London For History Lovers

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You don't have to go far to see something</div><div style="text-align: center;">historically significant in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">~ Dreamy for any history enthusiast ~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a short list of 'must do's'</div><div style="text-align: center;">in London for those interested in the past</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAS8FF9GWdFR3OQdXuyWDRWOOH3i_dqEIu8eMFgcC8ayhtwLTC6w7Cgh9qCWwaZCd-edpYHhhFJWB3Y0kqBNSaIPqxsWX0RApFex0Ok0U8sGR-UVZp95DS_gCuOWIpViXiIm97QR60Qyo/s1600/photo+5+(17)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAS8FF9GWdFR3OQdXuyWDRWOOH3i_dqEIu8eMFgcC8ayhtwLTC6w7Cgh9qCWwaZCd-edpYHhhFJWB3Y0kqBNSaIPqxsWX0RApFex0Ok0U8sGR-UVZp95DS_gCuOWIpViXiIm97QR60Qyo/s640/photo+5+(17)-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The British Museum</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">This museum is overwhelming large,<br />but since it is free, come and go as you please<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Featuring the Rosetta Stone </div><div style="text-align: center;">and 7 million other artifacts from around the world<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.britishmuseum.org/">http://www.britishmuseum.org</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Victoria and Albert Museum </b><br /><br />V&A is the world's largest museum of art and design<br />often with fascinating current exhibits<br />General admission is free<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/">http://www.vam.ac.uk/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGIEwMQUVkLBX12UrDgoVW9RP0_0LLcu2zRz3PUF-zGdyMUV-QSm1SL8ciUeauOkoa3lykyedJjs_emCDfWEmGVDVq4w5hwDZWpIPdwwFerszcAdPRIGF8qDWlMPeuWHnp1KjlGPiHBOU/s1600/DSC03426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGIEwMQUVkLBX12UrDgoVW9RP0_0LLcu2zRz3PUF-zGdyMUV-QSm1SL8ciUeauOkoa3lykyedJjs_emCDfWEmGVDVq4w5hwDZWpIPdwwFerszcAdPRIGF8qDWlMPeuWHnp1KjlGPiHBOU/s640/DSC03426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div><b>Tower of London</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div>Once a palace and prison,</div><div>this famous fortress also holds the crown jewels</div><div>which are on display to the public</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/">www.hrp.org.uk</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFNz1sWvi8r3HgmLTDDkpYiT3J_IHSLgSuONp9JmmWaRtfY_HLKY2YxZFyaB8opF1NFIzphi4b3nqnGp85tBc1srWX0KDRyyIm4DuJsLIxppMdNeQe5A47q3CHZjzqxlSc9Tit9CcRNj/s1600/photo+2-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFNz1sWvi8r3HgmLTDDkpYiT3J_IHSLgSuONp9JmmWaRtfY_HLKY2YxZFyaB8opF1NFIzphi4b3nqnGp85tBc1srWX0KDRyyIm4DuJsLIxppMdNeQe5A47q3CHZjzqxlSc9Tit9CcRNj/s640/photo+2-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Parliament Tour*</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Watch political debates or get a tour of this landmark<br />which is as beautiful inside as it is out<br />with a rich history to boot</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/">www.parliament.uk</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZR2BpJZh8_fWuxa6-Rdck0Xi7Noar-0GiabuoZJwK2ipRtDc-KrvQp0bw8-RBmqe4B44_FnLkga-6hT9havmN8MIBr_j6mpSvtRNX8Fp5E20s9ldcl7zesnHZXO_JBLu_pFlr4rFg_MV/s1600/DSC_0150-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ZR2BpJZh8_fWuxa6-Rdck0Xi7Noar-0GiabuoZJwK2ipRtDc-KrvQp0bw8-RBmqe4B44_FnLkga-6hT9havmN8MIBr_j6mpSvtRNX8Fp5E20s9ldcl7zesnHZXO_JBLu_pFlr4rFg_MV/s640/DSC_0150-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Buckingham Palace Tour*</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />If it is open, you should tour one of the most iconic palaces in the world<br />Typically the palace is open in the summer months while the Queen is away<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If unavailable, you can visit another one of the Queen's homes,<br />Windsor Palace, which is easily accessible by train outside London<br /><br /><a href="http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/">www.RoyalCollection.org.uk</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcX1Ht8XpsYojqMkKaJRq8izBQkm0kPQVpVU0Ph3siXYsMqGRF4LsqkTX3IM9zu7feCHmIAKDWiM5k9i2oPdsrp4WtOIM2vH7AaXEKEKWbFrkVCzqTcvrKBj76VLjF18W_QuP4U35A2ns/s1600/photo+5+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcX1Ht8XpsYojqMkKaJRq8izBQkm0kPQVpVU0Ph3siXYsMqGRF4LsqkTX3IM9zu7feCHmIAKDWiM5k9i2oPdsrp4WtOIM2vH7AaXEKEKWbFrkVCzqTcvrKBj76VLjF18W_QuP4U35A2ns/s640/photo+5+(9).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shakespeare's Globe Theatre & Tour</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get a peek into Elizabethan times by watching a production*<br />and by touring the theatre & exhibition</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/">www.shakespearesglobe.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs66NRalhayDO8eaPQcYdT0TURBmLe28cr4Rpeog054Ta1EmqUC7cYmXYfrLwlpaxYo6T7L1GND5PuhGvumnCoWkHLhL_fqYERNM5f1anwu-VAHcA8iAdmTwHEH78x0Mgu3dJeTfcaT-aN/s1600/photo+3+%25281%2529-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs66NRalhayDO8eaPQcYdT0TURBmLe28cr4Rpeog054Ta1EmqUC7cYmXYfrLwlpaxYo6T7L1GND5PuhGvumnCoWkHLhL_fqYERNM5f1anwu-VAHcA8iAdmTwHEH78x0Mgu3dJeTfcaT-aN/s640/photo+3+%25281%2529-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b><b>Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese Pub</b><br /><br />Step back in time while</div><div style="text-align: center;">you grab a drink and some grub in this authentic 17th century pub</div><div style="text-align: center;">Famous patrons included Charles Dickens and Mark Twain<br />Like most pubs, well-behaved children are welcome</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Don't miss free tea tasting at nearby Twinings)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/bars-pubs/ye-olde-cheshire-cheese">www.TimeOut.com</a><br /><br /><br /><div><b>Churchill War Rooms</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div>Visit the underground Cabinet War Rooms where WWII was orchestrated from in London</div><div>See Churchill's bunker, the direct telephone to Roosevelt, and</div><div>the original maps with pins and string indicating the fronts<br />Fantastic!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms">www.iwm.org.uk</a><br /><br /><br /><b>Imperial War Museum</b><br /><br />Currently under construction,<br />the museum will partially open in the coming weeks<br />to feature 'Horrible Histories: Spies' for kids<br /><br /> In Summer 2014,<br />this museum will open another section to commemorate<br />the upcoming centenary of the First World War<br /><br /><a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/">www.iwm.org.uk</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This list should keep you busy if you come for a visit :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you have any favorites to share?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Book tickets in advance</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Correlating posts providing more detail:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2012/10/london-ceremony-of-keys.html">Ceremony Of The Keys</a> (Tower of London)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-day-in-houses-of-parliament.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Parliament</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2012/02/queen-elizabeth-ii-windsor-castle-tour.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Windsor Palace</span></a><br /><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2013/06/shakespeares-globe-theatre-unexpected.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shakespeare's Globe Theatre</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

London For History Lovers

You don't have to go far to see something historically significant in London ~ Dreamy for any history enthusiast ~ Here's a short li...

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Summer Read: 'The Secret Keeper'

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Looking for a great book this summer?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't put this one down</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBnfrR3A6CPsE3N9iaJPFX_MY2OFQS_YAP9X14pqZmN8-PxQM38wsaD9HNQshbvEOOBS-V_dc4ctl1OXA-UsQK2bz8iPuuwABHxLBzGKvqUnyVpOMVq0bDLxoi4AtS5w6qvp7p6HLWors/s1600/the-birthday-party-978033047759801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBnfrR3A6CPsE3N9iaJPFX_MY2OFQS_YAP9X14pqZmN8-PxQM38wsaD9HNQshbvEOOBS-V_dc4ctl1OXA-UsQK2bz8iPuuwABHxLBzGKvqUnyVpOMVq0bDLxoi4AtS5w6qvp7p6HLWors/s400/the-birthday-party-978033047759801.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://www.panmacmillan.com/book/katemorton/thesecretkeeper?format=978033047759801">credit</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'The Secret Keeper' pages </div><div style="text-align: center;">are filled with a great story, some unexpected twists,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and good character development</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- ooh, I just LOVED this book! -</div><div style="text-align: center;">Probably my favorite read in a long time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">By international bestselling author of 'The Forgotten Garden',</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kate Morton's most recent novel is set in England in the 1930s, the 1960s and present day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It knits together a story of 'mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love'</div><div style="text-align: center;">and leaves the reader guessing until the very end</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Have you read anything fantastic lately?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If not, now you have :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Secret-Keeper-Kate-Morton/dp/0330477595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373518829&sr=8-1&keywords=secret+keeper"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Amazon UK</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Keeper-A-Novel/dp/1439152810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373519002&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secret+keeper"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Amazon USA</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Summer Read: 'The Secret Keeper'

Looking for a great book this summer? I couldn't put this one down ( credit ) 'The Secret Keeper' pages  are filled with a great...

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Enid Blyton's Old Thatch Gardens

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">If you are English,</div><div style="text-align: center;">chances are you grew up reading stories</div><div style="text-align: center;">written by Enid Blyton<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCaxk0AnGKwnftOVCROnKUFToLI4FNiLgWNX3ukfmH0_4cAB8dLC4sudyJ_qhOeekaScrlldJTyB7CVjVRuBOVB7_SCewUC5VdEXsWdrRIfV1wntUg91xU0awkaUOVC7BGwQ8seMzZG7V/s1600/DSC07141-0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCaxk0AnGKwnftOVCROnKUFToLI4FNiLgWNX3ukfmH0_4cAB8dLC4sudyJ_qhOeekaScrlldJTyB7CVjVRuBOVB7_SCewUC5VdEXsWdrRIfV1wntUg91xU0awkaUOVC7BGwQ8seMzZG7V/s640/DSC07141-0022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are American,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you've probably never heard of her or her classic stories such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The Wishing-Chair', 'The Magic Faraway Tree',</div><div style="text-align: center;">'The Enchanted Wood' or 'The Famous Five'<br /><br />But now you have :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Delightfully, Mr and Mrs Hawthorne bought Enid Blyton's Old Thatch cottage </div><div style="text-align: center;">and started landscaping its two acres just thirteen years ago<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jx-BtLXJcpAEAjA3ajxCNxHDRNJbrF9tuW0_fawxYBBC8bqrhDM8cyo8oky6o3UVpcOhXvNldDfHtG0apEgebBTrOCd5FBAvbH1oQAN3Mi1KGMYr0CKn5FjkPm0UThTmd3cHlxF5euQd/s1600/DSC07165-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jx-BtLXJcpAEAjA3ajxCNxHDRNJbrF9tuW0_fawxYBBC8bqrhDM8cyo8oky6o3UVpcOhXvNldDfHtG0apEgebBTrOCd5FBAvbH1oQAN3Mi1KGMYr0CKn5FjkPm0UThTmd3cHlxF5euQd/s640/DSC07165-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jacky Hawthorne is a garden designer<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With help from her husband and a few volunteers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they are able to manage the garden throughout the week<br />and open it to the public<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QL27QbQmSvWl3X4w_0Oq_RT0c2EZtC52tRParouCol1Bl83IpHG540cViOjHoWWlejjs9y0KILOBkRokYEcQUmmFPw4ZNfytnXLGficyO73RGBGCGlYboDDmc4UZQGqFayjkPMpE_Npx/s1600/DSC07252-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QL27QbQmSvWl3X4w_0Oq_RT0c2EZtC52tRParouCol1Bl83IpHG540cViOjHoWWlejjs9y0KILOBkRokYEcQUmmFPw4ZNfytnXLGficyO73RGBGCGlYboDDmc4UZQGqFayjkPMpE_Npx/s640/DSC07252-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />See the rod perpendicular to the lamppost?<br /><br />Over a hunderd years ago,<br />the person lighting the lamp manually<br />would have leaned his ladder against the rod to reach the lamp<br />{ love that tidbit }<br /><br />Enid Blyton described her 17th Century home as<br /><br /><i>a very old house rather like a rambling cottage,</i><br /><i>perfect both outside and in</i><br /><i>It is like a Fairy Cottage</i><br /><i>You enter through a funny old lychgate</i><br /><br />Ooooh,<br />it would be so inspirational to write children's books here,<br />don't you think?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">More information: <a href="http://www.oldthatchgardens.co.uk/">www.oldthatchgardens.co.uk</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Enid Blyton's Old Thatch Gardens

If you are English, chances are you grew up reading stories written by Enid Blyton If you are American, you've probably never heard of h...

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