission 45 minutes beforeclosing. Closed 24–26 Dec& Good FridayEntry: A £6, C £4, senior/student £4,family £15Group: 8+, 10% discountContact: Martin Westwood, Director& Head of Commercial Operationshouseholdcavalrymuseum.co.uk Embankment/Westminster/St James’s Park/ Charing CrossHouses of Parliament 8MA fully guided tour of the Palace ofWestminster, including the Chamberof the House of Lords, House ofCommons and Westminster Hall.Open: Sat throughout the year. Summeropening: 2 Aug-4 Sep & 20-30 SepEntry: A £14, C £6, family £35,senior citizens £9, students £9,Armed Forces £9Group: Group rates available; 10+ mustpre-bookparliament.uk WestminsterImperial War Museum 9PDiscover the story of those whohave lived, fought and died inconflict from the First World War tothe present day. Learn about theconditions endured by First WorldWar troops in The TrenchExperience, explore the role ofespionage in The Secret War, andfind out about children who livedthrough evacuation and the Blitz inThe Children’s War. Interactivedisplays and a changing programmeof temporary exhibitions make this afascinating and absorbing day out.The Museum also houses theacclaimed Holocaust Exhibition, andart galleries holding some of the20th-century’s best-knownpaintings. Imperial War MuseumLondon is one of five Imperial WarMuseum branches.Open: Daily 10.00-18.00.Closed 24-26 DecEntry: FreeGroup: Groups of 10 or more must bookin advanceContact: Groups Booking Officeriwm.org.uk Lambeth North/Elephant & Castle/ WaterlooKensington Palace 7C(HRP)Kensington Palace has beentransformed into the EnchantedPalace from spring 2010. Visitorswill explore the palace to find sevenof the princesses that have livedthere over the centuries,encountering a series of stunninginstallations of contemporary fashioninspired by royal dress, theatricalperformance, music and magic, alldisplayed in the magnificentState Apartments.Open: Mar-Oct 10.00-18.00, Nov-Feb10.00-17.00, last admission one hourbefore closureEntry: A £12.50, C £6.25 (2010 prices.Check website for latest prices)Group: 10% discount for groups of15 or more, pre-booking requiredContact: David Mileshrp.org.uk High Street Kensington/Notting Hill Gate/QueenswayKew Gardens (RoyalBotanic Gardens)Kew Gardens, a World HeritageSite, is a mixture of stunning vistas,magnificent glasshouses andbeautiful landscapes beside theRiver Thames. Also home to a royalpalace, the Gardens represent 250years of heritage as well as morethan 40,000 plant species fromlush rainforests to the driest desertson Earth.Open: Daily. Closed 24 & 25 DecEntry: A £13.50, C freeGroup: 15% discount if pre-booked,10% at the gatekew.org/groups Kew Gardens Kew BridgeKew Palace (HRP)The most intimate of the five royalpalaces, Kew was built as a privatehouse but became a royal residencebetween 1728 and 1818.Open: Easter-end Sep 10.00-17.00.Closed through winterEntry: A £5, C free, concessions£4.50 (2010 prices. Check website forlatest prices)Group: 10% discount for groups of10 or morehrp.org.uk Kew Gardens Kew BridgeSEA LIFE London8NAquariumThe London Aquarium is one ofEurope’s largest displays of globalaquatic life. Come face to facewith over 50 living displays and400 different species on a voyagethrough the world’s oceans.Open: Daily 10.00-18.00 (last admission1700). Late opening in the summerEntry: A £17.50, concessions £16,C 3-14 years £12.50, under 3 yearsfree (peak prices). Prices may vary. Seewebsite for peak and off-peak timesGroup: 10, discount. Schools mustpre-booksealife.co.uk/london/ Waterloo WestminsterATTRACTIONS & SIGHTSEEINGTravel Trade Guide 53