Page 194 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

192  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

4 Sea Life London
Aquarium
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd
SE1. Map 13 C4. Aquarium Tel 0871
663 1678. 1 Waterloo. Open 10am–
7pm Mon–Fri, 9am–7pm Sat & Sun
(last adm: 6pm). Closed 25 Dec.
& 7 - =
∑ visitsealife.com/london
Once the home of London’s
elected government, County
Hall now houses the Sea Life
London Aquarium and London
Dungeon (see below), alongside
a hotel, restaurants, and other
themed attractions.
The Royal Festival Hall and the London Eye The Aquarium is home to
myriad aquatic species from
1 National Theatre concrete exterior is too starkly all over the world, including
modern for some tastes, but for stingrays, turtles, jellyfish,
South Bank SE1. Map 14 D3. Tel 020
7452 3000. 1 Waterloo. Open others it is an icon of 1960s starfish (which you can stroke)
9:30am–11pm Mon–Sat (Sherling Brutalist architecture. Hayward and penguins. There’s a 25-m
Walkway closes at 7:30pm), noon–6pm exhibitions cover classical and (82-ft) glass tunnel walkway
Sun Closed Good Fri, 24 & 25 Dec contemporary art, but the work through a tropical ocean environ-
(limited opening bank hols – check of British contemporary artists is ment, and a large tank housing
website). ^ during performances. 0 par ticularly well represented. numerous shark species, which
- = 7 8 Mon–Sat (book in you can view from several levels.
advance). See Entertainment p340.
∑ nationaltheatre.org.uk 3 Royal Festival
Hall
Even if you don’t want to see
a play, this complex is worth a South Bank SE1. Map 14 D4. Tel 0844
visit, especially for a backstage 875 0073. 1 Waterloo. Open 10am–
11pm daily. Poetry library: 11am–8pm
tour. You can also get a glimpse Tue–Sun. Closed 25 Dec. ^ during
of the backstage area from the performances. 0 - = 7 Pre-
Sherling High-Level Walkway concert talks, exhibitions, free Shark in a tank at the Sea Life
(entrance near the Dorfman concerts. See Entertainment p344. London Aquarium
theatre), which runs above ∑ southbankcentre.co.uk
the prop-building areas.
Sir Denys Lasdun’s building This was the only structure for 5 London Dungeon
opened in 1976 after 200 years the 1951 Festival of Britain (see County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd
of debate: should there be a p34) designed for permanence. SE1. Map 13 C4. Tel 0871 423 2240.
national theatre and, if so, Sir Robert Matthew and Sir 1 Waterloo. Open 10am–5pm Mon–
where? The theatre company Leslie Martin’s concert hall was Fri (from 11am Thu), 10am–6pm Sat &
was formed in 1963, under the first major public building Sun. Extended hours in school holidays.
Laurence (later Lord) Olivier. The works undertaken in London Closed 25 Dec. & 7 - =
largest of the three theatres is following World War II. It has ∑ thedungeons.com
named after him; the others are stood the test of time so well
the Dorfman and the Lyttleton. that many of the capital’s major This scary attraction is a great
arts institutions have gathered hit with older children. It
round it, and the Grade I-listed illustrates the most bloodthirsty
2 Hayward Gallery building is today one of the events in British his tory with
South Bank SE1. Map 14 D3. Tel 020 world’s leading performance live actors and special effects.
7960 4200. 1 Waterloo. Closed venues. As well as the main It is played strictly for terror,
temporarily for renovation. & 7 - auditorium, there is the Clore and screams abound during the
= ∑ southbankcentre.co.uk Ballroom; the main foyer area, 90-minute tour through gory
which hosts a wide range scenes, recounting tales of such
Though currently closed for of free concerts; the poetry characters as Guy Fawkes and
repairs to its distinctive pyramidal library on Level 5; and also a gift Jack the Ripper. Don’t miss the
glass roof panels, the Hayward shop, café, bar and the Skylon Tyrant Boat Ride along a black
Gallery, when open, is one of restaurant. In summer, temporary River Thames to find out what
London’s main venues for large venues and bars are also installed happened to Anne Boleyn and
art exhibitions. Its slabby grey on the riverside terrace. her co-conspirators.

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