This is a tiny embassy and looks like the whole show is run by one or 2 people, but they are super…read moreefficient and very obliging. For business reasons we apply for our Schengen visa from here. The whole procedure is very quick as they give you an appointment & stick to it. So it's in and out in 15 minutes. If they have your finger prints on file from a previous application, the process is even faster. And the great plus point is that you can keep your passport with view while they process your visa and they call you for a 5 minute visit to stamp on your visa once it is ready. However, you should note that they only issue Schengen visas for up to 3 months earlier than your UK visa expires. The only faster visa processing I have had in London was strangely at the Egyptian consulate (which took forever when I applied in India and was excruciatingly painful every time we had to visit the Mogamma when living in Cairo) #LiveLifeLikeLDN

I have visited this Finnish Embassy when accompanying my wife about 2 times now…read more Not much has changed in the 5 years of the first visit. It is located in 'foreign embassy land' - left, right & centre you'll find either an embassy or consulate of nearly every country that has friendly (or not so friendly) connections with the United Kingdom. The Finnish Embassy is easy to find and not too far from city centre. The building is historic and has impressive doors. However in contrast with the other embassies I found it a bit understated. Oh well that my be the Fins for you :o) Their passport services on Friday's is from 14:00 - 15:00 only - you 'intercom' & 'camera check' to get through the security entrance and into a brown and green coloured waiting room. Comfortable sofas, a water cooler and some plants, Finland posters and a painting. Notably no Finland president picture, not that I could see. You draw a 'number' and on your turn you get to the counter (bullet proof) and conduct the passport exchange motions - everyone needs to do the same for the new biometric passport; pictures, fingerprints and signatures - then pay and kittos, you're done On this occasion, we arrived at 14:00 sharp we were 5 in line and left around 14:30 After a underground trip, we were well on to Piccadilly Circus when the embassy called us if we could get back ASAP as they forgot to take my wife's fingerprints- with only 10 min left before they close we abandoned our city visit touristy plans at that point and flagged a black cab to bring us to the Embassy, pronto. we arrived with 2 min spare and all was sorted. In their defence though, they tried calling before we surfaced at Piccadilly Circus, but as you know the underground system doesn't carry any mobile phone service. Oh well it was all sorted in the end.

A historic building with lots of very, very interesting items. Take the tour, it's very informativeread more

The civic centre, hosts a number of free and paid events throughout the year…read more The staff will avoid eye contact and will try and not hear you, so you have to be persistant otherwise you just wont be served and make sure you get there early otherwise you'll have to keep coming over as they have limited staff all the time.

LPL is the historic library of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the first port of call for any…read moreresearch of the Church of England, as well as wider ecclesiastical history. It is more of an archive than a library as it operates with strict archive regulations. The reading room is spacious, light, airy, and looks out over a pretty courtyard. I think it is quite easy to get a reading card, but they do have a few requirements, so check their website and get the stuff together before you visit because they will send you away unless you've got the right ID documents. The library was founded in 1610, so they do have to be strict about a lot of the older and rarer documents. The library is not unwelcoming though. You can leave your sandwiches in their fridge, and help yourself to tea and coffee for a few pence each.

It is a wonderful collection and very very helpful librarians. My study of its holdiings revealed…read morean interest in the anti-Scotist 16th Jesuits who developed arguments for indictive reasoning.

OMG who would've ever thought that one could actually go inside Buckingham Palace. My wife…read moresurprise me with a VIP tour of the art gallery that's in one of the wings of Buckingham Palace. We arrived at the main gate we're escorted by a golf cart to the gallery, just inside Buckingham Palace. No Charles was not here. I did ask. But it was so much fun to have a VIP pass around my neck and walk on the inner sanctum. What an incredible experience this was. When we came out, I have to admit that I had a little fun of all those people looking through the gates around Buckingham Palace, wondering who we were in the golf cart and giving them the wave. Lol I do it again.

Visited Buckingham palace for one of the first tours of the day. They shuffle you into a large…read moreholding area when it's your ticket time and then send you through a basic security screening. There are no pictures in any of the tour- including in the holding area. This was actually an extra bonus for us as it prevented people stick stopping everywhere and taking pictures of everything and they just walked along with the audio tour and enjoyed the beautiful rooms and history. The tour itself is laid out very well and walks you through many state rooms with loads of historical significance and art. All in we probably were in the actual palace around 1.5 hours. The tour end at the gardens where there is a cafe, gift shop and walking path. We didn't opt for the additional garden tour which seems to have done in a different section but didn't feel as if we missed it. Definitely plan some time in the cafe where you can say you had tea at the palace! The tour is a bit price but felt it was worth it to see such a place of historical significance.

Excellent place to see the changing of the guard!! Make sure to arrive around 30 minutes prior,…read morethey do not let anyone on the street FYI. I believe the time was 10:45 to see them come in. Super fun! But it gets very crowded

Henry the eighth built this Palace on the grounds of the old Saint James hospital in the early…read more1500's. The lush St James Park hides the palace. This is currently the Royal Court. Princess Anne uses the palace as her residence & office.

Even though the library is small it has all what you are looking for and if it doesnt actually…read morestock it the staff are more than willing to try and locate the item for you. Parking is limited unless you are lucky enough to be able to park in the pub nearby or the public hall behind it.

not the biggest of libaries in the area, but it has plenty of educational books, they have internet…read moreacess also and rent dvd's and cd's, nice to go there if you want to study in peace and quiet