The area around Avebury contains some of the most famous and enigmatic ancient monuments in the British Isles and indeed the world. Apart from the stone circle complex which encompasses part of the village of Avebury, there are the nearby familiar landmarks of Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow, Windmill Hill and the Sanctuary to name but a few. Slightly further afield there are other sites of antiquity such as the Uffington Horse hill figure, Old Sarum and, of course, perhaps the most well known of British ancient monuments, Stonehenge.

Bath takes its name from the 116 degree mineral hot springs that have been flowing from a point in the center of town for thousands of years. When the Romans arrived in Britain, they built an extensive Bath house modeled on those throughout the Roman Empire. In Georgian and Victorian times (late 1700's to late 1800's) Bath’s hot springs brought not only those in need of healing, but also members of high society from London. People of status would come for the 'season' (summer months) and adhere to a therapeutic routine something like this: a spa treatment in the morning, high tea in the afternoon and gambling or gala balls in the evening. No wonder it was popular!

The British Airways London Eye, sometimes called the Millennium Wheel, is the first-built and largest observation wheel in the world (a type of or evolution on the Ferris wheel), and has been since its opening at the end of 1999. It stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on the western end of Jubilee Gardens, on the South Bank of the River Thames in Lambeth, London, England, between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges.

Dover is a small seaside village with a huge history. It is also the main port for the ferries to France, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as a cruise ship port. Dover dates back centuries and played a critical roll during WWII. Dover's small, but quaint village is a wonderful place to take in everything English. Being on the coast, Dover can often be chilly and foggy. If you happen to be in Dover when it is bright and sunny, you will relish in its beauty. Dover Castle is one of the best preserved castles in the world and is well worth the effort to see.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is one of the world's leading botanic gardens. Holding over 1 in 8 of known plant species it was recognised as a "unique cultural landscape" by the United Nations, which has given it World Heritage Site status. The 132-hectare site contains some of the world's largest and most famous botanical glasshouses and historic buildings. There are also gardens which the more than one million yearly visitors can enjoy. As well as a tourist attraction, Kew is a world famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its living collection of plants and scientific facilities. I'm sorry, but I didn't put any comments next to the picture meaning you will have to guess what plant is what.

Another Kew Gardens gallery. Originally I had 700 pictures from Kew Gardens and when deleting half of it I still got too many. So I did two galleries; one with pictures straight out of the cam and second one - this one - where for the first time I used digital manipulation of the picture to create photo. I did like it so I revisited all the galleries I did so far. So, flowers are guilty for this :) As before no pic description was written.

With its 500 years of royal history Hampton Court Palace has something to offer everyone. Set in sixty acres of world famous gardens the Palace is a living tapestry of history from Henry VIII to George II. From the elegance of the recently restored eighteenth century Privy Garden to the domestic reality of the Tudor Kitchens visitors are taken back through the centuries to experience the Palace as it was when royalty was in residence.

Amazon World is the largest exotic animal attraction on the Isle of Wight. Set in 3 acres, Amazon World recreates the story of the rainforest.

Amazon World Zoo Park is a special kind of attraction. Here you can learn about conservation and rainforests and come face to face with some of the worlds most unusual, beautiful and endangered creatures. Some you won't be able to see anywhere else in the UK or even Europe!

More than 200 different species of animals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects, spectacularly displayed within tropical plant, rainforest and desert settings in any weather.

Blackgang Chine was one of the first holiday attractions of Great Britain and has had to change over the years and coupled with its natural beauty this makes it a unique fantasy park. A favourite especially for young children. There is so much to do and look at here allow at least half a day.

From weather wizards to Nursery Rhyme Characters to the {slightly} scary Rumpus Mansion and Cowboy Town where you can lock up your kids in the Sheriffs jail, there is lots to see and do. A pleasant walk that is usually different from one year to the next because of the effects of Landslip, also popular with the larger children is the water slide. Cafe's and picnic areas available.

Overlooking the spectacular South West ‘Heritage Coast’ of the Isle of Wight, Blackgang Chine is an eccentric mix of exciting rides, goblins and fairies, dinosaurs, nursery rhyme characters, cowboys and Indians all set within rambling Victorian gardens and designed to appeal to the child in us all.

Ventnor Botanic Garden is on the site of an old hospital and has a variety of tropical plants due to Ventnor's subtropical microclimate. A rainfall of 790mm (31 ins) per annum and a climate more akin to the Mediterranean seaboard enable a wide variety of plants considered too tender for much of mainland Britain to be grown. The garden includes areas of plants from different parts of the world, particularly Australia and New Zealand, but also including Japan and gardens with plants of a Mediterranean orgin. There is a temperate house, and a visitor centre which was renovated in 2001.

Description under photo doesn't give details about photo content but rather botanic garden in general.

Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh. Along the trail you'll find sleepy thatched villages, lively seaside resorts and bustling harbours.

This tour starts at Brook Chine and ends in Blackgang Chine (cca 11 miles). Enjoy!

Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh. Along the trail you'll find sleepy thatched villages, lively seaside resorts and bustling harbours.

I would recommend to do rather Sandown to Ryde tour as opposite to what I did. Otherwise you will face sun with your eyes all the time (thus almost all my pics here taken by shooting what I left behind me).

This tour starts at Ryde and ends in Sandown (cca 12 miles). Enjoy!

Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh. Along the trail you'll find sleepy thatched villages, lively seaside resorts and bustling harbours.

Usually this paths is done as two tours with break in Cowes - I decided to skip that and do all in one go.

This tour starts at Ryde and ends in Yarmouth (cca 24 miles). Enjoy!

Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh. Along the trail you'll find sleepy thatched villages, lively seaside resorts and bustling harbours.

This tour starts at Sandown and ends in Blackgang Chine (cca 11 miles). Enjoy!

Circumnavigating an island is always a rewarding experience and the path around the Isle of Wight's spectacular coastline is especially satisfying. The variety of the coastal scenery is amazing, with towering stark white cliffs, the spectacular chalk stacks of ‘The Needles', the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, wooded ‘chines', golden beaches, dramatic landslipped bluffs, sheltered undercliffs, tidal creeks, estuaries, mudflats and salt marsh. Along the trail you'll find sleepy thatched villages, lively seaside resorts and bustling harbours.

This tour starts at Yarmouth and ends in Brook Chine (cca 12 miles). Enjoy!

Shrouded in mist, mystery and legend, Leeds Castle rises from its own lake amidst one of England's most picturesque counties; this survivor of 1000 years emerges into the 21st century pre-eminent among the great buildings of the British Isles. Originally a Saxon fortress, built in AD 857, Leeds Castle was rebuilt in stone by the Normans and later converted to a Royal Palace by Henry VIII. Now lovingly restored, it houses a magnificent collection of furnishings, tapestries and paintings. Some call it "the loveliest castle in the world." Others have dubbed it "the ladies castle," for the women who ruled this roost for nearly 800 years.

One is about to bring an end to poverty. By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 countries could change the future for millions of men, women and children. Second one is parade celebrating sexual difference in orientation and continuously pointing out and testing our level of tolerance and acceptance. Both events are big and they by coincidence happened on the same day in the same town - London.

"...the most ingenious and elegant new skyscraper
built anywhere in the world for at least 30 years..."

David Little John - Wall Street Journal

Greenwich is a town, now part of the south eastern urban sprawl of London, on the south bank of the River Thames in the London Borough of Greenwich. Today is primary being tourist attraction due to GMT time and Prime Meridian passing through. The Royal Greenwich Observatory is located in Greenwich and the Prime Meridian passes through the building. Greenwich Mean Time was at one time based on the time observations made at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, before being superseded by Coordinated Universal Time. While Greenwich no longer hosts a working astronomical observatory, a ball still drops daily to mark the exact moment of noon (UTC) 1pm (13:00)(BST), and there is a good museum of astronomical and navigational tools.

This is the Europe's last big gun armoured warship of World War II. HMS Belfast is a light cruiser, launched on St. Patrick's Day in March 1938, served in World War II and in the Korean War and remained in active service until 1963. Since October 21 1971 she is open to the public, and since 1978 as part of The Imperial War Museum.

Somewhere between art deco and Blade Runner, the Lloyd’s of London Headquarters is a surprisingly risky design for an insurance company. Many marvel at its shimmering steel and glittering glass. Others consider it a monstrosity imposing itself on the heart of London’s financial district. It has been successfully compared to a building turned inside out with ductwork and services on the outside instead of neatly concealed behind a uniform structure. Industrial dreck, or post-modern masterpiece, it is at least a building that gets noticed. While the six towers are most noticed by tourists, the main focus of the building is part that few actually see -- the internal atrium. This is the hub around which all activity turns on a series of galleries. Building facilities like rest rooms, kitchens, elevators, etc… are placed on the outside of the building where they won’t get in the way of the work of business. More importantly, being easily accessible from the outside means they can be upgraded or replaced with a minimum of hassle and without impacting usable office space.

London's parks are the most advanced system of "green lungs" in any large city on the globe. Although not as rigidly maintained as those of Paris (Britons traditionally prefer a more natural look), they're cared for with a loving and lavishly artistic hand that puts their American counterparts to shame.

The largest of the central London parks is Hyde Park.

Blending with Hyde Park and bordering the grounds of Kensington Palace there is well-manicured Kensington Gardens.

East of Hyde Park, across Piccadilly, stretch Green Park and St. James's Park, forming an almost unbroken chain of landscaped beauty.

Regent's Park covers most of the district of that name, north of Baker Street and Marylebone Road.

I spent few years in London and during that time I did several photo galleries of London. Those photos not matching any of dedicated galleries can be found here.

The collaboration between Queen and Rodgers was cemented when May, Taylor and Rodgers performed in public together for the first time last fall, bringing the house to its feet at the first annual UK Music Hall of Fame Awards in London when on accepting their induction, Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor with Rodgers served up blistering versions of "We Will Rock You," "We Are The Champions" and Rodgers’ "All Right Now."

"There was a natural chemistry between us when we performed together in London. Brian and Roger brought a new dimension to my songs," said Rodgers. "The idea took hold for us to do something together after that, and the momentum has taken on a life of its own."

The momentum took the shape of a 32-date European tour this past spring which saw Queen + Paul Rodgers visit over a dozen countries in 12 weeks, culminating in huge outdoor summer concerts in Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and a return to London’s Hyde Park playing to a crowd of over 65,000.

Queen + Paul Rodgers invited all of London's emergency-response workers to their Hyde Park concert to thank them. Tickets were distributed with the help of Capital Radio. More than 6000 emergency service staff enjoyed the concert along with 60,000 fans.

Clever to use song rather than speeches Rodgers, May and Taylor joined together for a heart felt version of John Lennon's "Imagine".

Part of the Star Wars 30th anniversary celebration, this major touring exhibition comes to the London's South Bank. The exhibition presents original film props, models, art, vehicles and costumes from the entire Star Wars Saga, showcasing the artistry and storytelling that have made the films some of the most popular in history.

Featuring an array of items from the Lucasfilm Archives in California including the spectacular life-size Naboo N-1 Starfighter, the exhibition gives visitors a rare glimpse inside the making of the epic movies. Also enjoy several interactive activities from Jedi training to a green screen simulation that puts you right into the movie. Part of the what can been seen find in this gallery.

London Zoo was the world's first scientific zoo. Opened in 1828, it housed a collection of exotic animals that were studied by eminent scientists of the day. Only later in 1847, did the Zoo open its doors to the public and, from then on, became the most famous zoo in the World. Today, London Zoo houses a wonderful range of reptiles, fish, invertebrates, birds and mammals. Of more than 650 species at London Zoo, 112 are listed as threatened in the Red Data books. London Zoo participates in breeding programmes for 130 species.

London Zoo covers 36 acres which are spread over three areas of garden linked by tunnels and bridges. There are about 5,000 animals here in total! I didn't put the comments next to the pics here.

In London is one of the most recognized bridges in the world, the Tower Bridge. Designed by Sir Horace Jones and engineered by Sir John Wolfe-Barry, the construction of the Tower Bridge began in 1886. After Jones death in 1887, Barry was able to invoke greater artistic freedom than he would have under the original designers' supervision. The project was completed in 1894. The towers, covered in ornate Victorian masonry, stand 206 ft, 63 m tall and are constructed of a steel frame. The structure has a main span of 200 ft, 61 m, with a bascule roadway and two steel walkways which are 140 ft, 43 m high. Popularity has increased sense the bridge was first opened, and it is now one of London's best loved landmarks.

Founded nearly a millennium ago and expanded upon over the centuries since, the Tower of London has protected, housed, imprisoned and been for many the last sight they saw on Earth.

The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom. It was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror to protect London and assert his power. The Tower of London – an imposing fortress with many layers of history, which has become one of the symbols of royalty – was built around the White Tower.

Travel through space and time, science and history... travel the whole world and see what we were, what we are and what we are headed to be. How? Pay a visit (it's free!) to British Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum in London. These three museums are highly recommended by me and I spent there some best moments of my life learning about myself and everything around me. To get better idea what to expect visit official pages on each museum I listed - I will just show very very small part of it here and still you won't see nothing at all. If you are in London or plan to visit it - make yourself a favor and engage yourself to this unforgettable journey.

Marwell is a world class zoo which plays a vital role in the international effort to conserve endangered species. Education is at the forefront and the zoo has its own education service and Conservation Education Centre.

The zoo (100 acres) has a setting of great natural beauty with large paddocks and enclosures for its animals. There are over 200 species of rare animals. Notable species include: Siberian Tigers, Snow Leopards, Rhino, Meerkat, Hippo and Zebra. Marwell is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and has had significant success with Siberian Tigers, Dama Gazelle, Nyala, Somali Wild Ass, White Rhino, Cheetah, Przewalski’s Horses, Scimitar-horned Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra among many others. Marwell now has a presence in Africa in the shape of the Marwell Zimbabwe Trust and runs a field station at Dambari which specialises in the breeding and study of duiker and black rhino.

Each picture has description of the animal being showed and pic has been taken at the ZOO of course.

Richmond Park is the largest open space in London covering almost 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres), and is home to a huge array of wildlife.

The Park has changed little over the centuries and although it is surrounded by human habitation, the varied landscape of hills, woodland gardens and grasslands set among ancient trees abounds in wild life.

Richmond Park has been designated as a site of special scientific interest and a National Nature Reserve. The royal connections to this park probably go back further than any of the others, beginning with Edward (1272-1307), when the area was known as the Manor of Sheen. The name was changed to Richmond during Henry VII's reign.

The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. What visitors see today are the substantial remnants of the last in a sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and 1600BC.

There has always been intense debate over quite what purpose Stonehenge served. Certainly, it was the focal point in a landscape filled with prehistoric ceremonial structures, now a World Heritage Site. See pictures and you will find out more!

Ask most Londoners about the scheduled river boat services (on the River Thames) and they won't know what you're talking about. From April to October there are at least two services a day for the three to three and a half hour trip out to Hampton Court. The service stops at many stops including Kew Gardens, Richmond and Kingston (the later are major suburban shopping centres). If you require a full day at Hampton Court Palace its probably best to get the underground out to Richmond then catch additional services for the one hour trip onto Hampton Court. With return that would 7 hours on ship - take along sun protection with you.

Warwick Castle is over a thousand years old and has been well maintained with magnificent towers and ramparts. The splendid grounds are an ideal venue for a picnic. There are many attractions at Warwick Castle from dungeons to the Great Hall, State Rooms and the Royal Weekend Party of 1898. Visitors can climb some of the towers and visit the well laid out exhibitions, many have wax figures. Kingmaker's Feasts can be arranged for corporate and groups. Many forms of medieval entertainment are staged at the castle throughout the year. For years Warwick Castle has been a major tourist attraction, with a brilliant range of special events and exhibitions to impress visitors from all over the world.

King William the Conqueror ordered Darhum castle construction in 1072, shortly after the Norman Conquest. Even today, the Castle still visually betrays its origins - a dramatic example of a typical Norman motte and bailey fortification. The first purpose of the Castle was, undoubtedly, to help pacify the rebellious Saxon population of the North of England. During the early medieval period, however, it developed into a strategic bulwark in the defence of the border with Scotland. As the threat from the Scots receded, the Castle evolved into an impressive yet comfortable palace for Durham's all-powerful Prince Bishops. Then, in 1837, it was handed over for the use of the newly-founded University of Durham. At first, the Castle contained the entire University. Soon, though, the rapidly-expanding University needed more space. So finally, Durham Castle became University College, Durham - a residential community for generations of both dons and students.

There are 4 in the world and this one is in Windsor, UK. Part theme-park, part ingenious engineering apprenticeship, part model village - Legoland offers a varied and exciting mixture of entertainment and pain-free learning.

The theme park section has grown over the years and now encompasses a wide range of rides, many based on Lego toy characters, for all ages including rollercoasters, log-flumes and fast-paced revolving rides.

When they get tired of being thrown up and down and round and round at unfeasibly acute angles, kids can take on fun building challenges or spend time in Legoland's Miniland, which is a stunning recreation of some of Europe's most famous buildings made entirely out of Lego bricks.

Other highlights include the Driving School at which kids can pass their first driving test, a beautiful lake which features spectacular,themed, acrobatic shows and three railway rides or various design.

Variety is also the watchword for Legoland's food and drink outlets which provide a whole host of meals, snacks and drinks.

No Victorian site would be complete without a castle and what better choice than Windsor Castle. For centuries the Queens have resided here and filled it with beautiful treasures.

Not just castle, but whole Windsor is very nice place to explore and if you are near London one of places you wish to visit. Cross the river and you are already in Eton which is also beautiful place to see.