Probably one of the most well-known events in London’s dramatic history, the fire destroyed just under 70 percent of the city’s buildings, including the original St Paul’s Cathedral. Many richer inhabitants chose to relocate to the West End and aristocratic residences close to the royal court at St James’ Palace. Somewhat wisely, all new buildings were made of brick not wood, leading to the popular impression today of the UK being a red-brick country.

How long does it actually take to get to London? Great question! And I’ve got some answers for you. Let’s talk about flights. The flight time from New York to London is about 7.5 hours. The return flight time from London to New York is about 8.5 hours. The flight time from the west coast, specifically Los Angeles is approximately 11.5 hours, and 10 hours from Vancouver. In general, flights from Europe to the US take longer than flights from the US to Europe due to differences in tailwinds and headwinds. Supersonic planes once only took 3.5 hours to cross the pond but since the end of the Concorde era there have been no more. We hope to see them again soon though! Imagine deciding to go to London at lunch time and being there by dinner!

In London, as in all of the UK, cars drive on the left. Most city streets in London will have a speed limit of 30 MPH, which will be indicated by a round sign. Larger roads will have higher speed limits. The Congestion Charge applies to most vehicles which drive into central London during the week.

Without buses, London would fall. London is completely dependent on these red icons. In fact, Londoners use buses so extensively that more than half of all bus journeys across England are made in London. The red double decker has become a global icon, and along with their red pillar boxes, and red telephone boxes, is a constituent part of the Holy Trinity of the red things of Britain. Buses have been used on London’s streets since the early 1800s. One of the first public bus services was operated by an enterprising fellow named George Shillibeer, who began ferrying people about using his horse-drawn omnibus which he ran between Paddington and the City. His forward thinking idea caught on, and soon, London was a bus town. On your trip to London be sure to take at least one ride on the famous London red bus.

Fun facts about those picture perfect guards in London…. The guards at Buckingham Palace and St James Palace are on duty for 24 or 48 hours. During that time a Guardsman will have 2 hours on sentry duty and then 4 hours off. The Changing Of The Guard is free for tourists to check out. You just have to know when and where to go. In 2018, from August to May, the ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. In June and July 2018, the ceremony occurs 7 days a week, though it is highly recommended that you check the schedule for any exceptions. Officially, the Changing begins at 11:00. However, Guards begin to leave the Royal Barracks and St. James Palace by 10:30. The Changing will not take place in bad weather. If it is raining, chances are there will be no ceremony. If the weather is a bit changeable, police officers stationed around Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial can be approached and asked if the Changing is going to be canceled. BUT with all that helpful information there for you, I definitely recommend reaching out to us before you plan your trip to London. I’ll make sure you have accurate information and organized to maximize your time.

The earliest English gardens that we know of were planted by the Roman conquerors of Britain in the 1st century AD. It was not until the Middle Ages that gardens once more became important in British life. As castles gave way to fortified manor houses in the later medieval period, the garden became a simple green space surrounded by hedges or fences. Games such as bowls or tennis took place on the lawn. Gardening has always been a matter of personal taste, and often the outstanding works of previous generations are torn down to make way for the style of the next. For that reason it is hard to find unaltered examples of historical gardens in England. Yet, throughout Britain there are gardens great and small, formal and informal, private and public, that illustrate the British passion for creating green, growing spaces of their own. All are different, and all, like their owners and creators, have a distinct personality. So, whether or not you’re a gardening pro or kill everything you touch, be sure to stop and smell the English roses while you’re there.

Tudor houses were built during the Tudor era in England between 1485 – 1603 and they had a very distinctive black-and-white style appearance. The Tudor period is the time when the Tudor family came to the throne in England from 1485 – 1603. One of the most famous members of the Tudor family is King Henry VIII. There are still a large number of Tudor houses in the UK and some of them are more than 500 years old. On your visit to London (and around England if you have time) you’ll see a wide variety of architecture and design.

The history of Brick Lane. Brick Lane runs from Bethnal Green and through Spitalfields down towards Whitechapel. The street was originally called Whitechapel Lane; it is thought that it was renamed because local earth was used by brick and tile manufacturers who set up shop in the street in the 15th century. Brick Lane in London’s East End is an epicenter of cultural diversity, the Curry Capital of the U.K., and a mecca for on-trend shopaholics. You’ll find a dizzying array of vintage shops, record stores, niche boutiques, street art, and nightlife catering to every taste as you navigate the area’s winding cobbled streets. Weekends on Brick Lane are a full-on affair and not for the faint-hearted (or severely hungover). Throngs descend on the Brick Lane Market to haggle over one-of-a-kind clothing and eat at a food market which boasts more cuisines than you can shake a stick at, while a few badass buskers playing live music hold crowds in their thrall. As well as countless curry houses, you’ll find Bengali foods on sale in the local shops and markets, and the street plays host to an annual Curry Festival with live entertainment laid on by the Tower Hamlets Council. It’s clear that these days Brick Lane is a melting pot of social groups, cultures and subcultures, all of whom come together to enjoy the U.K.’s favourite dish: the curry.

Throughout its history, the Tower of London has served many purposes, including royal residence, barracks, armory, prison and museum. The Tower of London is a 900-year-old castle and fortress in central London that is notable for housing the crown jewels and for holding many famous and infamous prisoners. An equally iconic landmark is Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. The Tower of London, Tower Bridge (shown here) and surrounding area is a must see for all visitors and is photographs beautifully at both day and night.

YUM! The dish is a well-established staple of the British diet, once considered so important that Winston Churchill wouldn’t ration the dish during WWII due to fears of triggering widespread discontent. Fish and chips were first served together as a dish around 1860 – although their origin is contested. Fish and chips were served in newspaper until the 1980s. British consumers eat some 382 million portions of fish and chips every year. That’s six servings for every man, woman and child - the annual spend on fish and chips in the UK is in the region of a staggering £1.2 billion! So if you’re headed to London you should probably have this on your list. There are currently approximately 10,500 specialist fish and chip shops in the UK so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one!

When it comes to baked goods, few issues carry the contentions of the great scone debate: should the cream or the jam be spread first? Cream tea has been served in the UK since the 11th century and arguments surrounding the order of spreading the scone’s traditional toppings have ruminated ever since. While those in Devon typically spread the clotted cream first followed by jam, the Cornish tradition is to spread jam first followed by cream. And if like me you really don’t care and just want to eat lots of scones with jam and cream and don’t care how it’s put together, you do that!

Bangers and mash, also known as sausages and mash, is a traditional dish of Great Britain and Ireland, consisting of sausages served with mashed potatoes. It may consist of one of a variety of flavored sausages made of pork, lamb, or beef (often specifically Cumberland sausage). The dish is usually served with onion gravy, but may also include fried onions, and peas.

The traditional full English breakfast includes bacon (traditionally back bacon), fried, poached or scrambled eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or buttered toast, and sausages (also called "bangers"). Black pudding, baked beans and bubble and squeak are also often included. Ps. If you’re not a fan of pig’s blood you probably want to skip on the black pudding!