|
|||
|
|
||
| | London | |||
| Trafalgar Square | |||
| In the heart of London, Trafalgar Square is famous for its architectural significance, but with kids, run around the square, take photos, go to the bookstores, and stop in to the Brass Rubbing Centre. |
 |
 |
Nelson's Column – Lord Nelson's statue really is at the top of this column, 170 ft up, but he's rather far away to see. (Lord Nelson died a hero in 1805 at the Battle of Trafalgar.) Kids can climb on the yawning black lions at the base of the column. | |
|
London Brass Rubbing Centre – In the Crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church is the Brass Rubbing Centre. You can choose from hundreds of metal plates to make your rubbings on black paper with lovely wax crayons. Our kids wanted to go back twice.(Tip: Get £4.50 worth of brass rubbings free with the London Pass.) | ||
|
St Martin's-in-the-Fields Church has free concerts at the lunch hour. | ||
|
Charing Cross is noted for its bookshops. Our favorite, which has a large children's section, is Waterstone's on Trafalgar Square proper. |
||
|
National Portrait Gallery (St. Martin's Place) – What better way to see the most famous people in British history? The National Portrait Gallery has original paintings and busts of the kings and queens of England, from the Tudors to Queen Elizabeth II, Shakespeare, Walter Raleigh, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming, the Beatles, Elton John, J.K. Rowling, and many more writers, poets, statesmen, generals, explorers, scientists, artistocratic families, rock stars, and actors, past and present. Ask at the front desk for a goody bag, family activities coordinated with each floor of the gallery. The museum is free, rarely crowded, even in summer, and is rich with famous figures that really come alive in their portraits. |
 |