London has held on resolutely to its place as one of the world's ten most expensive cities and is at the top of the European list. Tourists paying hotel or restaurant bills have to dig deep into their pockets. If you plan to visit carefully, you'll still get an exceptionally colourful and varied picture of the metropolis by spending time at sights that are free during the 50th anniversary year of the Queen's coronation.
A well-organised trip to London involves more than long walks in magical royal parks (Hyde Park, Kensington Park, Green Park etc.), walking along the banks of the Thames, discovering differences between "villages" (Mayfair, Kensington, Camden, Richmond etc.), admiring luxury shops and department stores (Bond Street, King's Road and Sloane Street boutiques, Burlington Arcade's small, exclusive shops recalling the atmosphere of bygone days, Fortnum and Mason or Harrods), or compulsory elements of any city sightseeing tour, the Changing of the Guard and a stroll in Covent Garden or Soho.
Some of London's excellent art galleries such as the British Museum, the Tate, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, as well as many extensive private collections donated to the nation, such as the Wallace Collection and Kenwood House, have traditionally opened their doors to millions of domestic and foreign lovers of art for free. At the end of 2001, the government changed some financial regulations, allowing free access to more public collections and galleries. Included in the nine "liberated" institutions are such dignified and popular museums as the Victoria and Albert, boasting one of the world's largest applied arts collections, and the Natural History and Science Museums, of the South Kensington group. Other tourist favourites including the Greenwich Royal Observatory, whose Meridian Line inevitably appears on holiday snaps, the captivating sights of South East London, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House, a Palladium-style villa by the celebrated British architect Inigo Jones, have all closed down their ticket offices.
Those interested in modern history can get an overview of two world wars from the richly-illustrated material in the Imperial War Museum, near Waterloo station. A permanent Holocaust exhibition was opened recently, and despite a slightly reserved approach, it provides a truly shocking glimpse of 20th century persecution of the Jews, ending up with the Holocaust. The Museum of London claims to be the world's largest city history collection, where besides the permanent exhibition taking us from ancient history to the present day, the current show "London's Voices", with the help of interviews with city residents, recalls how people of the capital have lived over the last hundred years.
The most important event in London was in 2002, the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Interestingly, although the monarch has been head of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth since February 6th 1952 and her coronation took place on June 2nd 1953, the principal celebrations were held between May and July in 2002. The slight of dates is justified by the fact that the Queen's Jubilee is of course at the same time the anniversary of the death of George VI, and an enthusiastic celebration on that date would not be considered fitting.
In a country that nurtures traditions in such an exemplary way, the worthy celebration of royal jubilees has a long and uninterrupted history. Elizabeth II, who in recent years has often abandoned pomp and ceremony (special birthdays and golden wedding have been organised in puritan conditions within the family), believes that it is right and proper for her, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, to look back at her role in the life of the U.K. and the Commonwealth, which under her reign has changed unrecognisably, to thank the nation and its people for their support, and, stressing the regenerating ability of the royal court, to guarantee the survival of the monarchy.
Eighty famous institutions in London, citadels of democracy, culture, arts, science, technology, national defence, faith, community, etc. are inviting visitors to places known only to insiders until now, so their significance to the nation's heritage will be widely acknowledged.
The "common denominator" and guide is the Thames. On its banks there are many building between Windsor and Woolwich which encapsulate the very character of the city...Whereas the royal palaces of Westminster, known to many as Parliament, are known to all, at least from the outside, there are some very famous buildings, some are company head offices, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace, the monumental Admiralty building, other government offices, and even the hidden gardens of the world famous Eton College maintain their secrets.
One exhibition opening with the festival and worth a mention has been arranged in the official rooms of Kensington Palace, the last residence of Diana Princess of Wales, to show the dress she wore for the royal wedding. There is a corresponding headdress exhibition, housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a show entitled "The Castle and the Crown" can be seen in the Tower. Of course everyone can see the large fireworks displays or street balls held in Richmond, in the Royal Star and Garter House, and in the gardens of war veterans' homes, where there is the same beautiful view of the Thames as during the original celebration in 1952.
Veronika R. Hahn