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The Natural History Museum in London, England has some 80 million objects, which date as far back as 4.5 billion years. They have over 300 scientists and recently reported publishing 700 papers in conjunction with others outside the UK. The museum first opened 18 April 1881. It's origins date to 1753 and the collection of Sir Hans Sloane purchased by Parliament.
What I recall from decades ago is the impressive great entrance hall (Hintze Hall). The impressive blue whale skeleton is 25.2 metres long.
I expected to see dinosaur skeletons and was impressed by the animation--wishing my grandchildren could enjoy the presentation too. See the clip below from YouTube.
A couple more dinosaur displays.
More treasures in the Great Hall.
I am fortunate to have a granddaughter interested in rocks, gems, and fossils. She would have a field day at this museum's collection. Here's a few examples.
I sent my granddaughter a photo of the largest blue topaz on display. The Ostro stone weighs 2 Kilos and is 9,381 carats, nearby are cases of minerals and gems. Link to story.
More treasures
It's fitting that the museum would place English scientist Charles Darwin in a prominent place.
This specimen of a Giant Sequoia is from a 100- metre tall tree in California, USA. The tree was cut in 1891.
I couldn't resist this photo of an old bird. It is a reconstruction of a life-size Dodo from parts of a skeleton. There are drawings and paintings of the bird from the 1600s. The last sighting was 1662. Height = 1 metre, weight 10.6 to 17.5 kg.
The journey to the earth's core represents considerable creativity on the part of the museum staff.
The display of human origins was a bit disappointing because of its limited scope. But there are a couple of standouts: Lucy and Cheddar Man.
Lucy is the nickname for a female skeleton found in East Africa in 1974. She dates from about 3.7 million years ago. You can read more on the museum website.
Cheddar Man's skeleton was found in England in 1903. He dates to about 10,000 years ago. He's been classified as a Mesolithic hunter- gatherer. Read more here.
I created a video overview of some of the specimens and two dinosaur presentations. You can find it on my YouTube channel- SuttonTravels.
Hampton Court Palace is a historic Royal Palace near central London. It's close enough for a day trip-- only 12 miles southwest in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames.
The magnificent clock can be seen in many movies. The palace opened in 1514. It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who was the chief minister of King Henry VIII.
Clock above a palace entry.
We've visited Hampton Court Palace by boat and train. Here's from a visit in 1980. The boat trip is upstream on the River Thames.
Hampton Court Station
Actors make history come alive for children and adults in a magnificent context-- the palace of King Henry VIII and the Tudor dynasty. These photos are from 2019.
Hampton Court Palace Play 2019 / Geoff Sutton
King Henry VIII actor 2019/ by Sandra Sutton using Samsung Note camera
The amazing kitchen might make you hungry. There are places to enjoy a picnic lunch. The photos are from 2019 and mostly taken with my iPhone.
Wine Cellar, Hampton Court Palace / Geoff Sutton 2019 using Apple iPhone
There's lots to see so, check out a few more inside photos.
Amazing toilet right?
Sometimes it's worth looking up to appreciate the art.
And those ceilings!
Before leaving, we wandered about the palace grounds, which are magnificent as well.
After a full day, we walked across the nearby road for fish and chips before taking the train to London.
You might like this fun and informative guide to British words and phrases
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is by the River Thames in London. Visitors can see plays and other events at the Globe Theatre and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Tours are available and there's food and drink at the Swan Bar & Restaurant.
The Globe is close to Southwark Bridge and a short walk from the train stations of Blackfriars and London Bridge. Several bus routes serve the area.
The Marble Arch was designed by John Nash in 1827. It was part of the state entrance to Buckingham Palace. It was relocated to its current setting at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road.
The arch is based on the design of the Arch of Constantine in Rome and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris.
The Golden Carousel is on the South Bank of the River Thames between the London Eye and Hungerford Bridge. It is a traditional English carousel with painted horses.
You might like this fun and informative guide to British words and
phrases
Harrods is an incredible department store on five acres on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The store focuses on high-end goods but you can buy some reasonably priced souvenir items, including a Harrods' bear.
Online information in 2019 indicated there were 330 departments and 23 restaurants. It is the largest department store in Europe. Harrods employs over 5000 staff from 50 different countries to serve up to 300,000 visitors a day from all over the world.
The London store was founded by Charles Henry Harrod in 1849 as a grocery shop. The current store was built in 1905. In 2010, the store was purchased by Qatar Holding.
The central escalator is a favorite spot to visit and take photos.
Another favourite location is the food hall on the ground floor.
A Harrods bear is a popular souvenir--especially in a famous green Harrods bag.
Check out the lower level.
I noticed some impressive Lego sculptures too.
Notes
The "Egyptian Escalator" is a fabulous place to see. There are stairs, other escalators, and lifts (elevators). They do have toilets for customers throughout the store.
There are many cafes and restaurants throughout the store.
You might like this fun and informative guide to British words and
phrases.
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