by 1. The soul of the English is in the countryside
It has been said that the soul of the British is in the countryside, that they love nature and are obsessed with parks.
St James’s Park is an ancient park adjacent to Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace, which was the deer park of Henry VIII, the earliest king of England. In the 17th century, Charles II hired French landscape designers to re-create the landscape, and in the early 19th century, it was further beautified by the famous British architect Nash, and now it has become the most beautiful park in central London, the best place for London citizens and tourists to relax and relax, everywhere you can see people basking in the sun, walking and picnicking.
Hyde Park is the most famous park in London and the largest royal park in the United Kingdom. Located in the Westminster Abbey area of central London, it covers more than 360 acres. It was a deer hunting ground for the King of England until the 18th century. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII of England used it as a royal park. In 1851, Queen Victoria held the first London International Exhibition here. It is now a place where people hold various political rallies and other mass events, with the famous “Speakers’ Corner”.
Richmond Park. This is a great wild park, just in the suburbs of southwest London, a park with herds of red deer and fawns (in September and October you can pick a lot of big wild chestnuts). You can observe the deer at a very close distance, leisurely grazing and roaming, and you can enjoy the feeling of intimacy with nature and animals without going out of London, and there are many photos of elk in Richmond Park on Instagram.
2. The best way to open an English afternoon: afternoon tea
According to legend, it was originally a greedy Duchess of Bedford who could not bear to eat until dinner, and began to eat snacks before dinner, which was followed by many people. To this day, we are used to a lazy afternoon, meeting friends, over the aroma of English tea and scones to talk about life and ideals.
You have to start with the sandwich, not the cutlery. Then eat the scone and break it in half with your hands, being careful not to use a knife. Spread the scones however you like, cream and jam in the order you like. To taste black tea, you must first add milk, stir the tea back and forth, do not rotate it, and avoid touching the cup with a spoon and lifting the saucer.
3. See Phantom of the Opera, the first of four musicals in London’s West End
London’s historic theatre district is one of the world’s two great theatre centres, alongside Broadway in New York, and is synonymous with British theatre. Also known as the “West End,” it’s home to more than 40 theaters that stage spectacular performances and gorgeous musicals ranging from Shakespeare to Wicked. Phantom of the Opera, the first of the four musicals in the world.
4. The Changing of the Guard with the Royal bearskin hat
In London, although the probability of meeting the Queen, prince and princess on the street is not high, every time, even if it is just the powerful royal guard on the street, people can come to take photos. Members of the British Royal Guard wear bearskin caps and red uniforms. The tall bearskin hat has a history of 200 years. It symbolizes the strength of the British military. As one of the important elements of the British “royal culture”, the Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony attracts thousands of tourists to watch every year, and is an indispensable point of view in London. The Changing of the Guard took place at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Horse Guards Parade. The ceremonies in these places were performed by a full-size military band and carried out strict procedures for the transfer of palace keys. This is a very popular event, so arrive early to choose a better viewing location.
5. Touch a shooting star where time began
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, is a pioneer in astronomy, so it’s no surprise that it’s a heritage site for astronomy and archaeoastronomy. The Greenwich Observatory, built in 1675, carried out its duties conscientiously until the 1950s and was renowned for its accuracy and influence, which is why Greenwich Standard Time was chosen as the world’s starting time. Here, you will have the opportunity to view the 18th and 19th century equipment of the Greenwich Observatory, touch the 45 billion year old meteorite, and cross the Prime Meridian marking the beginning of the world’s time zones.
