12: Exploring London in .NET framework

Creating QR Code JIS X 0510 in .NET framework 12: Exploring London

Friday, Dec 24 26 Most of the museum has wheelchair access by elevator; call for entrance information

St James s Park and Green Park All the pomp, majesty, scandal, intrigue, tragedy, power, wealth, and tradition associated with the British monarchy hide behind the monumental facade of Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the sovereign since Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 An impressive early-18th-century structure, the palace was rebuilt in 1825 and further modified in 1913 From late July or early August (the dates change yearly) through September, when the royal family isn t in residence, you can buy a ticket to get a glimpse of the impressive staterooms used by Elizabeth II and the other royals There isn t a guided palace tour; you just wander at your own speed through 18 rooms, most of them baroque, filled with some of the world s finest artworks In these rooms, the queen receives guests on official occasions You leave through the gardens where the queen holds her famous garden parties each summer Budget about two hours for your visit On Monday through Thursday throughout the year, you can visit the Royal Mews, one of the finest working stables in existence, which house the magnificent Gold State Coach (used in every coronation since 1831) and other royal conveyances The newly refurbished Queen s Gallery, which features changing exhibits of works from the Royal Collection, reopened early in 2002 in time for the queen s Golden Jubilee Buckingham Palace forms the centerpiece of St James s Park and Green Park, two royal parks acquired by Henry VIII in the early 16th century St James s Park, the prettier of the two, was landscaped in 1827 by John Nash in a picturesque English style with an ornamental lake and promenades Major ceremonial occasions are held in The Mall, a processional route between the palace and Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade St James s Palace, the former London abode of Prince Charles and his two sons, and adjacent Clarence House, residence of the Queen Mum until her death in 2002 and now the London home of Prince Charles, are between The Mall and Pall Mall (pronounced Pell Mell), a broad avenue running from Trafalgar Square to St James s Palace Clarence House is now open to visitors

The incredible literary collection that was in the British Museum Reading Room (including its rare copy of the Magna Carta, the charter of liberties that was a forerunner to modern constitutions) has been moved to a remarkable space in North London For details, see the entry for the British Library Exhibition Centre in the section Finding More Cool Things to See and Do, later in this chapter

94 93 92

33a 91 90 24 26 27 67 21 9 22

HIGHLIGHTS Egyptian Mummies 5 Great Court 4 Lindow Man 6 Parthenon Sculptures 1 Reading Room 3 Rosetta Stone 2 Sutton Hoo Treasure 7

33 33b

20 35 66 60 59 1 73 52 58 57 56 8 4 61 62 5 63 64 55 54

78 23

65 53

25 7 72 71 2 70

15 10

83 85 13 6 11 5 12

a 88

69 68

36 37

41 47

43 44 46 45

in August and September, daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm Admission is 750 ($ 15) for adults and seniors, and 4 ($8) for children 5 to 15 You can charge tickets for Buckingham Palace visits by calling % 020/ 7766-7303 A ticket office in Green Park is open daily July 29 to October 1 from 9 am until 4 pm or until it sells the last ticket Keep in mind that every visitor gets a specific time for entry into the palace, so you probably want to phone ahead for tickets All phone-charged tickets cost an additional 1 ($2) See map p 160 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1 Palace Visitor Office and Royal Mews % 020/7839-1377 (9:30 am 5:30 pm) or 020/7799-2331 (24-hour recorded info) wwwroyalgovuk Tube: St James s Park (then a ten-minute walk north on Queen Anne s Gate and west on Birdcage Walk to Buckingham Gate); or Green Park (walk directly south through the park) Admission (includes audio guide): Palace, 15 ($30) adults, 1350 ($27) seniors over 60, 850 ($17) children under 17, 3850 ($77) families (2 adults, 2 children under 17) Royal Mews, 7 ($14) adults, 6 ($12) seniors, 450 ($9) children, 1850 ($37) families Queen s Gallery, 8 ($16) adults, 7 ($14) seniors, 4 ($8) children Open: Palace, Late Aug late Sept (dates may vary by a day or two) daily 9:45 am 6 pm Royal Mews, Mar July Sat Thurs 11 am 4 pm (last admission 3:15 pm); Aug Sept daily 10 am 5 pm (last admission 4:15 pm) Queen s Gallery, daily 10 am 5:30 pm (last admission 4:30 pm) Royal Mews and Queen s Gallery closed Dec 25 26 Visitors with disabilities must prebook; Royal Mews and Queen s Gallery are wheelchair accessible