"- Flight SU 2578 daily, flight Su 2584 daily, except Monday, Saturday to Heathrow Airport (London);
- British Airways - three flights a day daily at Heathrow (London);
- EasyJet - one flight daily to Gatwick Airport (London).

Important! EasyJet's airline stops flying to Moscow from London from March 21, 2016 ( last flight will be held on 03/20/2016).

From Saint-Petersburg:

- British Airways - one flight daily, Heathrow (London);
"Russia" flies to London from St. Petersburg two or three times a week.

From the Baltic and Poland:

- EasyJet - Flights to London from Tallinn; from Krakow to Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London;
- Ryanair flies from Riga and Tampere in London; from Krakow in Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Edinburgh; from Kaunas in Birmingham, Bristol, London, Edinburgh; from Warsaw to Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, London, Glasgow;
- AirBaltic from Riga to London.

From Kazakhstan:

AIR ASTANA from Astana to London.

In the UK train

There is no direct train from Russia, you can get with one transplant in Brussels, or Paris on the EUROSTAR high-speed train, next on the tunnel under La Mansha. Time on the way from Moscow - 43 hours, tickets will be more expensive than aircraft. At the same time, the unified ticket Moscow - London is not for sale, so you should separately buy a ticket to Eurostar from Brussels to London, or Paris to London, respectively. Tickets are sold on the website of Eurostar (www.eurostar.com), the average cost is from 120 euros one way, however, when buying long in advance (for the month or more) you can buy a ticket for 60 and sometimes even for 40 euros. British immigration control is carried out before departing a train from Paris and Brussels, right on the railway station (Brussels and Paris, respectively), in connection with which it is necessary to arrive at the station at least an hour before the departure of the train. All borderline formalities are made at the station along the usual scheme, exactly at the airport, so it is necessary to have all the required documents (reverse tickets, a hotel reservation, and so on).

In the UK on the ferry

From France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the UK there are numerous regular ferries, the number of which reaches 50 per day. The ferry is certainly the cheapest way to get to the UK from Mainland Europe, the cost of crossing one passenger from Kale (France) in Dover (United Kingdom) ranges from 12 euros one way (and the cheapest tariff can be both when buying long before departure and Directly on the day of departure). The time on the way is about two hours. The port should arrive at least one and a half hours before the departure of the ferry, since Passport and border control of France (for departure) and the United Kingdom (on the entry) is carried out on the territory of France. After passing the control, the passengers sit on a bus that brings them through the closed port area directly to the ship. Upon arrival in United Kingdom there will be no other passport control.

In the UK by car

Distance from London on the road (excluding ferry crossing): Moscow - 3090 kilometers, Paris - 415 kilometers, Brussels - 235 kilometers, Amsterdam - 190 kilometers, Berlin - 865 kilometers.

From Russia and Ukraine, the CIS countries, other countries in Europe and the world can be various types of transport, including: plane, train, bus, car, ferry. Below are the detailed information for each type of transport that will help get to England on their own.

Plane

England is a popular destination among tourists, so direct flights from most countries of the world are performed here. Most of the international flights receive 4 airports related to London: "Heathrow" - 25 km west of London, Gatwick - 45 km south of London, Stansted - 50 km northeast from London, and Luton - 50 km north of London.

In addition to London, large international airports are located in Manchester International Airport - 14 km on South-West from the city center, Birmingham - Birmingham International Airport - 10 km from the city center, Liverpool - Liverpool International Airport - 12 km on southeast from The city center, in Leeds - the international aroport of Leeds-Bradford - 11 km northwest from the center, Newcastle-April Mystery - Newcastle International Airport - 11 km north-west from the city center.

From Moscow to London, British Airways, Aeroflot, S7 flights are directly carried out, 4 hours, at the cost of a ticket from 180 GBP. From St. Petersburg to London flies "British Airways", travel time - 3 hours 30 minutes, at the cost of a ticket from 130 GBP. From Kiev to London, "British Airways", "Mau" fly, " Wizz Air.", Flight duration - 3 hours 30 minutes, at the cost of a ticket from 63 GBP. BELAVIA flies from Minsk to London, on the way - 3 hours 10 minutes, at the cost of a ticket from 103 GBP. "Air Moldova" flies from Chisinau in London (the flight lasts 3 hours 20 minutes, and the ticket costs from 97 GBP). AIR ASTANA flies from Astana to London, the flight - 7 hours, at the cost of a ticket from 350 GBP. From Tashkent to London, "Uzbekistan Airways" flies, the duration of the flight is 7 hours and 40 minutes, at the cost of the ticket from 312 GBP.

Cheaper flights are possible with docking in Riga ("Air Baltic"), Prague ("CSA Czech Airlines."And" Smart Wings "), Brussels (" Brussels Airlines "), Helsinki (" Finnair "), Istanbul (" Turkish Airlines "and" Pegasus Airlines "), Vilnius (" Wizz Air ") - from 60 GBP.

From the airport of any city of England, you can cheap to the specialized shuttle bass of the company TERRAVISION.

A train

A trip from Paris (France) to London takes from 7 pm at the cost of a ticket from 15 GBP. From Brussels (Belgium) to London can be reached in 6-7 hours, paying for a ticket from 10 GBP. From Amsterdam (Netherlands) in London, the journey takes 10 hours, and the ticket costs from 20 GBP. From Edinburgh (Scotland) to London can be reached in 8-9 hours, at the cost of a ticket from 14 GBP. From Cardiff (Wales) to London, the bus arrives in 4 hours, and the ticket costs from 5 GBP.

Direntons bus tickets from Russia to England is not, but if there is a desire to go by bus, you should count on wheels more than two days and make at least three transfers to european cities (Riga, Warsaw, Paris), and such a trip will cost about 150 GBP. From Kiev (through Zhytomyr, Rivne, Lviv), some carriers perform flights to London with transit through Poland, Germany and France - such a trip lasts more than two days, at the cost of the ticket 80-100 GBP.

Car

Getting to England by car is convenient from neighboring Scotland and Wales, as well as through the strait of La Mans in EurotonNel or on a ferry from mainland countries. A trip to England by car from Moscow takes approximately 30-35 hours (3000 km), transit through Belarus, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France. For a trip to the car you need to have a driver's license of international sample and insurance, which will also be needed for renting a car.

You can plan the automotive route to England on the roads of Europe on the website "Via Micheline".

Water transport

You can get to England on the ferry through the strait of La Mans or the North Sea. Maintenance seaportsserving passengers are located in cities: Portsmouth, Dover (Dover) , Plymouth, Hull (Hull) , Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Southampton, Pool (Poole).One of the most popular is the flight through La Mans from France: Calais (Calais) -DUVR, a duration of 30 minutes, at a cost from 20 GBP. In addition to France, in England you can sail on a ferry from Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Northern Ireland, Isle of Maine and other islands. Major carriers: "P & O Ferries", "DFDS", "Stena Line", "Brittany Ferries", "Irish Ferries".

Choose the required flight and see the schedule you can on the site

"Do not think about what you will tell when you come back. Time is here and now. Catch the moment. "

Paulo Coelho. "Aleph"

Blogger of me, just say, is so-so: when I feel good, grab the camera and laptop is, almost the last thing that comes to my mind.

So this time: from the moment of our previous trip to visit friends to London has passed for almost 2 years, and all this time we are with great pleasure and with dreamy smiles on the face of savor the memories of every day the day. But here to write about it, I gathered only now.

(It was already the second visit to London, and I described in detail my impressions of the first acquaintance with this wonderful city in this note: then, in addition to numerous London museums, we managed to take excursions to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford.)

Navigator via text

Ride from Edinburgh to London by train, along eastern coast Islands, not tired of us and even delivered pleasure (although on the aircraft it would be faster and, by the way, cheaper): Green fields on both sides of the railway and grazing lambs on them. And so - almost all the way, 5.5 hours. Part of the train train goes along the seashore: Green hills and herds of grazing sheeps against the background of the blue sea, is very beautiful, real pastoral idyll! Now I am sure: I can observe such a clock! (Railway tickets bought).

At Euston train station, our friend Olga has already been met, and we, bothering from the soul, went to her. At home, in the room where we were settled, I was waiting for a surprise: a luxury bouquet of gentle, light pink, peonies. The mood rose higher and higher ...

And the next morning we all went to get acquainted with the surroundings of London.

Hever. Castle

The estate Hever-Castle is located in the village of Hever, Kent, not far from Edenbridge, 30 miles southeast of London. The castle built in the XIII century was from 1462 to 1539 by the residence of the Boleyn family. Anna Boleyn's childhood was held in this cozy place - the second wife of the famous world of the English king Henry VIII (the diversity of the gloomy literary hero - blue beard) and the mother of Queen England Elizabeth I.

First of all, we visited the castle. Very atmospheric place!

The interiors are perfectly preserved:

Bedroom Henry VIII:

And on the second floor of the castle, in a long gallery, an excellent exposition is organized with wax figures about the history of Anna and Heinrich.

There is also a copy of the last letter of Anna to her husband, written by her in Tower, less than 2 weeks before the execution:

After the execution of Anna and her brother, their ambitious father was removed from the courtyard and lived in Hever Castle until the end of his days (1538). After that, the estate was empty a couple of years, and in 1540, Anna Klevskaya, the fourth wife Henry VIII was presented.

Let me remind you to brief: this marriage was concluded for political reasons, and Heinrich did not give to the wife of warm feelings. The king of England was very disappointed that the reality of Anna has only distant similarity with a portrait written by Hans Golbein younger. In addition, the young spouse discovered an explicit lack of education.

The disappointment of the monarch was so great that they were divorced less than 7 months after the wedding, in fact, never enhancing, according to historians, in marital relations. After canceling, Anna remained in England, she had a generous content and informal title of "Favorite King's sisters" ( THE KING'S BELOVED SISTER). She was a generous benefactor and took her condition to the poor. Herrich and his family after the divorce supported warm friendships, which was not at that time she was his wife. Died in 1557 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The fate of this woman teaches us, as it seems to me, first of all, two things:

• For happiness in personal life it is necessary to be, and not seem. Photoshop and other similar "tricks" in this matter are certainly bad helpers.
• No one knows how your further fate will turn out, and what is better for you in this moment. And who knows, justify the appearance of Anna Clevskaya waiting for her spouse, would not be whether she would be in a couple of years on the plate, as it happened to her with Anna Bolein, and after her - with Catherine Howard. So, if suddenly, at the time of heavy tests it seems to you that everything is lost, and life flies to all these traps, - try to look at the situation at a different angle.

The interiors of the castle remind us as the medieval owners,

so about the owner in the first half of the 20th century - Barone Astor:

The castle surrounds beautiful gardens with the charming lake, which, if desired, you can ride boats. Two years left to manually dig a lake with a size of 35 acres (more than 14 hectares) and a depth of more than 3 meters.

At times, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that you are in Italy.

(And this is not an accident: at the beginning of the 20th century, the estate acquired William Valdorf Astor, emigrated from the United States and citizenship of Great Britain and Baron title. Italian garden with fountains, cascades, waterfalls and caves was created to put numerous statues and sculptures that Mr. Astor collectible, being an American ambassador in Italy).

But, looking at flawless lawns, come back to reality: such lawns and roses are found only in England!

Seek us from the castle here is such a cheerful Holy Father:

And the castle, and the park is wonderful. Very chamber and cozy. No wonder this place loves the British actress Judy Dench nearby nearby (known to us in many roles, in particular, according to the British intelligence "M" in Bondian).

To walk here, we could easily be at least a whole day, but the program planned for us was saturated, so I had to go on the road.

Address: Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever Rd, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG, United Kingdom
Official site: https://www.hevercastle.co.uk.
Ticket price (Castle + Park, in 2019):adults - £ 16.75; Students and people over 60 years old - £ 14,75; Children 5-17 years old - £ 9,40.
Working hours:the park opens for visitors at 10:30, the castle - at 12:00. The last entrance is possible from April to October - until 16:30, in winter - as a rule, until 15:00 (specify specific dates on the official website), you will have another 1.5 hours in this case.

How to get toHever. Castle on the public transport from London:

By train from London Victoria and London Bridge (through Oxted or East Croydon Stations) to Edenbridge Town Station (then 3 miles per Taxi, which is recommended to order in advance by phone 01732 863800 (RELYON TAXIS), despite the fact that these companies are parked right at the railway station). The second option is not to go to EdenBridge Town Station, and go out on the next hever station. Taxi from there does not go, but on foot to the castle - only 1 mile, all the way from the station is marked with white and red wooden pointers. (But in bad weather, this road can be not the most pleasant walk! On the official site, it is recommended to stock lantern and rubber boots).

High Rocks.

where you can not only relax from the road, but also buy entrance tickets.

Huge boulders, in the shaded places, crouched with a green moss, - We expect to see anywhere, just 30 miles from London.

As in many other places, such a landscape here was formed by the converged glacier.

It's great to walk (but only in comfortable shoes!),

to admire the ancient monolithic boulders shielded the roots of trees.

From above, cafe and nearby houses look the villages of the Hobbites:

Agree, and below they are very cute:

Entrance to the Park's territory:

Ticket time and cost of tickets:

Additional Information:

Cultural program in London: 5o.’ cLOCK. tEA., theater, bar "Sky. Garden.»

The next day was decided to spend in the thick of the cultural and secular life of London. In the past visit to London, we visited the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" ("Ghost of the Opera") in the "Theater of Her Majesty", and this setting brought us such pleasure that it was decided to go back to the musical again.

This time our choice fell on "rejected" in the Royal Theater ("Queens Theater").

Before the presentation, we walked in the center of London.

And they looked in front of the theater in the cafe, - wanted to feel on himself that the famous English tradition of tea drinking "5 O'Clock TEA" represents.

What can I say, the tradition is pleasant (in front of the theater, I think, just what is needed), but it is definitely not for those sitting on a diet. Look for yourself, - such a baking shelf ... is my annual norm, under normal conditions:

Staging - quite qualitatively, music and acting execution - at the height. But "rejected" is "rejected", - after the presentation you go almost crushed grief ...

To "correct" the mood, friends invited us after the theater in one of the most beautiful and famous bars of London - Sky Garden. The Sky Garden space with several bars and restaurants is located on the top floor of this skyscraper, to the right in the picture:

Cocktails and other drinks here - not budget (at all!). But the situation is Magic!

Inside - a real garden, very well maintained:

And the whole London, transfusing with lights, - at your feet (overview from the windows is almost 360 degrees):

Churchill Manor in the suburbs of London (Chartwell-House)

The next morning on the program, we had a visit to the country manor "Chartwell" - the favorite house of Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 to his very death in 1965.

On the meaning of this place in his life, U. Kherchille spoke quite definitely: "The day, held outside of Chartvell," live in vain. " ("A Day Away from Chartwell IS A Day Wasted.")

Stunningly picturesque and interesting for all lovers of history Corner of England! Churchill rebuilt the estate bought in 1922 almost completely, on him, an uncompromising perfectionist, took 2 years, in collaboration with architect Philip Tilden.

Just amazing how much you can learn about a person looking at his house! On the magnificent site National TRUST ( https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/) where information has been collected by almost all the sights of the United Kingdom on the Chartwell page https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell. This place is called "home and inspiration" Sir William Churchill.

Here, definitely, not only the landscape and interiors are preserved, but also the atmosphere!

Dug-in manual ponds - for swimming and swan:

Pond with goldfish and thus the chair on which he loved to sit the Prime Minister in last years own life:

And his bench in front of the house:

Butterfly House:

Gorgeous garden with flower beds:

Rosary - Pride of his beloved wife, Lady Clementina Churchill:

Cricket lawn:

And that I was very surprised - the studio, in which Sir Winston Churchill wrote more than 300 paintings, - I admit, quite talented for an amateur. For some reason, people are usually not surprised by the fact that he became the owner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, but here are the paintings, many of which are exhibited here - truly amaze ...

We enter the house:

The interior has been preserved in the consistent state from the time of living here, Churchillley - Winston, Clementines and their four children,

but photographing inside - alas is not allowed. We will have to be content with a photo of a view from the terrace:

Inside, you can slowly wander with a detailed description of the exposure presented for visitors in several languages, including Russian (all photos increase when clicking):

Manor "Chartver" is an amazing place: cozy and hospitable. Everything here tells about the fact that people who lived here were happy: only in the house where happiness lives, love friends.

For visitors there are cafes, tables for picnics, and a store of souvenirs and, most importantly, you don't want to leave! Here you can easily spend a whole day, especially if, as we, lucky with the weather.

Manor Noull (Knole.) - Castle and park with deer in the townSevenoaks.

On the way back, we were waiting for another surprise: friends brought us to the town of Sevenoaks. We arrived there quite late, so to inspect the incredible castle - the manor Nul - did not have time: the building was already closed on the entrance. Photo in the yard:

English locks are incredible! In particular, this story since 1456, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Burst, acquired the estate of Nul, which since that time was used as a residence of the Archbishop: after the death of T. U.B. In 1486, the estate passed to his follower, John Morton, then , (1504) - to William Warham, and finally, in 1532 - to Thomas Kranmer. After 6 years, he was forced to "voluntarily" convey the estate to King Henry VIII. More precisely, Heinrich VIII simply "squeezed" the property liked him at the head of the Church: the testimony of Ralph Maurice, who was then served by the secretary of the archbishop, about the content of the conversation between the trying to resist the archbishop and insatiable monarch. Archbishop tried to convince Henry that this house was too small for him and not too good, so it would be better if he was in possession of the archbishop. But Heinrich was persistent.

After the death of Henry VIII in 1547, for almost 23 years, Nul changed several owners, but from 1570 to the present time the estate owned by the Sacquille family, the first of which was a prominent statesman, I Count Dorsett, Thomas Saxivil.

The castle was completed and rebuilt into different epochs, so in the interiors you can observe traces of different styles: from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to Baroque and Victorian era. The interiors are preserved in a magnificent state - it is a pity that I can admire them only in the guidebook purchased at the last moment before closing the store's store, and I hope to ever get to Sevenoaks to see this beauty with your own eyes.

No less amazing and surroundings of the castle: in the noble estate of Knole, the last preserved medieval park of Count Count, deer dwells in a natural environment!

They are not only completely afraid of people, but they can easily approach and persistently ask what it is so tasty you chew:

Powerful oaks, in honor of which, probably, was called the settlement,

upon closer examination, they were not at all oaks, but with Sicamorami:

Some facts about the park:

How to get toKnole. from London

From the center of London (from London Charing Cross Stations, London Bridge or London Victoria) by train to the railway station Sevenoaks, then - 1.5 miles (about 2.5 km) on foot or taxi.

Museums of London

One day was decided to devote to museums that we did not reach our visit to London.

Natural History Museum (Museum natural science)

In this beautiful building, a natural science museum is located - we would most likely got the name Zoological Museum. It is good, an interesting exposure.

But still there is a disappointment here: the famous film-made (see the movie "Night in the Museum") Hall of Hintz with a skeleton of the diplodok and suspended under the ceiling of blue whale skeleton, alas, was closed for reconstruction.

Therefore, he had fluently examined the rest of the exposition, we went to the museum of Victoria and Alberta located literally in the next building.

Allocate time to visit the museum of natural science: 1-2 hours.
Address: Cromwell Road.
Metro: South Kensington.
How to get:
Mode of operation: The museum is open every day from 10:00 to 17:50. Last Friday of the month to 22.30
Ticket price:IS FREE
Official site: http://www.nhm.ac.uk.

Victoria & Albert Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum)

A huge and definitely deserving museum of art and design, the collection of which began to collect Queen Victoria and her spouse Albert as a result of numerous travels and expeditions organized by the kingdom. It has a lot of paintings, sculptures, stained glass, a collection of porcelain, jewelry, etc. The exposition is not as big as in the British Museum, but still huge, and very cool. Inside there is a beautiful courtyard, where you can relax and drink a cup of coffee.

We walked here for a long time, 3 hours are at least, but during that time they did not go around the exposition, but only in a rather fast pace, they managed to walk along two floors (of 6 levels).

But even during this time we received an overabundance of impressions, we can say, tired of beauty. (For the Hermitage, I, by the way, I also can't walk for more than 3 hours for the same reason). In general, I want to come back here again and again.

Select time to visit: hours 2-3.
Address: Cromwell Road.
Metro: South Kensington.
Mode of operation: The museum is open daily 10: 00-17: 45, on Friday - 09: 00-23: 00.
Ticket price: IS FREE
Official site: http://www.vam.ac.uk.

London shops

After the museums, we moved towards the stores, - they are beautiful in London and, definitely, deserve a separate note, - somehow gather and write. I generally thought that shopping here is not worse, but in many criteria even better than, for example, in Italy.

Department Store "Harrods"

The main competitor "Selfridges" for the title of "POSH" among London shops.

Perhaps most famous department store London. It is considered one of the largest and most fashionable department stores of the world.

He is truly luxurious!

Agree, a similar interior is more likely to see in the Hermitage or the Cairo Museum, and not in the department store. Eh, stereotypes ...

But with shops, here, of course, too - full order:

How to get: Nearest Metro - Knightsbridge
Address: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge
Department Store Harrods. Works until 21:00
Official site: http://www.harrods.com/

Memorial Memory Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Failed in the Harrods department store

On the lower floor of the department store "Harrods" is a memorial memory of the princess Diana and Dodi al-Faped.

(The fact is that Harrods since 1985 belonged to Father Dodi, the Egyptian billionaire Mohammed al-Fierch, who later sold it for 1.5 billion pounds of sterling by the State Investment Fund of the Qatar).

In front of their photos, a crystal pyramid is installed in which it is stored wedding ringdonated Diana a few hours to death, and the glass, from which she saw for the last time. This composition grows a fountain with two candles.

A monument to Diana and Dodia is installed before this memorial - the bronze sculpture of the dancing couple - the bride and groom - with the soaring over them albatross. Sculpture not only personifies the weave of Western and Eastern traditions, but is the dedication of "innocently killed victims."

Of course, the memorial, and the monument is terribly annoyed by the British royal family, which insists on the removal of both of the department store. An eloquent testimony of this is the fact that after the death of Princess Diana, the Royal Dvor did not extend the contract with Hertods, before the many years of tradition that was the official supplier of her Majesty's courtyard. Nowadays, the royal coat of arms on the facade of the department store resemble this cooperation.

Tea stores London

As you know, the most popular souvenir from England is tea.

Twinings

And the most famous English Tea Brand - Twinings.

Back in 1837, in the first year of the reign of Queen Victoria, Twinings received the Royal Orders of the "Permanent Supplier of Her Majesty" and so far. You can buy in supermarkets, Duti-fries or, much more pleasant, in the company store of Twinings:

Address: 16 Strand (at this address the Twinings store has been located for more than 300 years and is already in itself a fairly popular attraction of the city!)
How to get: TEMPLE metro station. http://www.twinings.co.uk/about-twinings/216-strand.

Fortnum. & Mason.

This store on Piccadilly Street shook us most! Everything is fine in it! From varieties of tea, coffee and chocolate, to magnificent picnic baskets ( https://www.fortnumandmason.com/t/categories/hampers/themes/picnic-hampers), who seem to hint at their own kind, that it is necessary to ship them, at least in "Bentley", and better - in "Rolls-Royce".

Real Paradise for Gourmet and Aesthets! It is a pity that this time we traveled without baggage, - I managed to take only a pair of packs of tea and coffee (you could buy in the Fortnum & Mason company store at Heathrow airport, before departure, but, first, I do not remember So that there it was possible to try everything (in the sense, to appreciate the flavors of tea and coffee), it costs the goods in sealed boxes, and secondly, the choice is clearly smaller.

It is a pity that the delivery of online orders, which they carry out "almost" around the world, are not produced in Russia.

How to get: The store is located on Piccadilly Street, exactly in the middle between the metro station "Green Park" and "Piccadilly Circus".
Address: Fortnum & Mason; 181 Piccadilly, London, W1a 1er, United Kingdom
Official site: https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Canterbury (CANTERBURY)

Canterbury - ancient city In the south-east of England in the County of Kent, located 85 km south-east of London. This town with a population of about 43.4 thousand people is known primarily as a place of finding the department of Archbishop of Canterbury, Primas of the Anglican Church.

It is there friends and offered us to spend our last day before leaving London. We happily agreed and did not regret it on a moment.

Surprisingly, but if not friends, this time we would definitely not gather in Canterbury, although it is one of the most visited cities visited by tourists. (By the way, the path from London to Canterbury on a high-speed train will take only an hour).

The central part of Canterbury retained the charming building of the XII century:

Here is a lot of pleasant cafes and shops.

Some benches clearly resemble medieval, even crazy:

But the main feature of the cozy Canterbury is that the city is rightly considered to be a religious center of Great Britain. Here is the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and 22 more parish churches. Of these, three are at once the objects of UNESCO are a grand Canterbury Cathedral, Church of St. Martin and the Abbey of St. Augustine.

Canterbury Cathedral - Stunning, really ambitious, Construction:

In 597, N.E. The Roman Pope Gregory Great sent to England as a missionary of the monk Augustine. Augustine founded his throne (or the "department") and the monastery in Canterbury and became the first archbishop of England.

Entrance to the territory of the cathedral - the gate with stunning, thinner thread:

In 1170 in Cathedral Archbishop Thomas Beket was killed. (Details, Believe me, are very interesting, quite a few films shot about this story, of which I personally seemed to me the film "Becket" (1964, United Kingdom, USA) with Peter O'Toul as King Heinrich II and Richard Barton as Thomas Baketa . And this note found a rather comprehensive description of those events: https://diletant.media/articles/37644007/).

Shortly after this murder, according to legends, wonders began to occur in the cathedral, which made it one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Europe.

The Cathedral - the throne of the Archbishop of Canterbury and to this day is the acting church. Services are held here daily, many of which sings world famous choirs. For millions of people of the Anglican Faith all over the world, the Cathedral in Canterbury is their main, maternal church.

Here you can spend a lot of time: the cathedral is unusually beautiful, and interesting, - still! - 1400 years of history !!

In the center of the cathedral, in the altar, the candle marked the martyrdom of the famous Archbishop of Thomas Beket:

When, after a long hostility for political reasons, King Heinrich II exclaimed: "It seems, the king has no friends. Who will save me from this recalcitrant ass? " Four faithful knights perceived these words as a guide to action, went to Canterbury and killed Thomas.

Cathedral decorated with stained glass windows of unusual beauty and brightness:

From here through large wooden doors, you can go into the patio and to the building of the capitula.

On the ceiling gallery inland yard - Great carved ornament with the image of heraldic shields, animals and saints.

Crypt is the most ancient part of the building - created in the XI century. From 1170 to 1220, the relics of Thomas Baketa were kept in the crypt, then they were transferred to the chapel of the Holy Trinity, where the tomb stood until 1538, before the order of Heinrich VIII was destroyed and removed, and they just got rid of her. So the next despotic ruler tried to erase the memory of the rebellious and recurrent archbishop from history.

About the life and wonders of St. Tomas today tell the beautiful stained glass in the XII century in the chapel of the Holy Trinity of the Cathedral (where the tomb of the Kings of Heinrich IV, Edward, as well as another legendary personality - Prince of Wales, known as "black prince".)

On the territory of the Cathedral, you can find a lot of facilities belonging to the Abbey: the garden of the healing herbs, broken around the monastic cheels,

the ruins of the hospital, barn and much more.

Amazing place, here, by the very building of the cathedral, the territory of the abbey and the surrounding area is very pleasant to walk, and the time flies truly unnoticed.

When we gathered to get out of the cathedral, having walked out that we were from Russia, the local guide was a pleasant elderly lady - began to persuade us to return in 25 minutes - invited to press the service. It was madly a sorry to refuse (listen to the organ in the Canterbury Cathedral and their famous chorus is not everyone!), But we really had time to return.

Summing up

This trip, definitely, has become one of the best, is the most interesting and mental - from all our rather big travel collections. To admit, we will envy yourself: about such a wonderful company, which we had in London this time, anyone can only dream.

This voyage remained extremely pleasant aftertaste - warm, heart hand, homemade, - very similar to the delicious Yorkshire Pudding (Yorkshire Pudding), which Gary, the owner of the house, decided to bake for us on our last night before leaving:

This journey enriched us - new impressions and knowledge, mental communication with expensive and beloved friends (which we dream now pay the same and show them our native St. Petersburg and hope that, sooner or later, fate will give us such an opportunity to all of us) and Of course, new thoughts. Among which is the following: everything in life should be done on time. You need to think firmly before going away from some opportunities and the chances given by the fate: the second such gift, perhaps, and it does not happen, it often happens in life that "the train left" is irretrievably.

Dedicated to our friends - Olga, Viktor, Lyudmila, as well as the memory of a wonderful person, Englishman with a Russian soul, Gary Mason, acquaintance with which for us one more gift for fate, and without which this trip would not have become such a stunning.

Photo: Anna Krivova, Valery Chekalov, Olga Shanovich, Viktor Kugudo, Lyudmila Mason.

Useful links:

Find and buy cheap tickets to London
Book transfer from London Airport to the hotel (and back)
Book a hotel or apartments in London

Natalia Kutenin

04.05.2019 16:56

Anna, you are not only a wonderful creator of a wonderful site, but also a magnificent guide, a careful researcher, a great writer and a brilliant photographer! Your notes are always nice and interesting to read and consider. The complete feeling that was in London and its surroundings with you. Thanks for the trip!

"- Flight SU 2578 daily, flight Su 2584 daily, except Monday, Saturday to Heathrow Airport (London);
- British Airways - three flights a day daily at Heathrow (London);
- EasyJet - one flight daily to Gatwick Airport (London).

Important! EasyJet stops flying to Moscow from London from March 21, 2016 (the last flight will be held 03/20/2016).

From Saint-Petersburg:

- British Airways - one flight daily, Heathrow (London);
"Russia" flies to London from St. Petersburg two or three times a week.

From the Baltic and Poland:

- EasyJet - Flights to London from Tallinn; from Krakow to Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London;
- Ryanair flies from Riga and Tampere in London; from Krakow in Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Edinburgh; from Kaunas in Birmingham, Bristol, London, Edinburgh; from Warsaw to Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, London, Glasgow;
- AirBaltic from Riga to London.

From Kazakhstan:

AIR ASTANA from Astana to London.

In the UK train

There is no direct train from Russia, you can get with one transplant in Brussels, or Paris on the EUROSTAR high-speed train, next on the tunnel under La Mansha. Time on the way from Moscow - 43 hours, tickets will be more expensive than aircraft. At the same time, the unified ticket Moscow - London is not for sale, so you should separately buy a ticket to Eurostar from Brussels to London, or Paris to London, respectively. Tickets are sold on the website of Eurostar (www.eurostar.com), the average cost is from 120 euros one way, however, when buying long in advance (for the month or more) you can buy a ticket for 60 and sometimes even for 40 euros. British immigration control is carried out before departing a train from Paris and Brussels, right on the railway station (Brussels and Paris, respectively), in connection with which it is necessary to arrive at the station at least an hour before the departure of the train. All borderline formalities are made at the station along the usual scheme, exactly at the airport, so it is necessary to have all the required documents (reverse tickets, a hotel reservation, and so on).

In the UK on the ferry

From France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Sweden in the UK there are numerous regular ferries, the number of which reaches 50 per day. The ferry is certainly the cheapest way to get to the UK from Mainland Europe, the cost of crossing one passenger from Kale (France) in Dover (United Kingdom) ranges from 12 euros one way (and the cheapest tariff can be both when buying long before departure and Directly on the day of departure). The time on the way is about two hours. The port should arrive at least one and a half hours before the departure of the ferry, since Passport and border control of France (for departure) and the United Kingdom (on the entry) is carried out on the territory of France. After passing the control, the passengers sit on a bus that brings them through the closed port area directly to the ship. Upon arrival in United Kingdom there will be no other passport control.

In the UK by car

Distance from London on the road (excluding ferry crossing): Moscow - 3090 kilometers, Paris - 415 kilometers, Brussels - 235 kilometers, Amsterdam - 190 kilometers, Berlin - 865 kilometers.

Trains go, and aircraft fly, and buses drive, and on the car both through the tunnel and on the ferry on top. What is better - you need to look at prices, dates and personal preferences.

By trains. Direct EUROSTAR express from Paris goes 2.5 hours. There are other trains passing, or, for example, with a transplant through. The cost of Eurostar is back - back (Return Ticket) - from 41.5 pounds in one direction (from recalculation in euros with coefficients. 1.2 we get from 100 euros there, back). He walks many times on the day with an interval from half an hour at the peak hours, up to 2 hours during the day. On the site eurostar.com, place the option "Flexible Dates" and see the days when it is more profitable.

Aircraftthe mass is also flown, they are mostly the trip is cheaper, within 100 euros there, back (in the minimum option, you can fly on TRANSAVIA in the minimum version for 66 euros). Google AaviaBlets and Skaiskner to help you.

On the machineyou can also drive. The car moves the tunnel on the train Eurotunnel. Accordingly, the cost of the trip will rent a car for you (but perhaps you also planned to rent it in France). The fare for Eurotonnel - 23 pounds in one direction, total 47 pounds plus fuel at 900 km (450 km one way excluding travel by train on the tunnel), let's say 7.5l / 100km l to 1.4 euros, it is about 100 euros. But the tunnel will be 160 euros.

Buses. Probably this is the most economical option. There are several carriers, tickets from 20 pounds in one direction, standard - 25 pounds (total 60 euros at 2 sides). Cons - time on the way about 7 hours. Pros - departure and arrival in almost the center. So if there is no prejudice, you can take it and go to night, save at the housing, which is not very cheap in London. Check out options on Megabus.com and Flixbus.ru sites.

TOTAL conclusions: most cheap option - The bus (from 60 euros), then there is a plane (66 euros), then by price - the train (100 euros), and only then already cars. Trains and buses are convenient because the departure and arrival at the station practically in the center, less temporary and cash transfers. The train rides very quickly, taking into account the loss of time transfer to the airport and registration, it turns out comparable to the aircraft), the bus is long, but if you can save a little on accommodation. The convenience of the car is clear, is the freedom of movement in place, if there are ideas not only at the expense of London, but to see anything else in the vicinity. But if a trip for 2 days, then you are enough for London, and you can get to Lego Land or Universal Studio Park with Harry Potter and can be cheaper in public transport.

PS. I hope you know that not in Schengen, and to visit England / you need a separate visa. The minimum cost / visa time in the UK - 87 pounds for half a year (gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa), there are no special problems with obtaining visas, filling up the questionnaire and write in electronic form, everything is quite clear.