LISTINGS ATTRACTIONS

ATTRACTIONS

ADMIRALTY ARCH

The Mall, SW1A 2WH. / Charing Cross

Built at the beginning of the 20th century, Admiralty Arch incorporates an archway providing road and pedestrian access between The Mall and Trafalgar Square.

It adjoins the Old Admiralty Building.

BANQUETING HOUSE

Whitehall, SW1A 2ER.
Westminster

T: 020 7930 4179. www.hrp.org.uk
Set in the heart of Whitehall, Banqueting House is one of London’s hidden treasures. It was originally built for state occasions, but is now a museum.

BBC TELEVISION CENTRE

Wood Lane, W12 7RJ.
White City

T: 0370 9010 1227. www.bbc.co.uk/tours One of the world’s largest television production centres, where visitors can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the TV studios. As it’s a working building, no two tours are the same.

BFI LONDON IMAX CINEMA

1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, SE1 8XR.
/ Waterloo

T: 0870 787 2525.
www.bfi .org.uk/whatson/bfi _imax
The UK’s biggest cinema screen is found in this 485-seat venue with its 11,600-watt digital surround sound system.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The Mall, SW1A 1AA.
/ St James’s Park/Victoria

T: 020 7766 7300.
www.royalcollection.org.uk
The offi cial London residence of the Queen and the setting for state occasions and royal entertaining. The Changing of the Guard draws crowds all year round, but the palace itself is open only during the summer.

CENOTAPH

Whitehall, SW1A 2BX.
Westminster

Originally intended as a small part of the Peace Day events of July 1919, the Cenotaph is a war memorial to all who have died in service for their country. Uniformed service personnel always salute as they pass.

Attractions: Animal kingdom

Escape the hustle and bustle of Central London with a family day out at

the zoo, suggests Kellie Smith

It’s hard to imagine a metropolis such as London harbouring a zoo slap bang
in its centre, especially one sprawling over 36 acres. If you’ve never heard — or been to — the recently renamed ZSL London Zoo (Zoological Society of London) before, it’s high time you went.

Head to the far end of Regent’s Park, near Primrose Hill, and you’ll discover more than 750 animal species living in habitats as closely resembling their natural environments as possible. From the African hunting dog, Asian lion and pygmy hippopotamus to the black footed penguin and the Egyptian tortoise to the hissing cockroach, there’s every conceivable type of creature living in this city-based attraction.

Enjoy nature close up and personal with interactive exhibits. The Meet the Monkeys enclosure houses a group of black-capped squirrel monkeys in a habitat designed to resemble the Bolivian rainforest, with plants specifi cally chosen for their scents and fruits. Or pretend you’re on safari as you enjoy a sneaky look at the animals from a tree trunk hide, complete with telescopes.

Other exhibits include Clore Rainforest Lookout, with visitors able to explore a South American tropical rainforest from canopy to forest fl oor level, while the children’s zoo, Animal Adventure, will keep the youngsters amused. Have your camera at the ready, but perhaps steer clear of those hissing cockroaches... www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo

Y OF LONDON

T

IMAGE: ZOOLOGICAL SOCIE

Squirrel monkeys

W2L SUMMER 2009 37