To the north of Oxford Street lies Marylebone, once the outlying village of St Mary-by-the-Bourne. Sights in this part of town include the massively touristed Madame Tussaud's and the Planetarium , on Marylebone Street Road, the low-key galleries of the Wallace Collection, and Sherlock Holmes'old stamping grounds around Baker Street. There is a pleasure, though, in just wandering the Marylebone streets, especially the vilage-like quarter around Marylebone High Street.(See in the picture)
Cambridge, located on the River Cam north of London, is important as a center of learning and is the seat of the University of Cambridge, one of the great educational institutions of Europe. It is also a market center for the surrounding agricultural region and manufactures electronic equipment and precision instruments.
Cambridge has many outstanding edifices, including the Church of Saint Benet, a 10th-century Saxon structure; the restored Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the four round Norman churches in England; and the 15th-century King's College Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. The many museums and galleries here include the Fitzwilliam Museum, featuring both archaeological and art collections.
Cambridge University
The 15th-century King's College Chapel is one of the grandest buildings in the university town of Cambridge, and possibly all of England. The building, conceived by Henry VI, is spectacular for its high vaulted roof, lofty spires, great buttresses, and magnificent stained-glass windows. King's College is one of the oldest in the university, dating back to the 1440s. It forms part of the town's main line of colleges, including Queen's, Trinity, and Magdalene, through whose landscaped lawns and gardens the picturesque River Cam winds its way.
Situated in the heart of London, the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea is chiefly a residential district and has several fashionable shopping areas, such as Kensington High Street and the King\'s Road.In the late 17th century, Nottingham House, in Kensington, became a royal residence. It was later remodeled by the architect Sir Christopher Wren and became known as Kensington Palace. The palace is still the residence of the royal family, but it is open to the public.
Also in Kensington are the British Museum; the Victoria and Albert Museum; the Science Museum; the Natural History Museum; the Royal Colleges of Science, Art, and Music; and the Royal Albert Hall. Founded in 1753, the British Museum is one of the world\'s oldest and most comprehensive museums, with artifacts ranging from Egyptian mummies to Roman treasures.
The historic fortress known as the Tower of London was built on the remains of Roman fortifications on the north bank of the River Thames. The original tower, known as the White Tower or Keep, is flanked by four turrets and enclosed by two lines of fortifications. It was built about 1078 by Gundulf, bishop of Rochester. The inner fortifications, called the Ballium Wall, have 12 towers, including Bloody Tower, Record or Wakefield Tower, Devereux Tower, and Jewel Tower.
The tower was used as a royal residence as well as for a prison until Elizabethan times. It is now largely a showplace and museum. It holds the crown jewels of England and is one of the country's greatest tourist attractions. A popular feature is the Yeomen of the Guard, known as Beefeaters, who still wear colorful uniforms of the Tudor period.
