London: Mod and Trad

Introduction

Rick Steves introduces the city of London and highlights its unique blend of old and new.

London: A City of Contrasts

• London is a city that blends the old with the new, offering visitors a fresh travel experience every time they visit.

• Visitors can admire both modern attractions like the Millennium Bridge and traditional ones like Leonardo's artwork or fragments of the Parthenon.

• The city offers plenty to do, from shopping to hiking along the Thames.

Exploring London's Top Attractions

Rick Steves takes viewers on a tour of some of London's most famous landmarks.

Must-See Attractions in London

• Hyde Park, British Museum, National Gallery, Tower of London are all must-sees in London.

• South Bank is newly revived and offers trendy outdoor cafes instead of smokey pubs.

• Contemporary architecture is prominent in the city skyline, endorsed by City Hall.

• Parks like Hyde Park were once hunting grounds for kings but now serve as green spaces for commoners.

Apsley House and Wellington's Victory

Rick Steves visits Apsley House, home to Duke Wellington who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

Apsley House: Mansion of Duke Wellington

• Apsley House was home to Duke Wellington who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.

• The house features lavish living quarters adorned with gifts from Europe including 200 paintings still displayed today.

Victorian Age and Queen Victoria

Rick Steves explores the Victorian Age and Queen Victoria's reign.

The Victorian Age

• Wellington's victory over Napoleon set the stage for Britain's glorious Victorian age.

• The neo-Gothic Albert Memorial celebrates Victoria's husband, Albert, who promoted technology and culture during the industrial boom time.

• Queen Victoria was possibly the world's most determined mourner, wearing black for 40 years after her husband's death.

Shopping in London

Rick Steves takes viewers on a tour of London's shopping scene.

Shopping in London

• Victorian galleries evoke shopping in the 19th century.

• The V&A grew out of the Great Exhibition of 1851 which celebrated the Industrial Revolution and British greatness.

• The Britain Galleries at V&A showcase style, taste, and design from 1500 through 1900.

English Fashion History

Rick Steves explores English fashion history at V&A museum.

English Fashion History

• Four hundred years of English fashion history are corseted into a series of exquisite display cases.

• Fans were tools for flirting while nightcaps were fashionable among aristocratic men.

• The huge collection illustrates the far reach of the British Empire from Indian art to its sumptuous hall of Chinese artifacts.

Harrods and the British Museum

This section covers a visit to Harrods, one of London's most famous department stores, and the British Museum, which showcases art and artifacts from three great civilizations.

Harrods

• Harrods is a historic department store owned by Dodi Al Fayed's father.

• The store has sprawling halls of designer women's wear, traditional men's wear, and even a $12,000 mini Jaguar for kids.

• London's subway system makes it easy to get around the city. The "tube" takes visitors anywhere in the center for less than the cost of a cucumber sandwich at Harrods.

British Museum

• The British Museum showcases art and artifacts collected during England's peak empire years when it ruled over a quarter of the planet.

• Visitors can study three great civilizations - Egypt, Assyria, and Greece - in one fascinating morning.

• The Rosetta Stone is on display at the museum. It provided archeologists with a breakthrough in deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

• Ancient Egyptians mummified corpses to preserve them for their journey into the afterlife. Coffins were painted with magic spells and images thought to be useful in the next life.

• Winged lions guarded an Assyrian palace nearly 900 years before Christ. Assyria was considered "the lion" of early Middle Eastern civilizations.

• Athens was once home to a cultural explosion that essentially invented our notion of democracy, theater, literature, mathematics, science, philosophy and so much more.

• The Parthenon, a temple on the Acropolis hill in Athens, is a remnant of Greece's glory days.

• Covent Garden is a shopping district that is a never-ending carnival of people enjoying life.

• Trafalgar Square is another vibrant people zone located nearby.

Renaissance Art

The video discusses the transition of art from medieval altarpieces to the Renaissance, highlighting Italian masters such as Crivelli and Botticelli. It also explores the National Gallery's collection of Baroque, Rococo, and Impressionist art.

Transition to Renaissance Art

• Medieval altarpieces were two-dimensional and told Bible stories in rich detail.

• The Italian master Crivelli used 3-D techniques to portray the annunciation in a realistic manner.

• Renaissance painters depicted pre-Christian classical scenes with playful optimism.

• Leonardo da Vinci brought Mary and Jesus into a real world setting that viewers could relate to.

National Gallery Collection

• Baroque paintings featured dramatic fantasies, such as Rubens' work.

• Rococo art was characterized by frilly decadence.

• Impressionists like Renoir captured breezy ambiance while Cézanne took viewers to the brink of modernity.

Tower of London

The video takes viewers on a boat ride along the Thames River, passing by landmarks such as Somerset House and Tower Bridge before arriving at the Tower of London. It provides historical context for this fortress built by William the Conqueror after his invasion of England in 1066.

History of Tower of London

• The tower marks the oldest part of London called "The City," which is now its financial center.

• William had this fortress built to establish his rule over England; it was named after its original tower, White Tower.

• The tower's architecture was Romanesque, which the English called Norman for the invaders who imported it.

• The Chapel of St. John is a rare example of pure Norman architecture with round Roman-style arches and thick walls.

Tower of London Tour

• Visitors can see medieval weaponry and armor as well as dazzling crown jewels in Europe.

• Yeoman warders or Beefeaters provide entertaining tours and historical context.

• The tower served as a royal palace for over 500 years before becoming a tourist attraction.

• Many old bank buildings now serve as fancy pubs with vaults filled with kegs of real English ale.

Somerset House

The video explores Somerset House, an 18th-century civic palace that now houses several fine galleries and museums. It highlights the Gilbert Collection's display of European decorative arts, including snuffboxes and micro-mosaics.

Gilbert Collection

• Snuffboxes were popular gifts among aristocrats in 18th century Europe; they contained powdered and scented snuff tobacco.

• Diplomats and royalty gave them away like jewelry, with fashionable men owning different boxes for every occasion.

• Micro-mosaics were souvenirs for aristocrats making the Grand Tour; scenes featured their favorite sights from Rome made from thousands of tiny fragments.

The Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern

This section covers the Millennium Bridge, a suspension bridge that connects the City of London with the South Bank of the Thames. It also covers the Tate Modern, an art gallery located in an old power station.

The Millennium Bridge

• The Millennium Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects the City of London with the South Bank of the Thames.

• Its pylons veer out in order not to obliterate fine views.

• Nicknamed "the blade of light" for its sleek design.

• It connects old and new-- Trad and Mod; St. Paul's Cathedral with the great Tate Modern art gallery.

The Tate Modern

• Opened to celebrate the millennium, it fills an old power station.

• Visitors enjoy an entertaining cocktail of Dali, Picasso, Stella, pop art and dada.

• You can rent an audio guide that lets you stroll through the collection accompanied by the voice of artists describing their work.

The South Bank and Borough Market

This section covers how South Bank has transformed from a depressed industrial zone to a thriving area filled with restaurants, condos, cultural centers tied together by Jubilee Promenade. It also covers Borough Market which was once where farmers brought fresh goods to sell but now is home to gourmet cheese shops.

The South Bank

• Once a depressed industrial zone now thrives with restaurants, condos, and cultural centers all tied together by Jubilee Promenade.

• Popular lane for strollers, joggers, and bikers that stretches from the Tower Bridge to Big Ben with plenty of curiosities and trendy pubs along the way.

• At low tide, you can actually do some beachcombing.

Borough Market

• Descendant of London's oldest vegetable market fills this Victorian arcade.

• Gourmet cheese shop keeps its devoted following happy and introduces visitors to fine English cheeses with a passion.

• There's a lot more British cheese than people think. Even British people coming in here are surprised by the variety.

The London Eye

This section covers the London Eye, which is the world's largest observation wheel designed like a giant bicycle wheel.

• Our riverside walk finishes with a classic view of Big Ben and Halls of Parliament.

• For a cheap and easy flight over London, we're riding the London Eye.

• It runs efficiently and almost silently as visitors enjoy a 30-minute once-around rotation.

• From the top of the 450-foot high wheel — the highest public viewpoint in