Self-isolation in the age of coronavirus has me thinking about my next trip to the UK. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to travel again!
While I’m cooped up at home in sunny Florida, my dear friend, Andrea, has been sending me photos and other highlights of London, which has me missing my favorite city even more! So, while I can’t be there in person, I can visit virtually. And so can you! There are dozens of London landmarks that are available to visit online.
No trip to London is complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. The Royal Family’s YouTube channel has a wonderful 9-minute tour, led by the Palace’s Master of the Household (basically, the chief operating officer). The tour features several of the highlights that the public can see when the Palace is open during the summer months when the Queen is away. Learn more about the history of the palace structure, view the staterooms and enjoy all the magnificent artwork. Her Majesty has quite a collection!
If politics is your thing, check out 10 Downing Street where you can enter through the front door, imagine yourself dancing down the Grand Staircase (like Hugh Grant did in the movie, Love Actually.” I doubt they filmed in the actual 10 Downing Street, but its fun to imagine!) There’s also the Cabinet Room to see where all the negotiations happen.
Speaking of politics, I’ve always wanted to take the in-person tours offered at The Houses of Parliament when lawmakers aren’t in session. Now I can see the House of Lords and House of Commons and learn some of the history, pomp and circumstance of this wonderful structure without leaving home. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with how British government works – there are plenty of explanations!
St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most recognizable London landmarks. This beautiful structure is also located at the highest point of the City – a beacon that can be seen for miles. It’s often very crowded, but now that we’re all stuck at home, you can visit undisturbed. Imagine yourself standing in the middle of the cathedral and use the tools to look up at the massive, baroque dome.
All of the above are also on a pretty cool Virtual 360 overview tour that Visit London, the city’s tourism office, offers. See the Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and more from a birds-eye view
Many of London’s most impressive museums also have online virtual tours, such as the National Gallery, British Museum and Natural History Museum. Since I’ve been to each of those, I wanted to check out some lesser-known galleries I might not otherwise make time to see. Check out the Royal Academy of the Arts with its six separate galleries, it’s one of my new favorites for its ease of use. There are certainly some architectural gems in this one! Be sure to read the introductions to learn the highlights of each gallery.
While London is mostly shutdown (for now), there are plenty of ways to enjoy this exciting city from the comfort of your couch until you can be there in person. Happy Stay-at-Home travels!