Number One London: NEW LONDON PASS

With international interest in the UK monarchy at an all-time high following the birth of Prince George, sightseeing specialist The London Pass has produced a brand new infographic offering a virtual introduction to all of the city’s historic Royal residences. The infographic explores all nine different Royal residences including Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London and Kensington Palace, and celebrates nearly 1,000 years of fascinating heritage from Norman times to the present day.

London has a very rich and varied Royal history. Almost all of the main Royal residences are based there and most are open for tourists to visit. The London Pass infographic enables visitors to the city to gain a quick insight into the stories behind each site, ensuring they choose the residences they will enjoy most on arrival in the UK’s capital.

Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom. Today, however, the Crown is a constitutional monarchy which means that while the sovereign is head of state, only an elected parliament has the ability to pass legislation. Each year, thousands of people meet members of the Royal Family and various events are held in Royal residences across London which boost tourism and help to draw in visitors. Buckingham Palace, the home of Queen Elizabeth II, is perhaps the most famous residence of them all. Kensington Palace has been a residence of the British Royal family since the 16th century, and today is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Princess Michael of

Kent

, among others.

Royal history has often had a dark side and Royal residents in the Tower of London were usually not there by choice: it was here that the young ‘Princes in the Tower’ allegedly met their end, while two of Henry VIII’s wives were executed on Tower Green. Elizabeth I was also briefly imprisoned here by her sister Mary but survived to become one of

England

’s greatest monarchs.

Other residences featured in the infographic, each with its own unique story to tell, are Banqueting House, The Queens Gallery, The Royal Mews, Hampton Court Palace, Kew Palace and Windsor Castle.

The London Pass is a sightseeing card which gives tourists entry to a choice of over 60 popular tourist attractions in the city. Once purchased, visitors simply show their card at the entrance or ticket office of any included attraction and are admitted with nothing further to pay; saving money on individual attraction admission fees and avoiding wasted time queuing for tickets.