Let's Take the Kids to London: A Family Travel Guide - Softcover

White, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0595139531 ISBN 13: 9780595139538

Publisher: iUniverse, 2007

Synopsis

NOTE:  There is a new edition of this book, available on Amazon.com

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Watch The Changing Of The Guards They're changing the guard at Buckingham Palace- Christopher Robin went down with Alice. We saw a guard in a sentry-box. "One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"

Says Alice. They're changing the guard at Buckingham Palace- Christopher Robin went down with Alice. They've great big parties inside the grounds. "I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds."

Says Alice.

-from When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne What tourist visits London without seeing the changing of the guard? Some do, of course, but we suspect that almost none of them are touring with kids! Thankfully there are more ways to see changing guards than just crowding against the fence at Buckingham Palace. First, you should know that there are two separate guard ceremonies: the palace guard at Buckingham and the mounted guard down the Mall at Whitehall. Of the two, the mounted horse guards ceremony is a lot more accessible. The site of the ceremony, a large open plaza called Horse Guards Parade, provides room to spread out and get a good view of the event. At one time the palace of Whitehall stood in this part of London. Horse Guards Parade was the tiltyard of the palace where jousting tournaments were held. The guards are mounted troopers of the Household Cavalry-also known as the Queen's Life Guards. Hearing this name, children may ask: "If these guys are lifeguards, then where's the swimming pool?" There is no swimming pool, but if your kids love horses, this is the guard ceremony to see. The mounted Horse Guards are resplendent with their swords and shining silver breastplate armor and, of course, the beautifully groomed horses. Afterward, your children can even pet the two horses standing guard on the Whitehall Street side of Horse Guards Parade. This makes an excellent kid photo op, but watch where you step! The horse guards ceremony is a popular event that lasts about 30 minutes. If you just want a glimpse of the horse guards, you can spot them trooping to the ceremony on the park side of Whitehall. The guard leaves the Knightsbridge Barracks in Hyde Park at about 10:30 in the morning and returns around noon. In mid-June, Horse Guards Parade is the sight of the ceremonial Trooping the Color-a review of troops to mark the sovereign's official birthday. Obtaining tickets to this popular event takes a lot of pre-planning and some luck. It is somewhat easier to attend one of the rehearsals that are held on the weekends preceding the actual event. Meanwhile, back at Buckingham Palace...be sure to arrive for the changing of the guard early enough to get a standing spot up front against the Palace fence so your children have a good view. Even then, be prepared for occasional pushing and jostling for position by other tourists. If it's too crowded for your kids to see, climb up the steps of the nearby Queen Victoria Memorial for a better view. The ceremony is performed by the Foot Guards of the British Army's Household Division, the Queen's personal guard. In the summer months, the Household Guard usually wears bright red uniforms with the famous tall bearskin hats (uniforms vary depending upon the season). The changing of the palace guard takes place daily at 11:30 a.m. from April to early August, and every other day during the rest of the year. Before the ceremony, a military band often plays in the Palace courtyard. See if your kids can pick out what they're playing-it's not all old military marches; we heard a medley of Billy Joel tunes! You can avoid the crush of the Buckingham Palace guard ceremony entirely by walking down the Mall and turning left on Marlborourgh Road. After shift change at Buckingham, the relieved guard troop marches away from the Palace following this route to St. James's Palace. Here you can see the retreat ceremony where the guard retires to its barracks. This is not as elaborate as the changing ceremony at Buckingham Palace, but it is a lot less crowded, you are closer to the action, and there's no fence to block your view.

About this edition

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0595139531
• ISBN 13: 9780595139538
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 302