The Changing of the Guards

The fabled changing of the guard actually happens at all of the Royal Palaces, so, if you want, you can avoid the crush at Buckingham Palace.  Smaller changing of the guard ceremonies are held at St James' Palace and Windsor Palace.  The guard change doesn't take place every day at Buckingham Palace; make sure to check the notice board in front of the Palace.  Some of the guard regiments are actually quite dowdy looking, for instance, the Gurkas. But when a full ceremony is taking place, with the regimental band marching out of the Guards' Barracks and the soldiers dressed in red with full busbees, it is quite the spectacle.  And the best part?  It's free.  If you're looking to plan or simplify a group trip to see the changing of the guards, consider using a London coach hire service.  It makes travelling as a group as easy and hassle-free as possible.

Shakespeare's Globe

Shakespeare, whose body rests in Westminster Abbey, would likely approve of Sam Wannamaker's painstaking efforts to rebuild the Globe next to the Southwark Bridge.  It was reconstructed using original techniques and materials.  Theatre-going in the 17th century was quite a different experience.  With minimal sets, the productions often required the audience's imagination.  Tickets for the shows sell out in advance, but day tickets as "groundlings" or standing are usually available.  The standard of the productions improved markedly in 2001 from a low start while Mark Rylance was directing and acting, but they sadly slumped after he left.  If you're planning a group trip or outing, consider hiring a VIP coach to make your trip to the reconstructed Globe easier and more enjoyable.

Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum has become an excellent showcase of the experience of war.  It has transformed itself from a celebration of military success and different ways of killing and maiming into a museum about the realities of war.  The museum is good for kids and adults.  It features excellent actors leading mini-tours in costume.  The new Holocaust exhibition is a bold step, and the Blitz Gallery is atmospheric.  The travelling and rotating exhibitions are world-class.  Housed in a former insane asylum, the Imperial War Museum offers a unique vista on modern warfare.  The museum is a great educational opportunity; if you need to transport a large group of students to the Imperial War Museum, consider reserving a school coach to make the job easier.

The Fashion & Textile Museum

The Fashion and Textile Museum is a garish orange and pink museum, which is located on Bermondsey Street in Southwark, London SE1.  The museum is not a historical nor in any way intellectual experience, but rather it is a kind of like Fashion Cafe without the burgers.  Its main audience, it would seem, is teenage girls dying to see the fashions worn by celebrities.  Definitely a narrow, though dedicated audience.  The Fashion and Textile Museum would work well for a school trip related to fashion or design, especially for young girls.  If considering taking a large group to the museum, hiring a coach may be advisable, as transportation and parking in the area can be difficult.

Greenwich's Old Royal Observatory

The Old Royal Observatory is a favorite for those who want to stand with one leg in the West and one in the East.  After facing challenges from both France and the United States, Greenwich is now secure in its position as the centre of the world.  The Old Royal Observatory offers great views, especially at sunset, over London and the Dome.  The Old Royal Observatory also has the original clock used in the film and TV series 'Longitude'.  Take a train from London or the Docklands Light Railway from Bank and then you can enjoy a walk through the foot tunnel that links Island Gardens to Greenwich stations.  If you're planning a large group trip, you may want to consider booking a coach hire service.

The HMS Belfast

The HMS Belfast is part of the Imperial War Museum.   This battleship is moored beside the Tower Bridge and is really for the enthusiast only, but anyone will find it impressive that people went to sea, and did battle in these ships that, from a modern perspective, resemble tin cans.  The Maritime Museum in Greenwich has more early examples of Britain's war machinery.  For other examples of Britain's military machinery, there's the new Royal Artillery museum.